Y/N-

It had been weeks since Jungkook turned down my confession, yet somehow, it still felt fresh. I tried to keep things normal between us, but a small part of me knew that something had changed. The easy laughter, the effortless closeness—it felt slightly out of reach now. And even though I'd done my best to mask my feelings, the lingering awkwardness remained.

Still, I couldn't bring myself to regret confessing to him. I had spent so long wondering, daydreaming, and questioning if he felt the same, that I'd begun to lose myself in the "what ifs." Now, his answer—though painful—had granted me the closure I needed. I'd been holding onto something that wasn't real, and as much as it hurt, I knew deep down that this was for the best.

The next few days, I threw myself into my internship, determined to focus on my goals. I spent long hours at the office, learning, observing, and pushing myself to be better. Work became my anchor, something that kept my mind off everything else, and slowly but surely, I started to feel like myself again.

Tzuyu noticed my shift and offered her silent support. She'd encouraged me to confess in the first place, and I knew she felt a little responsible, even though there was no blame to place. She kept me grounded, always knowing when to check in and when to give me space. Having her by my side was comforting—I could confide in her without the fear of judgment, and she helped me find the strength to let go of the lingering heartache.

One evening, after a particularly busy day, I lingered in the office, flipping through some files to review for the next day. I'd almost lost track of time when I noticed Taehyung walking past my desk. He gave me a brief nod, a look that seemed a bit more attentive than usual.

"Still here?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with a hint of curiosity.

I managed a small smile, nodding. "Just going over tomorrow's work."

He leaned against the nearby desk, crossing his arms thoughtfully. "You've been working late a lot lately."

I blinked, surprised he'd noticed. "Yeah, I guess I just wanted to stay focused on my goals," I replied, my voice faltering slightly.

There was a momentary silence, his gaze softening as he watched me. "That's admirable. But don't forget to take care of yourself, too."

His words settled over me, the unexpected warmth in his tone catching me off guard. I found myself nodding again, mumbling a quiet "thank you" before turning back to my work, unable to shake the feeling of his presence.

In the days that followed, I began noticing more subtle gestures from him. Sometimes it was just a quick check-in, a few words of encouragement, or a brief smile across the room. I wasn't sure if it was intentional or if I was simply more aware of him now, but I couldn't deny the strange comfort I felt knowing he was around. His quiet presence brought a sense of steadiness, something I hadn't realized I needed.

As I reflected on my experience with Jungkook, I began to wonder if maybe, just maybe, everything really did happen for a reason. The feelings I'd once held onto so tightly were beginning to loosen their grip on me, and I could finally see that it wasn't the end of my world. I'd faced my fears, and even though it hadn't gone as I'd hoped, it had freed me to explore new possibilities.

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The weeks that followed were a whirlwind. I threw myself into my work, determined to prove myself during my internship at KTH Enterprise. The tasks became more challenging, the hours grew longer, and my responsibilities increased, but I welcomed every bit of it. I was growing, learning, and becoming more confident in my abilities. Even the lingering memories of my past with Jungkook seemed to fade into the background as my focus shifted entirely to my career.

When my internship finally came to an end, I wasn't sure what to expect. The thought of leaving KTH Enterprise brought a bittersweet feeling; I'd become comfortable here and had made it through some of my toughest days in these hallways. And then, just when I was wondering what my next step would be, Taehyung called me to his office.

As I stood in front of his desk, he looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite read, though there was a subtle warmth in his eyes that put me at ease.

"Y/n," he began, setting his pen down and giving me his full attention, "you've done an outstanding job during your time here. I've seen how dedicated you are, and you've proven yourself capable time and again."

A blush crept up my cheeks, and I quickly nodded, trying to keep my composure. "Thank you, Mr. Kim. I really appreciate the opportunity you gave me."

He smiled faintly, his gaze thoughtful. "Actually, I wanted to offer you a position here, something more permanent. How would you feel about becoming my personal assistant?"

My eyes widened slightly. His personal assistant? The thought of working so closely with him was both exciting and daunting. It was a big step, and the responsibility would be significant. Yet, I couldn't deny that a part of me was thrilled at the prospect of staying on.

"I... I would be honored," I managed to say, my voice soft but steady. "Thank you, Mr. Kim. I accept."

A flicker of satisfaction crossed his face. "Good. I believe you're the right person for the job, Y/n. You'll officially start in the new position next week."

I nodded, a wave of excitement washing over me. It was happening—I was really starting my career here, and I felt ready to take on the challenge.

As I left his office, I allowed myself a moment to take it all in. I couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for everything that had led me here, even the challenges. This position was a new beginning, a way to focus on my future and build something meaningful.

And while I knew working alongside Taehyung would be intense and demanding, I couldn't ignore the strange sense of comfort that his presence had come to provide. Over the past months, his steady encouragement and rare but genuine words of kindness had unknowingly become a quiet source of strength.

Maybe life was about to become more complicated, but for the first time in a long time, I felt ready to face it. With a deep breath and a renewed sense of purpose, I looked forward to where this path would lead.

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