Queen sat at her desk, the only light in the room coming from the desk lamp and the faint glow of her laptop. The office was quiet now, everyone having left for the day, but Queen couldn't tear herself away from the proposal she was working on. The pressure was building, and the looming deadline made her anxious. She knew she had to finish soon, but it felt like no matter how many revisions she made, something was always off.
The weight of the unfinished report pressed down on her, but that wasn't the only thing weighing on her mind. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Jihoon, to their interactions over the past few days. Their professional relationship had begun to shift. The playful teasing that had once been the cornerstone of their interactions had turned into something more complicated. Lately, there was an undercurrent of tension between them, and Queen couldn't figure out why.
Jihoon had been insistent lately—pushing her to work harder, to finish the project faster. At first, she appreciated his guidance, even though it was often harsh. But now, it felt like a burden, like he was holding her to impossible standards. His tone had changed, no longer warm and friendly but cold and demanding.
Her phone buzzed, pulling her from her thoughts. She glanced at the screen, seeing Jihoon's name. A jolt of frustration shot through her chest. She had been dreading this moment all day.
She answered the call, trying to keep her voice steady. "Jihoon."
"Queen," Jihoon's voice was sharp, his words cutting through the quiet of her office. "I need you to send me the revised proposal by tomorrow. No more delays."
Queen's stomach twisted. He always pushed her, but something in his voice today felt different. "I'm working on it," she replied, her voice tight.
"I don't want to hear excuses. You said you'd be finished by today. Don't make me remind you again." His words were firm, leaving no room for negotiation.
Queen's patience snapped. "I'm not some robot, Jihoon. I can't just churn out perfect reports on demand. I need time to process, to think. If you keep pushing me like this, I'll burn out."
There was a long silence on the other end of the line, and Queen could feel the tension growing. She was waiting for him to retaliate, to make her feel small for speaking her mind.
Instead, Jihoon's voice softened, but it didn't lose its edge. "I don't want to push you, Queen. But you need to understand—this project matters. It's not just about you anymore. If we don't finish it on time, it'll affect everyone."
Queen's breath caught in her throat. She knew he was right. She knew the stakes were high. But that didn't change the fact that Jihoon's pressure was suffocating her. "I get it, okay?" She didn't even recognize the irritation in her voice. "I'll finish It. But I need space. I need some breathing room."
"I'm not asking for perfection, Queen. I'm asking for effort. Don't forget why you're here," Jihoon said, his words biting.
The line went dead, and Queen was left standing in the quiet of her office, a storm brewing inside her. She didn't know why his words had cut so deep. She was used to his tough love, his constant pushing, but tonight it felt like more than just work. It felt personal.
She stared at her laptop screen, her fingers frozen on the keyboard. How had their relationship gotten so complicated? What had started as a simple professional connection had turned Into something more… tense. She had always trusted Jihoon, respected him even. But now, she wasn't so sure. Was he really just a mentor? Or had things shifted into something else? Something that she wasn't ready to confront?
The next morning, Queen arrived at the office earlier than usual, determined to finish the report and put an end to the pressure that had been building over the last few days. She sat at her desk, fingers flying over the keyboard as she worked. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between her and Jihoon.
At precisely 9 AM, Jihoon walked into the office, looking every bit the professional he always was—sharp suit, impeccable hair, and that usual air of confidence that made him seem untouchable. Queen tried to focus on her work, but she couldn't help but notice how his presence seemed to fill the room.
Jihoon didn't say anything at first. He just stood by her desk, watching her work, waiting. Queen could feel his eyes on her, and she was grateful when he finally spoke.
"You finished the revisions?" he asked, his tone neutral but still carrying the weight of expectation.
"Almost," Queen said without looking up. She didn't want to engage in any conversation just yet. She wanted to finish her work in peace, without the constant pressure of his gaze.
Jihoon didn't push her. Instead, he pulled up a chair and sat down across from her. For a moment, there was silence between them, the air thick with tension. Queen could feel the distance growing between them, and it wasn't just the physical space. There was something more, something unspoken, that neither of them was willing to address.
Finally, Jihoon spoke again, this time his voice softer, more thoughtful. "Queen, are you alright?"
Queen froze. The question, simple as it was, hit her harder than she expected. She looked up, meeting Jihoon's gaze. His eyes were no longer cold or distant. There was concern there, something she hadn't expected from him.
"I'm fine," Queen said quickly, looking away. She didn't want to admit that she wasn't fine, that her frustration with him was spilling over into every corner of her life.
Jihoon didn't seem convinced. "I know I've been hard on you lately. But it's because I believe in you. You're capable of so much more than you think."
Queen wanted to protest, wanted to snap at him that she didn't need his belief to succeed. But something about his sincerity made her pause. Instead, she sighed, leaning back in her chair. "I know, Jihoon. I know you're just trying to help. But it feels like I'm drowning in all this pressure."
Jihoon was quiet for a moment, and Queen could see the conflict in his eyes. He wanted to push her, to drive her further, but there was also a part of him that didn't want to break her.
"I don't want to be the one who breaks you, Queen," Jihoon said softly, almost as if he was speaking more to himself than to her. "But I also don't want to see you fail."
Queen's heart skipped a beat. She had never heard Jihoon sound so vulnerable, so unsure. It was a side of him that she hadn't seen before.
"I don't know what to do anymore," Queen admitted, her voice breaking slightly. "I don't know if I can keep up with everything. I don't know if I'm enough."
Jihoon's expression softened, and for the first time in a long while, he reached across the desk, placing his hand on hers. "You are enough, Queen. You've always been enough. But you need to take a step back and breathe. You can't do everything alone."
Queen's eyes filled with tears, but she quickly blinked them away. She didn't want to appear weak, not in front of Jihoon. But in that moment, everything seemed to crash down on her. The weight of expectations, the constant pressure, the fear of failure—it all felt too much.
Jihoon's grip tightened on her hand, a silent promise of support. "We'll get through this together, okay?"
For the first time in a long while, Queen felt like she wasn't alone. Maybe, just maybe, there was hope for them.