AN: Hey guys :) Thanks for reading this story and adding it to your favs. ( WIRTW Yes lmao, she's gonna need that other holiday badly afterwards haha) I hope you'll enjoy this chapter too! Don't forget to leave a review if you liked it or have critique.
Chapter Three
Fellowship of the Pizza
The first ray of sunshine peeked through thin cotton curtains, illuminating the dust particles that were dancing in the air like energetic fireflies. One could hear the city slowly waking from its slumber outside her window. Birds were chirping, children begrudgingly went to school and cars were flowing through congested streets, starting the universally dreaded rush hour.
Mei cracked one eye open and yawned.
When she stretched her arms above her head, she noticed that she forgot to change her clothes before going to bed yesterday—shoes included. In her defense, she had been exhausted after getting lost on her quest for ice cream and breaking into an abandoned apartment. It didn't come as a surprise to her that she had passed out immediately after sending goodnight wishes to Seven.
Her cheeks turned rosy once she remembered last night's dream.
The young detective had been traveling through space with the cheeky redhead, gazing at the endless universe and marveling at colorful nebulae. It was a nice dream, probably induced by the space scenario they had texted about before she fell asleep.
Seven was definitely an interesting guy and his particular brand of humor made her look forward to talking to him again. She had only known him for a day, yet she felt drawn towards him as though they were two opposite parts of a magnetic pole. The idea itself wasn't even that farfetched, considering they were literally working on opposite sides of the law. Well, opposites were supposed to attract, right?
Psychiatrists would have a field day with her, she was sure.
Groaning, Mei dragged herself out of bed and immidiately missed its comforting warmth. After a long shower and lots of lemon-mint shampoo, she pulled on her favorite oversized shirt and headed towards the kitchen. The icy air from the fridge felt nice against her warm skin when she rummaged through its contents for anything edible.
"What's for breakfast?" Hana asked sleepily and rubbed her brown eyes, head poking out from behind the sofa. "Can you make pancakes?"
"Good morning to you too." Mei grinned from ear to ear, all too eager to annoy her little sister. There were two kinds of people in this world; morning people and people who want to shoot morning people. Hana was famous for belonging to the latter, perhaps she was the leader of the group.
"Hmpf." She started to mutter curses beneath her breath as she plopped down on one of the bar stools next to the kitchen counter. "Good morning is an oxymoron unless there are pancakes involved."
"Sorry to disappoint, but no pancakes today." Mei chuckled when she heard an exasperated huff from behind her. "Instead you'll get my super deluxe Western bacon and egg special. Warning: if you experience side effects read the prescription label and consult a doctor or pharmacist."
"I'm just gonna sit here and pretend you're funny." Her little sister regarded her with a death glare that would've stung if it wasn't weakened by the ghost of a smile playing on her lips.
"Ouch." Mei pressed a hand to her heart in mock hurt.
Hana rolled her eyes before making breakfast for the cats, which had been eyeing the bacon slices a little too closely.
Chopping a pair of fresh spring onions, Mei cracked a couple of eggs on a plastic bowl and added seasoning. For the sake of her sister's sanity, the detecive suppressed the urge to turn this into an early morning breakfast show and simply poured the mix into a pan. She put a couple of bacon strips in the boiling oil and slid a mug of coffee towards Hana. The teenager took a couple of grateful sips, soon looking a lot less like a zombie and more like an actual person.
"Coffee is magical," Mei chirped excitedly and winked at her sister. "You'll still hate people, but you'll be happy about it."
"I don't hate people," the teenager sighed, exhausted, and raised her mug for another sip. "I just don't like mornings … and Harry Potter quotes in the morning."
They sat at the mahogany table and ate their breakfast in relative silence. Mei had given up on holding a normal conversation over breakfast—one that went beyond a few words—years ago. Instead, she pulled out her phone and noticed the abundance of chatrooms she missed while she had been sleeping. Wow, the RFA sure were a busy bunch. Yoosung had stayed up all night for a raid, Jumin had woken up early to spend time with his cat, Zen had taken a 5AM jog and Jaehee had been working afterhours ... if you could even call them that.
She smiled when she spotted a private message from Seven in her inbox, which he sent her around three in the morning. It said that she should consider changing careers and attached was screenshot of the cooking video she had attempted to hide from him yesterday. He had edited the face of Chef Ram G. into the right corner with a large speechbubble, yelling that her beef was so undercooked it would soon start to eat the salad.
Holding back laughter, Mei quickly informed him that she was an excellent cook and was about to set the phone aside, when a new notification popped up.
[A new chatroom has opened: What needs to be done; Jumin Han, Jaehee Kang]
[MC has entered the chatroom.]
MC: Ominous headline is ominous. What's up?
Jaehee Kang: Hello, Mei.
Jumin Han: Good morning.
MC: Morning, I hope you slept well? (≧◡≦)
Jumin Han: I'm well rested since Elizabeth the 3rd kept me company. Thank you for asking.
Jaehee Kang: Not very. I was restless after yesterday's events.
Jaehee Kang: And Mr. Han needed me to prepare today's schedule as well as organise matters related to the RFA party.
