Chapter Text
Character Aesthetics
Kim Mingyu : Art Director of NexTech
Jeon Wonwoo : IT Director of NexTech
"Thirty seven, thirty eight, thirty nine..."
"Forty five... ah, there goes Dokyeom. The famous Marketing Strategist is officially out of the game."
Mingyu powered through his push ups in the company gym at 7:30 in the morning, flanked by his best friends, Seungcheol and Dokyeom. Around them, a small crowd of employees, regular gym-goers, cheered them on, voices blending into a rhythmic chant that filled the room. Sweat glazed on Mingyu's tan skin, a drop trailing down his temple as he glanced over. Dokyeom had already collapsed, sprawled on the floor beside him, panting hard. Seungcheol wasn’t far behind, his arms trembling, breaths coming in short bursts.
"Forty eight, forty nine, fifty..." The chant continued, punctuated by whistles and motivational cheers. Mingyu’s drenched shirt clung to his sweaty body, outlining the contours of his abs, each muscle taut and flexed with effort. His breaths came in heavy gasps, his lips parched and cracked. Beside him, Seungcheol let out a groan and crumpled onto the mat, conceding defeat. The small crowd erupted into applause as Mingyu dropped to the ground, a grin spreading across his face, his sharp canines glinting under the fluorescent lights.
He glanced at the digital clock on the wall—7:47. Plenty of time to shower and get ready for the big day.
_____
Wonwoo’s skin tingled from the tight hold around his neck. Is someone trying to choke me to death? He blinked his eyes open, lids heavy and throat dry, then glanced sideways. Soonyoung, his best friend's arm, was practically wrapped around his throat, with a leg draped over his torso like a koala clinging to a tree. With an irritated groan, Wonwoo untangled himself from the human cage. He sat up, eyes barely open, and placed a foot on the floor, only to step on someone’s leg.
His eyes snapped fully open. Jeonghan was sprawled at the foot of the bed, and Seungkwan lay on the floor, his leg trapped under Wonwoo’s foot. Chuckling, Wonwoo fished his phone out from under the pillow and took a few quick pictures of the sleeping idiots.
Still drowsy, he let out a yawn and flopped back onto the bed, throwing a leg over Soonyoung to settle in again. Three seconds later, something flashed in his memory. He blinked, piecing it together, the last thing he’d done was check the time while snapping those photos. 8:15. His brain clicked into gear.
He grabbed his phone again and squinted at the screen. 8:17.
Wonwoo shot upright, eyes wide. The realization hit him like a freight train.
“Get the hell up, idiots. We are royally screwed!” he barked. And Wonwoo never barked.
A chorus of groans and mumbled protests erupted from the three human-caricatures scattered around his room. Wonwoo didn’t have time for this. None of them did.
He kicked Soonyoung off the bed, sending him crashing to the floor with a yelp and a string of curses. He gave Jeonghan a firm shake, patting his butt to wake him. Grabbing a stray sock from the lamp table, he waved it under Seungkwan's nose until the man gagged and finally opened his eyes with a murderous glare.
Soonyoung who seemed to finally pick himself off the ground from the earlier fall, shouted “Jeon Wonwoo, you’re so dead!”
Wonwoo ducked just in time to dodge a flying pillow thrown at him from across the bed “We all are! It's 8 freaking 20 in the morning”
Everyone froze. Even Jeonghan, who had barely stirred earlier, sat up, eyes wide with panic.
“We need to be at the office by 9," Wonwoo snapped. "It’s a 20 minute ride, which gives us, oh, like, 10 minutes to get the hell out of here!”
A moment of silence. Then, chaos.
Seungkwan and Soonyoung scrambled to their feet, racing to the bathroom and somehow ending up showering together, elbowing each other under the spray. Jeonghan, always the sly one, slipped away to claim the other bathroom. Wonwoo stood there, stunned, realizing he was getting screwed over in his own house. He raked his fingers through his hair, frustrated, and darted around, grabbing clothes for the big day.
