"You're sure you're okay here?"

"Yes, here is good!" Song-hee is a bashful, stuttering mess and she wishes - just once, just once - in this car ride, she can get a damn hold of herself.

Currently, she has a vice-like grip on her bag; her knuckles are blanched and the tips of her fingers are prickling from how long and hard they dig on the white leather.

Lee Dongmin- the head of their agency's creative department, her office superior, and the most handsome man she knows - scratches below his ear, uncertainty written in his mild expression as he parks.

Although it is dark in his car, his bright eyes glint from the colors of the shops and restaurants in front of them. He leans slightly on his steering wheel, peering a little closer, and his crisp white polo wrinkles in his movement.

Song-hee is 23, but she feels lousier than a child for blushing instantly when Dongmin repositions himself to look at her better.

She shies away, already convinced of how crude she must look and the irritation she's feeling with herself grows tenfold.

Get it together.

She already knows how pathetic she's going to sound telling this story to Choi Se-young, her best friend in the office, tomorrow. She can also already hear the girl's lengthy lecture about being too diffident and why that'll cost Song-hee any chance with their boss.

"Song-hee-ya,"

Her name out of his mouth steals back her wandering attention and she watches as he inadvertently cards a hand through his slicked-back hair.

My - there's really no denying it. He's so good-looking.

"Would you mind maybe calling first if your friend is already here? I just - I won't feel right dropping you off thinking you'll be alone," he explains, apologetic and rubbing the nape of his neck.

Working overtime today had been out of their hands, yet Dongmin was kind enough to offer her a ride to where she was meeting Jin.

Not wanting to impose on him any more than she already has, Song-hee begins to wave him off.

It's a few minutes past 8:30 and though it might not be so late, she hates to think he could be on the way home already if it weren't for her. There's no need to worry anyway; the streets are still packed with people and she isn't going to wander around.

"Don't worry, Lee-ssi, I'll be fine." She assures, trying to sound dismissive in hopes that he won't try to insist.

His mouth opens, probably to do exactly that, but she beats him to it, looking at her bag where her hand is already rifling for her phone.

"Also, my friend's already in the area. He's actually been waiting for me - he's just around here so I'm sure he'll pop up very soon," she adds since it was the truth anyway.

Her lips form a concave line right after speaking though, realizing how long Jin has been waiting for her.

He's been loitering inside a cafe to escape the relentless snow since he got out of work and she feels awful about that. She doesn't like to inconvenience people- hates even the idea of it.

Dongmin hums in acknowledgement of what she said, a dark eyebrow rising.

"Ah, is he?" he asks, though his reluctance persists and presents itself clearly in his tone. "If that's the case - that he's nearby- I really don't mind keeping you company until he gets here. Plus, it's crazy cold right now."

He grins, though now the one sounding dismissive.

With her hands tied, Song-hee, awkward, can only nod with a feigned smile. As much as she wants to insist on it, she chooses to bite her tongue instead since she doesn't want to come off as rude and she knows he's being tenacious with good intention.

Her fingers find each other to fidget with before they move onto the ends of her hair.

Does he not want to turn the radio on? Should she ask if he wants to listen to some music? She aches for something to fill the silence settling over them.

It's not like she can't hold a conversation. She can; she even believes she's a great conversationalist, but who wouldn't be a tad bit flustered talking to the person they've been infatuated with for some time now?

Other than for his convenience's sake, it's why she wishes they could part ways already.

Thankfully, he doesn't seem bothered by the quiet. If he's feeling it but just polite enough not to show it, she's extremely grateful for that.

Nonetheless, she should say something. But what?

She and him are friends per se, but in no way are they close. Now that she actually thinks about it, the majority of their conversations were only ever in the office about work-related topics with the exception of lunch breaks and office parties.

She isn't too sure if those counted, though, since they were always shared with other co-workers. The only instances she got to be with him alone are times like these, when he offers her rides, and when they're assigned to work on something together.

She never thinks too much about it.

It's not like they could be anything, anyway, due to the nature of their work relationship, their current relationship, and everything in between. Frankly, she prefers for it to be that way.

Song-hee clears her throat.

"Lee-ssi, thank you again for bringing me here. You didn't have to but I appreciate it a lot," her voice, sincere, fills the air.

Dongmin's gaze switches from the dashboard to her, his mouth - a straight line - tugging upwards.

"You don't have to keep calling me 'Lee-ssi' out of the office, you know. We can talk casually, you're just a year younger than me anyway," his grin is accompanied by a velvet chuckle and she finds herself smiling too, feeling warm inside and out watching his upturned eyes narrow fondly.

