Unpacked Moments
1116 Words
Angela’s phone buzzed, rousing her from sleep earlier than expected. She groaned, reaching blindly for the device on her nightstand.
unknown (6:13 AM):Be outside in 30. Don’t keep me waiting, Intern.
Her eyes flew open.
“Thirty?!” she gasped, flinging the covers off. “What happened to 7:30?!”
“And how did he even get my number ”
but she didn't have time to put much thought on it.
She scrambled to her feet, her heart racing.She rushed to the bathroom.
After a lightning-fast shower and the quickest outfit decision of her life, she managed to look presentable in under twenty minutes. Just as she was running a brush through her damp hair, she heard the knock.
Kevin.
She opened the door, still fastening her wristwatch. Kevin stood there, immaculate in a dark fitted coat and simple black shirt, holding a travel coffee cup.
His eyes did a slow once-over.
“You’re not bad under pressure,” he said smoothly, handing her the cup. “But we still have time. I came early on purpose.”
Angela blinked. “You did what now?”
“Relax,” he said as he brushed past her into the apartment. “I wanted to beat traffic.”
She stared after him, stunned.
Kevin Argent. In her apartment.
As she shut the door, he was already wandering—hands in pockets—toward her photo wall, the one littered with memories from high school, university days, and a few childhood snapshots with Laura and Boston.
“You look happier here,” he murmured, eyes on a picture of Angela grinning, piggybacking Boston while Laura flashed peace signs beside them.
“I was,” she said quietly. “Before adulting started throwing hands.”
He turned to her slightly, arching a brow. “Noted.”
They stood in a strange silence. Not awkward… but heavy.
Just then, another knock. Angela frowned. “Who—?”
She opened it to find Laura and Boston—bags in hand, grinning.
“You forgot we were coming, didn’t you?” Laura smirked, pushing past.
“Lunch. You owed us,” Boston added, then paused mid-step as he saw Kevin. “Oh.”
Kevin, still by the photo wall, turned slowly. His expression unreadable. Laura’s eyes widened.
Angela cleared her throat. “Um, this is Kevin,I mean Mr Argent.
Kevin then interrupted “uh Don't worry,no need for the formalities outside of work ”
Angela was a little bit stunned but ignored
“well Kevin this is Laura and Boston. My best friends.”
“Mr. Argent,” Laura corrected sharply, nudging Angela.
Kevin gave a cool nod. “Nice to meet you. You two are close,” he added, glancing back at the photo wall.
Boston stepped forward. “Very. She’s the glue.”
Angela’s cheeks flared, and Kevin’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
Kevin didn't like Boston one bit
“May we leave now,Angela?”
Boston:“Wait what?, Leave?,where are you two going?”
“uhm,I totally forgot to tell you guys but I can't do lunch right now,I'm going on a business trip ” said Angela
Laura said “Business trip?,Girl you didn't tell me”
Angela said disappointed in herself for forgetting to tell her friends about the business trip “I was going to tell you I’m so sorry. It’s work—”
Laura said with mock betrayal. “Unbelievable.”
“I forgot! He came early!” She pointed accusingly at Kevin.
“I’m punctual,” Kevin said calmly, sipping his coffee.
Boston stared at him a beat too long before asking, “So, it’s just the two of you going?”
Angela looked like a deer in headlights.
Kevin’s lips twitched. “Yes.”
The air shifted.
Angela’s phone buzzed again. Her mum.
“Oh—hold on, I have to call my parents before we leave.”
She stepped aside, dialing. Her mother answered on the second ring.
“Hi mum,how are you?”
I'm sorry I haven't called or texted In a long time,I've been so busy with the internship and all”
“Ohhh Angela! That means you got the internship? That’s amazing!”
“Yes mum I got the internship,I apologize for just letting you know now”.
“its alright,I understand ”
Angela whispered
“im working really close to the CEO himself ”
she's pretty sure Kevin heard her but she doesn't care for some reason.
Her dad’s voice piped in the background. “Tell him not to overwork my daughter.”
Angela laughed. “He’s right here, actually.”
There was a beat of silence. “...You let a man in your house this early?” her mum whispered.
“Mum! It’s not like that!,I'm actually going on a business trip today,it's part of the internship program ”
Behind her, Kevin caught her flustered expression and smirked. Laura giggled.
Angela rolled her eyes
“Oh,Be safe. And behave,” her mum said meaningfully
“Yes mum I will,bye!”
then she hung up.
Angela turned to the chaos in her living room—Laura was playfully interrogating Kevin, Boston unusually quiet, Kevin calmly absorbing it all like he was in full control of the room.
She sighed.
Kevin glanced at his watch. “We should get going”
Angela nodded quickly, grabbing her small carry-on and jacket.
Laura smirked. “No goodbye hug?”
Angela rolled her eyes but leaned in for a quick hug from Laura and Boston. “I’ll text you guys when I land.”
Laura whispered in her ear, “Observe everything, girlfriend. There’s more to this CEO than business.”
Boston simply said, “Travel safe.”
As Angela stepped out with Kevin, she couldn’t help but feel eyes burning into her back—from her friends and from Kevin too.
Inside the car…
The tension was warm but quiet. Kevin sat beside her in the backseat, his phone in hand, yet his eyes drifted to her now and then. Angela noticed.
“Something on my face?” she asked, turning to him.
“No. Just thinking.”
“About?”
“How this trip will play out.”
“Is it a major client?” she asked, trying to sound confident.
He hesitated for a breath. “Something like that.”
She didn’t press. She didn’t want to seem too eager. But still, something felt… off.
She looked out the window, then back at him. “You travel often?”
Kevin nodded. “Used to. Not so much lately.”
“Why not?”
He was quiet for a second, then said, “Some places aren’t worth going back to”
- Writer
