[A/N: I updated sooner than expected!!! Now let me warn you about this chap. You'll see some dirty yeol and some Ji Hoon. HAHAHAH. Brace yourselves. I'll provide some bg music later :) Thanks nina147 for the poster!]

Steady, subdued, and soft breathing. Take it easy. Resist the urge to scream

Yes, Moon Ah Reum should breathe in, breathe out as if a foul-mouthed K-pop idol did not ruin her chances of sweetly confessing to the man of her dreams.

Two minutes was the length of the room's momentary silence when Chanyeol blurted out the most controversial words of the century,

"How about you focus on urgent things? Urgent things like Ah Reum's feelings for you?" 

Ah Reum could not speak nor move. Hell, she could not even breathe! Thankfully, the heaven-sent Im Ji Hoon broke the silence with a refined laugh.

"Nothing's urgent about that, Yeol. It's inevitable to harbor feelings of respect to one's boss. As her senior, of course Ah Reum would develop feelings of courtesy towards me. In return, I respect her as my trusted publicist, so if you ask me, the only urgent thing we need to focus on are your concerns with your solo." Ji Hoon earnestly mentioned, showcasing his well-mannered yet authoritative glory to everyone in the studio. 

Briefly, Ah Reum sighed a sigh of relief for her precious Ji Hoon smoothed out the situation like he had a handy iron with him. But on the gloomer side of things, a tiny, hopeful voice inside her wished for Ji Hoon to declare that he had feelings for Ah Reum too.

Romantic feelings, and not that darned mutual respect gibberish Ah Reum has heard a million times already.

The rest of the EXO members magically dispersed, avoiding the sticky situation between Mr. Senior Publicist and Mr.Short-tempered Rapper.

And right after the EXO members left, Moon Ah Reum, Park Chanyeol and Im Ji Hoon shared the most uncomfortable space to ever exist.

"Chanyeol, I expect you to sort out your worries with the tech team ASAP, or I'll have to call an emergency meeting. We don't want that, do we?" Ji Hoon warned, casually straightening his silver satin skinny necktie. 

Chanyeol chuckled. "Noted, boss." He was being sarcastic.

Without glancing in the two men's directions, Ah Reum diverted her mind into thinking of ways how not to stand powerless beside the two, equally controlling men. Maybe she should spruce up her already perfect posture, or lean her surprisingly full chest towards them, or maybe-

"See you in EXO'luXion, Ah Reum." Ji Hoon interrupted her thoughts with his proper goodbye as he headed out of the room.

Croo. Croo. Chanyeol and Ah Reum alone, in a soundproof room. Croo. Croo.

"Before you blow my brains out, I'm gonna say my sorry, Miss Moon Ah Reum. That was a douche move of mine for indirectly telling Ji Hoon about your feelings. I was just a little too worked up about my solo, so yes, I apologize." Chanyeol advanced, walking towards her with uncalculated and unsophisticated steps.

Chanyeol's graceless walking, for some unknown reason, had Ah Reum feeling nervous. More often than not, she did not bat a single eyelash whenever a coarse-bred man walked her way, but Chanyeol's huge, menacing footsteps sent her pulse into an abnormal frenzy. It must be because she felt like a prey being approached by her predator. 

Before Chanyeol could even take another step, Ah Reum placed her firm palm in between Chanyeol and her,

"No need for apologies. I was not offended." She had a cool reply.

In fact, what she said was true. Her rational mind trained her not to take offense at careless slurs made by people like Chanyeol. She understood the human nature of talking too much, and that human nature impeccably applied to the chatty Chanyeol