Hug the hurt .....

"Let's talk about your renewal over a bottle of beer, shall we?"

"Huh?" Amor's startled response.

"You will be earning your certificate after the school year ends, you are now free to apply to another company or another job or abroad if you like. I know HR will still discuss with you the renewal of the offer but I want to know your plans now."

"Oh..... Mr. Kim....."

"If you don't have plans yet I suggest you start thinking about it now."

"Uhm..... Mr. Kim, I....."

"Yes?"

"Ah..... I want to thank you for giving me another chance still but....."

"Are you considering other companies?"

"Oh..... no Mr. Kim not at all as I've said before you may not trust me to take care of myself but please trust my loyalty to you."

"You also said you will be my personal secretary until I say otherwise," Do Yun closed his eyes in frustration.

"Uhm..... Mr. Kim, please let me explain without interruption you know I stutter when you interrupt."

"Huh?" Do Yun is about to let out a laugh but Amor looked serious thus he just took a deep breath. "I'm listening."

"I have been working as your Personal Secretary for 3 years now and that also meant being away from my family especially my children for that long. I know I needed to work and without the company's assistance, I will not be able to continue my college education and even gave a chance to my son to enroll in an international school. I do not know if my husband's accident was a blessing in disguise but working for you have both been a joy and a pain. I only intended to work for a month and treat this as a part-time job but trusting me year after year after year only increases my debt of gratitude to you Mr. Kim. Theo has been using crutches for some time now and he seems to be getting better and I want to take care of my children again like I used to."

"I see, well you still have 6 months to give me your final decision and I will still have HR meet with you then to discuss your compensation."

"Ah..... thank you, Mr. Kim."

"Let's just enjoy the sunset and capture photos of the city from this fort-like viewpoint in this mountain and you order some food from the stalls lining in the access road."

"Oh..... okay, Mr. Kim. It's really an extraordinary mountain viewpoint from here it encompasses the city and its picturesque surroundings. It is a tranquil retreat from the bustling commune even if it's a popular picnic spot among locals and vacationers. I can see as far as the coast and pick out the various islands."

"Let's sit on one of the green benches over there. You should've brought with you your books so that you can read them here with the stunning view as a backdrop. The stone building and hexagonal tiles create an impression of a fortress built into the rock face."

"Uhm..... I'll try to pick out my favorite sights in the city from here. Ah..... I can spot the coast of Bohol over the horizon and see the communes of Mandaue and Mactan Island over there. Although occasional mists obscure the view I don't mind the eerie effect."

"Staying for the sunset and watching orange hues take hold of the sky over the city with you gives me a better sense of gratitude. Let's view the stars and the lights of the city later. Then we can enjoy a romantic meal for two at one of the small restaurants nearby."

"Oh..... this has been one of the beautiful spots I have been to in the city Mr. Kim. The place is very serene and I could also see the aerial view of the city here on top."

"This place is one of the city's mountain peaks. Up here, we can see the scenery of the verdant mountains and the sprawling city down below it and its skyline by day."

"Uhm..... it's getting dark now Mr. Kim, we can now view the night lights that enliven the city as far as our eyes can see. Although I can see and imagine the bustling metropolitan, I could hardly hear noise from where I stand on."

"The place is about 600 meters high above the city giving us a great view of anything prominent, such as bell towers of churches, high rise buildings, universities, the Mactan Bridge, new hotels, and other structures that define and describe the city's past and present."

"Ah..... this could be a one-hectare property about 2000 meters above sea level, thus giving us a perfect vantage point of the city's panorama."

"It would be more fun if you can identify some buildings or places in the city where you stand... try it!"

"Oh..... let's use the stable binocular then."

"It's getting quite cool up here, wear this," Do Yun took off his suit and put it on Amor's shoulders.

"Uhm..... thank you, Mr. Kim."

"It's a nice place for a date here,"

"Ah..... I never think of you as a romantic person Mr. Kim."

"When you are caught up in the natural beauty of nature, you rid yourself of any distractions and feel higher levels of satisfaction and gratitude for what's happening in front of you. Whatever your decision maybe, I will respect it but I can no longer forget about you, Amor."

"Oh..... Mr. Kim.....," and they stared at each other for a long time neither of them wants to be the first to look away.

Days, weeks, and months have passed and Amor has finally earned her certificate in Office Administration. She has accumulated 2 months' worth of vacation already. She channeled her time and effort into her studies and it finally paid off. Her major project for the Kim's is the new residence and she has booked a removal company that will start as soon as they leave for their 2 months-long vacations to South Korea. Although HR has not discussed with her the renewal offer she has finally decided not to renew not just for her family but also for Do Yun's family.

No matter how hard she tries to escape she may never explain what she hears from him even if he doesn't say a thing.