' WHAT THE !'

I never thought those four words that i heard from a vine would lead me into one of the bizzare experiences that i never expected. I felt like a character in those horror webtoons with jumpscares when that cold- hand from nowhere grabbed me, making me face one of the most horrifying faces in the world.

It was the drunk Minseok.

Okay to be proper, it was the drunk Team Manager Kim.

His face was the most groggiest of what I've seen of him, and not that I've noticed, but it felt like his eyes were swollen from crying. I wondered, did this man tried to wash his tears away with alcohol? If so, then I hope he won't do it again.

Team Manager Kim was silent the moment we entered the train. He was drunk as , with his mouth open as he slept with his head on my shoulder. I appreciated the fact that he's with me again, after all the waiting I did that never seemed to happen because of a certain circumstance that ended with me having that huge thing in my hands. It's not that I see Mr. Jung's confession as a problem, however, it is I who has a problem----I don't know what to answer to him.

But anyways, drunk Mr. Kim now reminded me of the time I was taking care of him on that day I entered the company. A dejá-vu, huh?

The train was all lonely and silent, and I could not help but wonder the people around us that were doing their own thing. There were salarymen like us who were seizing this opportunity to gather much sleep as possible to add when they get home and some people who finished and are going home at the end of the day. It was such silent that I couldn't help but have thoughts to myself.

I wondered about Team Manager Kim, who was sleeping peacefully beside me. He reeks strongly of soju, but seeing his groggy face, I've thought that he maybe had an episode of crying over his dead lover. I couldn't help but to gulp. It was hard and rough even for me to think about, but I knew that he's still too hung up to them.

'Dae....' My eyes widened the moment I heard him mumble my name. Ayo, what the is happening? My insides, especially my heart was on a fast rate, and I couldn't help but feel excited. Oh god, I'm so marupok.* I held his face gently, then saw that his eyes were slowly opening to me. It was shining, as if he was teary-eyed and to my surprise, he stood up as if he wasn't drunk an hour ago. 'Ah.. i..it's just a dream, right?'

'Huh?' I answered, confused. He then replied back with a smile that has a hint of sadness, making me even more confused than ever. Wiping his tears with the back of his hand, Team Manager Kim spoke in a slurred manner; 'Why does this feels so real?'

Unable to say a thing, I listened to his ramblings.

'I'm glad that this is a dream... I'm afraid to say this to you, Jongdae-ssi.' He started, looking down on the metal floor. 'I've been trying my best to hide it, but he finally snatched you away from me.'

I raised him an eyebrow. Who the is he? Who the does he think he is? But despite these reactions, I did not utter a word and continued listening to him.

'I know that I can't get over Changmin, but it's different now that I met you. In case you didn't know, I am glad in meeting you, Jongdae.' Those words struck me with arrows of both sadness and happiness. I was sad that he still can't get over his ex who he'd finally mention in which I understood, but I was so happy that he is glad in meeting me. I think my heart skipped a beat, but I tried concealing it as I continued listening to Team Manager Kim, whose head was still on the low. 'I still can't forgive myself, and you're the one who saved me.'

What he did next was something I did not expect. It almost made me faint.

Mr. Kim knelt before me, holding my hands with his closely that squeezed it.

I don't know what is happening, but I love it!

But all of these feel-good excitement immediately vanished when he displayed such pleading look in his eyes, as if he was begging. In a broken voice, he spoke; 'I've been dying to say you this, Jongdae... please don't accept Yunho's confession. He's serious about you, but I can't lose to him...'

'And why is that?' I asked, still confused while putting my last bet in teasing him. He did not speak for a moment but instead looked straight into my eyes.

'Because I also like you.'

And that is, ladies and gentlemen, the statement that froze me to the very core. I just sat there, frozen whilst holding his hand. I was like any Victorian woman who gets motionless being reciprocated with love, and I couldn't even breathe because I was too stunned on what he said.

Team Manager Kim.... likes me?

He likes me?

Those questions were making my head spin that I didn't realise that the person who said it himself collapsed on my lap.

After reaching the station, I managed to carry him but my knees went weaker than a spaghetti as my energy went out. But thankfully, Baekhyun called and said that he'll be fetching us. Thank goodness!

'I thought you're with Mr. Jung, did you reject him?'

Ugh, I take it back, I won't thank him. To my surprise, it wasn't only Baekhyun who arrived. It was an expensive branded car in which he went out of, and from the looks of it, I knew who owned that expensive-looking car.

