✿ㅤ𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔ㅤ𝖿𝗈𝗋ㅤ𝒚𝒐𝒖

"     hm—     i   don't   think   that's   right     .     i   feel   like   we're   missing   something   important     ?     you   think   it   was   when   the   phone   rang     ?     we   probably   should've   answered   it     ,     but   our   hands   were   full     .     "

“   i’m   sorry.   i   feel   like   i’m   the   problem   because   my   brain   is   literally   not   working   when   we   need   it   the   most.   but   yeah…   maybe   that’s   the   reason?   or,   you   know,   maybe   we   should   just   call   it   quits   for   now   because   my   head   is   fried.   ”

"what do you say?" nathaniel smiled, though it could've easily been mistaken for a smirk. "photo booths are a lot more fun with a friend."

“   i'm   definitely   up   for   it!   it’ll   make   such   a   cute   addition   to   my   desk   display.   ”   billie   flashes   them   a   small   smile   before   pausing.   “   but,   do   i   look   okay?   ”

beau  scoffed.  "oh,  please.  i'm  sure  you'll  have  the  time  of  your  life—with  or  without  me."

tj's   brows   knit   together   in   confusion   as   he   looks   at   beau.   “   what   do   you   mean   by   that?   ”

blair's  wings—if  he  could  even  call  them  that—were  a  disaster.  the  strap  had  completely  torn  off  when  he’d  tried  to  put  them  on,  the  frame  bending  awkwardly  under  the  pressure.  he  hadn't  even  pulled  that  hard.  he  reached  for  the  broken  pieces,  turning  them  over  in  his  hands,  inspecting  the  damage.  blair  hadn’t  thought  to  measure  properly,  just  estimated  and  hoped  for  the  best.  “do  you  have  a  measuring  tape?  how  big  did  you  make  yours?”

as   blair   works   on   their   wings,   piper   watches   intently,   noticing   a   critical   mistake—   the   sleeves   are   the   exact   size   of   blair’s   arms.   the   result?   everything   falls   apart.   not   only   is   the   fit   too   tight,   but   it   also   stretches   the   entire   structure,   turning   their   project   into   a   complete   mess.   “   i   didn’t   use   a   measuring   tape,   ”   piper   admits   with   a   shrug.   “   i   just   made   sure   the   sleeves   were   big   enough   to   leave   a   lot   of   space   for   my   arms.   ”

"ugh,  i  know  right?  should  we  do  the  scavenger  hunt?  i  bet  we'd  burn  off  everything  we  just  ate  if  we  walked  around  for  long  enough."

“   ohhh,   that’s   actually   not   a   bad   idea!   the   only   downside?   we’ll   probably   end   up   sweating   in   our   nice   outfits.   so   really,   there’s   no   winning   here.   ”

"Are you complaining about your job?" Hana asked, an uninterested expresion on her features as she looked up from her phone to the senior  associate  photographer. "Mr. Song?" Hana felt like this whole thing was a waste of time yet since it was work related here she was.

“   i   am,   yeah.   ”   tj   nods,   completely   unfazed,   even   in   front   of   the   head   of   the   creatives   department.   he’s   been   in   this   industry   long   enough—   sought   after   by   major   brands,   top   production   companies,   and   projects   far   bigger   than   this.   so   yeah,   he’s   going   to   complain.   “   if   they’re   going   to   set   up   an   event,   the   least   they   could   do   is   hire   an   external   photographer   for   the   whole   day.   that   way,   i   can   actually   relax   and   have   fun—   like   they   promised.   ”

“of course i do,”  she gives her neighbor an enthusiastic smile. “i don’t think many people have a refined palate in ... things,” regardless, the woman understands that people have their own interests. “but shh, you didn’t hear that from me, piper.” disgusting? hmm, she couldn’t help but hum. “i guess it depends where they went to try matcha if they think it’s disgusting,” she shrugs a shoulder. “fantastic; if that’s the case, then matcha’s on me.”

piper's   smile   grows   wider   by   the   second.   she's   so   used   to   hearing   nothing   but   criticism   whenever   her   friends   talk   about   her   favorite   drink—   same   with   strangers,   for   that   matter.   but   now,   finally   meeting   someone   who   not   only   gets   it   but   actually   understands   her?   it   sends   little   butterflies   fluttering   in   her   stomach.   “   well,   people   who   can   handle   matcha   have   refined   tastes,   ”   she   teases,   grinning.    “   which   means   we’re   basically   expensive   people.   ”   she   giggles,   eyes   widening   when   hayoon   offers   to   treat   her.   “   really?   you   don’t   have   to—   but   thank   you!   ”

"     i'm   sure  you   can   still   participate     ?     while   you're   taking   a   break     ?     i   don't   think   they'll   mind   if   you   do     ,     to   be   honest     .     since   it's   an   event   for   everyone     .     "

“   i   mean,   i   can.   definitely.   if   there’s   one   thing   i   can   do   while   taking   a   break,   it’s   grabbing   a   snack.   but   i   have   no   idea   which   one’s   good.   any   recommendations?   ”

