12

"Sit down." Mr Min sliced through Meeting Room 6C like he had our termination letters under his sleeve. I always hated this meeting room. It had nad lighting, not enough space, the projector was broken and the white surfaces were too white. And also that 6C sounded like a bad pronunciation of sexy. So I didn't have anything to be happy about in the least.

We huddled in three black chairs beside each other. Namjoon and Sohyun couldn't care less about the vending machine juice advertisement on their faces when Mr Min looked like he was swinging from the chandelier with Sia.

He slammed his laptop on the table between us and all of us flinched.

Namjoon glanced at me and I looked away. No way, buddy. I'm not your saviour today. My ass is just as on fire as everyone else's.

"I was told enough from the people around." Mr Min fixed his glasses, the middle finger still up.

"Mr Min—"

"I don't want to know who started it or who is at fault." Sohyun was cut off like a lawn mower. "That's not my concern. My concern is why did it get to this? And have we stopped encouraging professionalism on the floor?"

Our heads hung low. The bright LEDs of the meeting room turned us ethereal. Well, we were ethereally fucked up, for starters.

But why was I in this? I didn't even do anything wrong. Matter of fact, I should have been standing beside Mr Min on the other side of the table.

"Where were you, Haerin? Did this happen with you around?"

Oh snookums, this man was coming for me.

My head jolted up, "No—No. Someone was there to meet me at the office gate. You messaged me..."

"And how long exactly were you away for this to escalate to this degree?" Mr Min sounded like he wanted to make me a punching bag.

"I wasn't even away for thirty minutes..." My voice softened, face on the stove. I was being yelled at. I was being fucking yelled at. What the Hellen Keller was this?

"Look, you are up in line for many things, Haerin. But this? This is a people issue." He sounded so harsh. Like I killed his family or something.

People issue? People of what? Vogue magazine?

I couldn't even look at both of them, sitting all purple and shameless right there. They could at least defend me or say that I wasn't at fault. But no. We feed off seeing Haerin's ass getting kicked, don't we?

"I am tied up in a bunch of meetings, especially ones where I keep explaining your cybersecurity warfare. The least I expect from you is to keep everyone in check while I'm gone."

I gulped, pressing my lips together in a speechless line.

I fucking copied him that Jungkook shit this morning. Oh God damn it.

He drove a frustrated hand through his hair. "You already spend too much time away with that 9 AM meeting and those untimely sessions during the day. It is time you start learning how to handle your remaining productive hours doing the job you are actually aligned for. I cannot keep repeating the same thing. Namjoon was high on my expectations but he has turned out to be a fragile person who believes in juice wars. I don't think that qualifies for any senior role."

Okay, the last sentence saved me. Good for Namjoon.

"And Sohyun? You have to learn to be quiet where necessary."

Oh damn. Mr Min was on fire today. Maybe he had a match lit up in his pants.

"S—Sorry, Mr Min, but he said I'm weaponising astrology. Personal remarks are—"

"Not when you said I was a bitch because I was a Gemini!" Namjoon punched his fist lightly on the table.

What? Okay. That was some world-class comedy in this depressing glass building. I needed to know what Hoseok said during this. Needed to.

"Well, sue a girl for stating facts!" Sohyun cried, eyes wide with a glare that almost looked funny. "You are a meddling bitch, Namjoon. If you could just stay off my work and mind your own business—"

"What work if that's going to fall into someone else's lap? Why were you even hired if you can't perform basic reporting?" He rolled his eyes, smirking.

"Basic reporting? Yeah, why don't you get hired by a firm that specialises in sticking your nose in everyone's ass—"

"ENOUGH!"

That was the loudest Mr Min had screeched. Yes—fucking screeched. Not manly at all.

The room fell silent, Namjoon and Sohyun's jaw dropping at how harsh that was. Go for it, Mr Min. Destroy them, I beg you. Screech once more.

"Have you both forgotten where you are?" He seethed, clenching the front of his own hair. "You can't work together? Alright. I'll push you both to different teams. Let's see how well you take that."

His eyes shifted to me again and my body stiffened.

"Haerin, make sure they email the entire floor for their misconduct today. Draft something for them."

"Okay..." I nodded.

"Both of you, step out." He pointed at them.

Hot stuff. Hot stuff.

Mr Min could be sassy and hot too. Only when he got angry—seething, tipping-with-lava angry. Or maybe I needed a brain checkup.

Once they were gone I realised exactly why he wasn't hot stuff. The man slogged me like I was a worker for the pyramids or something.

"I'm going to ask you a serious question now," He leaned forward on the table. "Are you in control of your team?"

My team? What the fuck?

I stared at him. Dead inside. "Yes."

"Are you sure?" His brow twitched.

No.

"Yes."

"Doesn't look like that to me." He snapped, making my eyes flutter. "Haerin, your role is to manage people on my behalf. This will add an HR dent to your CV if you mishandle it."