MC: Sorry. It sounds like half of your workload is my fault;;
Jumin Han: It's quite alright. Assistant Kang is used to the work and we are looking forward to hosting another event after all this time.
Jaehee Kang: (_ _|||)
Jaehee Kang: Have you eaten yet, Mei?
Looking down at her half-eaten plate, she noticed Loki lurking close by. He had his own breakfast earlier and his small cat belly should be full, but the irresistable smell of bacon must've lured him in regardless. His tail brushed against her leg when she nudged him away before he could leap on the table. Mei swore they never should've bought that expensive vacuum cleaner because their cats were doing its job just fine.
MC: I'm having bacon and eggs rn. How 'bout you?
Jaehee Kang: A cup of coffee.
Jaehee Kang: I'll get food from the convenience store in my break.
MC: That's no good, breakfast is important! ( •᷄⌓•᷅ )
Jumin Han: I agree. Studies show that it's the most important meal of the day and that a balanced diet can yield many immediate and long-term benefits.
Jumin Han: My nutritionist insists that carbohydrates are essential for healthy brain functioning. Therefore, consuming a high-quality breakfast can improve your memory, concentration and lower your stress.
[ZEN has entered the chatroom.]
ZEN: Then give Jaehee a break, Mr. Trustfund. It's your fault she hasn't eaten breakfast yet.
Jumin Han: It's not my fault she neglected to eat before she came to work.
Jumin Han: Organisation is key. I'm not responsible for how she manages her personal life.
Jahee Kang: (눈_눈)
ZEN: You can't treat your employees this way, especially when they worked afterhours for you the day before (╬ಠ益ಠ)
MC: One day there might be a rebellion at C&R headquaters.
ZEN: I wouldn't be surprised lolol
Jumin Han: They have no reason to rebel since I'm the one giving out the paychecks.
Jumin Han: If they feel treated unjustly, they are free to leave. For any position at my company, there are at least a hundred people waiting in line for an opportunity to work for me.
According to chat history, Jaehee had been working until 3AM and had to get back to work at 8AM. There was barely time for a good night's rest in between, not to mention breakfast. Mei doubted Jumin was an intentionally cruel person, but it seemed he lacked some common sense and had high expectations for people around him. If they didn't meet his standards, he'd probably replace them.
The business model was familiar since large companies all over the world had adopted it to maximize efficienty, yet the practise didn't sit well with her.
MC: I worry for Jaehee (─‿─;;)
ZEN: Seconded!
Jumin Han: Why? I'm sure if Assistant Kang had any complaints she'd have voiced them.
Jaehee Kang: Thank you, but you two don't need to worry about me.
Jaehee Kang: I chose this for myself and have gotten used to it.
MC: Okay. If you say so (´ヘ｀；）
MC: Anyhow, what's with the headline?
ZEN: Yeah, I was wondering that as well.
Jumin Han: Assistant Kang and I decided that it would be best if we met with Mei in order to discuss the organisation of the RFA party.
Jumin Han: I do not know what your profession is, but I assume you have never planned an event of this scale before.
MC: Correct.
Jaehee Kang: Well, it's easier to talk face to face and I would also like to find out what kind of person Mei is.
ZEN: Isn't that kind of scary for her though? She doesn't even know you guys (;;¬_¬)
ZEN: Why don't we let her pick who she's most comfortable with?
Taking a sip of her luke warm coffee, Mei tapped a finger against her cheek as she weighted her options. While she really didn't mind meeting those two—in fact she was looking forward to it—she felt a tingle of disappointment. If she could pick someone she really wanted to meet, it would be Seven. She couldn't wait to find out more about the mysterious hacker who managed to put a perpetual smile on her face, even if the feeling puzzled her.
Mei suddenly realized that without any reason, she had believed she'd meet him before anyone else.
However, it was rather unlikely he'd even want to meet her ... with him being a hacker and her being a detective. Meanwhile, Hana shot her a curious look and raised an eyebrow, mentally willing her to explain whatever was on her mind. The young detective simply shook her head and stuffed some scrambled egg in her mouth, chewing on it a little more aggressively than usual.
MC: I don't mind. I think it's a great idea ヾ(≧∇≦)ゞ
Jumin Han: Assistant Kang cleared my schedule for noon. It's during her official break, so she has time as well.
ZEN: Jerkmin, when is she supposed to eat then?
MC: Why don't we meet in a restaurant? Jaehee can eat and we can talk. Two birds with one stone.
Jumin Han: Efficient. I like it.
MC: There is this new Italian place downtown that's supposed to be amazing. I'll send you the address.
Jaehee Kang: Thanks for thinking of me, Mei. Can you make 1AM?
MC: I'll pencil the meeting in (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧
Jumin Han: I look forward to meeting you then.
ZEN: It's hard to believe that you are going to eat commoner food.
Jumin Han: Is it? I've always been partial to Italian cuisine and it will be an interesting to experience the food people like you eat first hand.
Jumin Han: Discovering shortcomings of existing products and improving on them will lead to a successful business.
