The Light of Dead Stars | KSJ

28

You remove your coat and hang it in the locker room of the lab where one of the teams is finalizing the recipes for the company's new line of plant-based "meatballs" to cater to a wider market. You've been working on this with them, as Kim Foods Inc. aims to expand its clientele through various ways - one is through the fusion of other flavors, and another is through healthier options.

There's even a collaboration project with a vegan vlogger coming up, something you and Seokjin worked on after that one night you were on social media for fun, and your teams have been in contact with her for a while. There are lots of things happening and there's that giddy feeling of how food just excites you. You could even say that the trip to France intensified that feeling, as you and Jin found yourselves exploring alleys and still being surprised with the new flavors and presentations of the dishes you discovered.

You've got a lot on your mind, as you have to go through the reports and presentations of the different teams when Jimin spams your group chat and asks to meet everyone for lunch in an hour.

"Work gossip," he says, "and I need all of you there."

You meet him in a nearby cafe with Jungkook, who literally just got out of bed, and Dara, who truly looks like a different person because the research institute she works at has a strict dress code.

"So what's the gossip that Kook and I, who do not work in your company, somehow may be interested in?" She asks.

"Seri turned in her resignation today," Jimin says.

"What!" All 3 of you whisper-yell.

"And she's using her leaves so she'll be at the office for just a couple of days until she's gone for good," Jimin continues then turns to you. "What happened? Did you scare her off or something?"

"Yah!" You smack his arm, frowning at his accusation. "Of course not! But uh, maybe it has something to do with their breakup."

"They broke up?!" The 3 of them whisper-yell this time, and you flick each of their foreheads for being too loud.

"Yeah, uh, just last Saturday," you sigh. "I didn't wanna say anything yet since Jin was a little vague about it but I didn't think it would lead to her resigning. She's been in the company for over 5 years."

"So? People her age don't usually stay in one place for that long anyway," Dara says, turning to Jimin now. "But do you know why? Does it have anything to do with the breakup? Do you think it has anything to do with the breakup?"

"I would assume yes?" Jimin shrugs. " l mean, I'm sure it was hard to see her boyfriend with his wife, especially after VP Kim's wedding. Our friend over here and Mr. President looked like a happy couple. I'd be intimidated if I were her."

"Thanks for acting like I'm not here," you frown. "But wait, how did you even know?"

"___, it's like you and Jimin didn't become best friends because he's the company flirt," Jungkook laughs, and you nod because it's true.

"Correction, I'm the company flirt and company matchmaker and company best friend. Everybody goes to me for anything and everything. That's why I initially doubted that Jin-Seri thing because nobody knew, including me," he explains. "But anyway, Aecha's from their team and we're buddies whenever Sales has its monthly meeting with the VP's management support and she told me. But she doesn't know why. Apparently, all Seri said was that it was 'time to move on.'"

"Well, if they broke up then that's probably why," Dara says. "What did Jin say?"

"He just said something came up on her end and that he's been busy but shit, I hope it's not because of me," you groan, covering your face with your hands. "I tried to be so careful during the wedding but she'd like, just be there. There was even a time when someone was saying how good Jin and I looked together and for sure, Seri heard it."