Chapter 13

"Do you hear me? Jungsik-ah?"

"Huh?" Jungsik blinked when Hosung tapped his shoulder, the elder didn't get any response from him yet.

"Uh? I don't know," Jungsik covered his face with his palms.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Hosung furrowed his eyebrows a bit before asking, "so... you went to meet her today?"

"Yeah," he nodded.

"Then you mean... you even cancel the meeting just to meet her? So... do you like her or not?" Hosung asked again, and he could only give the elder a silence with a frown. "So you don't know if you like her or not. Yet. Is that it?"

"Hyung, please?" he closed his eyes with a sigh.

"Okay. I'll stop now. But, who is she? Is she pretty? Where and when did you meet her? Wh--"

"Shall we think about what might be done to make this project happen once again?" Jungsik changed the topic when the other started asking further. "I don't want to disappoint my father this time, Hyung. So, let's just get to work."

"Uh... okay..." Hosung nodded with a sigh, he assumed the younger wasn't ready to tell about it yet. "But you can really tell me about it whenever you want to.. ok?" he smiled while the other just nodded.

That was the last time they talk about that matter and until then, it's been two days they had been trying every possible way to contact Mr. Park again, but guess it's true that trying to persuade someone who've already lost the trust in you is always never easy. Mr. Park wasn't willing to accept his proposals even after all of his efforts. And, Jungsik thought his father might have calm down a bit of his anger by the time but no, his father hadn't even speak a single word to him and that's what worried him even more.

"So, what shall we do now?" Hosung turned to Jungsik who was sitting next to him with his hand on his temples, still in his deep thoughts until he stood up suddenly.

"Let's go to his house," he turned to his assistant.

"Huh? What will you do if you go to this house? Don't tell me you're gonna blackmail him for declining your proposals," Hosung's eyes widen, earning an annoyed sigh from the younger who rolled his eyes.

"No. I'm gonna murder him."

"No way?! Jungsik-ah, don't do such things, yeah? I can't watch you getting arrested in your young age."

"You won't get the chance to watch me because I'll be taking you with me. Do you think I'll ever leave you alone?"

"Hey?! I can't go to jail now. I haven't even gone on a date with anyone yet," the assistant followed the other who already walked out of the room.

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"Ok. Let's do this."

Jungsik took a deep breath before ringing the door bell. They were already standing in front of Mr. Park's house and wait for the door to open.

"Wait, Jungsik-ah, what did you bring here? A knife? Or a gun? If anything, just don't forget to wear gloves or else it might leave some eviden--", Hosung paused when he noticed the glare from Jungsik. He pressed his lips together, swallowing down what he was about to say before putting up a serious face and cleared his throat while his hands fixed his collar, "Alright. Let's be serious."

Jungsik took a deep breath when he heard the door opening.

"Yes? how can I help you, sir?" a lady maid opened the door.

"Uh, is Mr. Park home? Can we meet him please?" Jungsik asked with a smile.

"Do you have any prior appointment with him? Or else master wont allow people to meet him," the lady replied.

"We don't actually have it but the thing is---"

"Oh? Jungsik?" a voice called out his name from inside, which surprised him. "Hey, how did you find my house?"

"Minseo? Is this your--"

"Yes of course."

It was Minseo, the one he met in US and... Jangmi's friend.

"They're my friends. It's ok, you can go inside and make something for them," she turned to the maid who bowed at her before walking away.

"Just get in. Don't hesitate," Minseo lead the two inside the living room filled with decorative ornaments that made the room look even more attractive. "Here, have a seat," she smiled as they take their seats comfortably on the couch. "So, why are you here?"

"Well, actually, we're here to meet Mr. Park," Jungsik replied.

"Hmm? You mean my dad? And I thought you came to meet me."

"Dad? Wait, so, you're--"

"I'm the daughter of the Mr. Park you're asking for, Jungsik."

Well, that was unexpected.

"Honestly, I've heard that he has a daughter who is in abroad but never expected it to be you."

"Yeah? But why so? Do I look too different from him?"

"No, it's not like that. I mean--"

"It's fine. I'm just joking around. Why are you so serious about it?" she just laughed when she notice the tensed look on his face. "My dad... he's working in his room, and he don't like disturbances while he's working. Even I wanted to talk to him about something but... you know, he has that kind of temper. I was waiting for him to get done with his work so I can talk to him and I think it's going to be till evening. So... I don't think you can meet him now."

Jungsik sighed at that, his palms covering his face. What will he do now? Wait for Mr. Park till evening or...

"Why do you want to meet him anyway? Do you have any work with him?" she asked as she take the juice from the maid, "I really don't know anything about his work or whatever is going on with his company, you already know it, right? I'm still not interested at all."

Jungsik chuckled a bit silently. She's right though, she always used to say she's not interested while they studied business in the same academy. But he's sure she's such an intelligent and smart person. He could clearly remember it, because despite whatever she said, she always scored higher than him.

"Well, the thing is~~" and he narrated everything about his rejected project and his current situations about the company and his father. It's quite embarrassing, but he thought the other would understand him.

"Hmm," she crossed her arms after listening to the whole thing. "Wait, two days back means, was it when we met at the shop? Is that right? The day I came back to Seoul?"

"Wait, Jungsik-ah, the person you were talking about earlier, is that her?" Hosung asked out of nowhere after being silent for the whole conversation and Jungsik could only give his assistant a dead glare, mouthing a "Shut up" at him, which thankfully made his mouth zipped. How did he bring that up here?

