The Request (18): Hypnotized

"As you can see, all our services have been properly licensed and approved by the ministry," Kwansik informed them. Jenna was nodding in agreement as Kwansik explained them the whole investment proposal. Jinhyun seemed fixed on his words but he was worried about Cherry. He briefly glanced at her way.

She was silent, too surprised to say anything. Her assumptions about Jenna were wrong. The latter had provided them a truly good investment opportunity from which they could earn millions. Cherry loathed to admit her mistakes because she was almost never wrong. But there was no other explanation. The whole thing was not a sham as she had hoped.

Clenching her fork tightly, she tried to concentrate on her food. There was very little she could do about this situation. She felt his gaze on her but she avoided him, taking bites off her salmon instead. At least the food managed to lift her mood a little.

"I will talk to my lawyers," Jinhyun said. "The deal sounds really good. Why don't you come over to my office next week with Jenna and we'll work out an agreement?"

"That'll be excellent!" Kwansik said in excitement. "You know, if Jenna had not blabbed on and on about you, I would not have given much thought to this deal."

"I told you it'll be good!" Jenna claimed. "You were skeptical of the show's success and look at it now. Number one show of the year!"

"A lot of people were skeptical," Jinhyun said warily. "Even I was not confident about it…"

"I had complete faith in you!" Jenna assured him. "And so did Ms. Wang!"

Cherry, who was sipping on water from a glass, choked at her words. Jinhyun slapped her back as she coughed violently.

"What?" she asked in a hoarse tone.

"I said that I had faith in Jinhyun and so did you!" Jenna repeated. "After all, you agreed to invest in his company."

"Oh," Cherry realized. "That. Yes, I had faith in our partnership."

Jinhyun fought off the urge to roll his eyes. He suspected the only reason Cherry became a shareholder in his agency was because of her nonsense on fates and destinies. She personally would not have given a damn if it was not for some personal agenda.

"Ms. Wang, would you also like to give an input regarding the deal?" Kwansik asked.

"I'm fine with the terms you have given," she said. "But I'll have my secretary look over them as well to make sure nothing goes against our brand image."

"Of course," Kwansik agreed. "I'll send the draft agreement to your mail."

As they continued to eat and discuss their agreement, a slow music began to play throughout the place. A dance floor lit up in the midst of the restaurant, inviting the couples to dance. Gradually, one by one, the couples from the other tables began to head for the dance floor to enjoy a romantic moment.

"You know, I think there's a cute guy at that table who's lonely," Jenna winked. Without waiting for another word, she slyly went over to a blonde haired guy sitting at the opposite end. She was giggling at him and soon, they went for the dance floor, hand in hand.

"Why don't you two join them?" Kwansik suggested. "Too bad my wife is not here. She loves this song."

Cherry was about to refuse but Jinhyun cut her off and asked, "Shall we, Ms. Wang?"

She wanted to refuse but Kwansik was there and she could not risk being rude in front of a potential business partner.

"Sure, Mr. Shin," she said, forcing a smile on her lips. She took his outstretched hand and he led her to the dance floor. To their surprise, one of EXOTIC's old songs was being played on the speakers.

"Monstrous Love," Jinhyun whispered as he held Cherry's waist and to her surprise, pulled her even closer. It was the last song EXOTIC had recorded together and he found it very ironic that he was dancing to it with the woman he loved.

They were standing too intimately as they slowly swayed to the music. She avoided his gaze, trying to resist answering the questions in them but he kept on staring at her intensely. He was trying to memorize every little detail about her.

"You have a small mole near your eye," he noted. It was so small that it was only visible up close.

"So?" she shot back, still not looking towards him.

"It's cute," he winked. There he was at it again, trying to toy with her.

"Stop that," she demanded.

"Stop what?"

"Trying to know me," she sneered. "Those false words won't win me over."

"What will win you over then?" he asked in a serious tone. She looked up at him only to be surprised by the intensity within his eyes. There was a burning passion in them which was scalding her very soul. The tension between them was unmistakable as an invisible current ran between them.

"Nothing," she whispered back.

"That's not true," he said. He could see the hesitation in her eyes. She did not mean her words and was only trying to run away from the obvious feelings she was developing for him.