By the time everyone was out of the showers, Wonwoo was still half dressed. The others rallied, transforming into his personal stylists. Jeonghan fixed his hair, Seungkwan worked on his tie, and Soonyoung polished his shoes. Maybe his friends were useful after all.
It was 8:50. They all knew they'd be fashionably late.
NexTech: Vision Square. The company he had joined fresh out of college at twenty one, eager and brimming with ambition. Now, at twenty eight, Wonwoo couldn't recall a single day when he hadn’t devoted himself entirely to its growth. The walls of NexTech had witnessed his long hours, the glow of his computer screen burning late into the night, the endless lines of code crafted with precision. He was a workaholic, a developer geek to his core, driven by a need to perfect every detail, optimize every system, and push every boundary. All his hard work led him to the position of IT Director of his branch.
Yesterday had been a rare exception. For once, he gave in to his work besties, (the only genuine friends he’d ever had) insistence on throwing a small party at his place to celebrate his latest project’s success. And look where that got him. Now, he was running late and woefully unprepared for the big day ahead. The company's CEO was scheduled to visit their branch, followed by a company lunch, and here he was, scrambling.
Wonwoo couldn’t believe he’d let his friends talk him into getting so ridiculously drunk. Now he was paying for it, racing against the clock on one of the most important days of his career.
In the cramped confines of Wonwoo's car, the air crackled with nerviness. The clock on the dashboard ticked relentlessly, reminding them of the precious minutes slipping away. Wonwoo gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white. He shot a glance at Jeonghan in the passenger seat, who was already working on his phone, sending last minute emails and adjusting the day’s schedule. His phone was blowing up with missed calls from the clueless, panicky team leads he was responsible for.
Soonyoung, sprawled like a toppled mannequin in the backseat, was doing his best impression of a sage in the middle of a crisis. He took deep breaths, trying to channel his inner calm, though his attempts resembled a fish out of water more than a peaceful monk. His eyes were wide, and he clutched the seatbelt like it was his only lifeline, his foot tapping a nervous rhythm against the floor.
“Okay, Soonyoung,” he muttered to himself, “deep breaths. Inhale tranquility, exhale chaos. Inhale.....wait, is that traffic? Exhale...no, don’t think about that!”
Jeonghan looked up from his phone, his expression composed despite the circumstances. “Alright, everyone, listen up. We might be running late, but let’s focus on what we can control. We’re professionals. We’ll get there, handle the CEO’s visit smoothly, and make sure everything goes according to plan.”
Wonwoo shot Jeonghan an appreciative glance and exhaled in relief “You make it sound so easy.”
“That’s part of my job,” Jeonghan replied with a half smile.
From the backseat, Seungkwan who was apparently on his laptop, chuckled and quipped, “Spoken like a true HR director!”
_____
They finally burst through the office doors at 9:18. Jeonghan and Wonwoo, as directors of Human Resources and IT respectively, were expected to have already greeted the CEO personally before the department tour. They sprinted for the elevator, desperate to reach the top floor in time. This was an informal visit so, usually informal visits took place in the executive lounge and that’s where the duo headed.
Panting, Jeonghan and Wonwoo arrived at the meshed glass door. They could barely make out who was on the other side. Jeonghan nudged Wonwoo forward, whispering, "Go check." With terror in his eyes, Wonwoo pinched Jeonghan’s side and shook his head. “No way, you go.”
“You owe me for covering your ass last Saturday” Jeonghan said, with finality. Wonwoo came up with ten different excuses he could use to explain his late arrival to the CEO, his hands shook slightly from the nerves. Fuck. He was never drinking again.
Sighing, Wonwoo cautiously opened the door an inch forward, peering from the crack. He couldn’t see anything yet, he ducked his head down, trying to find the right angle. Just then, someone on the other side flung the door wide open, causing Wonwoo to stumble forward from the sudden movement.
