The Aftereffects | chanbaek

Decisions, Decisions

April 8, 2018

Would it seem desperate if I called him? Baekhyun wondered, and then huffing, he ruffled his hair and dropped back against his bed. He glanced sideways at his alarm clock that read, 11:59 p.m.

Just one minute, Baekhyun thought. One more minute and it'll be the thirteenth. A new day. I should give it a few days, let this feeling wear off because surely it will. It's been six years after all, nothing lasts forever - including this feeling.

April 9, 2018

It's a new day.

With a sigh, Baekhyun rolled over and pulled the blanket high beneath his chin, settling in for a peacefully and dreamless sleep.

When he woke up at eight the next morning, he went through all the motions of getting ready for his day, and by nine, he was standing in the company elevator riding up to the fifth floor - the highest level.

On floor two, someone jumped in with him. Baekhyun smiled politely at the doe-eyed like man that looked more like a boy before returning his eyes straight ahead. The boy smiled back shyly, an almost awkward cloud settling around them. Well, awakward for the boy anyway - Baekhyun was unfazed.

The time passed in this fashion all the way up to floor four, before the doe-eyed boy was angling his body towards Baekhyun and sticking his hand out as he said, "Hi, there! My name is Xi Luhan. And sorry, but I just couldn't stand the silence any longer. I felt like it was eating me!"

Baekhyun watched him with a furrowed brow, and thought, Well, he's diffidently not as shy as he appears . . .

Baekhyun smiled thinly in response and held his hand out while he replied, "Hello, Luhan. I'm Byun Baekhyun."

Luhan's eyes widened ever so slightly as a deep blush colored his cheeks and he quickly bowed - his hand still being held in Baekhyun's. "Oh my gosh!" Luhan gushed as he stood back up. "I never expected to meet the boss! I just started here a week ago, and . . . Oh my gosh!" Luhan bowed again.

Baekhyun chuckled and simply replied in his most modest manner. "I'm hardly the boss, as you say," Baekhyun said with a small smile.

An he was being modest, because there was only one position higher than his own - his brother. Although, ever since his brother married his wife two years ago, Baekhyun has more or less been running the company. He was the person people came to with new ideas and new faces for their company, and he never said anything, but it filled him with a sense of pride.

"Luhan, is it?" Baekhyun asked. The boy nodded. Baekhyun smiled. "What department are you in?"

At this, Luhan suddenly became shy and his cheeks turned a deep red as he stuttered, "I-I'm the one who brings coffee to people . . . like you. The higher ups."

Baekhyun nodded understandingly and asked, "Do you like your job?"

Luhan's eyes widened and he stuttered, "Y-yeah. I mean, yes, sir, I like it very much."

Baekhyun chuckled and leaned in close as he muttered, "It's okay to tell the truth. Coffee detail is no treat. So, what would you say to a promotion? Say, oh, I don't know, that you were my own personal coffee boy. You would receive better pay and you'd get actually hands on experience that would push you higher up the corporate ladder. You would get to meet the up and coming artists of tomorrow, which I'm guessing, is what you were actually hoping for when you applied for your position. You just didn't know 'coffee detail' was in the fine print."

Luhan was silent for a moment, most likely processing everything he just heard. And then with a slow nod, he hoarsely replied, "Y-yes, I would love that, Mr. Byun. And I promise, if you do grant me that amazing position, I won't disappoint you. I love music and it's been a dream of mine for so long to work somewhere like this...." Luhan trailed off as he motioned around with his hands, intending to encompass the whole company - not just their modestly sized elevator.

Baekhyun smiled and reached his hand out, shaking Luhan's as he retorted, "Then I'm so glad I met you. And now, Xi Luhan, starting tomorrow, I would like for you to begin meeting me at my office. You know where it is, don't you?"

Luhan nodded vigorously and chirped, "Yup! Thank you again, Mr. Byun, so much!"

When Baekhyun reached his office that over looked the expansive view of the city below, he sighed. The view was so calming and beautiful when you couldn't hear the obnoxious everyday noise.

With a small smile, Baekhyun turned away from the window and settled at his office desk. He wrote out contracts and constructed work schedules and planned meetings. He never rested. That was a luxury he wouldn't allow himself the pleasure of experiencing.

By noon, Baekhyun had finished all his work proposals and set up two meetings for the following day. And there was something else, this guy who called his fastly rivaling record company, P.C.Y. Industry. Not a very original name, Baekhyun mused. But still worth looking into.

Baekhyun rubbed the bridge of his nose, and then pressing down on his page button, he called his secretary.

"Mr. Byun, is there something you needed?" she responded automatically.

Baekhyun sighed and said, "Actually, there is, could you contact this 'P.C.Y. Industry' guy. Or one of his informants, or just whoever the hell answers his phone calls. I'll send you the details over an e-mail. Thank you." And with that, he hung up.

His secretary only managing to say a quick, half-stuttered, "Okay, sir!" before he cut the call.

--

Baekhyun went to bed that night, his mind and body at last cleansed of that obnoxious giant. He sighed, thinking, It'll be a blessing if I never have to see him again.

And he would never be able to tell you why he hated him so much, because he himself was ignorant of his reasonings.

Word count: 1,020