Amidst the happy cheers and hoots, Mi Jeong's voice broke through, making everyone look at her in silence.

Mi Jeong : I am gonna miss out. 'Have got dinner plans with my sister.

Having no movements from anyone further, the team leader teased it finally.

Director Nam : All right. I hope, everyone else is down.

With no more withdrawals, all the figures started to have their mini runs, preparing to leave.

But, amongst the bustle, the director noticed his Assistant manager, Mr.Ko, not too enthused.

Director Nam : Manager Ko. You are coming too, right?

He hesitantly glanced at Dan Hwa, who was busy with her own stuff, and looked at the director's call.

Mr.Ko : I don't think, I shoul-

Director Nam : Oh-kay! You're coming.

More like a statement, the team leader gave his verdict on him and was casually leaving. He did not spare Mr.Ko a chance to argue back or drop his words.

In a local Korean restaurant, the whole team settled around two large and separate tables. Meat sizzles, Soju clicks and faint noddle slurps, filled the warm and busy atmosphere. Everyone ordered their free meals to their heart's content, as they lounged around comfortably.

The team leader instead of taking heed towards his bank account being wrecked down, was rather observant of his assistant manager. He had been the kind of leader, who is always very concerned about his team members and cared for each one with an equal heart.

In a short leap of time, there could be seen wide and happy smiles, glittering on the faces of almost everyone—relishing every bit of the dinner treat.

And through the very dine, having his manager seated next to him, director Nam attempted to loosen the boy up. He had noticed him being low-spirited since the day Dan Hwa was suspended.

Director Nam : Hey, Designer Baek has also re-joined the team now. Chin up already. Stuff happens. Let it go. It's all right, I am no longer upset with you.

Other members on the same table quietly heard him and tried to add a boost. As they said, that they have forgiven him long back about the extra work everyone had to do because of Mr.Ko.

Director Nam : See! How about you, Designer Baek? How do you feel about it? Didn't you forgive him, too?

Dan Hwa, settled by the last seat on the same table, was disinterested in the conversation. Only at the director's call, did she look at their direction. And just like the supervisor had asked, she expressed her true feelings.

Dan Hwa : No. I haven't done it yet.

Mr.Lee, seated just across her, immediately poked in to cover for her harsh attitude.

Mr.Lee : Yea, don't be like that. He is a junior, let him slide. He is already feeling sorry and haven't lifted his head up ever since the incident. Come on!

Lee Jun caped his little intervention with an awkward laugh. But it was immediately fused by Dan Hwa's bluntness.

Dan Hwa : I mean, so what if he is a junior? That doesn't entitle him to make such grave mistakes. Moreover, I paid the price for his fault. When you forgive someone, shouldn't it come straight from your heart? I just don't feel like forgiving him yet.

Director Nam : (-forces a laugh-) Woah, the Soju might've been too bitter for our designer Baek tonight.

Dan Hwa : I don't drink though.

Mr.Lee : Aayo!! (-forces a laugh again-) You must need some fresh air, that's why you are so grumpy. Come, let's go out for a while, shall we?

Director Nam and Designer Lee had an eye-communication, for the former to handle his assistant and the latter to talk out his friend.

Dan Hwa tried to resist, but Mr.Lee friendly dragged her out from the gather. And as soon as they were gone, the director spoke up again, trying to aid her stings.

Director Nam : Don't worry about it. Everyone knows how she is with words.

A few members also joined in and counted him the times, when they had to face her callous behavior too.

Director Nam : Besides, she has always been very dedicated to her work. And last week's movie-project that slipped from her hand—because of the suspension—made her a little irritable. So, she is just exceeding her aggression today. Don't mind it.

Mr.Ko quietly nodded, letting his console penetrate down the heavy layers of his guilt, as the leader continued.

Director Nam : And trust me, no one is in her good books. In fact, I doubt she even has one.

While a few giggled, agreeing to his words, the intern, Ms.Ryu, who had a positive account with Dan Hwa during the BTS concert, tried to defend her.

Ms.Ryu : But, Baek Designer-nim is a good human being. Just because she is a little straightforward, doesn't make her bad.

"Oi, Intern!" A female member came at her. "Just because you had a good experience with her, doesn't mean you know her. You are just a newbie afterall."

Director Nam : Ms.Gil!

Before the scene escalated, the leader caught the lever right away. He put out a small reminder of the ethics, he endorsed in his team. 

Director Nam : A respectful attitude is much appreciated. One is your senior, and the other, despite being a junior to you—should be equally respected. I do not tolerate any superiority or mouthful behavior in my team.

