Blooming | Ateez Hongjoong

04 • Outsiders

After Hongjong and Mingi leave, Hyemi takes some time to watch her favorite cooking channel on youtube as a relaxation on the sofa. She supposed to wash the dishes when they finished breakfast, but the other two snatched her work away.

I shouldn't have let them.

Especially Hongjoong as he has done so much for her already : be her most long-time friend since their first year of highschool. Always stay by her side as a hard core supporter everytime she breaks down. He even encouraged her to run away from where used to be 'her home' and offers her a place to stay etc.

I owe him a debt of gratitude. A huge one.

She frowns, the thought still stucks in her head. Until the door bell rings all of a sudden, Hyemi stands up and pushes her way towards the door to open it, revealing a familiar face.

"Excuse me, miss. Mr. Kim forgot this at his office yesterday and called me to deliver it," The middle aged man says while handing her a stack of documents.

She knows this man is Hongjoong's assistant as he often comes here on weekends to do some work discussions with her friend. Hongjoong is a type of person who loves spending weekends alone gaining inspiration for his designs, so having him here makes her assume their relation is probably more than boss and assistant.

"Thank you for your help Mr-"

"Please call me Hyun or assistant Hyun, miss Hyemi."

Catching the girl's confusion creeps onto her face, Hyun tries to suppress his chuckle by clearing his throat.

"Mr. Kim talked about you so I know."

"Oh...really? Thanks Mr. Hyun." She doesn't actually know why she falters after hearing what Hyun said. The man just nods then leaves.

What did he say about me?

*°• ✧ *•°๑

A thud can be heard as Hongjoong flings himself onto the sofa in the living room. He looks like just come back from a battle.

"I wanna sleep... Again," He murmurs in the dark since he didn't even turn on the light. His hand is placing under his head as a support.

"You should. But freshen up yourself first."

A woman has her long hair letting down which covers all of her face, whispering to him in a deadly cold deep voice. She standing at the end of the sofa where the man putting his head on.

"Wahh Jang Hyemi. Stop putting me off with that hair and voice though. This is the third time this week already."

Hongjoong squeaks, feeling his heart almost jumps out of his body and drops on the floor.

"What an experience huh? Hahaha" The giglet looks at him, one hand is adjusting her hair, the other is covering her mouth to suppress her laughter.

"I've been waiting for you Joong. Take a bath first then grab something to eat with me." then she turns over to light up the room.

"Sure!"

That's it. Her happy voice is enough to bring a smile to his lips.
.
.
.

"An accountant should eat more to strengthen her brain." Hongjoong puts another steak from his plate into Hyemi's.

"Um... Thanks."

"You wanna tell me something?"

"How do you know?"

Of course he knows. Everytime she wanna say something but not know how to sort out, the girl always unconsiously scratches her nail on the table or on her lap constantly.

The man is sure only him notices this particular habit of her and it makes him feel special, like a victory even. And he's also sure that she will never share this with anyone, even with her.

"Cause I'm a genius, as always," He answers casually, still managing to keep his boldness till the end. "So?"

"Starting from tomorrow, I won't be an accountant at that company anymore... I've quitted."

"What happened?"

"Don't worry, there are some better jobs on my lis-"

"I ask you what happened?" His usual calm soothing voice is replaced by a stern one.

Beside the caring side which everyone loves, Hongjoong has the demanding side that no one would be pleased to mess with.

Hyemi lets out a heavy sigh, totally defeated by her friend.

"My mom, she came to my work place last week and forced me to come back home for another married partner they've decided. My coworkers don't deserve to get involed in this mess so that was it." Her eyes are gluing to her dish on the table, avoiding his gaze.

"Seriously? We've lived under the same roof for a month and you still don't wanna let me help you?"

Peering at the male's hardened face because of anger and disappointment, she is speechless, trying to swallow the lump in her throat.

"Absolutely not! You have tons of work to carry on at the company already. Also, I can settle it myself."

Deep down, what she's worried the most is that Hongjoong's gonna do something to her parents if he knows this. Because he despises them with a passion.

"They are not even your biological parents though. You're being used like a servant within these past years is enough!"

"Joong, turn your voice quiet please." Hyemi attempts to calm him down as everyone is diverting their eyes to their table.

"Okay. Just do as you want then."

He doesn't want to ruin the mood with his tantrum anymore and the pair soon continues their meal in silence.

I have to do something.

A specific thought can't help but run through Hongjoong's mind. All in all, the feeling of being an outsider, he acknowledges it so evidently.

***********

Something is off ?