Jihoon leaned back in his chair, letting out a sigh as he massaged his temples. "Do you even realize the weight of this project, Queen? You're treating it like it's just another casual report."
Queen gritted her teeth, feeling both guilt and irritation bubble within her. "I do understand the weight of it, Jihoon. But you don't have to talk to me like I'm some clueless intern. I've handled reports before!"
Jihoon raised an eyebrow. "Handled? Or handed off to someone else to finish?"
The words stung more than Queen wanted to admit. She clenched her fists, determined not to show her vulnerability. "Look, I'll get it done. You don't need to babysit me."
"Babysit you?" Jihoon chuckled darkly. "Trust me, Queen. Babysitting you is the last thing I want to do. But I have no choice because someone keeps running away from responsibility."
Queen's patience snapped. She slammed her laptop shut and stood up. "You know what, Jihoon? Maybe you should take your perfect work ethic and your towering ego back to Korea. Nobody asked you to be here!"
Jihoon didn't flinch at her outburst. Instead, he calmly met her fiery gaze. "I didn't come here because I wanted to, Queen. I came because Mr. Willi begged me to. He said you were brilliant but lacked discipline. I see now that he was right."
The room fell Into a tense silence, broken only by the faint hum of the air conditioner. Queen's chest rose and fell as she struggled to contain her frustration.
"Fine," she said through gritted teeth. "If I'm such a burden, why don't you just leave? Let me figure this out on my own."
Jihoon stood up, his towering presence making Queen feel smaller than she liked. "I'm not here for you, Queen. I'm here for the project. If you can't handle the pressure, say the word, and I'll recommend someone else. But if you want to prove that you're capable, stop wasting time and start working."
Without waiting for her response, Jihoon turned and left the workspace, leaving Queen standing there, trembling with a mix of anger and determination.
Later That Night
Fika and Mey were lounging in the living room, the soft glow of the TV illuminating their faces.
"Is she still in her workspace?" Mey asked, glancing at the clock.
Fika nodded. "Yeah. She didn't even come down for dinner."
"That editor guy must've really pushed her buttons," Mey said with a smirk.
"Jihoon doesn't seem like the type to let things slide," Fika agreed. "But maybe that's exactly what Queen needs. Someone who won't let her get away with her usual excuses."
"Still," Mey said, crossing her arms, "I can't help but feel bad for her. Queen's got a lot on her plate."
Just then, the sound of footsteps descending the stairs caught their attention. Queen appeared, looking both exhausted and determined.
"Hey, you okay?" Fika asked cautiously.
Queen gave a small nod. "I'm fine. I just… I have to finish this report. Jihoon's right. I've been avoiding responsibility for too long."
Mey raised an eyebrow. "That's… surprisingly mature of you."
"Don't get used to it," Queen said with a tired smile. "But I've made up my mind. I'm going to prove him wrong. He thinks I can't handle this? Watch me."
Meanwhile, in Jihoon's Apartment
Jihoon sat on the balcony, sipping a cup of coffee as he stared out at the city lights. His mind replayed the events of the day.
"She's stubborn," he muttered to himself. "But maybe that's not such a bad thing."
A soft chime from his phone interrupted his thoughts. It was a message from Mr. Willi.
Mr. Willi: How's Queen doing? I hope she's not giving you too much trouble.
Jihoon smirked and typed back:
Jihoon: She's a handful, but I think she'll surprise us.
As he put his phone down, Jihoon leaned back and allowed himself a small smile. For all her flaws, Queen had a spark that couldn't be ignored. It was what made her stand out and what made him believe that, despite their clashes, she might just rise to the occasion.