Drive || B.C ||

| three |

I woke up with a groan. Picking myself off Milo's floor, smiling as I see he's still peacefully sleeping in his tiny car themed bed.

Scratching the back of my head as I tiptoe to the bathroom.

Returning to the colorful children's room and leaning against the bare wall where my phone resided for the night.

My eyes wince against the sudden harsh blue light.

The time read a single digit of the morning, yet my message blew up in notifications.

The main culprit is Seth, with a few outliers.

"Call me, I got an opportunity for you" was the main message, followed by random social media posts and memes he found funny.

With a roll of my eyes, I use the wall to stand up. Stuffing my phone and charger into my back pocket.

Walking back over to Milo, leaning down and kissing his forehead as I re-tucked him in.

Leaving his door cracked as I tiptoed out, observing the dead apartment for my car keys. The lights were off, all appliances were shut down.

Retrieving my keys for the kitchen counter, spinning them around my finger as I double checked the space for anything out of order.

With my keys clenched in my hand, locking the door behind me, I sped down the hallway.

Each step on the metal stares echoing throughout the early morning.

B-lining to the blacked out Rolls-Royce, as I'm on par with to-work traffic.

Slamming the door as my fingers search for the lock.

When the stutter alerts me I'm locked in, I pick up my hips. Sliding my phone out of my pocket and unlocking it with a swish.

A single tap at my starred contract, and Seth's name and picture flooded my screen.

Answering within seconds, his voice reverberates throughout the car.

"You decided to wake up?"

"What did you want."

"I got you a job."

"Wow, how exciting, can you be any more vague?" tapping at my wheel as my flat voice can't even find the strength to be sarcastic.

"It's a collab"

"With who!" My voice rises, with concern and frustration.

"You know, those Korean boys. Stray kids "

"no, I don't know"

"Well, it's just with one of the members. Not all, although you'd love that"

Frantically, I type a search for my new colleagues.

"Which one, there a bunch?"

"Bangchan"

"Does he speak English?" Seth laughs on the other line, "Yes, you racist." There's one barrier crossed.