Stay Stay Stay ||Choi Yeonjun||

08

"I've finalized the designs we are sending. Here, look through them. "

Cha Siwon tosses the file at me, across the table. I flipped through it, and once again she didn't add in most of my work, except one or two meagre pieces. It has been almost three months working here, and I think I don't like her. While she hasn't really insulted me or bullied me, she never listens to any of my ideas. She completely disregards any of my work.

"Uhm.. I don't think these would do. "

At this, she snaps to look at me. Daintily fixing her cateye-shaped glasses, she fixes her sharp gaze on me.

"Now,.. Whatever do you mean.. ? Are you implying, perhaps, I don't know how to do my job..? "

"No, I could never. But we were specifically told to design furniture pieces for the younger middle class. "

"And...? "

Is she being dumb on purpose? I want to scream..

"These pieces you chose for the sofa are literally made of oak wood. It's costly and no way acceptable for a, let's say, a newly wed couple. They wouldn't want some old, heavy furniture which is costly plus difficult to clean and maintain. "

Siwon remains expressionless. I can never tell what's going on with her. Why would she do this? Times and again, I rewind and try to figure out if I did something, but I could never recall anything. Nobody else had any problems with their seniors. The other seniors were more accomodating, listening to Bora's and Suyeong's ideas. Their works were included, they were acknowledged.

"Plus all these are either white,beige or brown. We could've added some colours, pastel or something."

She looks at me for a long time before shrugging.

"I think it looks fine. I mean, I would want these. Plus Ms. Chae, as your superior, I get to finalize it. "

With that, she gathers up the files and sashays away. A groan makes it way out and I slam my head on the table, after making sure no one's nearby.

"Now, now, Rin-ah, we don't want to dent the table. "

"Shut up, Pengu! "

I feel him slide out the chair next to mine and sit down. His fingers drum a steady beat on the wooden table.

"Is it really that bad..? "

Hueningkai loses his previous teasing tone, instead addressing me with earnestness. He looks everywhere but at me, his fingers are now actively intertwined and fidgeting. I try to look in his eyes, willing him to look at me. But he doesn't.

"I don't know. She doesn't bully me or insult me. She never makes me run around to do her chores. But it's also tiring that she never listens to what I've to say, never considers my opinion. Till now, she hasn't included any of my works in our projects except few of the small ones. "

He keeps quiet, absorbing everything I say. For a while I just stay seated, too tired to get up. I rest my head on his sturdy shoulder. He doesn't speak and nor do I.

The silence is cut through with a loud gurgling noise from my hungry stomach. Hueningkai laughs, which promptly sounds like dolphin screeching. I punch him hard.

"Okay,.. Bwahahahahaha.. Don't hit me..Let's go feed that monster. Can't scare kids with that sound, now can we? "

After a quich lunch, where Hueningkai stole all the spicy sausages from my bento, we all headed in our directions. I join Suyeong and Bora and enter the conference room.

After we settle down, the door swings open again and Mr. Choi enters, looking so effortlessly striking. His sharp, graceful silhouette was cloaked in a charcoal coat. He gazed around the room, straightening his glasses until his eyes caught mine. Everything in me screamed at me to look away but his eyes had an iron grip hold on mine. It was only when he looked away, I did the same but I was very aware of the electric connection that seemed to beam for a second.

The teams begin presenting their designs and I stare at them. The designs were what I wanted to present, funky, colourful, lively and most importantly sustainable and cost-effective. When it came for our turn, Siwon obviously took the lead. I couldn't find it in myself to look enthusiastic when the work seemed mediocre to me.

Instead, I tried to gauge what Mr. Choi was thinking. He sat with his lips in a tight line, his slender fingers drumming a steady beat on the table. His eyes we're focused, almost piercingly on the designs. This time I could almost read through his neutral look. His eyes shone with disappointment.

That shot an arrow of guilt and distaste through me. For months, I felt stifled as my designs weren't being presented and my heart felt restricted. Back at Kim Pvt. Co., my work may have been severely criticised and never accepted, but I always felt some slight satisfaction that I gave my best efforts. Sure the results were never accepted and instead degraded, but it was my best attempt. Here Ms. Cha seemed to be restricting me, my efforts promptly shrouded over.

After the last presentation ended, Mr. Choi stood addressing all of us.

"So as for this project, after the tasteful presentations I've decided that this will be handled by team 4 and 5. You all have the next month before launching. The rest of the teams will meet me tomorrow at 11. You all are dismissed for today. "

I go and pack up, ready to leave. Siwon passed by my cubicle and threw a measly 'good job!' my way. My phone pings and a notification pops up, flashing Hueningkai's message asking to join him for coffee. Since my evening was free, I typed in a quick affirmation and went to the restroom. I quickly do my business, and while standing in front of the mirror I apply some lip balm.

I was walking towards Hueningkai's office, when two male voices deep in conversation echo out in the hallway. I quickly duck away, wanting to rather wait than confront Mr. Choi. But Hueningkai's voice contained an almost pleading tone which caught my notice.

"Please hyung! You need to do this. I already told you about what Siwon is doing to Ahrin. "

She peeked to see Mr. Choi shake his head at him. Hueningkai sighed exasperated.

"I'll do it tomorrow. This one will prove it. I really hope what you said is true... I had seen so much potential in her, but her work hardly portrayed a fraction of it. "

"You trust me, right? Trust me when I say Chae Ahrin is a true gem. "

"For all our sakes, I hope you're right... "

"Hmm.. Okay bye hyung! I'll go pick up Ahrin. "

"You'll drop her? You don't live in the same direction though..? "

"Not quite.. But today we're going for some coffee. Then go our ways. "

I quickly snuck back, trying to appear nonchalant. Like I hadn't heard Hueningkai plead my case to Mr. Choi and getting the almost gutting revelation that Mr. Choi thinks my work is not upto mark.

"You ready? Let's go. "

Hueningkai pulls me along with him. We reach the peaceful cafe and order our coffees with some delicious looking pastries and tarts. Hueningkai fills in with inane chatter and I try to keep along, but my mind keeps on circling back in the conversation I heard.

Whatever project is given tomorrow, it might be my last chance to prove myself. And I'll do whatever to prove myself. This new job was like paradise, and I'll never leave it even if I've to fight with Cha Siwon.