ZEN: (¬_¬)
ZEN: Really? People like me? Stop looking down on the working class.
ZEN: I can't believe this guy gets to meet Mei before I do (_ _|||)
MC: You can come too if you want? It's not like this is a strict business meeting or anything … right?;;
Jaehee Kang: It's not.
ZEN: I would love to, but I got rehearsals all day and afterwards I have to hit the gym.
ZEN: While I may have been blessed with exeptional beauty, my perfect body is the result of hard work (￣▽￣)ゞ
Jaehee Kang: Good luck with rehearsals (◠‿◠✿)
Apparently, Zen was determined to fill his self-imposed one-selfie-per-chat quota since he sent a spicture of himself winking at the camera in front of the building owned by GD Entertainment, where he practised for musicals.
While Mei had been busy chatting, Hana had tiptoed around the table and was now looking over her shoulder. She covered her ears when a high-pitched squeal echoed through the apartment and prayed that the sudden deafness that followed was only temporary. Her auditory senses had been compromised. Unfortunately, Mei was still recovering from the shock when Hana gripped her arm tightly and started shaking her as though it would make an explanation fall out. She wasn't a pinata, thank you very much.
Jaehee Kang: I have been blessed again (✿◠‿◠)
MC: +100 Beauty Points
MC: My sister is screaming behind me lolol
ZEN: I may not be able to meet you today, but at least you can look at this picture and think about me.
ZEN: ღゝ◡╹)ノ
[Jumin Han has left the chatroom.]
ZEN: He didn't even say goodbye, that jerk.
MC: Well, I gotta go now. A demon is attacking me.
Jaehee Kang: Are you alright? (ఠ_ఠ;)
ZEN: Hello, Mei's sister ^^
MC: Don't reward my attacker.
MC: Have a nice day, Zen. And see you later, Jaehee~
[MC has left the chatroom.]
Expectant brown eyes met hers and the young detective summarized how she ended up in a chatroom with her sister's idol. After a stern scolding for her carelessness, Hana made her promise to get an autograph from Zen. Mei agreed under the condition that she'd have to finish her most recent art project first. She hated to play the big sister that treated her little sister like her mother would, but Hana had been showing signs of procrastination lately and it was starting to concern her.
"So the RFA … " Hana pondered and scratched her chin. "Honestly, you don't strike me as a party planner, but a change of pace might be good for you."
"You think so too, huh?" Mei picked up the empty plates and put them in the dishwasher. "I've always been busy with school and then work. I think I completely forgot what a normal day is even like."
"You only need some friends," the art student concluded wisely. "The RFA seems friendly enough, so do your best and don't mess up. If you make a bad impression, Zen won't ever want to talk to me."
"Yeah, no pressure. Thanks."
Mei couldn't deny that she was looking forward to working with them. Outside of the detective agency, she didn't have any friends. Ever since their parents had died in a terrible car accident, she had been focused on her education. However, it was as much a way of coping with their deaths as it was a necessity. They may have inherited the apartment, but their parents' life insurance and emergency savings wouldn't have payed electricity, water and internet bills as well as their weeky expenses forever.
Money had been the goal and the priority.
Determination and a good memory had enabled her to graduate from highschool early, earning herself a scholarship at SKY university. There had been many options to choose from, but she picked medicine since it suited her skills and was rewarded with a large paycheck. If she earned enough money to keep them afloat, then Hana could become whatever she wanted without worrying about finances.
Naturally, her life choices didn't have the best effect on her social life.
Friends, what are friends?
Most students in her program had been much older and while some had been doting on her, she had been too intimidated to make any lasting connections. Moreover, Mei had been too busy to keep up with her old school friends, which left her with a small yet comfortable social circle that consisted mostly of Kyung and her sister.
It would've been easier if the Cheon siblings had relatives that could've taken care of them, but they only had a grandfather from their mother's side, who was too old to provide for them and living by himself somewhere in America. Mei and Hana couldn't bare the thought of leaving their family home, which is why they had protested heavily against going into foster care.
It had been out of the question.
Luckily, Inspector Kim—who was a friend of their dad—had decided to take over legal guardianship until Mei turned eighteen since he knew how horrible the foster system could be. They would forever be grateful for his kindness. Naturally, he had been reluctant to let them live by themselves at first, but once the siblings proved that they could handle it, he allowed it under the condition that they'd never miss their therapy sessions. Regardless, he had checked on them weekly and often brought his wife along to keep them company.
Living on their own as teenagers obviously wasn't easy.
There were days when all Mei had wanted was to crawl under the thick sheets of their parents' bed, curl into a ball and never get up again. She had cried herself to sleep more times than she could count. Sometimes, the only thing in the world that had kept her going was Hana, who always reminded her that their parents would've wanted them to keep living happily. So Mei had put on a smile and faced the following days, months and years with hope for a better future.
She had never believed people when they said that time healed every wound, but as more of it passed her shoulders became lighter, the cracks in her heart closed and her smile became genuine again.
