As everyone was getting ready to leave the meeting room, the atmosphere shifted dramatically when Minho's dad suddenly walked in. The surprise was palpable, and everyone instinctively bowed in respect. Jin, who had always harboured a deep-seated fear of their boss, was the first to break the silence with an anxious shout, "Boss! Hello!" His voice trembled slightly, reflecting his unease, especially since the boss had never really been fond of him for reasons unknown.
However, today was different. The boss, instead of maintaining his usual cold demeanour, approached the group with a cheerful smile, giggling lightly. "Hello, everyone! I'd like to congratulate you on reaching the agreement we've been working on for over two years now. Good job!" He clapped his hands twice, the sound resonating in the room, and everyone exchanged proud glances, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over them.
Jin, visibly relaxing now that the initial tension had dissipated, quickly added, "It's only thanks to Minho. He was the one who led the meeting." With a gentle push, he nudged Minho toward his father, a gesture that made Minho blush slightly from the unexpected praise.
The boss's smile widened as he turned his attention to Minho, patting him on the shoulder with an approving nod. "I have never expected anything else from my son. Good job, Minho!" The warmth in his father's voice filled Minho with pride, and his smile grew even brighter. "Thank you, boss!" he exclaimed, bowing respectfully as he felt a swell of joy at his father's acknowledgment.
But there was only one person that couldn't find the joy of this deal. Jae was looking for the boss, and when he finally found him, he was nowhere else but with his precious son. He overheard their whole conversation right at the entrance of the meeting room. As he watched them carefully, his gaze filled with hate, jealousy, and rage. It was as if a storm was brewing inside him, each emotion intensifying with every word exchanged between his colleagues. He couldn't help but feel like an outsider, someone who had been overlooked and dismissed.
As he listened, he murmured, "Ha... of course... it is all thanks to him. And I suddenly vanished into thin air. Every single deal that I have ever made is not important now, right?" His voice dripped with sarcasm, the bitterness evident in his tone. It was a culmination of all the hard work he had put in, now seemingly forgotten. With a dismissive "Pff", he turned around and walked away, frustration boiling over. Each step felt heavy, burdened by the weight of his unrecognised efforts and the gnawing sense of betrayal that lingered around him.
As the boss left the room, all the guys there started to leave as well. All of the members except Minho were walking and talking ahead, their laughter echoing in the corridor, while he was engrossed in checking something in the document he was holding. Jin took a glance or two at Minho to make sure he wouldn't fall behind, sensing that something might be off.
Suddenly, Minho's phone began vibrating in his pocket, pulling him from his thoughts.
He quickly pulled it out, his heart racing as he saw the name flashing on the screen. The caller made him stop in his tracks, shock washing over him. He thought, "SEO-JUN IS CALLING ME! NOW?! Wait! What should I do?! The guys are just in front of me!" The ringing felt deafening, drowning out the chatter of his friends as he stood frozen, torn between answering and avoiding the call.
With frustration bubbling inside him, he thought again, "And after what happened yesterday, I don't want to see him at all." The memory of their last encounter flooded back, and he turned his gaze aside, irritation etched on his face. Just then, Jin noticed that Minho had stopped walking and, sensing something was wrong, told the guy he was talking to to go ahead. They nodded, and Jin hurried over to Minho, concern evident in his eyes as he asked, "Hey, Minho, everything okay?"
As Jin rushed to Minho, he noticed Minho quickly trying to hide his phone from him. "Everything is fine!" Minho shouted, his voice a bit too loud and shaky, but the persistent vibration of his phone betrayed his words. Minho had never been the best liar, and it was especially easy for Jin, who had been his friend for years, to see right through him.
Curiosity piqued, Jin leaned in closer, eyeing Minho with suspicion. "Why are you hiding your phone?" he asked, his tone teasing yet serious. Minho flinched at the proximity of their bodies, a sudden blush spreading across his face as he stammered, "Nothing!" The tension in the air was thick, and Jin could sense that something was really off.
Not one to let it go easily, Jin tilted his head, a playful glint in his eyes, and swiftly grabbed Minho's phone from his pocket. Minho reacted instinctively, trying to snatch it back before Jin could see who was calling, but he was too slow. Jin's eyes widened in shock as he read the name on the screen: Seo-Jun was calling Minho.
The revelation hung in the air, creating an awkward silence between them. Jin's expression shifted from playful curiosity to a mix of surprise and shock as he realised the weight of the situation. Minho's embarrassment deepened, and he could feel the heat rising in his cheeks, knowing he had been caught in a moment he wasn't expecting.
