9. You are a younger version of him

The lab felt louder than usual. Maybe it was just the contrast to the quiet of the weekend—or maybe I was imagining things.

I slipped through the main entrance, my eyes drifting toward the office area—the seat that Daniel usually sat. Empty. I let out a breath, adjusting the strap of my bag over my shoulder.

Okay. No weird eye contact today. It’s just Monday.

I made my way to the locker, dumping my bag. Too little sleep and too much overthinking from the night before settling in my chest.

It was fine. Saturday had just been one of those awkward moments. Daniel probably didn’t even think about it.

As I walked from the locker area back to the kitchen, I heard footsteps—and laughter—from down the entrance.

I turned my head slightly.

There they were.

Daniel and Eva, walking in together.

I blinked. Did they… come in together?

Eva tucked her hair behind her ear as she spoke, leaning in just a little closer to Daniel. Whatever she said made him smile. Not his usual polite nod, but a real, easy smile.

My stomach twisted.

It’s nothing. They probably just bumped into each other.

I opened my latop, forcing myself to focus on the screen in front of me, but my eyes kept flicking back—just in time to catch Daniel’s gaze as he walked past.

His expression didn’t change. No smirk, no “hey, remember Saturday?”—just the usual brief nod he gave everyone else.

That’s it?

I dropped my gaze, fingers hovering over my keyboard.

Of course, that’s it. Why would he say anything? He got a girlfriend. Come on Maggie, don't be silly. Just do your work.

I tried to shake it off, but the thought settled like a splinter beneath my skin.

By mid-morning, the weight of the weekend had almost disappeared. Almost.

I was sitting in the open area to analyze the data when Eva appeared at my desk, clipboard in hand as she leaned casually against the edge.

“Hey, you’ve been quiet lately,” she said softly and gently, like someone who was trying to talk to her baby sister, “Everything alright?”

I blinked up at her. “Oh—yeah. Just… busy.”

Eva tilted her head, giving me that look. The kind that felt too gentle. Like she already knew something I didn’t.

“From what I know about you, Maggie,” She raised her eyebrows, "you are lying-and you are not that good at lying." She smirked, then turned into a sincere look, "What's up? I just want to see if I could help."

I hesitated, glancing around the surroundings before lowering my voice. “Honestly, it’s just the visa stuff. I guess it’s been on my mind.”

Her expression softened. “Oh, don’t worry about that. Daniel’s really happy with your work. He told me you were a younger version of Daniel Ross.”

I froze for half a second. “He said that?”

Eva laughed lightly. “I thought you knew. He mentioned it last week.”

The words felt strange, like they didn’t quite fit.

I smiled anyway. “That’s… nice to hear.”

Eva patted my desk as if to seal the conversation. “Seriously. You’re doing fine. Don’t let the visa stuff get to you. I was at your place before, but...look at where I was now.”

I watched her leave, the warmth of her reassurance still hanging in the air.

But something about it didn’t sit right.

Was that just Eva being nice? Or was she covering for something?

Later, I ducked into the break room for tea, but the door hadn’t even fully closed when I heard them.

Eva. And Olivia.

Their voices were low, casual. Not the usual work talk.

I paused by the kettle, eyes down as I poured hot water over the tea bag.

Olivia laughed at something, and Eva joined in immediately. It wasn’t forced. It was the kind of laugh that came easily—the kind you only shared with someone you actually liked, like...me and Claire.

I stirred the tea slower than necessary, pretending not to notice.

I hadn’t realized they were that close.

By the time I stepped outside for lunch, the feeling still hadn’t gone away.

They’re all part of the same circle.

Eva, Olivia, Daniel. It was like they all understood something I didn’t—like there was this invisible thread connecting them.

And I… wasn’t sure if I was part of that.

I never was.

I swallowed the thought and kept walking, but even as the cold air hit my face, it stayed with me—like a shadow I couldn’t quite shake.