Bipolar -- Chapter 13
A week of complete and utter bliss was something Donghae did not think would ever come his way ever again. After everything that’s happened between him and Jessica all those years ago, he was ready to accept his fate as a lone b*stard for the rest of his days. Fortunately, things had gotten better for him - his songs were finally ‘of substance’ as his producer liked to say, he had found a comfortable camaraderie with Tiffany and Siwon and finally, he found love - in the form of a pale and slender goddess named Im Yoona.
It can’t get any better than this, he thought as he stepped through the automatic glass doors of Mag:Net Publishing House and walked towards the elevator.
That day was a free day for him, and after seven days of happiness Donghae decided that it was time for a casual lunch with his girlfriend - Damn, that sounds so good, he grinned to himself as the elevator doors opened, even in my head it sounds perfect - after picking her up at her workplace. Truth be told he hadn’t exactly called Yoona about his visit beforehand, but he was fairly certain that it would be alright. They were dating after all. There was no harm in having lunch with your significant other, right?
Once Donghae reached the Sensation magazine’s floor, he immediately bumped into a rushed Jessica Jung with an armful of clothes and envelopes. The garments and materials fell in a scattered heap on the floor and she cried in frustration, sending her ex-boyfriend a glare as she kneeled to pick them up. Donghae sheepishly tried to help her, picking up the envelopes and documents. From outside the glass doors of the magazine’s floor, he could see that the whole section was in a panic - and for reasons he wasn’t quite sure he could guess correctly.
“Hey, Sica… what the heck’s going on? How come all your co-workers look like they’ve just seen death?” Donghae asked, nudging Jessica with an elbow once they were both done picking up the scattered files littering the floor. The response he received from her was a look of absolute contempt and he raised an eyebrow in question. “What? What did I do?”
“It’s not you, okay. It’s just-” Jessica sighed and motioned for him to get away from the glass doors and continued in a rushed whisper, “They’ve been fighting all day and it’s taken quite a toll on us here since none of us have ever seen it gone this badly before.”
“Who’s been fighting?”
“Miss Yoona and Director Shim,” She replied, frowning while glancing behind her to check if anyone was looking at them or listening. “It’s nothing new if they were to argue during meetings and such but today was just different. I’ve never seen Miss Yoona so angry at the director before and vice versa. I mean… everything was fine when we all went to dinner and then suddenly a week goes by and BAM! It’s as if they were never in good terms with each other.”
Donghae’s brow furrowed as he considered what Jessica had just said and wondered if any of her words held any clarity. He’d been enveloped in Yoona during that weekend and nothing at all seemed out of the ordinary. Yoona was (and still is) classy as ever; strong and mysterious in her personal matters even though they’d been together since after that fateful dinner.
He didn’t know what happened between her and Changmin after they’d all separated (he’d gone to take Jessica home, like a gentleman among other things. They were good now: Jung Sooyeon and Lee Donghae were friends again) on that night… but he was under the impression that nothing bad had gone on when she’d come home to catch him leaving an embarrassing voicemail. Yoona had been surprised to see him but who wouldn’t be in the heat of a love confessional being told? Other than that though, she was perfectly nonchalant in all aspects.
“Did Miss Yoona seem different this past week?” Jessica asked, brow furrowing into worried creases. She pursed her lips and looked at him expectantly. “Yoochun called me the other day and asked if I’d finally forgiven you since you apparently changed your voicemail message into a chipper one. I naturally assumed that things went well between you and my boss since you’re obviously here now to pick her up and so… I had to ask.”
“There’s nothing out of the ordinary with her, Jess - at least as far as I know.” Donghae replied after a moment’s thought. He almost blushed at the idea of his ex-girlfriend knowing him well enough to assume on his new relationship but didn’t let on with the slight embarrassment it brought. “I haven’t known her long enough to say much but I can tell she’s not the type to share.”
Jessica nodded slowly, thinking. She looked troubled. Just how bad is it in there? He thought, turning his head to try to make out anything from behind the panes.
Behind Jessica and beyond the glass doors, Donghae squinted and finally made out a pair charging across the hall and arguing heatedly, and immediately figured them to be the couple they were just talking about in question. His brow furrowed, taking note of the glare in Yoona’s eyes and the way her fists clenched at her sides as she walked past her subordinates with Changmin following her from behind.
