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Not to be a drama queen, Wonbin argues to no one but his thoughts, he is just bummed out that the trip didn't proceed. It's also not because he hates his job– it is tolerable, it pays the rent and ultimately gives him money to do the things he want on weekends– but some things are just good to throw tantrums for. Take for example the canceled Jeju Spring Trip, like it's an annual thing and not a sporadic trip him, Sohee, and Anton planned out one night as they were finishing a long overdue project.
They had to extend for three more weeks because the client wanted it to be perfect and saying that word to a person like Wonbin is offensive. Who does this client think he is? Wonbin was top of his class in high school. Sure, he had to retake chemistry in college, but that was an elective!
"It's more sad that you had to retake an elective," Anton would argue, but that's not the point.
The point was, because of that they planned the trip as a 'good job' gift for the three of them and now it's canceled. It's canceled all because of Sohee.
"Why me?" Sohee chimes, as innocent as he can be while Wonbin accuses him for the third time since lunch break ended.
"You know well why," Wonbin glares at him before opening the email the trainer, Eunseok, sent them this morning. So what if it's been sitting for at least two hours unopened on his Gmail. Eunseok will live. "Why did you have to agree to take that project? We just finished the other one!"
Sohee sighs, saving the pdf file on his computer and pressing the printer next to him. "Just say you don't wanna work, Bin."
And you know what, "We can type documents for two weeks straight and not take on a tight project for once, Sohee." Wonbin is full-on whining now, begging his best friend to understand his issue on this. "We can let Seunghan take this client, he's been silent since we ended the other one."
He hears a 'hey!' from the cubicle behind him. Wonbin ignores the complaint from Seunghan and continues to convince Sohee.
"Um, I'm sorry! Okay? But I can't retract the agreement. Eunseok already sent the email and talked to the client." Sohee sounds like he actually feels bad now. "We can go on vacation after this. I promise!"
"Fine." Wonbin is easy to please, "but just you know I won't be finding the love of my life until this project is finished. And remember, it's your fault."
Sohee sighs, but Seunghan was quick to interrupt. "Is this what it's about? Come on, hyung, you can find love anywhere."
Wonbin narrows his eyes at the other, "You know just because you're in love with Sohee doesn't mean I want to fall for a coworker, too."
He hears a gasp from Sohee, but Seunghan looks like he's about to chant curses at him. They sit there quiet for some time until Sohee moves again, whirring of the printer getting his attention.
"Well, Eunseok’s in the meeting room. Let's go." Sohee clears his throat, and maybe Wonbin should just let time pass and do this project so it'll be over soon.
The briefing is so-so. Wonbin has heard the trainers talk about, "Let's do a good job so the clients will be happy," and "It's all about the quality." Until the pacing is too slow for the client so they call the operations manager and complain about their employees taking too long. Wonbin has worked here long enough to know clients are never a hundred percent satisfied with the work they put out, and the trainers are the motivational speakers hired to gaslight them that they're doing a good job.
"...So it's gonna take about three months." Eunseok finishes the introduction ten minutes later.
Anton sighs next to Wonbin, "That's too long." He complains, much of a whiner like Wonbin. He thinks Sohee's the only eager team member to actually do the work he applied for. "I have to pull all nighters again."
And Wonbin wants to throttle Anton sometimes, because no matter how much he complains he's the one who hard carries the project they're set out to do. Nevertheless, Anton's an advantage. Maybe they can finish this one two weeks early if he's being positive.
Wonbin stares at the big screen behind Eunseok as it shows the presentation about the client's company and expectations.
"Why's he looking a bit rough?" Eunseok says, talking to Sohee, probably, but he's looking at Wonbin.
"I won't meet the love of my life because Sohee chose to be a slave to corporate instead." Wonbin mumbles, burying his face to the clipboard on the table. "Why can't you give this to Shotaro instead?"
"Because Shotaro is your supervisor, Wonbin." Eunseok tells him, voice composed as if he's dealt with the same dramatic monologue for a thousandth time– which sure, he's probably thrown a bit of a dramatic fit once in a while, but he's good at his job!