수상한메신저
It was brewing hot outside and even in the shade under the tall umbrella of Compagnia della Pizza, Mei still felt like throwing herself into a large swimming pool. Her Italian was broken at best, but she was able to decipher the name of the restaurant, which translated to fellowship of the pizza. It had made her laugh out loud earlier in the subway, causing people to give her odd looks. Lord of the Rings would've been a lot funnier if they had to carry a raw pizza to Mordor and throw it into the volcano to cook.
It would've been a lot of effort for a single pizza.
Mei looked at her wristwatch, realizing that only a few minutes went by since the last time she checked. She tried her best to keep calm while waiting for Jaehee and Jumin, but felt the barely contained excitement leaking out.
In an attempt to look busy, she buried her nose in an advanced medical book to pass the time, yet found herself unable to get past the first sentence. Doubt was starting distract her as she fumbled with the worn-out pages. She knew she was quite early, but she hadn't trusted the public transport system and had been too afraid that she'd arrive late. While they had been friendly in the chatroom, they were working on a tight schedule and probably wouldn't appreciate if she wasted their precious time.
Furthermore, Mei was still unsure about her outfit.
They hadn't mentioned anything about a dresscode, but now that she was looking down at her white shirt and denim skirt, she concluded that maybe she was underdressed for a semi-formal business meeting. She had even tried to wear a blazer earlier, but decided that the sweat wasn't worth the appearance. Nevertheless, her casual style in combination with her bubbly nature hardly gave off professional vibes.
Would they even like her?
It would be bad if she got kicked out of the RFA only fifteen hours after joining.
However, the worst case scenario was that the RFA turned out to be an elaborate ruse by the hacker, or some criminal organization, making this entire meeting a set up to kidnap her. While she didn't believe that was the case—it was impossibly difficult to fake the personalities of six people simultaneously in a chatroom—Mei had still checked her surroundings carefully when she arrived at the restaurant.
The detective half expected Unknown to show up around the corner and sit down with her for a latte, when a gentle voice snapped her back to reality.
"Are you … Mei Cheon?"
She looked up to find a beautiful woman with short caramel hair standing in front of her table. Sunglasses sat proudly on top of her long, delicate nose and she was dressed in an expensive business suit that was entirely too warm for this weather, yet there wasn't even a little drop of sweat on her face. Dark circles beneath her brown eyes and the tense way she straightened her shoulders were the only signs of discomfort she could spot.
"Oh … um, yes that's me." Mei said eloquently and stood up to bow. "Then you're Jaehee Kang? It's nice to meet you."
"Likewise."
Jaehee smiled at her show of respect and offered a handshake after bowing herself, which she accepted with both hands. She was incredibly grateful for the lessons on proper manners that Inspector Kim and his wife had given her years ago, otherwise she'd have impolitely stuck her hand out, even though Jaehee was her senior. She had always been a little too enthusiastic for her own good.
"And this is Jumin Han," Jaehee added with a gesture towards the quiet presence behind her. "As you already know, he's the future owner of C&R International and my boss.
Jumin looked exactly like she had imagined—tall, stoic and handsome—yet he was more imposing than she expected. She was slighty intimidated when she greeted him with the same polite routine and noticed how she unconsciously bowed a little deeper than she did for Jaehee. Well, she consoled herself with the thought that most people would be on edge when faced with the business heir of one of the most influential companies in the country.
"I'm glad you found the time to meet with us." Jumin said, voice deep and gravely, and his considerate words took away some of her anxiety. "I hope we didn't inconvenience you."
"Not at all." Mei waved his concerns away. "As I mentioned yesterday, I'm currently on vacation. I really have all the time in the world."
They sat down and made themselves comfortable on the wicker chairs. Among the crowd of loud families and jolly thourists, Jumin and Jaehee stuck out like sore thumbs in their business attire and she wondered whether a high-class restaurant might've been more appropriate after all. Even the young waiter looked nervous when he took their order, hurrying back inside to bring them their drinks as fast as humanly possible.
Mei suspected that he recognized Jumin and panicked. The business heir's presence had that effect on people, his aura demanded respect and work getting done efficiently.
"If I may ask, what is your profession?" Jaehee asked politely after she took a sip from her latte. "I feel like I've seen you before."
Why was this starting to feel like a job interview?
"You might have. I'm a detective at SIDA. Perhaps you've seen me on the news or mentioned in an article," Mei explained and laughed lightly. "Although, we usually try to keep our distance from the media and reporters, unless we have to make a public statement."
"Do you work with the police?" Jumin folded his hands together and she nodded. "Interesting. It definitely explains why Luciel decided you were trustworthy so quickly."
The detective took a moment to observe him. When he had introduced himself, he had been rather reserved and she figured that he had still been making up his mind on whether she could be trusted. Jumin was apparently the kind of person who prefered to make his own judgement and didn't believe in something until he saw it with his own eyes. His philosophy must've rubbed off on Jaehee, who had also visibly relaxed in her chair only after she had revealed her profession.
Mei appreciated this realistic approach to life.
