⚠️ Trigger warnings:

Slow Romance

Angst

☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦. ❀ .◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆

Hoseok

Hosoek, usually a happy-go-lucky guy, would often be found humming in his office as he worked.

Sometimes he'd even call a few staff into his office, to sing along with him and even listen to him play the guitar for them (on the rare occasion he used it). He strongly believed in team building and would always make sure the staff were happy.

In a way, Hoseok was more a part of the Human Resources team than their actual Marketing team.

'And Yoongi hyung.'

Well, Hoseok's Yoongi hyung was no less. The man was quite a talented chap himself!

Yoongi hyung could also be found humming, or rapping to himself when he was in a particularly good mood. And at their year-end staff parties, Yoongi hyung would often play the piano and even sing to his wife; however, since his wife's pregnancy, Yoongi hyung has become more serious about his work. He looked more stressed and sometimes he'd leave the office early after a phone call from Hiseu.

Contrariwise, Yoongi hyung was even sighted working later hours at home, replying to clients' emails around one o'clock in the morning.

When Hosoek approached Yoongi about the late hours he's been working, even questioning the bags under his eyes and the fact that it was evident that his best friend was doing his own laundry these days, Yoongi hyung gave him a small smile and replied: "Things change after you get married, Hobi. Your responsibilities become a priority. You realize how important it is that you keep the promises you made at the altar."

Something about that statement from Yoongi had shaken Hosoek to the core. He still remembered these words as if it were yesterday.

But Hosoek loves his hyung and his sister-in-law, he just needed more time to prepare himself for marriage and preferred to remain single. After all, Black day wasn't such a bad thing anymore, and he enjoyed his jjajangmyeon.

☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦. ❀ .◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆

After the meeting he had today, Hosoek, who still sat in the boardroom, worked solemnly on his new client's profile for their records, occasionally sighing to himself and then stared into space for a few minutes before moving back to his work. He forgot to eat his lunch and didn even return to his own office for the day.
Hosoek went to his own office at least once a day, usually at the end of each day, to switch off any lights or to leave a reminder for himself for the next day - if he had any new ideas for their business.

But Hoseok hadn't moved since the meeting and he didn't even notice that his cell phone was ringing. It had been on silent mode since the meeting he had attended earlier and he'd forgotten to switch it back to the 'ring' mode.

But the staff at SOPE had noticed the difference in their boss behaviour.

The office had more glass walls than solid ones. So, Hosoek was in clear view for many of the staff to bear witness to his usual office behaviour. For starters, Hoseok was usually in Yoongi's office. But today, he was still working in the boardroom after the meeting.

They gestured to their fellow colleagues to see their boss's odd behaviour.

While most of the staff were concerned about him, some staff were unsure how to approach him. A few older staff members decided to approach Yoongi for assistance on the matter instead, considering the fact that there was a person who kept calling the office for one man only.

Jung Hoseok.

"It's been 5 hours since she left, yet here you are, still glued to your seat and staring into space." Yoongi's voice cut into his thoughts like a knife.

Hoseok jumped and cowered back dramatically. "Hyung! Save me!"
"From what exactly?" Yoongi chuckled, then he whistled
the 'wedding march' close to Hosoek's ear before exiting the boardroom.

"You'd better answer your phone if you wish to keep her as a client." Yoongi paused at the door grinning when Hosoek realized what he had just said.

"She already responded?" Hosoek blinked, looking alive once more.

He clearly hasn't realized just how badly he's fallen for Kim Minali.

Hoseok has fallen so hard, it honestly felt like his heart was plunging into love's realm - free falling from the edge of the little prison he'd made for himself after the only girl he'd ever loved hadn't responded to his gifts and tokens of love.

"Yes, Minali tried calling you at least 10 times since that email you sent out earlier. Eventually, she called the office and reception had put her through to me seeing as you weren't answering your calls. I don't think reception realized you were still in the boardroom - Jungkook must have transferred the call to your office. Oh- and I'd get the design team on those product advertisement strategies if I were you, because that was the cover-story I gave her when she asked why you hadn't answered your phone." Yoongi looked at him seriously, then playfully winked at Hoseok and disappeared through the door.

But Hoseok was distracted by what Yoongi hyung had just said.

'Huh?! He'd missed her calls?' He grabbed his phone to check.

'Yup...' 10 missed calls on his cellphone; and he dreaded checking his office line.

He is so dead.

Yoongi goaded him before he left the boardroom. It was troubling at how his hyung found this all so amusing. He sat there gaping at the painting of a couple in love that Yoongi had made, which now hung above the seat opposite him, and tapped his chin in deep thought.

'Was this how Yoongi hyung felt when he first started dating Hiseu in university?' Hoseok wondered, staring at the door behind his hyung.

☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦. ❀ .◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆

An hour later...

"You're still here!" Yoongi exclaimed, he returned an hour before closing time, he was amused at Hosoek's reaction to falling in love.

Hosoek blinked a few times at the painting, then slowly turned to face his friend, his jaw still hanging open in shock.
"Huh?" He raised his eyebrows at Yoongi, still dazed.

