Work Text:
When Jaeyun called Jungwon about the former's possible job promotion, Jungwon squealed, even more excited than his colleague was. Knowing how picky their boss is, getting an offer directly from Sunghoon himself could only mean good, and so Jungwon convinced Jaeyun to try it out at all costs. Eventually, Jaeyun agreed, unenthusiastically, but hey his colleague agreed to work near someone he despises, so that's a win in Jungwon's book!
It is only much later on into his next shift when Jungwon realized that from now on, he might have absolutely no one to talk to without being berated just for breathing the same air. Now Jungwon wished he had joined in shit talking their boss with Jaeyun in that phone call, but what kind of friend and colleague would he be for taking away such a good opportunity from Jaeyun?!
Daeng 🦮
11.36 A.M
Daeng 🦮
Don't forget to feed Cory the goldfish lunch
The sprinkler container beside his fishbowl
is his food :)
The messages Jaeyun had just sent him is another painful reminder that Jaeyun's no longer his cubicle neighbor, and that he can’t just tap Jungwon's shoulder just to talk to him whenever he needs to. Who’s going to guard his laptop and files if he were to leave his cubicle for a bathroom break, now that Jaeyun has his own office as Sunghoon's secretary? Should he just bring Cory's fishbowl to his cubicle instead? Not a good idea with how cramped the cubicle space is, with an unsettling amount of paper and wires connected to his laptop. And so, he could only wait until everyone had gone to the break room for lunch break, keeping an eye on them like a hawk.
When no one's left in the office, Jungwon stood up from his seat, stretching momentarily, before walking towards the fishbowl. He felt jealous of the carefree fish, before remembering that Cory would’ve died of starvation in the office if it weren't for Jaeyun being attentive. Jungwon sighed, crouching down to face the goldfish in the fishbowl as he sprinkled some food into the water.
“Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you live in a bigger tank instead of this small fishbowl?” Jungwon rested his face on his palm, watching the fish reply to him in bubbles, yet nodding to the fish's answer as if he understood a thing.
“Maybe I'm not talking about fishbowls.” Jungwon muttered, and the fish boops its head towards the glass.
“Woah woah, watch your head! You don't want to worsen your memory, do you?” Jungwon warned Cory, pointing his fingers towards a little reef in the fishbowl for the goldfish to swim to instead. He spent a couple more moments staring at the goldfish happily gulping down the food he sprinkled into the water, before standing back up, making a beeline back to his cubicle.
Before he could take a seat and continue with his work, he gasped when he saw a head of blonde hair that took over his seat. His chair turned around mysteriously, revealing Sunoo with his fingers intertwined, resting under his chin.
“What are you doing here?!” Jungwon asked, his heart still racing from the scare his colleague gave him.
“You wouldn't read my texts, so I have to take matters into my own hands.” Sunoo replied innocently, staring up at Jungwon, his crossed legs resting on Jungwon's desk, mindfully avoiding the latter's paperwork and laptop, which Jungwon appreciates. Still, that doesn't dismiss the fact that Sunoo had randomly colonized his cubicle while he's busy, that's no different to an ambush!
“What did you text me, anyways?” Jungwon sighed, ushering Sunoo to let him sit, to which the latter gracefully refused by shaking his head.
“To join Ni-ki and I for lunch! Have you forgotten?!” Sunoo's jaw dropped in disbelief that his coworker forgot about their lunch break together with a bonus of hot gossip. Jungwon had to apologize to the older one over and over, before the latter smiled and stood up from the seat, allowing him to get his lunch box from his bag, stack away the files and close his laptop.
“Jungwon, Sunoo, over here!” Ni-ki waved at the both of them when they entered the break room. They noticed and walked over to Ni-ki’s table, settling down on their seats with their lunches.
“Sorry, Jaeyun reminded me to feed the goldfish.” Jungwon apologized sheepishly, and Ni-ki giggled at the former’s shyness. The three of them dug into their lunch, enjoying their food in silence, before one of them broke the silence.
“So, did Jaeyun get promoted?” Sunoo asked carefully, remembering how mad the data analyst was when Sunghoon knew about the secret they agreed to keep.
“He did, but we still have to do our overtime shifts either way.” Jungwon sighed, and Ni-ki slumped on the chair unenthusiastically. Jaeyun's probably drinking coconuts under the palm trees in Hawaii in his week off while the three of them eventually have to take their overtime shifts on behalf of the former. Not that his colleague doesn't deserve it at all, when Jaeyun had always been serious about his job since day one.
“Aww, did you miss Jaeyun?” Ni-ki teased Jungwon, lightly nudging the latter's shoulder.
“It's not just that! Now I have no one as my cubicle neighbor…” Jungwon fears the thought of someone else moving to the cubicle next to his once Jaeyun returns to work after the latter's week off.
“I can move in if you want!” Sunoo chirped, seeing a fantastic opportunity to share more gossip with Jungwon.
“Sunoo, you're in the R&D department. Our offices are literally 2 floors apart.” Jungwon brought him back to reality, and Sunoo pouted in response.
