The evening had finally arrived, and Minji could feel the weight of the day pressing down on her shoulders. The fashion show was just around the corner, and she'd been working nonstop for days. She barely had time to think, let alone sleep. It was all a blur of fabrics, sketches, deadlines, and meetings.
By the time she reached her office that night, the building was quieter, only a few lights remaining on in the hallways. Minji closed the door behind her and slumped into the chair at her desk, exhausted. The laptop screen in front of her still showed incomplete designs — nothing she could finalize at this hour, but she couldn't stop. She couldn't leave it unfinished.
She sat there for a while, staring at the screen, her head resting in her hands. It was hard to stay awake, and the soft hum of the city outside the window made her feel even more tired.
She finally gave in, sliding her feet off the desk and curling up in the chair, closing her eyes. She wasn't planning on sleeping, not really. Just a moment of rest. A quick break before she got back to work.
Minutes passed, but it didn't take long for sleep to creep in, pulling her under with a quiet force. Minji's breathing slowed, and soon enough, she was fully asleep, her body relaxing for the first time in days.
Minho, who had stayed late at his office finishing up some final details for their collaboration, had walked past her office when he noticed the light still on. He paused, realizing there was no movement inside. Curiosity tugged at him, and he quietly stepped closer to the door, looking through the small gap in the frame.
What he saw made him stop dead in his tracks.
Minji was asleep, curled up in the chair, her head tilted back slightly, her body relaxed in a way he hadn't seen before. The exhaustion was evident on her face, but so was her beauty — even in such an unguarded moment. Her hair spilled loosely over her shoulder, and she looked peaceful, almost serene. For a moment, Minho just stood there, watching her.
He wanted to wake her, to tell her to go home and rest. But something stopped him. There was something vulnerable about the way she looked right then — something he hadn't seen before.
Minho took a slow step back, deciding not to disturb her. Instead, he went to his office, but his thoughts stayed with her. He couldn't shake the image of her, peaceful and exhausted. He knew how hard she worked, but seeing it in person… it was different.
A while later, Minji stirred, waking up to the soft sound of footsteps approaching. She blinked, rubbing her eyes as she sat up in the chair, realizing how much time had passed.
Minho was standing in the doorway, a slight frown on his face. He had a cup of coffee in his hand, and his expression was serious, though there was a hint of concern in his eyes.
"You should go home, Minji," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "You've been working nonstop. You need to rest."
Minji blinked, still a little dazed from her nap. She looked at him, trying to pull herself together. "I'll be fine," she said with a weak smile, though her voice lacked its usual energy.
Minho stepped inside, setting the coffee cup on the desk in front of her. "You need to sleep. There's nothing else you can do tonight."
Minji hesitated, but she could see the concern in his eyes. For a moment, she considered his words. Maybe he was right. She had been pushing herself too hard, and she couldn't keep going at this pace forever.
"I'll leave soon," she said quietly, picking up the cup and taking a sip of the coffee he'd brought her. It was warm, comforting.
Minho didn't say anything more. Instead, he just nodded and walked out of the room, leaving her to think.
As Minji sat back in her chair, sipping the coffee, she couldn't help but think about the way Minho had looked at her. There was something in his eyes — a softness, a care that she hadn't expected. But she quickly dismissed it. He was just being polite. Nothing more.
She returned to her work, but her mind kept drifting back to him.