A few seconds later, a giant went out of the car with a huge grin on his face. Oh, the fan club president.

'So... what is he doing with you?' I asked Baekhyun, who helped me in carrying Mr. Kim. 'Ah, we were having dinner when you called saying that you need help because he was drunk.'

'And I thought it was Mr. Jung who got drunk so we hurried,' Chanyeol added while Baekhyun was snickering in the background. 'But turns out we were wrong.'

'So...did you turn Mr. Jung down and decided to chase Mr. Kim?' was the first question Baekhyun asked the moment we going home to Sehun's apartment. I let out an awkward, embarrassed laugh. 'Well I was with Mr. Jung at the station before this drunkass suddenly grabbed my hand.'

'Oh,' spoke Chanyeol, who had the nerve to tease me whilst gluing his eyes on the road. 'So you did turn him down.'

'No,' I replied,  'I didn't turn him down, it's just that.... that.... that...'

God, even thinking of it makes me anxious!

'That?' Baekhyun gently asked, but what I replied was somehow rash.

'MR. JUNG CONFESSED TO ME!'

Due to shock, Chanyeol immediately stopped the car in the middle of the road. Baekhyun's mouth went agape. The cars behind us were honking as they passed around us, probably annoyed at abrupt stop the tall man made. The two looked at me with obvious shock in their faces. Don't worry guys, I myself can't believe it too.

'This is so ing weird....' Chanyeol spoke. 'You've got two guys in one go.'

'Why does that sound like you're mocking Jongdae, Yeol?'

'Nah,' He immediately started the car. 'But why is Team Manager Kim doing here?'

Without emotion, I replied, 'He said that I should not choose Mr. Jung because he also likes me.'

And with that, ladies and gentlemen, made me wonder why we haven't got an accident considering how Chanyeol suddenly stops in the middle of driving.

Finally, and without injuries (which we are very lucky of not having), we arrived at Sehun's apartment. Sehun was not happy seeing me having arm and arm with a completely drunk stranger, and was about to close the door when Baekhyun shouted 'It's him!'.

Well, there was a very evil look on his face when he opened the door.

'This is happening all over again.' Chanyeol sighed as I placed Team Manager Kim on my bed. He was sleeping soundly that I forgot that this drunk man is older than me and not a kitten having his good night's sleep. But I tried myself to get out of Mr. Kim's charms since I was curious about what Chanyeol said. O hurried to the living room, where the three of them sat, facing each other. I immediately sat beside Sehun, and saw that there is a conflicted look on his face. 'So what were you talking about earlier?'

'You know, Jongdae-ssi, this double confession happened two years ago.' He started, eyes full of worry. 'I know everyone in the company knew this, that Team Manager Kim has a dead ex-lover.'

Seeing me nodding, he continued. 'His name was Shim Changmin, who's from the same department as you. Everyone knew that Team Manager has a big crush on him, considering how he frequently goes outside just to have a talk. But there is a catch, Mr. Jung also has, too.'

'We thought that Mr. Kim was surely in a disadvantage.'

'Why is that?'

'Mr. Jung and Mr. Shim are childhood friends, and that he has a long-time feelings for him.' He replied. 'But it was actually a miracle that Changmin chose Minseok instead of his childhood friend, saying that he's cute and all---'

Changmin-ssi, that is a mood.

'We thought that the two would fight since one of them had long time feelings, but there was none. But the awaited fight happened when Changmin and Minseok fought.'

'It was on one of the drinking parties I coerced the director to have,' Chanyeol chuckled as he mentioned it. 'Then they went out and one of us who went out to smoke heard them fighting, saying that Mr. Kim was having a hard time since Mr. Shim was still close with his childhood friend. He didn't see it as an issue, but Mr. Kim, however, was furious and jealous. At that time, the person who heard them went inside and told us that he and Mr. Shim are fighting in the middle of the street. To our horror, he ran away from Mr. Kim and met his fate with a truck.'

'It was a total shock to us, but the person who got hurt the most was Mr. Jung. He fought with Mr. Kim at that Mr. Shim's funeral, saying that he trusted the person he loved the most to him because he knew that he'll be happier with him, but now he regrets it. But suddenly they were in good terms after the funeral.'

'So is this a warning....?' I asked, trying not to break the mood.

'No, I'm saying that choose the person you love, but please don't die.'

MARUPOK is a Filipino term that is used on someone who is easily giddy when in terms of love, or in a romantic way. (hansolshoe, 2018)

hansolshoe. (2018, September 4). marupok. Retrieved from https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=marupok