OUTING I

Jacob felt his heart skip a beat when she heard her statement. He was elated for some unknown reason and his heart was quite warm at the thought that she came because of him.

However, he immediately dismissed the idea because Hana was looking at him mischievously.

"Whatever your reason is, we won't dig deeper on it." Jacob responded to her. "Just do your best."

"Hn." Hana nodded her head with a faint smile. 'I actually told them the truth.' She was sure that they won't believe her which pushed her to say the truth.

They would think that she was just joking, even though it was true.

"By the way, we will have a meeting after shift for our up coming outing." Jacob mentioned.

"Wetwew!" their chef whistled at this sudden declaration.

They all knew this was coming but they didn't know it would be this early.

"Outing?" Hana asked with her blinking eyes. She didn't know that companies have quarterly outings. What she knew was a year end party.

Jacob put down his spoon and fork to explain things briefly. "We go on a company outing every four months which falls in April, in August and in December. For the month of December, it is also treated as our year end party."

"Oh. That sounds fun." Hana commented with a faint smile.

Seeing her expression, Jacob felt a little disappointed himself. He didn't think that she wouldn't be interested in such activities.

"Let's talk about this after shift." Jacob reminded them once again.

They were chatting happily about the places that they wanted to go and the food that they'd like to get.

Lily noticed that Hana had been silent after the announcement and she couldn't help herself but ask.

"Hana, don't you like to go on outings?" Lily asked after keeping her utensils on the side of her disposable plate.

Hana played drank her water and looked at her friend. "I've..I've never gone to an outing in my whole life."

"What?" Everyone, including Jacob widened their eyes in surprise.

"Well, I've been to different trips with my family but not with friends, classmates or colleagues." She slowly explained to them.

For some reason, Jacob felt sad for her. She missed so many things in life and she seemed fine with it.

"Do you want to go?" Jacob asked her.

"I don't know. It's not a decision that I can make in an impulse. So many things are at stake."

"Like?"

"Like my he.." she closed her mouth immediately to stop her sentence. "It's nothing. I'll think about it after the meeting."

She finished eating her food and washed her empty dishes after. She didn't speak to them about the outing once again.

After lunch, she sketch Jacob and showed it to him. Just like before, he refused the drawing because he didn't like how he looked in her sketches.

Nevertheless, her refusal was blessing to Hana. She got so many sketches of him already.

During the whole afternoon, she worked diligently. She didn't care about the gossips that had been circulating about her being a stalker. She faced everyone with a smile and cheerfulness.

To her, what matters most is the opinion of her boss. Other things will never affect her.

As per announcement, everyone stayed on the second floor after shift. They still have an hour before Jacob's best friend opens the club.

"Our agenda tonight is our company outing which is also our year end party." Jacob stated while writing some things on the white board. "Let's talk about the venue."

"Beach."

"Outdoor camping or mountain camp."

"Pool."

"Travel trip."

"Club party."

Everyone had their suggestions but Hana remained silent while she looked around her. They were clearly looking forward to this event. Unknowingly, a smile escaped her lips and she felt excited, too.

They voted for the venue and outdoor camping was the chosen activity this year.

"Which mountain shall we go?" Jacob inquired, all ready with his marker to write the suggestions.

They were all thinking about it but they couldn't seem to find a suitable place.

"Uh..uhmm..I have a suggestion." Hana raised her hand and spoke. Everybody looked at her with anticipation. She gave her phone to Jacob and showed him a place that she went to with her family.

"Coal Mountain?" Jacob asked to make sure.

"Hn." she nodded her head faintly. "From the central plain, you can choose to hike or go there by car. At the top of the mountain, there is a resort. The back of the mountain, has a beautiful water falls. There's a space where you can set up your tents too."

Jacob gave everyone the link so that they can check the place themselves.

"Wow! This is a great place!"

"Amazing! I like the water falls."

"The water is so clear!"

"How did you know this place?" Lily asked her friend while everyone was still admiring at the pictures.

"Adam found this place when he was in college. He brought us there after seeing the beautiful place."

"You brother really has eyes for beautiful things." Lily commented.

"Of course." Hana proudly claimed.

"Since you know the place, wouldn't it be better that you come with us?" Jacob prompted her again.

"Even if I like you so much boss, I won't go without my parents' permission." Hana winked at him making everyone laugh at them.

"Don't be silly. I can ask their consent for you."

Everyone stopped laughing and was picking their dropped jaw instead. 'Boss will ask permission? That never happened before!'