His eyes narrowed at the way Changmin took hold of her wrist to stop her from walking away - it happened for a split second, but he saw a change in his demeanor (subtle, almost sad) - and then let go as if her touch burned him. He opened his mouth and said something to her, to which Yoona responded with a hard poke on his chest and what looked like a biting remark before turning and leaving him to stare after her. The whole floor seemed to be at a stand still, with the employees patiently waiting for Changmin to move.
“They’ve never done that before. Fight so vehemently in public, I mean.” Jessica’s voice fleeted to his ears suddenly. She gave him a once over and sighed. “Maybe you could ask Miss Yoona what’s the matter? I want to ask - but I’m scared she’d fire me if I even breathe the director’s name right now. Since you’re dating her now - maybe you’d have better luck at calming her down.”
“I’ll talk to her, Jess. No worries.” Donghae shrugged, watching Changmin stand motionlessly inside the room. He was there for a moment, an indescribable expression on his face before he’d finally snapped out of it and ordered everyone (it seems) to get back to work. He was heading towards them now and Donghae wanted to have a word with him. “I can’t guarantee it’ll do much, but I’ll try to make things better. For her, at least.”
Jessica noticed the movement inside and her eyes widened when she realized that her boss was edging closer to the exit where they were at. She elbowed Donghae, shaking her head. “Donghae - I meant talk to Yoona! Not Director Shim!”
“Relax, Jess. It’ll be okay.” He replied with an easy smile.
Jessica didn’t feel any comfort from this, knowing the look his eyes gave way. She knew him well enough to know that Donghae’s temper actually had a shorter fuse than what most people would think. She’d been witness to it many (horrible) times before - and she didn’t want anything bad to happen to him or to her boss if and when it finally snapped. He said he’d changed and she believed him to an extent… but isn’t there a saying that said that “old habits die hard”? Regardless of this fact however, Jessica said nothing and waited patiently for the seconds to pass until her boss was out the door and facing them finally.
She’d leave them to go back to work the moment it was possible - she had no intention on staying to listen to them talk. No way was she going to be involved. Not with Donghae around, not anymore.
Bringing the folders closer to her chest, Jessica gave him another look before exiting towards the door just as Changmin efficiently passed through it. Both men stopped for a second to look at each other, quietly gauging each other’s expressions with suspicion before the taller man’s slowly softened and shook his head. Donghae narrowed his eyes at him, wondering why Changmin was suddenly so… calm and opened his mouth to speak.
“I caught sight of the end of your argument with Yoona. What was that about?”
Changmin shrugged; his gaze unfocused on his even though they were staring each other down. “Nothing special, Mister Lee. Tensions can run high a week before the deadline,” he said simply, standing up straighter with one hand in his pocket.
Donghae was not convinced. There was a calm around him that unnerved the other man and annoyed him - he’d seen enough to know that whatever it was they were fighting about was anything but not special. It had to be something more - something deeper. Something Donghae knew he shouldn’t try to find out now, in fear that his dark side might get the better of him. He’d already changed for the better… he was a better man now. Better, but vulnerable to the darkness within. He couldn’t up and go screw that up now. Not when things were finally going his way… with Jessica… with Yoona -
“Are you here to pick her up?” Donghae blinked in surprise at the sudden admission of Changmin’s voice in his ear. He watched as the taller man before him gave him an odd but indifferent look as he spoke, “It’s almost lunch time, and no one really comes by here unless they’re taking someone out to eat. I guess Yoona’s finally got herself someone to do just that.”
“Is that going to be a problem?”
Changmin shook his head slowly, turning just a little to glance back at the room where his employees were busy doing their work and Yoona was-he caught sight of her giving instructions to Jessica chasing after her, took note of the blank expression on her face and brought his gaze back to Donghae. The other man noticed all of this but decided to say nothing - decided to say nothing for the sake of not causing a scene as his temper flared up within him. Don’t Donghae, he reminded himself of what Jessica had told him, don’t.
“Well?”
Changmin held his gaze steadily. “No. It’s not going to be a problem.”
