Chapter Text
The familiar clack of heels on the polished concrete floor had Yu Jimin scurrying back into the break room, cursing under her breath at the awful timing. She angles her body, a measly attempt to not get noticed through the glass pane walls that did nothing to help hide her.
But the familiar clack of heels divert into the boss’ office. Jimin sighs in relief.
“Did you take my parfait cup? I labeled it with my name and everything and now it’s not in the fridge!”
Jimin winces, vaguely remembering a half faded Yizhuo written in sharpie on the side of the cup holding the decadent desert she devoured not too long ago.
“Nope! Haven’t seen it, sorry.”
Yizhuo shrugs it off coolly. Jimin makes a mental note of replacing what she took. “What’s that all about?” She nods towards the boss’ see through office, glass panes identical to the break room. Jimin glances over with great hesitation.
Bad idea.
Her mind goes into overdrive, malfunctioning over the fact that Kim Minjeong is back in town with her hair cut short (exactly the way Jimin used to like it), dyed grey blonde instead of the brown Jimin last saw her in.
Even with the office on full display, the room itself was soundproof. All everyone could see was animated arguing and hands flailing around, mainly on Minjeong’s end.
“Our poor boss is clearly getting an earful.” Jimin mumbles. She can sense Yizhuo’s curious gaze shifting onto her.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
Yes, Jimin answers in her head.
Kim Minjeong ended things with Jimin on her apartment doorstep and disappeared into the wind for what Jimin presumed to be for some covert undercover mission. That was nearly an entire year ago.
Yizhuo’s gaze flickers back to the drama unraveling before them. “Question is, what business does the DIA have with us for her to be here?”
~
“DIA Officer Kim, we are glad to have you back.”
“Cut the crap, Uchinaga. Why would you pull me off this investigation when I was so close to finding out the head of the snake?”
Aeri Uchinaga. Special Agent in Charge, read the name plate on her desk.
“Because you should’ve found them by now.”
The DIA Officer scoffs. “I’m not sure if you know what secret undercover mission entails, but they usually take a while!”
Aeri slowly rises from her chair, hands signaling for Minjeong to calm down. “We don’t need to be losing our cool here. The DIA and FBI both agreed to pull you out before it got too dangerous.”
“So, what, that’s it then?” Minjeong crosses her arms, looking incredulously at Aeri. “A year’s worth of my time, the DIA’s time, the FBI’s time, all for nothing?”
“Who said it was all for nothing?” Aeri turns stern, having had enough of this unprofessional back and forth with someone who wasn’t even a part of her team. “Don’t forget, Minjeong, you’re here in my office right now as a courtesy to let the FBI know about your findings during the mission.”
“It’s DIA Officer Kim to you.” Minjeong retorts dumbly. The angry facade she came barreling in with starts to falter the longer Aeri studies her.
Aeri sighs, coming around the desk to take a seat on top of it. “It wasn’t safe anymore, Minjeong, and you know that. If it were solely up to me, I would’ve pulled you back sooner.”
Minjeong quickly reverts back to being defensive. “Are you questioning my capabilities?” Another scoff. “Funny, considering we trained together.”
A long silence passes. Aeri holds Minjeong’s defiant stare.
“DIA Officer Kim.” Aeri addresses, serious, with all pleasantries thrown out the window. “Please hand over the file you have in your possession and be on your way.”
“Whatever.” Minjeong tosses the manila folder onto the Special Agent’s desk.
They exchange one last wordless look before Minjeong saunters back out of the office and into the bullpen. Out of the corner of her eye, she spots a familiar figure trying her hardest to hide inside of what could essentially be a glass box.
Yu Jimin was on full display.
Minjeong bit her cheek, resisting the pulling urge to divert her footsteps towards the break room. She set her eyes on the elevator fifteen feet ahead of her.
Her next mission: Get out of this hell hole as fast as she can.