The business was still running and I found myself in my office space. The telegram was still running, printing a few messages at a time. The pile of messages stacked up a little. I was not in the correct headspace to complete any business-related work. I needed to clear my thoughts so I settled on cleaning.
The office space before was a storage room. The multiple cabinets I assumed held old papers or were empty. I took the time to dust down each surface, open any cabinets if possible, and sort through papers held within the storage units.
Whilst picking a book up, a smooth piece of paper slid from the pages. I bent down to retrieve, roughly wiping the dust off the photograph with the back of my hand. It took a while to comprehend what I was looking at. It was a group photo. Nine young adults all smiling warmly to the camera that captured the moment. Eight of which are present at the base. The ninth member was, I assumed, to be the lost member that provoked a strong reaction at the alliance meeting.
I was already on thin ice so I didn't think to bring it up, slotting the photograph back into the book. Hongjoong strode in, focused on the telegram messages spilling in. He stopped a little at the sight of all the open cabinets and piles of papers on the ground. I popped out from behind, brandishing a spray bottle and a duster.
“Shouldn’t you be resting? I heard you nearly died.”
I held up the spray bottle and squeezed the trigger which expelled a mist of cleaning solution from the nozzle.
“The only time I remotely appreciate something aimed at me.”
I winced and lowered the spray bottle. The air turned awkward.
Manoeuvring around the piles on the floor and around Hongjoong, I came to a stop in front of the last cabinet that needed cleaning. My hand brushed against the handle and I received a little electric shock. The shock travelled from my fingertips and up my elbows, settling around my shoulder. It numbed my whole arm for a while and it took a few moments for my fingers to move. I circled my wrist and reached out quickly, pulling the storage unit out. Hongjoong rushed over and slammed the cabinet drawer closed.
“Don’t.” The low warning was clear in his voice. I brought both my hands up, palms out turned in defence.
Fear and curiosity peaked at that moment. Hongjoong retracted his outstretched arm quickly at the sight of my fear. He cleared his throat and avoided the curious glance, sidestepping back to the telegram. I picked up the nearest duster and settled on dusting the exterior of the cabinet. He took a seat at my table to go through the telegram messages, the occasional rustle and spray could be heard.
•••
I was about to pack away the files splayed across the floor when my hip let out a deafening crack. Stunned and embarrassed, I froze midbend. I took a glimpse at Hongjoong who peered over the papers with a concerned frown. I bent all the way to pick up a pile.
“Don’t bother, I was going to sort through them anyway.”
I mechanically straightened, eliciting another crack from my crunchy bones. I silently facepalm and dropped the pile opposite of Hongjoong. He refocused on the document and didn’t make any more sounds.
I pulled out the seat and sat down, taking old papers from the top of the pile. They were old track records from the early days of Blue Bird Deliveries. All were handwritten, lines of ink neatly ran across the page. It took a while to figure out the papers were out of order hence the weird calculations and inconsistencies in revenue. I laid out all the pages, leaving the connected ones as they were, and slowly joined each paper in their correct chronological order.
The business tactics in the beginning were quite lacking, a clear lack of standards and sets of conditions, causing overcompensation or the undervaluation of labour.
It was a timeline of watching Blue Bird Delivery grow through the yellowed pages and smudged ink. I could say now that the system was as efficient as it got under the management of nine people - a very small company. It was not to say that it was flawless, no, it was a hassle to establish and follow the standardised procedures but it lowered the rate of compensation and allowed a busier schedule. By the time dinner rolled around, I managed to read and sort through the pile. I handed the review I wrote up within that time to the captain and we headed to dinner.
•••
Mingi and San were arguing at the table. I sat down to watch the scene unfold. Yeosang slid in next to me, offering some air popcorn to spectate the drama. It did get boring being cooped up in one place with the same people you live with.
“Why don’t you listen to your doctor? You’re not supposed to be walking.”
“Two shots got nothing on me. Challenge and overcome yourself.”
“OvErcOmE yOuRseLf, my ass! You keep repeating that as if you’re immune to opening stitches, especially for raw wounds.”
“A doctor can’t force their patients, plus it’s recommended.”
San threw his hands up in frustration.
“Mingi-ah, no. Just no.” He sighed in defeat.
Mingi wore a wide grin at his victory against the medical professional. I shook my head a little, slightly concerned but greatly amused. Jongho slid down next to Mingi and brought his arm around his shoulder, pulling Mingi's body towards him.
“But I can force you.” Jongho pulled Mingi into a headlock.
“AHH! I’m a patient.” Mingi exclaimed.
“And a patient should listen to their doctor.” Jongho tightened the squeeze around Mingi's head. Mingi’s face was turning red by the second.
“FINE!”
At that, Jomgho released his grip and Mingi scooted a little away from his immediate reach. The spot next to me shook a little from the silent chuckles Yeosang made from watching the scene unfold. Wooyoung set down the meal on the table, also shaking his head and laughing from the argument that could be heard from the kitchen.
“Not even a day without me and you guys are at each other’s throats already.” Seonghwa plopped down beside me and rubbed his forehead at the three sitting opposite of us.
“It’s been 24 hours, you were saying?” Wooyoung sassed.
“I-”
“How about dinner now?” The captain interjected.
The argument-turned-banter stopped and the food was portioned and passed around. Yunho snuck in amidst the chaos. It was a complete table that shared jokes and liveliness unlike the past week. Happiness could be found in the most mundane given the dire situation outside of our comfortable bubble. These moments are the ones we hold to heart, watching the people we call our home come to life to share their lives with ours. In saying that, I almost forget my bleak moments and confusions from the recent events.
* * *
The body hit the ground. A shrill scream ricocheted off the walls. I paid no mind to the blur of passing figures, fixated on the fallen body. The light from their eyes extinguished. My surroundings dissolved around me, fading into a grey then white. I sat in the white space waiting…waiting for something.
* * *
YOU ARE READING
Home • atz
FanfictionA lost soul finds a home with a group of 8 amongst the chaos of an anarchical post-apocalytic world. ••• Basically, entering another world and suddenly landing employment with the ateez group which becomes more than just a job.
