How they met

Ae Rin and Eunsu were walking back to the company car that night. The two of them had just finished a meeting with a major corporate client which ran very late.

"I'm so glad you're always with me, Eunsu. Those bigwigs were so hard to deal with!" Ae Rin said.

Eunsu chuckled.

"No, I believe you would have done a great job even if I wasn't with you, Ae Rin," Eunsu said smiling at her.

Ae Rin sucked air in her cheeks and gave him a disapproving glare.

"You always say that! Do you hate being with me that much?!" Ae Rin said placing her hands on her hips.

"No, on the contrary I . . ." Eunsu trailed off.

"Oh! There's our car!" Ae Rin pointed behind him happily.

Eunsu sighed.

The two of them got in the car. Eunsu sat on the driver's seat and Ae Rin sat beside him. He started driving.

"Where are we having dinner?" Ae Rin asked.

"I made a reservation at Pierre Gagnaire Seoul," Eunsu said.

"What?! Are you serious?! That's crazy expensive!" Ae Rin exclaimed.

"It's to celebrate the day we first met," Eunsu said.

"No way. You remember that?!" Ae Rin stared at him in disbelief.

"Of course. You were wearing that white fur coat and black dress like you were Cruella De Vil. It was hilarious," Eunsu said laughing.

Ae Rin glared at him. "It was the fanciest coat that I had! I just wanted to be taken seriously! I didn't want to look like I just graduated from college!"

"But you did!" Eunsu said laughing even harder.

"Yeah, but I'm the new CEO! I should look like the part!" Ae Rin said.

"The part of Cruella De Vil," Eunsu said.

"Come on, admit it. I did look like a boss, right?" Ae Rin asked.

"No, you looked like you were about to faint. It was summer that time and well, you did faint," Eunsu said.

Ae Rin's cheeks went red.

"I was anemic! It had nothing to do with the heat!" Ae Rin said.

"And that damn fur coat was so heavy I had to take it off you so I could carry you to the clinic," Eunsu said.

"You just left it in the lobby!" Ae Rin said.

"Well, it's either that or drag you with your fur coat across the floor. I chose to carry you instead. How gallant of me, right?" Eunsu said.

"Hmph! When the guards found out I was missing everyone thought I was kidnapped," Ae Rin said.

"They didn't know she fainted from the heat and was rescued by the newest recruit," Eunsu said.

Ae Rin laughed. She remembered that day like it just happened yesterday.

*

*

*

Five years ago . . .

Ae Rin arrived at her father's company where she would become the CEO. It was her first day at work and she felt nervous as hell. She instantly regretted her wardrobe choice.

She had worn a long white fur coat, a black dress, and black high-heels. She wanted to look like a boss and she picked the fanciest coat she could find in her closet. Perhaps out of nervousness, she forgot that it was summer. Why the hell did she choose to wear a fur coat? She should have worn a light blazer instead!

But she was already there and she could feel the eyes around her.

Her high-heels clacked on the floor. Her feet were hurting already. Damn it.

Why was the lobby so big?

She looked around, not seeing any familiar faces.

Of course. Her father didn't even bother to show her around on her first day. Why did she even expect him to?

She should find someone who knows that she was arriving and have someone guide her where her office was.

Why the hell was it so hot?

Was the air conditioning of the company broken?

Why was the floor moving?

Ae Rin groaned. The floor was spinning around her and her stomach was getting queasy.

"Hey, Miss. Are you okay?"

"I'm fi- "

Then everything turned dark.

*

*

*

It was Eunsu's first day at work. He had worn a suit and tie which were all very expensive and had almost wiped out his savings from his last part-time job. Well, he just had to eat cup noodles for the rest of the month and when he gets his paycheck, he was going back to healthy food.

All for the sake of looking like professional and not like a newly graduate college student . . . which he was.

The lobby was stylishly decorated. It looked more like a hotel than a company. There were sofas, chandeliers, and everyone were professionally dressed.

Except for one.

There was a young lady wearing a thick white fur coat. She stood out like a sore thumb and everyone was looking at her. It was summer and it was so strange to see someone who looked like she had just came out of winter and got transported to the summer season.

Whatever. It wasn't his business whoever she was. He was about to go the elevator but a curious part of him made him look back at the girl wearing the fur coat.

Oh.

She was pretty.

She had long shiny black hair, a cute face with wide eyes, and cherry red lips. She had an innocent aura about her and she was looking around her with uncertainty. She seemed to be looking for something or someone.

Her gaze was unfocused though and she didn't look like she was feeling well.

Eunsu frowned in concern.

"Hey, Miss. Are you okay?" Eunsu asked.

"I'm fi-"

Then she started to fall. Eunsu's reflexes kicked in and he reached forward to catch her.

He did.

He caught her in his arms. Her eyes were closed and she was breathing softly.

"Miss? Miss?" Eunsu said.

She was unresponsive. She had obviously fainted.

A guard came over.

"What seems to be the problem?" The guard asked but looking disinterested.

"She . . . fainted. I don't know why," Eunsu said.

"Must be the coat your girlfriend is wearing. Get it off her and carry her to the clinic over there," the guard said pointing to a hallway at the side of the lobby.

"She's not my -" Eunsu started to say.

"Hurry up! The new CEO is coming thia day. I don't want the CEO seeing this kind of scene early in the morning. Get moving!" The guard said.

Eunsu took off her fur coat. She was still not awake and his cheeks reddened when he realized that he was taking off the clothes of a very pretty sleeping girl.

Argh.

Not clothes.

Just her damn fur coat!

Done!

He carried her on his arms princess-style and went to the clinic.

*

*

*

Her long dark eyelashes fluttered. Then her eyes opened. She looked at him. Then she looked at herself. Then she looked at the bed.

"P-pervert! HEEEELP!!!" She screamed.

"No! Don't scream! I didn't do anything to you!" Eunsu said panicking.

She looked even more horrified.

"You fainted in the lobby! You're in the clinic and I carried you here!" Eunsu said.

She looked around and she seemed to believe him now.

"Where's my coat?" She asked.

"It was too heavy. I couldn't carry you quickly you were wearing that," Eunsu said.

"You took it off me?!" She said, her voice rising again.

"Yes! But I didn't mean any harm. Truly. Look, I need to leave anyway. It's my first day at work and I can't be late. I think the doctor will come soon to check on you," Eunsu said rising up from his chair to leave.

"Wait!" She said, pulling at his sleeve.

"I um . . . apologize for screaming earlier," she said.

"It's okay. I understand. I'll leave now," Eunsu said.

"Wait! I didn't get your name," she said.

"Min Eunsu and you are?"

"Song Ae Rin," she said with a smile.

"Do you work here?" Eunsu asked, wondering if he would see her again.

She nodded.

"It's actually my first day at work too," Ae Rin said smiling shyly.

"Oh! Then we'll meet again," Eunsu said.

Oops. Did he sound too enthusiastic?

"Yes, I'm sure we'll meet again. Thank you for helping me. I'll be sure to repay your kindness," Ae Rin said.

Eunsu had no idea what kind of repayment Ae Rin had in mind.