HERSHE - SEULRENE

SR - Cannot

Seulgi didn't get the chance to talk to Irene again. The weekend passed and she didn't attempt to talk to the woman the following week.

She thought she'd learn to accept everything. Instead, Seulgi was tortured even more. It went worse because Bogum started to drive Irene every morning and picks her up every afternoon.

Seulgi's just faking a smile whenever Taemin and Krystal talk about Irene's love life. There are days when Seulgi sees Irene's empty chair and Krystal will just say Bogum came to pick Irene up early.

Not wanting to hear more about it, Seulgi tried to stay away from that team and busied herself in tennis instead. She put all her efforts into every practice in hopes of somehow forgetting her drama for a while.

Besides, she's got a competition to worry about and that's where she should focus now.

---

It was after a week of avoidance when Seulgi and Irene ran into each other in the hallway. Seulgi was about to go home while Irene was walking back to her station.

Both stopped abruptly at the sight of each other.

Seulgi isn't sure what to do. There are only a few people left in the office at that time, a reason she can't say she didn't notice Irene.

It was Irene who smiled first. "Hey."

Seulgi pulls the strap of her bag over her shoulder, trying her best not to melt. "Hey. What's up?"

"Good. You?"

"Likewise." Seulgi saw Irene's PC still turned on. "Overtime?"

"Yeah. Got deadlines to meet. You were on OT too?"

"Yeah. Just finished wrapping things up."

Then there was silence.

Seulgi is staring at Irene now and all she can think of is how much she missed this woman.

"Um... so... you're going home now or tennis practice?" asked Irene.

"Home. No tennis today. You?"

"Just finalizing a few more things."

"Umm. Would you... do... do you have a ride home?" asked Seulgi, taking chances.

"Umm. Bogum's picking me up in a while." Irene looked apologetic.

"Oh. No worries." Seulgi scratched her head. "So. Yeah. I better go ahead."

Seulgi is somehow expecting Irene would say something, maybe stop her or what, but the latter stepped aside to give way.

Seulgi took this as a sign to go. "Bye."

"Uh... Seulgi?"

Seulgi stopped in her tracks. She closed her eyes, realizing how much she missed hearing Irene call her name.

She turned around. "Yes?"

"We're cool, right?"

"Yeah... Why...?"

"I don't know. It just feels like something's off lately." Irene brought a hand to her necklace.

"Off with what?"

"With us?"

Seulgi scoffed to herself at Irene's usage of "us".

"Were you avoiding me?" asked Irene.

Seulgi cleared her throat. "No. Why would I avoid you?"

"I don't know. It just feels like you've been far away these past few days."