I'M (NOT) MARRIED || YUCHAE

ELEVEN

chp. 11

"Good morning," Chaeryeong greeted politely while walking past her co-workers in the lobby, a shy smile on her lips as she avoided making eye contact with many. Most people were gaping at her, and she didn't know why. Did she have something on her face?

"Lee!" A familiar masculine voice called out to her, causing her smile to broaden.

Turning around, she spotted Taehyun running up to her with his glasses on, folders in hand, and a notebook.

"Taehyun, good morning to you too."

The boy grinned and bowed respectfully before speaking up, "How was your vacation?"

Chaeryeong beamed at his question. Out of all the things people asked her this morning, this one was by far her favorite. Only because it wasn't related to her fiancée.

"It was great, actually. Thanks for asking," she answered, then began walking to her desk.

The two engaged in light conversation, sharing their experiences over the past week of not seeing each other at work since they were partners on a specific project. It was relieving, like an escape from all the engagement-related matters with Yuna.

Although she couldn't completely avoid the articles about Yuna and her, her co-workers seemed too eager for gossip. She could hear all the murmurs around her when she entered a certain room.

Chaeryeong would often receive questions such as:

"Are you really engaged to Yuna?"

"When did you start dating her?"

"How did Yuna fall in love with you?"

"What's it like being engaged to her?"

"When is the wedding?"

As the day progressed, Chaeryeong focused on her work, trying her best to ignore the persistent questions from curious colleagues. She found solace in her writing, channeling her energy into creating engaging content for the magazine.

Taehyun, ever the supportive friend, noticed her growing frustration and stepped in to shield her from the prying eyes and intrusive inquiries. He would intercept the questions, offering vague responses or redirecting the conversation to work-related matters.

During a particularly hectic afternoon, Chaeryeong received a text message from Yuna.

Yuna (6:23 PM): Masquerade party tonight, I'm sure you remember. I'll be picking you up, so be ready at 7 PM.

A surge of excitement mixed with nervousness washed over Chaeryeong as she quickly replied, confirming her readiness for the evening.

As the workday came to an end, Chaeryeong eagerly awaited Yuna's arrival. She packed up her belongings, bid farewell to her co-workers, and made her way to the building's entrance. It wasn't long before she spotted Yuna's sleek black car pulling up outside.

Chaeryeong approached the car, her heart pounding in anticipation. However, as she got closer, she noticed a slight tension in Yuna's demeanor. Her usually composed face wore a slight frown, and her brows were slightly furrowed.

"Hi, Yuna," Chaeryeong greeted, trying to gauge Yuna's mood.

Yuna's response was curt and lacking her usual warmth. "Get in."

'That's odd.'

After everything that happened in the past few days, today was the strangest out of all. Chaeryeong knew that Yuna was quite a closed off person, but throughout the week, she had the model opening up a more, flashing glimpses of care. Even this morning, they were doing great, she even got a free ride and a happy Yuna.