“It wouldn't hurt to try…” Sunoo muttered, and his boyfriend snickered at Sunoo's failed attempt at comforting Jungwon.
“But hey, I heard that Sunghoon's not getting any new employees for the next 6 months, so if you want to, you can double your workspace. Isn't that great?” Ni-ki said, hopefully that could cheer up the apprentice.
“Ughh, that'd just make things harder for me!” Jungwon groaned in frustration, his hand now gripping onto his own hair. Sunoo and Ni-ki shared a confused look, before their gaze directed back to their distressed coworker.
“Why? Is something wrong?” Sunoo asked, starting to feel concerned for his colleague.
“Remember when I tried to report Jinha and others to HR?” Jungwon asked, watching Sunoo and Ni-ki's reactions as the two of them nodded.
“Yeah, I let you go through the CCTV footage, right?” Ni-ki said, remembering when Sunoo referred Jungwon to him. Jungwon nodded, before letting out a defeated sigh.
“That didn't work. The HR guy was an asshole, and I cried pathetically when Jaeyun's back.” Jungwon summarized the whole incident in one sentence, and Sunoo almost dropped his fork. Sunoo placed the fork aside, before getting serious.
“Details, Jungwon. What did he say?” Sunoo leaned forward to hear more of the story, partially nosy and partially concerned for his friend.
“Well, he said that I forged the CCTV footage, falsely accusing my coworkers, and that I should shut the fuck up because I'm just an apprentice.” Jungwon had to look around to check his surroundings, before whisper-yelling to Ni-ki and Sunoo. Both of them let out a gasp in unison, before silently side-eyeing basically everyone in the break room with them right now.
“No way.” Sunoo was beyond shocked, how come there's never this much drama in the R&D department?!
“Ain't no way that wrinkly old man said that when he can't even lie to his ex-wife about his mistress properly.” Ni-ki scoffed, and Sunoo’s neck snapped to face his boyfriend, absolutely flabbergasted.
“How did you know all of this?!” Sunoo hit Ni-ki's shoulder, with a hand over his mouth.
“Sunoo, I watch and monitor security footage for a living.” Ni-ki deadpanned, never finding his job to be anywhere near boring with the sheer amount of drama he overhears everyday.
“Anyways, that's besides the point. I work directly under Sunghoon, are you sure you don't want me to tell him about it?” Ni-ki asked, getting serious again. Jungwon hummed in thought before nodding his head.
“The HR guy already knew it, and there's a chance that he could spread rumors about me to everyone else at this point. If Sunghoon suddenly knows about this situation, then things could be even more complicated between him and I.” Jungwon analyzed and Sunoo’s eyebrows furrowed worriedly.
“Are you sure, Jungwon? You know how much everyone fears Sunghoon in here, no one would dare to do anything to you if Sunghoon’s involved.” Sunoo said, wondering if this is the reason why Jungwon's sad to see Jaeyun get promoted, even though the latter just wants the best for Jaeyun.
“Well, more like thirsting over him, but yeah same thing.” Ni-ki corrected, utterly cringing whenever someone tries to act friendlier to Sunghoon, when his friend clearly looks uninterested.
“I'm sure, Sunoo. I can try again after this thing dies down for a bit…” Jungwon reassured the blondie and his boyfriend.
“Okay. Well if you want someone to talk to during your break and lunch, we're right here!” Sunoo beamed a smile at Jungwon, the latter giggling in response.
────── ⋆⋅✦⋅⋆ ──────
His week had gone on uneventfully, surprisingly. Normally, he had to let Jaeyun watch over his cubicle if he were to go for a bathroom or snack break, or sprint his ass off just to make sure that nobody had messed with his work. Though Jungwon found it strange sometimes, how nobody had asked him to do more work, or even a dirty look sent his way, he didn't think too much about it.
One day, as he was peacefully typing on his laptop, a voice called out to him.
“Jungwon! You got these reports to finish by Tuesday.” A girl walked over, almost throwing the files on Jungwon's desk without a care, and Jungwon stared back up in confusion.
“But you said I only had these left to work on 2 hours ago.” Jungwon said, pointing to his current work on his laptop. The girl beside him let out a scoff, crossing her arms.
“Oh yeah? Well, things changed honey. Stop fucking whining.” The girl responded with venom, her eyes glaring at Jungwon's uncomfortable ones. Jungwon had enough of his seniors trying to abuse their power, his eyebrows furrowed in irritation. Now that Jaeyun's no longer in the same office with him anymore, he'd easily get overpowered by others if he doesn't do anything.
“Says the one that can't put on a lash correctly. You look like a malfunctioning doll that’s about to get a seizure.” Jungwon scoffed, rolling his eyes. He will admit that he may or may not have gotten overboard, carefully turning around to see his manager fuming, her eye twitching.
‘She looks even more like a malfunctioning doll now.’ Jungwon thought to himself, trying to contain his laughter.
“You're fired.” The girl said, and although Jungwon was slightly scared hearing those words, he kept his cool.
