Cercis sat at her desk at the agency, her gaze fixed on nothingness. The glow of her computer screen cast a faint light on her tired face. The remnants of last night's self-imposed drinking session lingered in her mind, but she pushed them aside, trying to focus on the task at hand.
Her coworkers exchanged knowing glances, their whispers barely concealed behind cupped hands. They have been ridiculing Cercis ever since her promotion from being an intern to into a full-time employee, claiming she didn’t deserve it. On top of that, they’ve been mocking her strikingly pure white hair, joking that she must be cursed or that she was the daughter of a witch or some other creature. Cercis had grown used to their mockery, but today it stung a little more than usual.
Suddenly, their boss's voice boomed across the room, calling them all to attention for a new project. Mr. Park briefly thanked Cercis for making the project possible by suggesting a new featured model. He began to explain the details, his words slowly registering in Cercis's mind.
As Mr. Park introduced the management team they would be collaborating with, Cercis felt a wave of apprehension wash over her. She knows she needs to pull herself together if she wants to succeed in this project.
Then, their boss uttered a name that seemed to electrify the entire room. "Elysian Model’s Okazaki Shun," he said, his voice tinged with reverence. "Our featured model for this project."
The moment Shun stepped into the room, all eyes turned to him in awe. He exuded a magnetic charm and an otherworldly beauty that left everyone speechless. Cercis couldn't help but steal glances at him, her heart racing at the sight of him.
But amidst the enthusiastic admiration of her coworkers, Cercis remained invisible, a mere observer on the sidelines. The memory of their encounter at the library lingered in her thoughts. She knew she needed to get closer to him, to uncover more, but how? The chasm between their social statuses now felt insurmountable. Everyone in the room seemed captivated by him, and Cercis found herself unable to hold his gaze for more than a fleeting moment.
Then, to her astonishment, her eyes met Shun’s from across the room. Their gazes locked in a silent, intense exchange, and Cercis felt a surge of longing pass between them. Despite the buzz and excitement surrounding them, in that brief moment, it was as if they were the only two people in the room.
The room buzzed with admiration, everyone captivated by Shun’s undeniable beauty, unaware that his attention was entirely focused elsewhere—on Cercis, who stood quietly in the corner.
Shun waved at her, drawing everyone's attention in the room. Their eyebrows shot up in surprise as they noticed the subtle exchange. “Cercis…” Shun mouthed.
Feeling awkward under the sudden scrutiny, Cercis forced a smile—albeit awkwardly, unable to hold decent eye contact.
From that very corner, Cercis watched, her heart sinking as Shun was assigned to a team she isn’t a part of. Despite her efforts to conceal her disappointment, she can’t shake the feeling of being left behind.
Instead, she was demoted to a lower position despite her contributions to the project, including recommending Shun. Her recent performance at the agency had been deemed underwhelming overall. It was a blow to her pride, but she swallowed it and accepted her new role, knowing she had little choice in the matter.
Days passed, and Cercis found herself barely crossing paths with Shun, let alone speaking to him. He was busy with his team, while she was relegated to running errands for her senior colleagues. It was a stark contrast to the excitement and anticipation she had felt at the beginning of the project, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of bitterness creeping in. But she pushed it aside, determined to make the best of her situation, even if it meant being little more than a footnote in Shun's glamorous world.
It’s now lunchtime, and the office is unusually quiet. Most employees are at the cafeteria, but Cercis remained at her desk, eating a sandwich while reviewing her manuscript, finally deciding to continue her long-forgotten novel. She preferred the solitude of the empty office to the forced social interactions with her plastic coworkers. Suddenly, there’s a soft knock on the door. She looked up to see Shun standing there, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Cercis blinked in bewilderment as he entered the room.
“This takes me back…” Shun smiled as he stepped inside clutching a lunchbox. “I noticed you weren’t at the cafeteria, as usual, and figured I'd come to see how you're doing. Mind if I join you?”
Cercis studied him intently, considering that this might be the perfect opportunity to pursue her own agenda.
She then gestured to a chair. “Of course. How have you been? It’s been days since we last spoke—you’ve been so busy.”
“Busy indeed, but good.” Shun settled into the chair across from her. “Actually, I’ve been thinking about your novel lately. Still curious about that character you said kind of resembles me… Giovanni, right?”
Good…
Cercis’s eyes widened, but she quickly brushed her astonishment away. “You really haven’t let that go, have you?” She laughed awkwardly.
Shun leaned forward, tilting his head to the side. “So, how’s the writing going?”
Cercis smiled awkwardly. “Well, honestly… not much progress.”
“I’m sure it’s going to be amazing. You’ve always had a knack for storytelling,” Shun said, recalling their time at the library.
Cercis gave a soft smile, though her mind raced to find the right words. After a moment’s hesitation, she resolved to dig a bit deeper. Clearing her throat, she tried to sound nonchalant. “So, Shun, how did you become a model? Was it something you always aspired to?”
Shun looked down at his lunch on the table with a slight smile. “Not exactly. I was a participant in a pageant in our school. My photos from that event went viral, and that’s how my agency found me.”
Cercis’s eyes widened slightly with recognition but quickly dismissed the thought. “Interesting. You must have been quite popular in school, then. Lots of admirers, I bet.”
Shun nodded, his expression thoughtful. “I suppose so. Popularity can be... complicated.”
Cercis leaned in with a teasing tone. “I can imagine. There must have been a few people who were a bit obsessed with you, given your… striking looks.”
Shun didn’t immediately respond. Instead, he studied her intently, as if assessing her just as she had tried to assess him. The silence stretched between them.
