Chapter Text
In-ho is getting ready for work, he is a manager at a zoo. His dad ll-nam owns the zoo and made In-ho the manager. In-ho likes working at the zoo, mostly because there is a certain coworker there that caught his eye. His name is Seong Gi-hun. He couldn’t get over how beautiful Gi-hun is and seeing the love of his life almost everyday puts a big smile on his face. Nothing could ruin that, right…?
In-ho made it to work, he checked on the reptiles and then headed to the employee staff room where the employee’s hung up their stuff and or ate lunch. He was hoping to see Gi-hun and he did. Gi-hun was hanging up his coat and In-ho smiled.
”Hey, Gi-hun”, he greeted. He always made time to greet his employees, especially Gi-hun.
Gi-hun looked up at In-ho. “Hey, how was your weekend?”
”It was fine, mostly stayed in”, In-ho replied. He wished he had a better response but he didn’t.
“Same, Uh In-ho there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you”, Gi-hun said looking at him.
Oh snap, Is Gi-hun going to tell him he's leaving, he found another job? In-ho thought. He was slightly panicking. “What is it?” He gulped.
“Me and Sangwoo got together over the weekend”, He answered.
In-ho froze, he now wished it was the other thing, Gi-hun leaving. Gi-hun can’t be with Sangwoo. He hates Sangwoo. His nightmare came true, Gi-hun found another man. What’s he supposed to do now? He lost his chance. He knew he should have told Gi-hun how he felt last week or 5 years ago when he first starting working here.
“Like dating?”In-ho asked, he was heartbroken, but he couldn’t show any emotions, he wouldn’t allow it. He held it together.
” Yeah, dating. This won't be a problem right?”
In-ho shook his head. “Uh- no it won’t be. I have to go”, he replied bluntly and left without saying another word.
He was pissed! He stormed off to his office room. He locked himself in there, he had to get it together and act fine which he wasn’t sure how he'd be able to do. He needed someone to talk to, immediately.
He called up his friend.
” Hey, are you free to talk?”
”Are you okay?”Ali asked.
”No, I’m not and that’s why I’m asking for your help”, In-ho replied.
“I’ll be there in 10 minutes”, Ali replied.
“Thanks”.
In-ho hung up the phone and waited. He tried not to think about Gi-hun but he failed miserably at that. He hated Sangwoo even more now. He would fire Sangwoo but Gi-hun would push him away and properly quit. He couldn’t do that. The only way was to suffer.
Ali knocked the door and In-ho got off his chair and opened the door for Ali. He sat back down in his chair. “Sit, Ali”.
Ali sat down across from In-ho. “What’s going on?”
”Gi-hun! He’s dating Sangwoo! Fuck!”, he answered.
”Oh, shit. I’m sorry In-ho. I know what he meant to you. Need me to get you anything?”
In-ho shook his head. “No. I- I can’t believe he’s with Sangwoo! I was supposed to be with him. Is this a sign of the universe saying I’ll never get what I want?”
” Don’t think like that. I know it sucks but there’s nothing you can do now unless they break up”, Ali replied.
”I highly doubt they are breaking up. They will eventually get married and have a 1000 babies while I’ll still be single“, In-ho huffed.
”1000 Babies is a stretch but come on, you’ll find someone that’s better than Gi-hun. I’m sure of it”, Ali said, he was trying his hardest to make In-ho feel better.
” Find someone better than Gi-hun?”, In-ho grunted. “I don’t want to find someone better than Gi-hun… I want Gi-hun! Lucky asshole took Gi-hun from me”. In-ho shook his head and pushed his hair back with one of his hands.
Ali wasn’t sure how to respond back. He felt bad for his friend. “ I used to have a crush on Sangwoo”, Ali admitted.
In-ho looked at his friend. “What happened?”
”He didn’t like me that way. He said we could be friends still“, Ali said looking down, deep down it still hurt him.
”How did you deal with it?”In-ho asked.
“I still haven’t dealt with it, I just keep it hidden and never open it. It’s easier that way. I’m still friends with Sangwoo but I don’t hang out with him alone anymore”, Ali said, hoping this advice might help In-ho.
In-ho nodded sadly. “I’m sorry, why didn’t you tell me?”
”It was easier not to bring it up”, he admitted.
In-ho nodded again. “I guess I’ll just have to… try and accept it but it’s gonna take a while”.
”It will, In-ho but I’ll be with you every step of the way. You won't be alone”.
In-ho gave Ali a small smile. “Thank you, Ali”.
Ali returned to work. In-ho had gotten it together, thanks to Ali. He went out there and started working. He decided it’ll be easier to avoid Gi-hun at all costs. He went to work with the giraffes. The customers were paying to feed the giraffes and In-ho was taking their money. Seeing the other people happy with getting to feed and pet the giraffes, made In-ho happy. At least someone was having a good day even if it wasn’t him.
Toward the end of the day, In-ho went back to the employee staff room. He was stuffing his face with chocolate chip cookies, which employee Jun-hee had brought for everyone. He’s enjoying his cookie when Sangwoo and Gi-hun walk in holding hands and being all lovey dovey which make’s In-ho sick.
Then Sangwoo pulled Gi-hun into a kiss, In-ho could only watch. He dropped his cookie on the floor. Making Sangwoo look in his direction. In-ho looked away quickly and picked up his cookie off the floor and went over to the trash can to discard it.
Sangwoo’s lip curled into a smile. “In-ho didn’t see you there”.
In-ho threw the cookie away. He didn’t want to look at Sangwoo. He grunted, he turned around to face Sangwoo. “Came to try the cookies, Jun-hee, she did an amazing job”.
”She did indeed”, Sangwoo replied. Sangwoo wasn’t a fan of In-ho but he tried his best to stay civil with him.
In-ho had to get out of there before things got more awkward . “I’m heading out”
In-ho walked past them and headed outside. Gi-hun followed after In-ho. In-ho made it to his car and he was about to unlock his car when Gi-hun came up from behind.
”Hey, In-ho. Is something wrong? You always talk to me, today you’ve barely spoken to me. Why?”, Gi-hun asked.
In-ho turned around and looked at Gi-hun. He could either tell the truth or lie. Lying felt like the best option right now. “ Sorry, I just had a lot on my mind today”.
“I understand, just don’t forget about me. We are friends”, Gi-hun replied.
In-ho wanted to unfriend Gi-hun in the moment, so things would be easier but he could’n’t hurt Gi-hun like that. “Alright I won’t. See you tomorrow”.
Gi-hun smiled. “Bye In-ho”.
In-ho told Gi-hun bye and got into his car and started up the engine. He headed home.
In-ho lived in an apartment by himself. When he got to his apartment, he quickly showered and laid in his bed. He turned on one of his favorite shows which was Alice in Borderland. He wanted to forget about his horrible day for a while.
Hopefully the next day will be better, he hoped.