(A/N: Hey guys! Thank you for patiently waiting. Despite my hectic schedule, I tried to finish this short chapter as a special dedication to you guys and as an offering for Valentine's Day today. I might probably update again in the future as I'm trying to move faster towards the plot of this story. The below chapter might be cheesy so please be warned. I tried my best to keep it simple yet sweet. Lastly, if you guys have some spare time or if you're interested, you can check out my finished novel at the website of Booknet since I've recently joined one of their writing contests. Here's the link for your reference: /en/book/a-dangerous-bargain-b292058 You can leave some reviews and constructive criticisms after reading it. Please enjoy and Happy Valentine's Day!)

Chapter 6

A Short Valentine Special

By: Aztec999

YOU TRIED NOT TO LET IT SHOW but the irritation flooded your brain as you saw your colleagues around the office beaming like lovestruck idiots, passing chocolates to each other here and there. You may have asked why's that right? Since it's someone petty to be feeling this annoyed early this morning going through midday.

The answer was simple: It's Valentine's Day.

Usually, the day itself doesn't faze you since you have long accepted to yourself that you'll probably be alone for the remainder of your life or you already tie yourself down to your career hence the mere prospect of seeing and dating someone again made it just a bother for you. However, you also realized that as you grew older, you became more and more irritated at the celebration of this day instead. And you promptly convince yourself that it has nothing to do with a certain golden eyed inspector who hasn't visited you yet to greet you that very day.

And why the hell would he do that? Haru doesn't have any obligation towards you since you don't have any relationship with each other and are just friends. Just because he hangs out with you now and was more comfortable after that disastrous yet memorable one-night stand between the two of you doesn't mean he would need to go out his way for you to take a step further into your relationship.

You glanced at the slightly opened drawer where there is a small box of chocolate resting inside of it. You bought it yesterday at a store for Haru of course. But you quickly reasoned out to yourself that it is just a "giri-choco" for him since he's just only a friend and nothing more.

You're promptly taken out of your thoughts when a box of chocolates lands on your desk with a soft thud. You looked at it with furrowed brows before you stare up at the person standing on your cubicle. Mary smiled at you and gave you a peace sign.

"Sorry to interrupt your serious work but I'd like to give you this." Mary offered smilingly.

Contrary to her loud and overconfident image, Mary was also one of the friendliest and easygoing type of person in your office so it's natural for her to give a box of chocolates to each of you in your department. On where she had gotten it, you had no idea.

"Wow, thanks a lot for these." You replied in half sarcasm and half gratefulness as you inspected the box of chocolates Mary gave to you.

"You're very much welcome." Mary seems unaffected by your current mood and just smiled at you sweetly.

The small frown still stays on your face as you continued typing at the keyboard.

"It seems that someone is crabby today since this person is not receiving some sweet confectionaries from our resident good boy Mr. Policeman." Mary commented with a teasing smile on her face.

"Oh, c'mon Mary, pester someone else with your remaining box of chocolates." You rolled your eyes but you could feel the blush creeping up slowly on your cheeks.

Mary laughed heartily in response and patted your back gently. "Aww, don't worry about it (y/n)-chan! I'm sure Inspector Katou will drop by in at our department soon!" She gave you a playful wink.

"Oi. Lower your voice. You're disrupting the office work of the other people here." You mustered up a glare towards her direction which was weakened due to the rosy hues coloring your face.

Mary just giggled at your response and sauntered out of your cubicle to deliver more chocolates to your other colleagues.

You went back to what you're doing with a small huff leaving you and just tried to focus on what you're doing, ignoring the rising hope blooming on your chest from the last remark of Mary towards you even if she's just probably teasing you out of her usual habit.

Several hours passed and it's almost 5 in the afternoon, most of your co-workers were going out of the office after clocking out. You swallowed back the disappointment surging on your veins as you firmly reasoned with yourself that again Haru has no obligation to greet you or even bring you some chocolates since you two don't have any relationship beyond friendship.

'Get over it.' Your mind chastised you inwardly. You sighed and you're already packing your things when you've noticed Elena huddled around the corner of her desk, dabbing the handkerchief under her eyelids. You grew concerned but you also hesitated since you don't want to intrude into whatever she's doing now. But at the end, the worry won in your heart and you slowly approached her, putting your hand gently on her shoulder.

"Hey. Are you okay?" You asked hesitantly.

This made Elena froze for a few seconds before she quickly looked at you and flashed a smile. There were no tears streaming down her cheeks but you noticed the slight glistening of her eyes.

"Ah, (y/n)-san. Of course. Please don't mind me. I might try to render some overtime unfortunately due to some paperwork that I still need to finish on time."

You continued to stare at her before you returned her smile reassuringly. "Alright. But if you need some help or anything don't hesitate to reach out to us."

"Thank you again (l/n)-san. See you tomorrow." She gave you a small wave of goodbye and you also returned it before you clocked out and left the office, trying to shake out the nagging feeling of worry and concern over your co-worker.

You're still deep in your thoughts when a familiar voice reached your line of hearing.

"A penny for your thoughts (l/n)-san?" An amused and smiling Haru greeted your line of vision as you raised your head and looked towards his direction, catching your breath. Your pesky, little heart started to beat wildly inside your chest despite admonishing yourself for its foolishness.

"Better keep that penny of yours to yourself since this brain of mine has nothing to give you important." You quipped back jokingly, gripping the strap of your bag firmly as you could feel its heaviness due to the box of chocolates you purchased for him yesterday. You decided earlier not to leave it at your office and just bring it with you. You're still debating with yourself if it would be a good idea to give it to him or not.

Haru arched a brow before a soft chuckle slipped past his lips. "Maybe it's the weariness and hunger from work. C'mon now. I'll try to whip up something from Katou's family menu for our dinner." He replied casually.

His last words perked you up but you try not to let your inner emotions show on your face. Did you hear it right? Our dinner? But he said it so nonchalantly that you don't want to put any meaning behind his words except for maybe it's a friendly invitation between co-workers and friends.

'Get a grip on yourself and stop being an idiot.' Your mind inwardly scoffed at you which made you sighed in silence.

Katou was already walking ahead of you and before you could even stop yourself, your voice was already calling out to him. "Katou-san."

It made Haru paused in his steps and turned back to you with a questioning look on his face.

You tried to maintain a calm and collected look on your face as you marched towards his direction and stopped right in front of him. "Here. Don't get any funny ideas Katou-san. You're one of my friends now so you also deserve this." Your words came out in a rush and you didn't wait for him to respond as you handed him the "giri-choco" hastily and walked away from him.

Haru just stood there for a few seconds as he stared at the box of chocolates in his hands before he finally looked at your retreating with a wide smile on his face. "Oi wait up! That's not the direction going to my house!" He jogged towards your direction but you kept walking ahead, trying to keep the smile blooming into your face.

Maybe this day wasn't bad after all.