Look at me ~ Childe x reader ~

Chapter 38 ~ A few weeks later ~

The walk home with Childe had become a routine of hollow silence and strained small talk. At first, I had hoped that things would settle into something comfortable, but lately, something felt off, and I'm not sure why, The tension simmered under every interaction, unspoken but suffocating.

Kaori's frequent visits to Childe's office didn't help. If anything, they seemed to increase in frequency. Every time I tried to approach him at work, he brushed me off with curt words and restless energy, yet he spent almost his whole working day with her.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't irritated. Why go through the trouble of confessing to me, of saying he loved me, only to turn around and practically ignore me? Was it all a lie?

And Aiko—don't even get me started. He's been acting strangely too. Overly affectionate, borderline flirty, passing it off as "just helping out." I can't make sense of any of it.

I stacked a pile of files on my desk with a hiss of frustration, my eyes instinctively drifting to Childe's glass office. As expected, Kaori was in there again. I clenched my jaw, the irritation bubbling under my skin. Fine. If he wanted to play games, who was I to stop him?

Gathering the completed files that needed his signature, I decided I'd be in and out. No conversation. No confrontation. Just business.

As I approached his office, I noticed the door was slightly ajar. I raised my fist to knock but paused when I caught snippets of their conversation.

"No, don't tell her yet," Childe said firmly.

"But, Mr Childe, don't you think it's better for her to know sooner rather than later?" Kaori's voice was gentle but insistent.

"Not yet. I don't want her to know what we've been up to. I'm not sure how she'll handle it." His tone was decisive, almost final.

I stood frozen, my hand mid-air. The words sliced through me, leaving me speechless. My expression hardened as a bitter thought clawed its way to the surface: how exactly do I take those words?

The annoyance pushed me forward, and I knocked sharply on the door.

"Come in," Childe said, his voice brisk.

When our eyes met, I saw his widen slightly, but I kept my expression blank.

"Y/n—"

I cut him off by placing the files in front of him with deliberate force. "All done. They just need to be signed." My tone was cold, clipped.

Before he could say another word, I turned and walked out, I was not in the mood to hear any explanation. If he had secrets with her, fine.

If this was how he wanted to handle things, so be it. I wouldn't waste another second on someone who couldn't be honest with me. I'm done.

Back at my desk, I tried to focus on the work in front of me, but my thoughts were eating me alive. Did I actually like Childe this much, that I'm so affected by his actions,
Aiko rolled his chair closer, his concerned gaze fixed on me.

"Are you okay, Y/n?"

"I'm not in the mood right now, Aiko," I said sharply, not looking up.

He nodded, understanding, and rolled back to his desk. Knowing that when I wanted to talk he'd be the first person I'd go to.

~ After work ~

It was late by the time I finished. The office was empty, except for me. Childe's office was dark and vacant, and I assumed he'd gone home without me. That was fine. I didn't need him.

I sighed, my fingers aching as I typed the last few words of the report. Glancing at the clock, I realised it was half past ten. Too late, but at least the day was over.