No Soyu. No Infinite.

My life in the office has been so peaceful and safe. Atleast I don't have to hide or be on guard all the time. I don't have to watch what I'm doing and no one is scolding me for everything.

"Good morning!" I greeted everyone in the office. I really feel good today. Everything seems so fine. My officemates seems to be in a good mood as well as they greet me back.

"Good morning too!" Minji greeted. She seats next to my cubicle. She's older by just one year so she said I should drop the formalities and just call her by her name. And that way we became closer like same aged friends.

Then, I noticed a new face in the office.

"Who's that?" I asked Minji while putting my bag in my table.

"He's the new manager of Infinite. He's so hot!" Minji squeaked.

I looked at him again. I must admit, he does seems hot! I mean he looks like a halyu actor!

"Are you sure? He seems young," I commented.

"Oh come on. Isn't that better?" she giggled. "Should I introduce myself?" She looked in her mirror and started making face.

"Eonni!" I exclaimed.

"Yah! I told you to stop calling me eonni!" she put on another layer of lipstick. Her lips looked really read and puffy by now but I didn't dare comment. I'm afraid I might hurt or insult her.

"Fine. Fine." I answered.

"Okay lets go." She stood in her seat and pull me with her.

"Wait- where?"

We head to the direction of the new manager and I just followed along in disbelief. I'm really not that type who approaches people first! And Minji is just...

"Hi!" Minji greeted the new manager. He was actually leaving that time but since we talked to him, he stop and faced us. I could tell he is gentleman.

"Hi!" he greeted back. He is really handsome and he does seem hot. And to add, he is so tall.

"Welcome to the company! By the way I'm Baek Minji," she extended her arms to him which he accepted.

"and this is," she looked at me.

"Lee Sujeong-imnida." I said and bowed.

"I'm Lee Jeong Wook-imnida," He also bowed. "Please take care of me," he added.

"Of course I will take care of you," Minji eonni laughed.

"So..." Minji already started conversing with him. I just smiled while laughing in my head. Minji is really fast! I slowly exit myself out of the conversation and went out of the office for a walk.

I'm really a passive person. I only open myself to people I'm close to. And also the reason why I have few friends because I don't usually take the initiative to talk to other person.

I sighed. Sometimes I wish I'm as open as Minji. I would have made more friends in my past and I wouldn't have made wrong decisions and mistakes. I would have learned trusting the right people too.

"Babysoul!"

I was pulled from my deep thinking then I looked at my back and saw Hoya approaching.

What? They're here?

I gave a quick bow and immediately walked faster.

"Wait up! Are you busy?" he asked.

"A... a...yeah!" I just answered as I continued walking.

"Oh! Is that so?" he pouted. "It's just that I have a request..." he said while catching up.

"I'm so sorry. Maybe next time. Goodbye," I said and immediately went to the office. I exhaled as I sat in my seat. I can feel my conscience eating me up. Hoya has been so kind to me and rejecting him blindly is so unkind of me. But I really don't want to gamble my job specially now! I need... money.

During the break, I asked Hye Jin eonni why Infinite is present in the company. I've been so curious cause' they're not leaving and I'm stuck in the office I can't walk around and can't do my job outside!

"Today is the first filming of their variety show," she answered.

"Oh! How could I forget that? So that explains why the new manager was here a while back."

"Sujeong, I know you are avoiding Infinite. Don't worry, Miss Soyu is not here today," she assured. Which reminds me, Miss Soyu haven't reported in the office ever since my hospitalization happened!

"Ahm, do you know why she's not around?" I asked.

"I don't know either. I'll try to ask later. For now, don't worry about everything and just feel free here in the office okay?"

I gave her a nod. "Thanks eonni." She gave me a pat in the back then she went back to work.

I really wonder why she's not coming around. Perhaps her conscience is eating her up so she doesn't want to show up her face? But nah. I don't think so. I doubt if she have even the slightest conscience.

Or maybe, she's somewhere getting punished for what she did. Well, I hope so.

But she could also be somewhere drinking coffee, taking selfies and having a really nice vacation cause' of her success in bullying me!

And what if Miss Soyu has a spy in the office? Then I'll be doomed.

I knocked my head. I'm thinking too much and I'm being paranoid.

I gave myself a huge sigh. I went out of the office again. Yeah. I shouldn't limit myself just because I'm afraid of Miss Soyu! Besides she is not around and I have to do my job.

I have to go arrange the fan gifts. That job has always been assigned to me.

"Soul noona! Annyeong!" Sungjong suddenly greeted while walking on the hallway.

"Oh! Sungjong! Hi!" I gave a smile.

"I was on my way to see you!"

"Really? Why? Do you need something?"

"Well, it's just a little favor," he answered. I remembered Hoya asking for a favor this morning.

"I thought you're filming today?" I asked. Is he going to ask me to cameo in their variety show?

"Yeah! But that'll be later. Would come with me for a while?" he asked but he suddenly pulled my hand I haven't even answered yet.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Here." He opened the door of the practice room and Woohyun, Dongwoo, and L were there.

"Babysoul!" Dongwoo approached me for a high five. I accepted that and bowed.

I bowed again. Woohyun greeted me also. Sungjong and L were talking about something. And then I went to the door in my efforts of living the place. Cause what if Sungkyu suddenly comes in?

"Where are you going?" L suddenly asked.

"T-to the o-office?"

"Not yet. We have something to do," he said. L suddenly pushed me in the back like motioning me to the edge of the practice room. Later, he opened a box. And there he took a cake.

A cake?

"Hold this," he commanded.

"Why-?

"-shhh. Just do what I'm telling you." L ordered. If only he didn't help me with my job, I would have yelled at him for ordering me like this.

Cause' why is he ordering me without explaining what's going on? Why do they love putting me in this kind of situation?

"-but," I tried to start an argument but he looked so serious with his famous cold stare. I got quite frightened that I just chose to stay quiet and just follow what he says.

He mustered me at the center of the practice room, Sungjong came near me, "Noona, kamsahamnida," he said and suddenly he lit the candles in the cake.

I just looked at them both as I was getting really confused.

Suddenly, Woohyun and Dongwoo were out of sight. Even Sungjong.

"Where are you going?" I asked L who's now opening the door and on his way out of the practice room.

"Just stand there. Don't move. Don't say anything. Just wait." He turned off the light so it became dark. Only the light from the candles in the cake are piercing through the darkness. And just that. Poof! He's gone. What the heck are they trying to do?

Are they trying to do a surprise party?

What does this have to do with me?

I looked at the cake.

It says, 'Happy birthday, Sungkyu hyung'!!

I almost dropped the cake. It's Sungkyu's birthday? I almost knocked my head. How could I forget about this???

But what were they thinking? Why did the members used me for this?

I should immediately leave! I'll just leave this thing here. I can't do this. I'm not- I'll just-

-too late.

The door swung open and there he stood, surprised and confused. I could tell, even if only the candle is our source of light. I could tell by the way her arms fell from his shoulder, by the way he stood.

"What's this?" he asked.

I couldn't answer. I didn't know what to say.

He just stood there looking at me.

Later he took steps, walking towards me in a really slow motion.

I can feel my face burning and my heart pounding. I felt like I was stoned there. I can't move! I can't even think!

He stopped in front of me. I saw his face. The disbelief, the surprise, the confusion and the longing?

And then he extended his right arm right infront my face and then I felt his thumb run across my left cheek.

I closed my eyes. I feel like I'm going to cry.

Because I just remembered, this moment happened exactly before.

"Soul..." he whispered.

I opened my eyes and met his, and there I got lost.