"Having a good night, Mia?" Byeong called from his desk.
Mia stopped, waiting a few seconds before she continued pushing the cardboard box onto the shelf.
She was too high up on the ladder, and while jumping down to strangle Byeong sounded like a great idea, she would probably break her neck doing it.
He was totally doing it on purpose, though. No boss blackmailed their employee to work on a day they knew was supposed to be special, then continued talking to them like nothing was wrong.
She climbed down from the ladder, resolutely refusing to look at Byeong. Instead, she tried to think of happier things, like this month's paycheck.
It had been stupid of her to take the jacket. Mia knew that. She regretted it now – after all, Renjun had never once commented on her wardrobe.
He wouldn't have cared whether she wore all blue or a rainbow. He noticed her because she talked to him.
Mia tried to think about happier things, like this month's paycheck, but her thoughts always went back to Renjun.
She couldn't believe how ridiculous she had acted this morning. Ara pretending to be the one who saved Renjun – what a load of bull that was. Mia should have just told him then. But no, she had gone and cried in the bathroom, then come straight to work.
But Mia had done a lot of stupid things recently, like thinking a change of clothes was all she needed to make Renjun like her.
Mia resolved that she was done – done borrowing clothes, done trying to pretend she was something else. Renjun would just have to like her for her lovely, monochromatic self.
Ah, but he wouldn't like her, Mia reminded herself as she climbed back down the ladder. Renjun would like Ara now.
Well, she could always try and steal him away. She considered telling him the truth – but he wouldn't believe her. He would think she was just being a creepy stalker.
Her pants buzzed. Mia jumped. She never answered her phone at work. But she fished it out of her pocket, glancing at the caller ID. Suji? What did she want?
She never answered her phone at work, but right now, Mia hated Byeong more than anyone on the planet. She hid behind a shelf, flipping it open. "Hello?"
"Mia! It's me! Listen, Hyunji made Ara pretend to be the one who rescued Renjun and-"
"Mia knows," she whispered. She had to be quiet. "Renjun-shi told Mia earlier."
Silence for a minute. Then: "what? He told you and you didn't say anything? Xiao Mia! What the hell is wrong with you?"
Juvia winced. "Renjun-shi made it very hard to-"
"What is so hard about saying 'That bitch is lying and I'm the one you should be worshipping!'"
"It is very hard," Mia argued, puffing out her cheeks. "Mia can't just – she can't just-"
"Can't just what? Tell Renjun you're in love with him? Mia! It's so easy! Look him in the eye and say-" she simpered, " 'Renjun-shi! Mia is in love with you!' "
"Mia doesn't sound like that!"
A throat cleared behind her. Mia froze, hand still on the phone.
"Miss Xiao?" Byeong asked. "Anything important?"
Suji was still yelling at her through the speaker. Mia, though she felt bad, hung up.
"Yes," she managed. "Yes, it was very important. Mia is sorry, but she had to take it."
