Why her? [CHAENNIE]

34

The first retrospectives in the departments went as usual, one could even say well. Rose and Jennie behaved in their usual way, concentrating more, of course, on the guys and their problems they had encountered during their absence. While the girls were focused on their work processes, thoughts of their relationship barely crossed their minds. There just wasn't time for it, and it was worth admitting that it did them good.

Now the office is putting a lot of pressure on the design department, and all of it, because in February there will be a major annual event, the Canadian International AutoShow, where all kinds of cars, from collector cars to new and innovative ones, will be on display. And there will also be exhibit halls with concepts of new electric cars, where, by the way, the partner company for which ATS Corp. builds software will present its first prototype. This means one thing: by that time, ATS Corp. should provide the first version of the software for the car and possibly collect the first feedback.

At this stage, most of the interface is already ready and some of it has been taken over by the development department. Some scripts are already being tested. The design department has done a lot of work, including the sound effects and animation sub-departments. Maximum effort has been put in, and now the team will need to give their best again. Rose and Jennie were pleased with the past retrospectives with all the sub-departments. The guys had done fine without them, partly because the tasks for each team member were scheduled weeks in advance and no one was idle. Delays in processes were kept to a minimum, which was very satisfying. Nayeon also did a great job with the management part while Rose and Jennie were out of the office, but the girl still let out a little howl during a break in the cafeteria:

-To be honest, it was difficult.- Nayeon twists her head while munching on an energy bar.- My head was literally exploding when the whole team came up to me, and almost simultaneously with dozens of questions: "How to do this?", "How to do this?"

She waved her hand as if chasing away horrible memories and put her lips to her cup of coffee.

Jennie smiles, squinting at her colleague while waiting for the coffee machine to make coffee.

-Nevertheless, you did well. - Rose voiced, sitting down on the couch. - Good experience for you, right?

The blonde smiles, seeing Nayeon almost choking on the candy bar, covering her mouth with the palm of her hand. Jennie only smiles wider, imagining for a second the crazy eyes of her colleague, when all the guys with a lot of questions came at her, and she was in the middle of it, not knowing what to do.

-I couldn't agree more.- Nayeon agrees and sits down at the nearest table.- But I couldn't handle being an art director. It would be crazy.

She glances back and forth at Rose, then turns her head back, looking at Jennie's back. Rose just pressed her lips together, smiled weakly, and nodded. She takes a sip of her strong coffee and glances at the silent Jennie out of the corner of her eye.

Rose likes the fact that Jennie behaves as usual all day long, that you can't even tell that something is wrong between them. Of course, it's all because they communicate exclusively for work, and outside of work processes they practically don't speak, going about their business. To everyone in the office, nothing has changed outwardly. To them, Rose and Jennie behave as usual, but to the girls themselves, everything has changed. Every interaction they have with each other is accompanied by an agonizing desire to talk about more, about personal things. To stare at each other a little longer than they should. Maybe make a joke or worryingly ask if everything is okay? They would like to furtively touch just for a moment, to feel the pleasant contact, but they can't and it's so painful. They want to plunge into their work with their heads so that they can't think about each other, because as soon as there is a quiet moment, thoughts and worries come back.