"No offense, but isn't that dangerous for a young woman like yourself?" Jaehee set down her glass, regarding her with a mix of curiosity and concern. "I've read that Seoul's criminal rate has been rising in recent years, especially with with all those unexplained kidnappings in the area, and since a majority of crimes are commited by men, female officers have their work cut out for them."
"The insane working hours are more dangerous as you probably know," Mei joked and they shared a conspiratory look that had the assistant hide a smile behind her hand. "However, if that's what it takes to protect people, then I don't mind."
"An admirable way of thinking," Jumin commented, nodding in approval. "I wish my employees would feel the same way about their jobs. I've heard of your agency before, you've done a lot of good by helping the police. It might be worth investing in SIDA. It may not be a profitable business, which is what my company usually aims for, but social work has it's own benefits and rewards."
She had a feeling Jumin didn't make a habit out of complimenting others, which is why the honest appreciation and acknowledgement of her efforts put her in a good mood.
Food arrived at their table, interrupting their conversation, and Jaehee had a gleam in her eyes that could only come from working on an empty stomach for hours. Her tagliatelle di mare smelled heavenly and if her boss weren't present, Mei swore the woman would've have inhaled the seafood dish in world record time. The detective saw the assistant physically restrain herself to slow down while Jumin calmly poured himself a glass of Pinot Grigio, inspecting his bistecca fiorentina with a critical eye.
There was a moment when she thought he'd sent the steak back if it were even slightly below six centimeters thick.
"Thank you. We've been working really hard." Mei smiled, picking up where they left off. "While I'm grateful for the offer, I have to decline. We're an independent organization, yet we are mostly funded by the government and receive money from our clients, so there is no need. Your money is better spend on producing luxurious toys for cats ... like cat slides?"
There was also the underlying issue of corruption charges that would arise against their supposedly neutral agency if they ever accepted funds from large companies, but she decided not to mention that. He didn't mean any harm and probably hadn't even thought that far ahead.
"That's regrettable, but I understand. Elizabeth the 3rd would certainly appreciate it," Jumin replied, amused. "Assistant Kang, make a note to contact slide factories and find out whether they can potentially produce smaller sizes of their product."
Mei couldn't tell whether he was serious or not, but she swore she had only meant for this to be a joke to break the ice and not to provide him with strange ideas. She sent an apologetic look towards Jaehee, whose right eyebrow was twitching in mild annoyance. Whoops.
"Why don't we start discussing what we came here for?" Jaehee clicked her tongue. "The RFA party, Mr. Han."
"Yes, you're right." Jumin cleared his throat and corrected his black tie. "My apologies, I got side-tracked."
Jaehee turned towards her. "Do you have any experience with managing an event?"
"Honestly, the only experience I have are the costume parties at our agency on holidays." Mei could almost imagine questions marks floating above their heads. It was time to let the cat out of the bag. "Like ... I know how to make a realistic Rudolf the Rednosed Reindeer costume and how to spike the punch without anyone noticing, but that's about it."
"That's …um," Jaehee opened her mouth and closed it again, much like a fish out of water. "Please don't show up in a costume during the RFA party."
"I can't?" Mei laughed at her appalled expression, and slowly but surely, the detective was starting to feel more at ease around them. "Oh, that's no fun."
"Well, I guess we can split the work and teach you the ropes along the way." Jaehee sighed. "Do you have any questions?"
Jumin and Jaehee spent the next half an hour explaining the basics of fundraising event to her, taking turns depending on the question. Although Mei tried to keep the conversation between herself and the business heir, so Jaehee could grab a few bites of her noodles before she had to get back to the office. The party would be funded and hosted by C&R International. She felt a weight lift off her chest once they mentioned that she only had to invite guests they suggested and reply to their emails.
"Do you understand what you have to do? It's really not much, but it's important." Jaehee said with emphasis. "Mr. Han and I will take care of the location, the catering and security."
"Thanks for taking the time to explain. I would've been lost without you two." Mei hummed and shoved a spoonful of chocolate chip ice cream in her mouth. It melted on her tongue and she sighed in bliss before she returned to their game of twenty questions. "Do you mind if I invite guests as well? Over the years, we've had lots of clients from different organizations, for example the cat shelter group, the police department and the local hospital. I'd like to invite my own agency too."
"I don't think it will be a problem since the aim is to raise money for charity," Jumin replied. "Also, your agency has been invited before, so they are definitely fine. Feel free to invite whoever you like, but discuss them with us first. Luciel usually performs superficial background checks on the guests to ensure our safety."
When they came to the conclusion that everything had been settled, they enjoyed a round of pleasant small talk. It was nice to get to know them a little better, especially since she was going to be working with them in the upcoming weeks. Of course, it wasn't easy for Jaehee to relax around her boss, but she losened up a fraction when they were discussing Zen's current role in a famous musical.
Eventually, Jumin began reviewing the commoner food he had just experienced, forcing his assistant to write down the advantages and disadvantages. Mei noticed the disinterested frown on Jaehee's face and felt as though she was slowly gaining a deeper understanding on the scope of torment the business woman had to deal with daily, so she attempted to change the topic.
"I'm going to tell the other members how our meeting went." Mei set down her lemon ice tea and pulled out her phone, excited to see her favorite hacker online.
