What is your secret?

"You chose a foreigner?"

And this simple, yet spiteful sentence brings me back to the reality.

It's not the first time I've heard Koreans calling me a foreigner and proceeding to act like I don't exist anymore. However, it stings just the same, no matter how many times I've heard it. What hurts me most about it is that I am not, in fact, a foreigner. My dad is Korean and my mom is a white American, which makes me mixed. Through the power of genes, I look a lot more white than I do Korean. That didn't bother me much back when I used to live in America as a child, but here in Korea, it does quite a lot.

Koreans are completely uninterested in the whole "mixed" concept - either you're a 100 % Korean, or not at all. Which means than to them, despite my literal Korean passport and my fluency in the language, I'm on the same level as clueless who has literally just entered the country.

Of course, over time, I've grown accustomed to this kind of treatment. I'm also aware that Korean's behaviour when facing foreigners is mainly due to their lack of education for other cultures and they don't actually mean any harm. However, just because I'm used to it doesn't mean it hurts any less.

"Hajun-ssi," Sana starts, but he has absolutely no intention of letting her speak.

"A foreigner? There are ten million people in Seoul, and she's all you could find? A foreigner? Seriously?"

How many more times is he going to repeat the fact that I'm a foreigner? Anger starts boiling within me. This is like middle school all over again. "You're aware I perfectly understand Korean, right?"

He doesn't even acknowledge what I said and continues glaring at Sana, who doesn't seem the least surprised at his reaction.

Suddenly, slapping his pretty face sounds like a fabulous idea.

"Hajun, you don't know her yet. Give her a chance." The fact that Sana has remained so patient despite Hajun being her junior clearly indicates that his position in this company is the same than he's currently got in Korean society. Above everyone else.

An Hajun is untouchable.

"A chance?" he throws his arms into the air. "Do I look like I have time to give people a chance? I need someone who can work efficiently and quickly and does not still carry a Korean dictionary with themselves everywhere they go!"

Okay, that's enough. Sana quite obviously cannot stand up for me, so it appears I'll have to do it myself. "I moved to South Korea eight years ago, and I'm completely fluent in the Korean language. I even went to a Korean school for a while, and I sure as heck don't carry a Korean dictionary with me anymore! Also, my dad is literally Korean!"

Hajun turns back at me, and my instinct tells me to take a step back, but instead, I force myself to stay right where I am and hold his gaze. I feel like I'm the prey in one of these documentaries about animal predators my Biology teacher made us watch in 6th grade.

"Is that so?" he asks quietly, the air suddenly thick with tension.

"Yes, that is so," I reply in the same low tone. Don't back down now, Rose.

We stare at each other for a while, and I can hear Sana gulp. Never has time passed this slowly.

"When were you born?" he then suddenly asks, his eyes gliding over me.

I can't help but squirm under his gaze, but I keep on looking at him. "2000."

"Alright.", he nods. "You call me oppa then."

Startled, I blink at his switch of moods. What the heck. One minute, he's glaring at me as if I had killed his mother, and the next, he's asking me to address him as oppa as if we were best buddies. Did I miss a part of the conversation?

He quickly looks from Sana to me again, and it's like he's having a silent conversation with her. "I need to get back to practice. Wait for me, Rose, we'll have lunch together later and discuss your tasks and duties. See you."

He starts walking out of the room without even asking for my agreement. However, I stop him with some uncharacteristically brave words. "But I haven't even accepted the job yet."

Hajun turns around to arrogantly raise an eyebrow at me. "You're aware all of my previous assistants quit, right? If you were desperate enough to apply for this job, it means you don't have many other options."

I bite my lip because I don't want to admit out loud to him that he's right, but considering that smug smirk appearing on his face right now as he watches me, I don't even have to. Hajun's knows he's right. For some reason, that thought alone makes my blood boil. Why does this man set me off so much?

"See you later, Rose. Don't be late." He shoots me a sarcastic smile which doesn't reach his eyes the slightest before disappearing.

Speechless, I stare at the door this tornado of a person just closed behind them.

"Well...that went well," I say to no one in particular as I still attempt to process what the hell just happened. I was so sure Hajun would deny me as his assistant until he, well, didn't.

Sana sighs, tiredly massaging her temple. I don't blame her. If Hajun behaves like that on a normal workday, I don't want to know he acts on a bad one. Well, hopefully, I won't have the pleasure of finding that out anytime soon. "I apologize for his behaviour, Rose. If you don't want the job, I perfectly understand."

"No," I immediately shoot back. "I want the job." That condescending, judgmental look in his eyes triggered something deep inside me. I can't stand it when people underestimate me. You think I can't do this, Hajun? I will prove to you that I can.

I won't give up before I haven't even started.

The HR manager's eyes widen at my response. She clearly didn't expect that. "Really? Well, welcome to HA Entertainment! Let me get the contract for you to sign, and I'll show you everything you'll have to do as An Hajun's assistant."

Welcome to HA Entertainment.