THE FIRST THING that went to her mind after plopping herself down on her office chair is . . . nothing.

It's been less or more than ten minutes since she got out of the manager's office and back to her own desk, and all she did is to stare blankly at the black screen before her, thinking about nothing. She refused to say anything about what she and her manager have talked about earlier, keeping herself quiet inside and out for a moment. She doesn't want to jinx anything.

The young lady even refused to ask herself whether she is dreaming or not. She wanted to feel nothing just yet, humbling herself down, but the query kept circling her mind on its own.

"Delivery!"

Park Seoyeon almost jumped on her seat, and with a hand on chest and widened eyes, she turned her torso around as she locked her sharp eyes on the man where the scream-whisper came from. What's up with males and deliveries nowadays?

Her eyes slowly soften once she realized it was only Minjun who is holding up a torn-free rose behind her shoulder, gently waving it in front of his face. Now she is distracted, she forgot jinxing the yet to be jinxed. The young man pulled himself together with his office wheelchair as he glided his shoes on the ground, scooting towards her but not close enough to be beside her. The smile on his face widens when Seoyeon took the rose from his grasp.

"Right.. It's Monday." Seoyeon chortled, averting her gaze from him to the rose. She admired its beauty like it wasn't the first time Minjun has given her such flower. It surely will be missed but having a man spend money for unknown reasons is something she never wanted. They have been schoolmates for a very long time, and having themselves go to a same workplace made them close friends for sure, but Seoyeon believes it's not enough reason for him to keep giving her roses and for her to keep accepting those, especially when he doesn't admit anything. Plus she only sees him as a friend. At some point, this so-called ritual has to stop. "Thank you, again, but-"

But before she could finish her words, Minjun's interrupted her.

"I heard that you were sent at the manager's office earlier, what it's all about?" Their eyes met again. This time Minjun's gaze is softer than hers. "Were you scolded?" He asked. Not that he sees Seoyeon as a troublemaker, but as an experienced person, it's been the only reason why he was sent to manager's office before.

But Seoyeon smiled.

Perhaps a small bragging is okay?

She pushes the ground with her heels, pushing herself and her office wheelchair to finally be beside the young man. "Promotion." Her lips parted as she showed a wide grin. "I am getting promoted."

"Really?"

Seoyeon pressed her index finger against her lips to make the latter quiet down. She then glanced sideways, taking a quick glance from her surroundings before bringing her eyes back to the surprised man. "Pipe down, will you?" She let out silent chortles. "We don't want the oldies hear anything about it just yet. We don't want to get them mad, I've been only just two years in the company, you know."

"Right, right." Minjun nodded with a smile. Then he continued whispering. "But really? How did you get it?" He scooted closer, eager to hear tips from the latter.

"The Senior Business Analyst got fired recently and they're finding someone for replacement."

"And it's you, right?"

"Sort of."

Minjun scrunched his nose in confusion. "Sort of?"

"The manager said if I did well this following week, I might get the position."

Minjun nodded and smiled. "Do well then."

Seoyeon returned the smile but it didn't stay for long. She held up the torn-free rose. "By the way, about this-"

"Okay, let's back to work." Before Minjun could turn around, Seoyeon took a hold of his armrest.

"Thank you for this, but I'm not going to accept another next time, unless you give me a reason to do so."

Then silence.

Here they go again.

"Minjun, we're friends." Seoyeon said, refraining herself from letting out a sigh that may unleash more tension between them. "And, you know, I'm not open for . . . dating . . . yet, if that's what you're implementing with this." Both of them find it funny how Seoyoen sounds so casual talking about romantic stuffs and rejecting a man inside an office like it's a normal thing to do, but really, deep inside, the young lady is awkwardly dying.

Minjun, on the other hand, is lost for words momentarily. He kept his eyes staring at the girl in front of him. Not knowing the proper words to say, he chuckled. "But we can't help it once it's in my hands already, right?"

Seoyeon tilted her head, deciphering the words she heard. The staring contest couldn't be anymore awkward until a petite figure showed up on their sides.

"Excuse me." Mara is now standing before them, holding papers between her arms and chest, exhibiting her signature It Girl's smile. "You're blocking the way."

"Right, sorry." Seoyeon said, bringing herself back to her proper place the same way Minjun did.

But before Mara could step again, Minjun faced her and then asked. "Are you going to the manager's office?" Looking at the papers that she's holding, it is most likely that she is going to submit reports.

She nodded.

"Good, let me join you." He smiled, grabbing papers from his desk as he pushed the flattened surface with his freehand, supporting himself while standing. If Seoyeon did not know any better, she would have thought that the latter is escaping the conversation they had earlier rather than actually doing his job. Seoyeon shook her head and chortled, diverting her attention as she finally turned on her monitor, now minding her own job.

Then Minjun and Mara started to walk quietly side by side.

No one wanted to talk until they exited the office and reached the hallway.

