The Republic of ARMY

17. Party at my room

"You are effectively on break for two weeks starting tomorrow. You gave us quite a scare when you vanished."

Dr. Li, Dr. Guyo and Richard had arrived at the camp a few minutes after I left and went to the wilderness in a rage. My brother quickly told her what had happened and she had sighed before helping to organize a search party.

Which was a success as my brother found me. The quicksand was marked immediately and cordoned off so that someone (who was or wasn't me) could not wander into it again.

"That was irresponsible of you," Dr. Guyo said. I felt that. "Time out for you."

Did she come here to take over my project? What the potatoes?!

"Sorry sweetie. I know you were upset but you could have reacted better," Dr. Li said as she patted my head gently. I scowled at Dr. Guyo who didn't seem to care that I was angry.

"How could such a big project end up in the hands of a brat?" Dr. Guyo said in a provoking manner. "This won't do. I'm telling the director."

"Dr. Guyo, just because you are my senior, it doesn't mean you can come here, to my project division, and snap at people. No one will help you."

"Uh-"

"Please, Dr. Guyo, be quiet," Richard said. She kept quiet and threw a stink eye at him. She couldn't say anything because she wanted to look good in front of him. "Also, no one tells the director anything, okay? Nothing happened here."

I raised an eyebrow at what Richard said. Or rather, how he said it. Mercy had disappeared because she didn't want to talk to Richard. She was also shy because she didn't know whether he missed her either.

"Have you seen the projects? Would you have done them?"

Dr. Guyo sighed and made a 'Humph' sound. I held in my chuckles by folding my lips inwards and looking at anything but her. Dr. Li was doing the same too.

"Where did Mercy go this time? Is she hiding from me?" Richard muttered before he left to go find her. I looked at Dr. Guyo who turned to see him go. She pretended to walk off in the opposite direction, but passed by quickly trying to make herself invisible. Dr. Li and I exchanged a look and started giggling. The young woman glared at us before straightening to her full height and walking off. Dr. Li took a seat next to me and picked up my hand.

"I'm sorry about everything."

"It is fine. My father just seems to evoke the worst reactions from me. I will try to reign my moods in next time."

She smiled. "Take a few days off and come back when you're rested. Mercy might want to stay back, seeing as Richard's here."

"How long?"

"Two weeks."

"Where am I going?"

"LA."

°|°•°•°•°•|•

My hotel room was dope.

Once i arrived in LA and safely made it to my hotel room, i took time to reach out to my little brother. Texting him while preparing to take a nap soon became tiring. Eventually I just flat out fell asleep.

When I woke up, I headed to clean up and got decked out in some high waist jeans and wore a top that had puffy arms and sleeves. I paired it off with wedges, then fluffed out my afro hair. I stepped out of my hotel room feeling pretty as a picture, and already resolving to find an AirBnB before the day ended.

I swiped through my phone as I checked out properties that had a good but affordable fee. Then I remembered I had a manager who could handle all those things, and instead called him.

"How may I help you?" Ivan asked in boredom.

"Did you check to see who is calling?" I questioned him instead as I pressed for the lift. Someone joined me and I didn't really pay them any attention.

There was a yawn on the other end before Ivan paused. "Oh my gosh! Raina! Raina! You're back?!"

"For a short while I guess...?" I told him while laughing girlishly down the line. The elevator doors slid open and I got in with that guy and whoever else was with us. I pressed for the restaurant and leant back, not registering I had placed my body against someone else.

It felt strangely comfortable.

"Are you looking for studio space?"

"Something like that, but then again, not really. I wanted a place to stay that wouldn't eat too much into my budget. I'm only on break for two weeks you know. Better get the creative juices working again."

"Well then, I am glad you called, because I have the perfect place to take you to. All you need to do is tell me when you want to see it."

•|•°•°•°•°|°

I decided to spend another night at the hotel. This was also because of my manager who was still trying to find me a good place to say. I turned on my favourite playlist as I wore my earphones.

"So this right here, is a party we're gonna have in this fancy hotel room before we move to our temporary home! Let's get turned up for real! Woohoo!" I yelled in the bathroom and started to dance around my room, putting things in order as my pedometer counted my steps.

"...Everybody just have a good time! And we're gonna make you lose your minds...!" I stopped neatening to dance in front of the mirror. "... Everyday i'm shuffling!"

An hour later, I danced my way to the lift to go buy some hot coffee downstairs. It was a mocha of some sort and I loved how it tasted. I pressed for the lift as 'Paradise' by GOT7 played through the speakers.

The chorus sounded so good, I couldn't stop myself from moving to it. The doors slid open and I got in with someone who had been standing next to me the whole time. When I turned around to turn press for the floor I was going to, I almost fainted.

"Na-Na-Namjoon?!"