Baekhyun splashed some cold water onto his pale cheeks.

Today has been a really long and eventful day for him. After accepting the deal Kim Jongin proposed, he was dragged to some coffee shop by the taller male, and then thoroughly examined.

At first, Baekhyun was asked about his university and the reasons why he took the double degree of music production and marketing together. He had an idea that Jongin was going to ask about that, so he replied without doubts, bravely. And Jongin seemed to be contented.

When those answers were given, Jongin didn't stop even for a moment and started aiming at a totally different side. He asked about the activities Baekhyun had outside the classroom, his social skills and even about the friends he made while being in the campus. The hobbies Baekhyun had. What music he liked. Just everything.

The feeling of being more or less interrogated by a guy whom he just met was strange, yet Baekhyun answered all the questions honestly.

On the other hand, Kim Jongin hadn't told him that much about himself. He only talked about his own past as much as it was needed to describe Chanyeol.

Apparently, the two of them had met all the way back in highschool, whole 8 years ago. At first, they weren't very close, even kind of ignored each other's presence. But as time passed, and the two boys' every day was hours of seeing each other, they eventually had discovered quite a few things that they were similar in. For example, they both were into books. They both liked playing the guitar and create simple melodies. And like that, making music became the bond that tied the two friends tightly together.

Therefore Chanyeol and Jongin started to spend almost all of their time together even outside the school, expressing their love for music and trying to write their very first songs. Their parents were glad as well, because the two were not only compatible in characters, but also in statuses. Both boys were afterall the succesors to large companies and sons of the rich.

But at the time when their genuine friendship was blossoming, neither Chanyeol or Jongin really cared about each other's social position or future heritage. They were both too immersed in the happiness of having found someone whom they could share their happiness, sadness and dreams with. To be truthful, in the school, almost everyone knew who their parents were, and that made it difficult for them to make other friends rather than hanging out with each other. They were invisibly put somewhere above everyone else, loved and hated at the same time. No longer insignificant presences in the crowd.

And so it became that the two guys became even closer to each other, when everyone around them left them alone. They didn't have anyone else to share their hearts with, so they simply shared it with each other.

As Jongin kept talking about Chanyeol being his closest and most trusted friend, Baekhyun had developed a question whether the two of them were in fact dating. There were quite a lot of signs pointing at that conclusion.

First of all, as he listened to him talk, Baekhyun noticed Jongin wore some kind of a silver couple ring on his ring finger. He had been touching it constantly, playing with the silver metal absent-mindedly ever since the beginning of their conversation. It looked like Jongin's long had habit, which he didn't even notice. But it also was an obvious sign of affection for whoever he was sharing these rings with.

But if all Jongin talked bout was Chanyeol, wasn't it logical to assume the second ring's owner was in fact him?

Deciding that it wouldn't be too rude to ask, Baekhyun asked. And all he got from Jongin was a strangled laugh.

"Chanyeol is like a brother to me, Baekhyun." he answered softly. 

But ever since that question was asked, the cheerful light in Jongin's eyes drifted away. He didn't have as much joy in his voice while talking, and his lips were no longer constantly curled into a pleasant smile. Baekhyun had understood that the question had somehow upset Jongin, he had to be dumb not to understand it. And, as if confirming Baekhyun's thoughts, Jongin had thanked him for the conversation a minute later, and, after having Baekhyun promise to show up at PKO next day at 9 AM, left. 

Puzzled, Baekhyun ed his white shirt, and sighed. His mind was spinning because of everything that happened today.

The whole time Baekhyun had spent in the shower, washing his hair and massaging shampo into his brown hair, the male was lost in thoughts. He had many doubts, many worries and fears. But after thinking some more about all the stories he had heard today, Baekhyun found himself feeling something else.

He was looking forward to meeting Park Chanyeol.

***

Baekhyun had never seen a building as fancy as this before.

He had just gotten out of the taxi he took to come here, and the view of PKO entertainment's main building left him gaping in awe. It was huge, platinum coloured walls seemingly reaching the sky. Not to mention the dark blue glass windows reflecting the busy Seoul streets. The building's glory was stunning.

Baekhyun now felt like he was dreaming.