They're on their way to the elevator when Mara found herself stealing glances from the tall man beside her, time to time. This man did nothing wrong, but of all people inside this building, he's the one she doesn't care to be closed with the most, next is his friend- which is of course- Seoyeon. "What a flirt." She muttered to herself but she knew it was loud enough for him to hear.

"If you call walking flirting, then you're being a weak-hearted lady. That's dangerous." Minjun chuckled that made the latter scoff.

They finally reached the elevator.

"Fourth?" The young man asked as soon as both of them stepped in, offering the lady his effort to push the button for her and she nodded. Then her eyebrows furrowed when she witnessed him pushing two buttons instead of one.

"Third? Aren't you going to the manager's office too?" Mara asked.

"No." Minjun answered. He kept his hand on the elevator door for a moment, looking for more possible passengers. "I just need to photocopy these papers. Our floor's Xerox machine is not working."

"But they have a machine on the second floor too."

Minjun just smiled at her statement.

"What a flirt." Mara scoffed for the second time.

Then Minjun finally stepped back and took his hand off the metal, assuming that there are no more passengers other than them. The door slowly closes as they stood side by side once again.

"Friday, around fifteen minutes past eight o'clock."

Hearing her talk like that in all of sudden made him retraced his eyesight right away, from the metallic doors to her who's facing the metallic doors. He raised his eyebrows in confusion. Friday? Around 8:15?

Oh. That.

Minjun smirked. "What about it?"

"Why didn't you report me? You heard everything." From the bored tone of her voice to the dulled look in her eyes, she doesn't seem bothered by it at all.

"How can I?" Minjun turned his face and fixed his gaze on the numbers above them, another small smile tugging at his lips. "I don't have any proof."

"You had a chance to record me."

They finally reached the third floor and the door opens. Minjun steps forward.

"If you're really trying to get caught . . ." He took another step. ". . . then make sure you're not caught by me."

Once he fully exited the elevator, he turned around and faced the latter.

"Because I don't care about your plans, and will never be willing to be a part of it."

Mara witnessed how his smirk, together with his intimidating eyes, disappears from sight as the door slid shuts slowly.

Damn. He's dangerous.

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To: Yoon Jia
We don't have lessons today.
I have to go somewhere.
6:15 pm

From: Yoon Jia
But I'm at your doorstep already.
6:16 pm

Min Yoonki heaved a sigh before turning his phone off and shoving it back to his pocket. Yoon Jia is a smart girl, he believes, she will go home without him telling her to do so.

His fellow cops gave him a salute as soon as he entered the police station. He took his cap off his head and returned the gesture of respect, but with a wry smile. He can't deny how uncomfortable it is to be respected because of his father's rank, not because of him himself.

His smile automatically disappears the moment he walked past them completely, going straight to his destination. At the time he stood behind the certain door, the young man cleared his throat before knocking in rhythm, letting the latter on the other side of the wall know that it's him.

The doorknob is already wrapped by Yoonki's long fingers, but the young man still waited for the detective chief superintendent's permission to open it. He didn't wait for so long though. "Come in." He heard his voice seconds later and it was soon followed by the small creaking sound of the wooden door.

The chief was too busy signing and reading papers on his desk that he wasn't able to realize that his son has entered already, as if he never heard the sound of the door opening and shutting. Yoonki, on the other hand, remains standing in front of the door quietly. He admires how busy the chief is. He began to contemplate whether it's a right thing to interrupt him or not. Hence, he waited again, now with a head hung low.

"You never change." The old man spoke, making the young lad look up almost immediately. He looked for the chief's gaze, but it's still stuck on the papers. "Just simply say I'm here, sir or anything. Don't make others waste your time for nothing." He said, sternly, as he continued writing.

"I apologize, sir."

"Don't apologize over simplest things too. Be bold."

Yoonki looked away, secretly poking his tongue against his cheek. Suddenly he feels like a kid again, being lectured by his father. He always hated it. "I understand." He said, and finally they meet each other's gaze in unison. The old man freed his hands from the papers and pen, and then he intertwined his fingers as he moved closer to his desk, his lower arms resting on the flattened surface, compressing the papers beneath it.

"How's patrolling? Have you finally adjusted to the night shift?"

"By having one year of experience, I suppose, sir."

The chief nodded in acknowledgement. He lowered his gaze back to his desk.

"But do better." The old man is serious but still soft spoken. "And I promise to help you with your promotion."

Then silence came.

Again, Min Yoonki waited.

To say that the young lad is completely okay for enduring the traffic, driving for an hour, and cancelling Jia's lesson just to be sent to his father's office and have a conversation that is better made through a phonecall will be an obvious lie. Hence, he waited. But his father silence doesn't suit his patience anymore.

"Why did you call for me, sir?" He began to ask and became utterly disappointed thereafter.

"I just want to see my son." He snickered. "It's been months since we ate dinner together. Your mom misses you."