"Seunghan?"
"Seunghan is not part of your unit. And they're starting a new project next week."
"And-"
"And before you say Sungchan– he is a trainer." Eunseok explains earning a chuckle from the others in the room. "I'm sorry you won't be finding the love of your life this month. I wish you well on the project guys!"
They go back to their cubicles after twenty more minutes of reviewing the guidelines and what things the clients don't want. Sohee kept asking unnecessary questions like what font would they like. Anton was humming the company jingle that he apparently knows because he used to shop there with his parents. Wonbin was getting a bit irritable thank god Eunseok ended when he heard Wonbin tapping his foot repeatedly on the floor.
Three weeks into the newest project, Wonbin finds himself drowning in drafts and proofreading. He knows he gets a little in too deep with his job most times– he's fully aware that complaining doesn't necessarily equate to lazing around. He's fine with his job; however, that does not mean he'll tolerate excessive and inhumane requests. But, yeah, sometimes you have no choice.
There will always come a day when the client calls you two hours before your shift ends to let you know there's something they wanna add on the fifth page of your proposal and they kinda need the edited report tomorrow morning.
Wonbin's the oldest among the three of them, he recognizes that Sohee does well and almost always misses lunch break if Seunghan doesn't remind him or bring him the other half of his sandwich. Anton is pretty new in the corporate setup. The kid graduated two months before he got hired, and Wonbin is aware no matter how persistent Anton is about finishing his part, the youngest would let himself help others when he's asked– even those not even on their team. Wonbin acknowledges all these, which is why he told them after the call that he'll be staying for a while.
That was three hours ago.
Wonbin is trying to find one last piece of information to get the paper done, and maybe proofread it before–
He checks the time, "nine thirty-eight?"
Okay, so maybe he's been here for more than three hours. He could supposedly finish proofreading before ten thirty. Yeah. Well, hopefully.
He mumbles curses to himself, flipping the last page and finally, finally sees the missing information to get the introduction correctly, and also part two of the presentation. Wonbin remembers that this is only the first part of the project, and that in the next months they'll have to physically plan the proposal and do much much more than this. He breathes out a loud sigh. He's getting way ahead of himself.
Then he hears footsteps. "You're still here?" Eunseok's familiar voice echoes in the corridor.
"Almost finished. I got distracted with the video planning a while ago."
"Have you even eaten yet?" Eunseok ignores Wonbin's excuse as he walks toward the other's cubicle. Wonbin looks up and sees Eunseok looking well-rested and Wonbin wishes that's him now.
Wonbin looks down on his desk filled with papers and two opened monitors that have documents showing that all seem gibberish now that it's passed the usual time he's stayed in this building and also because he hasn't eaten yet. He feels self-conscious now, he probably looks like a mess. Hair tired behind his head, some strands sticking to his forehead, his cheeks; he's sure there are strands that got out of the hairband's hold.
"Let's go eat."
Wonbin finds out Eunseok has a flexible schedule as a trainer. He sometimes clocks in in the afternoon if he feels like it. He just happens to be training a new set of employees for their night shift downstairs so his schedule is up til eleven tonight.
He also finds out that Eunseok talks a lot that Wonbin finds amusing; he can add well to his dramatic efforts to include the canceled Jeju Spring Trip even three weeks after they decided it's not happening.
"What is so good about going to Jeju at this time anyway? You can go there any time." Eunseok tries to fuel the fire before munching on his orange chicken. Wonbin glares at him in the process.
"You know there are a lot of tourists there this time of the year! I could have met someone, then gotten married by– I don't know, September this year."
Eunseok laughs at the outburst, almost choking on his iced tea. "Whoa, that quick?"
"Okay, maybe not. Not this year."
Eunseok shakes his head, still in amusement, because there's something about Wonbin that is so interesting to him. And Wonbin knows this because the trainer has voiced this out one time when they're having team dinner, and Eunseok and Sungchan being the unplanned team 'trainers' (they would always be put to train them for new projects, Seunghan says it's meant to be as if they're one team), when Anton asked each of them to talk about first and current impressions.
