Friday has come. There were nothing special happened these days. Day pass, one by one as usual. Only work, more work, and more responsibilities as we grown up everyday. Of course, life won’t be easy but surely there were things we should be glad about.

It start as usual. Today i decided to go a bit earlier, for a cup of warm latte and favorite bagel from a small coffee shop i just found two days ago. It’s almost weekend, and i wanted to celebrate it ealier. My mood today been so good, as there were no disruption last night. Oddly, there were no sound from across my unit this past week. Maybe, they’ve been aware with their mistakes so they try to cut it off. As victim, i felt happy about it. I can sleep comfortably so.

Creak.

 I opened my door carefully. It’s only 6.15 a.m now, a bit too early for Korean life, some of them might still sleeping so i don’t want to disturb them with sounds. There were none in the corridor but me. I walked to the elevator easely, pressed the button and wait. I don’t need to wait as long as usual, there were no ‘Elevator jam’ as usual. The elevator goes up fast, and opened its door. I walked in and suddenly i heard fast footstep outside. That person might be in a rush, i thought. So i pressed the open button, so he/she can goes down with me. The elevator door suddely closed in a half, but i managed to open it again as i saw a silhoulette of a man waiting outside. He lift his head and look at me. I got a bit shocked. That guy is no one than Mino.

What on earth does he doing this early? I could not help myself not to stare at him in questioning expression. He silently stands next to me, without saying anything. I glance, examining him from head to toe. Mino already looked neat and fresh. He’s already showered. I can smell that manly, scent from his usual bodywash. His face looks whiter and blushier, he must’ve applied some makeup before, yet i can see dark circle under his eyebags. Somehow he doesn’t look relaxed.

The elevator stay in silence. I haven’t really talked to him after that coffee incident, Maybe i could say that this is my first time encountering with him again since then. These days i’ve tried to avoid him, because of that coffee incident. I was ashamed by that. Also, these days i’ve been busy i don’t see him often. Maybe once in the morning, after he jog. Mino choose not to be distacted by the fact i’m here, right by him. He doesn’t smile, he doesn’t talk, he even doesn’t greet me first. This circumstance were too awkward for me, i feel like i’ve done something wrong to him. I tried not to think about it. He might be thinking about something else now, so he doesn’t really care about surroundings. Afterall, our encounter—it won’t be long, as he will going to different place with me, right?

Ding.

The door opened as i reached first floor. I urgedly walked out, wanted to escpe from this awkward situation. I politely smile and wave my hand. But what happened next were unpredictable. He also goes for the same floor as mine, not to basement where the parking lot are, as i predict. Means, he’ll going to walk, not by his car.

But why the hell he walk? Doesn’t he has a car? Why doesn’t he drive as usual? I need to walk reaaalllly slow behind him, trying to make a gap between us. But today, his step is not normal, he also walk slowly. Suddenly he stop and turns around, looking at me. I got surprised because i got caught for keep away from him. I really don’t have any other option but get closer to him.

“Well... good morning, Kim-ssi? What are you doing this early? And why you walk?” I tried to cover my awkward expression by trying to be nice. As i already next to him, he walk together with me.

“Yura use my car. And can’t i walk too?” Mino answer it shortly. He glare at me. Seems like he’s not in a mood for my friendliness.

“Oh.. i mean, sure you can.” I smiled. This guy is the same as before. Can’t he just appreciate my kindness? I just tried to be nice to you. What a rude .

The situation goes awkward again. We walk side by side, but no word appear between us. We just keep walking to our office. Even we took the same subway. It’s too awkward but silence might be the best way for this. We keep walking after we goes out from Gangnam station. The road is no longer deserted. Some people already out there. From afar, i could see my main destination. The coffee shop. I peek at Mino. He still focused on the road.

“Mino-ie. I think i couldn’t accompany you more. I’ll go to grab my breakfast. Do you want to get coffee, too?”

He stops. “Oh, okay. But no.” Then he just walk away, leave me in the middle of the road. I was left dumbfouded.

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It’s 4 p.m now, and i already done my work. I wanted to get some soda on the vending machine near the copy machine with Bong just now. We walk casually as we talk, as we pass Manager Seunghyun’s room. We stops.

“Yah, Bong-ie,” I poked at Bong forcefully. “Do you hear what i hear?”

“Hm. I heard Seunghyun’s voice. It doesn’t seems pleasant.” Bong looked at me.

“It’s not usual. I rarely heard this kind of voice, except when he’s mad. And he’s rarely mad.”

“Someone just got into trouble.”

“But who could it be?” I start questioning myself. These days everything seems okay, tho.

“Molla. But don’t you wanna know?” Bong’s face become serious. He’s trying to send his codes, to me.

“Yah, i dont think we should interfering this. We’ll got into trouble if we got caught. Let’s come to our sense, you just need some soda.” I grab his arm trying to pull him to vending machine. But he stand still.

“Yah, you are no fun. Promise you it wont get us in trouble, we’re not interfering, we’re just looking. And we won’t get any trouble if we’re silent. Please.”

I hesitate at first, but i had no choice but follow him as he drag me to the copy machine which is next in front of Seunghyun’s room. We stand there, trying to look inside the room. I can see someone is in Seunghyun’s room. It’s a man and he just sit down there, without looking anywhere. His head were down and there were Seunghyun, standing in front of that man, pointing his finger to him. Seunghyun feels mad, and it’s scary to see him like that. At first it’s bit unclear but then i can see that man’s face as he lift his face. It’s Mino.

“Mino, Mino.” I whisper to Bong which is right beside me. He looks shocked, too.