Finally, Shun’s smile reappeared. “How is your novel coming along? Any exciting developments or new twists you’ve thought of?”
Cercis blinked, momentarily thrown off by the shift in conversation. “Oh, right. Actually, I’ve been working on a new plot twist. It’s still in the early stages, though.” She laughed awkwardly, trying to sound casual. “Also, fun fact: some parts are inspired by real-life events and people. It makes it more... authentic and interesting, don’t you think?” She looked him in the eye, offering a slight grin.
“Real people, huh? So, did you base your characters on people you know personally?”
“Maybe.”
Shun leaned back in his chair, returning her grin. “I’m really looking forward to seeing how that character with the teal eyes turns out.”
“Yeah… I’m still trying to decide what to do with him. He’s my favorite character, you know? He’s the villain, and a villain is crucial to the story. He drives the plot forward, so I want to take my time figuring out his ending. But at the same time, I want the main character, Savannah, to find what she’s looking for—answers, justice, and a happy ending.” Cercis admitted, glancing away.
Though she wasn’t looking at Shun, she could feel his intense gaze. She heard him sigh before he chuckled softly.
“So… have you come up with a possible ending yet?” Shun asked, tucking away his lunchbox as he finished eating.
Cercis gazed at him for a moment—staring at his aquamarine eyes, but before she could respond, her phone buzzed with a text message. She glanced at the screen, frowning slightly at the unknown number. As she read the message, her eyes widened in surprise:
[Hi Cercis, it’s Jerry. It's been a long time.]
A chill ran down her spine. What do Jerry want after all these years?
Shun, noticing her expression, asked, “Everything okay?”
Cercis forced a smile. “Yeah, just an unexpected message from someone I haven't heard from in a while.”
“Someone important?”
“Someone from my past.” She paused, glancing back at her phone. “I’m not sure what he wants.”
Shun glanced at the message, tilting his head and narrowing his eyes as he raised an eyebrow upon seeing the sender. “Jerry, huh?” he muttered under his breath. He then stood up, swiftly adopting a reassuring smile. “I hope everything turns out okay.” He glanced at the wall clock. “It looks like lunch is nearly over. I should get going.”
Cercis smiled awkwardly as Shun left the office. She watched him go, her mind now preoccupied with Jerry's sudden return.
The workday flew by, and as the office began to empty, Cercis busied herself tidying up her desk. The rhythmic clatter of keyboards and the murmur of conversations gradually faded as her coworkers departed.
Just as she was about to grab her coat and leave, her phone rang. The screen displayed the same unknown number from earlier. Cercis hesitated, her finger hovering over the "ignore" button. She didn't want Jerry to think she had noticed or was avoiding him.
Before she could make a decision, a few of her more obnoxious coworkers, who had been making snide remarks all day, noticed the call. “Hey, Cercis! Just pick it up!”
Their nagging grew persistent, and Cercis, feeling cornered and frustrated, tapped the "end call" button. But her respite was short-lived; moments later, the phone rang again. Her coworkers’ relentless taunting made her sigh in resignation. She answered the call, her tone brimming with irritation.
“What do you want?” she snapped.
A pause on the other end, followed by a soothing, almost nostalgic voice. “Cercis… It’s been a long time.”
Hearing his voice again, after all these years, sent a wave of old memories crashing over her—memories she had tried to bury. The familiarity of his tone stirred emotions she had hoped were long forgotten.
Jerry continued, his voice carrying a note of longing. “I just got back to the country… I want to see you.”
Cercis clenched her jaw, trying to keep her emotions in check. Her coworkers continued to hover, their curiosity piqued, but she focused on the call, her mind racing with a mixture of dread and unresolved feelings.
She stepped into the hallway, deliberately walking away from her nosy coworkers. She leaned against the wall, trying to maintain her composure as she spoke into the phone. “What’s this really about? Let me guess, you want to see me to satisfy your sick cravings again?”
Jerry's voice came through, firm yet gentle. “No, Cercis, it’s not like that. I genuinely want to see you. It’s been years, and I—”
“Right,” Cercis interrupted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You just want to reconnect, after all this time.”
There was a brief pause on the other end. “Please, Cercis. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. I just want to talk to you—I want to see you again.”
Cercis sighed, her frustration evident. As she looked through the building's transparent walls, she noticed Shun approaching the main door as he headed out. A group of admiring fans quickly gathered around him, their faces lighting up with excitement. Shun smiled graciously, signing autographs and posing for photos, his demeanor charming and composed.
Cercis watched him for a moment, feeling a pang of envy and longing.
Jerry’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Cercis? Are you still there?”
She sighed again, her resolve wavering. “Fine, Jerry. I’ll see you.”
“Thank you,” Jerry said, relief evident in his voice. “I’ll reserve a spot at the best café in the city where you’re at. Just please let me know your location.”
Cercis tightened her grip on her phone at the mention of a café. “No. I don’t like cafés. A fast food chain will do.”
“But… don’t you like pastries? I mean, we—”
Cercis cut him off with a firm tone. “No. I said a fast food chain will do.”
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, the weight of her words settling between them. Jerry finally responded, his voice subdued. “Alright, a fast food chain it is. Where should I meet you?”
Cercis took a deep breath, trying to quell the surge of frustration and old wounds. She quickly gave him the address of a nearby fast food restaurant, her voice clipped. “Here’s the address. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Cercis. I appreciate it. I’ll see you soon.”
As Cercis ended the call, she glanced back at Shun, who’s now heading towards his car, still surrounded by his fans.
“See you soon…” she muttered to herself.
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