Then suddenly Jin shouted really loudly, "SEO-JUN IS CALLING YOU?! PICK UP! What are you waiting for?!" He quickly handed Minho's phone back to him, his eyes wide with surprise and excitement as he waited for Minho to answer. The phone had been ringing for what felt like an eternity, and Minho could almost sense Seo-Jun's impatience on the other end, ready to hang up at any moment.
Minho sighed in frustration, feeling the weight of the Jin's anticipation pressing down on him. He closed his eyes, trying to gather his thoughts, and thought to himself, "Fucking dammit!" He didn't want to answer, but he knew he had no choice. Reluctantly, he picked up the phone and said, "Hello?"
A cold, low, slightly angry voice cut through the air, "Finally, you decided to pick up. Next time, be faster, can you? I don't have that much free time to spare just to call you." The annoyance in Seo-Jun's tone was obvious, and it ignited a fire within Minho. His blood boiled at the condescending words, and he tightened his jaw, fighting to keep his composure.
Seo-Jun continued, "Tonight, same time, same address. Don't be late!" The finality in his voice was unmistakable as he hung up, leaving Minho with a storm of emotions swirling inside him. He was furious, but he couldn't let Jin see that. Jin was practically bouncing with excitement, waiting for the call to end so he could ask about the details.
The moment Minho put his phone down from his ear, Jin's eyes sparkled with anticipation as he asked excitedly, "What did he say?" Minho paused, caught in a whirlwind of emotions, his mind racing as he struggled to find the right words. The weight of the truth pressed down on him, and he felt a pang of guilt creeping in.
After a brief moment of hesitation, he finally managed to say, "Ah... he wants to meet at the bar again tonight." A flush crept up his cheeks, knowing full well what Seo-Jun had planned to do with him tonight. Inside, he thought, "I can't believe I keep lying to him! I feel so bad, but... what else can I do?" He cast his gaze aside, the guilt gnawing at him for deceiving his friend.
Jin, however, was completely absorbed in his excitement. He didn't notice the conflict in Minho's eyes, instead, he exclaimed, "GREAT! You see, I told you that eventually he will start to look for you!" His voice bubbled with joy, and he giggled, adding, "Your charming appearance made one more score." Jin's laughter was infectious, and he blushed slightly, revealing it in the moment. Minho joined in the laughter, but beneath the surface, the weight of his lie lingered, making it hard to fully share in the joy of the moment.
After a moment, Jin looked at Minho again, his expression shifting to one of mock seriousness. He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret, and said, "Oh, I get now why you didn't pick up immediately when he called." Minho's heart sank, and he flinched, his eyes widening in shock. A rush of panic surged through him as thoughts raced in his mind: "WHAT?! Is he suspicious of me?! Did he figure out what I'm doing with Seo-Jun?!" The fear of being caught gnawed at him, making his stomach churn.
Just then, Jin burst into giggles, his laughter ringing out like a bell, instantly breaking the tension that had enveloped Minho. "You were embarrassed! But you shouldn't be! Those meetings with him are really important for the mission. Every step we make is progress toward getting the information that we seek. So keep it up!" Jin's playful encouragement was infectious, and he patted Minho on the shoulder with a wide, reassuring smile.
Minho's shoulders relaxed as relief washed over him, the weight of his worries lifting slightly. He let out a slight sigh, realising that Jin was just teasing him and had no idea about the truth behind his meetings with Seo-Jun. He nodded, feeling a mix of gratitude and embarrassment, and managed a small smile in response, grateful for Jin's support.
Jin then broke the silence and said, "So you are gonna meet him at the bar tonight?" His hand still resting on Minho's shoulder, the warmth of the gesture sending a slight shiver down Minho's spine. Minho nodded, feeling a flutter of nerves. "Yes, I will leave around 11:30." he replied, trying to sound casual and hide the hint of frustration and anxiety in his voice.
Jin's face broke into a broad smile, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Great!" he exclaimed, his excitement palpable. In that moment, they locked eyes, and an electric sensation coursed through them, making both of them blush.
Unknown to them, Jae was watching from a distance, his brow furrowed in concentration. He had been eavesdropping, and as he heard Minho mention the bar, a knot of suspicion twisted in his mind. He recalled the conversation he had overheard the day before at the track between Minho and Seo-Jun, which had raised red flags in his mind. "Let's see whether you will actually go there…" he muttered under his breath, annoyance creeping into his tone. As he watched Jin and Minho walk away, a plan began to form in his mind; he was determined to keep an eye on Minho that night, ready to uncover the truth behind his secretive actions.