Our Little Lives, in this Big World

[INTRO:] After I have laughed it off, like an Adult

AUGUST 17, THURSDAY, 6:30. THE ANSWER.

His morning starts the same as usual. Xu Minghao wakes up at 6:30AM, then takes a shower lasting three to four songs from his morning playlist. He checks the weather as he brushes his teeth, then chooses what to wear out of his growing collection of suits. Today should be sunny but with a bit of a breeze in the air, so this somehow correlates to the man picking out a dark emerald green suit with accents of black. Feeling as confident as ever, he decides to slick back the left side of his fiery red mullet as the last step of getting himself ready for work. Perfect, he praises himself. If there's one thing Minghao believes in is that if it looks good on you, you meaning him, wear it. No matter what. Others can stare and gaze oh-so-longingly all they want.

Minghao's drive to SVT Sounds wasn't half bad either; ten minutes of mostly green lights while the blaring music muted his thoughts when he hit a red light. No one parked like an ass around his parking space which allowed him an easy parking job. He catches the last second of his reflection as he passes his car door, not staring so he doesn't seem so vain (though one must admit, we all are a bit), and smiles. He allows himself another praise for buying the suit. He hadn't needed a "treat yourself" moment so badly like how he did several days ago. Today of all days, he needs to be in his power, and having the perfect outfit is always a reliable confidence boost.

Xu Minghao would describe himself as a well balanced person. He moved from China to South Korea in seventh grade and adjusted rather well. In school, he neither over worked himself, or didn't work enough to get pretty good grades along with becoming highly proficient in martial arts. He learned to perfectly balance work vs. play and this great discipline landed him into a rather decent college. That's where he met Choi Seungchoel, the heir to one of the top record labels, and all around music companies, in South Korea, SVT Sounds. When he first met the guy, he immediately knew Seungcheol had a great and strong character, though it took him a while to actually verbally admit it.

When he graduated, he got hired on at SVT Sounds as a bottom feeder, played his cards right, and is now a manager of his own department. The rest is history and here he is, six years later, working alongside two dear friends of his and doing his best to make the business thrive. He thinks back on this sometimes and, boy, does the success feel wonderful. Now here he is, another day at the job, enjoying the comfortability he feels with his life. Oh, how fragile this peaceful life is– was . The man never saw it coming when–

No. Do not make my morning any worse than it's about to become. Yes, because a "good morning" is the only halfway decent thing he's probably going to get today.

Minghao zones out into the music playing in his headphones as he waits for the elevator. The tapping on his shoulder is rather distracting though, so he finally turns around to see who it is bothering him so early.

"Hm?" he asks blankly.

"I said 'Yo'. So... yo?"

Minghao stares at the other as if he had just smelled something sour. "Yo." he finally says (no, mocks ) back. Of course he's glad to see his friend, but isn't this more fun?

Usually said friend, Choi Seungcheol, would look more offended and snap a retort back, which may or may not have been Minghao's goal. However, this time he looks like he's about to word-vomit but his lips are taped shut by sheer will.

Gosh, looks like we all have problems. Minghao sighs and shoos away the little... situation from his mind that has recently come to light. Small, tiny problems don't have to be real until they're right in front of you, right?

Observing his oddly fidgety friend who has a faint smell of flora and coffee, Minghao can take a guess at what place occupied his morning before he came to work and what—no, who is the reason for him acting like this. He cares for his friend and, coincidentally, that friend is obviously in distress which just so happens to may or may not be a good distraction from Minghao's personal ordeals.