CHAPTER 04

CHAPTER 04

We are now heading to the basement. I was trying so hard to remember where the hell I parked my car. I feel like I forgot to function well because of the gesture Jackson showed me earlier. I was used to first time meetings but I was still shocked at how he acted and so I totally forgot which section I left my car in today. My mind went blank, no kidding.

"What's wrong with him? Is he like gay or something? He weirded me out for real." I jokingly asked Lui while we were walking, breaking the awkward silence here in the basement. But I'm serious, what's wrong with him? I don't know if it can be called "breaking the silence" when I also made sure I won't be heard by Jackson by just whispering the message to Lui. He didn't answer me and so I looked at him at my side. He's doing something on his phone, looking so serious because his eyebrows were fully arched.

"Sonny??" he asked without even getting his eyes off his phone.

"So who in the world is Sonny?" confused, like a child asking her parents permission if she can have an ice cream or not after having a fever, I asked him back.

"Jacksonny. Why? Why have you asked such question? Does his presence irritate you?" He looked at me this time and looked at the people at our back following our steps. I looked at them too and Matted waved and smiled. Jackson who's looking down at his feet also met my eyes.

"No. Not really, but he's weird. Nevermind. We're here." I finally heard my car's sound. Jackson went straight to the driver's seat and we followed to get inside the car. I insisted Lui be at the shotgun. I threw my keys to Jackson because I was the one finding my car's parking location earlier. He effortlessly caught it so smoothly. We went straight to the restaurant they booked after we stopped over at a convenience store. When we arrived at the restaurant, I was surprised that it is the restaurant my family and I frequent. I believe it's not that famous of a resto but I guess popular enough to those who seek privacy. Maybe because of its secluded location yet it has the most relaxing and peaceful ambience. We always choose this restaurant among all famous and good ones in the city just because. Getting out of here after filling our tummies with their good foods feels so fulfilling and satisfying.

After a couple of minutes, the rest of the squad arrived. We already ordered our food because Lui said they're okay with anything. I waved my hands to Levi as soon as I saw them walking by the entrance door.

"Hey." Levi greeted me with a peck on the cheek. "Haven't you ordered yet? Something came up at the studio. Where's Matt?" The rest of them took their own seats.

"Hey. I think Matt went back to the car. Is everything alright?" I asked because he seemed to be worked up.

"Yeah, everything's alright." Levi assured. We were complete by the time our food arrived. Everyone is having a good quality time over these good foods and a good place. Spending time with them seems like I have been their close friend for quite a long time. There's no hint of discomfort when I'm with them. We talked about work, life, and laughed with Levi's lame dad jokes. I had a very good time with them. They feel like home. I wish I'll be assigned to work with their team instead.

After our dinner, Levi insisted on driving me home. They brought their chauffeur with them earlier but I didn't. Jackson was our driver. I didn't protest anymore because with all honesty, my body feels tired. "Aren't you tired?" but I still asked Levi to make sure he's okay with driving. "If you are, don't bother. I'll drive."

"I'm fine. Jackson and I will just switch if ever I get tired." I nod. We proceeded in our car, Levi, Jackson, and I. The rest went to their van. It's not that quite a long drive either. I saw the van following us at the back. I feel like dozing off but I still fought my drowsiness. I checked the time. It's past ten, almost eleven in the evening. God, I'm feeling it's a food coma. I'll just nap a little. Just five minutes.

***

"Ugh–" I felt like we'd stopped over. I sleepily opened my eyes. Oh. We're in the parking lot already. Wait—what? I was asleep the whole drive? Why didn't Levi wake me up if we already arrived at my house? I looked at the driver's side but it wasn't Levi seated beside me. It's Jackson who drove. And Levi, he's sleeping at the back.

"Uhm, we're here. Why didn't you wake me up?" with a dozy voice, I speak up

"You're awake. You were sleeping soundly, I didn't want to disrupt you in your sleep." I was still looking at him. He didn't sound sleepy either, but his voice seemed so gentle. Why am I noticing the littlest detail about him? Anyway, I'm still half asleep. I want to be in my bed already. It's almost midnight.

