• Xiaoting •

"We can watch a movie or two. You can help me finish this mint choco, too." I offered.

I was about to take back my offer when I noticed a fleeting hesitation on her face. I might be disturbing her.

"Sure!" She said. "Then, I should probably put my car in the parking lot first."

"... Are you sure? Do you perhaps need to go home for an early schedule tomorrow?"

"A hundred percent sure! As long as you have chips too!" She drove the car towards the back parking lot.

I smiled. "I think Mashiro has some, I could ask her for some."

"Already mentioning another girl's name when I'm the one you're bringing home tonight?" I chuckled at her question. I guess she naturally has a flirty personality.

"Oh, have I never mentioned her to you before? Mashiro is my closest aide and assistant. She goes wherever I go for business purposes."

"... Sounds hectic?"

I nodded. "It is. I give her a high pay, though I still wonder if it's enough compensation for all she does. She's more than just a colleague who went through the ups and downs of my career, she is also my friend."

I was looking at Yujin who was looking for a free space when I was telling her this, and I saw that her lips turned into a pout. With the short amount of time that we've been together, I knew that this was a sign of her being upset.

"What's wrong?" I turned my gaze forward. "If you can't find any space here, there's another in the west wing. It's a bit farther but that's the main reason there's always some space there."

I sighed in relief when her pout vanished to be replaced with a laugh. "No, it's okay. I think I finally saw one by the gate."

When the car parked, we put on our cover. I took the plastic bag and guided us towards to private elevator that's only used by the staff. It took no time to finally reach the topmost floor where my suite was, along with Shiro's.

There were two penthouse suites in this floor. There were others in the lower rooms but these two were the best of the best. I gave Shiro a room of her own because this was the least I could do for all the things she did.

I rang the doorbell of her suite. After a few seconds, the door was opened by Shiro in her casual clothes.

"Oh, Ting. Do you need-" She stopped mid sentence and looked behind me. Yujin was peering over my shoulders to look at her. She suddenly pushed me aside and grabbed both of Shiro's cheeks.

"Omo~ you're the one who looked like my sister! So cute~" I hardened my gaze at her obvious display of disregard of me. How rude.

"Hello, Ms. Choi. I haven't introduced myself properly the last time we met. I'm Sakamoto Mashiro, Ms. Shen's personal assistant." Shiro said this while Yujin was still pinching her cheeks.

I sighed and grabbed Yujin's hand. To make sure she didn't do that again, I didn't let go of one of her hands. She didn't let go either.

"I'm Choi Yujin. You look young, how old are you?"

"I'm 21 years old, Ms. Choi."

"Stop calling me miss, I feel awkward. Just call me Yujin eonnie since I'm older.~" I saw Shiro glance at me and I simply nodded.

"Okay, Yujin eonnie. Was there anything I could help you with?"

"Ah, yes. I was just going to ask if you have any chips? We planned to watch a movie and someone wasn't satisfied even after a full course meal." I said.

Yujin lightly punched me with her free hand. "Yah! If I knew that their portions were as if it was made for a child, I would have chosen a different restaurant." She grumbled.

I let out a smile. "Whatever you say."

Mashiro was looking back and forth between us before smiling so wide I wondered if she was trying to show all her teeth. "I actually have some spare chips. I think it's enough for two people."

Yujin showed her a thumbs up. "Nice! Do you wanna join us?"

I stared straight at Shiro. As much as I appreciate her, we see each other too much. I was trying to telepathically tell her how I feel. Fortunately, even if she didn't glance my way, she declined.

"Oh no, I'll pass. I still have some work to catch up on."

"I'm sure Xiaoting won't mind if you were to give her those documents a little while later, right?" Yujin nudged me by the side as I nodded stifly.

"... Yes."

"No, the files I'm working on needs to be passed to another team on the first hour tomorrow. I'm sorry, I really can't join you. Maybe another time?" I praised Shiro's work ethics mentally.

