A year later:

Taeyeon's Pov:

Taeyeon sat in her office at the K-Toon factory, her fingers tapping rhythmically on her keyboard as she reviewed the latest script for the webcomic project she was overseeing. The past year had flown by in a blur of work, deadlines, and personal growth. The incident of that night in Tokyo had faded into the background, becoming just another hazy memory she tried not to think about too often.

"Oh, preparing the script, huh?" said a familiar voice from her cabin doorway.

 Startled, Taeyeon looked up to see a familiar face leaning against the doorframe. "Oh, DoYoon-shii," she said. 

Do-Yoon, one of her colleagues from the editorial team, was always dropping by unexpectedly. He was known for his easy charm and keen eye for detail when it came to webcomic storylines.

She had kept some distance from him after that night in Tokyo. He was the one who handed her that drink at the party—the drink that made her feel so off. That memory still left a knot of unease in her stomach. Not to mention, DoYoon had been unusually persistent afterward, calling her repeatedly until he finally saw her at the team stay the next day. It was too much and too invasive.

Now, seeing him here in her office brought all those uncomfortable feelings rushing back.

"How's everything going?" DoYoon asked, stepping further into the room, his tone casual as if nothing were wrong.

Taeyeon forced a smile, subtly shifting in her chair to create a little more distance between them. "Busy," she replied, keeping her response short. "I'm just finalizing the script for the project."

"That's great to hear," DoYoon said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Taeyeon nodded, her mind already elsewhere, trying to maintain her focus on work rather than the discomfort creeping up on her. She could feel the tension building inside her, her leg tapping nervously under the table as she silently prayed for DoYoon to leave her alone.

Please, just go, she thought, forcing a strained smile as DoYoon lingered for a moment longer than she would have liked.

Just as she was beginning to feel trapped in the conversation, a familiar buzz from her phone caught her attention. She glanced down at the screen, and relief washed over her as she saw the name: Kim Namjoon.

"Excuse me, DoYoon-shii," she said quickly, holding up her phone. "The boss is messaging me. I need to take this."

DoYoon's expression shifted slightly, but he nodded. "Of course. I'll leave you to it."

Her shoulders finally slumped down in huge relief as DoYoon left her cabin. A long sigh escaped her lips, and she leaned back in her chair, feeling the tension slowly drain from her body. For a moment, she just sat there, letting the silence of the office wrap around her like a comforting blanket.

Thank you, Sa-Jang-nim, she thought to herself, silently appreciating the timely intervention from her boss, Kim Namjoon. It was as if he had unknowingly thrown her a lifeline, pulling her out of an uncomfortable situation she hadn't been sure how to handle.

Regaining her composure, Taeyeon closed her eyes for a brief second, gathering her thoughts. She took a deep breath, then reached for her phone, opening the message from Namjoon.

Sa-jang-nim: Please come to my cabin.

Her heart skipped a beat, wondering what this could be about. Namjoon was always direct, but the suddenness of the request made her a bit anxious. Shaking off any lingering nerves, she quickly stood up, smoothed her clothes, and headed toward her boss's office.

When she reached his door, Taeyeon hesitated for a brief moment before knocking. Her leg instinctively started tapping—a habit she had whenever she was nervous. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, before finally rapping her knuckles against the wood.

"Come in," came Namjoon's familiar voice from inside.

With one last calming breath, Taeyeon's hand reached the doorknob, twisting it slowly before pushing the door open. The familiar scent of coffee greeted her as she stepped inside. Namjoon was seated at his desk, his eyes already on her, as if he had been expecting her exact arrival.

"Taeyeon, have a seat," he said, gesturing to the chair across from him. His tone was light, but his expression indicated something more serious.

Taeyeon forced a smile and nodded, doing her best to appear composed. She gracefully sat down, placing her hands in her lap, but beneath the table, her feet were tapping vigorously, a telltale sign of the nerves she couldn't quite shake.

Namjoon noticed the tension in her posture, but he didn't comment on it. Instead, he leaned back slightly in his chair, folding his hands together. "I've got some important news about the upcoming project," he began, his gaze steady on her.

She nodded and waited for her boss to elaborate.

"There is good news for you, mainly," Namjoon said, a small smile forming on his lips.

Taeyeon's eyes widened slightly, her tapping feet pausing as she leaned forward, eager to hear more.

Namjoon's smile grew a bit. "We've been working on a high-profile Manhwa project with a special guest artist. Given your outstanding work on the previous projects, we've decided to have you lead this one."

"That's incredible!" Taeyeon exclaimed, her excitement evident. "I'm really so glad to know!"

 "And the special artist is none other than JM," he said with a huge grin.

"You're not joking, right, sa-jang-nim?" She asked, her voice tinged with disbelief, as if she were dreaming. After all her hard work, she was finally getting a major manhwa project and a chance to work with her favorite artist.

Namjoon raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Do you think I would joke about something like this?" he asked, his tone serious but warm.

Taeyeon's eyes widened in amazement, a smile spreading across her face. "I guess not. This is incredible news. Thank you so much for believing in me."

Namjoon said,  "I'm really looking forward to meeting him too."

"Oh, and he must be on his way," Namjoon continued, glancing at his watch. "I wanted to surprise you by calling you when he arrived, but it seems he might be running late."

A small, soundless chuckle escaped Taeyeon's lips. The excitement of finally getting a chance to meet her favorite artist, who was known for keeping his face hidden, was almost overwhelming. She found herself wondering about the man behind the artwork. Would he look like the characters he brought to life? How would his presence compare to the images she had admired for so long?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jimin's Pov

"Damn, I'm already getting late," the blond said to himself, honking the horn of his car, which was stuck in the early traffic. His frustration was palpable; he really hated waiting, whether it was in traffic or even in a relationship.