Making the ambience tight around the table, all the teammates frowned lightly. They passed on occasional glares at the junior costume designer, Ms.Gil, for ruining the mood with her comment.

Ms.Gil : I apologize, Team Jang-nim.

She looked down, wishing the ambience to get better quickly. The leader then smiled to the intern as he showed his resonance with her views.

Director Nam : You're right, Ms.Ryu. Being straightforward doesn't make her a bad person at all.

Intern Ryu smiled back to him. She found another reason that night, to be his admirer. How he defended the rough treatment immediately. And knew to acknowledge and value everyone's opinion, no matter the rank in the team. It inspired her.

Director Nam : (-speaking generally-) Designer Baek doesn't hate people. She only dislikes the ones who aren't responsible enough and somehow make her suffer. (-to Mr.Ko-) And you still have many things to learn. So, don't beat yourself too much for this. You follow?

Mr.Ko : Yes, Team Jang-nim.

The director didn't speak more, letting the crestfallen and down-hearted manager to ease around and absorb his words well.

Meanwhile, outside the restaurant, Mr.Lee was trying to make a point. That, she could have been a little more compassionate as a senior at the least.

Dan Hwa : Why should I lie? I just said, what I felt.

Mr.Lee : (-sighs-) Yea, yea. There's no point in trying to change your mind.

Dan Hwa : I'll take off.

Mr.Lee : (-stops her-) Wait. You have your things inside.

Mr.Lee noticed her absent-mindedness. She turned back to go inside the pub, but he felt the urge to butt in.

Mr.Lee : You stay here. I will get them for you.

Without the slightest hesitance, Dan Hwa turned again to the road as she presented him a waiting look.

Mr.Lee, inside the pub, let the director know about their plan and left the gather with both of their belongings.

Her sling bag, too hassling to carry with all the stuff, Mr.Lee wound it over his shoulder like a woman would wear. But, on the way out, upon some people giving him weird looks, he attempted to clarify himself.

Mr.Lee : Oh, no no. This is not mine, people. I have a friend outside. It's hers..

Watching no change in their judgmental eyes, his words trailed off and he decided to take his leave; unbothered.

Mr.Lee : Here.

He helped her get in her trench coat and handed her the sling bag after. Very casually, moments later, she was leaving again. But, Mr.Lee thwarted her one more time by her coat arm.

Mr.Lee : I will drop you. I saw, you didn't bring your car.

Dan Hwa : Oh, yeah. I just didn't feel like driving today.

Mr.Lee : So, let's go in mine?

She blankly stared at him without words. And was it the time they had worked together, Mr.Lee exactly knew what the look was about.

Mr.Lee : I promise, I wouldn't talk about Manager Ko.

Dan Hwa : Where did you park your car?

As if she readily agreed with his offer at his assurance, Mr.Lee slightly grinned to himself as they left to the parking-lot together.

Through the ride, Dan Hwa was focused on the night-sight out of the window. While crossing over the Han River, her view was thrown at the tranquil film of water, shimmering with city lights.

Mr.Lee, by now, was getting a hunch that something was wrong with her. Something out of ordinary, that he had observed today in her inattentive and pensive mood.

Mr.Lee : What did you do all this week? Did you go out? Wow, it must've been refreshing to-

Dan Hwa : I did nothing.

Mr.Lee : You did nothing? Did you just stay at home for the whole week?

Dan Hwa : Yeah. The whole week. In my apartment.

Mr.Lee took a moment before speaking again. Dan Hwa now, as they commuted past the river length, leaned back to her seat leisurely, looking ahead.

Mr.Lee : Dan Hwa, everything is fine, right?

Dan Hwa : (-monotone-) Yes.

Mr.Lee : Really, did something happen(?)

Dan Hwa : No~ (-raises her head from the rest-) But, there is something that has been bugging me.

Mr.Lee : (-attentive-) Uh. Tell me.

Dan Hwa : Mi Jeong came by yesterday.

She was lost in the back of her mind and didn't realize leaving Lee Jun, half contexted.

Mr.Lee : That's it?

He tried to stir her up, making her look at him and continue, but in a complete different tone.

Dan Hwa : Hey, did Mi Jeong and Team Jang-nim have any special relationship, or some secret alliance or something?

Mr.Lee : Dan Mi Jeong and Nam Team Jang-nim? (-after giving it a thought-) The more I think, the more it seems ordinary. I don't feel like they have something going on other than the work stuff.

Dan Hwa : Right? I have viewed it that way, too.

Mr.Lee : But, why do you ask?

Dan Hwa : She said something strange. That, Team Jang-nim will soon leave the company.

Mr.Lee : What?! How'd she know that? And why would she know that, even if it was true?