I hung my head low in shame, "I—I know. I'll do better, Mr Min."

"What did you loop me in?"

Mental collapse.

Okay. Think fast and think better, Haerin.

"Oh." I cleared my throat. "I just—never mind. I'll handle it, Mr Min. I didn't mean to trouble you."

I forced the best smile I could. He pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a breath through his open mouth.

"I have another meeting in five. I'll see you later."

"Oh—Okay!" I jumped up to my stands, "See you later!"

Alligator! I wish I could say that to his face. But professionalism cost me my dignity.

I ran out of that room like my butt was on fire—which it was—and saw Namjoon and Sohyun, seated in their own places, typing away.

"Show me the drafted email, once you're through." I walked past them, running my fingers through my hair and stopped at the empty seat next to mine, "Where's Mirae?"

"On a break." Hoseok chirped back. "They threw juice at each other, Haerin. Why is your face purple?"

Haha. Very funny.

"Because I get bonus juice too, for being their AM," I smirked, making him laugh.

Yes. Assistant Manager shit.

I gulped and returned to my work as if I hadn't been getting whammed across my face since this morning. My heart was beating so loud I could beatbox to it.

My eyes fell on the email from Jeon Jungkook this morning and I swear I could explode. That reminded me that I had texts from the blind date Jungkook. I sighed and opened my phone.

Just the usual. Trying to strike up a conversation with me. I guess he liked me on the blind date.

This was ridiculous. Did I have to try? Not like the world was ending for me to jump to the next guy. But—but with Jong Suk, I felt like I needed to do something to distract myself. To pretend like he hadn't just told me he wanted to get back. What a madman. I mean, I hadn't thought he would do anything different either. What we had was nice to begin with, minus the mom arc. Who would want to throw all that away?

But I couldn't last in this hope forever. I had to make a move. So I texted New Jungkook back.

He trotted. Asked about my day. And I did confess that it wasn't that great here. Nice conversation.

"Haerin," Sohyun called. "I've sent you a copy of the email. Let me know if it's alright to send."

"Yeah." I sighed and put my phone away.

I couldn't. I was in too deep for Jong Suk. I couldn't talk to another guy and hope I catch feelings for him someday.

That sounded like the plot of a tragic movie. Some kind of crap where one of us dies for the other to realise that they were never in love. Nope. Not me.

I scrolled through the email contents, fixing up a few places to make it sound professional enough.

"I'll send a copy to Mr Min first," I announced, hitting send. "Let him go through—FUCK!"

Heads shot up. Accusatory eyes everywhere. Hoseok rolled his chair to me so fast he collided with mine. I covered my mouth, bowing at everyone for messing up their ethical hour.

My heart dropped. I needed an alien invasion to take me away, please. Just a UFO was all I needed to escape this royal fuck up.

But I recovered just as quickly. For a moment I thought I sent that apology email to that third-floor Cyborg. But no. I sent it to Mr Min, as decided.

Mr Min was quick to approve it. It looked like he didn't have the time to check it.

Sohyun and Namjoon sent the email, making sure that everyone was covered. It was serious. It had to be dealt with seriously.

I sighed and leaned back in my seat. I wanted to go home. I didn't want to work. This day had churned out the strength from me so miserably. Plus, Mr Min was livid at me. And hearing him shout and snap like that hurt me a little. I'm a lady. He didn't have to humiliate me in front of those dimwits.

Just as I was about to start my work, a message popped up on Cirq.

[Private Chat – Jeon Jungkook]1:08 PM – Jeon, JungkookSympathies for Mr Min's terrible team.

Okay, alien invasion. There's only so long that I can wait before I jump off a building!

I didn't reply to that message. I couldn't. Because right above his message was the last thing I sent him. The poop emoji, the drooling emoji and the green heart. The tri-union of Jungkook's first one-up.

I couldn't risk another one of those.

So I didn't reply.

I pretended like he didn't exist.

"What are you going to say to that?"

My skin nearly left me. My head whipped around to look at Mirae, standing behind my seat. Hoseok was right beside me too. Damn it.

"I'm not going to say anything," I answered, exiting the Cirq page as quickly as I could. "It'll go away."

"Doesn't look like it." Hoseok pointed at my phone that was blinking with Jungkook's name on it. The blind date Jungkook. I didn't have this bastard's number.

"That's not this Jungkook," I mumbled and put the phone on silent. "They just have the same name."

"Oh, okayyy," Hoseok mumbled.

That evening, I purchased a few bottles of Soju on my way home. I desperately needed it.

I popped the corks open, set the cots on my laptop table on the bed and sided with the spicy kimchi mom always made. Once I had changed into my comfort, I knew that I had to dial Bo Ah to help me.

She answered the video call on the third ring.

"Soju night." She cheered when she saw my state. "Good going. Who died?"

"Me. I died inside today, Bo Ah." I said, taking the first cot and drinking it up. "That Jungkook is in a patronising competition with me. Two of my teammates fought so Mr Min shifted the blame on me and yelled at me. Jong Suk dropped by my office to apologise to me for his mom."

