When we entered the meeting room, the woman sat down without a word right in Chak's usual seat, as if it belonged to her. Her posture was upright, cold, completely emotionless. Every movement she made felt like the slice of a blade.
Chak silently took the seat to her left, and I sat next to him, slightly nervous. I had barely settled in when Chak said,
"This is Mrs. Orasa. She's our external partner. She handles the distribution of our products in Japan."
The moment I looked at her, I felt it she was extremely strict, almost threatening. And I wasn't wrong.
Her eyes zeroed in on me like lasers. "You must be the new secretary," she said, her tone making it sound like that alone was a catastrophe. "I already didn't like that Pim… and I doubt you'll be any better."
"My name is Niran," I replied, trying to stay calm.
"Oh, wonderful name." She leaned forward, resting her hands on the table. Her nails tapped on the wood like a warning. "But judging by your look and your posture, you're not someone I'd trust. Chak, if I were you, I'd reconsider. This position requires someone with... more integrity."
"You won't speak like that about my employees," Chak said coldly.
Under the table, I felt his hand quietly reach for mine. His fingers touched mine gently, almost apologetically like he was saying sorry for making me endure this.
But Orasa wasn't done.
"Can you even draft a memo? Or a proper meeting report? I doubt it. Just look at yourself. You're not cut out for this company. I don't even know who hired you."
I was boiling inside, but I stayed silent. I didn't want to give her the satisfaction. I felt Chak's grip on my hand tighten under the table. He was there. Even without words he was there.
Mrs. Orasa kept staring at me, her eyes even sharper now. I felt like she was perched on some invisible throne, enjoying every moment of tearing me down.
"You know, Niran," she said with a malicious smile that never reached her eyes, "this company might tolerate various… alternative lifestyles." She paused for effect. "But I'm not one of those people."
I froze. I looked her straight in the eye, even though her words cut deep. Chak was still silent, but his hand hadn't left mine.
"Are you gay?" she suddenly asked. Direct. Shameless. "Because if you are… believe me, I can't work with someone like that. I can't even sit in the same room."
I slowly shook my head. "No. I'm not," I said quietly, but clearly. I lied. In that moment, it was my only shield.
I saw Kit glance at me. He knew the truth.
Orasa sighed, as if I had disappointed her. "Good. I hope you're telling the truth. Because if I find out otherwise… it'll affect our cooperation, believe me."
Just then, the door opened, and Chai walked in.
"Good morning," he said politely with a smile. "I brought the documents. Chak, Kit" He nodded at them and stepped closer.
Orasa turned toward him, and her face twisted in utter disgust.
"Get out," she said coldly. "I can't look at people like you. Sexually confused and unfit for a professional environment. I simply can't stand your presence."
Chai froze. His smile vanished. The room fell into tense silence broken only by Chak's voice.
He stood up. His voice was cold, but sharp as ice. "You will not speak to my brother like that."
But Orasa wasn't finished. "By the way," she added with a look of disdain toward Kit, "I saw one of your staff in LF Lab. A little too close to Kit. If you think I'll work with a company where people walk the halls like it's some kind of gay nightclub, you're mistaken."
Then she stood up and adjusted her blazer. "I'll come back later. When those two," she pointed at me and Chai, "are gone."
She slammed the door behind her.
The door slammed shut, leaving behind a heavy silence.
Chak remained standing for a moment, his eyes fixed on the door. His jaw was clenched, his whole body tense. Then he turned to us not with anger, but with something far deeper. Something heavier.
"Both of you," he said, his voice low and composed, though it trembled beneath the surface, "wait for me in my office."
Chai gave a small nod, his eyes downcast, clearly shaken. I stood up in silence, still feeling the echo of Orasa's words in my chest. My hand brushed against Chak's one last time a silent exchange of strength and then I followed Chai out of the meeting room.
We walked slowly down the hallway, neither of us saying a word.
When we reached Chak's office, I opened the door for Chai and let him in first. He sat down stiffly on the sofa, still pale. I closed the door behind us and leaned against it for a second, trying to gather myself. I had lied. I had betrayed myself. And still… I didn't regret it. Because I saw the way Chak looked at us. Like he was ready to protect us, no matter what.
I sat beside Chai, and we both waited.
Waited for Chak. For whatever would come next.
Chai sat stiffly on the sofa, his hands clasped tightly in his lap. His shoulders were tense, his gaze fixed on the floor. I sat next to him in silence for a while, not sure how to break it.
But then he spoke, his voice quieter than I'd ever heard it.
"I don't understand people like her," he said slowly. "How can someone hate others just because of who they are? Just because of who they love?"
I looked at him, his brows drawn together in genuine confusion and pain.
"I wish I knew," I replied. "She didn't even know me, and yet... it was like she saw something in me she couldn't stand."
Chai gave a bitter laugh. "She looked at me like I was garbage."
"You're not," I said firmly.
He turned his head toward me, his eyes a little watery. "And you're not either, Niran."
I swallowed the lump in my throat. For a moment, the silence between us was warm a kind of quiet understanding that didn't need more words.
Then Chai added, his tone a bit stronger, "It's people like her that make it so hard for us to live freely. But people like Chak... they remind me that we're not alone."
I smiled faintly. "Yeah… Chak."
Just then, the door opened.