Haji held his breath as the company building of K Company lood in front of him. There was an atmosphere that he couldn’t explain as soon as he got out of the taxi. Was it because he just spent a ridiculous amount on the fare, or was it because he was afraid to go inside such an important building? Whichever it is, Haji for sure could feel it deep within his bones.
’No, I’m already here, either I see this through or not, and it would be a waste if I don’t choose the forr.’ He tried to hype himself up. One breath. Two breaths. No matter how many breaths it took it didn’t calm his nerves. How could he not be nervous when he’d be eting none other than gumi’s dad for sothing gumi-related? Furthermore, the person he’s eting is the most important person in the company. The VIP. The CEO.
Focusing on his breathing brought the opposite effect and Haji shook his head instead, bringing his head down as he tried to fight through his nervousness. So part in him wanted to slap both his cheeks so he could co to his senses but the re thought brought about embarrassnt since there were already a couple of people around him. "It’s not like I’m forcing myself here... and it’s not like I have enough money to get back ho. Either way, there’s no going back now."
A gulp, and then a step forward. Then another step. Then another step. Haji didn’t stop stepping forward until he reached the entrance of the building where he found himself face to face with two policen, clutching the handles of their guns which were carefully strapped to their belts. For a mont, Haji imagined getting shot by the policen for acting so suspiciously and he quickly removed the thought in his mind. Those thoughts wouldn’t help with his current engagent. Right now, all he had to think about was eting gumi’s father That’s all there is to it.
"Do you have a scheduled appointnt?" One of the guards asked with a stern expression on his face, stepping in front of Haji as if to block his path. He had seen many of his kind before, high school students who wanted to apply for a position in the company. He was getting tired of them, but that didn’t an he would disrespect them as the guard of the building. He knew his position, and that is to protect the building and lessen the risk factors that might co in— nothing more and nothing less. The only reason why he stepped in front of Haji was to make sure that he wasn’t a threat and not because he wanted him to get out of his sight.
"Yes," Haji responded with utmost confidence, standing his ground since backing away would be an act befitting of suspicion. Deep inside, however, he was rattling like a snake, his legs turning into jelly as the guard touched the handle of his gun. He gulped, but his expression didn’t change, and he continued staring at the guard as if he had all the right to be there. ’Don’t back off, Haji, don’t back off.’ He kept reminding himself.
"I see, na? What ti? And who are you eting?" The guard asked. Even though Haji acted as confidently as he could, the guard was still suspicious of him, eyeing him up and down a couple of tis before turning around and whispering sothing to the other guard.
"Sasajima Haji... and right now, I don’t know what ti it is. But I do have a scheduled appointnt today, you can ask the CEO, Kikuchi Koji-san." Haji clearly said.
To which the guard scoffed. "Kid, you shouldn’t ss around like that, if you don’t have an appointnt then you can go. The CEO doesn’t have ti for you."
The other guard on the other hand— the guard that hasn’t spoken ever since Haji stepped in front of the entrance— nudged the guard to the side and whispered sothing to him. "You shouldn’t treat him like that... what if he wasn’t joking... you might get fired, you know."
Haji could already tell who was the newly-recruited guard from the two of them and he didn’t speak a word as they had a slight squabble. He just stood there, patiently waiting as the two of them settled it as quietly as possible.
"It will only take a few seconds, go to the front desk and confirm it. If there’s really none, then it’s all good, we can send him away. But if he really had an appointnt... then even better. The safe play here is to confirm nonetheless." The kinder guard pointed out.
"Why don’t you go confirm it then."
"How dare you talk to like that, ssst! I’m still your senpai, you know,"
"Fine, fine, I just have to check, right?"
The guard who had been hostile at Haji glared at him and stared at him once more before turning around and going to the front desk. "I’m sorry about that, he’s still new to the job." The guard apologized to Haji in the other guard’s stead.
Haji nodded. "It’s fine, I’d have the sa reaction if I was in his shoes."
It’s as if the guard was walking the walk of sha as he went back to his post. In hand, he carried a visitor’s pass, all the while trying not to connect his line of sight with Haji. He had reacted so strongly about confirming it that when he was told Haji wasn’t kidding, he realized that his senpai was actually right.
anwhile, the other guard smiled at him as if saying ’I told you so,’ as he handed the visitor’s pass to Haji.
"Elevator to the right, top floor, just walk straight through the hallway and talk to the guard posted by the door." The guard instructed.
"Sure," Haji fastened the visitor’s pass on his neck before he stepped foot inside the building. ’Well, that went better than expected,’ He said to himself, half-smiling.
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