"You've suffered third-degree burns." She said, leaning back into her bedpost. "Are you okay?"

I rolled my eyes, "Meh. I mean, I've seen worse so yeah. I'm alright. What about you? What's with you?"

"I just had sex, and I'm waiting for the second round but you called."

My face blew up, my jaw hanging open. The Soju cot halted in my hand. "What the heck? You answered my call in the middle of sex?"

"Yes, I did." She smiled. "Wanna watch?"

"Bo Ah, metaphorically, I am getting fucked too. Don't want to watch the live action." I sighed and pressed my fingers against my temple. "Go and do the dirty. I'll call you later..."

"Sure." She nodded, "Don't worry, Haerin. Don't drink too much."

I shrugged and hung up. I didn't have anyone else to call but Bo Ah, unlike before.

What was this menacing life I was living?

Everybody was out here fucking and I didn't even have a vibrator between my legs. Not everybody—Bo Ah, but it still felt like I was the only one left out.

It's all their fault.

Why did Jong Suk have to drop by and make things harder for me? So what if he was genuinely apologising? I didn't care about that. And Mr Min? Always the supportive father—now turned into a bitch. He could have said those things after Namjoon and Sohyun left the room. The humiliation was not necessary. You know what? I call him out for not being able to do his job. Zero points as a manager for doing this to me.

And that blind date? Why was he being so persistent? Couldn't he wait for like another week before messaging me again?

And Bo Ah. She was more concerned about being bedded than me.

I poured another cot, staring at the liquid bubbling as it fell. The darkness made me feel pathetic. Like I was a rat in the corner of the world.

But—was this my fault?

Did I not know how to give space to my friend? Shouldn't I be happy for the good sex she was getting too? That's what Jong Suk said. Did I act too cold to him? He was just there to apologise for his mother's attack. I think I would have done the same if my mother ever made him cry.

Then why did I have to be such an asshole?

And Mr Min? Hasn't he always supported me? Maybe he was tired now. Did I look like I wasn't interested or something?

I...I couldn't even imagine what I looked like to all of them.

It was all my fault.

I squeezed my thighs together as I drank another sip. I hated that I didn't have sex at my beck and call now. I could be qualified to be a nun at this point.

Maybe I was the asshole here. He rushed to apologise and I didn't even consider it.

My hands shivered as I reached for my phone.

Should I call?

My thumb hovered over his name.

Should I?

Should I not?

Just an apology acceptance right? It wasn't like I was trying to feed my emotionally starved self or something.

My throat bobbed when I hit the call button and watched it ring.

He answered on the fourth ring. Still the same as before. And when his face appeared on the video call, my heart shook a little.

"Hey..." He said but all I could hear was the rattle of forks and spoons against dishes. People were murmuring around him. "I'm in a restaurant. Don't worry. It's an official dinner."

My frown soothed and I nodded. "I just...I didn't have much..."

"Are you drunk?"

My eyes widened, face heating up all over again. "Shut up, yeah? I can be drunk, I can have sex if I want to. Don't ask me."

"You wouldn't have called me if you were having sex, though?" He smiled, almost adoring my crappy attitude. "Or did you not like it because he didn't do it like I did?"

"You can talk like that around people at dinners?" I rolled my eyes and put the phone on the stand to free my arms.

I poured some Soju for me once more and sighed.

This felt so wrong. Why was I even doing this?

"Haerin..." His voice softened. "Be responsible. Just because we aren't together, don't forget that I'm the one who knows your body the best."

"Shut up, Jong Suk." I snapped. "You're talking like you're the god of sex or something. And why is the topic about my sex life anyway? Am I asking you about the girls you're sleeping with?"

"I'm not sleeping with anyone." He sternly said. So sternly that it felt rude for a second but then maybe it was the alcohol in my head.

"You're all red." He chuckled. "Open the windows. You must be hot."

"I don't want to."

"I still have some of your things, you know? I'm debating on whether I want to keep them or not because they are too special."

I rolled my eyes hard enough for them to prick and moisten.

"Your call." I looked away, pretending like I didn't care. "Your mother's—"

"I come through the phone and shut your mouth if you talk about her again."

My eyes squinted suspiciously, leaning back into my bedpost. "Can you? Can you, really? Don't just bullshit with me."

"You think me warning you of a kiss is bullshitting?" His eyebrows raised. "Think again. How many times have I shut you up like that?"

I wiped the sweat off my warm face. He had. So many times. Kissed me until I stopped crying. Kissed me until I stopped being mad. Kissed me until I stopped teasing him. Kissed me until I wanted him back. Kissed me so hard that my lip split and bled and didn't even apologise because it looked sexy.

Ugh.

"That was different. We're not together anymore." I confessed, wrapping my arms around myself.

I couldn't remember anything after that and I chose to think that I fell asleep.