What's After Like [M Reader X IVE (adult members)]

Chapter 12.1 - Wonyoung

(A/N: We return to typical story content after the last two week's venture into more creative activities)

"Y/n what is it with you? Do you not care at all or are you just incompetent?"

After a difficult and very stressful day at work, the last thing you needed was for your boss to go completely off the deep end over a minor mistake. But here you are anyway. You briefly consider trying to answer this question, but he doesn't really give you the time to say anything before continuing.

"You know this company is in a hard spot right now. That means it's more important than ever for all of us to pull our weight and do our best work. Yet here you are being even more useless than usual!"

This statement is definitely false. You've made maybe one small mistake today, and are very much not useless on any days. But your boss has been increasingly disconnected from reality lately, putting more and more pressure on you and your coworkers to pull harder, as if you can singlehandedly drag the company out of its recent slide.

"It's a good thing your hours are done now, because I'm tired of looking at your pathetic face. Get out of here, and do better tomorrow or else."

Not bothering to give more than a half-hearted nod in response, you turn and make your way outside before sighing deeply once safely out on the street. Things have been tough at this job lately, and they're only getting worse. It probably ought to be time to start looking for new jobs, you decide, but unfortunately after the perpetual stress of the past weeks of work it's hard to really want to go home and spend your free time wading through the application process.

As you walk towards the bus stop, the sweltering heat of a summer afternoon does little to cool off a very sour mood. No matter how well things are going in your personal life right now, nonstop work stress is threatening to drag you down. The baking sun only enhances your weariness. But before you can spiral too much further into frustration, an interruption comes in the form of a text vibrating your phone. Pulling it out, you find a message from Gaeul, accompanied by a picture. "Hey handsome," it reads, "got a lovely date night tonight. We should go on a date sometime! Maybe then you'd really fall in love with me..." The accompanying picture is selfie of her and Liz sitting down with what looks like a delicious meal, both just as beautiful as ever despite very casual attire.

"I'd love to sometime," you reply, "but in the meantime you two have fun tonight!" Gaeul replies again a moment later with a single emoji blowing a kiss, and you leave the exchange at that, not wanting to interrupt their date any further. As your bus finally pulls up, a smile finally crosses your face, this little exchange finally reminding you that there's still plenty to be happy about in life, and a few rough days at work aren't going to ruin anything. It'll be alright, you think to yourself. One way or another, it'll be alright.

After an uneventful ride home, you fix yourself a quick dinner and are just debating what else to do for the night when there's a knock at your door. By now you're not even surprised anymore, only wondering briefly as you get up which member of IVE it will be. The answer, as it turns out, is Wonyoung, dressed simply but quite attractively in a pair of jeans and sleeveless white sweater, with a branded baseball cap to complete the look. "Oh, good evening Wonyoung," you comment politely. "What can I do for you?"

"Well it's not a big deal," she says, "but if you have a few minutes, I was hoping to get some pictures today for my Instagram, but the other members are all out right now."

"I'm not really very experienced at photography," you comment, "but I'm happy to try."

She steps into your apartment with a smile. "Thanks y/n! I'm sure you'll do just fine."