in love, legally || CHOI YEONJUN

chapter 14

"Thank you for the meal!" the group thanked and dug into their plates. They were finally having dinner— the first proper meal of the day. Yeon Creations was unexpectedly more popular in the industry than they thought. The interns, and Kai, who had spent their energy the most, just silently gobbled up the Chicken Wonton served.

"After starving a whole day, this tastes much better," Yejin said almost tearing up.

They smiled through the pain. Yeonjun looked fatigued, his hair disheveled as he slowly took a bite. But across him sat Hyemi, who made no contact with him, and just silently ate. She had been avoiding him the whole day, particularly after she had found him and Yura hugging. For a second there was this fluttering feeling, almost thinking that she was jealous, but his heart sank. She had not spoken to him until it was needed for a business matter or even smiled at him.

Hyemi got up, wiping her lips with a tissue, "I am going to head back to my room. Goodnight," she said and walked off the hotel kitchen. The others nodded and went back to enjoy the rest of the meal. While Yeonjun's eyes followed her figure, her drooped shoulders, and her raven curls gently fell on her back. He stood up, bid the team goodnight, and hurried to catch her just as the elevator doors were about to close.

She avoided making contact with him, leaning on one corner of the elevator. The air had stiffened in that box, and it felt like it moved slower than ever. Just five more floors, she counted.

Yeonjun pressed his lips in a thin line breaking the silence, "You have been avoiding me."

Hyemi blinked quickly, flustered at the statement. "I have no reason to avoid you,"

"Is it because I hugged Yura?" Yeonjun ignores her excuse. "Were...you jealous? I can explain," he asked carefully, making sure to not break that last rope their relationship was hanging at right now.

The elevator door opens. She storms out, hugging her jacket. Yeonjun's steps are quick too, walking right behind her through the hall. "First, I am not jealous. We are just business partners, so you do not have to explain either,"

"Business partners, that's all?"

"That's what we agreed to be," she says, swallowing hard at her own words. Her strides get bigger as she almost reaches her room.

Yeonjun grabs her arm, pulling her back. He leans down meeting her eye level, "Then why does it feel like more?"

She can feel the heat rise in the back of her neck. Wrestling free of his grab she slips into her room shutting the door on Yeonjun's face. Her breath comes out ragged as she leans against the door, slowly sliding down until she is sitting on the floor. For a moment, she presses her ear against the wood, listening for his footsteps, hoping he'd left.

But a soft knock makes her jump.

"That was a farewell hug," Yeonjun's muffled voice calls out. "She wanted us to stay friends, to end things on good terms. It was just for our long friendship—nothing more, Hyemi."

She does not reply.

"Good night," After a while, she hears his door open and close.

𖦹๋࣭⭑── .✦

Next Morning.

Hyemi steps out of her room, mentally preparing for the long day ahead. She also noted not to avoid Yeonjun today and to act cool. She could feel the knots in her stomach, this unknown feeling she couldn't figure out, yet it was pleasant. Yeonjun too, at the same time, stepped out of his room. He was wearing a sleeveless black top, quickly pulling a blazer over it. His hair was messy like he had just woken up.