Donghae gave him a nod and turned towards the door, knowing it was time to leave things just as they were before anything else came up. And with his jealousy… well-
“Donghae.” His hand stopped midway at the door handle and he stood, waiting for Changmin to continue. He’d called his name for a reason - and he wanted to know what it was before he took Yoona away (from him, the ex-fiance and whatever the hell he was to her now).
Changmin’s voice was unusually rough as he spoke, “She doesn’t look like it, but she’s a lot more vulnerable than she seems…”
“I’ll take care of her.” Donghae replied, turning to look at him in the eye. So that he’d know that he was serious, because he was. He really was. The taller man nodded, pushing his hands back into his pockets with a sad smile on his lips. There was something about that - it was so sad, even he felt it and he hated Changmin right on the spot when they’d first met.
What exactly happened between them for things to turn out like this?
“Good.” He said, nodding his head still. He grinned a little easier this time, his eyes crinkling unevenly. Donghae felt a need to punch that smile square off his face but stopped himself. “You should do that.”
The words were out before he’d even realized he’s spoken them: “I’ll do a better job at it than when she was with you.”
“Good.” Changmin repeated, the smile faltering just a bit before he turned and faced the elevator doors.
Donghae took this as a sign for him to exit and he did - only to glance back long enough to see his rival’s jaw clench and for him to punch the marble wall beside the elevator doors.
He turned away to look at Yoona standing a few feet from him, sporting the same blank look he’d seen Changmin look at just moments ago and felt the love he held for her and something else. A ringing of a question slithering into his (unwilling) mind as stepped towards her with a patented smile and a cheerful call,
“Yoona!”
What happened between you, Yoona? What happened to you for things to turn out like this?
Choi Siwon is elsewhere at the moment. Leave your message and contact details after the tone.
Do you know who she is, Choi? Do you have any idea?
No, probably not. But then again your intelligence was always so one-dimensional. You don’t care to look at all of the scenarios. I always had to do that for you - it’s no wonder I hate your guts. You’re stale, Choi. A bore! A cheap b*stard who thinks he’s God-sent but has never had a clue! God, you’re such a joke.
It’s always only been one way for you, isn’t it? Forward and onwards all the f*cking time. The backwards and side wards of things never mattered to you. You never did know how to use your imagination. You only know how to look ahead.
But that’s not how it’s going to be, Choi. No… you’ll have to learn to look at all directions this time.
I’ll ask you this again:
Do you even know who she is? Do you have any idea?
It can’t get any better than this, he thought as he stepped through the automatic glass doors of Mag:Net Publishing House and walked towards the elevator.
That day was a free day for him, and after seven days of happiness Donghae decided that it was time for a casual lunch with his girlfriend - Damn, that sounds so good, he grinned to himself as the elevator doors opened, even in my head it sounds perfect - after picking her up at her workplace. Truth be told he hadn’t exactly called Yoona about his visit beforehand, but he was fairly certain that it would be alright. They were dating after all. There was no harm in having lunch with your significant other, right?
Once Donghae reached the Sensation magazine’s floor, he immediately bumped into a rushed Jessica Jung with an armful of clothes and envelopes. The garments and materials fell in a scattered heap on the floor and she cried in frustration, sending her ex-boyfriend a glare as she kneeled to pick them up. Donghae sheepishly tried to help her, picking up the envelopes and documents. From outside the glass doors of the magazine’s floor, he could see that the whole section was in a panic - and for reasons he wasn’t quite sure he could guess correctly.
“Hey, Sica… what the heck’s going on? How come all your co-workers look like they’ve just seen death?” Donghae asked, nudging Jessica with an elbow once they were both done picking up the scattered files littering the floor. The response he received from her was a look of absolute contempt and he raised an eyebrow in question. “What? What did I do?”
“It’s not you, okay. It’s just-” Jessica sighed and motioned for him to get away from the glass doors and continued in a rushed whisper, “They’ve been fighting all day and it’s taken quite a toll on us here since none of us have ever seen it gone this badly before.”
“Who’s been fighting?”
“Miss Yoona and Director Shim,” She replied, frowning while glancing behind her to check if anyone was looking at them or listening. “It’s nothing new if they were to argue during meetings and such but today was just different. I’ve never seen Miss Yoona so angry at the director before and vice versa. I mean… everything was fine when we all went to dinner and then suddenly a week goes by and BAM! It’s as if they were never in good terms with each other.”