[A new chatroom has opened: Who hates to work?; 707, MC]
MC: I spy someone in the distance! Whaaat? Who could that be? ヾ(≧∇≦)ゞ
707: Drumroll plz!
MC: drr drr drr
707: It's SEVEN-ZERO-SEVEN!ヾ(´▽｀*)ﾉ
707: clap everyone!
MC: clap clap clap ƪƪ'▿')
MC: The title ... How's work coming along?
707: Tbh I came here to procrastinate. I just can't focus for some reason.
707: Why can't I focus?
707: (_ _|||)
MC: It's probably because you don't have a cat?!
707: I guess I really need Elly. Maybe I should kidnap her?
MC: catnap lmao
MC: I'm gonna go sit in the corner of shame bye (ー∀ー；)
[MC has left the chatroom.]
707: lololol nooooo come back!
[MC has entered the chatroom.]
MC: Shhhh~ The others are coming. You saw nothing.
707: lololol
[Jumin Han has entered the chatroom.]
[Jaehee Kang has entered the chatroom.]
Jumin Han: Luciel, you will do no such thing.
707: Watching Jumin's angry face will be
707: so
707: much
707: FUN! (･◡･๑)
Jumin Han: Assistant Kang, alert my guards and tell them to tighten security.
Jaehee Kang: … will do, sir.
MC: Catnapping aside, maybe a picture will help?
Mei attached a picture that showed two fluffy cats that were curled into each other while they slept. It was her favorite aside from their baby pictures. Scientists claim that looking at cute animal pictures at work can make you more productive, so she hoped that this would actually help Seven focus.
MC: Their names are Loki and Siri. We adopted them last year after a case at the cat shelter.
707: Soooo jealous!~
707: I wanna hug them!
707: And cuddle them and twirl them around and bite them!
MC: One of those is not like the others;;
Jumin Han: I didn't know that you own cats. It's good to know that there is another person here who appreciates their greatness!
Jumin Han: Loki and Siri are very majestic yet they pale in comparison to Elizabeth 3rd.
MC: Thank you. It's fine to prefer your own pet. You must love her very much (ฅ'ω'ฅ)
Jumin Han: Indeed. I'm glad you understand (◠‿◠)
Jumin Han: I'm relieved that you like cats because I believe people who are kind to animals cannot be bad people.
707: I'm gonna catnap all of your cats and build my own personal cat army ...
Jumin Han: And then there is this person (¬_¬)
707: and then I'm gonna invade Seoul and conquer the world (ʃƪ¬‿¬)
MC: Cat invasion!
Jaehee Kang: More like the apocalypse.
MC: Cat-pocalypse.
707: Your corner of shame needs some work lolol
Jumin Han: If the world had to end, I'd prefer it to be a cat-pocalypse.
Jaehee Kang: Mr. Han joined in as well …
707: A world where the cats rule over humans. This should be a movie!
Jaehee Kang: You just described hell.
MC: Elizabeth the 3rd could be the queen and supreme ruler of cats.
MC: And Zen could play the antagonist because he has a cat allergy, right?
Jaehee Kang: More like the protagonist. If we're fighting against a horde of hairy beasts in a dystopian society, Zen should be the hero.
707: (ﾟ□ﾟ*川
707: Correction!
707: It's clearly an utopian society.
Jumin Han: Elizabeth the 3rd makes a good queen (=ↀωↀ=)✧
Jumin Han: She'd be a wonderful main character. I'm sure we can make this a reality.
MC: I'd be down to watch it. Take all my money (๑ᴗ๑)
Jumin Han: I'm glad you're enthusiastic, but I don't think a movie ticket should require all of your money.
Jumin Han: One costs around 12,000₩, no? If they pay you that badly at SIDA, then maybe you should consider switching professions.
Jumin Han: However, I wouldn't charge you for a ticket anyways, so you don't have to worry.
Jaehee Kang: It's a figure of speech, Mr. Han.
707: lolol
Jumin Han: Oh.
Mei could practically see the gears turning in Jumin's head, but she wasn't sure whether he was still deciphering the slang or seriously considering making a movie. While she wasn't opposed to the idea, this level of project would definitely cause more afterhours for his already overworked assistant and she didn't want Jaehee to suffer.
707: Gasp! Zen the Destroyer of Cats and Jaehee, his evil henchwoman.
707: Seven the Defender of Felines and his loyal side-kick Mei, the Protector of Cat Law. Meow.
707: And Jumin, the cat mom.
MC: What are we doing with out lives? We should be movie directors!
707: right? lolol
Jaehee Kang: Evil henchwoman? ( ¬ _ ¬ ;)
Jaehee Kang: I'm sure Zen would play the role wonderfully, yet I wouldn't subject him to this kind of torture.
707: Something is still missing though … hmmm
MC: The romantic subplot between the heroes. Every demographic needs to be covered and we totally forgot YA.
707: Ohoho you're right, my dear disciple. I—resident heartthrob Seven and hero of the story—need to find a romantic interest.
