Scene 1: The Meeting
The day started like any other — a blur of emails, calls, and meetings. But when Minji walked into the conference room for the project discussion, something in the air shifted.
She was the first to arrive, and as she settled into her chair, she instinctively checked the time. She had an hour to discuss the details with the team before the next project deadline. The room was large, filled with glass walls that looked out over the city, but her focus was on the task at hand, not the view.
Then, the door opened. Minho stepped inside, tall and poised, with his usual air of confidence. His eyes scanned the room quickly, and when they landed on her, Minji felt a small flutter in her chest. She didn't let it show, though. She focused on her notes, pretending not to notice the weight of his gaze.
Minho nodded at the team before his eyes lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary. It was brief, but there was something in that look — something she couldn't quite decipher.
"Shall we begin?" Minho's voice broke the silence, smooth and calm, as he took his seat across from her. He immediately dove into the details of the project, his tone focused and professional, but Minji could sense the underlying tension between them.
As the meeting progressed, she couldn't shake the feeling that Minho was paying extra attention to her. His responses to her suggestions were more thoughtful than usual. When she spoke, his eyes were fixed on her, his expression unreadable. Every time their eyes met, she had to force herself to look away quickly, her heart skipping a beat.
It wasn't until the meeting ended that Minji realized just how much his presence had affected her. The professional distance she'd maintained between them suddenly felt fragile. The lines were beginning to blur.
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Scene 2: Unexpected Conversation
As the team filed out of the room, Minho caught her attention with a gentle but deliberate gesture.
"Minji, can you stay for a moment?" he asked, his voice low but not demanding. It was the kind of request that made her heart flutter against her will.
She nodded, trying to mask the nerves that suddenly surged through her. "Sure, what's up?"
"Just a quick follow-up on the presentation details. I need your input on a few things before the next meeting with the clients."
Minji stood by the table, gathering her papers, but when she turned to him, she realized he was standing a little too close. His proximity was intentional, and she could feel the heat from his body reaching hers. She swallowed, trying to maintain her composure.
"Minji," he said, his tone softer now, almost like he was hesitant to say more. "How have you been? The last few days… you've seemed a little overwhelmed."
Minji froze. No one had ever asked her that before, at least not with such genuine concern. She opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat.
"I'm fine," she said finally, but it didn't sound convincing even to her own ears. Minji quickly brushed it off, knowing she had to stay focused on the task at hand. "Just a lot of work to juggle."
Minho studied her for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing her answer. "Alright," he said slowly. "If you need help with anything, don't hesitate to ask."
There was a quiet pause between them. Minji wasn't sure what to say next. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, unsure of how to respond to the unspoken tension that was building up between them.
"Well," Minho continued with a slight smile, "I'll leave you to it. But remember — we're all in this together."
As he turned to leave, he glanced back at her, and for a split second, their eyes met again. The connection was brief, but in that instant, Minji felt something she hadn't allowed herself to feel before — a strange mix of longing and unease.
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Scene 3: A Quiet Moment
Later that evening, Minji was still working, her office dimly lit as she reviewed design plans for the upcoming fashion line. Her mind kept drifting back to the meeting, to Minho's words, to the way he had looked at her. It was like his gaze had stayed with her even after he left.
She was so absorbed in her work that she didn't notice the time slipping away. Hours passed, and the office grew quieter, with fewer people left in the building. Minji checked her watch — it was nearly midnight.
She sighed, rubbing her temples. The exhaustion was starting to take its toll, but she refused to stop. Not yet. She couldn't afford to slow down now, not with the showcase just around the corner.
As she typed out the final adjustments to her notes, she happened to glance at the clock again. Just then, Minho walked past her office. For a moment, he paused in front of the glass, his gaze lingering on her through the window.
Minji's breath caught in her throat when she realized he had been watching her for a while. She quickly looked away, pretending to be busy, but her heart was racing. Was he still thinking about her? Or was it all in her head?
Without thinking, she opened the door slightly and peered into the hallway. Minho stood there, a few feet away, staring at her with a slightly pensive expression. When he saw her look up, he smiled briefly, his eyes softening.
"Working late?" he asked casually, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Minji felt a flush creep up her neck. "I still have a lot to finish," she said, trying to sound composed.
Minho nodded. "I understand. Just… don't push yourself too hard, alright?"
Minji didn't know how to respond. The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard. It was the kind of kindness that she wasn't used to receiving — especially from someone like him. But instead of dwelling on it, she quickly closed the door, hoping to regain some sense of control over her emotions.
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Scene 4: The Inner Struggle
Later that night, as Minji lay in bed, she couldn't stop thinking about what had happened. Her thoughts kept circling back to Minho, to the way he had looked at her, to the way his words seemed to mean more than they should. She had spent so much of her life focusing on her work that she hadn't allowed herself to think about relationships or feelings.
But now, it was different.
Minji stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. She tried to tell herself that it was nothing, just another fleeting connection. But deep down, she knew it wasn't that simple. There was something there, something growing quietly beneath the surface. She just didn't know what to do with it yet.
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Scene 5: Minho's Thoughts
Meanwhile, in his office, Minho sat at his desk, his thoughts swirling. The meeting earlier had kept replaying in his mind, especially the way Minji had looked at him — so guarded, so distant. But underneath that professionalism, he could sense the same thing he had felt earlier. There was something more there, and it was pulling him closer.
He had tried to ignore it for as long as he could. After all, he was a professional. But now, he couldn't push his feelings aside any longer. The way she spoke, the way she moved, the way she focused on her work — it was all so captivating.
And yet, he couldn't act on it. Not yet. Minji wasn't ready. She was focused on her career, and he had no right to interfere with that. But the thought of her, the image of her sitting at her desk late at night, kept him awake.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. He would have to be patient. But patience was never his strong suit.