There stood Kim Mingyu, the Art Director of NexTech: Vision Square, looking every bit the part in a sleek black suit, crisp white dress shirt, and a maroon dotted tie. His hair was perfectly styled, and the cologne he wore hit Wonwoo like a punch to the gut, reigniting his disdain for the younger man. He hated how this man managed to present himself, always going an extra mile just to stand out in a crowd. So pretentious. Tsk . Wonwoo thought.
Wonwoo’s eyes darted past the imposing figure of his personal nightmare (Kim Mingyu) into the lounge. Directors and VIPs relaxed in their seats, sipping coffee and chatting. The CEO, however, was conspicuously absent. Wonwoo let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. The CEO hadn’t arrived yet, which was a small victory in his otherwise chaotic morning.
“You’ve been lurking at the door long enough,” Mingyu’s voice deep cut through his thoughts, dripping with mockery. “Why not come in and bless us with your presence, Mr. Jeon?”
Wonwoo’s eyes narrowed, his eyebrows knitting together in irritation. He shot a look at Mingyu, who stood a few inches taller but was still firmly in the “annoying” category.
“I was hoping to avoid seeing your face this morning,” Wonwoo shot back, his voice dripping with dry humor. “But, apparently, I’ve been jinxed.”
Mingyu clicked his tongue, ducking his head to match Wonwoo’s eye level. “Aww, did I ruin your beauty sleep? I didn’t realize my face was such a nightmare.”
Wonwoo always thought that Mingyu’s honey skinned cheeks looked punchable, “If you think that’s a nightmare, you should see how you look in the mirror every morning.”
Mingyu’s lips curled into a sardonic smile, like he couldn’t believe that someone might dislike his face. “I’d say the same about you, but I’d rather not waste my time on the horror show that is your morning routine.” He pointed at Wonwoo’s mismatched socks and crooked tie.
Wonwoo let out an offended gasp, his hand instinctively moving to straighten his crooked tie. “Is this how you greet everyone, with a fashion critique? Maybe you should take up styling instead of graphic designing. You’re already halfway there with your knack for criticism.”
Mingyu raised an eyebrow, surveying Wonwoo with a pleased smirk. “And maybe you should take up a hobby where you don’t embarrass yourself. Like collecting mismatched socks—oh wait, you’re already a champion at that.”
Wonwoo’s expression hardened, but he managed to keep his voice light. “It’s a personal choice, Mingyu. I didn’t realize I needed to adhere to your sartorial standards to avoid your petty jabs.”
Mingyu snorted. “It’s not about standards. It’s about not looking like you just rolled out of bed after a bender.”
Jeonghan, who had been rolling his eyes and muttering under his breath, finally interjected. “Okay, enough you two. The day didn’t even start yet and you both are at it. This is not the time for fashion police duty or personal vendettas. We’re supposed to be impressing the CEO, not each other. Can we please act like adults for once?”
Both Wonwoo and Mingyu huffed but reluctantly stepped back from their verbal sparring, Jeonghan’s exhaustion apparent as he glanced at his watch.
“Seriously,” Jeonghan continued, “let’s get ourselves together and focus on the job. I’m already tired of both your antics.”
Wonwoo and Mingyu exchanged one final, begrudging look before going silent in agreement. Jeonghan, looking slightly relieved, ushered them toward the executive lounge where rest of the directors were present, ready to salvage what was left of the morning’s dignity.
They headed inside, the atmosphere shifting subtly as the door swung close behind them. Heads turned to inspect the late arrivals. The sight of the CEO's empty chair, still in the process of being set up, offered a sliver of relief, they still had a shot at redeeming the morning. The thought of walking in while the meeting was in full swing made Wonwoo cringe.
