Entangled Fates: SaMo

Chapter 9

[MOMO'S POV]

As the clock neared 3 pm, my nerves heightened in anticipation of Chaeyoung's visit to my office. When she entered, I managed a smile and greeted her, feeling a mixture of excitement and anxiety. Chaeyoung, always effortlessly stylish, gave me a warm hug and complimented my appearance today, momentarily easing my nerves. We settled into discussing our collaborative project, and Chaeyoung assured me that the photoshoot was going smoothly. However, a wave of tension washed over me as she mentioned that the entire project would take around three weeks to complete. Three weeks felt like an eternity, and I couldn't help but worry about meeting expectations.

As Chaeyoung left my office, I returned to my desk, my mind buzzing with thoughts. Amidst the sea of work-related concerns, I remembered the WeConnect platform. I logged in and was surprised to find that someone had matched with me. Excitement and curiosity mingled as I discovered that this person had chosen me to be their mentee. The timing seemed almost serendipitous, a welcome distraction from the pressure of our collaboration.

Perched on the edge of my office desk, I found myself grappling with the unknowns of the mentorship awaiting me. Papers and pens became my tools of distraction as I aimlessly shuffled them around, trying to postpone the inevitable– reaching out to my new mentor. Wandering around the office provided only a temporary escape. Finally, I took a deep breath and decided it was time to confront the email. With a mix of nervousness and anticipation, I composed a message. Playfully adopting the name 'Peach,' I greeted my mentor and conveyed my genuine excitement about delving into the WeConnect platform.

I laid my cards on the table, admitting my uncertainty about the next steps. Despite the ambiguity, I expressed sincere happiness and gratitude for being chosen by whoever was on the other side of that email. It was an earnest acknowledgement of my excitement for the journey ahead, coupled with genuine openness to whatever guidance and insights this mentorship might unfold.

Lost in the haze of exhaustion, I found myself waking up on my desk, disoriented and groggy. My assistant, Eun-ae, had tried unsuccessfully to rouse me, resorting to a series of futile attempts until a loud cough finally jolted me awake. Apologizing profusely, I rubbed my eyes, realizing that I had unintentionally succumbed to a nap in my office. Eun-ae, ever composed, informed me with a hint of concern that our meeting was just around the corner, giving us a mere 5 minutes to avoid being late. We hurriedly made our way to the meeting room, where I sank into my chair, bleary-eyed, and watched my employees present their ideas. The weight of stress etched on my face, I found myself in a passive agreement with whatever they proposed, too fatigued to contribute meaningfully.

As the meeting concluded, I felt the need for a moment of solace. I dialed my mom, seeking comfort in the familiar voice of family. We exchanged small talk about her day, a brief respite from the chaos of work. Driving home, the fatigue clung me like a heavy shroud. Collapsing onto my couch upon arrival, too drained to make it to my bed, I succumbed to the exhaustion that had gripped me through the day.

The relentless pounding on my front door and the incessant ringing of the doorbell jolted me awake. Groggily, I stumbled out of the sofa, rubbing my eyes as I stumbled toward the noise. I couldn't help but wonder who on earth would be so persistent at this ungodly hour. As I approached the door, the noise grew louder, and I hesitated for a moment before peering through the peephole. To my disbelief, there stood Jeongyeon, looking slightly disheveled but undeniably real. With a gasp, I swung the door open, and before I could utter a word, she was wrapped in an unexpected embrace as I practically jumped into her arms.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I held onto her tightly. "I miss you so much," I managed to choke out between sobs. "I can't believe you're here. I'm so happy you're back home. Don't leave again and just stay here." Jeongyeon, clearly taken aback by my sudden outburst of emotion, stammered, "I wanted to surprise you. I missed you too and I'm happy to be back." We shared a moment at the doorstep, just relishing the fact that she was here, in the flesh, after what felt like an eternity. Eventually, we retreated inside.

Curiosity got the best of me, and as we settled down, I asked her about life as an engineer in America. "Seems easy," I teased, a mischievous grin playing on my lips. Jeong chuckled, "Easy? Far from it! But it's been an adventure. Work, life and everything in between. Sure, sometimes I can only sleep for four hours but I do get paid a lot."

We bantered back and forth, making silly jokes, just like old times. The hunger crept in, reminding us that a hearty meal was in order. Opting for convenience, we decided to order food and crack open a couple of beers. As we sat there, munching on our favorite dishes, the conversation flowed effortlessly. Laughter echoed in the air, and it felt as if no time had passed by since Jeong's departure.

As I walked her out to the door, I couldn't shake the feeling of not wanting our time together to end. "It's really not necessary for you to go back to the hotel tonight. My place is just a short drive away, and I'd love for you to stay over." She smiled warmly, "that's so sweet of you, but I don't want to inconvenience you. Besides, my hotel is just a few minutes away, and it's already pretty late." I nodded, respecting her decision, but a hint of disappointment lingered. "Alright, if you're sure. We had such a great time tonight, though. I hate for it to end so soon." She chuckled, "I know, I had a fantastic time too. Let's definitely do this again soon. How about we meet up tomorrow?"

A smile crept onto my face, "I'd love that. Tomorrow sounds perfect." As she started to make her way out, she added, "I'll text you when I wake up, and we can plan our day. Goodnight, Momo." "Goodnight, Jeong," I replied, feeling happy. But then, a sudden decision struck me. "Actually, you know what? I think I'll take the day off tomorrow. No work. Just us hanging out. I'll let my assistant know to cancel my meetings." Her eyes lit up, "Really? That sounds amazing! I can't wait. See you tomorrow, then."

With a final goodbye, she left, and I closed the door behind her, already looking forward to the extended time we'd share the next day.

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Okay last update for today hahah. It's almost midnight and I just couldn't stop myself from updating again. Thank you for reading ONCE!! Have a great day!