10. Like Nothing Happened
Chapter ten
Like Nothing Happened
Monday morning arrived as if Friday had never happened.
The parking lot slowly filled with employees arriving for another workweek. Coffee cups balanced in one hand, work bags in the other, everyone settled back into the routine they knew so well.
Miko parked her car and sat quietly for a moment.
She looked at herself in the rearview mirror.
Nothing looked different.
Yet everything felt different.
She took a deep breath before stepping out of the car.
Inside the building, people greeted one another with the same familiar smiles.
"Morning."
"Good morning."
"How was your weekend?"
The office was alive with ordinary conversations.
Exactly the way Miko needed it to be.
She wasn't ready for anything extraordinary.
As she reached her desk, she felt someone walking toward her.
"Morning."
It was Meca.
The same calm voice.
The same warm smile.
Miko smiled back.
"Morning."
There was no awkwardness.
No nervous laughter.
No stolen glances.
No dramatic pause.
Just two women greeting each other the same way they had greeted each other for months.
If anyone had been watching, they would've seen nothing unusual.
And that was exactly what both of them wanted.
The morning moved quickly.
Assignments came in.
Phones rang.
Coworkers complained about the weekend ending too soon.
Life continued.
Around lunchtime, Jemika walked over carrying her lunch tray.
"There y'all go again."
Miko looked up.
"What now?"
"You and Meca."
"What about us?"
"I swear every time I look up, one of y'all around the other."
Miko laughed.
"Girl, we work together."
"Mmm-hmm."
Jemika smirked.
"I'm just saying."
"You always just saying."
Meca laughed quietly without adding a word.
The conversation ended as quickly as it started.
No one suspected a thing.
Later that afternoon, Miko and Meca found themselves working side by side again.
For nearly an hour, they focused only on the task in front of them.
Finally, Meca spoke without looking up.
"You okay?"
Miko smiled.
"Yeah."
"You sure?"
"I'm sure."
Another quiet moment passed.
"I've been thinking..."
Meca finally said.
Miko looked over.
"About Friday?"
Meca nodded.
"I don't want you feeling like you have to explain anything."
"I don't."
"I don't want things to become weird between us."
"They won't."
"You sure?"
Miko looked directly at her.
"I meant what I said."
"What part?"
"I was curious."
Meca nodded slowly.
"And?"
"And I'm still your friend."
Those words settled something inside Meca.
She smiled.
"I'm glad."
"So am I."
Neither woman tried to define what had happened.
Neither woman put a label on it.
They simply continued being who they had always been.
Friends.
The workday ended without incident.
As Miko drove home, she replayed the weekend in her mind.
She expected to feel regret.
She didn't.
She expected to feel guilt.
She didn't.
Instead...
She felt something she hadn't expected at all.
Peace.
Not because she suddenly understood herself.
Not because all of her questions had been answered.
But because Meca had never once made her feel ashamed for asking them.
That evening, Miko's phone buzzed.
She smiled when she saw Meca's name.
Meca:"You make it home?"
Miko smiled before replying.
"Just walked in."
A few seconds later...
"Good. Get some rest."
Miko stared at the message.
Simple.
Thoughtful.
No pressure.
No expectations.
She typed back.
"You too."
She set the phone down, unaware that those short text messages would soon turn into late-night conversations, inside jokes, and a connection that extended far beyond the walls of the office.
For now...
It was still just friendship.
Or at least...
That's what Miko kept telling herself.