LOVE YOU RIGHT | ONEW - LEE JINKI

05: Moving On

That night after dinner, Hwayoung spent her night meticulously removing every trace of Siwan from her apartment. Though their relationship had only lasted a few months, it still stung to see the remnants of their time together. Some part of her still blamed herself for giving him a chance to enter her heart. She gathered all the photos, mementos, and gifts into a pile in the middle of her living room. With determination, she set the pile ablaze in the area near the trash area below her apartment watching as the flames consumed the physical manifestations of their failed relationship. Each crackle and pop of the fire felt like a release, burning away the remnants of her feelings for him. As the last embers faded, she felt a sense of catharsis, her emotional ties to Siwan reduced to ashes.

On Monday morning, Hwayoung arrived at the office early, ready to immerse herself in work. She wanted to focus on the upcoming marketing campaign, brainstorming ideas for the new marketing approach. As she researched potential talents for endorsements, she stumbled upon videos of Onew participating in reality shows with celebrity chef Baek Jongwon. She was captivated by the realization that the man she had spent the evening with two nights ago was a genuine foodie. The more she delved into his appearances, the more she recognized his deep interest in culinary arts. Despite his apparent passion, she noticed that few brands or food-related businesses had used him as an ambassador. Intrigued by his potential, Hwayoung considered Onew as a candidate for their campaign.

Her research didn't stop there. As she continued her investigation, she came across Onew's fellow SHINee member, Key. Known for his culinary skills, Key had even gained chef certification for Western cuisine. However, she noted that Key was already associated with several brands, which undoubtedly made him a more expensive option. Hwayoung recorded these details, weighing the pros and cons of each potential endorser.

To remain objective, she conducted similar research on up to ten other candidates, evaluating their social media presence, previous endorsements, and overall appeal. She compiled detailed profiles, listing the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate. By the time Jinhwan arrived for their afternoon meeting, she had a comprehensive, well-researched plan ready to present and get his collaborative idea.

During the brainstorming session, Jinhwan was impressed with Hwayoung's thorough research and the potential talent list she had compiled. "Wow, what a list! When did you prepare all this?" He asked.

"This morning." Hwayoung answered nonchalantly as she looked at the brainstorming board. Her brain was already calculating some cost and potential hires they will be needing as the team will grow. She even has prepared a timeline of when to hire them in her head, based on the potential flow of the plan.

"You checked in at 8 this morning, so you put this together the whole day? Have you eaten yet?" Jinhwan asked, concerned.

Hwayoung turned her back facing him, she actually had to recall as she was so focused on doing work. "I did!" She exclaimed as if she had found a discovery, "I had a hearty breakfast this morning with pumpkin soup and sourdough." She smiled at Jinhwan like a kid waiting for praise after doing a great job.

"What about lunch?" Jinhwan asked like a mother.

Then Hwayoung smiled as if she was guilty, "That one I have not. But I drank a lot. See?" She saw him with her 2 liters water bottle that was almost finished.

Jinhwan rolled his eyes, "Let's make you something after we wrap this up." He went back to the board and made some arrangements.

Hwayoung too, she started putting it together on her iPad and organized them.

"This is a week worth of work, Seo Hwayoung." Jinhwan said while going through the board again, "we have two weeks you know."

His sister didn't respond, he just stood there looking at her realizing that while she coped better during this break-up, she still hated the reality and wanted to go away from this. She hasn't forgiven herself. Then, Jinhwan let go of a sigh knowing all he could do was to make sure she was not harming herself. "Do you want me to set you up with Song?" He suddenly asked.