"     that   does   look   really   good     !   what's   the   drink   called     ?     i've   been   enjoying   the   fruit   ades   they've   been   serving   too     ,     which   is   a   little   unusual   for   me   because   i   run   on   caffeine     .     there's   so   many   options   and    i   eat   with   my   eyes     ,     but   i'm   really   craving   a   good   cheeseburger     .     i   was   going   to  grab   some   food   then   head   over   to   the   storytelling   circle   and   spend   the   rest   of   my   evening   there     .     any   other   plans   tonight     ?     "

“   i   think   this   one’s   called   moringa   juice.   it’s   really   sweet   and   surprisingly   good—   i   honestly   didn’t   expect   to   like   it   at   all.   but   i   get   what   you   mean.   if   i   could   just   eat   everything   that’s   served,   i   totally   would.   still,   i’ve   gotta   save   some   room   for   later.   as   for   tonight?   no   big   plans.   just   planning   to   look   good—   and   that’s   pretty   much   it.   ”

"     you're   gonna   turn   into   a   matcha   latte   with   how   much   of   those   you   go   through   in   a   day     !     will   you   get   me   anything   if   i   go   with   you     ?     hopefully   not   a   stain   on   my   shirt   this   time     .     "

“   don’t   hate   on   my   drink!   look,   if   you’re   not   a   big   fan   of   anything   remotely   healthy,   then   maybe—   just   maybe—   you   should   keep   your   mouth   shut.   and   if   you’re   planning   to   ask   me   for   anything   in   return,   you   might   as   well   stay   put,   because   i’d   rather   go   on   my   own   than   get   you   anything   when   you’re   in   a   much   higher   position.   ”

"oh, i actually got some fries before joining this queue," he pulled a fresh bag of fries and handed it over to belinda, "maybe i'll get an iced coffee! are they any good?"

“   hmm...   how   convenient,   ”   billie   mutters   skeptically.   still,   she   can't   resist   the   temptation   and   reaches   for   the   bag   of   hot   fries,   popping   one   into   her   mouth.   “   well,   iced   coffees   are   always   a   safe   bet,   so   they   should   be   good.   ”

"oh no, that must really suck seeing how they spent so much on this event. they should've gotten another photographer for activities!" he shook his head, "are you joining the scavenger hunt?"

𝜗୧ㅤׂ            “   right?   they   really   should   have.   but   i   get   it—   the   afternoon   activities   are   pretty   simple   and   low-key,   so   using   an   internal   staff   probably   seemed   more   practical.   at   least   i   won’t   have   to   work   tonight.   i’m   just   taking   photos   for   the   social   team   to   post   on   our   social   media   accounts   later.   ”

“luckily for you, i’m not much of a coffee aficionado, and matcha does sound good.” she hums, “i’d love to, but are you sure you don’t want someone else to accompany you?”

𝜗୧ㅤׂ            “   you   do?   ”   she   asks,   her   eyes   widening   in   surprise   as   a   big   smile   spreads   across   her   face.   the   discovery   about   her   neighbor   delights   her.   “   you   know,   this   is   the   first   time   i’ve   heard   someone   say   they   actually   like   matcha.   my   friends   always   tease   me   about   it—   they   think   it’s   disgusting.   but   yes,   i’d   love   to   go   with   you.   especially   since   you’re   not   one   of   those   people   complaining   about   it.   ”

"oh, i'd love to get some chai instead. i don't really fancy matcha." he scrunched his nose, "we won't get into trouble for leaving, right?"

𝜗୧ㅤׂ            “   that’s   okay!   you   don’t   need   to   get   matcha—   or   anything,   really.   i   just   want   some   company   while   i   grab   my   drink,   ”   piper   says   with   a   grin,   automatically   linking   arms   with   enzo   and   pulling   him   outside.   “   they   can’t   force   us   to   eat   or   drink   something   we   don’t   like   or   can’t   handle.   i’m   pretty   sure   they   won’t   mind.   ”

"hello, traveller!" he does his best impression of someone working in a tavern before pausing, embarrassed at his attempt. "the food's good here, yeah? do you think they'll have this as part of our regular buffet?"

𝜗୧ㅤׂ            tj   gives   him   a   puzzled   look   before   glancing   down   at   his   watch,   then   back   up.   “   for   a   second,   i   thought   it   was   time   for   the   event,   ”   he   says,   shaking   his   head   with   a   shrug.   “   i   didn’t   realize   we   had   to   stay   in   character   already.   besides,   i   doubt   they’ll   do   this   every   day.   do   you   really   want   to   feel   sleepy   after   every   lunch   because   of   food   coma?   ”

he should be home now instead of searching for things, clearly frustrated at the lack of items in his basket. zion peered into their's, lips pressed into a thin line. "can i have your basket."

𝜗୧ㅤׂ            “   can   i   have   your   job   position   instead?   ”   she   snaps   back,   flashing   a   tight,   forced   smile.   “   if   not,   then   no,   you   can’t   have   my   basket.   stop   being   such   a   lazy   boss.   ”