“He definetly in a big trouble.” Bong murmuring to himself.

“Why?” I don’t get it. Bong looked at me, questioning myself.

“Don’t you realized that he hasn’t worked this past week?”

“Really?!?” I really don’t realized it. It has been a week i don’t saw him wandering at work. I got too focused with my test so i don’t really care about what’s happening these days. I feel bad because i don’t even know that he’s been ditching this past week.

“Yah, what kind of people are you?” Bong hit my arm, telling me how apathetic i am. We’re just busy bickering until we don’t realized that Seunghyun is already there, he just opened his door and found us in front of his room.

“What are you guys doing here?” Seunghyun looked at us curiously, one by one. I feel panic, and try to remain calm as possible.

“We’re.... just... looking... how good this copy machine was, Seunghyun-ssi.” Bong smiled awkwardly. I glare at him. How could he say ridiculous things like that? He pinch my back, trying to get my support.

“What......-ah, ne, this copy machine were so cool. Daebak. Is it new?”

“Well......,” Seunghyun confusedly look at us, he doesn’t seem believing what we’re talking about. “That is the usual copy machine you usually use, Tika-ssi.”

What. What a stupid answer. You must’ve look dumber now. My mind goes blank.

“Ah.... that must be because she never use this kind of copy machine back in Indonesia, right, Tika-ssi?” Bong snaps, making the excuse for both of us.

“Yes! True!,” I nod my head with vengeance, trying to reassure Bong’s statement. Seunghyun sighs. Seems like he trust our statement. Then he pleased himself to leave, left the both of us there, who feel relieved and stressed at the same time.

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Me and my co-workers sat in our meeting room. As being planned before, we will go to Karaoke bar to celebrate my test result. Seunghyun has promised to treat us with his own money, so it’s a great deal. I mean, it’s also good to spent Saturday night hanging out with friends. We just talked when Seunghyun and Mino came up at the same time. They act like there’s nothing between them, especially when we all know that they have problem before.

“We’re all here, so shall we go?” Jaebum jumped out excitedly, he’s ready to get drunk. He grab Mino’s arm, “Don’t you wanna go, Mino-ie?”

“Ah... i don’t think...” Mino release his arm silently. Jaebum look surprised.

“Wae? You are no fun. Its for Tika-ya, right?” Jaebum looked at me. I look at Mino’s face, his face says that he’s burdened.

“Yeah... but maybe he’s busy.....” I awkwardly smiles.

“I think you need to go. Even for a while.” Seunghyun cut me off. Mino look resigned, at last he choose to go with us. I walk beside him, silently murmuring to him. “Sorry, Mino-ie. My fault.”

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Time pass so fast. We just finished the main dish, and now they were ordering soju and beer. I looked at my surrounding. It’s a kind of big Karaoke bar, where they have an open stage for people who wants to show their singing skill. There were a lot of people in here, mostly employee like us, who wants to release their stress afterwork. They enjoyed it so much, except one person sat in front of me. Kim Mino looks like he’s not enjoyed this circumstance. He just trying to looks okay with it.

The party got crazier as the Soju come. Jaebum got excited by soju. He happily distributes it to our glasses.

“Tika, for you.” Jaebum hands a glass to me. I hesitately grab it. I’m not a good drinker, and i never drink soju before. Grown up in Indonesia, alcohol isn’t just my thing. I get concerned with the fact i’ve never drunk before.

Seunghyun suddenly stands up, lift his glass. “For our friend, Tika-ssi.” And gulp down his Soju. Everyone does the same, so i think i should, too. I drink out my Soju. I can feel my tongue being washed out with the taste of soju. I choked up a bit.

“How is it taste, Tika? Massiseo?”

“Ah...ne. Gomawo-yeo. Massita.”

“Let me pour the next.” Hana grabs my glass, and fill it, full glass. I couldn’t say anything but drink it.

After a few glass, i felt like i’m not okay. I feel flying, my sight become unclear. My stomach starts to growl, feel nausea. If i’m doing it again, i feel like i wanna throw up. I look at my surrounding, but my co-workers seems like the didn’t notice it. They’re all busy drinking and singing. I must’ve look pathetic now. Then i saw Mino comeback from the restroom and sit. I looked at him patheticly.

“Mino-ie,” i whisper, my voice couldn’t come out properly because i was too drunk. “I can’t. Help me.”

“You’re sad.”

“Yah, please. Or i’ll throw up here.” I hit him aimlesly. I was too drunk to even aim it properly.

Without words he stands up, talked to Jaebum a bit, grab my bag and help me to stand up. Together we leave the Karaoke and walk home. On our way, He  keep grabbing my arm, support me to walk because i have no energy left to walk by myself. My heads hurts, and i keep trying not to throw up as i walk. But i can't hold it anymore.

"Woo- i need to.."

Knowing the situation, he helds me to the nearest bushes. I just can't help it but throw up everything, in front of Mino. I got some vomit stain in my hand, as i tried to hold it before. Of course i feel ashamed but i just can't. Then he brought me to nearest convenient store. He made me sat there as he walked in. He come out with a cup of hot tea and tissue. He hands me the cup and quickly wipe my hands. I felt amused by the fact he can be that gentleman. At first i expect him to yell at me for burdening him. But he just didn't. He silently take care of me, as what man usually did to his girl.

"Mino-ie." I call him as he wipes my knees. He lift his head.

"Gomawo. You are a good friend."

"Hm." He keep focusing to my knees.

"........and..... can you.... keep this secret? I don't want the others know about this. Promise?"

Mino suddenly burst into laughter and hit my knees.

“Arasso, Pathetic.”