Chapter 4: Hidden Desires and Doubtful Expectations

Sarae had accompanied her dad in his car in the morning, leaving her car at home. As she waited for him to come down, she idly scrolled through her social media feed on her phone. While browsing the uploaded photos by her Facebook friends, she came across a selfie of Joe with an attractive woman—herself. The photo had been uploaded by Joe just five minutes ago. "I know her, she's the receptionist," she remembered, feeling a pang of uneasiness in her heart. "He's always surrounded by beautiful girls," she thought, realizing that she might not be the only one catching his attention.

Just then, the chairman knocked on her office door. "Coming," Sarae responded, quickly grabbing her bag and walking out with her dad.

During the car ride, the chairman, sitting beside her in the backseat, shared some unexpected news. "President Rayner came to my office personally," he began. "He said he will talk to Joe and arrange for him to take you out. Consider it a date. He told you to be ready and not to make any plans. Cancel if you have any."

Rusa nodded silently, her heart filled with a mix of hope and uncertainty. She hoped that Joe didn't have anyone special in his heart, fearing rejection and not knowing if she could handle it.

Meanwhile, Kim sadly arrived home and opened the door to his apartment. He found his sister, Cristina, wiping the living room floor. He walked into his room and noticed that it was clean, with everything neatly in place. "Where are my dirty clothes?" he asked, feeling a sense of guilt for not fulfilling his duties as an older brother.

"I kept them inside the bucket under the table," Cristina replied.

Kim's guilt deepened. As an elder brother, he had been so caught up in his own thoughts that he had forgotten about his responsibilities towards his sister. He went to the kitchen, intending to cook something nice for them, but he found the refrigerator completely empty. He quickly wrote down a list of groceries and other essentials, grabbed his wallet, and headed to the market.

Lost in his thoughts, Kim walked absentmindedly, barely noticing the crowded street around him. Suddenly, he stumbled on a stone and realized that the entire trail was filled with them. He looked around, hoping no one had witnessed his clumsiness. The woman from the shop nearby was laughing at him, making him feel even more embarrassed. He quickly walked away, trying to put the incident behind him.

At a pleasant restaurant near the RaynerSoe company, Sarae and Joe were enjoying a meal together. The popular songs playing in the background added to the ambiance.

"I love it when you call me señorita," Sarae sang along with the background music.

Joe smiled and joined in, "At least I could pretend I didn't need ya."

"It's a nice song," Joe commented.

"Yes, it's my favorite," Sarae replied.

"Have you heard the song 'Faded'?" Joe asked, engaging in their conversation.

"Um... by Alan Walker?" Sarae guessed.

"Absolutely! 'You're the shadow to my light, did you feel us? Another start, you fade away'," Joe began singing.

Sarae joined him, "Afraid my aim is out of sight, wanna see us again... Where are you now? Was it all in my fantasy?"

Both Sarae and Joe laughed, enjoying the moment.

"What other things do you like?" Joe asked, leaning closer to her.

"Umm... I like shopping, going on trips with friends, and I want to visit abroad someday," Sarae answered honestly.

"Really? Don't

you have any ambitions, like wanting to be something specific?" Joe inquired.

"No, I want a hassle-free life. I have a fine job as a receptionist, and I am really enjoying it," Sarae replied.

"What about modeling?" Joe asked, curious about her aspirations.

"I talked about that with my mom when I was in high school, but she didn't like the idea. She's quite old-fashioned. Afterward, I never thought about it. I'm fine as long as I'm allowed to wear what I want," Sarae explained, revealing her contentment with her current path.

Joe was impressed by Sarae's honest answers and her cool attitude. She didn't ask the typical questions that most girls would, like about his family, first love, serious relationships, or thoughts on marriage. It intrigued him and made him appreciate their conversation even more.

After dinner, Joe dropped Sarae off at her house. "Wanna go out again tomorrow?" Joe asked from the car window, watching Sarae walk to her door.

Sarae turned back, her smile radiating her usual charm. "Sure, if you'd like," she replied, waving and bidding him goodnight.

Back in her room, Rusa tried on every stunning dress she had in her wardrobe but couldn't find the right balance between comfort and elegance. She couldn't decide what to wear the next day, thinking to herself, "Like today, no one will notice me. I'm not pretty, so it doesn't matter what I wear. Will Joe like me for who I am? If not, then maybe we aren't meant for each other, as magical transformations don't happen in real life like in fairy tales."