Art Gallery ~ minsung

23rd February

Jisung's POV

It was the day of the meeting. I woke up sweating, after having turned in bed all night due to multiple dreams that ended with me falling from somewhere.

I got up, had a shower, wore the outfit I had already chosen before, did my hair, put some lipstick on, went downstairs. I tried to eat something, but it seemed impossible. I was trembling, and the cold did not help at all. It seemed like there was no method that could stop me from being this anxious. 

I looked at myself in the mirror and saw the same, stressed out silhouette. I looked pretty horrible, since when that bill came home. I had no idea how to pay it and the time was ticking. 

I breathed in. I breathed out. Multiple times. No way I could stop overthinking.

So, I took everything I may have needed, checked myself again in the mirror and went straight up out of my house, forcing myself to move out of the living room. 

The rain jumped freely on my umbrella, creating a pretty satisfying sound. I got used to it way too soon and realized I was walking to the nearest bus stop. Breathe in, breathe out.

My scarf covered my whole neck. I shivered in the cold even though I was wearing a hoodie over a turtleneck and a heavy jacket. I tried to look stylish, and was hoping I didn't mess up completely.

On the bus I usually listened to some music, but that day I couldn't. My mind was too focused on the meeting. My throat felt tight, just like my chest, my head felt light and my feet were so distant. It seemed that I was losing control over my muscles, over my nerves, but deep down I knew, it was just anxiety. Breathe in, breathe out.

I watched as the city didn't inspire me as usual. I loved Seoul, with all of my heart, but when anxiety walked in the way, I couldn't find the usual bliss it gave me anywhere around.

Soon, I found myself in front of the building. I sighed and walked in, got to the elevator as I shivered once again from the change of atmosphere. It was nice and warm in there. Breathe in, breathe out.

I walked down the corridor. The walls were covered in a stylish grey pattern, different from what I expected. All my life, I thought offices always had plain white walls and deserted corridors, with a filthy air that compressed to your chest as soon as you entered. Instead, this place felt calm and slightly lovely. Still, it didn't help much, knowing that a whole thunderstorm was going on inside my stomach and all my nerves were on the verge of tears. 

There was a clock hanging on the wall. I realized I was pretty early. Maybe, though, I was too early. Breathe in, breathe out.

Before I could blink, someone came out of one of the rooms neatly aligned along the two sides of the corridor. He was a very young man. An enormous smile formed on his face as soon as he saw me. 

I was frozen for a while, I couldn't do anything but smile back awkwardly. And this is how I lost the job in less than four seconds. 

"Hey, you must be Han Jisung, right?" 

I nodded as my gaze didn't leave the man's eye smile, then I bowed even more awkwardly. Oh God, I was messing up real big. 

The young man bowed as well. I soon noticed I hadn't said anything and quickly went: "Yes, I'm Han Jisung, yes!"

I'm so fucking stupid.

"Great!" I wondered if this guy's smile could get any bigger. "I'm manager Yang Jeongin, just call me Jeongin. We are family now, you know?"

I widened my eyes as my mind replayed those words. "We are family now, you know?", how could a random guy become part of my family?

Then I realized. Once again, I mentally muttered to myself that I'm incredibly stupid before smiling. "Family?" I asked.