 Kim Jongin was waiting for him outside the building, dressed in a black suit, with his back leaned casually on the wall. He looked even more handsome today, if it was possible, with his hair coiffed back fashionably. He seemed to be a bit lost in his thoughts, but as soon as he noticed Baekhyun, Jongin smiled.

"Baekhyun sshi!" he waved.

"Good morning." Baekhyun smiled at him. 

The two of them greeted each other and turned to enter the PKO building.

" So I've successfully arranged you a spot," Jongin said as they headed for the entrance. "I know you'd prefer to work in the music production department, but there were no available positions. So, since you're a marketing graduate as well, I've put you in my team. The marketing team." 

He seemed to feel a little apologetic, but Baekhyun shook his head at the taller. Actually, he wasn't even hoping to get straight to the most important department of PKO instantly. He in fact preffered to first help Jongin with his best friend, and then maybe climb his way up in the company, if given the chance. And this time on his own, trusting only his own strength. So it was fine.

"It's okay, Jongin sshi. What will I be in charge of?"

"Well, since you're a new employee, you will have to go through probation at first, so you will just be in charge of minor stuff. It's one of the company's unbreakable rules, so I couldn't do anything about that." Jongin gave him a sorry look, but Baekhyun shook his head again and smiled approvingly.

It looked like Jongin was just a ball of never ending worries.

"Of course, I understand. The company has to see whether I'm even capable of anything. I understand perfectly well, Jongin sshi, so don't worry about it."

"Thank you then, Baekhyun sshi." the taller male smiled gratefully, and opened the doors for Baekhyun. 

As his hand was stretched out in front of the shorter, Baekhyun's eyes once again caught onto the flash of silver on Jongin's tan skin. 

It really was a couple ring, if Jongin wore it every single day.

Lost in thoughts about who Jongin was possibly dating and whether that person was an employee in the company, Baekhyun didn't notice another employee hurrying out of the building. Therefore, seconds later, he unluckily collided with the shorter male. The two of them clashed head on, the box in the employee's hands hurtfully scraping the skin of Baekhyun's hand. Baekhyun stumbled backwards, and Jongin managed to catch him and help not to fall, while the shorter male struggled to not drop the heavy box out of his hands.

"I'm so sorry!" the employee started to apologize instantly, chubby cheeks reddening fast. "I didn't notice you!"

"It's okay." Baekhyun gave him a smile instantly, stepping away from Jongin. "You should be more careful, though. Walking with something so heavy is dangerous!"

"Baekhyun sshi, you're bleeding." Jongin said, widely opened, scared eyes locked onto Baekhyun's slender fingers. Apparently the box had scraped the skin of the male's index finger deeply enough for it to start bleeding. 

"Oh my god, I'm sorry!" the employee started panicking. "Do you by chance have any band-aids, team leader?! Or should I run and get some? I can run to the drugstore nearby and-"

"I'm fine!" Baekhyun cut him off with a hearty laugh and pulled out a napkin out of his pocket to cover the wound in order to stop scaring the shortie. "It's just a tiny scratch, really."

"I'll take care of it, Minseok sshi." Jongin assured the worried male, and opened the door for him. "Now hurry, I'm sure Mrs. Lee is waiting for the examples you're carrying."

"Oh, yes! See you later, team leader! And I really am sorry for that, team leader's friend!" Minseok bowed as much as he could, and flew out the door rapidly.

"Is your hand really okay, though?" Jongin asked worriedly. "I could find and bring you some band-aids if you want."

"Don't worry, it's fine, just a tiny scratch." Baekhyun once again assured, and gave the worried guy a smile. "But I see the working conditions are nice here, if the team leader is ready to go and find band-aids just for one employee and his very special index finger."

That made Jongin laugh, as the two of them headed to the elevator. 

"You have beautiful fingers, Baekhyun sshi, and it would be nice if you would keep them while working in my company." 

"Well, I'll do my best, team leader." the shorter male teased, and the two of them entered the empty elevator chuckling.

It felt good to be joking with Jongin. It made the whole fancy and expensive atmosphere of PKO seem more welcoming, more common. Even if the handsome team leader was rich, he was still a nice, friendly person, and that wa