Donghae stopped as he saw Kyuhyun sitting soundly at the chair, his heart raced once more as he was so close to him. He carefully reached up to the book Kyuhyun was reading, even just for a couple of second he had hope to see what he was reading

 

He then turned the book around to see the title and as he was able to read and memorize the book he had he rushed as he heard him make a sound. He hid himself behind the book stacks and took a peek at him, he then followed Kyuhyun when he wore to return the book. “Ugh… this is kinda… does this… mean that… I’m behaving like… a stalker” slowly he began to realize his own actions

 

“Even if it does, I still love him and that means I want to know more about him, even it it’s just a little. I’m not deluded enough to think that doing stuff like this brings me and closer to him, but more than anything, I just… I just… love Park sunbae” he then woke up and gasped at the sound of his alarm going off

 

“I can’t be dreaming about high school…” he turned his alarm off, and made his way to work

 

 

“What a nightmare” Kyuhyun gave him back his proposal for a new book publication “No way in hell”

 

“Aww… Hae got some constructive criticism! Wasn’t that nice of Cho-shi?” Henry sweetly said

 

Donghae was speechless to see him return it back immediately to him, “Um… you looked at it for about ten seconds. Could you please actually read it?”

 

“I already did”

 

“W-What?” he couldn’t believe

“What the hell is this proposal supposed to be?” he showed him his work

 

“You’re not actually interested in doing this, are you?”

 

(Note: Proposal for new book publication, ver. SM Publishing, This is a document written by the editor to be circulated at a meeting in order to secure permission to publish a new book)

 

“Of course I am!” he said without hesitation

 

“This is my first ever comic-related project, and Yuri-sunbae’s manga is really popular!” he defended

 

Kyu laid down his proposal so he could elaborate what he needs to do to make it more convincing, “You say the manga’s popular, yet you haven’t included any survey results to back that up. There’s no mention of how you’re going to run the ad campaign, either” he pointed the things in his proposal

 

“Looking at this, you just can’t tell why the book would sell well” it made Hae think of his flaw

 

“Lee, do you seriously think that the editor’s hob is just to collect manuscripts?”

 

“N-No! That’s not…” he tried to answer back

 

“At your previous job you only edited for big shot novelists, right? That’s why you think it’s enough to just get the book out in order for it to sell” he made told him right in everyone’s faces

 

“No. I do not!” everyone that’s not part of their department was swopping not to get caught nor listen to their debate

 

“You can’t present something like this at the meeting, do it over” he ordered

 

“T-Then you should’ve just taught me how to do this beforehand. It’s not like…” Kyu interrupted “What the hell?”

 

“You never asked, so why should I go out of my way to teach you something?” he bluntly said

 

“Y-You’re the head editor, right? You should at least make sure your employees know…” he reasoned

 

“If you don’t know how to do something, just ing ask!” he answered back to him “I’m not your mommy!” the atmosphere between them was so un-eased and full of disputes

 

“H-Hey, you guys should try to help them get along better” Someone from another editorial department came to tell the others

 

“Why? They’re all sunshine and roses already” Henry answered his distress

 

Then after a few hours, it ran late and almost everyone seemed to have left for home. “I’m heading out!”

 

“Thanks for your hard work” he then went back to his work and sighed in front of the laptop

 

“I’m screwed… what should I do to make this better? It’s true that we used to do things differently at my last job”

 

 

(Note: how to get your proposal approved)

 

1.      The editor in charge writes the proposal

2.      The head editor checks it over (The book will be published) (You are here)

3.      Present your proposal at the proposal meeting. Once you get the bigwigs to say yes

4.      The book will be published

 

“What kind of promotion should I do for the book? A fair or something, no, this is her first manga, so it’s too soon for that. Um… I wonder if I could ask the sales department for help with this?” he wondered

 

He then stopped all other resolutions, “No, I should probably ask Cho-shi… No way! Like I’d ever ask him for help!” he felt hopeless with it, “I’ll figure this out myself!”

