Chapter Text
The Javawocky
Yoon Hong-seok became the new store manager at the Javawocky. Ja-yeon didn't know if it was going to be easier or difficult. The last store manager was tough but he was fair about hours and attendance. He didn't want to change a thing.
Hong-seok, however, had certain plans in mind. He would not let them know everything just yet.
"I know this seems sudden but I hope you guys accept me as part of the team. I have great ideas to improve customer satisfaction."
Ja-yeon felt Hong-seok scan her body during the duration of his great speech. She was feeling vulnerable and she didn't like it.
Hong-seok directed Ja-yeon and Ian into the manager's office.
"All right guys. We are going to be hiring some more staff as you two have taken in more hours than expected. I understand you guys have personal lives and obligations, but I want everyone to be here 100% with me. Do you guys have any questions?"
"Are there any other changes?" Ian asked.
"Just small fixes to the menu and we are going to change how you guys get into the shop."
Hong-seok grabs from his desk a key FOB.
"You guys won't have a key anymore. You will use this for the front and back door. Don't lose it or it's a $25 fine." Hong-seok laughs heartily.
Ian laughs with him. Ja-yeon does not. She just smiles.
Hong-seok saw her reaction. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable. He cleared his throat.
"Anything you wish to discuss, Ja-yeon?"
"Nothing that comes to mind right now."
"Well listen..."
Hong-seok holds onto her hands. Ja-yeon trembled in his touch. This was inappropriate for a new manager to do.
"Don't be afraid to come to me for anything. I want to be your friend, not just your boss."
Hong-seok gives her a smile. Ja-yeon does her best to give him a reassuring smile but something about his aura she doesn't like.
Ja-yeon, like most people, had intuition. She can tell by the way someone looks at her if they are a friend or foe. And she can see by Hong-seok's presence, she was not going to like him.
But until the day comes when she chooses to leave, she will stay.
Ja-yeon excuses herself to go to the bathroom. She needed a minute to compose herself. Something was racking her mind.
She felt like she had seen Hong-seok before but nothing comes to mind.
She stopped thinking about it when her stomach started hurting. She grabbed onto her front and came to a realization.
"Oh no, not now!" Ja-yeon thought to herself. She opened up her calendar on her phone and it was that time. Luckily she had a tampon on her. But that ruins plans for sexy time with Seung-yeol tonight.
"f*ck!" She shouts. She covered her mouth so nobody would hear her.
She was trying to get through the rest of her shift without being in too much pain. Ian snuck her some painkillers but the cramps were getting severe.
"Just a few hours." Ja-yeon was speaking softly to herself.
Hong-seok, in his new office, was staring at the cameras. He focused on Ja-yeon at the front counter.
Is he obsessed with her? What is his angle?
Next Dimension
Seung-yeol was called into the office. He was looking through the papers that Pyung-hoon got from Su-ri. He was frustrated because these were the ideas that Gwi-ju mentioned to him.
"Can you confirm if these were any of the teams' ideas?"
Seung-yeol rubbed his eyes with his fingers.
"Yes, they are all our ideas."
Pyung-hoon sits back in his chair. He was disappointed.
"We are going to let her go. i already gave her a notice. I can't give a second chance to anything like this."
Seung-yeol nodded. "I understand."
"We are also facing a dilemma with Kang-ho going on paternity leave soon. And it seems likely he won't be coming back. We'll need to replace both members."
Seung-yeol sighed to himself. He couldn't believe this sh*t was occurring. He thought he had a handle on things but something was always going wrong.
"Luckily, someone is willing to take over Gwi-ju's spot for the time being until we get a full member."
"Who did you have in mind?"
Pyung-hoon tapped his fingers on his chair.
"Han Su-ri."
"No."
"Seung-yeol..."
"You cannot possibly believe she can do better."
"Right now, she can't. That's why I'm asking you if you can train her."
Seung-yeol leans back in frustration.
"You're kidding me."
"Su-ri and Eun-ho already have too much bad blood against them. You're my best option. I think if you guide her well, she will be a better asset to the company."
He shook his head but he eventually agreed.
"Okay, I'll do it. What about Kang-ho's spot?"
"I had to make a call to the lower level."
"Lower?..." Seung-yeol was confused but then it hits him. There's only one person on the lower level of ND who is as good as Seung-yeol. And he hated him more than Su-ri.
"Don't tell me..."
"I'm sorry but it's done until we get more full-timers. If that will happen..."
Seung-yeol was having a bad day and he was meeting Ja-yeon later with this nonsense on his brain. He thought about canceling tonight but he didn't want to push her away already.
Seung-yeol leaves the office and saw Gwi-ju packing her desk. He taps her on the shoulder.
"Let's talk outside."
They go out to the smoking area. Seung-yeol doesn't smoke all the time, only when he's incredibly stressed.
He lights a cigarette and inhales. Gwi-ju stood by him.
"What did you do?"
"You might not believe this but it wasn't me. As much as I f*ck with you, I would never jeopardize my work. I'm being set up."
"It was your handle on Discord. Can you explain that?"
Gwi-ju was silent. She thought maybe she left her computer on but that is mistake number one. Never leave your computer unlocked from your desk. Anyone can get into it.
Gwi-ju teared up and responded no.
Seung-yeol was the team lead and all of the expectations are on him. Pressure is going to buildup soon and all eyes will pierce into his body like a thousand daggers.
"Do you think I would do this?" She asked him.
"We've been at this company a long time, Gwi-ju. You know how difficult it is here. As much as I want to believe you, there's no evidence that says otherwise. And you know that."
Gwi-ju hung her head low and nodded.
"I'm sorry. I wish you the best." He said to her.
She went back inside by herself and finished packing up while Seung-yeol finished his cigarette.
He came back in the building when he bumps into Su-ri. She was carrying some papers that spilled over the floor.
"Oh my god, I'm sorry!" She said like a damsel in distress.
Seung-yeol reluctantly helped her pick up the papers. Su-ri was wearing a ripped blue crop top and skinny jeans and sandals. She was trying to resemble someone but Seung-yeol couldn't put his finger on it. And he definitely didn't want to put a finger on her.
Su-ri tried making a bigger mess so Seung-yeol could look at her but he had a feeling of what she was doing. He quickly got the papers together and handed them to her. As he walked away, she spoke.
"I can't wait to work with you. We'll be great together."
She gives off her signature smile and leaves.
Seung-yeol groans to himself
"Just my f*cking luck.."
He took a minute to himself and texted Ja-yeon.
"Hey I'm sorry but I had a really sh*tty day so I'm not sure if I'll be in a good mood tonight..."
He ran his hand through his curly hair. He was waiting for her response.
....
"It's okay. I'm having a sh*tty day as well. My period just started...."
This made Seung-yeol chuckle. It's crazy that their bad days were syncing.
He decides to send her a Carrie gif. She sent him a blank face and a middle finger. He was happy to joke like this with her. At least someone gave him a smile.
"Should we postpone?" She asked him.
He was about to say yes but he wanted to tell her all about his day.
"Nah let's just be miserable together."
"Sounds good to me. See you tonight."
"See ya."
