Lip Balm | Wooyoung

13

Wednesday

After Hongjoong's announcement, most of the faces in the room brighten. Some simply nod in acknowledgement, but no one opposes. A company dinner is something that their boss has only organised once before, two years ago.

No one asks why, afraid they'll unnecessarily provoke him, but it's one question on everyone's mind.

Hongjoong feels too humiliated to give the real reason anyway. How else was he going to admit to everyone that he felt too scared to ask Hyunmi out to dinner privately, so this is the only way he felt comfortable doing it?

He knows he's being a bit excessive, but he's losing patience.

He needs to try shooting his shot soon.

Hyunmi smiles. Maybe their boss is finally beginning to loosen up. She's gone on a walk with him already, but maybe after this dinner she can really make a friend? Maybe more than one friend?

Her heart sinks when she thinks of Jongho. Her reputation will only get worse if she got closer to Hongjoong though.

Everyone thanks Hongjoong and he smiles back, but he anticipates Hyunmi's response eagerly.

"Thank you Mr. Kim! I look forward to it," she beams. Hongjoong feels a mixture between a flutter as well as a punch to his heart. She's as formal as always. He doesn't know what more he should do to get her to properly warm up to him.

"I told you, call me Hongjoong!" he giggles to her in a low voice so that no one can hear him as the room is noisy with chatter.

Hyunmi laughs. "Sorry," she bows, preparing to enter her office. Hongjoong watches her walk away, feeling a pain in his heart. It's okay, he will change everything up at the company dinner. He'll make sure she can start comfortably calling him by his first name.

As Hongjoong thinks deeply to himself amongst all the chatter, there's one more person sitting silently.

Seonghwa sighs to himself while recalling Hongjoong's change in demeanour as soon as he sees Hyunmi. He so desperately wants to get closer to her, but can never get the chance. Their clingy boss always comes in the way.

This company dinner is his chance. At work, there's always something in his way. Saturday will be the perfect chance for him to finally talk to her and maybe she can at least become his friend. At least.

Hyunmi smothers lip balm on as she lights her candle in her office, oblivious to the racing thoughts of the men outside her room. All that is in her mind right now is Wooyoung from this morning, delighted hums escaping her while she unpacks her bag.

As she's starting up her computer, she starts to think about her apartment. She still has yet to greet her other neighbour. She feels a bit bad for never greeting them in the four years she's been living there, not even knowing who lives next door.

She wonders if she'd appear as shameless if she approached them today. It's better late than never, right?

Hyunmi decides to greet them tonight, hoping that they won't be asleep by then.

She hastily completes her work with the calming scents of jasmine wafting through the air, delightfully enjoying the lunch Wooyoung made her in between as well. As usual, Mingi and Seonghwa invited her to lunch with them but she had to decline, not noticing the pain in Seonghwa's eyes as she happily declined.

Wooyoung's meal stared back at her so welcomingly, she got distracted.

At last, the day comes to an end.

Hyunmi rushes out of her office, not noticing Hongjoong's mesmerised eyes as she slides her favourite pink balm over her plump lips.

"You'll definitely be coming to the dinner this weekend, right?" he asks loudly. Hyunmi stops in her tracks abruptly and nods hesitantly. It seems like it'll be fun, so why not?