Shotaro was nice enough to tell them the positive things, but Sohee, as adorable as he is, harshly told Anton to stop taking workload that isn't his. He also told Sungchan to tone down his voice when the trainees don't get it the first try.
"That's what you're training us for, stupid."
Sungchan bowed in shame that time, telling Sohee that he gets in his zone too much when training. They all had a loud laugh thinking someone as tall would crumble over Sohee.
Then it was time for Eunseok, and he didn't say anything longer than two sentences each. He did say one sentence for Wonbin:
"Wonbin amuses me." Eunseok ended with a shrug and proceeded to tease Anton about the same thing Sohee mentioned.
Wonbin didn't try to pry more information to Eunseok. They ended with that, he didn't observe how Eunseok treats him. He's happy it's not bad. At least Eunseok isn't annoyed with him or anything.
"You know what, maybe I should just date Sungchan." Wonbin adds, eyes wide like he just said something articulate and not totally impossible.
"Sungchan is married, Wonbin." Eunseok deadpans, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "We, um, we went to his wedding last year? Were you- do you not remember? Was it the rosé? I remember you finishing two expensive bottles."
Wonbin slumps on the chair, his own food looking a bit sad and dry now that he's forgotten about them. He really wanted the stir fry noodle and he's not about to waste Eunseok's money for it. That was very nice of Eunseok to pay for their food too, considering Wonbin's the one who suggested the place they had to walk for fifteen minutes for.
Wonbin isn't close to Eunseok, not as much as Eunseok is close to Sungchan or even Seunghan. They entered the company at the same time and Wonbin followed a few months later. Eunseok is civil, he's casual and very focused on his job. So, it's good to see him opening up to Wonbin since they technically have been in the same building and floor for about two years. Unlike the rest of the employees, Wonbin's not much of a friendly guy. Even Anton whose voice couldn't reach the ends of his own cubicle made friends faster than he is. It isn't about the loudness of their voices, it's probably their personality.
Wonbin tends to keep to whoever is within reach. He's been on Shotaro's team since the beginning and whoever gets to join the team, that's the only time Wonbin talks to them. With Eunseok, it's kind of like, Wonbin wants to actually do something to talk to him. It's like he's more mysterious than what Wonbin set up for himself; it's funny to see you've lost the personality battle by someone who's just naturally like that.
"I remember, yeah." Wonbin pouts. He never had a chance to make himself look mysterious anyways. "I just. Good for Sungchan. How was he even able to find love with his schedule? I heard he used to work part-time when you guys were newbies?"
Wonbin doesn't exactly admire the hustle, but he'll praise the persistence. Sungchan is pretty admirable in that way, having to plan out a wedding, training new hires, dealing with HR because Seunghan broke another coffee machine. And now, from what he's heard, he and his wife are planning to start a family.
Wonbin is not dramatic for wanting to find love. Maybe he can be extreme and hope that a trip to another island will help him find the one for him, but who isn't a little desperate sometimes when you see people around you finding someone to love so easily.
Anyways, "It's a joke, okay? I don't wanna be a homewrecker." Wonbin continues, now munching the pork belly that's stuffed in his mouth, making his cheeks bigger.
Eunseok laughs, "I knew that. I just think finishing two bottles of expensive wine at someone else's wedding is a bold move."
Wonbin throws him a piece of cabbage in response.
Sometimes a good latte with no coffee works. Sure, the barista was kinda perturbed by the request, but they have white choco latte on the menu. Wonbin just wanted to make sure there was zero percent caffeine in there, too. Not when he just got off the doctor's office after a stomach ache. He does not need another reason to take a sick leave.
Wonbin spends some time admiring the day. He rarely sees the outside at eleven in the morning; instead he sees the default blue color of his computer monitors for eight hours straight (if he's lucky) at minimum.
"Wonbin?"
The pondering ends when he hears an already familiar voice. It's been a few months since the last time he and Eunseok had the chance to talk and hang outside of work. True enough, time passes, and the project becomes a thing of the past. And while it became more relevant that they grew closer after eating dinner at ten in the evening, they don't really go out much. Not as much as he grabs lunch with Sohee or Shotaro, or even goes shopping with Seunghan during the weekends. That man has a habit of spending half his salary on sunglasses and needs to be studied, or contained; Wonbin surely won't be the one confronting him, though.
