Chapter 7: Mina

The sea greeted the gray clouds with its open calmness, as it did everyone who came into contact with it.

***

A habit I wish I didn't have is automatically thinking of the work I'll be doing for the rest of the day when I wake up during weekdays. But today's different, since this will be my first time collaborating with Chaeyoung. Just her-not Carl nor Dahyun-working on droll greeting cards for Mother's Day.

Relax, Mina. Don't get too excited. You don't even know if she actually likes girls. But...she did mention that I'm pretty, right? I'll take it.

Not wanting to look overeager with this development, I pair my navy blue paisley blouse with a white pencil-cut skirt. To complete the look, I tie my hair in a messy bun and wear tawny stilettos.

As much as it pains me, I hail a car service just so I'll get to the office without a sweat-Chaeyoung can't see me sweating in this outfit.

***

Since getting ride services are unpredictable, I'm glad I made the call of leaving twenty-five minutes earlier than I normally do. Factoring in the steady flow of traffic, accidents withstanding, I should be in the office in about twelve minutes; I'll just have breakfast after I clock in.

In line with my expectations, there are hardly any people piling up by the lobby, and I manage to get an elevator by myself. As the doors were about to close, a hand with sets of tattoos on the fingers stop them from shutting in. Shit-it's Chaeyoung.

She positions herself across from me. "Good morning, sunbaenim," Chaeyoung murmurs-a far cry from her swag when I first met her.

"Good morning."

We pass by a few floors in total silence, with the elevator's humming filling in the audial gap. I try to steal glances, just to see if she'd look my way, but she's only staring at the LED indicating which floor we're currently in.

"You're awfully early," I state, because someone has to break the silence.

"Ah, yes...my mom drops me off before she heads to her office."

Well, isn't that cute? She's like a little student! "I see. How convenient."

Upon placing our things in our lockers, Chaeyoung immediately logs into her workstation. Was I this diligent as a newbie?

"Chaeyoung-ssi...have you eaten breakfast?"

She hunches her shoulders and curls her lips inward as she shakes her head.

"Would you like to join me for breakfast?"

"It's okay...I can wait for Carl."

Come on, Mina! Use your seniority and way with words to coerce her! This is your chance-it's just the two of you!

"But, Carl won't be here for another hour," I counter, looking at my wristwatch. "Besides, he eats his fiancée's dishes for breakfast. Come on-I insist."

After a few seconds, Chaeyoung curtly nods and gets up from her desk.

In my head, my arms are already around her as I flash a mischievous grin, like Michael Jackson at the end of "Thriller".

***

"What'll you have?"

Chaeyoung shakes her head. "No, sunbaenim! I can pay for my own."

"Please, I insist! After all, you haven't had your salary yet." Me treating someone I barely know to Starbucks? Wow, this must be an alternate dimension.

After a few seconds of shifting her gaze between me and the menu up top, Chaeyoung concedes and orders.

"One tall chai tea latte," she exclaims and quickly leaves the line to look for a table.

Who the fuck only orders a beverage for breakfast? Okay, I get it-she's being shy, but...seriously?

"I'll have a grande caramel frappe. Blended." Yeah, that's right-I enjoy frappucinos. "And, uhm, two chicken fajita rolls." The barista eyes me, but lets up as my stare towards him doesn't waver.

As I approach our table, Chaeyoung quickly bows down. "Thank you, sunbaenim."

"Please, cut it with the honorifics. Just Mina. By the way, I hope you don't mind me ordering food for you."

She sits straight with widened eyes. "Omo! I can't ta-"

I click my tongue at her. "Don't be rude," I scold playfully. Ugh, she's so cute, getting flustered like this.

"Chaeyoung-ssi. Relax. We're teammates, who will be working together. If you can't enjoy a meal with me, we won't be able to move forward." Wow-villainous, much?

Would you look at that? With how sheepish she was, you'd be surprised as to how she's gorging on the fajita.

"Mina-ssi," she opens up. Even the way my name rolls off her lips is adorable; like a secret that she only wants me to hear. "Are you going to a presentation later?"

"No...why do you ask?"

Chaeyoung heaves. "I just thought you're a little overdressed."

Finally, we get to my attire. Thanks for noticing. "Why...is it that bad?"

She covers her mouth after gasping. "No! Not at all! It's actually really stylish. Maybe I was just accustomed to you not being like that..."

That's the intention, my dear. This is actually for you.

***

We wrap up the day with three options for Mother's Day cards-with the help of my corny puns and Chaeyoung's designs. Frankly, I'm not big on the whole floral aesthetic, but who am I to criticize? I'm not a mom. At least Chaeyoung is a smart girl, who's quick on comprehending as to what my intended messages are. Let's just hope it passes by Jihyo's erratic standards.