In the room, Wonwoo was surprised to recognize almost all the faces. After seven years at NexTech, it would have been embarrassing not to. His struggle to remember names was a stark contrast to Mingyu, who seemed to know everyone and greeted them with a friendly enthusiasm that resembled a puppy wagging its tail. It didn't go unnoticed over the years how everyone adored Mingyu, like he was the company’s golden child. Even people from the senior developer team which Wonwoo led knew the art director, and vice versa. Wonwoo couldn’t stand how Mingyu mingled with everyone by making himself digestible to fit in. To Wonwoo, it seemed insincere and pretentious, also exhausting.
He sighed, realizing he was glaring at Mingyu, who was busy making the branch manager and sales director laugh uproariously. Turning his attention, he saw Jeonghan quickly engaging in conversation with someone, discussing the notes he had prepared just in case. Even Wonwoo acknowledged the people who greeted and bowed at him.
Mingyu, with his trademark wild grin, made his way towards Wonwoo. He skipped two seats next to Wonwoo and plopped down beside Dokyeom, the lead marketing strategist and also the art director’s best friend. Though Wonwoo considered Dokyeom a decent guy, sincere and down to earth, he would have even been open to friendship if it weren’t for Mingyu. Wonwoo was not exactly a social person, but when his work demanded it, he would suck it up and engage in networking. He was content with his four person friend group, and his job, even though it was quite stressful, as he often took it too far, worked more than required due to his perfectionistic tendencies. He had to blame his childhood for the self-deprecating habits he picked up to cope with the circumstances.
Wonwoo adjusted his tie, suddenly feeling breathless. Unnecessary thoughts from the past tried to climb over the sturdy wall he had created in his mind to protect himself. He could feel someone staring at him from corner of his eye, he whipped his head to the side catching the culprit in action. Kim Mingyu, had no shame as his frowning lips curled into a curious smirk after getting caught by the IT director himself. Wonwoo’s previous distracting thoughts now transformed into thoughts which involved wiping the damn smirk off the art director’s face.
Wonwoo, irritated by Mingyu's proximity, even though there was solid 5 feet gap between them, stood up and spotted an unoccupied spot near the coffee station. Determined to make himself useful, he grabbed a cup and began pouring coffee with the precision of someone who saw the task as a chance to calm his nerves.
As he poured, a familiar voice cut through the chatter. “I see the cavalry has arrived,” the CEO’s voice rang out, blending glee with authority.
Wonwoo stiffened. He turned slowly, finding the CEO standing by the doorway, an amused glint in his eye as he surveyed the room. Next to him was his secretary accompanied by the CTO of NexTech. The CEO, Mr. Jung, was impeccably dressed, radiating effortless sophistication. He was only in his mid-30s, yet he built NexTech into a global empire.
Mr. Jung approached with a stern yet kind smile, clearly pleased to see everyone. “My favorite branch of NexTech, don’t let the main branch know I said that,” he chuckled, prompting laughter from the room. Wonwoo forced out a laugh as well, after all, Mr. Jung was responsible for his paycheck, and besides, Wonwoo admired him. The CEO was authoritative but also known for being generous with benefits and holiday gifts.
Mr. Jung made his way around the table, shaking hands with each person personally and offering an appreciative smile. He paused beside the branch manager, acknowledging her hard work on the last project. When he reached Wonwoo, he gave him an approving nod, a pat on his back with a smile. Wonwoo smiled back and bowed his head politely.
Turning to Mingyu, Mr. Jung offered a knowing smile. “You’re Mingyu, if I remember correctly?” Mingyu nodded, his lips curving into a practiced grin as he bowed respectfully.
The meeting commenced with a heartfelt, unscripted speech from the CEO. He spoke about the company's achievements and the contribution of their branch to NexTech as a whole, the importance of teamwork, and the value of each department’s role. Wonwoo barely contained an eye roll at the word “teamwork.” He could probably work with a lion more easily than he could with Mingyu. Mingyu, who seemed to take perverse pleasure in complicating his job at every turn. If anything, Wonwoo prided himself on being even worse, he made it his personal mission to express his contempt for all the extravagant designs Mingyu had proposed. He’d lost count of how many times they’d been hauled into HR or summoned by Jeonghan for yet another “emergency meeting” aimed at resolving their conflicts so they could "work together."