Donghae’s brow furrowed as he considered what Jessica had just said and wondered if any of her words held any clarity. He’d been enveloped in Yoona during that weekend and nothing at all seemed out of the ordinary. Yoona was (and still is) classy as ever; strong and mysterious in her personal matters even though they’d been together since after that fateful dinner.
He didn’t know what happened between her and Changmin after they’d all separated (he’d gone to take Jessica home, like a gentleman among other things. They were good now: Jung Sooyeon and Lee Donghae were friends again) on that night… but he was under the impression that nothing bad had gone on when she’d come home to catch him leaving an embarrassing voicemail. Yoona had been surprised to see him but who wouldn’t be in the heat of a love confessional being told? Other than that though, she was perfectly nonchalant in all aspects.
“Did Miss Yoona seem different this past week?” Jessica asked, brow furrowing into worried creases. She pursed her lips and looked at him expectantly. “Yoochun called me the other day and asked if I’d finally forgiven you since you apparently changed your voicemail message into a chipper one. I naturally assumed that things went well between you and my boss since you’re obviously here now to pick her up and so… I had to ask.”
“There’s nothing out of the ordinary with her, Jess - at least as far as I know.” Donghae replied after a moment’s thought. He almost blushed at the idea of his ex-girlfriend knowing him well enough to assume on his new relationship but didn’t let on with the slight embarrassment it brought. “I haven’t known her long enough to say much but I can tell she’s not the type to share.”
Jessica nodded slowly, thinking. She looked troubled. Just how bad is it in there? He thought, turning his head to try to make out anything from behind the panes.
Behind Jessica and beyond the glass doors, Donghae squinted and finally made out a pair charging across the hall and arguing heatedly, and immediately figured them to be the couple they were just talking about in question. His brow furrowed, taking note of the glare in Yoona’s eyes and the way her fists clenched at her sides as she walked past her subordinates with Changmin following her from behind.
His eyes narrowed at the way Changmin took hold of her wrist to stop her from walking away - it happened for a split second, but he saw a change in his demeanor (subtle, almost sad) - and then let go as if her touch burned him. He opened his mouth and said something to her, to which Yoona responded with a hard poke on his chest and what looked like a biting remark before turning and leaving him to stare after her. The whole floor seemed to be at a stand still, with the employees patiently waiting for Changmin to move.
“They’ve never done that before. Fight so vehemently in public, I mean.” Jessica’s voice fleeted to his ears suddenly. She gave him a once over and sighed. “Maybe you could ask Miss Yoona what’s the matter? I want to ask - but I’m scared she’d fire me if I even breathe the director’s name right now. Since you’re dating her now - maybe you’d have better luck at calming her down.”
“I’ll talk to her, Jess. No worries.” Donghae shrugged, watching Changmin stand motionlessly inside the room. He was there for a moment, an indescribable expression on his face before he’d finally snapped out of it and ordered everyone (it seems) to get back to work. He was heading towards them now and Donghae wanted to have a word with him. “I can’t guarantee it’ll do much, but I’ll try to make things better. For her, at least.”
Jessica noticed the movement inside and her eyes widened when she realized that her boss was edging closer to the exit where they were at. She elbowed Donghae, shaking her head. “Donghae - I meant talk to Yoona! Not Director Shim!”
“Relax, Jess. It’ll be okay.” He replied with an easy smile.
Jessica didn’t feel any comfort from this, knowing the look his eyes gave way. She knew him well enough to know that Donghae’s temper actually had a shorter fuse than what most people would think. She’d been witness to it many (horrible) times before - and she didn’t want anything bad to happen to him or to her boss if and when it finally snapped. He said he’d changed and she believed him to an extent… but isn’t there a saying that said that “old habits die hard”? Regardless of this fact however, Jessica said nothing and waited patiently for the seconds to pass until her boss was out the door and facing them finally.
She’d leave them to go back to work the moment it was possible - she had no intention on staying to listen to them talk. No way was she going to be involved. Not with Donghae around, not anymore.