MC: I offer myself as tribute! ღゝ◡╹)ノ
Mei honestly didn't know what compelled her to type that, it was as though her fingers had gained a life of their own. Slowly, her cheeks grew warm and she prayed it would go unnoticed by her two companions. She should've made a joke instead of making herself look like a desperate catlady.
707: And so it shall be *ヾ(-∀・*)*+
707: The rest of you can be the gay supporting cast lolol
Jumin Han: Why does everyone think I'm gay?
Jaehee Kang: Because you're always rejecting women.
Jumin Han: That's because all of these women are of no interest to me ... particularly that woman.
Jumin Han: I have to leave now. However, I hope you will get around to accomplishing what we came here for in the first place.
Jumin Han: Goodbye.
[Jumin Han has left the chatroom.]
Puzzled by his sudden curt behavior, Mei simply watched as Jumin downed his white wine in one gulp. Jaehee was equally stunned and wide-eyed when her boss typed a quick message on his sleek phone and then abruptly stood up, taking out a few bills and dropping them on the table. He excused himself, saying he had urgent business to take care of and left in a hurry towards the black limousine that was waiting for him.
Mei and Jaehee shared a confused glance though the older woman looked like she had an inkling of what just happened.
MC: [Jumin Han has left the table.]
707: [707 is worried.]
Jaehee Kang: I'm sure there is an explanation for his behavior. We just need to be patient.
707: Anyways. He said you came here for a reason?
Jaehee Kang: Yes, I forgot. We came to tell you that the meeting went well and that we informed Mei about the logistics. She will take care of inviting and communicating with the guests like Rika did.
Jaehee Kang: V called Mr. Han this morning and said he'd help cover the expenses.
Jaehee Kang: I feel a lot better now (◠‿◠✿)
MC: Yup, my party planning skills leveled up today.
MC: I reached lvl.2 already. Maybe I'll unlock a special skill soon?
707: lolol
Jaehee Kang: That remains to be seen. If you show up in a weird cat costume, I'll never forgive you.
MC: Aye, aye ma'am! (￣^￣)ゞ
707: Mei in a cat costume (｡ ‿ ｡)
Jaehee Kang: It's not a costume party and please don't turn it into one;;
Jaehee Kang: And stay away from the punch, we'll implement security guards if necessary.
707: lol wut?
Jaehee Kang: Don't ask … (눈_눈)
MC: (๑•́ ₃ •̀๑)~
MC: Jaehee, do you want another coffee? You look kinda stressed.
Jaehee Kang: You're avoiding the topic but
Jaehee Kang: I still have some time until I have to go back to work.
MC: Nice. It's a rare extended break ( •̀◡• ́)ﻭ✧
707: the drop rate is only 0.00001%
707: though when the rare event of meeting Mei is triggered
707: chances increase to a whoppin'
707: 7.07% lolol
Jaehee Kang: Honestly, I'm glad that we met today, Mei.
Jaehee Kang: You are different from what I expected, talking to you has been refreshing.
Jaehee Kang: I was afraid that you weren't a responsible person and wouldn't be able to manage the party.
Jaehee Kang: I'm relieved that I was wrong.
MC: Omg, you're so sweet. I'm glad we met today too.
MC: And I was really worried you wouldn't like me at all!
MC: (ノ_。)
Jaehee Kang: You've got nothing to worry about. You are a pleasant person (◠‿◠✿)
707: To think you are relaxing in the sun with Mei while I'm stuck here with work ...
707: Gah. Where did I go wrong?
707: Why doths thee hate me so, universe?
707: ＿ﾉ乙(､ﾝ､)＿
Jaehee Kang: My coffee arrived. Goodbye, Luciel.
[Jaehee Kang has left the chatroom.]
The pretty woman across from her smiled in relief when put her phone aside and raised her fresh latte macchiato to her lips. Mei realized that maybe she wasn't the only one who had wanted to leave a good first impression. She wondered how much of her serious, somewhat fridgit, professional manner was part of Jaehee's personality and how much was putting on a facade for her job.
Overall, Jaehee gave the impression of someone who was determined to follow the rule books, yet the way her eyes lit up when they talked about Zen made the detective doubt she was actually an uptight person. It looked like she had her own brand of humor, though it was more subtle and usually characterized by sarcastic jabs.
Shaking her head with a smile, Mei turned her attention back to the chatroom, wanting to make sure Seven was okay. His attitude earlier, combined with the concentration issues, made her worry. After bringing it up briefly, he had made sure to distract all of them from the topic and bury it beneath the conversation. However, she didn't forget and was determined to figure out what was bothering him.
707: Honestly … I'm kind of disappointed.
MC: (ノ﹏ヽ)
MC: Oh no ... why?
707: It's kinda selfish. I shouldn't say this, but I think I really wanted to meet you first.
707: It's weird hearing that from a guy you've only known for a day, right?
707: lolol
707: … but … urg
Oh. Warmth spread through her chest and made her heart flutter, blue eyes softening when she read his words. Her fingers flew across the screen before she could even think about it.
MC: No, um … it's not weird or selfish.
