Days had melded into an exhausting blur for Taeyeon. Each morning began with a frenzied rush to meet deadlines, and each evening ended with her hunching over sketches and scripts, desperately trying to align her work with Jimin's exacting standards. The once-invigorating challenge now felt like a relentless grind, leaving her physically and mentally drained.

The office, once a space of creativity and excitement, had transformed into a battleground where Taeyeon fought daily to prove herself. The pressure to excel was mounting, and though she managed to keep a facade of professionalism, the strain was beginning to show.

Taeyeon finally found a moment of peace as she sank into the familiar bar stool at their usual hangout. The warmth of the low-lit bar and the clink of glasses around her provided a comforting backdrop to her tumultuous thoughts.

"Woah!!! Slow down!" Ki-joo exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief, as she watched Taeyeon down a bottle of soju in one go before setting it back on the table.

"Bastard!" Taeyeon muttered, her frustration spilling out with the alcohol. Her emotions were raw and unfiltered as she glared at the empty bottle. "I'm so done with this whole mess. That blond bastard—he doesn't even have a pinch of concern for his colleagues."

Ki-joo huffed, shaking her head in disapproval as she watched her friend. She slammed her hand on the table, making the drunken Taeyeon jump in her seat with a hiccup.

"I'm going to kill him with my hands," Ki-joo said, her frustration palpable. She snatched the bottle, took a swig, and then stood up decisively.

"Let's go!" she shouted.

Taeyeon looked up, barely able to process what was happening. "Where are we going?" she asked, swaying slightly.

"No, Ki-joo-ah! I don't want my friend to be in jail! Let me handle this myself!" Taeyeon cried drunkenly, drawing the attention of several onlookers as they made a scene.

Ki-joo tried to reason with her, "You really can't handle that right now; it's your favorite artist and—"

"Shut up," Taeyeon cut her off, her voice slurred. "Whoever it is, he's acting like a boss. Let me deal with it myself."

"Wait, Taeyeon-ah, do you know his address?" Ki-joo asked, trying to keep up with her.

"Wait, Taeyeon-ah, do you know his address?" Ki-joo asked, trying to keep up with her.

Taeyeon shook her head, her eyes half-lidded from the alcohol. "But I have his number," she slurred, pulling out her phone with unsteady hands.

Taeyeon fumbled with her phone, her fingers unsteady as she searched through her contacts. "Blond Stronghead," she muttered, clicking on the contact ID.

Jimin Pov:

Jimin was sitting in his apartment, reviewing some notes on his laptop. The evening had been quiet, a stark contrast to the hectic day he'd had at the office. He'd just finished a late dinner and was ready to wind down with a bit of sketching when his phone buzzed on the coffee table.

He picked it up and glanced at the screen. An unfamiliar number flashed, and before he could think twice, the phone began to ring. He sighed, figuring it was probably another telemarketer or a wrong number.

Hello?" he answered, trying to sound disinterested.

"Blond Stronghead!" a slurred voice on the other end exclaimed.

Jimin sat up straight, the strange greeting catching him off guard. "Excuse me?"

"Blond Stronghead!" the voice repeated, with a hiccup.

Jimin's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the voice. It was Taeyeon's. He could tell she was drunk, and her voice was laced with frustration. "Taeyeon? Is that you?"

There was a brief pause, and then Taeyeon's voice came back, muffled. "He recognized my voice, oh my gawd!!!" followed by a drunken giggle.

Jimin sighed, trying to suppress his concern. "Taeyeon-shii, why are you calling me at this hour?"

Taeyeon's voice slurred as she responded, "Didn't I say he doesn't have any concern about his colleagues?"

Jimin could hear the frustration in her tone, even through the drunken haze. "Alright, calm down. Where are you right now?"

"He's asking me where I am?" she said, still giggling.

Jimin's heart raced as he thought about her safety. "Taeyeon, please focus. Tell me exactly where you are."

"Haesung Bar. Come if you dare. I'll show you what a real boss is," she challenged, her voice slurring into a giggle.

He didn't know whether to laugh or be worried. "Fine, then I'll be there. Just stay put," he said, trying to keep his tone calm.

As he hung up the phone, he grabbed his jacket and keys, heading out the door.

Third Pov: 

As the call ended, Taeyeon continued to laugh, her spirits high despite the alcohol. Ki-joo clapped her hands, trying to keep the mood light, while Taeyeon's grin widened, showing her half-boxy smile.

When Taeyeon took a step back, her back bumped into someone. She frowned, her lips forming a pout as she turned to see who it was. Her frown quickly melted into a bright, excited grin.

"OPPAAA!!!!" she shouted, causing the man she bumped into to wince in surprise and pain.

"Be low, idiot," he said, rubbing his ear as he tried to compose himself.

"Oh god, KIM TAEHYUNG!!! YOU ARE BACK!" shouted Ki-joo, her excitement matching Taeyeon's as she stumbled over to him.

"Yah! What the hell is wrong with you two? Why are you guys so drunk?" Taehyung asked, his concern evident as he looked between Taeyeon and Ki-joo.

Kim Taehyung is Taeyeon's older brother and a dear friend of Ki-joo, who always fights like squirrels. He was very busy when Taeyeon traveled to Tokyo. Taeyeon was able to go to Paris because he is a famous photographer.

"Oppa, you're finally back! I missed you so much!" She exclaimed, her voice still slightly slurred.

Taehyung returned the hug, ruffling her hair affectionately. "I missed you too." 

He's actually so angry, but right now, he's just relieved to see her safe. He sighed, trying to mask his frustration with a soft smile.

"Let's go home. Now," he said firmly, emphasizing the last word as he gently took hold of both drunken girls. Ki-joo protested weakly, but Taehyung was already guiding them out of the bar, making sure they didn't trip over themselves.

Jimin pov:

As Jimin reached the bar, he rushed inside, his heart pounding with anxiety. His eyes darted frantically around the dimly lit room, searching for any sign of Taeyeon. But she was nowhere to be seen. The crowd was thick, with people laughing and chatting, but Jimin's focus was razor-sharp, scanning every face.

"Excuse me," he asked a passing waiter, his voice laced with urgency.

"Have you seen a drunk woman talking loudly on her phone?"

The waiter paused, his brow furrowing as he thought. After a moment, he nodded slightly.

"Oh, her. She and her friend come here often. They both left a few minutes ago... with her brother, I think."

"Brother?" Jimin thought, his eyebrows knitting together in question.

"Okay, thank you," he said, nodding to the waiter before turning on his heel and heading back to his car.

As Jimin buckled his seatbelt, his mind raced with thoughts of Taeyeon. The relief of knowing Taeyeon was safe gradually gave way to a nagging sense of guilt. 'I shouldn't have pushed her so hard,' he thought, his grip tightening on the steering wheel.

The memory of their earlier conversation replayed in his mind—his frustration with her work, the tension between them, and now seeing her drunk and upset. It was a strong reminder of the impact his words could have on others, especially someone like Taeyeon, who was still finding her way in the industry.

'She's really something,' he thought again, this time with a mix of admiration and regret.

He knew he needed to find a balance, to guide her without overwhelming her, and most importantly, to make sure she understood that he was on her side. Jimin sighed deeply, deciding that he needed to make things right.

But for now, all he could do was drive home, hoping that Taeyeon was already safe and sound with her brother and that tomorrow would bring a fresh start.