Whizzing from the hairdryer faded. Jiah walked to the front, beaming approvingly at her boss. She stretched her body to place the hairdryer on the wheeled table and clapped heartily. She uttered, “My boss looks so handsome!” 

“It’s fire,” Seokjin said almost quietly, in awe of the visual in front of him.

The soft, crimson locks shone under the white light. The owner of the crimson head fluttered his eyes open as he stared at his reflection on the glass wall in front of him. Blurred, but clear enough to recognize that was him in red hair. Amazed, he never thought red hair would perfectly suit him.

“What did I say? Red suits you, right?” Jiah chirped. She swung her body from side to side. “Bejiwoo boss is such a hottie! The girls out there might hit on you,” she whispered.

Hoseok sucked his bottom lips, holding back the smile.

Jiah's finger snapped and he looked up. “Ah! Hoseok, you should let Wheein curl your hair like Yoongi’s. I think you will look perfect for the event.”

“Don’t you think that’s too much?” the – now–redhead boss asked.

“Nope. Trust me! Since red turns out good, curling your hair would make it perfect!" She said with two thumbs up. 

Seokjin praised, “You sure have an amazing imagination, Jiah. With a change in the hair, you turned a cow into an idol.”

Hoseok silently hissed a curse at him. 

“My father has a barber shop,” the woman said. “I read the magazines in the shop sometimes. I read a lot about hairstyles and tips.” 

“That clarified how neat and pretty your bun is,” Seokjin commented, smiling. “It looks cute on you,”

Almost unable to understand what the older man meant, she touched her hair's high bun. Bashfully guffawed, she waved a hand and said, “Aah! I learned to make it from YouTube.” Seokjin giggled with her. 

Hoseok had the urge to roll his eyes at the scene.

Footsteps from the corridor chimed through. Three of the occupants of the room turned to see Yoongi approaching. Both of his hands shoved into his favorite denim jacket pockets. His steps halted at the doorway, staring at Hoseok.

Nodding his head, his lips curved downwards. “Hmm, not bad,” he said. 

“Say something else. You’re fucking boring,” Seokjin spat.

Yoongi fired back. “You’re being ridiculous. Cranky. Low on sugar again?”

The oldest rolled his eyes and threw a glare.

Shifting his gaze to Jiah, Yoongi said, “Well done.” Then, he smiled at her.

“This boy certainly has nothing better than complimenting adults like kindergarteners,” the oldest one murmured, making Yoongi exhale a sigh with lips pursed tight.         

Staring at the older man as if he had done wrong, he nodded his head, lips still pursed. "I'm cooking ramen for you, hyung," the curly-crimped hair man said as he turned himself away to leave. 

Soon, a grin crept on Seokjin’s face. “Aww, that’s my brother! I love Min Yoongi!” 

“Go wait and sit down on a cactus,” Yoongi said, strangely calm.

“Well, of course, I’ll sit down and wait,” Seokjin said. “But why on a cactus?” 

Hoseok blinks several times at the oldest member of staff. Perhaps the day had wiped out his brain cells as he was low on sugar. Reluctantly, he said to Seokjin, “hyung… He meant… ‘fuck off’.”

Seokjin blinked his eyes slowly many times. “Oh, I see,” he said. “Wait, what?” 

********** 

During the lunch break, they had to close the shop to eat together.

Jiah had become more daring with her boss lately. She kept bugging him to have meals with them that day, even promising to get him Tiramisu every day. Of course, the bribe was rejected, and he left with them voluntarily.

That was the first time he sat with them for meals. Unlike other big eaters, he ordered only a small bowl of Ddeokbokki.

He sat in the corner, near the wall, across from his assistant, and on his side was Namjoon. Nothing in his mouth, but food mashed and filled his stomach. A balled fist under his cheek.

“Hoseok,” Jiah called. “Do you want anything?” The entire focus at the table was on him.

He shook his head and said nothing.

“You didn’t eat your breakfast. Ddeokbokki for an empty stomach –”

Jimin and she jumped when he smacked the table and snapped, "I don't want anything."

Jiah began to feel distant. Distant and scared. He was alright that day, but could it have been her fault for forcing him to join them? 

He peered at Jimin and then rolled his eyes. As if he wanted to leave, but he knew he couldn’t as his paths were blocked.

“Hey!” Seokjin called. “She asks nicely. How dare you be harsh on her? What’s wrong with you today?” he exclaimed.

Jiah, beside him, held his hand. He whipped his head at her, seeing she shook her head subtly.

After an hour, they finished their meals. The younger staff headed out after handing their money to Seokjin. Hoseok left after Yoongi. Jiah intended to wait for Seokjin but, she was scared that she and Hoseok might drift apart again.

Her legs moved rapidly toward him and slowed down once she stood him. She noticed he was trying to avoid looking at her. She bent her body a little to see him and then pulled back. A whiny moaned. She said, “I’m sorry.”

Finally, Hoseok glanced at her. “Why?” he asked in a flat tone.

“I know you’re upset. For forcing you to come with us. I’m sorry.”

The loud, playful bickering from the younger ones in front didn’t bother them. No sigh from the man, no chuckle from the woman. Two of the man’s hands shoved into the hoodie pockets instead.

“I wasn’t upset with you,” he said. “I was upset with myself.”

Both of her eyebrows were arched. "Hm? Why?" 

Hoseok exhaled a sigh. “I don’t know,” he said. “My presence was unneeded there. That’s what I think.”

“Why do you think so?”

“I don't know.”                  

Jiah remained silent, thinking for a moment. “Are you uncomfortable with them?" 