Eunseok is not always on their side of the floor. He's always with the manager, or Sungchan, or the new hires- or the manager, Sungchan, and the new hires. Either way, he only sees the trainers in general when they bring up new projects or updates. Although, they do say hi to each other often, and it's not awkward anymore.
"Oh, hey!"
Eunseok smiles at him, Wonbin's stomach kind of makes a jump or a wave or a spin. He's going to ask the barista again later if there really is no caffeine in his white choco latte. "You're not at work? Didn't know you live near here."
Wonbin notices Eunseok didn't need to ask if he can sit on the chair across from him unlike all the other times they see each other in the breakroom or the café on the ground floor. See? Progress.
"Um, no. I don't." Wonbin gives him a lopsided grin. "I got a stomach ache this morning so I went to the doctor's."
"Oh?" Eunseok furrows his eyebrows, lips closing and opening as if he wants to say something. "Are you okay now?"
"Yeah," Wonbin nods, "I just did a check up for the medical certificate and bought some medicines, vitamins, too."
Eunseok hums, fiddling with his wallet. "Well, that's good. I, um, live near here. My apartment's just down that street." He points behind him, wherever it is.
"You're not at work, too?"
"Oh," He chuckles. "I just got off work like this morning. Yeah, mid shift, there were some clients from Canada that wanted to have a meeting."
Wonbin leans on his chair, "How did that go?"
"Thank god for Sungchan, you know? I sleep late, sure, but you can never take a word out of my mouth at three in the morning. My brain is somewhere else."
He laughs, and that's Eunseok humor. He's honest, he's also kinda dumb sometimes but in a way that's intentional. Wonbin feels at ease talking to him, it's so mundane that oftentimes he thinks it has always been this way with Eunseok. Like they've always talked about weddings, how much sauce he puts in his burrito, three a.m meetings, and all that. Maybe he just didn't notice it sooner that Eunseok complements him well.
"Have you had lunch, then?"
"I had melon bread."
Wonbin glares at him, "No, you idiot. I meant real food. Come on, we're going to get lunch."
Eunseok didn't have time to respond because Wonbin's already by the door and he looks like he can break a bone in Eunseok's body if he refuses.
Eunseok never got to buy the strawberry latte he's been craving since last night, but they did get strawberry and cream bingsu for dessert.
Here's the deal: Wonbin is fast when he overthink things, but he's slow to realize that signs have always been there. Wonbin likes to push himself to his limit, but he doesn't notice himself getting tired when he's had nothing but half a muffin the whole day. He wants to find love, unaware that it's been within his reach all along.
Sure, there's been this part in the last five months where Wonbin's obsessing over going to Jeju for a trip and meeting strangers from every parts of the world. Stuff like that. He also told off Seunghan he doesn't wanna date coworkers or whatever. He also, very much, was blinded by the thoughtfulness Eunseok gives to everyone else that he Wonbin tells himself, "it's nothing, he's nice, being nice doesn't mean you need to like him or kiss him or love him." Anyways, Wonbin was kinda wrong.
After what happened during his sick leave, and he and Eunseok eating lunch together. He pondered even more over the weekend, about what it would feel like if Eunseok liked him. Or what it would feel like to meet Eunseok after work, hold hands, maybe make out in the storage closet, and give each other loving smiles when he walks around the floor and they meet eyes. Yeah, those kinds of stuff.
Wonbin goes back to work on Monday with all these thoughts, trying to contain them because Shotaro can smell fear and will dote on you if he smells it burning.
So, when the trainers are handing out new information about projects, Wonbin meets Eunseok's eyes and tries not to panic.
"Hey, guys." Eunseok slides to their part of the floor and leans into Seunghan's desk.
"Oh, no. New project?" Seunghan grumbles as if he doesn't have the more lax schedule out of all of them.