Dan Hwa : Nothing fits no matter how much I try to find clues.

Mr.Lee : Hey, by any chance, is Mi Jeong the faceless girlfriend he has for a decade? I mean, he never tells us much about her. We pretty much have nothing to compare.

Dan Hwa : (-after a brief silence-) Still, even if she was the mystery girlfriend... Why would Team Jang-nim leave the company out of nowhere?

Mr.Lee observed the little crease that formed in her forehead, trying to piece the puzzle together. He then attempted to lighten the mood with an empty reassurance.

Mr.Lee : Ay, she might have had other meaning to her words. If he were to leave, he would've told us about it. Or atleast hinted us on it.

Dan Hwa : Didn't he mention anything to you in Jeju?

Mr.Lee : Yeah. He didn't. Nothing at all. So, don't worry.

Dan Hwa : Right, he would've told us about it.

The ride was silent for a few moments, until Mr.Lee was urged to try one last time.

Mr.Lee : Apart from this, are you really alright?

Dan Hwa whipped her gaze at him with an annoyance in her loud speech.

Dan Hwa : Yah! Cut it out. I am fine! Nothing is wrong.

Mr.Lee was a little taken aback at her sudden spike in tone. He then, copying her frequency, replied back.

Mr.Lee : All right! I understood! Why pissed?! I was just worried for you.

Dan Hwa : Then, don't worry about me. I am really fine. In fact, just drop me to the nearest subway. I will manage.

Mr.Lee : Hey-ay! I will not talk, my mouth's zipped. But, don't make me look like a jerk to leave you at a subway when we are so close to your apartment.

Dan Hwa : Then, just drive. Quietly.

With the squeezed up mood in the car, Mr.Lee pursed his lips together. Too scared to meddle with the upset Dan Hwa.

.

.

Few days later during the lunch break, the female designer was seated around the cafeteria of the company. And as she waited through for Mi Jeong to return with her lunch, Dan Hwa received a call. Seeing a familar name, she answered it casually.

Dan Hwa : (-over the call-) Yea, Chan Heo Oppa. Why are you calling me so often these days?

Chan Heo : Because you aren't.

Dan Hwa : You're unbelievable. So, what is today's ring about?

Having a complete hush from the line, Dan Hwa glanced at the screen if the call ended. But seeing it still ongoing, she pressed it back to her ear.

Dan Hwa : Oppa? Are you there?

Chan Heo : Oh...

Dan Hwa sensed him a little strange, very unlikely of the Chan Heo she had known. The cheerful male from literally seconds ago suddenly sounded dejected and lost.

Dan Hwa : Are you stressed about something lately? You sound a little off. And where are you right now?

Chan Heo : Huh? Oh, yeah at the gym. I've recently signed a new drama with GM productions. And it requires certain traits. So, working out on that.

Dan Hwa : A GM drama? We've also signed a contract with them. Well, I made them hire us, more specifically. Anyways, what is your's about? What's the name?

Dan Hwa & Chan Heo : (-in sync-) "Imposter Syndrome".

Dan Hwa : Wow, I didn't know you were casted as the Male lead.

Chan Heo : Neither did I, that you got the sets. Woah, how long has it been since we worked on the same project!

Dan Hwa : I know, right? It's for the good, 'would get to see you often. Been ages since that happened.

Chan Heo : Right.

Dan Hwa experienced a relief, to hear him regain his bright mood and consequently dropped her's to neutral.
Living under the same roof ever since birth, they shared a very special and superlative bond. Even though, parted by a few years, they were no less than best friends.

Things started to slip from Chan Heo's hands however, after he moved out. Wanting to be a singer, that eventually shifted to debuting as an actor in the end. He was passionate about music, his seniors and agency officials, realizing his strong grip on acting, convinced him otherwise.

And they were right, Chan Heo, within a short span of time, proved his sharp skills and credibility. He had smoothly paved his way to a pretty decent position in the industry. Which, inturn, costed him to lose the close touch with his family that he took very dear. And his little cousin, he would consider the best gift that his Uncle and Aunt has ever blessed him with.

Now in a much stabler graph of his career, the actor was deliberately putting in efforts— to revitalize his relationships with them. Hence, his conscious interest and approach to Dan Hwa, and other family members.

Chan Heo : Oh, and the first script-reading is like in two weeks. Are you coming, too?

Dan Hwa : Probably. We need to visualize the scene for the set. I am pretty sure, the first sequence starts from a backstage scene(?)

Chan Heo : Yes, I remember reviewing that last night.

Dan Hwa : Therefore, we would require to listen to you all. You know, set the mood for us, so we can create something more fitting to the sentiments of it.