"Good work today," I tell Chaeyoung as I fill my flask with water.

"Thank you as well, sunba-I mean, Mina-ssi."

"See you tomorrow."

She eyes me by the door. "You're not leaving yet?"

"Jihyo and I have something to discuss." Indeed, it has become some sort of weird habit that me and my superior stay for a few hours. Jihyo cites traffic as the reason while I just relish the silence of the building.

Jihyo's ready to go as soon as I return back to my desk.

"Coffee?"

I know I shouldn't agree and just say eat at a fast food diner, given that I spent twice than I normally would at Starbucks, but I just shrug.

***

Jihyo and her formal posture dissipates as she slouches further into the rattan chair, with her toffee nut latte raised on one hand. "So, what do you think of the new girl?"

I think she's very attractive; now I have a reason to be excited to go to work everyday. "She's okay, I guess."

My boss scoffs at me; the brightness of the bulb behind her negating the mole on the tip of her nose. "For a writer, you're really verbose, aren't you? I just thought to ask, since you seem to glance at her-a lot-and that she has the same aura as Jeongyeon."

My eyebrows furrow on instinct upon hearing my ex's name. "What?! That's crazy!"

"Really? It's like they both have that spunky personality," Jihyo explains.

The stress must really be getting to my sunbae. Jeongyeon isn't as meek and mild-mannered. Chaeyoung seems like an adorable ball of warmth.

"Mina-yah, just be aware: I will not have my teammates dating, understand?"

I chuckle at the thought of a prospective office romance. "Yeah, I'm well aware of the policies." Don't worry-it's not as if this is the first time I'm having a crush on someone I work with.

***

As much as possible, I always sit by the middle part of the bus-it wouldn't be difficult to get out when it's cramped, and you're not the immediate target of crazies entering the vehicle.

My mind goes retroactive as I look back a few hours-with Chaeyoung and me brainstorming, pretending to have a hard time coming up with the messages, and watching her hold her markers as she sketched her ideas. It's almost unreal how her hair shined against the fluorescent lights in our area. Just from the look of it, you could tell it was soft-something your fingers would easily glide through.

Kind of like the girl who's two rows away from the driver. Wait...isn't that Chaeyoung? Her turning her head sideways to look at the window confirms it. Part of me wants to approach her and say something like "fancy meeting you here" or ask her if she's had dinner, but I opt to look at her from afar-see what she's like when no one's watching.

A few intersections later, we arrive at my stop. I almost forego standing and see her route to the end, but she gets off. What? Does she live near my place?

I maintain a healthy distance, like a predator slowly studying its prey's movement. My pace alternates, so as to avoid suspicion, but where she's headed is a familiar direction; something I know like the back of my hand.

You may think I'm making this shit up, but Chaeyoung goes inside our apartment complex.

Ms. Choi, our stern manager, smiles at her. "Chaeyoung-ah! Let's have dinner?"

"No, thanks, imo-nim. Umma said she bought dinner already."

Imo-nim? She's even close with that hag? Every time I greet Ms. Choi, all she does is grunt, continuing whatever it is she's doing. Also, umma?! Don't tell me...

"I saw her-with burgers...again. Aigoo, she's so busy to feed you right," the middle-aged woman berates. "Here, I made too much tteokbokki anyway." Wow, how I wish she'd give me some of that; even a mom who'd buy me a burger sounds divine right now.

I hope they're not looking at the CCTV screens right now. Otherwise, this stealth mission would've been fruitless.

"Omo, imo-nim! Thanks! This is my favorite," the younger woman exclaims.

I wait until our manager goes back to her singing before I saunter inside the lobby.

"Good evening, Ms. Choi! Any, uh, packages for me?"

She shrugs with one shoulder and mouths over to the lockers.

"By the way, your dinner looks good! Did you make it?" Man, even I'm cringing as to how I'm forcing this.

Ms. Choi curtly smiles and proceeds to take a sip off her bowl. Well, fuck you, too. How about I report some of the many complaints I have with your building? This is blatant favoritism to say the least.

I manage to politely excuse myself, despite the strong urge to call her out, and stroll along the lockers. Deliberately, I take my time, locating one which would have "SON" written on the front.

After fruitless minutes of scouring, given that there are fifteen floors total, with each having twelve rooms, I head over to 709-my locker. Aside from a few mailers (from subscriptions we were forced into for work) there's nothing from oto-san, oka-san, or even my brother. Oh well, I guess I should get ready to prepare my instant jjajangmyeon.

Upon closing my locker, the key falls to the floor. Picking it up, I see it: 609 - Son.