"Hmm? What person? Who? Me?" Minseo asked, directing her index finger to herself with a confused look.

"No no. It's nothing. Sorry," Jungsik shook his head with an awkward smile, luckily, the other didn't hear him properly.

"So, what are you gonna do about it now? I mean, the project?"

Jungsik breathed out, kinda relieved that she changed the topic. "I don't know. We tried every possible way, but..." he paused to sigh before continuing, "that's why we're here. Thought we should apologize properly first and ask to resume our agreement about the project. But, I don't even know if this will work out or not."

"Well," Minseo said after thinking silently about a minute, "what about I try to convince him by myself?"

"Huh?" he never thought she would offer a help.

"Yeah. Now that I know everything about this matter, I think I can help you out somehow."

"Really? But--"

"Jungsik, do you remember my promise to pay you back for helping me back in the academy with my assignment? If it was not for you, I might've gone for not completing within the given time. So now, I'll pay you back with this. You can at least give me a chance to help you this time, yeah?"

He did remember him helping her back then but, "It was nothing compare to this but thank you so much... I'm... I'm..."

"Oh please, it's fine, alright?" she chuckled, assuring him again she would definitely help him.

Jungsik finally walked out of the house after thanking Minseo countless times while Hosung slowly following him behind.

"Am I right? She's that person right? The girl you were talking about? Because I'm still surprised Mr. Park's daughter end up helping you."

And Jungsik could just sighed, "are you serious, Hyung? You've been thinking about it till now? Okay, fine. She's not the person, okay? Now let's get going." He just shook his head and walked forward when the older still didn't seem to believe him. He sighed before turning his head back when his assistant wasn't chatching up his pace with him. "Hyung! Why are you so slow? We are getting la-- Oh?!", and he bumped to something, a body that instantly fell down on the hard ground.

"Uh? I'm sor--", he turned his head only for him to stuck his tongue when he saw the slight abrasion over the palm of the person, and he almost drop his knees when he saw the face with the pair of surprised eyes looking at him.

"Jangmu?! Oh my, you ok? Did you get hurt anywhere?"

He was just about to help her get up from the ground but before he could lend his hand out, Minseo rushed towards her, kneeling down in front of her.

"Minseo-ya, I'm alright," that's what she replied with a silly smile when her friend start checking on her worriedly.

"You're not. Look at this, your hand," Minseo frowned holding the other's hand and blowing gently over the abrasion.

"Minseo-ya, this is nothing and I'm really alright, ok? But," she sighed with a pout, pointing her finger at her broken bracelet pieces scattering on the ground beside her, "I broke your gift, sorry."

"Seriously? Is this a time to worry about that bracelet now? Just leave it, you're the one who got hurt here," Minseo said with concern when the other keep looking at the broken bracelet. "It's ok. I'll give you a new one."

"But-"

"No more buts. Now get up and let's get inside. I'll put some ointment for you, ok?"

Jungsik just stood there, watching them while Minseo helped her getting up. A part of him wanted to be in Minseo's place so badly, he wish he could to comfort her, take care of her like Minseo did. He wished they were closed, he know it's not possible but, wished if she could be comfortable to be with him, just like the way when she's with her best friend, or maybe more than that.

"I'm- I'm sorry," he finally pulled the courage to apologize after she finally got up, but that was the only word that could come out from him, the guilt of him being the one to hurt her delicate hand clouding up his mind made him weak.

"It's okay Choi Jungsik-ssi. You don't have say sorry for this. I'm not hurt anyway," she only smiled while he watched her going inside the house after bowing at him.

He saw her smiling fondly at her friend, laughing at the jokes the other made, and he, could just stand and watch her go farther away.

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"You should be more careful Jangmu," Minseo said while putting the ointment to her friend's hand carefully.

"Ok. Ok. Fine. I'll be more careful. This is probably the 5th time you're saying the same thing," Jangmi chuckled when her friend rolled her eyes. "But, what was he doing here?" she asked hesitantly.

"Hmm? Who? Jungsik?" Minseo put the first-aid kit back on the table, "Mmm, he came to meet my father."

"Your father? Why?"

"Uh, he said he missed one meeting about some project with my dad that day while he was in your shop. But you already know my dad, right? He cancelled their project and it looks like his father is angry over it. So he came to convince my dad again."

"What? That day? But he said he didn't have any--- It's my fault."

"Hey! Now, why is it your fault again?" Minseo frowned and held the other's hand.

"It is. I shouldn't have called him at the first place," Jangmi hung her head down.

"Jangmu, how many times should I tell you not to blame yourself for everything? It has nothing to do with you."

"But--"

"I already told him that I'll help him by myself, okay? I know my father, even if he's mad over anything, he'll never say no to me. I can persuade him. So everything will be fine," Minseo tried to calm her friend, which she of course did.

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It was already late and Jungsik lied on his bed, still looking at the white ceiling of his room, he couldn't sleep, his mind kept recalling the two eyes looking at him, blaming himself for hurting her, and mad over himself for not being able to apologize properly, wishing if, just if, he had a chance to apologize, he would.

When he heard his phone ringing, he don't even know if he could call it the chance he wished for. It was her call. He sit up straight and with a deep breath, he answered it.

"Choi Jungsik-ssi?"

He closed his eyes when her voice called out his name, never knew he missed it until he hear it, and somehow, it gave him a hope that he finally got the chance he asked for when she continued.

"I'm really sorry to disturb you at this hour but, I wanted to tell you something. I--"

"Kim Jangmi-ssi, can we meet now?"