BEHIND THE SCENES

chapter 80: words of affirmation

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Chungha boarded the taxi after work that day.

"Ajusshi!" Chungha took out a piece of paper and handed it to the taxi driver. "Please take me to this restaurant."

After going back and forth between her decision, Chungha had finally made her mind to go for dinner with Namjoon that particular night. Mostly... because Hoseok hadn't been contactable all day.

She had sent him text messages at 4:15pm, asking him why he wasn't back in the office when he had been out all day, then a few more text messages later at 5:02pm telling him that she was off work and about to go on the date with Namjoon. Following which were a few more messages at 5.32pm asking him if he was still alive as she waited desperately in the office for his reply, then another message at 5:58pm asking him if she really could go. Then finally, at 6:17pm, she said 'screw it!' and left the office for dinner, even though her mind couldn't stop thinking about him.

Then there she was, seated in the taxi at 6:34pm, dressed up all nicely, wondering if he was actually okay. She had called, but there was no response. She called Jisoo in panic, wondering if maybe his phone was turned off - but so was hers. It had been 2 whole hours... were they both okay?

"Agassi, waiting for someone to call?" The taxi ajusshi spoke to her as he glanced at her through the rear-view mirror. "You look anxious about something."

"Ah-" Chungha let out a nervous chuckle as she glanced down at her phone. "Yeah."

The taxi driver smiled. "A guy?"

"Yeah."

"A guy you like a lot?"

Chungha pursed her lips. "Yeah."

"The guy you're meeting at the restaurant?"

Chungha shook her head slowly. "No."

"Oh-?" He frowned. "But you're meeting a guy at the restaurant, aren't you? That's..."

Chungha frowned. "Ajusshi-"

"Ah, sorry- I'm prying too much, ain't I?" The taxi driver laughed. "I'm sorry."

"No-" Chungha swallowed hard. "You're right. I shouldn't be here. What am I even doing?"

"Let me guess... You can't make up your mind between two of them?"

Chungha didn't know how to answer. Like the taxi ajusshi had mentioned... she probably was subconsciously caught up between the both of them. But at the exact same time, she felt like she knew exactly what she wanted - it was just a matter of listening to her heart... or her mind.

"Well, I-"

Ring! Ring!

"Sorry, ajusshi, please give me a moment-"

Chungha's phone rang, and she hurriedly scrambled to pick it up. It was Jisoo.

"Hello-?" Chungha sounded tense. "Jisoo-ssi, why haven't you nor Hoseok-oppa been answering your phones all day? I called you both so many times, I was so worried."

There was a long silence over the phone and Chungha held her breath, feeling a weirdly fearful wave of emotions come over her.

"Is everything okay?" Chungha managed to choke out, despite the lump that had formed in her throat. "Did anything happen-"

"The worker passed away," Jisoo said softly, solemnly. "We rushed to the hospital immediately after we heard the news."

Chungha's heart sank. Farewells were never easy, but such events weren't uncommon in their line of job. Being partnered with Hoseok, Chungha had covered so many incidents that involved the loss of lives in the past. But from the tone of Jisoo's voice, Chungha could sense that something felt different.