"You can take the car. I'll just get it tomorrow. Have a good night, Tan. I mean Jackson. Drive safely." I smiled, exited my car and lazily waved my hands to him. Levi is still in deep sleep at the back of the car. He probably must be exhausted. Jackson didn't leave yet and so I waved my hands again to him instead and went inside the house before he even left.

***

I was really busy making ends meet. Comeback will be exactly a month from now. We've been doing photoshoots, preparing for conferences soon, the members are busy rehearsing, and so are the staff who are making all the plans possible and doable. I've been on my laptop for at least 5 hours straight already, editing the remaining details that need improvement. I'm the head designer of the team and I'm also the one in charge of organizing the members' wardrobe for a specific schedule. And yep! I'm with the Masterminds. With Levi and the squad. I can still hear me squealing that day after Martha informed me that I'm officially part and will be working with the Mastermind. I've been working with them for a week and a half already.

"Miss L, are the garbs for the MV shooting done? We need it next week, just to remind you." one of the people who supervises the workflow here asked. Yeah don't ask me about the names and infos and such. My head is too occupied for me to memorize names, I just memorize what they look like.

"Yes. Final designs are already given to our tailor. It will be all ready this weekend. You don't have to worry about it." she nodded and went on with her work. She's looking after all the important works that will be necessary to be done perfectly for the upcoming comeback of the group.

I went on to finish the little remaining parts of my revision of their dresses for their promotional segment in a television show overseas. I'll be going to our tailor's workroom to check the progress of the dresses after I finish this one. Then I'll be in a brief meeting with the company's director for some discussions of our work. It all sounds exhausting but believe me, I'm enjoying it. Totally. I immediately closed my laptop right after I emailed my finished revisions to our head. I grabbed my jacket and started walking to go to the tailor. When I came out of the office, I met Jackson who was also coming out of the dance room. I assume they were rehearsing their choreography.

"Hey. Rehearsing?" I waved at him when he saw me. Now we are walking towards the elevator together. "Yeah, we just finished rehearsing. You're heading out?" he asked

"I'm going to the tailor to check the progress of the costumes." The building is just so huge and spacious inside. We headed straight to the elevator together. "How 'bout you? Going somewhere?" I asked back

"Do you have a company? I'm going to take a quick drive outside to breathe. Let me drive you there."

"Really? That would be cool. I will also be coming back here because I still have to meet the director briefly." In my one week and a half stay here in this department, I have gotten even closer to the squad. I really thought they were short-staffed but when I arrived here, there were lots of staff busy with their work and errands that welcomed me here on my first day. They are still short-staffed despite the numbers of people working with them. And the reason why I really don't bother knowing their names by heart is that there are so many of them. I just know those who really are close working with me and the boys, like the producers, head choreographers, my team of co-designers, and Martha who became a friend of mine. Well, I guess it's safe to assume we're friends?

Jackson really accompanied me to the tailor's place and even waited for me to finish. He said they already called it a day and that he's free already. So we came back to the building together . I haven't seen Levi often even though we were on the same floor. He really is the busiest because he and Matt are co-writing a song.

"I'm hungry already. But I still have to meet the director now to discuss the future plans and works." I exhaled through my mouth, a sign that I'm already running out of battery.

"Let's eat then, first. Director Tom will understand. It's 7pm already." Jackson suggested and motioned to go back to get the car but I quickly shook my hands to say no.

"No. I'll just finish it quickly. I'll just go grab dinner after. You eat dinner first." I told him then continued on my way to the conference room. I arrived there first. We started our discussion when Director Tom and his secretary arrived. He asked me how the preparation was going and I reported to him every single detail he wanted to know. He then gave me new tasks to accomplish. He appointed me to be the one to decide every dresscode to every themed schedule. I'll be the one to lead and approve the final decision in deciding the wardrobe of the boys. After we've discussed all the important matters that need to be pointed out, we quickly dismissed our meeting.