"Why are you here then?" he asked in his deep tone. "You could have stayed away. You could have let me deal with this on my own. Yet, you came."

"I'm only trying to find the truth," she claimed. Their eyes were still gazing into each other, not breaking contact as they twirled with the music. Dimly, she could hear Jinhyun's melodious voice singing the song. For some reason, his voice was soothing to her ears. Every note he hit in the song was attacking her mind, muddling it with a strange sense of peace.

"Lie," Jinhyun said calmly. "You're here for another reason."

She did not reply but continued to listen to the song. His song was hypnotizing her. As she stared into his eyes, she was being seduced by them, her mind too confused to care.

"I don't know…" she finally admitted. Jinhyun's lips formed a small smile. She was completely defenseless in his arms. Her tough facade was disappearing and in its place was a lonely girl who only wanted to be loved.

Unconsciously, they were leaning towards each other. She could feel his raspy breath on her as their lips came closer. He could smell her sweet perfume as their lips almost touched…

"YOU PERVERT!"

The loud commotion broke the spell as Cherry snapped out of her reverie. She instantly backed out, puzzled at what she was about to do. Jinhyun looked around to see another couple, bickering loudly.

"L-let's go back," Cherry stammered, her face blushing furiously. Her defenses were back up, shutting Jinhyun out completely once again. He stood there, watching her go while his heart ached to hold her. Instead of following her, he turned around and walked towards the elevator.

Cherry rejoined Kwansik and Jenna, the latter was cozying up with her blonde date. The guy whispered something in her ears, making her giggle loudly.

"Where's Jinhyun?" Kwansik asked. Cherry looked around but there was no sign of Jinhyun.

"I-I think he's at the washroom," she guessed. "Let's finish up our discussion."

They were discussing fifteen more minutes when Jinhyun joined them again.

"Sorry, I was held back by a call," he said. "Where were we?"

"We were just wrapping up our discussion," Kwansik stated. "I think we're good to go."

"Alright," Jinhyun said. "I have nothing to add from my part. What about you?"

He turned to Cherry, who did not look his way. "Nothing from me," she said.

"Alright," Jenna exclaimed, slapping her hands. "Let's call it a night then?"

They exchanged their goodbyes. Kwansik stayed back to order some takeaway food for his wife while Jenna and her new boy toy disappeared. Jinhyun and Cherry headed for the lift.

She was avoiding him after their close encounter and even Jinhyun was at a loss of words. None of them had any idea what came over them on the dance floor. The elevator ride was awkward as they debated what to say to the other.

Cherry was too ashamed. She had never gotten this intimate with another male before, not even with Seyoung and her mind was at a conflict. She hated this man and yet, there was something about him which kept on pulling her towards him.

Jinhyun, on the other hand, was worried about offending her. Whatever closeness he gained was gone in an instant. Every time he makes any progress with her, something happens to separate them again.

Once they reached the ground floor, Cherry rushed out of the elevator. Jinhyun followed her, stopping briefly at the server station near the entrance.

Cherry was standing by the car when she saw him coming out, holding a plastic bag.

"I wanna go home now," she demanded in a rough tone. She wanted to get as far away as she could from him. But to her surprise, he held up the plastic bag.

"This is for you," he smiled. The transparent bag was full of water and inside it was…

"The koi!" she realized. It was the same koi fish which responded to her at the entrance. She held it, staring at the fish in shock. It was swimming happily, an innocent creature enjoying its life to the fullest.

"Why are you giving this to me?" she asked. "I can't take it."

She tried to return it to him but Jinhyun pushed it back in her hands.

"It's yours," he said. "Think of it as me repaying the debt I owe you."

"Debt?"

"If it weren't for you, I'd have died in that fire," he reminded her. "If you hadn't pushed me to stay awake, both me and Jenna would have perished. So think of this as a token of gratitude."

Cherry was in a dilemma. She did not want to take anything from him but the koi fish was tugging at her heartstrings.

"Fine," she finally agreed. "I'll take Poopoo."

"Poopoo?" Jinhyun frowned.

"It's his name. Duh!"

He looked at her in amusement as she cooed at the fish.

"Let's go home, Poopoo," she smiled widely as she got into the car.

Jinhyun snickered. He learnt another new thing about her. Her naming sense was terrible.