---Seungcheol's POV---
My smile faded when I heard how she sounds so different.
"Right. Ms.Y/n. Sorry.", I replied. She was not looking at my direction but I saw how her smile, brought by Dino, became a frown.
"Apology accepted.", she said. "I thought my secretary gave you instructions about not looking at me."
Napaiwas ako ng tingin sa kanya at tiningnan ang secretary niyang inaayos yung album na ipapasign sa akin. I removed the cap of my marker but the woman in front of me slightly pushed my hand away when I reached for the album.
"Please listen to Ms. Y/n before proceeding to the signing of her album. She instructed me to make sure you'll answer the question on the post-its honestly.", she coldly said.
Itinaas ko ang isang kilay ko at, "Well, you don't have enough time. Bigay mo na sa'kin. I can multitask."
"Wag mong pagsalitaan ng ganyan ang secretary ko.", I heard Y/n say.
That tone sent vibrations to my spine na bigla akong napalunok. The tone was scary na natatakot na ako para sa buhay ko ngayon XD
"Okay. Chill. I was just trying to help, akin." There was a short pause kaya pinasadahan ko siya ng tingin at nakita kong nakatingin siya ng matalim.
Then I realized I just called her in our endearment...
Noong kami pa...
"Stop staring at me and focus on the signing."
I sighed and opened yung You Made My Dawn album sa harap ko. "Fine."
"I have to confront you about something, Mr. Choi. Gusto ko magsabi ka ng totoo sa akin kasi dito nakasalalay ang susunod na mga hakbang ko na baka pagsisihan ko habangbuhay. Sumagot ka ng maayos."
"Yeah, yeah. Go straight to the point.", I replied while putting a sign below my pictures.
'To: Akin
You've changed a lot. But I still find you gorgeous and perfect, akin. Thank you for supporting us kahit na alam kong sagad sa buto ang pagkamuhi mo sa'kin.
Love, Sa'yo.'
I smiled widely nang makita ko yung message ko sa kanya after kong isulat yun.
"Is your company treating you well these days?", Y/n asked.
Bigla akong natigilan nang ma-process ko yung tanong niya sa utak ko.
"Uhmm... Is that a serious ques---"
"Come on! We don't have all day."
"Geez. Ang high blood mo naman masyado, Ms.Y/n."
"Isa..."
"Fine.", I surrendered. "Well, the company is doing its best to provide what we need in work. Pero, syempre, alam mo naman na mahirap mag-alaga ng 13 men in their early energetic twenties. Tsaka---"
"Is the company providing you physiological and psychological assistance properly and sufficiently?", pagputol niya sa sagot ko.
"Uhmm... I don't think we need psychological maintenance naman pero since that is not the question, I'll have to answer na no, they are not. "
"How about your schedule? Are you guys overworked? Stressed?"
"Who wouldn't be? We're at the peak of our popularity. We have to promo---"
"So, ibig sabihin nun, oo, punung-puno ang schedule niyo?"
"Yeah. But don't worry about us. We can do it, akin."
Shit... Nagawa ko na naman.
"Do you... Do you want me to... manage you guys?"
Literal na napanganga ako nang marinig ko yun. Ano daw? Tama ba rinig ko?
"Seungcheol, di pa ba kayo tapos dyan? Lagpas na sa allotted time.", rinig kong bulong ni Joshua.
Tumingin ako sa gawi niya at nakita ang isang fanboy, looking at me expectantly.
"Wait lang, bro, give me at least three minutes more.", I replied.
Tumango si Joshua at pinagpatuloy ang pakikipag-usap sa fan.
"Ms. Y/n, mukhang kelangan na nating itigil tong usapan. I have to work more."
"Mr. Choi, one more question... Is it true na the staffs are picking on you guys? Na tinutukso nila si Seungkwan? Na minamaliit nila si Dokyeom? At hindi nila binibigyan ng credits ang Performance Team sa performances niyo?"
I looked at her and, I was surprised that she was looking at me too. Her eyes were different this time. They were full of concern. I teared up a bit nang maalala ko lahat ng mga yun. It does not happen often now pero I remember seeing Seungkwan cried the other day, saying na he looks so awful.
I bit my lips and gave her a small nod. "Those were true pero dati pa yun. Hindi na naman madalas mangyari yun ngayon."
"Pero nangyayari?", I flinched nang marinig ko yung diin sa pangalawang salita.
I closed my eyes and gave her a small nod again.
"*sighs* That will be all. Thank you for your time, Mr. Choi. I'll see you guys again soon.", she said and I heard a shutting down notice from the earpiece.
The woman in front of me, Y/n's secretary, slightly bowed at me at inayos lahat ng dala niya kanina para pumunta na kay Seungkwan na nasa tabi ko. Tatanggalin ko na sana yung earpiece para ibalik pero biglang nagsalita yung babae.
"Ms. Y/n said that you have to keep it para may communication daw siya sa'yo in case na maging successful ang meeting niya bukas kay Mr. Han."
"Okay.", I replied and hid the earpiece in my pocket.
Pinasadahan ko ulit ng tingin si Y/n at nakita kong nakatingin naman siya ngayon kay Dokyeom at Seungkwan na magkatabi ngayon. Tapos tumingin siya sa'kin atsaka yumuko. Tumayo siya at naglakad papalabas ng venue.
Gusto ko siyang habulin...
To spend more time talking to her...
To explain myself beyond business matters...
Sabihin sa kanya why I ended our relationship...
Pero nagising ako sa realidad na nasa trabaho nga pala ako ngayon and I cannot mix my personal struggles with my work.
I put up a warm smile to the man in front of me and greeted him cheerfully, putting my true feelings aside.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Price of Love
Fanfiction"Y/n!" "That's Ms. Y/n for you, Mr. Choi." "Mrs. Choi?" "Fuck you." When you, a very powerful business figure, purchased Pledis Entertainment to fulfill your role as a Carat, but at the same time, rediscovering your love for SEVENTEEN'S leader, Choi...
