Chapter 2 - I'm Worried About You

"Brother! Someone's knocking on our door!" Ae-cha hollered from God knows where. 

I stayed curled in my bed, while I tried to ignore my annoying older sister.

"Broootherrr!" She said again.

Maybe if I just ignore her than she will-

"OI! Si-WOO! HOW LONG DO YOU PLAN TO IGNORE ME!?" She yelled.

"OKAY, OKAY, I'M UP NOW!" I yelled back to her.

I immediately sat up and saw Noona with her head sticking a bit in the doorway. She had an irritated expression latched onto her face. 

"I looked through the peephole, it was a guy." Noona said before 

I stared at her dumbfounded. 

"Then why didn't you open the d-" And just like that, she left.

Ugh, I sometimes question if we're actually related. I lazily slid out of my blanket. I yawned while walking past Ae-cha, who was head first in the kitchen cabinet. Once I got to the door, I looked through the people and was surprised. I opened the door. 

"Hm? Su-Jin?" I asked surprised. 

"Ah! Si-Woo! I knew you were home." Su-Jin smiled brightly. 

"What are you doing here?"

"Senior Chief Meddok wanted me to stop by and pick you up. He wanted me to make sure you're able to come to work today and not skip." 

I narrowed my eyes at Su-Jin. It has been a week since I have shown back up to work. 

"I already told the Senior Chief that I was sick. The sickness hasn't left me yet. It must be the flu or something." 

It was Su-Jin's turn to narrow his eyes at me and add a small frown. He stayed quiet for a second which made me squirm a bit. Su-Jin always had a smile or carried a calm aura about himself. So, to watch that aura shift and become serious or angry is always a sight to behold. And a bit uncomfortable. 

"...May I come in?" Su-Jin asked. 

I pondered on the request for a second.

"My older sister is actually here right now."

"Oh! So, that's who was screaming earlier." Su-Jin said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Uh, yes. I don't know if she would feel comfortable around you." I said while shuffling a tiny bit behind the front door.

"...Okay then. Yes…it was my mistake to intrude on you and your sister's privacy. Well, would you be willing to come have coffee with me? I'll take you to our usual coffee cafe spot."

"What about work?" I was confused.

He chuckled, his smile returning to his face once again. 

"You know our job allows us to work from home. Besides, I already started working on today's workload yesterday. So, it wouldn't hurt for me to start working a bit later today." He said while leaning until he was touching the doorframe. 

"But-"

"Si-Woo."

I flinched at the firmness of his tone. He kept his smile up, but his eyes held a sort of blankness to them. Almost looking…emotionless.

"To be honest, the Senior Chief didn't tell me anything nor asked me to bring you to work. But, he suggested…no, he asked I check up on you. While you have been submitting and completing your work, we haven't seen you in-person in a week!" Su-Jin huffed.

I stayed quiet. I had no words to say. I didn't know what to say. 

"It's complicated." That was all I could say.

Si-Jun became quiet. He looked down, I guess he was deep in thought. I took the opportunity to examine his appearance. His dark brown hair was in a clean man bun style, while his black eyes were protected by those thick frames he calls eyeglasses. He wore a loose white shirt that was accompanied by a long black cozy looking cardigan and black pants. He is beautiful. He suddenly looked up, a warm smile appearing on his lips.

"Alright Si-Woo, how about this? I take us out for coffee and pay for the both of us. You tell me a LITTLE bit of how you're doing, and then we discuss the plans for this week's agenda in terms of work. How does that sound?" 

I sighed. "Do we have to?" Yes, I am a whiny brat. Sue me.

"Uh yes. Besides, it'll be easier for me to tell you in person versus through email."

DAMMIT. 

"Fineee, I sighed more loudly, "Give me 15 minutes and I'll be ready. Okay?" 

"Yay! Okay! I am waiting in my car." He raised one of his fists in the air, as if he accomplished something grand. Pfft, nerd. 

I gave a small smile before nodding and closing the door. I rushed back to my room. However, I heard Ae-cha along the way. 

"Getting ready for a coffee date with four eyes over there?" She said slickly. Bitch.

"Noona, you're too old to be interfering or curious about young people's business." I said back, earning a glare from her. 

"I'm only 31!" She yelled and I rushed from my room to the bathroom.

"And acts like a damn toddler!" I yelled back at her. 

"Asshole!" 

"Takes one to know one!" I fired back at her. 

I heard her huff in the distance as I closed the bathroom door and quickly washed up before heading out. Haha! One point for me, zero for her.

But, as I was in the bathroom, my mind eventually traced back to Su-Jin. Hah…I seriously did not know what he wanted me to say. I'm fine.

I'm really fine…really.