'It's probably dawning on him only now. Poor chap.' Yoongi silently hoped.

"Nevermind that, now, you should close your mouth or an insect will fly right inside it." Yoongi pushed his jaw up for emphasis, still grinning his signature grin.

Hosoek shook himself like a dog shaking water off its back and walked out to the gents' restroom, his bladder finally ringing warming bells, threatening to burst from his self-imposed confinement for the last seven hours.

☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦. ❀ .◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆

The next morning

Hoseok was having a tough day. It was terribly difficult to think straight and the design team
consisted of 90% female interns who were all excitedly talking over each other about the new client.
Kim Minali's face-care products were the talk of the town. Every girl in Seoul uses her products.

"Settle down, ladies." Namjoon, the head of Social-Media and Advertising, calmly spoke to the team.
He had this nonchalance about him and his team respected him. Hoseok patiently sat watching them, his head still foggy from yesterday's events.

"Hosoek-ssi, will these be
print-based, social media driven or televised?" A young woman by the name of Kwan asked him.

"Well, Ms. Kim would prefer the products of her newest range to have a widespread coverage." Hosoek replied, his cheeks tinted pink.

Everyone politely pretended not to notice the boss blushing a bright red at the mention of their new client and continued with their work.
Hosoek really needed to pull himself together - he'd noticed the staff looking away as if they hadn't noticed. He gave himself a little pep-talk and prepared his end of the client's requests.

☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦. ❀ .◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆

Minali

The meeting in the boardroom

'Hosoek is so precious.' Minali thought to herself as she checked her make-up in the female lavatory's mirror.

Last night's video call played over and over in her mind.
Presently, he called for a recess.

'I wonder why?' She thought, oblivious to the effect she had on him.

He looked handsome, but in a way that told you he wasn't aware that he was handsome. His dark hair and infectious smile made her heart flip and
summersault every time he looked at her.

'OMG... not with my marketing partner!' She thought helplessly. She was falling for Jung Hosoek ... all over again!

☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦. ❀ .◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆

FLASHBACK - video call on the laptop

"Kim Minali? Yoeboeseyo. It's Jung Hosoek from SOPE Marketing (Pty) Ltd."

Minali couldn't help blushing the minute she answered his call, she hoped he hadn't noticed.

"Mr. Jung! Yoeboeseyo. Always a pleasure to hear from you. I was just about to call you to confirm the date and time of our meeting."
She tried hard to keep it professional.

"Actually, ma'am, that is why I am calling."
His smile almost killed her. She felt her heart skip a beat. It was just like this in high-school. But she doubted he'd remember her. She knew Yoongi as well... and his wife was her best friend in school - Hiseu and Minali still kept in touch, that's how she found SOPE Marketing.

The minute she found out Hosoek was the man handling her project, she was over the moon. But she kept her cool - until now...

"Perfect. I like you already. I'm going to bring my lawyer along if you don't mind, Mr. Jung."

He was her soon to be marketing partner after all. It just wouldn't do to crush on the man. His hair was ruffled and he wore an adorable cartoon t-shirt. The yellow t-shirt matched his hair. And his eyes lit up every time he mentioned the meeting they had.
She couldn't help but blush after being so honest, she hoped he wouldn't realize what she
meant by that sentence.

"No problem Ms. Kim. 9 o'clock 2 December 2022? As soon as you arrive, our receptionist, Mr. Jeon will direct you to the boardroom."
I can't wait! She grinned at him - unsure if she looked like a crazy child in her black t-shirt and track pants - which he obviously couldn't see. The minute she saw his call she opened her ponytail out and dabbed on some lipgloss.

'Pabo Minali!' She thought,
'he wouldn't notice; he didn't even notice me in the 5 years of high-school - and I sat next to him every day.'

"Perfect. I look forward to meeting you in person Mr. Jung. Oh, there's one more thing."

This part was to keep him on the line a little longer. She didn't have to have the latest balance sheet and profit and loss statement added in just yet.
But she did it because it was the first time he noticed her. Even if it
was as a business partner.

"Ne, Ms. Kim?"

'Uh-Oh...' She forgot how that raised eyebrow of his made her entire being melt. He could be so goofy but also so sexy.

"I will email you the changes to be made to the finance section of the presentation Mr. Min emailed me. I understand he is unavailable after hours as he has other
responsibilities?" She raised her eyebrow skeptically, even if she didn't have her camera on.

Keep it cool Minali... he doesn't even remember you were in school with him!

"Ne, Ms. Kim, that will not be a problem, I will speak to Hyung first thing tomorrow morning about this." He bowed his head and smiled at her.

"No problem, I am very impressed with the work ethic you have at SOPE. I look forward to doing business with you." She smiled back, blushing slightly.

'I hope he didn't notice me blushing so hard or he'd think I'm weird.' She thought. Then smacked her forehead - she didn't have her camera on!

"Ms. Kim, the pleasure is all mine." And he bowed his head again, blushing slightly.

