“They released the statement.”

Yeri said while looking at her phone screen as she munched her choco pie. She grimaced at the taste of the pie.

“This taste so horrible.”

“It used to be your favorite.” Seulgi rolled her eyes and scoffed.

“But it’s nothing compared to Belgium chocolate covered by gold given by Irene Bae.”

“Your tongue is already spoiled.”

Seulgi picked up her phone from the coffee table and opened her browser app. As she expected, her “dating” news with Irene became a hot headline and ranked #1 everywhere. Everyone on the internet was literally talking about them.

“Seems like my friend is famous now. Can I have your sign?” Yeri teased.

“Shut up.”

Seulgi adjusted her seat, and scrolled her phone screen, reading through the comment section. Surprisingly, it was not as bad as Seulgi thought it would turn out to be.

“The barista girl is actually cute.”

“Not as pretty as Jennie but remembering she is a non-celebrity, she is beautiful.”

“I already ship them, they make a cute couple.”

“She’s better than Jennie in my opinion.”

Seulgi sighed in relief. She really thought she would be getting so much hate.

“They are already rooting for you.” Yeri said as she plopped down on the sofa next beside Seulgi.

“I was worried for nothing, I guess.” Seulgi said.

“Told you not to worry too much. Anyways, any updates on the ‘dates’?”

Seulgi shrugged.

“I don’t know, haven’t heard from them.”

Right after that, Seulgi’s phone abruptly rang. There’s an incoming call from Wendy.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Seulgi-ssi. Are you free now?”

“Yeah.”

“Can you come over? Everything is settled and we have to talk to you in person. I’ll send our people to pick you up.”

Seulgi gave a glance to Yeri, and Yeri signaled a thumb up.

“Sure, I have nothing to do, anyway.”

“Okay. They’ll be arriving in 15 minutes. See you.”

Wendy ended the call. Seulgi stood up and heading to her room to change and prepare.

“Please keep me updated!” Yeri bellowed from the living room.

Seulgi didn’t know but somehow, she was so nervous. That was understandable since Seulgi was just getting off from the car Irene sent, parked right in front of the Bae’s building, and everyone’s eyes was already plastered on her.

Seulgi mentally cursed herself. She should have asked the driver to park in the more private place, parking area, maybe.

Well, she actually had mentally prepared herself. Public knew her as Irene Bae’s “girlfriend” now and she just knew her life wouldn’t be the same anymore, at least for a while.

“Please come in, Ms. Kang.” Minhyuk- the guard that Irene promised her on the previous day said, interrupting Seulgi from her deep thoughts.

She really didn’t have choices so she just walked through the entrance, trying her best to ignore handful of people in the building that couldn’t stop staring at her.

Seulgi kept walking forwards, trailed by Minhyuk from behind when her side of eyes caught a glimpse of the private elevator she took several days ago.

“Would you like to take the private elevator, Ms. Kang?” Minhyuk asked.

Seulgi quickly shook her head in response. She had to remind herself that the thing between her and Irene was not real. It seemed like Minhyuk himself also had no idea about the arrangement.

“I’ll take the public one.” Seulgi said as she continued her steps.

She was glad it was lunch time, so the elevator was not as crowded as she thought it was going to be.

She reached the floor, and the elevator door was opened.

“Please lead the way, Minhyuk-ssi.”

Seulgi was so unfamiliar with this place so she let Minhyuk lead the way, and she followed from behind.

After walking for minutes, they finally stopped in front of a room that Seulgi acknowledged as Irene’s room. There was a counter desk right beside the entrance door, and a woman sitting behind it.

Noticing Seulgi’s presence, the woman who Seulgi assumed as Irene’s secretary got up from her seat immediately and gave her a polite bow.

Seulgi was not used to this kind of treatment. She had lost count of how many times people had bowed to her on her way to Irene’s room. She lowkey felt bad for those people, she felt like she was fooling them.

Well, she was.

Being such a good person she was, Seulgi bowed back to the woman.

“You must be Ms. Kang. I’m Myoui Mina, Ms. Bae’s personal secretary. Nice to meet you.” Mina- the girl’s name uttered as she flashed a soft smile to Seulgi.

Mina signalled Minhyuk to leave, and she walked towards the door.

“Ms. Bae has been waiting for you.”

She knocked on the door several times. Not long after that, there was a familiar voice coming from inside of the room.

“Come in.”

Mina shot up her hand, gripping the handle and opening the door, letting Seulgi to go inside. Seulgi mouthed a simple thank you and entered the room.

She was welcomed by the view of Irene working behind the huge working desk, with her eyes plastered on her computer’s screen.

Seulgi couldn’t deny but the older woman looked so attractive in this state.

For Seulgi she was always attractive.

Irene moved her chair and stood up, and a soft smile creeped up her face as she walked towards Seulgi’s direction.

“Hello, Seulgi-ssi.” Irene smiled.

Seulgi couldn’t help but hold the hem of sweater she was wearing. It was her habit. She always did that when she felt extremely nervous.

“H-hello.” She stammered.

“Please have a seat.” Seulgi nodded in response and followed Irene from behind. She took a seat across from Irene.

“Do you want some coffee?” Irene asked.

“Uh, no. Only water, please.”

Irene called Mina through local phone on the side table beside her, telling her to make drinks for herself and Seulgi. Seulgi wiggling her eyebrows in confusion- she could just scream or walk since Mina was literally right outside her room, but it’s rich people thing, Seulgi mentally said to herself.

“You hate coffee?” Irene asked. And for the second time she irked at the word “coffee”.

Seulgi never understood why people love that black liquid so much.

“Kind of- how do you know?” Seulgi asked in confusion.

Irene adjusted her seat, and cackled.

“Your expression says it all.”

Seulgi didn’t know if she was so obvious or It’s just Irene that was good in reading people.

Not long after that, Mina entered the room with a tray on her hand. Water for Seulgi, and coffee- double shot one for Irene.

“You like coffee?” Seulgi eyes widening at the view of the older’s cup- it looked so… black.

“You can say that.” Irene picked up her freshly brewed coffee from the table and took a sip, savoring the bitter taste of the black liquid going down .

Irene couldn’t help but smile seeing the view across from her. Seulgi was looking at her in horror when she drank her coffee.

“Doesn’t it taste bitter?”

“It does, but I enjoy the bitterness, somehow.”

Seulgi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before picking up the glass and drank her water.

“Wendy is on the way. She’ll be arriving soon.” Seulgi nodded in response.

Seulgi squirmed at her place. Seulgi glanced around, observing the entire room. She was once here but she was too nervous that time to even think about another things. It’s not like she was not nervous this time, but it’s better.

“So, what do you like to drink?”

Seulgi shifted back her attention to Irene, and mindlessly answered.

“Banana milk!”

Seulgi bounced in her seat from excitement. Her eyes were lighting up at her own thoughts of banana milk. She would sacrifice everything for the yellow liquid and of course, chocolate cake.

Irene couldn’t help but a light laugh escaped . Heat rushed up Seulgi’s cheeks when she realized she was embarrassing herself in front of Irene.

After her laugh had died down a bit, Irene hazily said.

“You are adorable.” Irene said in giggled.

And the red tint on Seulgi’s cheeks was getting worse.

Seulgi adjusted her seat and cleared .

“Sorry for that.”

“It’s okay. I’ll make sure to buy boxes of banana milk, later.”

Was Irene teasing her?