. . .
"If we were in a relationship that won't be much of an issue." Jin was snapped out of his sad thoughts as Zeirenne continued—talking about their half-a-billion footage.
"Are you suggesting something?" He teased, and she rolled her eyes.
"Not a chance, Mister."
He simply shrugged, a smirk drawn across his face from the answer he anticipated. The same cold-hearted Zeirenne never changed, she's still doing her finest in killing romance.
They had to run for an hour before going back to their rooms. For the past few days they both came to work together but in different cars. This time, they had to ride in Jin's car because Lala (Zeirenne's car which she named herself) was left all alone inside ZA International's parking area.
"Can we postpone that THREE-DAY PROMISE? I have some work outside the city." She told him as they walked inside her company's lobby.
"Then I'll come with you."
She scrunched her nose, "You're kinda high maintenance you know. I don't think you'll find my trip enjoyable." And that was how their first argument for the day started.
They were immersed in their own world, failing to realize how their employees were about to die from curiosity.
"Did you see that? Did you just see that?! What's going on with them?" One of Jin's employee marveled. His employees were already moving some stuff to settle inside ZA International.
"Do you think..." Another co-worker added and they both waved their hands in front like clearing out dusts. "Hey hey...that's impossible." They both said in unison.
Just when they were about to finish brushing the thought off, another controversy began to stir inside their minds as Mr. Argenti entered the building, heading towards the same direction as the two.
Many employees were eyeing one another, they all had the same crazy thought running inside their minds. "It's impossible," their minds sang in chorus but with the WHAT IFs playing in the background.
"It's part of the summit why can't I come? As your business partner, I find this arrangement wrong, MISS LIN." Jin argued, taking the professionalism card into account as they entered her office.
"I already told you, MR. YOUNG. This is ZA International's part of the job. You can go ahead and do your own share of work. But this one's impossible for you."
As if the setting was not chaotic enough, the door opened and Mr. Argenti joined the conversation. "What job? I think I'm supposed to be a part of this discussion. Right?"
Zeirenne pressed her temples, "Mr. Young and Mr. Argenti, I'm sorry but I'll have to decline your offers for help. You're both..."
ANNOYING, her mind continued but she went with a "very important people" instead.
She was firm to her decision but eventually found herself in the backseat of her own car a few minutes later. With Jin to her right and Mr. Argenti to her left.
Dorothy, who was the one driving, found it odd how three big names managed to squeeze themselves in one car.
"We're heading out now." She said and the two men nodded. She waited for her own boss's confirmation but Miss Lin had this "DO WE HAVE A CHOICE?" plastered on her face.
After a few minutes, the trio was dropped off a bus terminal. The two men stepped out of the car empty-handed, still wearing their business suits. Only Zeirenne wore comfortable clothes, carrying a big backpack she didn't even let Jin carry.
The two men looked around the place, completely unfamiliar with all the people falling in long lines, stuffing themselves inside overloaded buses. Still, they acted unbothered with Zeirenne eyeing both of them as if preparing to say "I told you not to come didn't I?" if they ever complain or show an odd expression
"Stay here both of you." She told them and they had to sit on the terminal seats with people eyeing them like sweet treats.
"They're so handsome. Are they a couple?" One person said to another and they both turned red from the conversation.
Zeirenne on the other hand had to buy tickets for three and she went in line. This is natural phenomenon she always experience but never understood: Whenever she has to go in line, people would usually make her go first.
"I guess pretty hurts but at least I have pretty perks." She often reminded herself when things felt wrong.
"A ticket for three to City H please." She said infront of the small window and the lady inside gave her the change.
She went back to the two men bowing their heads—trying to avoid attention.
She clicked her tongue while walking towards them as she waved her finger side to side like a 'no-no-no I told you so' gesture.
The two men had to injure all the stares and Zeirenne smirked, "This is what you get for not listening to me." Her expression told them.
Their bus arrived and Zeirenne immediately stood up knowing the bus system goes on a first come first serve basis. If you board last, you get the worst seat.
She scampered her way to the end of the bus and the two men followed behind, still keeping their heads low as futile attempt to hide because they literally had towering heights.
They sat in the back of the bus with Zeirenne in the middle, Jin to her left and Andrei to her right. There was another passenger beside Jin and it was a man in his fifties who wore country clothes.
"Are you three together? Why are you going to City H?" The man asked them.
Jin, who obviously had no clue as to what he was about to face, nudged Zeirenne on the sly.
"We'll go there to do some farm works—to work on the rice paddies and harvest crops." She replied and the two men were just as surprised as the old man.
"It's nice to see younger people trying to learn those stuff. Do you have a place to stay in? There are no hotels or guest houses if you're planning on climbing the mountain." The old man said and once again the two men furrowed their eyebrows.
"We're climbing a mountain?" Andrei asked and Zeirenne nodded. "Yeah. Why? You have a problem with that?"
He shook his head, and Jin also couldn't utter a single word.
Only a few minutes after their journey, the bus stopped on other areas, gaining more passengers along the way. Only a cow was missing and a whole farm would be complete inside the bus. There were goats, chickens, ducks, even fish carried by the passengers.
The small place smelled like a marketplace and the two men had to resist their urge to gag or else they're bound for some terrible scolding.
On one stop, a pregnant woman even entered and Jin immediately offered his seat without a single word.
Andrei was the next one to offer his seat for an old lady and they both stood, only holding on the handles, squeezing themselves with other people.
After the arduous ride, every passenger got off one by one and even the old man had to get off. "Be safe on your way up." He said before stepping out of the bus.
A few more stops and only the three of them were left inside the bus with another woman sitting in front.
"Are we still far?" Jin asked and Zeirenne tapped her chin. "By bus no but by foot yes." She answered and both men could only sigh internally.
It was already night time when they arrived at the last stop and the bus parked itself in an old terminal. As if hay stacks would start rolling in, everything was barren and dry.
. . .