037
The rest of her week at work was almost the same as every other.
Almost the same as every other.
Hoseok proceeded to monopolize all his work, running back and forth with meetings in his office, suffocating in paperwork and documents that anticipated his signature.
This was never a major concern for Devora, Hoseok would start off his week with masses of forms he had to get through.
Yet, it was already Thursday, and the pile seemed to only build: thriving off his seemingly haggard behavior, obstinate work idling unfinished on his desk.
The sight of him being so tentative was muddling, he was walking like a cat that was frightened of its own umbra. As if he was unnerved in his own building and office.
Devora attempted to include herself in his work, offering him an extra hand, telling him that two heads were better than one, anything that would help him and pull him out of his irrational behavior.
But, each time she did, he would deprecate her offer and claim he was okay, not needing her assistance.
She had only known him for a little over six months, but she knew that's not how Hoseok commonly functioned when he was at work.
He was always welcoming to the idea of extra hands, asking Devora to assist him whenever he wanted it.
That's what she was there for.
Now, it seemed like he was trying to persuade himself that he didn't need any help.
He would end up having to stay overtime to complete his work. Or at least stay late in order to leave a reasonable amount of documents to get done the next day.
"That is a little weird." Jungkook opined over the phone, just as perplexed as Devora was.
She opened a new wrapper of prepackaged chocolate-chip cookies, stress-eating. "See, I can't help but worry about it, he never acts that way." Devora took a bite of the cookie, chewing furiously.
"Anf now you're telling mef that it's weifd too." Her speech was drowned out by her eating.
Jungkook chuckled at her voice. "Well, maybe he has family problems? I don't think you should be stressing over it, it won't do you any good."
Devora opened the fridge, groaning profoundly. "It's too late, I'm already stress-eating." She told him, searching for more food she could binge on.
Stress-eating was an issue she had bartered with from when she was a child, whenever her parents would quarrel, or if she was going through personal problems with the way her body looked. All she could ever do was drown her misfortunes in bags of chips, and sweets.
Because of that, dropping weight was something so difficult to accomplish.
Even now she was reaching for her body goal.
There were still marks on her stomach and on the side of her thighs that she always covered with clothes.
"Stress-eating is never good, I love sweets and junk food too but don't fall back into that habit, Devora. I'm serious." His voice leaked with solicitude, lecturing her in hopes to appease her cravings.
She chewed emphatically. "Fine, baby carrots it is." Devora tapped her tongue against the roof of her mouth, a scornful look in her eyes as she forced the carrots into her system.
Devora shut the fridge with her hip, unfurling her body on the suede couch in her living room, murmuring quietly as her bottom hit the cushions.
"I know it might be strange, but just try not to think about it. I bet he'll be better next week, we'll be going over next week too. So maybe that will mollify the issues he has going on." Jungkook rustled over the phone like he was rolling in bed.
"Hobi hyung doesn't always keep that sunshine act. We all need rest, and we all have a breaking point." His voice became grating, influenced by the mattress that magically made him exhausted.
Her legs hung over the couch's arm, the rest of her body reminded on top of the sinking material. "You're right, he could just be tired this week, now I feel stupid for thinking there was something bad going on. I'm like a pessimist."
Devora reprimanded herself, she constantly tried to keep a positive outlook on everything, to be optimistic.
For the most part, it did work, she had to inform and remind herself that things would go thoroughly.
She shut her eyes, forcing her mind to go blank for just one mere second.
Devora pictured Hoseok.
He was sitting in his office with that same heinous paperwork engulfed on his desk, making it look like a swimming pool that was filled with papers.
His lovely sweet lips weren't dragged into that charming smile he normally wore.
This time, they were clasped into a thin line, making the mole on his top lip reveal itself. His eyes narrowed, a miffed expression clawing at his face— an exasperated one that took over his buoyant features.
She shivered at the image, pulling her knees tightly against her chest.
"You're not being a pessimist, you're just worried for a friend. That's perfectly normal." His husky voice cooed against her ear, tugging her into this unconscious and almost intoxicated state.