"Then you should have told me to go straight to your house, and not here." His father did say to be bold. Yoonki is not holding back his words any longer, he's not talking to the detective chief superintendent anymore anyway, he is talking to his father right now.

"Maybe you're right." His father snickered once again.

"Sir, I would really appreciate if you will call for me when it's only necessary." Yoonki came back to being his own father's subordinate. He put his cap back to his head, fixing it until it fits him. He momentarily fixed his gaze on his father who's apparently won't give any effort to look back at him. Nevertheless, the young man still bowed in dignity. "I assume you're done talking to me, sir. I'm going then."

He turned around. He was about to twist the doorknob when the old man spoke in all of sudden.

"Yoon Jia, twenty two years of age." The old man pauses, furrowing his eyebrows as if he was recalling for something. "I think she's studying business in college . . . entrepreneurship maybe?"

Yoonki froze for a moment. He's unsure whether the detective chief superintendent is the one who's talking to him or his father, but he is certain that hearing the old man talk about her is beyond uncomfortable.

The young man heard the latter snicker once again. "Almost four years gap? Not bad, unless it's not what I am thinking." Yoonki can feel the old man's gaze piercing his back. "What are you planning, Min Yoonki?"

Yoonki tightened his grip on the doorknob. He never knew his pale palm could get any paler.

"I asked you, son. What are your plans? Why are you making friends with the culprit's daughter?"

"The daughter is innocent."

"Look at me. Why are you working alone?"

Yoonki let out a muffled snort, refusing to look back like what his father ordered him to do. "It's been two years, and you're still unable to catch that single man." The young man reminded him. He never intended to damage his father's pride greatly with his statement, but his father himself told him to be bold. "But don't worry, I won't stand in your way. I'll quietly wait for the promotion."

Yoonki opened the door. In this way, his father wouldn't have any guts to continue pestering him with such questions- afraid that someone might hear them.

"Also, I'm just her piano teacher, nothing else." So stay away from her. And then he shut the door behind his back.

To: Yoon Jia
Go home. Safely.
6:31 pm

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"Where are you?"

"I'm on my way."

"Thanks, man. Love you!"

Jeon Jeongguk is a true gentleman.

Giving up his Saturday day off just to celebrate her soon-to-be promotion tonight is something that makes Park Seoyeon adore her best friend more. Coincidence or destiny? She has no idea what brought someone like Jeongguk to her, but she's surely thankful to have him in her life. And God knows how embarrassing it will be if the promotion doesn't end up in her hands.

She clasped her hands together, holding her phone in between, as excitement is taking over her. Seoyeon can't remove the smile on her face no matter how hard she tried. The thought of having a new beginning is too overwhelming for her. She bit her bottom lip, refraining herself to grin wider as people might see her as a crazy person smiling at nothing. She stands still like that for a couple of minutes, waiting for the latter.

In front of the tall building of her workplace, she is found patiently waiting for Jeongguk, staring straight at the pedestrian lane ahead of her. She's hoping she would see his head peeping out at the other side of the road as numerous people started to occupy both sides of the lane, waiting for a signal.

Then the red light turn into green, and people begun to cross pedestrian lane. With high hopes and excitement, she held her head up as she continued to look for someone. However, in one snap, her smile suddenly turned into frown.

Coincidence?

Destiny?

She doesn't care which between the two fits it, but why now?

Why now?

Suddenly, everything slows down.

She can see him.

Out of the corner of her eyes, she can still see him, clearly.

Same eyes, same nose, and same lips.

Her eyes followed the old man as he walked past her, turning his back to cross the pedestrian lane before her. Despite having her whole body tremble in sudden fear, she managed to drag her own feet and follow the path of the elder.

She follows and couldn't careless about the glares she has been receiving from bumping people on her way. She just follows. But before she knew it, she lost him. Fuck. She froze at the middle of the pedestrian lane, swimming at the middle of seemingly countless people. She turns around and turns again, searching for the old man. Fuck, no.

Slowly the pedestrian lane empties out, but to no avail, she lost him.

Then her eyesight becomes blurry, tears begun to cover eyes.

She lost him just like that.

Why did she let him go just like that?

Why-

She heard a very loud horn and then a huge hand grabbed her arm, making her turn around. The next thing she knew she is burying her head into someone's chest, crying her eyes out.

"It's okay. I'm here now." Jeongguk's soft voice lifted the weight on her chest somehow. He wrapped his arms around her petite body, letting her cower completely inside his arms. "I'm here." He tightened his hug, gently resting his chin on top of her head. Slowly, he lifted his hand, sliding it up to her head, combing her hair softly. "I'm here."

Maybe it is destiny. It's destiny to have both them stand at the middle of the pedestrian lane, unconcerned about the gossiping people and running cars. She doesn't need to elaborate why, but she feels it is destiny to be in each other's arms. It feels just right to be one.

"I . . . I saw him."

"Who?"

"Yoon Gunho."