A knock on the door broke me from my current work-mode. Some part of me was frustrated to be interrupted as I knew that it would take a while to get back into my usual work flow but that was also the reason I was thankful. If I wouldn't have been disrupted there was a chance I would overwork myself. As lazy as I am, I also somehow manage to part-time as a workaholic.
"Jiyeon?" The smiling face of Haerin was the first thing I saw as I looked up. Today, she was sporting a more "girl-boss" look with a suit jacket from a disgustingly expensive brand and some flared pants which she paired with a sleek ponytail, extremely tall pumps, and a perfect selection of jewelry. She was a walking kdrama CEO. Oh and of course her amazing visuals were the cherry on top.
In fact, I was so mesmerized that it took me a few seconds before nodding my head in expectance. It was precisely around noon and so I was understandably puzzled as to why she was here.
"I heard you wanted to talk to me?" I was still confused for a moment until I remembered that I had wanted to talk to her earlier upon arriving at HYBE but was told by a co-worker that Haerin was out doing something.
"Oh yes I did! Please have a seat." No, I hadn't magically decorated my office overnight but there was a desk, desk chair, guest chair, and a lamp already placed in the room most likely from the previous occupant. In fact as I walked Haerin to a seat across from my desk I made a mental note to go out shopping for furniture later this week.
"So?"
"Basically I wanted to ask you if I could take tomorrow off? I don't really have any major work and I have to pick up one of my friends from the airport. Of course I understand if you can't give me a full day-"
"Jiyeon!" Her face broke into a large smile and I had realized at that moment I was rambling. I wasn't quite sure when it had become a habit for me but it did and it's clearly something I need to fix.
We both lightly chuckled for a moment until I shyly rubbed my neck.
"It's okay, you can take the day off it's no problem." Her warm tone immediately made me break into a grin and I quickly bowed my head to thank her. Sure we were close in age but nonetheless Haerin held the most authority in the department and so all respect must be used when interacting with her. At least that's what I thought until Haerin immediately got up and waved her hands to me as if telling me to stop bowing.
"Jiyeon, It's my pleasure okay? Just make sure you submit the clothing ideas for Seventeen's comeback before next Wednesday!" And with a wave goodbye I was left in the room alone.
Some part of me was shocked at her casualty, but at the same time, it all made sense. It was no wonder the work environment was so comfortable and fun.
I quickly looked back at my iPad which contained all of the notes I had conjured up. Luckily enough, I wasn't going into this blind and didn't have to submit an idea which was the complete opposite of Seventeen's supposed preferences during the concept meeting. Soonyoung had mentioned to me many times how the group wanted to go for a more mature/dark concept so my ideas reflected that.
Maybe it was a bad idea to take this career path if I was fucking scared of rejection by my clients?
With my leave for tomorrow situated and my notes pretty much done I closed my iPad's case in preparation to leave before a knock on the door halting me yet again.
"Come in?" I knew that I wasn't expecting anyone so my exclamation turned out to be more of a question.
Surely enough, Mingyu walked in cautiously.
"Why are you here?" I still wasn't over how he had acted before so I laced my question with a hit of sass. He clearly expected this though as he rolled his eyes in response and fished his phone from his back pocket.
"Oh shut up this is serious, I'm not here to fuck around." Oh okay that was not was I was expecting. My face turned into a confused frown.
Mingyu walked towards the center of the room and sat himself down on the guest seat Haerin occupied a few minutes ago. "So although he asked me not to tell you, I feel I need to because I don't want anything to happen to the kid." My mind tried to process what exactly he could be talking about but then I immediately thought of one person.
"Mingyu, are you talking about Hyunjae?" He looked hesitant for a moment before slowly nodding.
"Okay what what the fuck is up with Hyunjae. Mingyu tell me right now." My heartbeat had quickened and panic started to seep in yet Mingyu did nothing but hand me his phone.
My eyes glazed over the extremely long conversation screenshot on Mingyu's phone and it felt like my world had stopped.
All of a sudden I felt tears welling up. "Does he not trust me? Why..." I struggled to form words as Mingyu hesitated about what to do next. I could tell he wanted to comfort me but wasn't sure he should.
"I promise you I came here the moment I got the messages." Even though I was grateful for Mingyu's actions, I still couldn't process the fact that Hyunjae had bought a ticket to go to UK and planned on leaving the country without me knowing. Sure that was already troubling enough but what hurt me more was the fact that Hyunjae didn't trust me enough to tell me, clearly shown by the fact he messaged Mingyu whom he had meant less than 24 hours ago. I felt as if I was betrayed to say the least.
Rapidly, I stood up to try and more effectively contemplate my feelings. But no matter how much I was torn, tears were still streaming down my face.
Mingyu sighed and pondered for a moment before getting up from his seat and engulfing me in a hug. No matter how much I fucking hated him I needed a good hug right now. My friend list was extremely small to the point that Soonyoung was only 1/2 of the good friends I had let alone the only one in the country.
"Just let it out." His tone secured me and more tears streamed down my face as I hugged Mingyu back. It felt so wrong yet so right.
Finally, after about a minute, I felt like I couldn't contain myself so I ended up spilling everything through sobs
"I don't know like...does he not trust me? I would support him no matter what he does and it makes me so fucking sad he doesn't know that Mingyu. But no, he plans on just leaving me? Behind my back? And the person he tells this to isn't me but a person he met less than a day ago?" Luckily my sobs had yet to prevent me from speaking my thoughts but they did prevent me from organizing them. Everything was clumping together to the point that I had to stop my talking and break the hug.
I had expected for him to pity me in one way or another but instead his face held an expression of adoration. "I don't know if I have the authority to say this, but I'm really proud of you for telling me this." I paused.
He's proud of me? No one all my entire life except for my father had told me they were proud of me and yet all I did was speak through sobs and Mingyu had said he was proud of me. I was confused that he spent such deep words on my pitiful 'speech.' For him, they may not have meant much but for someone like me, those words were sacred.
Tears welled up again, yet this time tears of comfort. Mingyu seemed yet again concerned as he immediately held on to my shoulders. "Are you okay?" I nodded as I slowly wiped my tears.
"You said you were proud of me...why?" Thousands of words swarmed my mind but the only word that came out of my mouth was why. Why had he said what he said?
"Because I am, Jiyeon, please let me be proud of you. This is not only tough to deal with but also to share with someone you barely kn ow." My lips quivered and this time I was the one to bring Mingyu into a hug.
"Can you come with me to talk to him?" I hesitated asking him but it was clear that this had to do with Mingyu as well, he should be allowed to come. Luckily, he smiled as he continued to hug me.
"Of course."