“Oh I know I'm on fire, thank you.” Jungwon smiled, mishearing his manager on purpose.
“You're fired. Pack your stuff.” The girl gritted her teeth as she repeated, finding Jungwon's relaxed expression unbearable. Jungwon raised an eyebrow in amusement, shaking his head, clicking his tongue.
“Aww, but then who are you going to push a third of your workload on, if I were to leave, hmm?” Jungwon looked up at her, blinking innocently. The girl scoffed at the apprentice's audacity.
“You know you'd be much more likable if you were to shut up like your geeky friend and just do your job.” She grumbled, the random mention of Jaeyun catches him off guard.
“That's rich coming from you-” Jungwon eyed at the excessive amount of luxury clothing the manager wears before continuing.
“-Literally. You can’t shut up or do your job properly.” Jungwon concluded fascinatedly like he made a grand discovery, as he intertwined his fingers together. Just before the girl could raise her hand to get physical with Jungwon, another voice that he recognised as Ni-ki’s called out to him.
“Jungwon-ah! Are you done?” Ni-ki walked into the room, before noticing Jungwon's manager beside the apprentice.
“Almost!” Jungwon quickly typed into his laptop, saving his files before closing his laptop to stuff into his bag. He walked out of his cubicle, swiftly avoiding the manager, before meeting Ni-ki halfway. Ni-ki glared at the girl momentarily, before his gaze warms when he looks at Jungwon again.
“Wanna eat out today? Sunoo and I just found a new restaurant a few days ago.” Ni-ki asked, and Jungwon nodded frantically in response. As if to jab at the manager, Ni-ki looked at the girl behind Jungwon.
“What about you, Jinha? Wanna join us?” Ni-ki asked casually, knowing that the girl's scared shitless right now, noticing how Jinha picked up the files she previously dumped on Jungwon's desk.
“No, I'm alright, Ni-ki. Thanks for asking.” Jinha responded, her voice much more tamed compared to when she was talking to Jungwon, which the latter noticed. She quickly left Jungwon's cubicle and the office, dodging both Jungwon and Ni-ki. After knowing for sure that the manager’s gone, they started to walk to the elevator, waiting for the lift to reach their floor.
“That was strange.” Jungwon muttered, and Ni-ki turned to face him while both of them were waiting for the elevator.
“What is?” Ni-ki hummed.
“It's like a switch flipped in Jinha or something. She's never this…nice.” Jungwon said confusedly. He'd never associate that witch ass woman with ‘nice'. Ni-ki chuckled, finding Jungwon's puzzled expression adorable.
“Well, the bar is in hell if not abusing their powers is considered ‘nice’, Jungwon.” Ni-ki teased, a hint of seriousness laced in his voice. Jungwon's definition of ‘nice’ might very well be warped after the load of bullshit he had to deal with his colleagues and seniors almost weekly.
“I know, but it's still weird regardless.” Jungwon sighed, before walking into the lift with Ni-ki, the latter pressing the ground floor button. Ni-ki looked back at him as the elevator door closed on them.
“She's probably scared that I'd report her to Sunghoon or something, since I'm his bodyguard. Or maybe I just looked scary.” Ni-ki shrugged his shoulders casually, slightly tooting his own horn at the latter part. Ni-ki takes his intimidating cool persona very seriously.
“Why would she be scared? She's rich, and Sunghoon couldn't care less.” Jungwon scoffed. Although Ni-ki was mildly offended at the way Jungwon had perceived Sunghoon, he got where the latter was coming from. After all, nepotism is pretty rampant in the corporate world unfortunately.
“I don't think you get exactly where I'm coming from Jungwon.” Ni-ki laughed, shaking his head at Jungwon's remark.
“Hm? What do you mean, then?” Jungwon asked curiously.
“I mean, Jinha has a crush on Sunghoon, our boss. She's one of those hopeless employees who keep trying to hit on Sunghoon whenever they can, and it's so obvious.” Ni-ki said, groaning when he remembered those instances when she wouldn't stop bugging Sunghoon the moment he went downstairs from his office just to take a walk around. He fully understands why Sunghoon barely left the office now, and mostly walks around when everyone is in the break room instead.
“Were you with Sunghoon?” Jungwon asked, and Ni-ki nodded in response.
“Yeah, we were going to leave for a press conference and she was being annoying as fuck.” Ni-ki groaned, recalling how he had to almost push and shove Sunghoon into the car before Jinha and a few others could catch up. The elevator dings, and they reach the ground floor, where Sunoo was waiting.
“I booked us a reservation at the restaurant!” Sunoo chirped, showing them his phone the moment they walked out of the elevator. Sunoo, Jungwon and Ni-ki left the building, and waited outside for a taxi to pick them up.
“What took you guys so long?” Sunoo questioned both of them, and Jungwon and Ni-ki looked at each other, before their gaze land on the blonde-haired boy again.
“I'll tell you later at the restaurant.” Jungwon said with a smirk on his face. Today has been especially eventful, and Jungwon can't wait for both Sunoo and Ni-ki to hear every single detail about it over good barbecue and fried foods.