fanfiction | x1

ix.

OMNISCIENT.

"You read Toni Morrison?" One brow raised, Yeoreum looked at Seungwoo keenly. "She's on bestselling, probably why I discovered her." He briefly replies, looking at the book again.

Yeoreum nods slowly, taking in the new information. It reminded her of something. At the top of her head, a memory of her and Yohan conversing at the bookstore showed up, the warm atmosphere of books around her were grazing her head as she recalled.

"Good taste. I like uh, Toni Morrison."

Yeoreum knew that those came right out of Yohan's mouth. That's why she was getting all the more curious if he really was the anonymous member.

Seungwoo looked at Yeoreum dearingly, waiting for her to maybe ask him a question, or say something he had been wanting to hear, but neither came.

President Chanwoo got up in front, tapping the mic to check if it was working. Yeoreum and Seungwoo reverted their attention to him, Seungwoo fixing his jacket in disappointment.

"I would like to call on Ms. Lee Yeoreum, the project in-charge for X1's promotion magazine." He called out, looking at the girl who stood up at the mention of her name. Yeoreum strided to the front, a faint clucking of her nude heels was heard. She cleared her throat, facing the members of the meeting.

"Good morning everyone, my name is Lee Yeoreum and I will be handling the overall creative process of their magazine production." Her voice was clear, and resonant across the room. Her presentation flashed on screen, her thumb pressing the remote.

"First, we'll head towards the general theme and layout of the magazine. This will feature designs from different..." Her trail of words were articulate, enough to capture the attention of anyone listening.

Yohan watched as Yeoreum confidently presented her proposal in front of everyone. His eyes gleamed with admiration for the girl before him. Rather than her porcelain white skin, striking brown eyes, plump pink lips and slim physique, Yohan was attracted to Yeoreum's aura, a literal smile on his face whenever she's in the room. Her way of speaking and sweet voice, a melody seeping through his ears.

Applause from the different members emerged, a proud and relieved smile on Yeoreum's face on she had ended her presentation nicely. Dongpyo gave her a small thumbs up for a good job. Eunsang raised both his fists, cheering on the lass. The others were also clapping for her in recognition. This made Yeoreum's grin even wider.

If you could only see this, Dad.

She quietly thought in her head, feeling her father's spirit in her heart and mind. Her dream was slowly becoming of reach, even if this was just a small step into what may come.

She made her way back to her seat, Seungwoo standing up to move the chair so she could sit comfortably. "Thanks." She shyly expressed.

"You did great, Noona. You're English pronounciation was really good too." Dohyun complimented from her right side. "But noona,"

"Aren't you hungry?" He asks innocently, placing his hand on his stomach. Yeoreum giggles, finding the younger one extremely cute. "We can't eat here. I'll treat you next time, okay?" Dohyun's small eyes brightened after hearing her say those words.

"Really? Yay! I'll count on that then." He says, satisfied.

The meeting and discussion went on for about another hour, and Yeoreum was showing signs of drowsiness already. She barely had any sleep from yesterday, and having to go to school and work until this hour just left her feeling ultimately drained. She tried her best not to show it though, and put up her cheery facade until she and X1 parted ways for the day.

"Go home safely, noona." Minhee reminds Yeoreum, and she does a small salute to the tall boy. Yeoreum starts walking the other direction, off to their house.

Soon, she was nearing their doorstep, and she noticed that no lights were lit inside their house. She knocked once, then twice. But even after then, she came to the conclusion that her mom was probably not yet back from the grocery store. She managed to fish out her keys from inside her backpack, the knob making a clicking sound once it was unlocked.

Yeoreum locked the door from the inside, securing her keys inside her backpack. Going up the plight of stairs, she checked first if her mother took Yeonsoo with her again to the grocery. And she did. She let out a relieved sigh.

Her steps lead into her room, wary and droopy. She suddenly let out a groan of frustration once she realized something. "I forgot to drop by the bookstore." She says, annoyed. Yeoreum rubs her eyes and impatiently takes her wallet from her bag, and shoving her finished book to her book bin, not forgetting to take out her pocketwatch bookmark and keys again. "I can't believe I have to go out again, I'm so stupid." She hits her head gently, scolding herself.

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The middle-aged lady who ran the bookstore put on a slight smile once she noticed Yeoreum come in the shop. Her same smile, excitement and same rush to find good books by the fiction aisle never faltered, and the lady couldn't help but remember the reason why she opened the store in the first place, because of Yeoreum.

2 minutes into a good book, and Yeoreum was completely immersed. There was always a thrill whenever she found another good one to read. She continued to scan the Young Adult aisle, her eyes hovering over the colorful romance and horror titles.

"Yeoreum? Is that you?" She turned around to the voice that called out. "Oh, Seungyoun- ssi. Hello." She bowed slightly. "Ey, you don't need to be so formal. Since your the younger ones' friend, you're my friend too. Oppa would be just fine." He utters, smiling broadly.

Yeoreum could feel the heat running up her cheeks, "Ah, then.. Seungyoun oppa." She corrects herself, her awkward smile displaying her tiny dimple.

"What are you doing here this late?" Seungyoun asks, hands in his pockets. "Just picking up another book. I should be asking you the same thing though, don't you have broadcast recordings tomorrow?" She returns the question, looking at him.

"Ah, I just went with Seungwoo hyung. He says he wants to buy something." Both of Yeoreum's eyebrows went up at his words. Right then, Seungwoo approaches them, the familiar white paper bag in his hands.

The both of them flash a smile once they saw each other. "Found a good one?" Seungwoo casually asks Yeoreum. She nodded enthusiastically, "Yep, it's a detective novel, looked promising enough." She eyes the book in her hands, Seungwoo also looking at it, intently.

Clues of the Undead, second book.

Seungwoo recalled in his head, having already read the book 2 times. He kept in his grin. "I'll just pay for this." Yeoreum excuses herself.

"I'll pay for it." Seungyoun and Seungwoo say at the same time. Yeoreum looked at them strangely. Seungyoun did a second take, an awkward laugh coming out of his mouth. "If that's the case, Seungwoo hyung will pay for it." He mischievously looks at Seungwoo at his side. Seungwoo returned the look, letting out the sigh.

This sly kid.

"Right, I'll pay for it." Seungwoo insists, already taking the book from Yeoreum's hands. "I mean, I.." Yeoreum had no choice, for Seungwoo had already handed the store owner some money. She could only watch as he handed her the paper bag. "Thank you, really. I'll pay you back someday." She genuinely said. Seungwoo's eyes disappear through his smile,

"No need. Enjoy reading though. We'll be going now." Seungwoo bid her goodbye, the two boys making their way out of the store.

This seemed all too familiar to her somehow, reminding Yeoreum of when she met Yohan, the image of him removing his white cap over the yellow light, still fresh in her memory.

Which reminds me, I have to verify whether my hunch is right. I need to know if it's really Yohan.

Her inner voice said in her head. "You and your boyfriend look good together." The storeowner randomly commented. Yeoreum became flustered,

"No, ma'am. That guy was not my boyfriend!"