Walking down the hall, the young girl's hips swayed while she walked. Moving to the rhythm of the music in her ears, she sucked on the cherry lollipop in her mouth while humming a song.
The sound of clicking heels could be perceived in the distance, but the girl lost in her world hadn't heard.
"Ms. Mimi," A woman's voice spoke up nearby.
Mimi's lips curled up into a smirk but vanished when she turned around, her face expressionless. Senior Su stood before her, words escaping her mouth, but unheard by Mimi and instead replaced by music.
"Ms. Mimi?" Noting how the girl wasn't responding to her words, Senior Su frowned.
When she saw the headphones in her ears and the blank look on her face, Senior Su could conclude the girl couldn't hear her.
Although she was irritated by her attitude, Senior Su didn't express it. With a light sigh in her heart, Senior Su motioned her hands toward her ears.
Mimi raised an eyebrow, but she didn't make it difficult for her and removed the headphones from her ears. Sucking on her lollipop and hands on her hips, she waited for the woman to speak.
"May I have a bit of your time?" Senior Su's tone was polite.
Mimi made a humming sound and followed Senior Su out of the area to a resting area. Sitting at the table while Senior Su prepared the two cups of coffee, Mimi watched quietly. Once she finished, Senior Su walked over and passed her a cup of coffee.
"I diluted the bitterness for you. Here's some sugar and cream if it's still too much." She passed her a cup of creamer and sugar packets.
Mimi nodded but remained silent as she took the cup of coffee and sugar packets. An awkward silence ensued, causing Senior Su's expression to stiffen.
The only sound heard was the ripped sugar packets Mimi opened and poured into her coffee. The cool mask Senior Su wore slowly disappeared the longer she watched.
How many sugar packets did she need? Moreover, she was certain the coffee wasn't that bitter, she had even toned down the flavor!
Only after emptying ten sugar packets did Mimi drink her coffee. After that, the two of them sat in silence once more. In contrast to Senior Su's cracking mask, Mimi remained expressionless while sipping her sugared coffee.
Finally, Senior Su broke the silence; she cleared her throat to gloss over the awkward silence, "Ms. Mimi, the truth is I've called you out because I wish to apologize to you. As a senior and your superior, I've found my past actions toward you to be rather inappropriate."
"Oh." Mimi sipped her coffee.
Senior Su saw she wasn't affected by her words and could only say, "I've heard from Jinny how you've treated her and I want to thank you for taking care of her."
Mimi's movements paused. She looked up at Senior Su doubtfully.
Holy shit, she almost spat out her coffee. Taking care of her? If ordering the small woman around and voicing words of ridicule to her was considered taking care of her, then she was a saint!
That or Jinny was a masochist. Mimi preferred the previous theory. After all, it made her seem like a saint. While Mimi's thoughts ran wild, Senior Su saw her movements stop, but her expression remained blank.
"I hope we can put bad feelings aside and start over."
Tilting her head to one side, Mimi asked, "Who said I harbored bad feelings?"
Senior Su was speechless. Was she playing dumb…or did she mean what she said? She gazed at Mimi's cold expression and felt doubtful. Looking back at her past actions, Senior Su couldn't help but think she was playing dumb.
However, recalling Jinny's previous words about the girl, Senior Su was stunned by a sudden realization.
Perhaps it was her who misunderstood. Mimi had her way of expressing herself, though it was harsh it was never filled with ill intentions.
As for when she kept her working abilities a secret, fitting with Mimi's personality, it was most likely because she didn't want the attention.
Senior Su felt like she had been dealt a blow. Her eyes landed on the gothic girl across from her and felt a sudden weight on her heart ease.
With a smile, Senior Su laughs dryly, "You're right. It would seem you never did."
Mimi expressed nothing and sipped her coffee. With the two of them sitting in silence and sipping their coffee the previous tense atmosphere lifted and filled with clarity.
