quintessential [nomin]

nine

[Jaemin] 8:31 am. Monday.

-

Unlike any other day, Daehwi walks into the office thirty minutes late Monday morning.

"Hey Hwi," I laugh as he stumbles into the room, his eyes half closed, his hair unbrushed and one shoe untied.

"Don't," he snaps, "Oh lord I feel so wasted." He groans a second later, falling into his chair heavily, hitting his head on the desk.

"Did you drink?!" I look up from my computer in worry. Daehwi has absolutely no alcohol tolerance, and I'm the only one who can successfully make sure he doesn't get drunk every time he goes out with friends or family. And so without me I always get worried that he'll completely knock himself out from even just a drink and a half. 

He sighs deeply, his face in his hands.

"Hwi are you serious," I glower, "you know never to go drinking, you always feel like a truck has run over you over and over again after." 

"I know, Jae, I know. No need reprimand me now, I'm already feeling it."

"Who'd you go with?" I ask.

"Sunmi," he answers quietly, closing his eyes in obvious discomfort.

"Leave it up to your sister to completely fuck you over for the next few hours, huh?" I chuckle a bit. Daehwi loves his sister, and has looked up to her his entire life. But no matter how much she loves him, every time she comes to visit from America, she leaves a very much depressed Daehwi. I like to call it the Sunmi effect, but Daehwi just brushes it off and ignores me every time I try to talk about it to him.

And once again, Sunmi has left in her tracks a very much hungover Daehwi, his pounding head making him wince in pain ever five seconds. I almost laugh, until I realize my own sad story, the pile of work on my desk rising by the minute. I sigh and rub my temple, begging the coffee that I just drank to start giving me that much needed energy boost to get me going.

After grabbing Daehwi a large glass of water and some Advil to help with his headache, I get to work. I sort through emails, schedule various programs and events for each member, creating a master schedule for the week to come, and on top of that, doing Daehwi's work that he had asked me to do previously because his sister was in town.

The hours pass by rapidly, with me hardly ever leaving my seat at my desk, my eyes glued to my computer screen. The only thing keeping me going are continuous cups of coffee and a photo of Jimin I have taped up on the wall next to me.

Next thing I know, its 9 pm, and work hours are very much over. I close my binder and log off of my computer, simultaneously stuffing my personal laptop into my backpack and throwing my coffee cup away. My stomach grumbles loud enough for Daehwi, who is falling asleep, to raise his head just the slightest and stare at me sleepily.

"You going home?" He yawns, stretching his arms up above his head.

"Yeah, my eyes feel like they are going to belle if I read any more freaking emails." I complain.

He grunts in agreement and turns his head back to face the now black screen in front of him, closing his eyes once again.

"Go home soon, ok Hwi? Drink a crap ton of water and sleep. I don't need my desk partner in a bad mood again for tomorrow," I order him, looking back at him as I exit the office. He nods sleepily, hardly registering my words.

I close the door behind me, and lumber down to the lobby. I sneak a quick glance into the accounting office as I walk, and conveniently just so happen to catch a glimpse of Donghyuck—who does not work in that office, mind you—folded over, sleeping on his arms which rest on the desk of a certain Mark Lee. Mark must see me passing by, because he looks up to the door from his papers, and his face reddens just a bit.