Can't Say No

Don't Be Mad

MONTH 6

You adjusted your skirt, it was new, Taehyung insisted that you looked you best for this interview. You were still perplexed and a little vexed that you were here. You had a good job and you were pretty sure you weren't qualified for this position, but Taehyung had a plan that you weren't aware of yet.

You didn't know a lot about Taehyung's job. You knew his father was training him to either take over or become a major force in the company, Tae was leaning towards major force because he liked leaving work at work and being free in his off time. He liked freedom in his schedule, taking weekend trips and sleeping in on a random Wednesday.

He just wasn't built for a 9-5 job and his father seemed to respect that, surprising enough, but when his dad asked something there wasn't always an option to say no.

Two weeks ago, you were making dinner and he was leaning against the counter, biting his thumb and staring off into space. You knew something was bothering him, but you let him continue until dinner was ready and you had set the table. When he was still nervously picking at his thumb with his teeth, you pulled his thumb out and playfully punched his chest,

"Spill it!" He laughed and let you lead him to the table. He picked at his food, but still didn't start. You're not good with tension, it eats you up and you're not good with words either. You know a lot of women who are, whose feminine charms soothe broken hearts and all that, that's not you. You dipped your fingers in your water and flicked it at his face. You grinned widely at the shocked expression on his face and you felt the tension break.

"I met with my dad today," he says, wiping his face and stretching his shoulders. You had forgotten about the meeting.

"Bad news?" You tentatively ask, like testing ice with the point of your skate.

"Not bad news, just news." He waits a heartbeat as he looks at you, he licks his top lip and continues, "He wants me to go to Tokyo in a month and he wants me to stay there for two or three months during a business transition."

You just stare at him. He would be gone for two or three months? What would you do? Nothing to do but crawl in a hole and cry and wait for him to come back. You could feel the hurt rising in your chest, but you had to be supportive, had to encourage him right? That was your job as his girlfriend wasn't it? But all that came out was

"Fuck," You're really not good with words. But Tae just nods as if he knew exactly what you would say. He pushed his food around and you don't feel like eating, but try to.

"Will you come with me?" He asked quietly, not looking at you. You feel your heart tighten because you can feel how bad he wants you to say yes. But you can't.

"I can't, my job." You said just as quietly. He put down his fork and looked you full in the face,

"Get a new one when you come back," He said with more confidence than you think he actually feels. Another example of just how different your lives are.

You talk about it for hours, about the rent on your apartment, about jobs, about moving in with him and not working at all. It never escalates into an argument, but by the end of the night you are both tired and though he holds you like he does every night you spend together, you don't talk like you normally do and you both stay up later than you normally do, thinking to yourselves. You don't talk about it much the next two days, but abruptly on the third day, Taehyung hands you a bag with a blazer, blouse and pencil skirt inside.

"I want you to apply for a job at my dad's company." That does start an argument but in the end, you're here, adjusting the pencil skirt and waiting for your interview. You hate him for winning, that you can't say no. But what is a new job going to change? You still need to be here for the job for the next two to three months right?

"Y/N?" A woman calls your name. Her smile is friendly and her demeanor energetic and you immediately feel at ease. You follow her into an interview room and begin the interview.

"Y/N, I'm not sure how much Mr. Kim has told you about this position?" Mr. Kim? It's got to be Taehyung. "He told me a few weeks ago that he had a promising candidate but we haven't had an opening until now. I'm very pleased to meet you and I'm impressed by your resume. Let me tell you about the position and let's get to know each other better."

Most times you know when an interview is going well or not and surprisingly this one was going well. As you talk about qualifications and about the company, you feel your hope unconsciously start to rise until

"Y/N, I would be delighted to bring you on the team, if we are a good fit for you? I'm assuming that you would need to give your other job two weeks notice. Your first two weeks would be training onsite, but then you would be free to work remote, with support from the team of course. Mr. Kim said that you might be interested in working part time the first couple of months and then switching to full time, is that correct?"

Remote, part time during the same time Taehyung would have to be in Tokyo... That sneaky bastard! He had planned this? But dammit, the pay was better, the company was better, and it didn't feel like she was being influenced by Taehyung either. And dammit if you didn't accept the job.

As we leave the interview room, she smiles, "We get a lot of referrals here, they are favorite candidates usually. If a good member of our team thinks highly of someone else's qualifications and character, it saves us a lot of trouble sifting through resumes. We are excited to have you onboard, Y/N!"

When you get home after your interview there is a huge arrangement of flowers on the table with a card that says, "Congrats! Don't be mad when I get home, I'll take you out for fried chicken and boba! Love Tae"

That sneaky bastard! Well it looked like you were going to Tokyo.