 

Kyuhyun then came and to his surprise Donghae was still at his desk, “Huh? You’re still here?” he mused

 

“I-I thought you’d left, Cho-shi” he felt his heart beat loud, “I’ve got some manuscripts to read” he showed a briefcase

 

He took a slurp on his coffee, “Are you still working on that proposal?” he noticed

 

“Oh, don’t mind me. you can head on home” he turned back to his laptop

 

Kyuhyun then made his way towards him, “Lemme see”

 

“I’m perfectly fine without your help. I can do this by myself” he fended him off

 

“No, seriously let me see” he insisted

 

“I said I’m fine, ah!” he didn’t notice Kyu’s coffee on the table and he almost knocked it down, but, at an instance. Both Kyuhyun and Donghae held their hands on the paper cup; their fingers grazed each other on the contact

 

Due to the embarrassment, Donghae let go and ran back to his seat, “Be more careful! What if my manuscripts had gotten dirty?” he scolded

 

“I would’ve been your fault for bringing coffee to the editorial department in the first place!” he defended himself

 

“I’ll be fine, so just go home!” he wanted him to be left alone “You’re going to miss the last train” he noted

 

Kyuhyun then took a chair to sit beside him, “Wh-What are you doing?” Hae asked

 

“I told you, I’ll do this myself!” Kyu then took his laptop away from him “Liar, you’re not getting anywhere”

 

“Really, I’m fine!” Hae persisted

 

“Yeah, yeah” Kyu gave him his laptop to carry on the work, “Don’t come close” he felt a bit tense at having Kyu close by his side

 

“Do you have the results for Yuri-shi’s poll?” Hae’s heart ran wild

 

“Huh? Uh, yes” but he focused himself to his work

 

“Ever since her series began, she’s constantly been in the top three, right?” he added

 

“How many copies of their manga have the authors before and after her in the polls sold? If you compare her to them, how big can you estimate her sales to be?” he added the facts needed

 

“Who will buy her manga? How will they differ from those who buy the works of previously published mangaka?” he made Hae panic but in a way he could still follow

 

“And then you need to think about ideas for the ad campaign, will you be printing leaflets? What about pops?” he optioned

 

“W-Wait…! Slow down please! I need to write this down” he then took a pen and a piece of paper

 

“Cho-shi is giving me pointers; I need to take proper notes”

 

“There are other things to consider, too” he took a sip of his drink

 

“Like what you’re going to put on the OBI, and then” he trailed off as Donghae was taken in by the serious discussion they’re having

 

“You get all that?” he asked Hae who was still busy to write down what he just said

 

“Yes, I’ll re-think what material I need and then I’ll…” he paused as he felt a hand cupped his chin, as his face turned, Kyu’s mouth clasped at his and he felt the warm pair of lips onto his

 

For a small period of time, until Hae broke away and punched him in the face, “Oww, W-What the hell are you doing?!” he felt the stinging sensation in his face, Kyu then sat back to his chair, “What do you mean? You were being so serious that I had to snap you out of it” slouched at the desk

 

“What?!” he freaked

 

“Stop fooling around! I’m trying to actually work here!” he then heard someone enter the scene, he turned to take a look on who it might be

 

It was Sungmin approaching him, “Oh” “Crap…! Did he just see us just now?”

 

“Bae-shi”

 

“Kyuhyun, the head of the sales department wants to talk to you about Yoshikawa Chiharu’s TV series. You should go see what he wants” he noted Kyu

 

“Uh, I’m going to the washroom” Hae excused himself

 

“His editor has already left for the day” Kyu took a glance of Hae’s departing

 

“Yeah, but still” he persisted

 

“Man, what a bother” Kyu got up from his seat and headed on

 

“What the hell are you doing?” Min asked, Kyu turned momentarily and they made eye contact

 

“So where is he?” he asked

 

“In the lounge”

 

“Got it” he then heard Kyu shut the door

 

“Everybody’s gone now, right? I’ll just organize my materials, and then I’m gone” he took a gander from left to right to see if the coast is clear

 

He quickly made his way towards his table until “Hey” he was shocked to hear a voice from all the silence in the place

 

“Uh, good work today. What’s up? I thought you left with Cho-shi” he rustled down on the papers

 

“I was waiting for you” Min specifically told his reason

 

“I’m just going to say this just in case…” he trailed of making Hae wonder what he was going to say

 

“Yes?” he dared to let him finish

 

“Kyuhyun is mine” he bluntly said without falter

 

“Huh?” he knows what he meant but he didn’t want to make things complicated any further

 