Bringing the folders closer to her chest, Jessica gave him another look before exiting towards the door just as Changmin efficiently passed through it. Both men stopped for a second to look at each other, quietly gauging each other’s expressions with suspicion before the taller man’s slowly softened and shook his head. Donghae narrowed his eyes at him, wondering why Changmin was suddenly so… calm and opened his mouth to speak.
“I caught sight of the end of your argument with Yoona. What was that about?”
Changmin shrugged; his gaze unfocused on his even though they were staring each other down. “Nothing special, Mister Lee. Tensions can run high a week before the deadline,” he said simply, standing up straighter with one hand in his pocket.
Donghae was not convinced. There was a calm around him that unnerved the other man and annoyed him - he’d seen enough to know that whatever it was they were fighting about was anything but not special. It had to be something more - something deeper. Something Donghae knew he shouldn’t try to find out now, in fear that his dark side might get the better of him. He’d already changed for the better… he was a better man now. Better, but vulnerable to the darkness within. He couldn’t up and go screw that up now. Not when things were finally going his way… with Jessica… with Yoona -
“Are you here to pick her up?” Donghae blinked in surprise at the sudden admission of Changmin’s voice in his ear. He watched as the taller man before him gave him an odd but indifferent look as he spoke, “It’s almost lunch time, and no one really comes by here unless they’re taking someone out to eat. I guess Yoona’s finally got herself someone to do just that.”
“Is that going to be a problem?”
Changmin shook his head slowly, turning just a little to glance back at the room where his employees were busy doing their work and Yoona was-he caught sight of her giving instructions to Jessica chasing after her, took note of the blank expression on her face and brought his gaze back to Donghae. The other man noticed all of this but decided to say nothing - decided to say nothing for the sake of not causing a scene as his temper flared up within him. Don’t Donghae, he reminded himself of what Jessica had told him, don’t.
“Well?”
Changmin held his gaze steadily. “No. It’s not going to be a problem.”
Donghae gave him a nod and turned towards the door, knowing it was time to leave things just as they were before anything else came up. And with his jealousy… well-
“Donghae.” His hand stopped midway at the door handle and he stood, waiting for Changmin to continue. He’d called his name for a reason - and he wanted to know what it was before he took Yoona away (from him, the ex-fiance and whatever the hell he was to her now).
Changmin’s voice was unusually rough as he spoke, “She doesn’t look like it, but she’s a lot more vulnerable than she seems…”
“I’ll take care of her.” Donghae replied, turning to look at him in the eye. So that he’d know that he was serious, because he was. He really was. The taller man nodded, pushing his hands back into his pockets with a sad smile on his lips. There was something about that - it was so sad, even he felt it and he hated Changmin right on the spot when they’d first met.
What exactly happened between them for things to turn out like this?
“Good.” He said, nodding his head still. He grinned a little easier this time, his eyes crinkling unevenly. Donghae felt a need to punch that smile square off his face but stopped himself. “You should do that.”
The words were out before he’d even realized he’s spoken them: “I’ll do a better job at it than when she was with you.”
“Good.” Changmin repeated, the smile faltering just a bit before he turned and faced the elevator doors.
Donghae took this as a sign for him to exit and he did - only to glance back long enough to see his rival’s jaw clench and for him to punch the marble wall beside the elevator doors.
He turned away to look at Yoona standing a few feet from him, sporting the same blank look he’d seen Changmin look at just moments ago and felt the love he held for her and something else. A ringing of a question slithering into his (unwilling) mind as stepped towards her with a patented smile and a cheerful call,
“Yoona!”
What happened between you, Yoona? What happened to you for things to turn out like this?
Choi Siwon is elsewhere at the moment. Leave your message and contact details after the tone.
Do you know who she is, Choi? Do you have any idea?
No, probably not. But then again your intelligence was always so one-dimensional. You don’t care to look at all of the scenarios. I always had to do that for you - it’s no wonder I hate your guts. You’re stale, Choi. A bore! A cheap b*stard who thinks he’s God-sent but has never had a clue! God, you’re such a joke.
It’s always only been one way for you, isn’t it? Forward and onwards all the f*cking time. The backwards and side wards of things never mattered to you. You never did know how to use your imagination. You only know how to look ahead.
But that’s not how it’s going to be, Choi. No… you’ll have to learn to look at all directions this time.
I’ll ask you this again:
Do you even know who she is? Do you have any idea?