Coffee-Stained Fate

Chapter 1 :- The Midnight scroll

Y/N POV

The hallway light flickered as Y/N pushed open the apartment door with her shoulder, juggling a half-spilled file folder, her oversized tote, and a half-dead laptop hanging off one arm. The clock on the microwave blinked 11:08 PM. She let out a groan and shut the door with her foot.

The place was quiet except for the faint buzz of a ceiling fan and the soft clink of dishes from the kitchen. Her dad’s usual late-night radio hum was missing tonight. Her mother peeked out from behind the fridge door, a yogurt cup in hand.

Mom: "That internship better be paying you in gold."

Y/N: (dropping her bag on the shoe rack) "Yeah."

She stepped into the living room, tossing her blazer over the couch, unbuttoning the top of her blouse as she kicked off her shoes.

Mom: "There’s leftover pasta in the microwave. Eat something before you pass out again."

Y/N: "You’re an angel. A sarcastic one, but still."

Sister (from bedroom): "Your laptop survived, by the way. I only opened like six tabs."

Y/N: "If I open it and see my tabs open , I’m locking you out."

Sister: "Not a bad trade."

Y/N sat cross-legged on the bed, plate balanced on her thigh, the blue glow of the screen lighting her face. She opened three tabs in a row: Gmail, LinkedIn, and a job portal. Her inbox was depressing. Two rejections. One ‘we’ll get back to you’ from two weeks ago.

She took a bite of cold pasta and clicked into job listings.

Y/N (muttering): "Corporate lawyer. Entry-level. Reasonable hours. Not run by capitalistic demons. Please."

One job stood out.

> Park Enterprises – Legal Advisory Department

Location: Seoul – Central Business District

Salary: Generous

Requirements: Law degree, basic client handling, 1+ year experience preferred

She blinked. Park Enterprises. One of the most buzzed-about firms in the city. Clean scandals, rich clientele, powerful board. Also known for working people to the bone.

Y/N (mouth full): "Alright, you soulless empire. Im giving you a shot "

She uploaded her resume and hit submit. The tab stayed open for another five minutes while she scrolled Instagram reels of cats and courtroom memes.

She eventually closed the lid, rolled to the side, and muttered into her pillow:

Y/N: "Please don’t let the interview panel have anyone who has a bad mood...or expressionthatsays " I'll judge u so deep.."

( yawn and push her sister to the side who was taking the whole bed )

" Gawd learn to sleep "

Sister:- what ? Do u know…everyday I wake up on the floor...(sleepy voice and irritated face)

Y/N gasped dramatically, turning to glare with one eye open like a cat being disturbed from its nap.

yn :_ " Excuse me?? .Liar. That one time you rolled off yourself."

Y/N groaned, pulling the blanket tighter like it could shield her from the accusations.

Sister:- “Sleep properly, you human octopus.”

Y/N: "If I’m the octopus, then you’re the shrimp "