Melting the Devil

Baked Pastry

A/N: So, @Valkyrie_Shadow_ mentioned that it's like What's Wrong With Secretary Kim and I was like oh, that's why the TikTok which I had this inspiration seems familiar and so distinct. Lol 😂 Thank you Valkyrie, I have to rewatch that KDrama, Seo Jun is zooooo lovely.

Secretary Kim and I have the same allergies, I can't be given a flower or whatsoever, well, except for the squash or pumpkin flower 😆 Every-time the pollen season here in the Philippines is approaching, I always and always bring a mask with me, cause pollens; they're everywhere. Before Covid-19, I wear face masks which other people took an offense of because 'I was so overboard', no people it's just allergies. I can't afford to have allergies.

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Tin's parents had instilled in him the value of perseverance and hard work from an early age. People had always expected Tin, who grew up wealthy and famous, to be spoiled rotten, but instead they were always taken aback to discover a quietly determined little boy who wasn't afraid to get his hands a little dirty. His parents never let him forget that all of that had been the result of years of hard work, of grit and tenacity, of literal blood (in his father's case), sweat, and tears, even though they could forgo working for the rest of their lives and still have enough money to fund their acquired expensive tastes.

This was especially the case with his father, who used to get him up early and out on the field in the off-seasons while he was in the league. He would say, "One more set, Tin, come on," even though Tin was already moaning in agony from the drills they did every morning. "The only way to achieve your goals is to persistently pursue them until you achieve them." 

Not because he was spoilt, but rather because he always made sure to do everything in his power to accomplish his goals, Tin had only known success in getting what he wanted ever since. He had made every attempt to let Can know how much his work and he were valued, but Can had not even hinted at giving up, which is why his unwavering decision to step down had caught him off guard. Can had actually set up a couple of interviews for this week, which only served to increase Tin's frustration with the whole situation. Considering that he had only four years of experience, what could be so important that he could decline the chance to work at an executive level?

Tin groans, remembering their conversation. Personal reasons, he'd said. Take some time for myself. Find love.

Tin is reminded of Saint by that last line, and how he had insisted that Can had at least a crush on him. That also caught Tin off guard, as Can had always acted in a strictly professional manner toward him. In any case, there's no reason Can would even find Tin endearing in that sense—after all, he knows Tin best—that is, when his anxiety gets the better of him, and Tin can be a moody, domineering asshole. Can had always handled those situations with poise and elegance, somehow always coming to the right decision. It's obvious that Can doesn't really need Tin, if he's determined to resign immediately, if he had to be totally honest with himself.

No, Tin really needs Can. He's so busy these days that he can't imagine being likely to function to his job like as he has over the last four years without Can, and it hurts to even consider the thought of having to train someone else from scratch, no matter how hardworking they were. He knew that Can would do the job flawlessly, but the issue was that, regardless of how well he trained his replacement, it would likely take months for them to catch up to Can at his best. Regardless of their potential success, they wouldn't match Can.

Tin looks at his bedside table's clock. Its bright red lights taunting him, it says 2:57 AM. Although he doesn't know why Can's resignation is causing him so much anxiety that he is losing sleep, he is aware that it is unacceptable. In order to put this worry behind him and finally be able to sleep at night, he needs to develop a solid plan that will genuinely persuade Can to stay with the company. Something that will demonstrate to him how much more they can accomplish together if he sticks with Tin.