Love

One || Explorer

"Park. You coming?" 

I forgot. The company dinner is tonight. 

I swear under my breath before turning to the man who called out to me with a fake smile. "Yeah, I'll meet you guys there. Send me the address?" 

"Gotcha." My coworkers, whose names I don't remember, wave goodbye to me collectively. I return the wave. 

With the office now empty, I can finally work in the peace I need to be productive. Yet, at the same time, I can't find myself able to work at all. 

I lean back in my chair and sigh. "I didn't even have any real work to do," I mumble to no one. "All. Day." 

I look at the drawing on my computer screen. It's stupid. So I trash it, and it joins fifty other concepts I've trashed throughout the day. I sigh again and drop my head into my hands. I'm so tired of the repetitive days. 

"Excuse me?" a feminine voice calls from the hallway. 

I jerk my head up in surprise. A woman stands at the entrance door to my department's office space. 

"Yes!" I stand and push the papers strewn across my desk to the side. "Sorry, I thought everyone else was gone." 

She smiles softly, awkwardly. I can't bring myself to return the smile. I'm awkward. The whole situation is awkward. "I thought so, too. I was coming to make sure the lights are off. Are you going to the company dinner?" 

I sigh yet again. "Yes. I was trying together a bit more work done—"

"Oh, I'm so sorry—"

"No, no, it's okay. I didn't really have anything to do." 

We both stop, and the interrupting game stops as well. I look down at my feet. It's so awkward. 

"Um...I'm Y/full/n." 

I look up to her again. She smiles softly again. Her name surprises me. It's different. It's beautiful. 

"I-I'm Park Jimin." 

"Nice to meet you." Her smile brightens a bit at our introduction. "I was going to catch a cab to the dinner. Want to hop in? Carpooling is good for the environment. 

My brows furrow slightly, but I can't help the small smile that finally appears on my lips from her casual silliness. 

"Sure," I say. "Let me just pack up here. I'll meet you in the lobby, I guess." 

"Sounds good. It's Park, right?" 

I nod slowly. "It's Park." That's my name around here. 

She nods quickly and then she's gone. I shake my head at myself, shocked at my passiveness. You're Jimin. 

"What the hell, Jimin?" I mutter as I shove my papers and tablet into my bag. I sling the bag over my shoulder and rush out, shutting off the lights and locking the door as I go. My parents always taught me to never keep someone, especially a lady, waiting. I've never had a lady waiting for me before. I'm surprised I still remember such an instruction. 

The taxi ride is nearly silent. I'd hoped conversation would roll off my tongue easily, but that's never happened. It definitely wouldn't happen now, in the presence of a pretty girl. Talking wasn't a gift I was born with. I sigh to myself. You sigh too much, I scold myself. 

Finally in the light of the restaurant, I turn to thank her and get my first good look at her face. Her features are delicate, reflective of her seemingly gentle personality. She's beautiful. Her eyes. They're mesmerizing. She's absolutely stunning. She smiles in response to my stumbled thank you and I can do nothing but swallow the hard lump in my throat. 

"Um, what department do you work in? I don't recall you saying..." She fumbles with the sleeve of her coat. 

I swallow again, searching desperately for words. "Uh, graphic design. You...?"

"Accounting." 

She's smart, too? Damn. 

Her attention is moved away from me and her beautiful eyes look over her shoulder. She turns back to me with a smile. 

"I'll see you around?" She smiles again. 

I swallow yet again to respond, but her warm smile and beautiful eyes are gone before the words can leave my brain and make their way to my tongue. Her eyes remind me of the ocean: big, beautiful, mysterious, deep in color and dimension; they seem to hold millions of secrets waiting to be found. She's a whole new world. 

I'm an explorer. 

For the first time since my childhood, I want to explore. 

(A/N)

Heyoooo it's meee. 

Thank you for reading! Leave a comment telling me about your thoughts as you read I really appreciate them!

*I love you uwu*