"No, not today." Eunseok chuckles, ruffling Seunghan's hair a bit. Wonbin gets jealous of Seunghan for the first time in his life. It's crazy. He would usually laugh at this moment because the younger doesn't want to be babied in front of Sohee. Yet, look at Wonbin, a second away from begging Eunseok to touch his hair. Whoa, okay.
"Thank god." Anton mumbles, "Or Wonbin hyung would complain about canceling his Jeju trip again."
Wonbin snaps his head from where it was staring at: Eunseok's hand on Seunghan's hair, to look at Anton.
Eunseok hums, "No worries on that. Your vacation leave is set, you don't have to cancel them." He smiles at him when they meet eyes.
Silly thought, but now, Wonbin wants Eunseok to care. He wants him to feel a bit upset that Wonbin is still pursuing this trip to find the love of his life. He needs Eunseok to know that he's going to take a vacation but he'll come back to work still thinking of him.
"Yeah, good." Wonbin timidly answers.
"Enjoy," Eunseok gives him a polite smile. The one he gives them when he's finished with the meeting. The civil tone of smiling. "Anyways, I'll see you guys around." He turns around and walks to where Sungchan is talking to another supervisor.
Wonbin watches him join the conversation with wide eyes. Eunseok does not care if he goes to Jeju, and it's fine because Wonbin hasn't expressed his desire to be with him yet. He's going to keep these feelings at bay since he's only gotten to know Eunseok a little bit. Wonbin's unsure if he can make Eunseok like him back, but for now, looking at Eunseok with eyes of affection would be enough.
"Oh my god you're in love." Wonbin looks at his supervisor to make sure he's talking about him. Also to shush him because the others might hear. Shotaro says it with so much ease, and a tiny bit of accusation. As if Shotaro is examining Wonbin and all the things he's said over the past few months have become just a memory. "You're in love with Eunseok." He repeats.
"Can you lower your voice?"
"I knew it."
So, Wonbin swiveled his office chair to Shotaro's station and explained to him why and how it happened. That it didn't happen just because they shared a strawberry and cream bingsu together.
It's also the way he realized how much Eunseok cares about him. He realized how attentive he is when Wonbin is irritated. How he was there beside Wonbin when he's almost finished with his second bottle of expensive wine at Sungchan's wedding (he remembers that, too), afraid to leave him behind because Anton was talking with the bride's grandmother and couldn't leave the conversation, and Sohee was nowhere to be found. How he pays every time they eat out even though Wonbin's the one who suggested it in the first place.
Eunseok cares, and Wonbin falls in love a little too quick.
"So? Tell him to go to Jeju with you."
Wonbin hits Shotaro's shoulder, "What, no!"
"Why not!"
"That's too intimate. That's a four-day vacation."
Shotaro rolls his eyes, "Okay, then ask him for lunch today. Tell him how you feel."
Shotaro gets another slap on his shoulder. If someone were to oversee them from afar, they'd look like two high school girls gossiping about their crushes. It's insanity.
"What? Confess? Taro, I work with him. If he rejects me, we're back to being awkward again."
"What makes you think the feeling isn't mutual?"
He ends the conversation there, throwing a stink eye to Shotaro before going back to typing a file that's due before the end of the day.
Wonbin settles on asking Eunseok for lunch. He's feeling weird, a mix of things. The kind of confidence a seven year old would feel as they stand on stage with a lion suit performing in front of over fifty pairs of eyes, but also stomach-churning scared like he's forced to ride on a rollercoaster as a dare by his asshole classmates. Only because he wants to ask Eunseok to lunch knowing he's in love with the guy.
He finds Eunseok wandering the halls with Sungchan fifteen minutes before lunch break. Wonbin exhales; here goes nothing. Something, actually, like the inevitability of awkwardness when he confesses and Eunseok rejects him, but whatever.
"Hey, Eunseok. Do you wanna have lunch together?"
Eunseok pauses talking to Sungchan to look at him and smile, "Yeah, sure. What's up?"
"You two have fun." Sungchan says before Wonbin could respond. Thank Sungchan for getting him out of a sticky situation: he does not have an answer to Eunseok's 'what's up'.
