Jan-The Strange Request

After finishing off our breakfast, we headed back to the lobby. Mia had to return to work since break time was over.

'Guess I'll see you around!' I waved at her.

'Bye,' she waved back and hurried off towards the lift. I headed towards the large ballroom across the lobby. The others were already there. Joonjae was looking at me with strict eyes while Taewon hyung was sitting on a chair, idly glancing through a magazine.

'You're late,' Joonjae said.

'I was having breakfast!' I moaned. 'Cut me some slack.'

'I told you to be here on time!'

'Yes, mother,' I said sarcastically.

Joonjae opened his mouth to retort but Taewon hyung cut him off. 'Drop it,' he said sharply, not looking up from his magazine.

'Oh guess who else is here?' I asked.

'Some hot chick who rejected you?' Joonjae said wearily.

'I wish,' I replied. 'But no. It's our neighbor, Mia. I bumped into her at the lobby. Even invited her to join me for breakfast.'

Taewon hyung looked up. 'Mia is here? Why?'

Joonjae and I looked at him in surprise. When did he cared for her?

'Y-yeah,' I stammered. 'She's here for some work.'

Taewon hyung said nothing and got back to reading his magazine. Joonjae and I looked at each other. Weird.

'Guys!' Manager Choi called us. 'The director said we're starting the shoot in five minutes.'

'We're coming,' Joonjae answered. 'Let's go,' he said to us.

'Wait,' Taewon hyung spoke up again. 'Before that. I need you guys to do something.'

'Like what?' Joonjae asked.

'If any of you see Mia with her colleagues today,' Taewon hyung said. 'Pretend not to know her.'

Joonjae and I were taken aback. We knew he did not like her but this was too much.

'Why?' I frowned. 'She's not a crazy fan hyung! Mia is a good person.'

'I do think you're going overboard with your dislike of her,' Joonjae said.

'Do you trust me?' Taewon hyung asked.

'Of course we do!' I assured him 'But-'

'Then do as I say. Believe me, this is for her good as well. I'll tell you guys everything later. But for now, pretend not to know her in front of others. Especially in front of her colleagues.'

Both of us stared at him quizzically. Taewon hyung seems to be hiding something. But we did not question him further. Unreasonable he may be at times, he would not ask for a favor unless it was important.

'Okay,' Joonjae agreed. 'We'll do that.'

I nodded as well. A strange ominous feeling was creeping up in my mind. Does this have anything to do with where Mia worked?