'WOW...' Never did she think she'd ever get to hear him utter such sweet words.

Minali had a dopey grin plastered on her face as she shut her laptop.

She sat in bed and thought about the time she got him a gift for Valentines day. He didn't know it was her but she left a clue.
"In class look to your left, I'll be there." She was disappointed when she received a gift on White day, but the gift wasn't signed. It just said, "You're beautiful." It was a silver hand chain with roses hanging off the links.

She still wore the hand chain - it was the only piece of jewellery she kept from high school. But the sender still hadn't owned up.

End of flashback

☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦. ❀ .◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆

Blinking a few times to clear her head, Minali walked out the ladies' feeling brand new.

She'd just have to keep trying until he noticed her.

☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦. ❀ .◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆

Hoseok

Even the day after the meeting, Hosoek sat in the boardroom, pondering over the events of the previous day.
There was something about the handchain that Minali had worn yesterday that bugged him. He simply couldn't place his finger on it.

☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦. ❀ .◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆

Later that day, Yoongi's house

Yoongi hyung watched him amusedly as he paced the living room in Yoongi hyung's house.
"What's with the pacing Hobi? It's driving me mad. Please stop! Hiseu will probably be able to hear you from the room!" His hyung said, starting to sound a little on edge.

"Miahneyo hyung." Hobi apologises to Yoongi. Then he turns to face his friend.

"Her handchain... hyung it looks familiar..." Hobi exclaimed, tapping his chin in thought.

"Oh that..." The amused voice of Hiseu sounded from the staircase. "Minali said that someone gifted it to her on White day way back in high-school. But the boy never put his name on the note and he also never approached her. She liked it, so she kept it." Hiseu shrugged.

At the sound of Hiseu's voice, both men spun around to face the staircase which led to the rooms upstairs.

Hiseu was up. Yoongi hyung was going to murder him. The whole idea of Hiseu being in the room, was for them to brainstorm ideas for their new client.

"Hyeong-su! (older brother's wife). You're up! I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake you." Hoseok says half panicked.
"Hoseok-ah. Calm yourself down, little bro. I wanted to come down to greet you. Also... I heard that Minali's handchain was bothering you, so I decided to put you out of your misery." She perched herself very daintily next to her husband, for a heavily pregnant woman.

Yoongi hyung kissed her cheek and she held his hand.

"Hiseu, let's leave him in the dark just a little longer please? I'm enjoying seeing him like this. It's very entertaining." Yoongi hyung says to his wife, almost evilly.

Hiseu smacks her husband's arm at the remark and looks back at Hoseok.

"Hobi-yah... do you remember the girl you crushed on so hard at school?"
"Ne... Kim Min-Ali..." He replied automatically, shrugging.

"Say her name a little faster." Hiseu pressed.

"Huh?"

"Ya! Hobi-yah! Just do what your hyung-su says." Yoongi added impatiently to the conversation.

Hobi sat down on a sofa across from them.

"Kim Minali..." Hobi shrugged, still confused. And then it hit him. "Ommo!" His eyebrows disappeared under the fringe he had when he didn't set his hair after washing it.

"She's the same girl from high school?!"

"Yes!" The couple before him exclaimed in unison, highfiving each other happily now that their friend has finally figured it out.

"Kim Minali... your best friend, is now my client?" He asked his hyung-su again, sounding incredulous. Hobi was in more shock now than he had been yesterday. He just had to make sure his ears weren't deceiving him.

"Yes!" Yoongi hyung says impatiently. "And you, being the pabo you are, messed your chances up in high-school because you forgot to put your name on the note!"

Ouch...

He really needed to remember to label his things properly. Or in this case, sign his name on a note. It costed him 17 years!

He is now 35.

He could have been married to her by now!

'Jung Hoseok you're such an idiot.' He mumbled to himself.

"It's okay Hobi-yah. She's wanted to meet you since we introduced her to the company. She's been in search of a good marketing team to help her." Hiseu says to him kindly.

"Does she remember me?" He asked rather hopefully.

"Yes. But I'm not sure how she feels about you." Hiseu replied, then she looked amusedly at her husband.

'These two were definitely up to something...'
Hoseok knew that look from their university days! He just needed to find out just what they were up to.

'Sigh...' He really needed to sleep.

Hobi bid his hyung and hyung-su goodnight and made his way to their spare bedroom. They'd asked him to stay over for his own safety. Though he didn't understand what they had meant by that.

He got into bed and checked his cell phone.

3 missed calls from an unknown number.

And ...

2 messages.

He checked the time.

It was now 23h15.

'It's way too late to respond now.' He thought to himself.

He'd reply to it first thing the next morning. He tossed his phone aside on the bed, and lay down in bed. It was comforting staying over at his friend's house. His mind felt slightly more at ease - who knew having loved ones in the next room actually eased your mind?

Living in his own usually had him on edge twenty-four seven.

Hoseok sighed and pulled the covers over his head. Within minutes, he was out like a light.

❤꧁ღ⊱♥♡♥⊱ღ꧂❤

A/n: Thank you for reading 😊