Yet, ironically, this toxic arrangement had somehow been the secret sauce to their recent project’s success. Forced to coexist, they’d both pushed themselves to new limits, trying to avoid any mistake that the other could latch onto as ammunition. It was a deeply unhealthy competition, but it had unlocked a whole new level of performance for both of them. The trash talk and the constant bickering had become an unspoken part of their dynamic, a spectacle the entire branch had grown used to.
Mr. Jung seemed to sense the anticipation in the room as he hinted at a big announcement, but just as quickly, he pivoted. “We’ll get to that in a bit,” he said with a mysterious smile. “For now, let's start with a tour of the departments, followed by lunch.”
The room buzzed with a mix of excitement and curiosity, everyone eager to know what was coming next, but for now, they had to play along with the CEO’s plan. Wonwoo exchanged a quick glance with Mingyu, both silently agreeing for once that they would just have to wait and see.
As soon as the CEO and his secretary along with Jeonghan left the lounge for their grand tour, Wonwoo discreetly pulled out his phone and fired off a quick message to the group chat. He let Seungkwan and Soonyoung know that the CEO was on his way to their departments for the meet and greet. Almost instantly, a response from Soonyoung popped up, a chibi tiger fainting sticker, which Wonwoo knew Soonyoung had painstakingly created by screen-recording a cartoon show that Seungkwan’s niece watched.
Wonwoo chuckled at the memory, slipping his phone back into his pocket with a sigh. That momentary distraction was over.
When he glanced up, he noticed Mr. Lee, the CTO, lingering a bit too close, with a curious look in his eyes. Wonwoo had crossed paths with Mr. Lee numerous times over the years. Despite Mr. Lee working primarily from the main branch, they often connected since he oversaw all the IT Directors from different branches. There was an easy camaraderie between them, no stiff formality. In fact, Mr. Lee had been a tremendous help to Wonwoo more than once, even leading to an impromptu night of drinks along with Soonyoung where they’d bonded over mutual work gripes and shared nerdy interests.
“Mr. Lee! I’ve missed you!” Wonwoo teased, knowing full well that the shorter man wasn’t a fan of overly affectionate words.
Mr.Lee gave him a playful glare, but a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Wonwoo, you really ought to call me Jihoon by now, don’t you think?”
Wonwoo blinked, momentarily taken aback by the familiarity in Jihoon’s tone, but then quickly grinned back. “Alright, Jihoon it is then” He didn’t mind going first name basis with Mr.Lee but it seemed weird, he was so accustomed to calling him that for years.
Jihoon shifted his weight, still hovering close, eyes darting around like he was searching for something, or someone. Wonwoo narrowed his eyes, sensing an ulterior motive brewing behind Mr.Lee’s Jihoon’s casual demeanor. It was unlike Mr. Lee Jihoon to linger without reason; he was typically a man of few words and even fewer social graces. Wonwoo crossed his arms, leaning back slightly as he waited for whatever was coming.
“So…” Jihoon began, a little too casually. “That friend of yours, the Quality Assurance Lead... Soonyoung, right?”
Wonwoo raised an eyebrow, amused at the sudden interest. “Yeah, that’s him,” he replied, drawing out the words. “Why do you ask?”
Jihoon cleared his throat, glancing to the side as if he found the potted plant next to them infinitely fascinating. “Oh, no reason. Just... heard some things. Thought I’d put a face to the name, you know?”
Wonwoo’s lips curled into a knowing grin. “Uh huh, just putting a face to the name.” He wasn’t buying it, not for a second. Jihoon’s attempt at nonchalance was almost laughably transparent.
Jihoon scratched the back of his neck, his face betraying a hint of pink, which only made Wonwoo’s grin wider. The rock-solid, stoic Mr.Lee, whose poker face could rival a statue’s, was actually flustered? Wonwoo couldn’t help but revel in the moment.