It left her wanting more of his ineffably fragile voice.
Devora exhaled. "I'm glad I have you to talk to. I honestly don't know who else I'd talk to about this." Her heart swelled with appreciation, adoring the fact that Jungkook was there to listen to what worried her.
"I'm just happy that you consider me a trustworthy person."
His responses were forever more beneficial than what Devora envisioned them to be, grinning to herself.
Jungkook was someone so beyond perfect, his listening skills were remarkably considerate, seeming engrossed in anything she would talk about.
Devora could chatter about quantum physics, and he'd still feign a smile; like he was genuinely interested.
Perhaps he'd be more interested in her, rather than a dull subject.
"Jk?" She whispered his name.
He hummed in response, applying all his might to stay awake.
"We should hang out again sometime, I need some Jungkook company in my life." Devora relaxed, her hand releasing the tight grip she had over her leg.
He cackled at her statement, rubbing his fatigued eyes to keep himself awake. "Let's see, I'd have to check if I'm free, you know I am a busy man." He joked.
She chuckled, letting out a gasp. "Right, busy taking someone's picture for a weekend."
"No, no we could hang out. Whatever you want, but I'll be paying."
Devora sat up, her heavy eyelids becoming as light as a feather. "No, I'll be paying the other half. I'm not gonna let you spend your money on me."
It didn't matter who it was, it could even be her parents buying her things and she would still have a guilty feeling about it.
She wasn't exactly wealthy growing up, a little below middle-class was where she and her family stood.
Whenever they'd gift Devora things, or even take her and her brother out to dinner, she'd question how they managed to pay for it all.
It informed her at a young age that money wasn't everything, it's not something you can take to your grave.
Sure, it makes the world go round, but obsessing over an object and something as fragile as money was a mistake lots of people made.
"Don't, I like paying for your things. Whether it's a chocolate bar or an expensive meal in Vegas, I like helping out."
She bit her thumb, contemplatively thinking. "Still, you're not my father, you shouldn't have to pay for my things, you know?"
He raised his eyebrows, shrugging. "Well, if me not being your father is the issue here, then, I don't mind being called dad-"
"Don't even finish your sentence Jeon Jungkook," Devora's cheeks were dimmed with a hint of red, holding her breath.
He laughed, pretending to be wrongly accused. "What? I wasn't gonna say anything bad, you didn't even let me finish." Holding himself innocent.
"Oh? Then go ahead and finish your sentence, since it was nothing bad, right?"
He hummed. "Wow, it's cold tonight, isn't it?"
"I'm gonna hang up." She threatened with a crooked smile.
"Okay fine, I was joking! I'm sorry if that made you uncomfortable. I'm just saying things now, under the influence of my tiredness." His voice laced with hesitance, confused if the word tiredness was actual proper grammar.
Devora laughed. "You're so cute, you'd never say something like that."
"Heh, of course I wouldn't. I'm a saint, a Virgo, even." He lied straight through his teeth, glancing up at his ceiling.
"Virgo?" Her eyebrows raised. "Jungkook, you mean virgin?"
"See! You're the one bringing up inappropriate things, not me." He quickly justified himself, hiding a chuckle. "I meant what I said, I am a Virgo. I was born in September.
"Alright I'm sorry this time, I really thought you meant to say something else." Devora rubbed her hand over her collarbone sheepishly, ashamed of her way of thinking.
His voice was soft, like a cadence piece of music played by fine bits of instruments. "It's okay, I just like hearing you get all shy. It would be even better if I could see your face."
Devora stammered, thinking about how gorgeous he must've looked.
With the intense moonlight peeking in through his window, pouncing against his sharp cheeks and nose.
The prismatic stars washed over his features like he was a blank painting just waiting to be decorated.
As the moon sang its cradlesong, his heavy lips separated gently, bending into the potent of his prostration.
Tangled within his bedsheets, his seraphic figure slackened with drooped shoulders.
"Well, you'll see me soon."
"You promise?" He purred as the glorious stars danced on his countenance.
"I promise."
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