Stay Stay Stay ||Choi Yeonjun||

18

"Thank you for dropping me off, sir. And thank you for helping me with this amazing project. I had one of the best times of my life! "

Yes, our work in Hokkaido was done. After that evening, we both returned back by the second day. Yeonjun didn't feel like staying long in a place which had such memories that hurt him, so we both returned back with the excuse of work. Once back in Hokkaido, we both delved into work but also traveled around the city. We even took a long drive to the beach, watched a sea lion and dolphin show and ate delicious Japanese food.

Once we showed the final result to Sinji, she squealed and jumped around. We knew we had succeeded in pleasing our little client. Thus we both took flights back home. Now Yeonjun once again hauled my luggage up four floors even though I insisted I could take a cab and I could carry my luggage.

"You know you can call me Yeonjun right? Like we already know so much about each other, these formalities are just futile. "

"But you are my —"

"Trust me, I didn't forget that fact. But I'm insisting you to drop formalities. "

His feline eyes were intense, and I could feel my face growing hotter by the second. I tugged a lock of hair behind my ear and looked away.

"It's an order.. Ahrin. "

Whichever Gods are listening, please put me out of my misery....

◦•●◉✿✿◉●•◦

I felt slightly trapped under the watchful, almost predatorial gaze of Bora and Suyeong.

"Bora, can you please remind me how long we've been working together? "

"We joined in August and it's December now, so.... five months. "

"And have you ever seen our Ahrin glow like this? "

"Well, Ahrin is so very pretty. But this golden glow, nuh-uh... This is new. "

I pushed a stray chunk of hair behind my ear and took a bite of my egg sandwich. I proceeded to chew it. Damn, I could have added mustard for that slight kick...

"Better spill, Rinnieee! "

"I don't know what you both are on!! "

As I shrieked, Hueningkai and Yeonjun entered the cafeteria. Our eyes met from across the room, his lips tilted up in a small smirk. My lips widen in a smile even before I knew what I was doing.

"Is everything okay, Rin-ah? I'm pretty sure that pterodactyl screech was yours. "

"Shut it, you idiot! As if you ever shout elegantly. Your's is worse than a dolphin, in fact it is so high in frequency I'm pretty sure sometimes only dogs and bats can hear it! "

Hueningkai let out a disbelieving gasp. Bora and Suyeong try to hold back snorts of laughter. In retaliation, Hueningkai takes away the other half of my sandwich and runs out of the cafeteria.

Yeonjun shakes his head and takes out a small lunchbox of onigiri

"Have some, please. "

Bora and Suyeong look a bit shocked, but take one each. I took one too. It had creamy salmon as filling.

"Oh salmon's my favorite! Thank you si- uh Yeonjun. "

"Is it? I made them, glad you liked it. I'll feed you other varieties. "

He ate his share of two onigiris with us and left after excusing himself. I looked at his retreating back. Today he had worn a casual periwinkle blue and white striped shirt and the look was very refreshing. Even his hair was looking adorably floppy.

CLICK

"This was exactly what I was talking about!! Did you catch it?!"

"Uh huh, I play to win and you can't win without proof. See this Bora, you can practically see the hearts in her eyes. "

I snatch the phone out of Suyeong's hands to delete the pictures. But Bora tackles me and takes it back.

"Yup, now spill Ahrin. What happened on the trip? "

"Nothing happened rea—"

"Did he finally confess? "

I choked, coughing out coffee.

"WHAT IN THE WORLD?! HE DID?! "

"Are you both of your rockers?! Hit your heads a little hard? Why in the name of all the planets in the universe would he CONFESS?! That also to someone like ME?!"

"Why not you?–"

"Puh-lease, .... Yeonjun should be with someone pretty, smart, capable... Not a whackjob like me. He is a very nice human, that is why, he tries to be friends with me. "

Bora and Suyeong just shake their heads. Suyeong coughed out something that sounded very much like oblivious.

"Holy Mother of Rectangles! Ahrin listen to  me. See we get it you're a little uhm.. oblivious to your surroundings... "

Suyeong continues where Bora stops.

"So it's okay, like, we get it. But please listen to us when we say, that man likes you. I mean if he was just being nice and all that, his eyes wouldn't follow you around the room like he's a hawk and you're the most delicious mouse he ever saw, wait do hawks eat mice?! —"

"I guess. It is a predatory bird, right—"

"Stop digressing you two! Ahrin focus! Mr. Choi is very taken by you. He thinks he's discreet in stalking you, but he's not. He very obviously likes you."

I sigh. How many times had Hana said something similar to me about Jake. But it all turned out to be nothing. I should know not to take such things seriously.

I get back to work, starting on a new design for some cafes. I delve deep into it, uncaring about my surroundings. Those thoughts and confusions can come later, now I gotta work.

After three hours or so, I had finalized drafts of two cafes, three penthouse apartment complexes and more furniture and house decor for our new product launch. I logged out of my device after saving the work and sending some emails.

I walked to the the bus stop, all ready to crash on my bed. I had a deep craving for pizza so I was thinking to order some when I get home.

A familiar black Sedan stopped by and tinted glass rolled down to reveal Yeonjun.

"Come on Ahrin, get in. "

"It's alright, Yeonjun. I'll take the bus. "

Hueningkai popped out his head from behind and yelled.

"Get in, for Pete's sake Ahrin. I'm so hungry I could eat an Alpaca. "

"You guys can go ahead, I'll be fine. "

"We won't take no, and let me tell you Hueningkai will not stop screeching. "

I got in the backseat and we drove off. Hueningkai turned on the stereo which streamed music softly.

I looked out the window for a while, until I turned and caught Yeonjun looking at me through the rearview mirror. When our eyes met he looked away, but soon he glanced back.

Even though the traffic was quite dense we still reached the pizza point fairly quickly. Yeonjun went to order our pizzas and we sat in one of the booths.

We ate our slices while chattering. It was all really cozy. The warm red and white walls and interiors, the hot, cheesy pizzas and coke in white paper cups, and our friendly bantering. Hueningkai informed me about the upcoming New Year's party held by Hylift Co.

The holidays were approaching and I wanted to spend some quality time with my Mom. Just bask in her comfort, away from everything. Hueningkai and Yeonjun would also spend Christmas with their families.

As I waved cheerfully at Yeonjun and Hueningkai dropping me off at my apartment, I couldn't help but wonder at how I started this year and how I was ending it. It was full of changes and new beginnings and I loved every single thing about it.