timeless hearts | woosan

𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝟜

𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠, 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲

wooyoung glanced around the now-empty office, his sketchpad filled with rough drawings of the main characters he had just finished sketching out. he was proud of how they turned out, especially since it was his first attempt at bringing author choi's characters to life. he couldn't help but want to rush into san's office to show him. but what if he doesn't like them? what if he thinks i'm being too eager?

wooyoung bit his lip, debating with himself. maybe i'll just show him tomorrow. yeah, that's better... no need to disturb him this late. besides, he could already tell that san wasn't exactly the type to be all friendly and open. wooyoung admired him a lot—his talent, his work ethic, everything about him. but it was obvious the man wasn't interested in anything beyond professionalism.

it's fine. i'm here to work, not make friends, wooyoung thought, trying to convince himself as he packed up his things and left the office. as he walked through the parking lot, the cold air hit him, making him pull his jacket tighter. just as he reached the exit, a sudden car horn made him jump.

he turned, startled, and there she was—his older sister, jung somin, leaning out of her car window with a big smile on her face. wooyoung couldn't help but grin back and immediately ran toward the car.

"what are you doing here, noona?" he asked, hopping into the passenger seat.

"thought i would pick you up. how was your first day at work?" she asked, her tone warm as always.

wooyoung let out a small sigh as he settled into the seat. "it was good... but kind of intense. i met author choi today, and he's... well, he's not exactly friendly."

somin raised an eyebrow, starting the car as she listened. "not friendly? or just... serious?"

"both, maybe? he's definitely not interested in talking much. i tried to tell him how much i love his books, but he shut me down pretty quickly." wooyoung chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "i think i might've been too excited."

somin glanced at him for a second before laughing softly. "don't overthink it, wooyoung. he probably gets that a lot. just do your best with the manhwa, and he'll come around. he'd be crazy not to like your work."

wooyoung smiled at her words, feeling a bit better. maybe she's right.

"how was your day at work? did dad cause you any trouble this time?" wooyoung asked, hoping to lighten the mood.

"chairman jung knows better than to irritate the ceo of the company, and his own daughter," somin replied confidently, her smile widening.

wooyoung couldn't help but admire her. at just 29, somin had achieved so much—becoming a successful female ceo was no small feat. but she was also a caring sister, always looking out for him.

"anyways, i wanted to celebrate my little brother's first day at work. wanna go for some soju?" she asked, clicking her tongue and making a playful motion with her hand.

wooyoung's eyes lit up. "sure, let's go!" he said with excitement. 

they drove to a nearby bar, the warmth of the car a stark contrast to the chilly evening air. the bar had a cozy, rustic atmosphere, and after they settled at a corner table, they ordered a variety of dishes—spicy chicken wings, crispy calamari, and a plate of tteokbokki. alongside the food, they ordered a few bottles of soju.

the clinking of glasses and the rich aroma of the food set a cheerful tone. as the evening went on, wooyoung and somin enjoyed each other's company, laughing and chatting about everything. wooyoung told her about his first day at the publishing agency, his hands gesturing as he described the people he'd met.

"i just don't get it," wooyoung said, a hint of frustration in his voice as he took a sip of his soju. "if i was an author, i'd be thrilled to have a manhwa artist who actually read my books. i mean, it's not every day you find someone genuinely interested in your work. so why the cold shoulder?"

somin chuckled softly, shaking her head. "maybe he just isn't that type of person, you know? or maybe he's more strict and reserved at work. i mean, look at me—outside of work, i'm a fun person to be with, but at work, i'm all about professionalism and being strict."

wooyoung considered her words, nodding slowly. "i guess that makes sense. i didn't really think of it that way. maybe i'm just expecting too much too soon."

"exactly," somin said, reaching over to refill his glass. "people have their own ways of showing who they are. give him some time. he might warm up eventually."

wooyoung felt a bit reassured by his sister's perspective. maybe he's right. maybe i need to be more patient. he took another sip of his soju, savoring the warmth that spread through him. 

suddenly, somin announced that she was heading to the restroom. wooyoung watched her walk away, his mind still buzzing with thoughts about his first day. he was left alone at their table, sipping his soju and trying to focus on the pleasant atmosphere of the bar.

just as he was beginning to relax, his gaze fell on a familiar figure entering the bar. his heart skipped a beat as he realized it was none other than author choi san. wooyoung's instinct was to duck out of sight, hoping san wouldn't notice him. why does this always happen to me? he thought, feeling a pang of anxiety.

luckily, san chose a table on the opposite side of the bar, making it easier for wooyoung to stay hidden. from his point, it looked like san was accompanied by a friend, and they seemed to be deep in conversation. wooyoung felt a small wave of relief, but he was still nervous.

he quickly reached for his phone to call somin and tell her they needed to leave immediately, but his heart sank as he realized her phone was still on the table. of course she left it behind.

wooyoung tried to stay calm and waited for her return. when she finally came back, he subtly signaled her that they should leave. somin looked at him curiously, not catching on right away. please, please, just get it, he thought desperately.

as soon as she seemed to understand, wooyoung jumped into action. he hastily gathered their things, and made his way to the cashier. with a quick bow and a hurried payment, he tried to act as naturally as possible.

"noona, let's go!" he urged as he practically dragged her out of the bar, glancing over his shoulder to make sure san hadn't spotted them. 

once they were safely outside, wooyoung let out a deep breath, feeling relieved. why does everything have to be so complicated? he wondered.

on the other hand, his sister was clearly puzzled and, from the way she swayed slightly, a bit tipsy. her mood was shifting as quickly as her alcohol intake.

"why did we have to leave?" somin pouted, her eyes narrowing as she tried to make sense of the situation. "i was hoping for round two."

"nope, we're going home," wooyoung said firmly. "and I'm driving."

"c'mon, I'm perfectly capable of—" she began to protest, but her words were cut off as someone unexpectedly grabbed her by the arm.

wooyoung's heart nearly stopped. he turned around to find choi san standing there, a look of surprise on his face as he looked at somin.

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a/n: Things will only start getting more interesting from this part, hope you guys are ready :3 

As always, let me know your thoughts on the story so far!