"Hmm, I guess it can't be helped. Then, good luck with your work. Fighting!"

Shiro then went inside her suite as we waited by the door. When she brought a plastic full of all kinds of snacks, I raised an eyebrow at her as I casually let go of Yujin's small hand to take the snacks.

"... You're judging me with that stare, Ting."

I just shrugged my shoulder at her. "Thanks, Shiro. Have a good night."

"Thank you, Mashiro! If you ever feel like watching a movie, you can just knock anytime." Yujin waved goodbye as Shiro closed her door.

I opened the door to my suite.

"Wow~ So big and pretty.~"

I put the snacks and ice cream on the table top in the living room. I gave her a short tour of the room. Once she was satisfied, we went back to the living room and chose a movie. I let her decide which movie we'll watch. She couldn't choose so she opted for a series called 'A Business Proposal'.

We were only on the second episode when I decided to tell her I'll be leaving the country after a week.

I felt her stiffen before turning to face me. "Cool. Where to? Why are you going there? When will you be back?"

I chuckled at the bombardment of questions.

"I'm going to Thailand. I have a few business dealings there and decided two months ago to personally check out the situation. I'll be back here... I'm not exactly sure either. It depends on my itinerary." I said slowly.

She fiddled with the spoon that she used to eat our mint choco ice cream. She put her mug down the table and faced me while her legs were criss crossed. The sudden seriousness in her eyes made me straighten my back.

"Will you be gone long?"

I visualized my schedule for the next few months and calculated the time I could get back in Korea.

"I'm sorry but... I'm not too sure. There may be last minute changes, but I think I'll be back in Korea after about half a year, hopefully." I said quietly.

Her shoulders sagged and she was looking at her hands on her lap. "That's a long time. We just got closer so I hoped that we could hang out more. I'm sorry if I seem too clingy—"

"Don't be sorry," I cut her off. "I like hanging out with you... I really like it. Just being us."

Silence filled us again. I wasn't sure what to say either. I was already feeling bad for myself that I had to leave, but knowing Yujin somehow felt the same, made me even sadder.

"... Can I call you Ting? I heard Mashiro calling you that earlier. And since we're friends, I wanted to call you by your nickname too..."

I gave her a small smile before patting her head.

"Sure. You can call me anything you want."

She beamed and hugged me. I was caught offguard with the sudden show of affection, but I took it in stride and hugged her back.

This is nice. Yujin seems to be someone who shows her affection through physical touch. I can't say I'm the same but this isn't bad. It actually feels great. As if I had a gem so precious that I didn't want to let go.

"Anything, really? Ting? Ting-ah? Xiao? Xiao Xiao? Xiaoting– like Sojung? Aegiya? Yeobo? Sweetheart? Mint choco? My cheese tteokbokkki—"

She kept whispering various names and it only got weirder the longer she listed names. I couldn't help but laugh. "Aren't the names getting weirder and weirder?"

"No."

"... Really? Okay then, whatever makes you happy." I laughed.

She moved back from our hug and placed her hands on my shoulders, "I've decided to sleep over tonight. You'll be leaving in a few days and we won't be seeing each other this week because of our overlapping schedules. I want to make the most of our time."

I nodded immediately, "Okay."

She took her spoon and filled up her mug again. "It's settled then. I'll just borrow something from your closet to sleep in, we'll share a bed and talk about whatever, I'll wake up early tomorrow to leave for my schedule, and tonight we'll finish half the episode for this series."

I snorted. "No, just two more episodes and it's bed time. You might get too tired for work tomorrow." She whined but didn't say anything.

I laughed at her expression and took my mug to put more ice cream in it.

I had a sudden realization. The amount of times I laughed today was more than I laughed in the past year. An amiable smile is my go-to expression for business. Laughing was so rare I forgot how I sounded when I did it.

Yujin.

She's making everything better just by her mere presence. She's the best friend I could ever ask for.

