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"Kyungmin!"

I shut the laptop and lifted my head to find Nari, peeping over my office cubicle with an excited smile on her lips.

"Yes?" I looked at her expectantly, curving my lips upward.

"You're coming with us, right?" Nari tilted her head as she waited for my answer, and I narrowed my eyes slightly, trying to recall whatever plans there were for today.

"I can't," I replied in a slightly disappointed tone before standing up and stretching my muscles. I'd been sitting for five hours straight, busy with work, that I didn't even notice that it was already almost six in the evening. "What's up anyway?"

All I remember was that there was going to be some sort of gathering, but I didn't exactly know what it was for.

"You don't know?" she asked, surprised. "The new boss is going to treat the finance department."

"Really? Well, that's great," I told her as I continued to pack my belongings and piled up the files on my desk. "At least he seems more approachable than the old boss."

"You bet! Too bad you weren't here yesterday. He personally dropped by to greet and know us all under his department. He's really nice. Not to mention..." Nari moved closer and whispered, "He's really good looking."

From where I stood, I could tell that she was squealing internally. I giggled at her reaction and shook my head a little.

"There's a little emergency with Aeri so I had to go home. Good thing it wasn't anything major."

"Oh! Little Aeri!" gushed Nari. "It's been a while since I last saw her."

"She can roll on her tummy now," I informed her proudly.

"It's tough being a mom, huh? You're really a nice person Kyungmin-ssi. Little Aeri is lucky to have you."

"It's not easy, but I guess it's worth it." I smiled to myself. "And thank you."

After a few more chit-chats, Nari told me she was going to get ready for the gathering and went back to her cubicle. It didn't take me long until I left the office.

I checked my phone as I got out of the elevator and saw a message notification from Somi-ajumma, Aeri's babysitter, saying that Aeri was already fast asleep. A smile formed on my face at the image of Aeri's small figure, tucked in bed. I wonder if she were having those moments when she kept on smiling and giggling in her sleep.

My smile faltered and I came into a halt when I had bumped into someone. The sound of keys jingling against the tile resonated and the person reached for them on the floor.

"Uh, sorry about that." I bowed my head apologetically and heard a group of voices behind me.

When I looked up, I came face to face with the person I'd crashed into and noticed something peculiar about him. He had a scrutinizing look on his face as if he were trying to read me.

"Mr. Kim! Everyone's here." A voice, which I assumed belonged to Nari, cut me off from trying to figure out why I found this guy's presence rather strange. Nari rushed to where we stood and her eyes went from Mr. Kim, as what she had called him, and then to me. "Oh, Kyungmin, you've met the new boss."

Nari's familiarity sent me a bit off, but when Mr. Kim smiled at her as if what she had done was the norm, I set myself at ease. You basically couldn't talk so casually in front of our old boss. Not when you didn't want fifty accounts analyzed and submitted within the day.

I guess this new boss wasn't bad at all. Or so that was what I thought until I glanced back at him and realized why I had felt that way when I saw him earlier... and maybe why he had that expression on his face when he saw me.

Mr. Kim. Kim Taehyung. It made sense. I guess it had really been a long time that I had forgotten for a while how he looked like. Sure, his features had matured, but it wasn't like he had totally changed.

"Oh, it's nice to meet you, Mr. Kim. I really apologize for the inconvenience and for not being here yesterday." Despite all the thoughts that came rushing through my mind, I still had to keep it professional. Though I must note, 'Mr. Kim' really sounded weird to my ears, much more to saying it.

I noticed the hint of questioning in his eyes, but he pushed it aside and grinned at me. "It's fine, Ms. Lee Kyungmin." The way he called my name sent a slight shiver to my spine, and I asked myself whether he knew it because I was the only one absent yesterday, or because he actually remembered me. The old Lee Kyungmin.

"So I guess you're coming with us?"

"Oh, about that—"

"She can't," Nari cut me off, answering Taehyung's question. "She has to be home by seven."

"Yeah," I piped in, a little awkwardly. I thanked Nari in my head for explaining in my stead. Saved me from doing it myself.

But her next words made me take back all of what I had initially thought.

"But you're always busy with work and parenting, maybe you can chill out a little and have fun," she persuaded, and when I sideways glanced at Taehyung, I noticed how his eyes were narrowed by a fraction.