Chan Heo : That's great then. How about we have dinner that night together? I will reserve the place.

Mi Jeong, around that minute while they were on the call, joined the table. And, Dan Hwa grew a little cautious of her words henceforth.

Dan Hwa : Oh, a-all right. Dinner sounds fine.

Chan Heo : See ya then, BaekDan!

Dan Hwa rested her phone soon after the line cut off. But, quirky Mi Jeong read the caller ID the second that the call ended.

Mi Jeong : "Chan Oppa"? Dinner plans? (-smirks-) Who is he? A secret boyfr-

Dan Hwa : Cousin. He is my cousin.

Mi Jeong : (-disappointed-) Right. Who was I kidding anyway?

Dan Hwa : What do you mean?

Mi Jeong : (-halts eating-) Well, considering the ruthless mouth you have, it's weird to even think that you would have a boyfriend.

Dan Hwa : What? Why can't I? I can be sweet.

Mi Jeong : Right. So, do you?

Dan Hwa : No. But that doesn't mean I am  incapable of having one. I just chose to be single right now. Who says I can't?

Mi Jeong : Well, Team Jang-nim doesn't interest himself in such gossips, so... Yup. Everyone in the office, except him.

Before Dan Hwa asked further questions, Mi Jeong cleared all her curiosity at once.

Mi Jeong : To save you time, yes, Designer Lee also agrees. Everyone does. Literally.

Dan Hwa sighed unamused, learning about the impression people have of her. At the mention of it, the one art-major guy in university crossed her mind.

She has had a solid affinity towards the artist, but being a little anxious around unaccquainted people, Dan Hwa couldn't walk upto him. Even so, during the final year, the guy took a bold step, making a like-confession. And, they started dating.

As much as she was blissed to live the moment she had always imagined to have, things weren't as beautiful as she fantasized about them. With her instability in various aspects and constantly fearing of an undesirable exposure of her identity, Dan Hwa decided to drop out of the relationship that was going nowhere with her restricted investment.

Just how it feels that certain things will work out in our head, but it simply doesn't fit well in reality. So did it happen to her. And since then on, Dan Hwa have always chosen her solitude and freedom over any kind of restrained bonds or relationships.

And has been no less than her usual self, unbothered and carefree. Dan Hwa continued to work as good as she was, before finding about her image in her work place.

Days pass by with her insomnia, developing more serious but still overlooked, as she fed herself unprescribed sleeping pills to suppress it.

Two weeks later, with the drama chaos growing louder, Dan Hwa and Chan Heo attended the first script-reading. While, maintaining their foreign mask for each other around others.

It was a project Dan Hwa received after quite a big hassle in the golf court, when designer Lee and the team leader had gone to Jeju. She was not going to miss a single chance to give her finest to this drama.

Once again though, director Nam and the whole team this time, flew out to the island for the musical—due in a few days. Dan Hwa, as the main designer for the drama sets, and having a few interns and juniors tagging along with her—paid extra heed and attention to the reading.

After a long day, as they finally got off work, Dan Hwa noticed it already close the hour of the dinner reservation.
Thus, she got in her car to head straight to the place. Only for an intruder to suddenly get in next to the driver's seat.

"Go, go, go!" Rapped the male, covering himself from the people outside. Soon identifying the supposed intruder as her perky cousin, Dan Hwa roared off without a hesitation.

Later found out, the actor was escaping from his manager and simply wanted to head to the same destination with his sister. Thereby, having more time to spend with her.

Dan Hwa did not have the slightest idea of what she was walking herself into. Thereafter, the moment they entered the reserved place, the designer's ease immediately dropped. To see a face, already waiting for them there. The one, that she has been so diligently running away from, while fighting against her sheer desperation to meet him just once at the same time.

Dan Hwa : Appa...

Mr.Baek : (-smiles-) Long time, Dan-ah. I am so pleased to see you here today.

Dan Hwa, looking down, impeded the knot of tears from breaking out through her eyes then. Within a moment, she fired her gaze up at Chan Heo with visible twinkles of betrayal.

Dan Hwa : I shouldn't have trusted you in the first place.

Dan Hwa wasted not a second more, to scoot off the place in pure vex and deafened herself to all the calls that followed.

Chan Heo : BAEK DAN HWA!

_______

Will he be able to stop her from leaving? :(

A/N : Elucidation of the chapter title; Baekdan in Korean translates to Sandalwood, which is her actual name. Where, Hwa is only a filler. So you can gist it like
Baek Dan Hwa : Sandalwood
And this chapter was all about her, hence the title.
Note : I realise that 'Hwa' means 'anger' in Korean. But, in her name it is simply used as a filler, not to have any meaning.

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