vampire // txt

chapter 4: in the meanwhile

"She's never just missed work like this. Ever."

"Well I don't know how much more you want me to do about it. I've tried to reach out to her multiple times and the one time she answered she didn't give me much. But she was fine, probably just the flu."

"The flu? In the middle of Summer?" I asked, putting myself in front of the manager.

"Look Yeonjun, she's a grown adult. She's responsible for herself and how she communicates responsibly with her boss. Which she hasn't done very well. If she doesn't get in touch with a reasonable excuse or turn up soon she'll have to face the consequences, just like how it is for every other employee here." He steps around me with an irritated expression, clutching his clipboard in his arms.

"It's not like her at all though. What if something bad has happened? What if her sickness got worse? She lives alone doesn't she? What if she doesn't have anyone looking after her?"

With a groan he responds, "She has someone with her for god's sake. She said so on the phone. 'What if, What if, What if?' Listen, you shouldn't get so attached to a replaceable worker for Hype. It'll raise questions you know if you act this worried for some pretty young nurse. You should focus on work. Your members need you to focus too. This comeback isn't going to come by itself."

"But she's not just some replaceable worker! Have you not seen how much she does? She's only contracted for the members and I but she fucking helps the whole company. Shouldn't you care or at least pretend to care more about your employees?"

"Hey! That's no way to speak to her superior. Show some respect! I am the manager not the CEO. So, technically she's not my employee. Not mine to waste time worrying about. And neither should you. You have dance practice in 20 minutes. Worry over that instead. I've had enough hearing Mi-ae this Mi-ae that. Enough. She's just a nurse anyways." Before I could speak, he pushes me aside and storms off down the hall.

"Agh jesus, why is he such a dick when under stress?"

"Who's a dick?" A bright pinked haired boy emerges from the hair and makeup room.

"Oh, hey Taehyun. New color looks good."

"Yeah? It's very... pronounced. But I like it I think. Well doesn't really matter if I do or not but you know..." His eyes run along the wall until he blinks and turns to me. 

He slides his arm across my shoulders. "So who's the dick?"

"Our Manager. Our temporary one. He doesn't know his employees so he doesn't give a shit about them."

"Are you talking about Mi-ae? Did he tell you you can have her address though?"

I scoffed, "Yeah um no, I didn't even get to asking that. He just wants to completely erase her if she doesn't show up for work soon."

"What a dick." He takes his arm off and puts his hands into his pockets.

"Yeah, you're telling me," I say crossing my arms.

We walk down the hall quietly for a few moments before I ask why his eyes are boring into me.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?"

"You know like what. Why?"

"I don't know what you mean." He shrugs innocently.

I grab his shoulder and force his eyes to meet mine. "Like what?"

"Geez, now who's the moody one now?" I raise my eyebrow and he finally gives out.