A shrug. “I don’t think so. They are talking, joking around. I just can’t keep up with their vibe,” he paused. “I’m their boss. There's a burden in me, though. The burden of not knowing who they truly are. I mean, I’ve heard of their stories. From Seokjin hyung. But with me now, I don’t know. Even Yoongi hyung, the quietest, blends well with them.”

The woman became quiet again.

“Jisoo. The first person I allowed to work with us. She’s Seokjin’s sister and she knows me. Even though she was near me, I didn't trap myself in the office with my sketchbook. Then, Namjoon came, looking for a part-time job. Amber trusted him for his skills, so I agreed to hire him. Then, Taehyung, Jimin, Jungkook, and Wheein joined us.”

Silence, Jiah believed he thought negatively about himself. She said, “They threw you a birthday party before. But you weren’t okay with it.” Her boss whipped his head at her. “Seokjin told me.”

Hoseok lightly nodded his head and uttered, “They’re too bright for me to follow up.”

“Is that why you didn’t celebrate your birthday last week?” she asked. 

He gasped quietly. “How do you know?” 

Jiah sniggered, saying, “I have my ways.”

Hoseok playfully rolled his eyes, holding back a smile as the woman giggled. They almost reached the store when unexpectedly, her arm was linked to his.

Hoseok’s eyes widened at the cheerful woman. She chirped, "Let’s go, my boss!" 

“Oh my goodness, how many times do I have to tell you? Don’t call me ‘boss’!”

“Then, my love?” Jiah asked with a knowing smile.

Hoseok rolled his eyes.

********** 

When the last person, Jisoo, checked out of the day, Jiah returned to the office with a white, small box. She rushed to the pantry and then, exited with a matchbox in her free hand.

Passing through the corridor, she returned to the main area where her colleague was waiting. Jiah asked, “Where’s our boss?”

“Isn’t he in his office?”

Jiah shook her head.

“I didn’t see him leaving though,” Jisoo said.

Jiah scratched her head, stretching her body to peek through every area to look for him, muttering to herself, “Where is he?”

There was a short silence before Jisoo asked, "Why are you still here?" 

“Ah! I have some work to do,” she replied.

“But my brother is waiting for you at the car park,” Jisoo said. 

“Is he?” 

The woman with straight black hair nodded her head. “Do you want me to tell him you have work?”

Jiah beamed as she said, “Yes, please!”

“Okay, then I’ll get going. See you tomorrow!” She waved at her friend and her friend mirrored.

Wincing at the sound of the door swinging, the shadow of the slim figure vanished into the darkness, leaving only Jiah lingering in the main area. Later, she heard the door at the end of the corridor slam, immediately knowing it was her boss.

Leaving the box on the countertop, she scurried into the corridor and met the red-haired man. Confusion appeared across his face. He asked, “What are you doing here?”

Jiah suppressed a laugh, eye smiles formed in her doe eyes. “I’m waiting for you.”

“Why are you waiting for me?”

Looking around, then returning to Hoseok. She held his wrist and brought him to his office. “You wait here,” she said after making sure the door stayed wide open and stuck to the doorstopper.

So, Hoseok waited, leaning his butt on the table.

Rushing back to the main area where she left the white box, she then unsecured the box from its vertical holes and revealed a small, rectangle slice of Tiramisu. She stuck a blue candle in the middle before taking out a matchstick from its box and kindling a small fire in the small candle.

“Jiah, why are you he–”                            

“Eek! You startled me!”

Hoseok stiffened, lips curved downwards and eyes widened. “What is that?” he asked.

Jiah divided her focus between the cake and her boss. “I told you to wait in the office. Goodness, you’re – ugh!” She stomped her feet.

“O-oh, okay. I-I go back,” he stuttered and then scurried to his office. The heavy patting from the corridor had suggested that he might have run, and Jiah couldn't help but snort.

She brought the cake, careful not to extinguish the fire. Through the dark path, her face shone above the burning candle. Once she was almost there, her eyes met Hoseok’s.

When she passed the threshold, she sang the ‘happy birthday’ song. Soft, soothing, cheerful. Not loud and chaotic. Her eyes met his blank stare again. He didn’t show any signs that he was against the – private – celebration.

He was staring. And still staring. A dear one.

“Hoseok?” Jiah called. 

“Yeah?” 

“Blow the candle,” she said. 

“O-oh!” He took a deep breath. But before he could exhale, she stopped him. 

“Wait! Don’t you have a wish?” 

Eyebrows raised. “A wish?” 

Jiah bobbed her head up and down. She said, “Make a wish before you blow the candle.”

His lips stayed sealed for a moment. Under his breath, he said, “But I don’t have a wish.”

The woman's smile gradually faded, a soft one replaced it instead. “Your sister? Don’t you want to make a wish for her?”

His Adam apple bobbed. The hesitation whirled through, creating a long silence.

Feared she could have hurt his feeling, a strained smile made its appearance. She said, “It’s alright if you don’t have one. Blow it.”

“No,” he said. “Can I say my wish out loud?”

The woman grinned and uttered, “Oh, of course. If that’s what you want. It’s only us here anyway.”

Hoseok’s lips twitched a small smile, looking at her and then at the shrinking candle. Slowly, he closed his eyes, his hands clasping against one another. “I wish,” he began. "I wish... the person who makes me feel loved, stays by my side until the end." And with that, he blew.

White smoke dispersed, disappearing in the thin air. As his eyes fluttered open, his vision slid to the woman. With thumping hearts, they held their stares.