Serendipity: The Amazing Journey Of A Soulmate

55. Before the worst

INNA

The rest of the day passed so fast. Spending time with my best friend made the time fly and go unnoticed. By the time we finished lunch it was already 3 pm. I returned to my office after we said our goodbyes, where I locked myself in and worked on some important closing speeches for my future trials. I also got in contact with the psychiatrist to schedule a meeting at the detention center for Mr. Do. It will be ideal if he manages to deal with his mother before the appointment because I'm starting to have high hopes for this case. I've been so absorbed in my work that I didn't realize everyone in the main office left until one of the paralegals knocked on my door.

"Inna? Are you still here?" I hear Hyung-Soo calling me through the locked door, while trying to turn the handle. I raise my head from the pile of papers, looking at the door and expecting it to open any moment now. Seeing nothing happens, suddenly I am reminded that it's locked. I had to do it earlier because I wanted to focus and not be interrupted by my coworkers.

"Ah, yes. Just a moment!" I quickly sit up and walk to the door, unlocking it and opening it wide just to see the 30 year old paralegal standing in front of me, clutching the strap of his oxford bag.

"Everyone left already and I was about to head out as well," he announces, tilting his head in the direction of the elevators. Peering up behind him I notice that not a single soul remained in the main office. Soon, the only people at this floor will be the cleaning staff and the security men. "Should I wait for you or..." he trails unsure.

"It's okay, you can go ahead. I'll wrap things up here and follow in a couple of minutes." I reassure him with a small smile. He just looks at me undecided whether he should wait for me and leave together. I'm about to refuse and excuse myself again, but then a small voice inside my head reminds me of my creepy secret admirer and for some some reason an unexpected wave of fear makes its way down my spine.

"Actually, wait!" I say as he turns to leave, "I'm gonna come with you now, Hyung-Soo. Just a second to grab my stuff." I say and quickly cross the office to get my bag and phone, closing the door behind me. My coworker falls in step with me as we head out of the empty building, chatting about the new apartment he and his wife managed to buy. I notice that there are still people in the building at the lower floors, people who just like me decided to work overtime. I guess in this matter, I take a lot after the korean employees: working too much, literally living in the office.

When we arrive in front of the building, I split paths with my coworker and head in the direction of the parking lot, while he continues his way to the bus stop. It's way past 7 pm and the sun is setting, engulfing the whole city in a sea of purple, orange and red light. The sky looks like the canvas of a famous artist, so many shades blending together to give birth to a work of art. Soon it will be dark, all these colors vanishing into the starry July night. I send a text to Namjoon letting him know I'm stopping by the dorms, then get inside my car and drive away.

*****

"Inna, when are you coming? The food is getting cold!" Jimin whines through the phone, just as I'm arriving in the underground parking lot of their house complex.

"I can't speed out, Jimin. I'm not in Fast and Furious," I say getting out of the car and walking towards the entrance. "I will be there in 15 minutes,"

"15 minutes? But I'm starving!" he complains.

"Yah, stop being so dramatic, will you?" He keeps mumbling something indecipherable, but then his phone is snatched away by Namjoon.

"Baby, don't listen to him. Take your time and be safe," he says calmly just when I arrive at the front door and press the buzzer. "Oh, wait, there's someone at the door," he informs me oblivious to the fact that the one standing on the other side is me. I wanted to surprise him, letting him know that I'll be late, when in fact I arrived here earlier than expected.