"But Aeri needs me," I reminded her.

"Just for an hour? You can ask Aeri's babysitter to extend, just for today." Nari turned to Taehyung as if she wanted him to agree with her. "Right, Mr. Kim?"

"Yeah. If you want, I can drop you home so—"

"Ah, no!" I interrupted a little too fast and felt taken aback by my rudeness. "I mean, that's too much, and I don't really like to burden you."

Both of them blinked at me for a moment, and an uncomfortable silence enveloped us.

"I can't really..." I tried to get my way out of the situation and scratched the bridge of my nose. My excuse really existed, and it was not just some lie I had made up anyway.

"Oh come on! Mr. Kim's going to drive you home, there won't be any problem." Nari beamed at me as if her words were final, and that it was decided that I was really going.

"Nari..." I searched for words, but before I could, someone neared our small bubble.

Actually, it wasn't just someone, they were my workmates from the same department.

"Are we going?" Jaehee queried.

"We are!" Nari exclaimed. "In fact, Kyungmin is going to join us."

Jaehee shot me an amused look. "Omo? That's great!"

"He he..." I shrinked on my insides, knowing that I had no other choice. "I guess I am."

~*~

We arrived at some sort of grill restaurant and everyone settled themselves in their own seats. Taehyung told everyone to order what they wanted, and the bill was on him.

I wasn't sure if he was being some arrogant person—like a show off or something—but by the friendliness in his tone and how he got along with everyone, I guess he was just being nice.

Besides, he had always been like that anyway. Maybe I just expected that the whole time he was away, his personality had changed onto the negative side. Perhaps I should just set a clean slate for him, for now.

As we waited for our orders, the fifteen of us had divided into smaller groups, each having a different conversation.

"It's really surprising that Kyungmin is with us today," one of my workmates suddenly spoke up, and I responded with a small smile.

"It's so rare to see her join us for any activity after work nowadays," added another.

"Yeah. It's been a while since I went out," I casually responded.

"She's a dedicated mom, Kyungmin needs an award, omo," commented Jaehee, and my workmates within earshot hummed in agreement. "I hope the court grants you Little Aeri's custody."

I let out a chuckle and sighed deeply. "That would really be great if they do. I wish they would. Soon."

At the corner of my eyes, I could sense Taehyung staring at my direction, and perhaps he had overheard us. The conversation shifted to another topic, and I tried to distract myself by listening to the girls.

Taehyung's gaze left after a while.

Our orders came and the evening went on with friendly conversations, most of which were of my workmates asking Taehyung about his reasons for moving to our company and basically about his life. At times, there were work related talks.

I might have missed some things about him since most of them appeared like they already knew a thing or two about him: Being the son of the CEO of the parent company of our firm, and something related to his educational career.

Though this didn't surprise me because Taehyung had always been the smarter between the two of us, and his family was rich, even before. Nevertheless, his mom always remained simple, and well, I didn't really see his dad often.

True to Nari's word, the gathering didn't take that long, and we finished around seven. I wish Taehyung had reconsidered his offer to drop me home and decided to take it back, however, as we bid our good byes outside the restaurant, Taehyung approached me.

"You can wait for me here. I'll just get my car," he said with finality, and I couldn't really tell where my ability to reason back came from.

"Taehyung—" I immediately shut my mouth and cursed myself for calling him by his name. "I mean, Mr. Kim..." And just like that, I lost the words.
Great going, huh?

To add up to that, a mischievous Nari was sending finger hearts towards our direction, and even pumped her fist in the air.

Oh the urge to squeeze her tight with a hug right this instant.

"I insist." Taehyung's deep voice brought back my attention to him. "Besides..." Taehyung paused for a moment, staring intensely at my eyes. "We still have a lot to talk about, Kyungmin."

He then left with a satisfied smirk on his face, and I didn't exactly know how to feel about it. About this.

But one thing was for sure. This was going to be one long ride, I could already tell.

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a/n: baby aeri's name is pronounced as 'eyri', but if you have other cute ways of reading it, then feel free to do so. please let me know what you think and leave comments. tysm if you do! have a great day, you lovely people, ily ♡