"And you're welcome. It's no problem at all and I'm happy to do it anytime," he nods, the tender look on his face remaining even as his smile levels out.

Sighing quietly, he leans back in his seat and crosses his arms across his chest, the atmosphere - she's blissfully relieved- easing up.

He has a ruminative countenance now and one of his large hands reaches to cup his square jaw.

She blinks, caught off-guard for a second because his brown dress watch reflects a streak of light into her eyes.

"Your boyfriend must love you a lot for waiting this whole time." He thinks out loud suddenly.

She freezes.

With that, not only is she immediately struck with deja vu, she is also slightly disheartened - not because she's embarrassed he thinks she's with Jin, but because he might've spent all this time thinking she was in a relationship.

Again, not that it mattered, but still.

A more hostile expression dawns on her face once she regains her composure and she makes a mental reminder to bring this up with her friend later.

"Don't misunderstand - Jin oppa isn't my boyfriend," she explains to Dongmin, picking up her smile albeit gauchely. "He's my best friend. He's actually one of the first people I met when I moved to Seoul years ago."

It's true. Jin is a friend of Jimin's and she met him when Jimin offered to show her around the city. They clicked and have been quite inseparable ever since, even now when Jin's feelings for her have grown more than platonic.

Dongmin perks up and she's a bit surprised to see him look surprised too.

Maybe it's a little too dim in the car, but she thinks she sees him simper; she kills the silly thought as soon as it comes up though.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I just assumed. I've seen him a couple of times outside the building and Se-young tells me he drops by for you most nights after work," he apologizes, to which she shrugs it off by telling him it's a common misconception.

She pauses, though, and tries to downplay the unquestionable warmth creeping up her skin and no doubt is tinting her cheeks a rosy color.

She hopes to God the night is covering her face well enough since it was always incredibly easy to spot her blushing through her pale complexion.

Even if it's not something worth dwelling over - Dongmin asked Se-young about her? Song-hee makes sure to bring that matter up with her friend tomorrow.

"Maybe he likes you?" He suddenly deadpans, interrupting her train of thought. "If he acts this way and makes these efforts, I mean."

Ha.

"Well, he's just a friend to me," is all she says, bashful and not really wanting to discuss it any further than that - especially with him.

Dongmin chuckles, thankfully seeming to understand.

As if on cue, her ringtone blares throughout the car and, quietly, she draws a breath of relief.

Since there is no need to ponder over who it might be that's calling, she doesn't bother checking the caller ID. Instead, she just gives Dongmin a look to let him know she's going to answer it.

He nods vigorously, as if to say 'Go ahead.'

"Oppa," she greets into the phone, flipping her hair out of the way.

"Hey, I'm out front. Where are you?"

True enough, when Song-hee cranes her head forward, she sees him.

His back is to their view as he peers through the windows of the brightly lit shops, probably trying to spot her inside one of them.

She titters at the sight.

Silly.

"Alright. I'm coming out now," she gives her friend a heads-up before ending the call.

Shoving the phone back into her bag, she turns to face Dongmin - Dongmin who is so handsome and already smiling at her.

"That must be him," he guesses without much effort.

She chuckles, nodding her head in confirmation. "Yeah, it is."

Her mood is definitely saved; she's so glad she didn't make a fool out of herself in front of her boss tonight.

"Dongmin, thank you again for the ride." She bows her head politely, placing both her hands on her lap.

He also straightens up in his seat, returning a small head bow of acknowledgment.

"It's really nothing. I hope you enjoy your night, Song-hee-ya; keep safe and I'll see you tomorrow."

With that, she exits his white KIA SUV, waving even though the dark tint of his car renders her unable to see him. She takes the brief low flash of his headlights as a sign of him bidding goodbye too.

"Song-hee-ya,"

Jin's familiar voice resonates behind her and she quickly whips around to look at him.

Despite the thick, grey scarf wrapped around his neck and the padded, navy blue winter coat clouding his work clothes, his cheeks, his nose, and the tips of his ears are crimson, no doubt from the almost blistering cold she is now beginning to feel.

She curses at herself, guilt nipping immediately at her conscience from seeing him this way - more so when she sees the sullen look on his face.

"Oppa, I'm so sor-"

"Who was that?"

[A/N: A bit of a filler chapter, I apologize, but it's necessary! + who doesn't love a little Eunwoo action? Next chapters are going to make up for it though hehe so stay tuned! Please continue to vote, comment, and add this story to your libraries if you want more!]