MC: Actually, I'm glad you said that because I feel the same way (๑ᴗ๑)
707: Ah, really? Huh, I feel relieved for some reason.
707: You saying that makes me happy, but I shouldn't feel that way.
707: If you can help it, you should never meet me. I'm not …
707: Everything around me always …
707: … I'm a dangerous person, Mei.
Seven struggled with his sentences, yet the broken pieces were all she needed to confirm her suspicions about him.
It had only been a guess based on probability, but he likely wasn't only the RFA's exclusive online security slave. She had an inkling from the start that he was involved in illegal activity, but his kind and happy-go-lucky personality had blinded her to the truth. He was way too familiar as well as quick with performing background checks and hacking into private accounts, and she highly doubted V payed him enough to afford four sports cars on a whim.
However, Seven didn't seem excited to be involved in the darkness of the world, which means he must've been forced into this line of work or had been out of options. Intelligence agents were a lonely existence and if she read between the lines, she recognized the signs of it in his words. Her heart ached for him, she knew solitude all too well.
707: Nevermind lololol
MC: ?
707: I was quoting an action movie I watched yesterday!
707: It was what the secret agent 007 said to the girl he rescued from an explosion lol
707: And you totally fell for it lololol
MC: Uh-huh.
MC: Sure.
Mei knew a lie when she saw one. He was hiding behind humor, which was a defensive mechanism the hacker had apparently perfected. Most people would've bought his act, but for someone who was guilty of this themselves it was glaringly obvious. Pointing this out to him would only drive him further into denial, so she went with her instinct and ignored it, trying to find a roundabout way to cheer him up.
MC: Look, I'm gonna head to the apt later and if you're ever free
MC: we can meet up and go for some lemon ice tea (ﾉ≧ڡ≦)
707: Really? (⊙ᗜ⊙)
MC: Yup. And I'm gonna wave at the cameras, so be sure to wave back. Meow.
707: Yahoooo *ヾ(-∀・*)*+
707: Seven-Zero-Sevens energy levels have reached max! 100% feel better now!
MC: Glad to hear it. See you later, meow!
707: Thanks for listening to my rambles, Mei.
707: Goodbye for meow~
She shook her head and sighed heavily, wondering whether he was actually feeling better or only pretending for her sake. What was it about this man that intrigued her? He lied and teased others and barely revealed anything about himself, which should raise red flags, but talking to him was fun and exciting.
"You and Luciel seem to get along well," Jaehee observed once Mei put her phone down. "Honestly, I usually don't get most of what he says, so the way you two joke around is surprising to me. He's such a mysterious person. I've known him for years yet I barely know anything about him."
"Well, intelligence agents are usually required to refrain from forming lasting bonds because it makes them easier to control. If they don't have anyone else, then they will put all their energy into work for their organization." Mei smiled sadly, prompting the other woman's eyes to soften. "And I think the agents are very aware that having close personal relationships with people endangers those exact people. It's actually surprising that Seven opened up to the RFA this much."
"I've never thought of it like that," Jaehee said with a frown. "He has always been so cheerful ... though I can't say for sure since I was the last member to join the RFA. However, Mr. Han once mentioned that while he respects Luciel, he had been getting on his nerves from the day V introduced him."
"Sounds like him." Mei laughed before turning to her companion with interest. "How did you end up at C&R and the RFA? After speaking with you, I get the feeling that you're capable enough to become anything you want."
"You're not wrong. After high school, I got a scholarship for a top university and graduated early," she replied with a hint of pride. "V recommended me to Mr. Han, which is why I got hired. In comparison to the other members, I didn't join the RFA on Rika's request. Mr. Han proposed it one day because he thought it would be more convenient if I was going to help with the party organisation anyway. I expected more work, but it felt like talking to friends. It was really difficult to get used to at first."
After listening to her story, the detective realized that the two of them weren't that different. There were bits and pieces that sounded really familiar to her and she wondered whether Jaehee had struggled with similar issues.
"It's unusual for me too and I'm kinda out of my comfort zone." Mei admitted. "I don't have many friends outside of work, so things like joking around with Seven in the chatroom and eating lunch with you are ... nice."
"You are very honest," Jaehee commented and fumbled with the sleeve of her black blazer. "I've never really had time for friends either. I think I'm just not much fun to be around."
"What? No way! Everyone is fun in their own way," the detective exclaimed passionately, secretly overjoyed about their heart-to-heart. "If we're both friendless workaholics, then why don't we become friends? We could hang out in cafes or watch one of Zen's performances during our days off!"
"You want to be friends with me?" Jaehee looked perplexed when Mei nodded eagerly, but then a tentative smile broke out on her face. "I don't think anyone has asked me this directly before, it's a little embarrassing, but I can't argue with your logic."
It might've been brewing hot outside, but under the tall umbrella of Compagnia della Pizza two brunette women couldn't care less. With the promise of friendship hanging in the air, self-doubt was forgotten and became a relict of the past. They simply continued sipping their latte macchiati with smiles on their faces, enjoying the early afternoon breeze that cooled their skin from time to time.
To Be Continued ...