still you | baekyeon

Chapter 14

Three weeks had passed since that tumultuous encounter. A span of time that felt like a heavy burden had been lifted from within her mind.

He had upheld his decision not to cross paths again, a fact that she found both comforting and disconcerting. The last time she had seen him was during their time together in the hotel suite, the moment that seemed like the climax of their emotions.

It was a surprise, really. A pleasant surprise. She had expected the opposite – that he would disregard his own words and reappear, but he didn't. It was as if he had vanished from her world, his absence creating an odd void within her thoughts.

As she embarked on her way to SM Entertainment, accompanied by her manager, her face lit up with an undeniable enthusiasm. The prospect of working on a summer version of "Happy" brought a spark to her eyes. She was resolute in her desire to embrace opportunities rather than remain confined within the walls of her home.

Arriving at the building, she couldn't help but notice the commotion of idols and trainees in the lobby. Her gaze shifted towards a familiar face, one she hadn't encountered in some time. He was surrounded by smiles and greetings, clearly a well-received presence.

A wave of disinterest washed over her as she regarded him. His recent music video release – "Sweet," "Chocolate," or "Candy," she couldn't quite recall – bore no significance to her. It was as if his endeavors were in a separate realm, one she had no desire to be a part of.

Acknowledging the trainees and juniors with a warm smile and polite nods, she continued her path towards the elevator, accompanied by her manager. The stifling atmosphere within the lift seemed to be taking a toll on her, leaving her skin slightly damp with perspiration.

Breaking the silence, her manager's voice cut through the air. "How is he?"

She met his gaze with a quizzical arch of her eyebrows, indicating her lack of comprehension regarding the topic of conversation.

"Is he still following you?" he inquired further.

Ah, so he was referring to him – the figure she had been determinedly avoiding any thought of.

"I assured you that he won't be bothering me anymore," she responded, her eyes briefly flitting towards the floor indicator. The seconds felt like minutes as she waited for the elevator to reach their destination, the tension hanging between them.

"How certain are you of that?" he persisted.

"Absolutely certain. But let's switch topics, shall we?" She offered a faint smile, inwardly hoping for a diversion to interrupt their dialogue.

The elevator ride finally concluded, the doors opening to release them into the hallway. Her manager took the initiative to exit first, leaving her to follow suit.

"Consider this a precaution," he remarked as he stepped out.

She acknowledged his words with a nod, thankful for his concern yet eager to move on from the subject.

Closing the door behind her, she exhaled softly, her thoughts dwelling on the unexpected twists of life. It seemed as though a certain chapter had reached its conclusion, even as new chapters unfolded before her.

The journey continued as they reached the meeting room, where a collection of staff members from SM Entertainment had convened. Greetings were exchanged in the form of respectful bows, and Taeyeon found her designated seat, settling into it.

"Shall we begin?" the head of the Planning and Strategic Department's voice initiated the session, met with unanimous nods from the attendees.

Throughout the meeting, discussions flowed smoothly. The decision to shoot in just two days seemed sudden, yet it was a challenge she was willing to embrace. Her stylists were present too, their involvement crucial in aligning her appearance with the video's theme.