Ignite || CSC [on hold]

Fateful Serenade

Seungcheol POV

In the midst of my phone conversation with my father, the door to my office swung open, and Mingyu entered, launching straight into his story. "Guess who I met at the bar last night! She was something else," Mingyu announced enthusiastically, unaware of the ongoing call.

As Mingyu excitedly recounted his encounter, his gaze shifted to me, and he finally registered the seriousness of the situation. "Wait, are you... on the phone?" he asked, his voice trailing off as realization dawned on him. I raised my eyebrows, indicating how obvious his question was.

"Oh, shit," Mingyu exclaimed, embarrassment coloring his cheeks. "Sorry about that. I'll catch you later," he added quickly, retreating from the room with an apologetic wave.

I sigh at Mingyu's blunder, before turning my attention back to my father on the phone, the interruption only adding to the unpredictable chaos of my daily life.

Asking about my mother, I absorbed the updates, my father's words carrying both the warmth of family ties and the subtle urgency of a son's presence. "I'll be there today," I promised, determination infused in my tone.

Ending the call, I surveyed the tasks awaiting my attention. Despite the mounting workload, the promise made to my father echoed in my mind, urging me to balance the demands of my career with the essence of my familial bonds.

Mingyu barged into my office. "Hey, you should've warned me you were on the phone. Now your parents probably think I'm a bad influence."

I raised an eyebrow. "It's not my fault you didn't knock before barging into my office. And don't worry, they already know you're a playboy."

Wonwoo entered the scene with a bemused expression, adding fuel to the banter. "He's right. You'd have to work really hard to convince them you're a decent human being."

Mingyu shot back, "Coming from someone who's known for being antisocial."

Wonwoo's eyebrows shot up in mock surprise. "Me? Antisocial? Says the guy who once spent an entire weekend avoiding group hangouts."

Mingyu scoffed, "At least I wasn't reading books the whole time."

Wonwoo smirked, "Ah yes, because avoiding social interaction is so much more productive."

Mingyu rolled his eyes, "Productive or not, at least I'm not stuck in my own world, pretending it's more interesting than reality."

Wonwoo, always quick with a response, retorted, "Well, your reality seems to involve a revolving door of dates, so who's to say which one's more interesting?"

Their bickering continued, each comeback more sarcastic than the last. I, seated at my desk, couldn't help but find amusement in the absurdity of their argument. "Alright, enough, you two. I need your help; otherwise, I won't hear the end of it from my parents."

As the clock neared 7 PM, the banter between Mingyu and Wonwoo gradually subsided, giving way to a focused collaboration on our tasks. With the workload finally under control, I leaned back in my chair, glancing at the clock.

"Alright, enough for today, you two. I appreciate the help. I'll see you both tomorrow."

Mingyu, still slightly irritated from our earlier exchange, shot back, "Yeah, yeah. Tell your parents I'm not the devil incarnate."

Wonwoo added with a smirk, "And remind them that being antisocial has its perks."

I chuckled at their persistent banter. "I'll consider it. See you."

With a nod, I gathered my belongings and headed towards the door. The evening air greeted me as I left my office, the city lights starting to flicker to life. Tonight, I wouldn't be returning to my penthouse. Instead, I drove towards my childhood home, a mix of anticipation and apprehension filling the air.