…
In the tech department, the sound of clicking keyboards and printed files sound throughout. The air was focused as everyone worked quickly and diligently. After finishing their coffee together, Mimi and Senior Su entered the office together.
A couple of workers glanced up and were dumbfounded. Watching the two conversing while walking side by side together caused everyone to be frozen stiff.
Their office goddess was talking to the unusual gothic ghost! Though the other wore an indifferent and dull face, Senior Su was smiling to her!
Jinny witnessed this scene as well and her wide eyes glowed with happiness. Looks like her goddess and master were getting along! Hopping over toward the two, Jinny beamed.
"Senior Su, Ms. Mimi!"
When Senior Su looked up, a smile etched across her face. "How are you feeling after last night?"
Jinny blinked and her cheeks softly blushed a rosy shade, "Mm, much better! I drank some of that soup you left me and felt better!"
Senior Su bore a sincere expression on her face as she reached out to gently touch her soft head, "That's good."
Mimi watched on the side and held back the urge to snicker. If she wasn't certain Senior Su harbored feelings for Eli, she would have believed her and Jinny were... hehe.
Mimi's eyes glanced down to Senior Su's chest and felt they were suitable. A pair of watermelons on top of oranges, not a bad sight!
"Ms. Mimi!"
Mimi inwardly grumbled, cursing the person who interrupted her perverted daydreams and turned to see Eli walking over to them.
"Did you complete the assignment I handed you this morning?"
Mimi shook her head, "No."
Eli was astounded and his brows creased together. "How come?"
Mimi opened her mouth but closed it. She glanced over at Senior Su who stared back. As if realizing the situation, Senior Su stepped up and spoke.
"It was my fault. I hadn't realized Ms. Mimi had work, so I invited her to have coffee with me. To compensate I'll complete half of the work."
Eli caught sight of the two's exchange and frowned. He glanced over at Senior Su suspiciously. Under his speculating gaze, Senior Su felt her heart tighten. He was still wary of her. The thought caused her fists by her side to clench.
Mimi's voice suddenly interrupted the silence. "It needs to be turned in at twelve, right?"
Eli nodded.
"Then it's fine. I can complete it by then on my own." Mimi said lightly.
"Mimi, are you sure?" Eli appeared uncertain.
Mimi sounded a hum and shifted toward Senior Su. A rare smile appeared on her face.
"This morning, thank you for the coffee."
Senior Su looked back at her in surprise. Not just Eli but Senior Su was stunned by Mimi's smile, completely off guard by the sudden attack.
For a brief moment, the scary, ghost looking girl looked…cute!
Unfortunately, the moment was short-lived as Mimi walked away, leaving the trio behind to stare at her in disbelief.
"Oh, I have to get back to work!" Jinny gasped and bowed toward the two. "I'll see you at lunch, Senior Su!"
Senior Su smiled and nodded her head. Watching the woman skip away, her smile remained. At that moment, she realized the man beside her was staring at her, his green eyes bright and clear. She couldn't withstand Eli's penetrating gaze for long and lowered her eyes.
Eli observed the woman beside him. He noticed the air around her was always very cold and proud in the past. She wore neat, long hairstyles and sophisticated attire, but when around him, her eyes looked timid.
Under his stare, her body stiffened and her eyes lowered slightly as if she was a wronged child. Just as when they were younger.
Eli sighed.
"You should go back to work too, Ms. Su." He patted her shoulder lightly while walking away.
Although he doubted her intentions initially toward Mimi, oddly enough, seeing the smile on her face directed toward Senior Su caused all of Eli's uncertainty to disappear into thin air. It seems like she was considering his words. At this thought, he was happy.
In an absent-minded daze, Senior Su's mind blanked, and a light hue spread across her ears. Her trembling fingers touched her shoulder gently as if it were to shatter.
She pursed her lips and straightened her back, the previous dazed appearance replaced by a confident aura as she returned to work. If one looked closely, they could see the intense, cheery light in her usual proud and cold eyes.
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