"Hey, hon, I just reached the hotel suite from the recording studio. How 'bout you?" His voice came through the phone, warm and familiar.
"Company..." she replied absentmindedly, her thoughts elsewhere.
"Are you alright? You sound unwell." His concern was evident in his tone.
"I'm fine, babe, just a bit tired." She rested her head on her arm, which was cushioned on the cold table in the meeting room.
"Did you just call me babe? Since when did you call me that?" His voice carried a tinge of annoyance. He had made it clear that he disliked that endearment after learning she had used it with someone else.
"So-sorry, hon, I'm just really... tired." She closed her eyes, a pang of regret gnawing at her. She hoped he wouldn't be angry. Not now, when she needed to have a serious conversation with him. "A-are you mad? I really didn't mean it... I just overheard a couple calling each other that way earlier, s-so... it just slipped out of my mouth unknowingly..."
She wasn't entirely truthful about the overheard part. The truth was, the word had escaped her lips unintentionally.
There was a brief silence, and her heart raced. His reaction was the last thing she needed right now.
"D-Dean?"
"I think we should—"
"Hey, Dean? I'll be having dinner with my parents. They're dying to meet you. I'm sure you won't miss this for the world?" The voice on the other end of the line was feminine, speaking in English.
Her eyebrows furrowed as she listened, her confusion deepening.
"Who's that?" she asked, her voice a mixture of curiosity and concern.
"Just a colleague. I'll call you later," he responded curtly before ending the call.
The beep signaled the end of the conversation, leaving her staring at her phone, a sinking feeling in her chest. Questions swirled in her mind: Who was the woman? Why had he acted so strangely? As she tried to piece together what had just transpired, unease settled over her like a heavy fog.
"Ms. Taeyeon, you can now take a break. Your manager's waiting for you outside," a staff member said suddenly, catching her attention.
She nodded in response, offering a polite bow as she collected her bag and headed towards the exit.
Where was her manager? The staff had mentioned he was waiting just outside. She scanned the area, hoping to spot him, but he was nowhere in sight.
Maybe she should call him. Just as she was about to dial his number, a message popped up on her phone's screen.
The General Manager summoned me. Wait for me in the van.
She took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. Alright.
Walking down the corridors, staff members passing by nodded and bowed respectfully. Yet, an inexplicable feeling of unease gnawed at her. Nervousness seemed to creep in, though she couldn't pinpoint why.
Perhaps it was the recent change in Dean's behavior. She hoped that they could have a conversation without descending into an argument.
Lost in these thoughts, she suddenly realized she had entered the elevator, accompanied by a few staff members who appeared to be a bit uneasy around her.
"Good morning... Are you doing well with work?" she ventured, hoping to ease the tension that seemed to fill the confined space.
Glancing at each staff member, she saw their expressions lighten up as they responded in turn, "Good morning, Ms. Taeyeon..."
"You're getting prettier and prettier day by day," a staff member in her mid-thirties remarked, her words laced with admiration.
Appreciating the compliment, she offered a small bow to the staff member who had praised her, conveying her gratitude for the kind words.
"Yeah, you never age," another staff member chimed in, nodding in agreement.
"Please don't remind me of getting older," she joked with a chuckle, breaking the ice and filling the elevator with laughter, effectively dispelling the lingering tension.
"Hey Ms. Chaeya, Mr. Goreum, don't say that, she's getting all the compliments every single day and she's probably sick of it," a more senior-looking man interjected, his attire indicating his higher position in the organization. His jest earned a round of laughter from the group.
"That's... That's kind of true," she quipped, hoping her words came across as playful rather than boastful. Fortunately, her comment was met with more laughter, and the jovial atmosphere continued to grow.
Their lighthearted conversation would likely have carried on if not for the elevator's doors sliding open, signaling their arrival on the ground floor. She bid her fellow passengers a farewell, thanking them for the enjoyable talk, before stepping out and resuming her journey toward the main exit.
Just as she was about to continue her path, her phone beeped with a message from her manager. Reading his words, she sighed softly. It seemed like her lunch would be a solitary affair today. She nodded to herself, acknowledging his instructions.
With her thoughts focused on finding a place to have lunch, she began to walk towards the cafeteria. Suddenly, her name was called out, causing her to turn in the direction of the voice.
Leeteuk oppa was standing there, accompanied by some of his fellow Super Junior members and several EXO members. A warm smile graced her lips as she made her way over to them.
"Are you taking your lunch? Come join us, Chanyeol's paying," Kyuhyun oppa exclaimed, gesturing towards Park Chanyeol who offered a respectful bow, a common gesture among juniors when interacting with their seniors.
"Sure," she agreed with a smile, appreciating the offer. However, as she approached the group and assessed the seating arrangement, a realization dawned upon her. The only vacant seat happened to be right next to Byun Baekhyun.
YOU ARE READING
from afar | baekyeon
Fanfiction"We already parted our ways... But as I think about it, I can't forget you... so let me still look after you, watch you... From afar." -Byun Baekhyun
