aurora: in full bloom | hongjoong - ateez [hiatus]

⇢ ch. 1

Yet another day of work. You go through the motions of getting dressed and ready before heading out the door.

You stop by a local café, where you're greeted by the smell of fresh coffee brewing and sweet treats being warmed up.

"Sannie!" You smile at your friend working behind the coffee bar.

"Good morning!"

San's bright smile and dimples greet you, making your morning bright, shining even on the darkest days, metaphorically and realistically.

No matter what, you know you can count on San to start your day off right. You know you can count on San when your days are tough as well.

"The usual?"

You smile and nod, paying for your caramel latte and chocolate croissant while waiting for San to make your drink and warm up your food.

"Any romance at the office?" San wiggles his eyebrows.

He knows about your little work crush Seonghwa.

"San, I've only been working here for a couple of months."

"A couple months allows for you to work up your courage to make a move."

"Look who's talking," you smirk back.

San just rolls his eyes.

"I'll find someone."

"Yeah, okay. Maybe we should make a bet on who's going to find love first."

"You're on," San looks at you intently.

You both laugh and you say your goodbyes before heading off to where you work.

You work as an International Business and Marketing Chair for a music company called Reforming Entertainment in Seoul.

You never expected to work in a field quite something like this, but you honestly didn't even know what you wanted to do after college.

You worked at the same café San works at for a little bit after college, which is where the two of you met. You ended up finding a job more similar to your field and worked there for a little bit.

It paid the bills, but you absolutely hated it. That's why you changed jobs. You're fairly happy where you're working at now, probably because it's an unexpected job. It's something out of your comfort zone.

Your colleagues are kind and you get good pay. Plus, you have a work crush that makes life a little more exciting.

You don't interact much with your boss, but when you do, you find yourself to feel fairly miniscual in comparison to him.

When you first got this job, you found yourself quite intimidated by him. He seemed scary, but as you have observed him interacting with his your colleagues, he always has a smile on his face. He seems to get along with everyone as well. He makes those around him laugh and smile. He overall seems kind, but nonetheless, you still are nervous around him.

Perhaps you feel this way because you don't know him very well due to not interacting with him much. Or maybe it's due to your nature because you're quite shy. It can easily be a combination of those two reasons.

You don't get very far in your work when you're called into his office. It scares you that you're called into the office of your boss, who happens to also be the CEO of the company.

You wonder if you messed up somehow, or that you're being fired. You can't help but be extremely nervous as you stand in front of the door of his office.

You knock, and you chastise yourself, thinking you knocked too lightly.

You're about to knock again when the door opens.

You're greeted by a smile and your boss waves you in.

You give him a small smile.

"You can take a seat here," he places a hand on a chair in front of his desk.

You carefully sit as he walks around the desk and sits in his chair.

"So, [Y/N]," he clasps his hands together. "It looks like we'll be working closely together for awhile now. I need some assistance on the international level for my company, and you have been recommended. I've been told you're a hard worker. I've been keeping some tabs on you, as I do with all my employees. I've looked into your work more closely, and I'm impressed by your work."

"What does this entail, sir?" You nervously asks.

You wonder if he can hear you, as you think you don't speak up loud enough for him.

But it's so quiet in the office that one can hear a mouse squeak.

"Well, for starters, you can start calling me Hongjoong. I want you to be comfortable around me. It seems like we're around the same age as well," he smiles warmly.

By now, he has his elbows on his desk, hands still clasped together. His chin rests on top of his hands, and he is staring intensely at you. He has a small smile on his face.

"Okay...Hongjoong...what kind of work will I exactly be doing?"

"I'm looking to expand into markets overseas. Or rather, collaborating with other music companies. I think working with other companies, especially internationally, can help broaden our company into the market. As a small company, we need something to help us stand apart from the others. This can make it or break it for us. And I need your help and skills. I think you would be an asset."

You nod.

As he goes into more detail of what will be happening, you can't help but notice things about him.

How young he is. How he has bright red hair, which you find to be quite intriguing for a CEO of a company. He enthusiastic he is about everything. How he has a bright smile, and gives you a lot of reassuring smiles, which helps you become at ease.

"I have a small office next to mine in which you can move your things to. This way, you will be closer to me, so we can work on things together more easily. Okay?"

You nod and he sends you off to move your things.

"So what's going on now? You were in Mr. Kim's office for awhile," your colleague and friend Seonghwa says.

"I'll be working closely with...Mr. Kim now. He actually requested me to call him by his first name. I will have to get used to it," you giggle a little.

Seonghwa winks at you, "Ooo, maybe he has thing for you."

You feel yourself staring to blush.

"That can't be. He doesn't know me well and I don't really know him well either."

"Keep telling yourself that," Seonghwa smirks.

"Hey, by the way, can you help me move my things? Boss has an office next to his that is now mine."

"See! I told you!"

"It's only to make our work together easier Seonghwa!" You protest.

The two of you laugh and get working on moving your workplace.

As you and Seonghwa talk and move your things into your new office, Hongjoong watches out his open door. He hears tidbits of your conversation with Seonghwa.

He wishes he could be as close with someone like you and Seonghwa. He enjoys hearing you two laugh and joke around.

It's been difficult for him to start up his own company, especially with people against him. He wishes he had someone to share his struggles and pain with. He has his parents, but it doesn't feel the same to him.

He shakes his head and sighs, going back to his work.