“Um… I think you’ve misunderstood something” he approached him to explain

 

“There’s nothing between me and Cho-shi~” Min altered him

 

“You’re such a bad liar” he told him right in the face

 

“I’m not lying! I’m not!” he defended himself

 

Min’s phone then rang all of a sudden; he answered it, “Hello? Okay, I see. I got it I’ll be right there” he replied

 

He then hung up on the person who called him “Bae-shi” Hae called out

 

“Please just listen to me, there’ seriously nothing~” he didn’t let him finish

 

“If you’re telling the truth…” he stood up and drew near to him, “Don’t do those things with him” he frankly said

 

“What the hell, Hey! Wait a minute, Bae-shi!” Min left the department

 

“There’s really nothing going on… This must be some kind of mistake, I... between Cho-shi and me, besides Cho-shi’s going out with Bae-shi isn’t he?”

 

He felt awful at the thought of it, but he wasn’t aware on how to conquer this feeling his having, “It’s… it’s not really, any of my business who Cho-shi goes out with” he got his things in his bag and went off

 

He then got to the subway and he walked worriedly about this thoughts between Kyu and Min and him in the middle “That’s right. It doesn’t matter… if he’s going out with a man or a woman. I was just a little bit in love with him ten years ago. Even if Bae-shi were to know that, it wouldn’t mean anything now” he then suddenly heard the ring signalling that the trains departing

 

He ran straight on to catch the last ride, “, the last train!”

 

“The train is departing” the announcer said

 

When Hae got to the train’s area, it had already left. He panted as he lost his breath in trying to catch up “Oh, man… this … besides, Cho-shi only made a pass at me… because he enjoys teasing me. I’m nothing but a nuisance to him and yet, what? What is this? I’m really…pissed off”

 

 

 

 

~~~oo0oo~~~

The next day

~~~oo0oo~~~

 

 

He had a talk with Heechul, “Cho-shi and Bae-shi?”

 

They were walking towards work, “Uh, it’s just that I saw them talking the other day, and they seemed to be really friendly with each other. N-Not that it matter one way or the other”

 

“By the way, thank you so much for the materials on Yuri-sunbae. They’re a big help” he shifted the discussion

 

“I seem to remember hearing that they had classes together in collage” he gave him an answer

 

“Classes huh?”

 

“Apparently Bae-shi was the one to suggest the publishing business to Cho-shi, what’s more, Bae-shi convinced Cho-shi to change jobs and come work for SM, or that’s what I hear, anyway” Hae listened with great interest

 

“Oh, I see…” he slowly came to understand

 

“I guess you could say that they definitely get along, they’re probably very compatible” Hae froze on what he had meant

 

“Sorry, but that’s all I know” he then concluded what he knows

 

“No, that’s plenty. I’m sorry I asked you such a weird question in the first place” he waved him as he showed he had more than enough information

 

“Heechul!” Kyuhyun then came to the scene

 

“Good morning” he greeted them

 

Hae on the other hand stood aside and whispered his greeting. “I sent you an email about the whole thing with Bae-sunbae, did you get it?”

 

“Yes, I’m on my way to the sales department”

 

“Heechul-shi… wait!” he didn’t want to be left alone with Kyu

 

And within a split second the elevator door closed, leaving both Kyu and Hae at the floor. Everything went into complete silence between them, “You can’t even say good morning to me properly, can you?” Kyu broke the ice

 

“Huh? I already did” he didn’t bother to look

 

“I heard no such thing”

 

“But I did say it!” he freaked

 

“Doesn’t count if I didn’t hear it” he festered said

 

“Morning” he blandly said

 

“Ugh, I’m begging you, go faster Mr Elevator! I’ve got to avoid being alone with him” He begged

 

“Donghae” he heard his name and felt fingers touch his hair, like a natural reaction, he swatter his hand away upon contact. “You had something in your hair” Kyu cleared his intensions

 

Hae blushed at his reactions, “Oh…” he felt so paranoid when he’s alone with him

 

The elevator then came and he dashed right inside, “Hey!” Kyu called “I don’t want to have…anything to do with Cho-shi outside of office hours”

 

“I hate this. All of a sudden things that shouldn’t matter make me so pissed off. If I have any more contact with him, I’ll have to admit to myself… just how much he can get to me” he feared his own emotions would betray him