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“I miss my ex.”
Four simple words spoken without any real sense of despair, and yet they’re enough to have the entire D-squad breaking into a cold sweat.
Even Lee Jaheon pauses for a moment, slowly turning his head to look at their rookie in silence.
Kim Soleum already gets into enough trouble on his own, even if he’s absolutely brilliant for it… forgive his teammates for being a bit on the overbearing side. Their newest recruit really doesn’t need anything else weighing him down.
Park Minseong is the first to speak up, loudly declaring as he stands from his desk, “You know what I think we’re missing this morning? Coffee.”
“...We have a coffee machine right there, though?” Soleum blinks, gesturing vaguely to the beat up, barely usable coffee-maker in the room.
Minseong visibly winces at that. It’s a wonder their rookie drinks anything from that machine at all… He really deserves better quality drinks.
“Hm, that may be true.” He settles for saying, instead of making his grievances known. He wouldn’t want to make Soleum feel inconvenienced, after all. “But doesn’t iced coffee sound great right now? Roe, you should come with me. You know, get some fresh air and all…?”
“Hm…”
Eun Haje jumps in for damage control. “I was thinking the exact same thing, actually.”
“Ah, well I guess if even you’re agreeing, Assistant Manager, it wouldn’t hurt.” Soleum gives a slight nod, already standing to join Minseong at the door.
As Soleum goes to check his wallet, Minseong cuts him off. “No need, no need— I can pay.”
“But shouldn’t I pay for my own drink, at least?”
“Are you underestimating my wealth?” Minseong raises an eyebrow, before giving his most radiant grin. “It’s only right that I pay. It’d be unprofessional to make the rookie do so~~”
Soleum seems somewhat hesitant, but ultimately sighs and agrees. “Yes, whatever you say…”
Before Soleum can make it to the door, though, he’s stopped by Jaheon’s hand on his shoulder. He nearly flinches, but is able to regard their leader properly. “Forgive me, is there something you need…?”
“No.” Jaheon says bluntly, never one for many words. Rather, he presses something into Soleum’s hands.
The lizard doll he keeps on his desk…?
“Um,” Soleum blinks, looking down from the plushie and back up to his manager.
Jaheon blinks back.
“T—Thank you, sir.” Soleum takes a step back, offering up a confused smile, before making a beeline to Minseong.
As the two exit, Haje calls out, “Don’t have too much fun without us! And make sure my coffee has whipped cream!”
After a few moments, when she’s sure they’re out of earshot, she turns to look at Jaheon.
“Hey, what was up with the lizard?”
“He carries around a rabbit doll.” Jaheon simply states.
Things clicked into place for Haje then, as she resists the urge to laugh. “Ah, so you thought he would like taking another doll with him too?”
Jaheon nods.
Unbeknownst to anyone else, Kim Soleum had planned this from the start.
After realizing how his co-workers react to those words in particular, how could he not test it out a few more times? For science, of course.
Nowadays, while he does feel guilty for using this method, he considers it a necessary evil. Sometimes he could really just use some fresh air outside of the company building, and he won’t pass up on free coffee either.
Though, he does feel a bit guilty that Minseong is paying…
'Hopefully Braun isn't mad when I get home.'
The lizard plushie stays securely tucked under his arm as they walk.
Meanwhile, in Soleum's room…
'I miss my good friend!' Braun sobbed dramatically, confined to the body of a plush bunny.
'How could you forget me at home, Mr. Roe Deer...?'