Noel didn't realize how quickly the morning disappeared until his screen flashed 12:47 PM.
His coffee had gone cold hours ago.
The office around him had shifted into a quieter rhythm—keyboards softer, conversations lower, the kind of lull that only existed before the afternoon storm.
A knock sounded against the glass.
Noel looked up.
It was Elias.
Mid-thirties, always sharp, always carrying himself like he belonged in every room he walked into.
They'd worked together long enough that formality had faded into something easy.
"You're alive," Elias said, leaning against the doorframe.
Noel's mouth curved slightly. "Disappointing, I know."
Elias scoffed. "Come eat. You've been back one day and you're already acting like Singapore never let you rest."
Noel shut his laptop with a quiet click. "Lunch?"
"Lunch," Elias confirmed. "Before you forget food is a thing."
Noel stood, slipping his phone into his pocket. "Fine."
