cold
1.9k / fluff, co-workers to lovers
Since you started working at that company, there was one name that made you shiver every time you heard it: Lee Jeno. You hadn't worked together, only exchanged a few formal greetings, but it was impossible not to hear what people were saying about him in the hallways. The comments were always made in hushed tones by your coworkers, afraid he might show up and hear everything they were saying about him:
"I heard an intern cried because she had to share a room with Jeno."
"They say a manager was fired from the company after arguing with Jeno in a meeting, and he just stood there, watching it all."
"I've been working here for two years and I've never seen him smile at anyone."
"He doesn't go to happy hour, he doesn't have lunch with the staff, he doesn't participate in anything."
"There's a rumor that he joined the company in a senior position without going through the selection process! He must definitely know some dirt on one of the bosses."
That was the image people had of him: cold, calculating, distant from everyone, and he avoided forming bonds with people as much as possible.
Until, in the middle of a meeting to present the company's new project, your boss said:
"____, Jeno, I need you two to work together on this project."
An immediate chill went through your stomach. All you did was nod and direct your gaze to your newest work partner, who was on the other side of the large table. He might be cold, but he was certainly one of the most handsome men you had ever seen: perfectly styled hair, a body hidden by a black suit that looked tailor-made, glasses resting on a perfectly sculpted nose, just like every other part of his face. He also looked at you and nodded, saying a quiet "Understood." That made you more nervous than it should have.
The meeting ended and the room quickly emptied out. You ended up staying behind, wanting to use the now-empty room to organize some pending tasks, when you felt a presence beside you. It was Jeno. "Can we align the project schedule?"
It took you a moment to realize he was talking to you. "Yes. Of course. The schedule." If you could, you would have slapped yourself on the forehead.
Jeno took a chair and promptly sat down next to you, perhaps too close, because his scent invaded your senses. Although it was a woody aroma, it was comforting.
"I was thinking of dividing it into three stages: research, execution, and validation," he said in a professional manner, pointing to the notes he had taken on his laptop during the meeting, explaining each point. But your attention was on his hands: large, firm. For a fraction of a second, you wondered what it would be like to be gripped by them...
"What do you think?" he asked, bringing your attention back.
"I... I liked it.”
"Which part?"
"Uh... all of it?" Clearly, you hadn't paid attention to a single word he had just said.
He let out a short, quiet laugh. "I can explain it again if you want." Jeno was calm, patient, as if he could explain the same thing a million times.
"I'm sorry, I'm not managing to concentrate properly today."
"It's okay," he said and simply began to explain everything again in the most patient way possible.
In the following days, messing up around Jeno became something that happened almost all the time. Partly because you thought he would lose his temper with you, partly because he was too handsome up close.
One day you spilled coffee near his desk, another day you forgot to do the research he had asked for. You even mixed up his name with your best friend's. But he would always say, accompanied by a half-smile: "It's okay."
Another time, you were walking past the break room and dropped the pile of documents you were holding. "My God, what is wrong with me?" you whispered, frustrated with the whole situation.
Then, you saw a hand enter your field of vision. Jeno was crouching beside you, helping you gather all the papers scattered across the floor. He was very close, close enough for you to feel the warmth of his body and his shoulder brushing against yours.
"There's nothing wrong with you." He had heard the complaint you made to yourself.
"Maybe, but I've been very nervous lately."
"Nervous around me?"
Your eyes widened in a way you didn't think was possible, and you ended up stumbling over your own words: "No... I mean, yes, maybe... I don't know..."
He observed you for a moment longer, trying to understand what you were trying to say. He simply handed you the organized pile of papers.
After spending so much time with him, you were slowly realizing that he wasn't the monster people said he was. He was always willing to help you at various points in the project. But your impression of him truly changed one night when you stayed a little later at the office and heard someone crying. When you found where the sound was coming from, you realized the person was with Jeno, who was speaking in a firm, yet soft tone of voice.
"Take a deep breath, everything will be fine."
You recognized that he was talking to a colleague from the finance department who had probably made a mistake at work.
"I messed up everything and missed the deadline. They're going to fire me!" she said between sobs.
"No, they won't. I'll help you," he said calmly.
"But you're still so busy with work."
"It's not a problem. I'll help you."
And he did. He explained, helped and kept your colleague calm the whole time. It was then that you realized everyone was wrong about Jeno. Your heart began to fill with something you didn't understand, but it was very comforting.
After that moment, your relationship with Jeno gradually changed, as if you were starting to feel more comfortable around him.
