jiae
IM HERE

jiae
WHERR ARE YOU GUYS

soyi
we went to the back where
the karaoke machines are

jiae
.

jiae
WHAT ABOUT ME????

soyi
ITS A STRAIGHT SHOT BACK

jiae
THE EVIL RECEPTIONIST
IS HERE

soyi
oh shoot i forgot todays
minsu's day 😪😪

jiae
HELP ME

soyi
JUST GO UO AND TELL
HIM YOURE MEETING
US IN KARAOKE

jiae
bro is going to call security on me

soyi
nooooo if he gives you a hard
time text the gc with hye and
she'll handle it

jiae
mama hye 🫶

soyi
mama hye 🫶

hesitantly, jiae stepped forward to where the reception desk was set up. it didn't take long for minsu to spot her approaching, and when he did, he rolled his eyes. "you again?"

the bitter tone in his voice made jiae clench her teeth in annoyance, but she tried for a sweet, obviously forced, smile. "i'm looking for someone."

"get lost, sasaeng." minsu spat with narrowed eyes. "the idols aren't here."

biting her cheeks, jiae had to refrain from cussing the man out. she understood that he was doing his job, but he didn't have to be so nasty about it.

"not that it's any of your business but i'm looking for my friends." she flashed a tight, sarcastic grin.

"technically, is is my business." he spat back with the same sickly sweet look.

jiae huffed a sigh and took another step toward the desk so that she was close enough to prop her elbows against it. "i'm meeting oh hyeyeong and han soyi in the karaoke area."

"the karaoke station closed two hours ago."

"don't they have special employee privileges?"

"they do. you don't."

cheeks flared red, jiae turned towards the sitting area and dropped into a chair.

jiae
im acruallt shitting myself rn

jiae
is he on yet?

hyeyeong
not yet

soyi
jiae 😭😭

jiae
im shaking

jiae
like so bad omg

jiae
if i had a death note that receptionist
would've had a spontaneous heart attack
like ten minutes ago

soyi
CALM DOWNNNNN MY LOVE

soyi
you'll be here dwww

jiae
I DIDNT EXPECT TO BE
STOPPED BY THIS GOOFY
RECEPTIONIST AGAIN.

hyeyeong
i just texted him that you're with us

soyi
he probably doesn't have
his phone on him

hyeyeong
everyone has their phone
at work though

soyi
yeah but it's minsu

hyeyeong
.. good point. let me call him

jiae
HURRY OR HE'LL CALL
SECURITY ON ME FR

jiae sat slumped in the complimentary sitting area with her arms crossed over her chest as she shot glares at the receptionist. she knew he felt her stares by observing the tick in his jaw, but he was very good at restraining himself from looking in her direction.

huffing loudly, jiae straightened slightly and raised her voice as she spoke at him from across the room. no one else was there this late, anyway.

"i already told you i'm here for hyeyeong and soyi. can't you just look at your phone to confirm?"

minsu looked up and closed his eyes. jiae saw his shoulders rise and fall as he sighed. "listen, i don't know what your problem is, but i already told you the idols aren't here."

"i'm not here for idols." jiae was breathing hard to stop herself from yelling. "look, i'm a receptionist too. i know our situations aren't the same, but i get crazy fans asking questions about and trying to book rooms next to idols all the time."

minsu was looking at her now, but his gaze wasn't as harsh as before. "i don't really care. right now, you're one of those crazy fans asking questions, and i'm just doing my job—"

he was cut off by the sound of the desk phone ringing and stared at it. jiae assumed his shift was close to being over, because he seemed genuinely confused. after a moment, he picked it up with his greeting.

jiae watched in smug satisfaction as his face fell, eyes flicking over to her. "pink hair?" more silence. then he sighed into the phone. "i'll send her back now."

there was no warmth in his composure as he waved her back. "karaoke is to the right. please just make it quick, i'd like to be home sooner rather than later." he paused as jiae passed with a heartless thanks.

"you're lucky you have friends on the inside." he spat, and the girl slowed to a steady stop to look at him from over her shoulder. "i don't know why you've got such a problem with me, but i'm not trying to make your life more difficult. i just want to hang out with my friends." before she left, she stopped again and flashed him a small smile. "maybe next time you could join us."

minsu was too shocked to reply as jiae left to find her friends.

•
happy late jaemin day 😭👍