Penta Ent. | JungHo ✅

30

Everyone had quickly forgotten the elevator incident. I couldn't. I was still researching reasons as to why I reacted that way. Was I showing those kinds of symptoms? I looked at Jinho who was completely absorbed in his work. "Jinho." "Yes?" "Are you planning to have me work late?" "No. Did you want to?" I shook my head then sighed. I'd be able to go with Shinwon after all.

"Woo." I snapped my head in his direction so quick I was sure I had gotten whiplash. "Woo...?" "Is it okay if I call you that?" "Of course! You can call me anything you want. You do control almost all of my moves." He laughed then finally gave me his full attention. "That's true, but I want to hear your opinions too. They matter." Pang. "Well, would you like to be called something else?" "Woo is fine...." Pang pang. "Then it's settled. Now, the question I wanted to ask." "Yeah?" "Would you like to hang out sometime?" My heart did a thing. I really was getting those symptoms. "Yeah, sure. Did you have a plan?" "Ah, its with Hui and the girls. So, it's more geared towards the girls." Shattered. "That's fine." "Great. I'll tell him you're on board."

I groaned as I lightly banged my head against my desk. I couldn't be. It was happening too soon. Scratch that, why was it happening at all? I became misty eyed then sighed. I needed to nip it in the bud. Where would I even start? "Junguwu." "Shin..." I started to sob. "What happened?" "How do you extinguish feelings?" "You don't." "What a great help you've been." "Anyway, here. You have to wear this tie tonight." "It's required?" "Yep." I took the tie from him then stuffed it in my pocket. "Anything else?" "Nah. Just show up so we can leave on time." He soon left and I started to worry about how I could kill these arising feelings.

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I packed up for the day then locked my door. "Maybe I should say goodbye. No wait, I'm supposed to kill the feelings." I quickly walked away hoping I wouldn't run into him on my way out. "Woo!" "Fuck. I mean, crap." I turned around then gave him my best smile. "Am I staying late after all...?" "No. You left this." "Oh." He came all this way to give me back my pen. It was fishy. "You could've left it. I have plenty others." "You have a point...either way, have a good night." Maybe I was reading too much into it. Maybe I wanted his simple act of kindness to mean something more. "I really can be stupid sometimes..."

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"So this is where it's being held." "Yep." It wasn't grand, but it still held elegance in its own way. "I'd preferably like to go through entire night without bumping into her, but somehow the world finds a way." "Shinnie!" I spotted the owner of the voice then watched as she hugged him tightly. "Are you alone again?" "No. Sis, this is Kim Jungwoo, my-" She took my hands in hers then eyed me up and down. "Tall, cute face, decent body. You really know how to pick them, Shin. I can't believe you have a not so secret now boyfriend." "Miss-" "We're not dating." "Oh, please. That's what they all say. I've bothered you both enough. I'll let you get back to socializing." She left before either of us could protest.

"I apologize. I didn't think she'd go that far..." I shook my head as I swirled my drink around. "I mean, I get it. You've always come alone before then suddenly showing up with someone, she probably thought I was an actual date. It probably made her happy knowing someone was there to care for her brother when she isn't around." I took a sip then peeked at him from my peripheral vision. "If you put it that way...even then, I don't want to lie to her." "Shall we tell her?" He didn't respond right away as he looked in the direction she had gone in. "Let's wait until it's over." "If that's what you think is best." He nodded then regained his usual cheery mood.

I felt overwhelmed as I could hardly follow the conversations. Even Shinwon knew what they were saying. "Jungwoo?" "Huh?" "Introduce yourself. They're foreign, but speak Korean pretty well." "Oh." I properly introduced myself then finally started to understand. I had learned a bit more about their modern culture abroad than I already knew. "So, how did you become friends?" "Through his sister. Wonderful woman." She chattered on and on about her experiences with Shinwon's sister.

We were soon alone again and I felt the need to ask. "What exactly does your sister do?" "Oh, you know...script writing." "For like, movies?" "Mostly movies, but she's dabbled in a lot of things." I nodded then took another glass from the tray. "Haven't you drank enough?" "I don't get drunk easily." He eyed me skeptically, but didn't push further. "Say Shin..." "Hm?" "What would you do if you missed someone, but you're supposed to avoid them at all costs?" I looked at him in hopes of getting some form of an idea of what I could do. "I guess look at pictures of them? Read old texts? That's about as much as I can think of right now." I nodded then finished off my glass.

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We waited by the entrance as people filed out. "Sis!" "Hey. What's crackin'?" "It's about earlier. We really aren't a couple. Just friends." "Really?" She looked at me then started to apologize profusely. "It's fine. Please stop." "Well, I don't know why you haven't brought anyone before him, but I guess this means he has a special place huh?" "Hush..." She bid us farewell before walking away giggling. "She's nice." "To a fault." I glanced at him as he seemed to be thinking hard on something. "Ride's here." He walked on ahead and I followed suit. "Would you bring me again next year?" "I don't see why not." I nodded as we got into the car. "Question is, would I still be bringing you as a friend?" "Only the future knows." "Yeah." I couldn't help but wonder what had him thinking so hard after our conversation with his sister.