Seonghwa sat in his office, his legs crossed, leaning back in his large executive chair.

He held Hongjoong's file in his hand.

"The new hire poses a high risk. He should be monitored closely throughout his first month," he read aloud to himself.

He turned the page.

"Kim Hongjoong spent three years working for megamillion dollar company JYP and sources tell us that he was a high-ranking employee."

What could he have done to get fired? Clearly it would take more than being a chatterbox to lose such an important position.

As he leafed through the file, every page seemed to contradict the real Hongjoong. It was as if someone was making up an evil persona of him.

As much as Seonghwa trusted his father and the business, it felt wrong. His heart told him it couldn't possibly be the same person.

His head hurt trying to blend the two Hongjoongs together.

It just didn't make sense no matter which way he put it. But he couldn't deny that Hongjoong had the skills to make it big at JYP. It was clear he must have been someone important.

So why else would he come here?

Just then his phone pinged and he jumped. No one ever texted him. Every person he communicated with was over email or phone. Not text.

He set the file down and picked up his cellphone to see a message from an unknown number.

unknown

is this lim hwaseong?

He wasn't sure how to respond. Someone from work had his number?? His actual cellphone number??

He set it back down slowly while dialing his father's number on his office phone.

It rang three times before he picked up.

"Seonghwa? What's wrong?"

"Sorry to bother you, I know you're busy. It's just—I got a text message. From someone at work."

"Ah, yes. I forgot to tell you. I figured you would continue to use your mobile phone at work so I gave them your number when I sent over your resume and placement."

"Oh. Alright. I guess I'll respond to them then," said Seonghwa, still a bit uncertain how to use text.

"You should. I was hoping you could make a few friends. I haven't really given you an opportunity to do so and—well, I figured you deserved it."

Seonghwa smiled brightly. He even felt his eyes watering a bit. His father hadn't really talked so freely with him before. Nor had he done anything like this before.

"Thank you, I will."

"Alright. Have a good night, Seonghwa."

"Bye," Seonghwa smiled and hung up the phone. He turned back to the cellphone and started to type back.

unknown

this is he
who am I speaking with?

lmao you're even formal over text

Seonghwa cringed. He assumed he could just answer as he would a phone call. Though he didn't know anything about text lingo, he figured out pretty quickly what 'lmao' meant. He felt another ding and looked back down.

unknown

this is hongjoong 🤗

Seonghwa felt his breath catch. Hongjoong. The potential spy. Had his actual phone number. It didn't feel right to him. But his father seemed to think there wasn't any harm in it.

unknown

sorry this probably seems creepy
i wanted to make sure i knew everyone
so i asked mingi for all of the staffs
numbers and i'm making a groupchat

a group chat?

yeah with everyone

i didn't know you could do that

you didn't know you could make
group chats???
are you a grandpa???

i guess i've just never been added
to one before

oh
shit sorry
now i sound like an ass

you're okay 😁

i'm trying really hard not to
roast you for using that emoji

what's wrong with that emoji? ☹️

oh god please stop

😢😢😢

you're testing my limits

😉

oh my god i can't anymore
that is not used in that way
that is a flirty wink

what?????? how

are you serious
look at it

it's just winking

you are my new least favorite
person to text

😨

i regret messaging you

i'm sure you've got plenty of other
messages to respond back to so
i'll let you go

oh my god what did i say
you don't have to text like a phone call
there is no 'letting me go'
i can respond to other messages
and come right back
also you're the only person i messaged

i'm both offended and honored at
the same time

you're welcome ig

so why me?

idk
i figured you'd respond

now i'm less honored

and i guessssssss
you're fun to talk to

🤗🤗🤗

i'm going to sleep

no wait i'm sorry!
i'll stop using emojis...

okay fine
i was actually going to ask if you
wanted to hang out?
maybe grab something to drink?

Seonghwa felt his heartbeat increase. Hang out? He hadn't ever hung out with anyone. The closest he'd ever come was drinking with Jongho after hours in his office, which hardly counted as he was the only one drinking.

He felt nervous. He wasn't sure he was ready to spend time with anyone one-on-one just yet. He went to text him back and realized Hongjoong was still listed as an unknown number. He figured there must be some way to change it but he didn't know how.

At least he'd never get it mixed up with anyone else. Hongjoong was the only person who'd ever texted him.

unknown

that sounds like fun!
why don't you invite some friends
and i'll invite some too?

yeah sure
i guess i could ask san and wooyoung?

sounds good!
where are we meeting?

how about raise a glass?
(yes i reused the bar from another book i'm lazy)

works for me!
meet there in twenty?

yup!

Seonghwa smiled to himself and closed out of his messages, switching to his contacts. The only person on staff that he knew was Jongho. He thought about texting Jongho but decided it would be weird and just called him. He answered almost immediately.

"What's wrong? Where are you?"

"Calm down, I'm fine. Can't I just call my friend from time to time?"

"I am your bodyguard first."

"Well tonight I need you to be my friend first. The new hire just texted me and invited us out to drink so I wanted my trusted right-hand man to keep an eye on everyone."

"Drinking? I don't really drink."

"Well then as your superior and employer, you are required to accompany me."

"Hyungggg," Jongho whined and Seonghwa smiled at the sudden change. Jongho loved to pretend he was a big tough guy but he was much younger than him and had a big heart.

"Please? I'll even pay you overtime."

"Okay. Where are we meeting?"

Seonghwa rolled his eyes and told him the bar before hanging up and getting dressed to go.