Chapter Twenty-one: Echoes of Distraction.

 Min Jun arrived at the office early, the sun barely rising over Seoul's skyline. The city buzzed with activity, but inside the sleek glass building, the atmosphere was tense and subdued. Min Jun tried to focus on the tasks at hand, but his mind was a tangled mess of unresolved emotions and unanswered questions from his family.

 As the meeting began, he forced himself to pay attention, but the words of his colleagues felt distant, almost muffled. The discussion on the new architectural project was important, but Min Jun's thoughts kept drifting back to his conversation with his parents and the need to keep his struggles hidden from Soo Jeon.

 "Min Jun, do you have any thoughts on the design revisions?" his colleague, Jiwon, asked, snapping him back to reality.

 He blinked, trying to shake off the haze. "Uh, yes. I think we should consider—" He started to speak but found himself lost mid-sentence, struggling to articulate his thoughts.

 The room grew quiet as his colleagues exchanged glances. It was clear Min Jun wasn't fully present. They noticed his distracted demeanor, the furrowed brow, and the way he kept shifting in his seat. They understood that something was troubling him but chose to remain silent, not wanting to intrude on his personal space.

 Jiwon cleared her throat gently, redirecting the discussion. "Maybe we should revisit these ideas in our next meeting," she suggested, giving Min Jun a small, understanding smile.

 As the meeting continued, Min Jun felt the weight of his colleagues' unspoken concern. He appreciated their discretion but felt a pang of guilt for not being his usual self. He knew his performance was slipping, but the emotional strain was taking its toll.

 When the meeting finally ended, Min Jun retreated to his office. He sat at his desk, the cityscape outside the window serving as a stark contrast to the chaos within him. He tried to focus on the project files before him, but his mind remained adrift, haunted by the unresolved issues of his personal life.