Sana peeked at the phone, grinned widely.
"The speak of the devil. Let's see what he has to say."
Jennifer's expression depicted curiosity as her finger jumped onto the screen. She shifted in her comfortable bed.
Smiling at the notification, she looked at Sana who puckered up , making smooching noises as she sat beside Jennifer. Her expression was no less than a cheshire cat.
"Hey, you little-" she smacked her arm. Her cheeks flared up with bashfulness. Painfully red.
"I'm going to tie you up and make you watch brain-rot children rhymes on a loop" Jennifer bit her lip , her eyes shooting meteors.
"What if I'm into that?" Sana answered with a sardonic smile.
The lids of her eyes narrowed and she shook her head. She looked at her with the same disappointment and displeasure as certain people's mothers do.
Her brows furrowed as she said, "Tsk. It's nothing. We're colleagues with a professional relationship ."
With the swift stroke of her fingers, a reply prepares itself.
"If something happens, you'll be the first one to know!" Jennifer pinches Sana's cheek, gauging out a squeak.
Their playful exchange continued, her fingers flooded the screen. Her finger reached out to another notification.
He sent a bunny sulking in a slump position, his eyes glinting with mischief.
She let out a faint chuckle as she read the messages. Sana peeked at her phone.
[Let's see what she's smiling at.]
"Ooh flirting with your co-worker? So professional indeed. I see an office romance in the making, darling." Sana winked and nudged her playfully.
Her cheeks tinge crimson. Her brows tightening in frustration. Jennifer pressed on the send button as she typed with lightning speed.
On the other side, Han Gyeol reads the messages with a teasing, idiotic smile plastered on his face.
*Ding*
He found himself chuckling as he said that. Looking at his reflection, he realized his unusual behavior and immediately stiffened.
[Girl- what the hell am I doing.]
*Ding*
Rubbing her one toe against another, she sent the message to him.
As soon he read the message, he couldn't help but let out a noise of amusement. He then looks at his laptop remembering about the pending work.
"Just one more text then I'll work!" He bounces his knee.
*Ding*
She bid her farewell for the night.
As soon as she replied to the text, she could still process the smug expression on Sana's face.
"Gosh- What now?" Jennifer snuck behind the sheets.
"Guess what time it is?" Sana stretched her fingers and pulled off the white blanket.
Scratching her head she answered, "Uh… 7:59 pm?"
"Chemistry lesson , darling. Except it has no moles…just love…in the air~." Sana flipped her hair and lifted Jennifer's chin with her finger.
[He has moles, though. Oh Lord. Shake it off Jennifer.]
She shool her head. An amused sigh escaping, "Are you Avogadro's number because our chemistry is incomplete without you?"
Sana recoiled with narrow eyes, "That was corny as hell."
"Hmm yes, Ms. Chemist," her chin tilts down as her brow raises.
Sana rolled her eyes, "Okay, let's move on to your love life which is drier than the Sahara desert. It's rare to hear you talking good about a man so I'm not letting this chance go."
Jennifer sighed as her eyes shot up, "Firstly, he's my junior and someone who probably looks up to me. Secondly, I don't plan on having a relationship with someone in the company."
Her smile faltered, her head tilting subtly, "But why? You love watching office romances… don't you?".
"Office romances only seem interesting in dramas. I'm already traumatized enough. And, I've happened to walk in on people kissing in the office." She narrows her eyes, almost puking.
"Oh yes, I remember… that would've been quite a sight-" Sana let's out a blurred laugh.
"In a deep embrace. Practically glued to each other…like get a room." Her face twisted in a scowl.
Sana sighed and smiled, "Well, I really want to experience an office romance… how exciting.".
"Not exciting when you're in the same team and get into an argument. It makes things awkward for everyone." She shook her hand.
Although Jennifer craved affection. Her resolve seemed unaffected. Her ideals twisted like a rope in her feelings' neck. You could call it stubbornness or commitment.
Sana nods understandingly, "Well that's true but it still doesn't mean that I won't tease you heh."
As she snuggled down, her voice grew low and hopeless, "Love is bittersweet but now that I finally want to endure the bitter part if the love is true…"
"People avoid me as if they've seen a ghost. I mean… I just want to be held. It feels pathetic but I can't avoid it."
Her fist clenched and her eyes shut tight.
"Why can't just others accept my differences… I didn't choose to be like this."
Jennifer had always longed for unconditional love but the world always had put conditions for treating her right. As long as she pretended to act typical, people treated her differently. She just wanted to be herself… without the fear of prejudices. Jennifer was reluctant to go back to the abyss of misery.
Her friend's expression softened and her arms caged her in a soothing embrace.
"Jennie!" "Sana!" they collectively quavered.
"Jennie don't be sad, okay? You'll find your person. They'll have to see how amazing you are!".
The room was filled with the sound of sniffles and wailing, harmonizing into a melody of sorrow.
Despite all the opposition she faced, she was glad to have Sana as her well-wisher, her partner in crime, and her other half.
Another day passed as the sun paid its respects towards the sky. Sana had fallen asleep alongside her as she spent the night comforting her. Tugging the blanket up, she covered Sana and got out of her bed. She moved precisely to avoid disrupting Sana's peaceful slumber.
The tip of the pen grazed against the note as she wrote.
"I'll put your breakfast in the oven. Don't forget to heat it, my lazy penguin."
Jennifer began with her morning routine as she appreciated the tranquility of the morning. Was this the calm before the storm or was this the storm before the calm?
Jennifer wears a copper skirt. A white dress shirt graced her body and the res crimson tie twisted into a charmingly elegant accessory. She tips her toes and collects her essentials for the day. The busy day awaits her as she drives to her workplace.
Everything seemed predictable. The same office, the same deadlines. Jennifer sat in her office and found herself bobbing her head as she continued to work meticulously. The calmness seemed like an imposter in her life yet she couldn't vote it because it was a desirable yet anxiety-inducing situation.
Hours passed as she spent her time productively. An alarm rang, putting her out of her immersion from the work. 'Break time' it said.
However, eating anywhere in the cafeteria was her worst nightmare. Soul-seeping stares induced the feeling of alienation, the feeling of being trapped in a showcase as others watched you for their amusement.
Despite her fears, she decided to take a step out of her comfort zone to the den full of lions.
The ceiling illuminated with florescent lights played another role in overwhelming her ever sensitive receptors.
All kinds of scents mixed up in a tornado of sensory overload, engulfing her.
The sound of her shoes traveled towards the cafeteria. Her mind conflicts internally trying to minimize negativity yet causing a self-sabotage.
[Hey! What are you doing? Don't you know how they'd act? Will you really sit there?]
[I'm scared that they'll judge me.]
[It's alright Jennifer it's okay. You can do it.]
[But their eyes-]
[There can be no buts now. We're too far ahead. It's the dead end.]
Squeezing her eyes shut for a moment, she let out a deep breath. She selects a chicken sandwich to satisfy her growing hunger.
The dragging of a chair was heard as she pulled it. She seated herself and began to perform a C-section on her sandwich to eliminate any unpleasant texture.
"Excuse me. May I sit here" A masculine voice was heard, breaking her internal turmoil.
A gentleman with a friendly smile appeared in front of her.