Nine hours earlier.

  As the saying goes, when it rains, it pours. Sometimes literally.

  Today, when she left for work, there was not a cloud in the sky and she was dressed to the nines. She had time for breakfast - as opposed to when she (frequently) overslept. For breakfast, should she have cereal or a bagel? A nicely toasted and buttered bagel would be nice. However, it would be faster to have a bowl of cereal, so she could be ahead of schedule for a change.

  Last night, she had a nice shower and washed her hair with a new shampoo and conditioner that smelled heavenly, after a hard workout. Though not having a vain bone in her body, she knew that her hair both looked and smelled great. Seulgi was trying a new pites routine as well, and it was painfully working for every muscle group. She was still a bit sore, but in the good working out sense, as opposed to her normal ‘I just hit my elbow’ sense. The only thing that would have been better was if there was a post workout massage, but there were no pces open that te. So a nice, long, and hot shower after a hard workout would still have to do.

  She had her favorite yellow rose colored button-up shirt, her slightly darker pencil skirt, and shoes ready to go for in the morning. She would decide on if there was a need for nylons or not in the morning. This was the Ultimate Office Lady outfit, and it was as bright as she was.

  The clothes were already set aside on a hanger next to the bed, so she would be able to get dressed easily and quickly. She wanted to waste no time getting ready, so she could be early - for a change. Everything was fttering, color coordinated, and most importantly: ready. Seulgi was looking forward to everything going smoothly, for a change.

  This was her first mistake as it should have been a good, no, GREAT start to the day.

  Then, it wasn’t.

  It started going downhill with breakfast. As she poured milk on her cereal, her cat started stropping her legs, surprising her and making her spsh milk on her shirt, drenching her enough to show her bra. To make matters worse, there was a slight sour smell to the milk. There was no way she could wear this to work now. She removed her shirt, put a stopper in the sink, and pced her shirt in the cold water to soak while she was at work.

  Luckily, she still had enough time to take a ‘washcloth bath’ and still have time to get re-dressed and still be on time. While changing into a bck, colred shirt and new bra, she noticed a run in her best stockings. Thankfully, it did not take too much time to find another pair. While changing her stockings, she noticed that the strap on her left red shoe was loose to the point it was about to snap. Time for a different set of heels. Again, with a little hustle, she was still within the necessary time frame to get to work on time.

  Seulgi managed to make the wardrobe changes and be out the door in record time, though she forgot to put the cereal bowl under the tap of the sink before she left the condo. Hopefully, her chatty seal point Siamese cat, named Suki, would not find the bowl before she gets home. This cat is a foodie that wallowed in her bowl and gets things everywhere without even trying. The mess that this cat would make with the cereal bowl was unbearable to think about. Not to mention the potential worsening smell of spoiled milk.

  She went to the stairwell, she usually used the stairs as part of her exercise routine. Seventeen floors make for a fair workout within itself. This is why she tried to leave early, so she would have time to get down the stairs and still not be te to work.

  She managed to get out the door to be on her way down five flights of stairs when she realized that, in her frustration, she had forgotten her work phone. Running back up the five floors (with a few muttered inoffensive invectives) she had just descended, she got her work phone.

  Then, soon as the door to her pce closed, she remembered that she had forgotten her earphones as well. After a few more equally inoffensive things muttered under her breath, she made sure she didn’t forget anything else.

  Then she used the elevator to get back down, as it would not do to get to work and be all sweaty. Good thing she kept a spare bottle of her favorite fragrance in her clutch. She was not a flowery scent kind of girl, roses are pretty to look at, but they smell too strong. Seulgi did enjoy an earthy musk as opposed to something too sweet.

  She did not bring an umbrel because the forecast said it was supposed to be sunny. Sadly, there was a very wet wind that boded ill for her afternoon. At least it was still warm.

  Though, if it rains too much, there might be a chill, and Seulgi did not bring her jacket. So much for trusting the weather forecast - again. Good thing that she kept a mini-umbrel at work for just these instances.

  Once on the ground floor and outside, she found that all of the taxis at the taxi stand outside her condo building were already gone and there was no telling when the next one would be there. She did not have time to call for another taxi or Uber. She had *just* missed the bus. So, in further frustration, she decided to jog to work. It wasn’t that far, right? Only a couple of kilometers. In heels.

  While on the way, that’s when the heel on her second favorite pair of shoes got caught on a sewer grate and broke.

  While looking down at her shoes in consternation, she had a premonition. She looked up to the sky just in time to get a drop of cold rain smack her in the middle of the forehead. At least she hoped it was raining because there were workmen cleaning the windows of the building she was under. Ugh, the water was gritty. That alone was better than what one of the many birds flying around might do.

  Seulgi tried to reattach her heel and it worked. Sort of. The heel came all of the ways off after three steps. She was able to cobble

  it well enough of a fix to make it into the office.

  But, her ankle started hurting from the awkward running. She would need to get an ice pack for the injured ankle when she got to her office. She normally walked up the stairs for part of her daily workout, but not today. Today would be a reasonable time to use the elevator. No need to aggravate her ankle further.

  Limping into the office was awkward. Fortunately, or not, she was used to being awkward since she tended to be a bit clumsy. Well, let's be honest, she was rather clumsy. But, fortunately, she was one of Those People who turn out to be more adorable the clumsier she was. Sometimes, Seulgi had a sneaking suspicion that if she was a character on TV, she would be the comic relief.

  Seulgi also got the sneaking suspicion that people were even more amused with her the more awkward she got. Despite being used to this suspicion, this still annoyed her somewhat. The truly annoying part for her is that she was right. Seulgi had a further sneaking suspicion that her whole life was just super embarrassing aegyo. And even worse, she was right.

  It was good for everyone, including Seulgi herself, that she did not take it too seriously as it would save her a massive amount of frustration as well as embarrassment.