Causing misunderstandings

Kim Hana threw herself into work quickly. She had only missed lunch with her colleagues and felt as though they knew more about the company than she did. As the marketing department rearranged plans to make up for this May Flower incident, Kim Hana was starting to wonder what exactly this incident was. She stayed back to help long past her hours even though she was very tired, as she did not want to be one of those who left early. Just when she thought she could keep going, her phone rang. She glanced at it only to sit up and pick it up quickly.

"Yes?" she answered vaguely.

"Hana-ssi, where are you?" she heard Kang Seo Joon ask.

"I—" she started to say when someone Leader Lee passed a document to her with instructions.

"Are you still at work?" for some reason, she was sure he was frowning.

"I am coming to pick you up. Be out by then," he said.

"But..." she started to retort.

"Kim Hana, no matter how long you work, I am not going to raise your salary," Kang Seo Joon cut her off.

"Overtime pay," she muttered into the phone catching Han Deji's eyes on her for a second.

"Kim Hana, if I get there and you are not done, I will come up and get you myself," his stern voice filled her ears. If not for the still-busy office, his voice would have been heard by those around. This threat of his, she took it seriously. She had never considered what people would think seeing her with Kang Seo Joon. Even if she had fifty mouths, she would not be able to explain. Now she understood why he parked in underground and waited for her inside the car. She shivered slightly at the thought of him walking up to take her.

"I will be done by then," she said and he ended the call from his end. She hurriedly started fulfilling her task. She had thought it through. If they were not done by the time Kang Seo Joon arrived, she would straighten her back and act like those who refuse to work overtime and leave. As she worked, time rolled past and people were barely leaving. She looked at the number of those in the office and at her Han Deji and Cho Young-Soo. The moment she met their eyes, she knew what they were thinking. None of them wanted to be the first to leave. They were all waiting for one of them to make the first move. The more she understood this, the more she did not want to be the first to leave. It was their first day and their seniors had yet to leave work, how could they go home before them? Just when she thought she could wait them out, her phone rang and she froze.

She ended the call without picking and sent her work to Leader Lee and started packing her things. No matter how disrespectful her leaving was, it was better than Kang Seo Joon walking in to get her. She felt a few gazes on her as she stood and walked over to Leader Lee's desk.

"I have sent over the data you asked for. The schedule for the artist is with Miss Han. Leader Lee, I will be leaving now," she said to Leader Lee's blank face and raised brow. She bowed as her phone started to ring again.

"Miss Kim is leaving already?" he asked and as she tried to silence her phone, "Family urging you home?"

"Yes, family. A good working day, good night, Leader Lee," She said with a bow and hurriedly left. She had a feeling if she stalled, Kang Seo Joon would walk out of the elevator at the end of the hall. She greeted the entire office with bows as she left the department while picking her call. Maybe because she was leaving too early, the office was not as noisy as before, so much so that when she placed the phone on her ear, Kang Seo Joon's voice drifted into the office.

"Kim Hana, you better be down here in three minutes or you are not returning to work tomorrow," his threat escaped the phone into the office for many to hear.

"I'm coming, I'm in the elevator," she said and hurried away. It was only when the elevator closed behind her that she took in a deep breath.

"I am really coming down. I was just packing up," she answered him.

"The car is at the usual," he answered and ended the call.

She got off the elevator and rushed to the car. She noticed him seated on the driver's seat and got in next to him. He waited for her to put on her seat belt before starting the car and driving off.

"You talked so loud, the entire office must have heard you," she said, "Leader Lee even asked if it was family urging me back and I said yes, only for you to shout a threat. Now everyone is probably thinking you are an over-controlling family member,"

"Are you not tired?" he asked, "I don't know about you, but have have not yet slept," he said.

"Why bother picking me up? We could have met tomorrow.

"The marketing department sometimes works late nights even when there is no crisis, do you think you would be going back today if you stayed?" he asked and she nodded.

"But now, I am the only new staff that left early. Even though I can't help it, it doesn't sit well with me,"

"You need to sleep today. By this time tomorrow, we have things to do. I have already considered that you will not have time during the day. So it is best they get used to you leaving early. Tomorrow, you will get off work on time," he said and she sighed. She could already tell that people were going to talk about her attitude for a long time. They arrived at her apartment and he followed her up. She took off her shoes by the door, while he waited.

"Your Id," he reminded her and she hurried into her room and returned with it. He placed it in his pocket and made to leave.

"We have nothing to plan tonight?" she asked.

"Sleep," he said and left, closing the door behind him. Kim Hana felt her bones tire instantly at the close of the door. She changed out of her clothes, took a hot shower and jumped into bed, falling asleep instantly. In her dreams a shadow pursued her; its breath grazed the back of her neck constantly.

She woke up to light peeking through her window, covered in cold sweat. She realized she had not set her alarm when she went to bed last night and had no time to eat as she would probably miss her bus. She cursed and jumped out of bed, only to yelp in pain at her clamped sore muscles. She shuffled into the bathroom and hurried out a moment later. She locked up and hurried out of the house towards her stop, barely making it on the bus. She sighed and made to relax, but noticed people glancing her way. She looked down at her blouse and skirt before a thought hit her. She had not worn make-up out. She shuffled through her bag for a mirror and concealer. A quick look and she saw a large bruise down her neck.

At the sight, her eyes rounded out in horror. If she walked into the office this way, people would think the family member at home was abusing her. She quickly dabbed concealer over it with her hands and slightly on her face, before she powdered and put on lipstick. She checked to see if there was still anything in sight, before putting it away. She barely made it to work on time. She walked into a busy office, greeted those present and reported to Leader Lee for work. He nodded slightly and handed over a file and some instructions and she quickly got to work. Cho Young-Soo and Han Deji were already seated. She greeted them lightly and turned away. She had only been at her desk thirty minutes before they were all called into a meeting. She had only walked a bit before she heard Han Deji gasp. She glanced back at her and noticed they were all staring at her. A chill ran down her spine as she wondered what they could possibly be seeing. She followed their eyes to her exposed legs with purple bruises on them. Their eyes made her so uncomfortable she quickly entered the meeting room and sat. She had only sat when Director Gu called her.

"Miss Kim, right?" hearing her name called she sat up straighter.

"Are you okay?" Director Gu asked as her eyes stilled on her legs.

"I am fine. I was in an accident on Sunday night," she explained. She did not want rumours spreading that she was being abused at home.

"Why didn't anyone notice yesterday? Can you work?" Director Gu asked.

"Yes, I can. I used concealer and was wearing something else. I was careless today. Thank you for asking," she explained and the director nodded and continued with the meeting. Kim Hana felt relieved as her explanation removed a lot of attention from her. After the meeting, she hurriedly went into the bathroom and put some concealer on her leg. When she returned back to her desk, Han Deji curiously asked.

"How are you feeling? I didn't notice yesterday," she said.

"It's nothing—just a few bruises. I woke up late today and forgot to conceal it. I forgot I wore trousers yesterday," Kim Hana brushed it off.

"If I was the one, I would not come to work," she sighed.

"I insisted on coming," Kim Hana said.