To Find Something True

※ twenty-two

Jiah ran out as fast as she could, ignoring his colleagues calling her name, asking what had happened. No one chased her, no one could even find her, as she used a different route to escape. She went far until her feet had gotten enough of running and walking.

She found herself in an office district. Tall buildings were everywhere. Tiled floor and tiled vases with slender trees at certain spots. People in suits and formal blouses passing by, with suitcases or phones in their hands. Some even rushed to their workplaces with files in their hands.

Sniffing and hiccupping, she walked to a concrete bench and sat there. Looking around, she realized that she was far from the boutique. She wanted to be alone.

She didn’t mean to scold Hoseok.

After Seokjin told her the negative events that had happened to Hoseok, she determined to be the best personal assistant she could be. She didn’t want to pressure him at first. However, after her trip to the orphanage, she changed her mind, finalizing that she didn’t have a choice but to force him.

Hoseok’s stubbornness broke her motivation. She finally understood the reasons Seokjin often lost his temper on him. Not to mention, his spatula threat became famous among the staff.

Threatening her boss just like Seokjin did was never in her plan. She didn’t have the guts to do that. Scared of getting fired, but Hoseok didn’t look like he would fire his staff easily. He could have fired Wheein, Jisoo, Taehyung, Jungkook, Namjoon and Jimin in the past due to their antics if he wanted. But they were still working there.

The weather was cold, still she only wore a pair of sweater and jeans. It was a mistake that she ran out without taking her coat with her. Still hiccupping and tears still trickling, there was no way she wanted to go back to the boutique in that condition. She doubted there would be a lively atmosphere if her colleagues and boss saw her returning.

She wanted to see Shinhye and vent. Standing up and patting her pockets, she felt nothing but the surface of her clothed thighs and two hot packs in her back pockets. Her wet, red eyes widened. Sniffed her nose, she looked into her sweater, but that was definitely the stupidest thing she would do if that was where she put her phone and money.

All she had was a pastel green, leather notebook.

No phone. No money. She couldn’t make it to Shinhye’s workplace. She couldn’t go to her house either. Her best friend had warned her beforehand not to go to her house without telling her because of her father’s unpredictable drunk return.

It was three in the evening. If she walked to Shinhye’s workplace, she would arrive at five or six. She plopped her butt on the bench again, looking blank. Not long after that, she cried again.

She spoke, “you called your boss ‘dumb’ –” hiccup, hiccup “– you are the dumb one!”

The louder her cry became, the uglier her face appeared. The passersby were looking at her weirdly.

**********

Trying to find Jiah, Seokjin hadn’t returned. It had been a while since he left. Yoongi took the chance to stay in the boss’ office, opted to sit in front of him.

Through his peripheral vision, Hoseok caught the sight of his staff peeking behind the concrete wall that separated the corridor from the main area, watching the crossed-arm Yoongi say nothing and only staring at him with his usual tired gaze.

He could have pulled down the blinds, but the man’s stare rendered him frozen in his chair.

Hoseok kept his nervous gaze down on the table. The long silence and that stare was unsettling. He couldn’t tell when that would stop and what was in the older man’s mind.