Three days pass by before I hear another word from Anthony Jung. I was at Panda Delights, the bakery I work at for one of my jobs, when a call came from an unknown number. I click the green accept button and bring the phone to my ear as I pull out the cookies from the oven, setting them down on the table.

"Hello?" I call out.

"Hello Miss Kim. It's Anthony Jung. I thought about it long and hard." He enunciates slowly, "For a long time...I'll choose you for the sessions. In an hour, come to my studio so we can start."

"No way.." I mutter, "No fucking way."

"I can hear you. I've decided to pick you up because I'm thinking that you'll believe that it's a dream and not show up, which wastes my time." He says, "Where are you?"

"Oh..Panda Delights. It's at-" 

"I know where it is. I'm not stupid." He uttered bitterly.

"I don't think your stupid. No, I know you aren't stupid! But I just wanted to make sure. Because..well-I mean..maybe you could've gotten mixed up!" I ramble, "Yeah. You know, I once went to the wrong bank once and they yelled at me a lot! They said a kid like me should know better. That also reminds me-"

"Stop with the babbling." He remarks, "I'm five minutes away."

My jaw drops. Five minutes? Couldn't he have taken his sweet time? But there's no time to waste. I mumble a quick goodbye and hang up. I run towards the direction of my bosses' office, but she's already looking dead at me. She points to the door, as if signaling that it's okay for me to leave. We don't communicate with words, only gestures. I bow my head in respect and thanks, before walking towards the door.

As I stride to the door, turning the knob gently and opening it, I feel the cool winter air that makes me love South Korea. However, there's a ripe and sweet smell to the air. Spring is coming. Love will soon be in the air, arriving.

After that romantic thought, Anthony pulls up in a sleek black car. He roll downs the window, glaring at me. "Stop gawking and hop in."

I awkwardly walk over and open the door directly behind him. I step inside and close the door shut. The only sound that could be heard was the sound of the seatbelt being buckled in, along with the noise of two people breathing in a deathly silent car. He looks back at me, his gaze a little softer. "You could have sat right next to me. It feels like I'm hauling someone around."

"Ack! I'm so sorry!" I apologize, "I didn't mean to make you feel that way."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. I'm gonna start driving now, and I drive better in silence."

I don't speak another word, but look out the window instead. As he drives fast, the building goes by in a blur. Different colors of gray and white seem to all look the same. Soon, the scenery changes. There are less buildings and more greenery. I look at Anthony Jung through the mirror, and he's already looking at me. "Mr. Jung, this isn't.."

"We're going to my bigger studio. The one back there is too small."

"Oh..okay." I mutter, and go back to looking out the window.

Most, in this situation, would be absolutely terrified. They would be afraid that they're being taken away from civilization to only be kept in a dark, musty room that slowly eats away your sanity. But for some odd reason, I don't feel that way. My stomach isn't churning and I don't have that sickly feeling in my gut. Instead, my first reaction is to trust him.

Keeping his word, the tall buildings appear once more. Instead, they're larger. More grandly, as one could put it. They shout "rich!" and make me feel out of place. Once again, Mr. Jung seems to already know how I feel.

"You're in the right place. You belong here." He says, and I nod my head. I don't look out the window anymore, but at my feet. I feel my face heat up. His words were said way too easily. If I were to even try to say that, I would blush.

The abrupt stopping of the car snapped me out of my thoughts. He gets out the car, and opens the car door for me. I take off my seatbelt, step out the car, and Anthony Jung closes the door. He smiles, a rather rare occurrence. He looks proud as he looks towards the buildings. I follow his gaze and look towards the same building that he's looking at. My jaw drops from absolute fascination.

The building is tall and wide. It stands out a bit, as it's painted the same color as his smaller studio, a midnight black. He looks at me, excited. "Welcome to my studio, Miss Kim."

┆ ┆ ┆જ ✾

woohoo! another chapter completed. i feel like i'm talking to myself these days whenever i write these small notes. it feels as if no one reads this, and it lowkey hurts. but whatever, that's life i guess.

-xoxo, iris (darkcvpid-)