“Do you, uh… happen to have his number?” Jihoon asked, finally managing to meet Wonwoo’s gaze. There was the faintest tremor in his usually steady voice.
Wonwoo’s jaw almost dropped. He blinked, trying to reconcile this new, almost bashful side of Jihoon with the gruff, no-nonsense man he’d known for years. “Wait a second,” Wonwoo drawled, the teasing lilt clear in his tone. “Are you asking for Soonyoung’s number?”
Jihoon’s cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink. He crossed his arms defensively over his chest, trying to appear unbothered, but the effect was ruined by the betraying warmth in his face. “I’m… considering expanding my network,” he muttered, but the excuse was paper-thin.
“Sure, sure,” Wonwoo snorted, thoroughly entertained. “And does this expansion of your network just so happen to focus on one very specific, hyperactive QA Lead with a penchant for interpretive dance during lunch breaks?”
Jihoon glared at him, but the blush was undeniable now. “Are you going to help me or not?” he grumbled, though his voice lacked its usual bite. “I don’t need the commentary, Wonwoo.”
Wonwoo couldn’t resist pushing further. “I always knew you had a soft spot somewhere under all that muscle.”
Jihoon rolled his eyes, “Just- , do you have the number or not?” he grumbled, a hint of desperation seeping into his tone.
“Yeah, yeah, I’ve got it,” Wonwoo replied with chuckle, fishing out his phone again.
The CTO left his side once he got his number, Wonwoo shook his head smiling to himself at the unexpected revelation. He was so excited for Soonyoung, he was itching to go tell the man but decided on playing unaware, to see how that hamster of a man acted when Jihoon finally made a move.
“I didn’t know you were close to Mr.Lee”
An all too familiar annoying voice of Mingyu startled the living out of Wonwoo. He nearly dropped his phone, jolted out of his thoughts by Mingyu's sudden, unwelcome presence. He turned, finding himself face to face with that infuriatingly smug grin.
“God, do you ever make a sound when you move?” Wonwoo muttered, pressing a hand to his chest in mock relief. “You could give a heart attack to an old lady.”
Mingyu’s smile widened. “I have many talents,” he replied smoothly. “But seriously, I didn’t know you and Mr. Lee were so… buddy-buddy.”
Wonwoo rolled his eyes, tucking his phone back into his pocket. “We’re not,” he replied coolly. “He just needed a favor. You know, things you do when you’re a helpful, decent person.”
Mingyu snorted. “Helpful and decent, huh? Are you sure we’re talking about you, Jeon?”
Wonwoo’s lips twitched with a restrained smile. “Oh, bite me, Kim,” he shot back, though there was less venom than usual in his tone. “I’m allowed to have friends, you know. Even the scary CTO kind.”
Mingyu hummed, leaning in just a fraction, his voice dipping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Well, if we’re being honest, I think Mr.Lee might be after more than just friendship with your friend Soonyoung.”
Wonwoo blinked, genuinely surprised for a split second. Was Kim Mingyu trying to make an almost half-decent conversation with him? He quickly recovered, giving a nonchalant shrug. “Maybe. Who knows? But why do you care?” He narrowed his eyes.
Mingyu laughed, a light sound that somehow managed to be both infuriating and tolerable. “Maybe I just like to see how flustered you get when something unexpected happens.”
Wonwoo felt his cheeks warm, caught off guard by the casual jab. “Please,” he scoffed, crossing his arms. “I don’t get flustered.”
“Oh?” Mingyu’s grin turned wicked. “I think you just did.”
Wonwoo opened his mouth to retort, but his phone buzzed in his pocket, a distraction he seized eagerly. He pulled it out, pretending to check the message with exaggerated interest.
Mingyu leaned closer, peering over his shoulder. “What’s so important, Mr. Popular?”
Wonwoo shoved him away with a huff. “None of your business, Mingyu.” He walked away not forgetting to spare a glare at the man in black suit and maroon tie.
******