In Your Dreams (A DahMo Fanfic)

9: Finally?

Something doesn't make sense. The number on Dahyun's CV is exactly the same as the one she gave me in the dream. Instinctively, I try to call her again. Same response. What gives?!

"Can I borrow your phone?" I ask Sana, who's tying her skating boots.

Okay, so she did block my number, as it's ringing on Sana's phone. Well, isn't that just lovely?

Just as I was about to send a retaliatory text, someone from the other end picks up.

"Hello?" My breathing tenses, like how seatbelts tighten during a sudden brake, as I hear her voice. It's her—it's actually Dahyun! At least I can now really throw out the "Am I crazy" card out the window.

"Dahyun-ssi...I mean, Ms. Kim Dahyun?" I want to play it cool first, especially since I'm using a different number.

"Y-yes? Who's this?"

I glance at my messages to her. Wow, I seem psychotic.

"It's Hirai..." I pause. "...Sana. I'm Hirai Sana." Sorry, Sa-tang. I'm playing this one close to the chest. "You sent out an application for our Graphic Artist position, right?"

There's dead silence on her end. "For which company? I sent out a lot of applications."

"Ah, right. We're TDOONG Entertainment, Inc." God Momo, this is elementary stuff. It should've come with your introduction.

"TDOONG...yes, yes! I remember now," Dahyun exclaims, her tone now warmer. "What can I do for you?"

"We'd like to invite you over for an interview..."

Dahyun's squealing, while at a distance from the phone, cuts me. I can't help but smile, hearing her excitement. If she only knew how much more excited I am.

"Would tomorrow be a good time? Around 3 p.m.?" Normally, I don't like doing interviews in the afternoon, but I want to use this a segue for an after-work date. Modern problems require modern solutions, as the meme goes.

"Ah yes! I'll be there," she beams, slightly hurting my ear. "Thank you very much, Ms. Hirai! See you tomorrow!"

Weird...doesn't she recognize my voice?

"Momo-ring, come on," Mina calls out from the rink. "By the way, keep your leg still. It's not a good look," she scolds.

Damn, apart from my restless leg, my whole body's aflush right now. Tomorrow's the day.

***

"Someone's in a good mood," Ms. Park notes as she gets water from the dispenser.

"Good morning, sunbaenim," I reply with a smile, which catches her off-guard.

"Uh, good morning...did you start calling the applicants?"

"I actually started last night, and one will show up later this afternoon," I reply, stirring my instant ramen. Damn, I can't keep this grin off my face; my cheeks are starting to tire.

Jihyo approaches me and pats me on the shoulder. "There—that's the zeal I want out of you, Momo-ssi! Keep it up!" I curtly nod in response, not used to her praise.

***

"Tell me the truth," Sana mutters as she pulls me to the side of the hallway. "You got laid last night, didn't you?"

"What?! No!" Where's she coming up with this?

"Well, why'd you treat us to lunch?" Sana continues to eye me.

I raise an eyebrow to her as well. "Can't I just be kind to my friends? Really...you're the one whose mood depends on sex," I counter.

Sana looks left to right before shushing me.

Okay, just fifteen minutes left. Kinda feels like déjà vu. But this time it's different—I know she's real.

"Sana, someone's looking for you at the front desk," someone from accounting tells my friend. "Weird, I didn't know your last name's Hirai."

Oh shit. She's early! "That's me," I butt in. "I'll, uh, explain it later!" I quickly check my teeth and spritz some perfume before dashing out.

***

Dahyun looks around the meeting room, seated across from me. I can't help but marvel at her, sporting a charcoal grey pin-striped blazer that's patterned with her pencil cut skirt. So she really has black hair that perfectly compliments her alabaster skin.

"Why so formal? It's just me." I don't show it to her, but I'm fiddling my clammy fingers underneath the desk.

She sheepishly smiles, tucking her hair to reveal her reddish ears. "Sorry."

Wow, is she really this uptight to finally meet me? We keep staring at each other, our heads tilting in the same directions, like that scene in The Karate Kid (which isn't karate, but actually kung fu).

"You look perfect," I say, anxiously tapping my pen on the desk.

Dahyun averts her gaze. "Uh...thank you, Ms. Hirai."

What's this? Some kind of a Fifty Shades kink? Is she roleplaying now? Not really the time and place, Dahyun.

I chuckle, shaking my head. "Please, just call me Momo. As if you already don't."

She juts her head forward, eyes squinting. "Momo? I thought your name's Sana. At least that's what you told me on the phone."

What? Is this another prank? "Sana's my friend here. I was the one talking to you last night."

Dahyun puts a finger over her lip, and jolts back. "You're that Momo?! The one who keeps texting and calling me?!"

"Uh, yeah? Because you gave me your number and you didn't reply at all?"

Dahyun scoffs, crossing her arms. "As if I'd actually give a stranger my number."

A stranger?! The fuck? Contain yourself, Momo. You're in the office. You're not in control here. "Ha, ha, ha. Very funny. You're a great actress, you know that? Pretending to not know me," I shoot back calmly, but my grip on the pen the tightens.

She rolls her tongue to her cheek, raising an eyebrow.

"But this is the first time I've seen you...Momo-ssi."