alexithymia | l. hyunjae

²

"Thank you so much, Ms Ha. I'm so excited to see the outcomes. Our dream house's future is on your hands." The couple gave Yoon a bow.

"No problem. It's my job as an architect to fulfill your orders. I will do my best to get your dream house built. Thank you for trusting me." She bowed, respectfully.

The couple just kept on thanking her nonstop until they arrived at the front door of her office. Yoon sent them out with her final smile before closing the door behind her.

She sighed in relief.

She took a glance at her wristwatch. 2.30 pm. Is it too late for a lunch break now?, she thought.

"Knock knock Ms Ha. Your delivery is here!"

A voice from outside made her to turn around and stared at the tinted glass door, confused.

Since when did I ordered something? Did I remembered it wrong?

"Hello? Your meals will turn cold if you don't eat it now." Yoon opened the door and was greeted by Mingyu's silly face. Beside his face, a transparent plastic bag with meals.

Yoon glared at him. "Come in. Don't forget to close the door." Mingyu chuckled and slowly closed the door with his leg as his hands were full with things. He put it all on her table before clapping his hand excitedly.

"I've been waiting for you to finish your meetings just to eat lunch with you. You must be so hungry, right? I bought your favorite chicken! Let's eat!"

"Kim Mingyu"

"Yes?"

"You've been doing this for the past few weeks everyday. Are you that spirited to change me?" Yoon sat herself in front of him, crossing her arms.

"What are you talking about? I'm doing this because you keep missing your lunch breaks. How can you do your works with an empty stomach? Totally not healthy." He grinned innocently at her.

Ever since that day where Mingyu gave Yoon his words about how she should try accepting new people, he would come to her office with meals with almost the same excuse. Yoon were aware that Mingyu was trying to soften her heart and agree to his suggestion.

and unfortunately, it worked.

"Deal." Mingyu looked at her, confused. "What deal?" "Don't act stupid, Mingyu. I know you know what I'm talking about." She leaned forward and opened a pack of chickens.

He grinned. Finally. I can't believe I had to sacrifice my wallet to treat her meals for three weeks just to hear this.

"Thank god. You know I thought I will become poor and still couldn't make you change your mind" Yoon left a laugh. "Serve you right. I never ask you to do it though. You volunteered yourself"

"But it's worth it." He answered.

"Whatever. So what's your plan? Oh god, I still can't believe that I'm letting myself to agree with your ridiculous idea. Do you put something on my meals?" Mingyu snorted. "If something like that exists, trust me I will do it. I guess maybe you couldn't resist my attractive face"

"Attractive my ass. I'm not like those interns you flirted every morning. Do better please."

"Okay okay. You win. You always hurt my feelings like that. Don't you feel sorry for saying harsh words to your one and only best friend? I'm offended, you know?" Mingyu put his right hand on his chest to show how hurtful he felt while wiping his non-existent tears.

Yoon rolled her eyes, she deliciously ate her favorite chicken and ignored her best friend dramatic complaints. Mingyu smiled. "You like it?" She nodded.

"Eat first. Later I will tell you about my plan." Yoon just simply nodded her head as she was too hungry to think about what kind of plan that Mingyu had planned for her.

It's harmless so nothing bad will happened, right?

A young man stood in front an empty house with a bunch of luggages on his side. He stared with mixed emotions visible in his eyes.

"Jaehyun? It's you, right?" A middle-aged woman in a floral top and brown pants came closer and greeted him. She looked like as if she just met someone after a long time.

it was.

The young man politely bowed at her with a shy smile. He scratched his neck, not sure what to respond. Did I know her? Think stupid, think!

Noticing his abnormal reaction, the woman smiled fondly. "You must didn't remember me. How fool of me." She laughed. "You were so little back then hence why. We were once neighbors" Oh.

His face gradually changing from pure confused to sudden realization. "I'm so sorry. I just remembered about some nice young woman." The woman chuckled.

"Unfortunately, that young woman has became an old woman. So you only remembered young woman, huh?" She teased. He laughed.

"Maybe."

"I keep forgetting to ask you ever since I saw you standing here. Are you moving in back? How's your parents?"

"Oh, about that. I just temporarily live here again since I get a job offer around here so to book a hotel is a bit unreasonable. About my parents, they're both healthy."

"Good to hear that. Ever since your family moved out 20 years ago, I've lost contact with your mom. I was so worried back then." He silently laughed to himself.

Mom lost her phone on a train so she bought a new one and dad didn't have her phone number.

"Okay maybe I should stop bothering you. There's a lot of things to unpack so you really need to start it now I suggest." He smiled and nodded his head. Bowing once again as the woman walked into her house. "If you need any help, just come and knock on my door, okay?" She shouted before disappearing behind the wooden door.

"Okay, no worries!" He shouted back. His gaze averted back to his things. "It's gonna be a looongggg night" He sighed then slowly dragging his luggages inside.

♡