"Tch, why the hell is there so much traffic?" he muttered, shifting impatiently in his seat.

His gaze fell upon a handwritten note on the passenger seat, taking him back to the night he had spent in Tokyo. 

Jimin,

I'm really so sorry for everything last night. I have no idea how this happened. I know we are total strangers, and this wasn't how things were supposed to go.

Please don't think too badly of me. I needed to leave early, but I'm sure we'll figure things out if we ever cross paths again.

—Taeyeon

 A bitter chuckle escaped from his lips as he read the note. It had been a year since that night, but he still remembered Taeyeon, her name, her cent, her kiss, everything. He wondered how a person can just be obsessed like this. He also wonders if he will ever see her again or if that short moment will keep them apart for good.

With a sigh, he opened the glove box and carefully placed the letter inside. As he closed it, he glanced at his watch again, frustration mounting. The traffic seemed to mock his impatience, and he knew he had to hurry if he wanted to make a good impression at the meeting.

The thought of meeting his new project collaborator after a three-year hiatus, taken to heal from his breakup, weighed heavily on Jimin's mind. He had hoped that the distance and time away from the turmoil would mend his heart, but the unexpected kiss with Taeyeon, even if it had been in a drunken haze, had stirred something within him. It was as though that brief encounter had brought back long-forgotten feelings and revealed to him just how unresolved his past really was.

Finally, the traffic began to clear, and Jimin's car inched forward. He took a deep breath, focusing on the upcoming meeting and the chance to start anew. Whether or not Taeyeon would be a part of his life again, he knew he had to face this next chapter with an open mind and heart.

He parked his car in the designated spot near the K-Toon Factory, taking a moment to steady himself before stepping out. Jimin adjusted his jacket, glanced at his watch, and walked into the building. 

A small, knowing smirk formed on Jimin's lips as he observed the wide-eyed, almost awestruck expression of the women in the reception area when they saw him enter. 

"Excuse me, may I know where the President's office is?" Jimin asked softly, his tone polite but carrying an air of confidence.

The female employee looked up, momentarily taken aback by his presence. After a brief pause, she recovered and directed him. "It's on the 9th floor, the last office on the right. Just take the elevator up, and you can't miss it."

"Thank you," Jimin replied with a warm smile, heading towards the elevator.

Jimin knocked softly on the door before opening it and stepping into the cabin, where he found Namjoon engaged in conversation with someone. As he entered, Jimin's eyes quickly locked onto the familiar figure across the Namjoon.

Namjoon looked up and noticed Jimin's entrance. "Ah, JM! You finally arrived," he said, motioning for Jimin to come further into the room. The woman finally turned to see him.

She abruptly stood from her chair, her eyes widening, while Jimin was still processing whether this was real or not.

"Taeyeon..." Jimin said softly, almost as if testing the reality of the situation.

Taeyeon's breath caught in her throat at how he still remembered her even after one; she could hardly believe that the man standing before her was the same person from that unforgettable night.

"Wait! You both know each other?" Namjoon's voice broke through the tense silence, his eyes shifting between Jimin and Taeyeon in confusion.

Jimin's lips curled upward as he nodded. "Yeah, I do," he said, pausing slightly. He could sense the tension in Taeyeon, noticing how her eyes widened at his admission.

"Of course, who doesn't know the writer of K-Toon's famous manhwa?" He finished with a wry smile.

Taeyeon swallowed hard, trying to maintain her composure despite the flood of emotions.

"Well, that passion was inspired by you, Jimin. Your work has always been a major influence on Taeyeon's creativity." Namjoon spoke proudly about his famous and best employee in his office.

Jimin smirked, his gaze locked on Taeyeon. "Let's see how much she's been inspired by my work from now on," he said with a playful edge.

He tilted his head slightly and added, "What do you say, Taeyeon-shii?"

Taeyeon tried to compose herself, slightly adjusting her tone as she replied, "I'm looking forward to it."

She paused, unsure of how to address him.

"Jimin," he said, a touch of insistence in his voice.

"Huh?" Taeyeon asked, slightly taken aback.

Jimin's gaze was steady and warm as he continued, "It's the name you should be calling me from now on, freely."

Taeyeon nodded, her throat tightening as she swallowed hard. "Understood," she managed, her voice steady despite the fluttering in her chest.

Namjoon clapped his hands together, getting both of their attention. "Alright then, let's get started. We have a lot to cover, and I'm sure it's going to be a fantastic journey with both of you."

Jimin's eyes remained on Taeyeon, his smirk widening slightly as he added, "Surely it will be a fantastic journey."

Taeyeon felt a shiver run down her spine under Jimin's intense gaze, but she managed a composed nod. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Taeyeon Pov:

Taeyeon finally left Namjoon's office and returned to her cabin. She closed the door behind her, leaning against it for a moment as she tried to catch her breath. Her mind was swirling with thoughts, emotions, and memories, all of which threatened to overwhelm her.

She was already dealing with the stress of her work deadlines and the unsettling presence of DoYoon, and now the situation had taken a sharp turn. Her favorite manhwa artist, JM, had turned out to be Jimin—the very same Jimin she had shared a one-night stand with, a night she couldn't even properly remember.

The irony of it all made her head spin. She had admired JM's work for years and had dreamed of collaborating with him, and now that it was happening, it came with the tangled mess of their shared past. A past she hadn't even fully processed.

This is insane, she thought, feeling the weight of everything crashing down on her. How was she supposed to face this? 

What if he remembers more than she does? What if this ruins everything?

As she sat there, lost in thought, a single question echoed in her mind, growing louder and louder until it was impossible to ignore:

How was she supposed to work alongside him, knowing what they had shared?