•°~°~°•

• Yujin •

"... Good morning, Yujin."

When I heard that familiar soothing voice so close to my ear, I abruptly opened my eyes and froze.

I don't know how long I stared at her but I woke from my daze when I heard her chuckle.

"... You're not real." I whispered.

She cutely craned her head to the side. "We're literally facing and talking to each other."

"No, shush. You're ruining the post dream-like state I am in." I smoothly pinched her nose, but not too hard. She laughed before moving to stand up.

"Wait!" I stopped her and she got back to her previous position on her stomach with her hand holding her head. I quickly fumbled looking for my phone. Without saying anything, I quickly snapped a picture of her.

I immediately hid my phone under me and smiled at her. When she was finally able to react, she laughed before trying to take my phone.

"Hey! Delete that!" She grabbed both of my arms to try and pull me up.

I made my body stick to the bed as much as possible. "No way! You looked so beautiful, Ting. I couldn't stop myself."

"You could have at least told me!"

"Now where's the fun in that!" I laughed.

We practically wrestled for my phone for a few more minutes before I finally felt exhaustion coming to me. I'm not that old, am I?

"Yah! I'll do you a favor as long as you let me keep the picture." I said heaving. I was on my stomach while Xiaoting was stradling my back while holding back my arms.

"... Really?"

"Yes!" I exclaimed. "Anything. I now consider that picture as one of the greatest treasures of Choi Yujin. I'll do anything you want."

I heard her chuckle before getting of my back and leaning back on the headboard. I twisted and lied on my back to catch my breath.

"You're exaggerating but I'll take your offer, Ms. Choi." I heard her say.

I gave her a thumbs up as I was still trying to catch my breath. I will really treasure the picture though.

"Then, I want a picture of you too. Now." She suddenly stood up and took her phone that was on the bedside table. Realizing that she would have a picture of me on her phone, I quickly sat up and fixed my hair as much as I can.

She rolled her eyes but didn't point the camera at me. "That's unfair. You got to get ready while I was taken by surprise."

"All is fair in love and war, jagiya." She didn't say anything else after that so I continued brushing my hair back with my fingers and posed. "Okay, click away."

Xiaoting kept pressing the shutter button so I kept changing my pose. When she finally stopped, I asked her to show me the pictures.

I suddenly felt bold so I burrowed her phone. She gave it to me without hesitation, but suddenly squinted her eyes.

"Don't delete any picture, okay?"

"Of course. I look pretty in each one, so why would I delete any of it?"

I quickly chose a picture which I thought I look the best in and made it into her home screen wallpaper. I gave her back her phone and she checked what I did.

"Yah, don't change it, okay?" I said haughtily. She laughed and shook her head but put her phone aside. She really didn't change it.

We talked casually for a few more minutes before deciding to get up. I told her that I'll just eat breakfast at the set because I need to leave as soon as possible. I changed back to what I wore last night.

"Are you sure you don't need me to go with you?" We were currently standing in front of the door. She wanted to send me back to my car but I stopped her.

"Yes. You have a meeting in 30 minutes, right? You still have to get ready." I said.

"Going with you and back will only take a few minutes. Besides, the meeting is only on tower 2. I can just get ready in 20 minutes."

"Still, no. We already wasted a few minutes having this conversation. You already lost the few minutes you had to your advantage." I laughed. "Be good and listen to me." I tap her nose and smiled.

She sighed. "Fine. Be careful and text me when you safely get back."

I cooed. "Aw~ My dear Xiaoting is so cute.~ Okay, I will text you so don't worry.~"

I could see her ears redden but she didn't say anything. I laughed again. She really isn't the affectionate type.

Oh my, falling for her is too easy.

Deciding to be bold, I got on my tip toes and kissed her.

On the cheeks.

"I'm really going now. Bye, Xiaoting.~" I casually left and closed the door. I quickly walked towards the elevator and did a little dance.