"Congrats on the pregnancy, by the way!" So, instead, Wonbin diverts the attention to Sungchan's life.
Sungchan thanks him, waving back at them as he clicks the down button of the elevator.
"How long has it been?" Wonbin continues to talk about Sungchan's wife's pregnancy to eliminate the thought that he's about to reveal his feelings in, uh, eight minutes.
"Four months, I think. Yeah," Eunseok gestures his head to the elevators. "Shall we? Head to wherever you want to eat."
Wonbin wanted to go to a place where there's not a lot of familiar faces, so they went to the restaurant that they ate at that one time Eunseok found him doing an all-nighter.
"You said the stir fry noodles here were delicious. I told Auntie over there that." Eunseok starts while handing Wonbin the menu.
"I'm thinking of ordering that today, too." Wonbin snorts.
They tell their orders to the Auntie's daughter and she lets them know it will be up in a few minutes. They thanked her and looked at each other and smiled.
"Finally going on that Jeju trip, huh? It's August, you can finally find the love of your life before September this year."
Wonbin laughs, albeit strained, and avoids Eunseok's eyes, "I don't know, hah. Might just take a bunch of pictures of the ocean and eat lots of crab dishes." He shrugs.
Once their orders arrive, Wonbin feels it. It's so evident and he can't seem to say anything about it. Also, the noodles are so good. But he should also address that Eunseok has been staring at him since they started eating.
"What's up, Eunseok?" Wonbin mumbles, "Why are you looking at me like that?" He takes a sip of his cider before looking back at the other.
"I'm not really sure either."
"I like you." Wonbin covers his mouth instinctively like he accidentally revealed someone else's secret. His eyes wide, staring back at Eunseok who's just looking at him, unblinking. He takes away his hands, "No, you know actually I'm in love with you."
Eunseok looks at his own food. Wonbin continues, "I know, it's weird and stuff. You're really nice, Eunseok. You're so, so nice. You see me, you know me well, you take good care of me- and sure you do all these things to the others-"
"Why'd you think that?"
"Uh- well, I assume you're this attentive to everyone-" Wonbin cuts himself off when he notices Eunseok's intent gaze on him. "No?"
Eunseok chuckles. "Sure," Eunseok drinks his own cider. "I'm very in love with you, too, by the way. Surprised you haven't noticed."
Wonbin has to hand it to Eunseok to render him speechless. It's odd to confess to someone you love at one in the afternoon, too hot of a summer to think right, while eating greasy homemade food at a little family restaurant; but it's even odder to receive a response from the other person that they’re reciprocating it. Wonbin blinks, mouth closing and opening like a fish.
"Oh," He replies, dumbly.
"Yeah." It's Eunseok's turn to grow shy. "I, um, since you joined the company. I didn't tell anyone, they just kinda noticed. That's why I'm surprised you started talking to me, I thought you noticed and you're trying to let me down gently." He shrugs, scratching his nape.
Wonbin speaks; he says everything, from the time he thought Eunseok's just a very kind soul who happens to know everyone's peeve and joy. He opens up about seeing him in a whole new light after eating out with him on his sick leave. He opens up that he falls too deep too easily, but they have to go back to work in twenty minutes and it's hard to sum up all the ways and reasons Eunseok naturally became someone he loves in the span of months, or maybe since the beginning but Wonbin was just too occupied looking at things out of reach.
Eunseok holds his hand on the way to the building though they let go once they're on their floor because they both have work to do.
Eunseok gives his hand one last squeeze before letting go, and Wonbin wants to experience seeing Eunseok with swollen lips and disheveled hair already.
Few days later, after Eunseok successfully granted Wonbin's wish of kissing in the storage closet, Wonbin sees him walking towards their team.
"Hey, team." Eunseok greets, eye lingering a little longer at Wonbin. "New project."
"What?"
"No worries, Bbina, this is for when you come back." Eunseok assures him and drops the folder into Shotaro's desk. "I'll email the details."
Eunseok gives Wonbin another one of his stares, Wonbin stares back.
"Bbina?!" Sohee utters, scandalized.
"No," Seunghan cries out, face on his palms, "they're totally fucking."