He noticed it.
From then on, he always brought you a coffee before starting work, organized the files to "make your job easier," and even made "jokes" to lighten the mood, making you laugh because they were so bad.
One night when you both stayed a little late, it was raining and you had forgotten your umbrella. Jeno looked at the rain, then looked at you.
"I'll drive you home." He wasn't asking. He was just saying he would take you home.
"You don't have to, I live nearby."
"But you might catch a cold, and I don't want that to happen." Seeing that Jeno cared about you made your heart skip a beat.
You walked to his car, sharing the small space of the umbrella. Upon reaching the car, Jeno opened the passenger door for you to get in, and then took his place behind the wheel.
Indeed, you lived very close, so the drive was quick and quiet.
"We arrived! Thank you so much—" You were about to get out of the car, but Jeno was faster: he rushed to open the door for you and already had the umbrella open to guide you to the door of your small house.
"You didn't have to do all that."
"It's no trouble at all."
Jeno stopped in front of the door, still holding the umbrella above the two of you. You twirled the keys between your fingers, a little nervous:
"Jeno..." You called him before he could say goodbye and leave.
"Hmm?" He tilted his head slightly, as he always did when you spoke. If you weren't so nervous, you would have said he looked like a lost puppy, but you just swallowed hard.
"Can I ask you something?" He just nodded his head, and you asked: "Why are you so kind to me?"
He furrowed his eyebrows slightly. He didn't seem offended, just confused by the sudden question. "Kind?"
"Yes... kind." You gave an awkward laugh, trying to make the situation a little lighter. "I always heard you were cold, that you didn't like to socialize with people at the company. I confess that, at the beginning of the project, I was a little scared, that's why I was so nervous and messed up all the time." You laughed again, looking away. You wouldn't be able to handle seeing the confused expression Jeno was making at that moment.
His gaze softened. He began to understand the reason for your nervousness, but one part of your speech caught him: "You were scared of me?"
"Not exactly scared of you, but I was afraid you'd hate me..." You sighed, but before he could answer, you completed. "But as time pass by, I realized I was completely wrong. That there was no reason to be afraid of you."
Your eyes returned to his, which were looking at you intensely. Then, he smiled, relieved.
"I'm happy to hear that, because I would never hate you." Your stomach flipped, your hands started to sweat. "I was the one who was afraid that you would have the same view of me that everyone else does."
It took your brain a whole second to process what he was saying. Lee Jeno was afraid of what you thought of him? "But, why?"
For the first time, you saw a totally nervous Jeno, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand, trying to calm down somehow. After a few seconds, which seemed eternal, he told you: "Because I like you a lot."
Everything seemed to stop. The rain, the cars, any sound on the street. There was only you and Jeno. It was his turn to let out an awkward little laugh. "I know... I'm not very good at this. I've liked you since the beginning of the project... I mean, even earlier. I just didn't know how to approach you without making you uncomfortable."
Your heart was beating so fast that you were afraid he could hear it, but even so, you moved even closer to him, as if that were possible.
"You never made me uncomfortable, but I thought you were just being polite."
Jeno didn't answer, he just touched your cheek, as if that touch could convey all the affection he felt for you. You didn't pull away or ask him to stop at any point, you just smiled. Jeno understood that this was a signal, but even so, polite as always, he decided to ask you.
"May I?"
You couldn't seem to answer, you just confirmed by looking at his lips. Jeno got the message. The space between you slowly closed, your breaths mingled, and slowly, Jeno touched his lips to yours, in a calm, almost shy kiss, but warm enough to make your hearts race at an inexplicable rhythm.
When you felt him starting to pull away, you held him by the collar of his overcoat, pulling him back for a second kiss, more intense, to the point where Jeno dropped the umbrella without noticing and took hold of your waist. Jeno's warm touch contrasted perfectly with the cold wind caused by the rain.
When you separated, you remained with your foreheads touching and in an intense exchange of glances. You smiled and broke the silence. "It looks like it's not raining anymore, huh?"
Jeno smiled, finally realizing that the rain had stopped. For the first time, you saw Jeno smile openly, very different from the contained smiles he used to give, which you already found beautiful.
"Are you still scared?"
You chuckled softly, feeling your face warm. "I'm not scared, because I realized I've liked you for a while now."
Jeno's eyes sparkled, truly happy to have heard that. "So, can I kiss you again?"
Once again, you didn't answer. You just opened the door, took Jeno's hand, and pulled him inside the house while joining your lips in another kiss.
