Fourteen

Ma Ri stood in front of her desk, gazing silently at the computer. She tidied up her workspace and put her personal belongings in a cardboard box. Although it hasn't been long since she started working there, she felt a pang of sadness to leave the office as she knew she'd miss the people and the place.

This morning she had an interview and based on the interviewer's expression, she felt confident she'd passed. After scanning her desk and drawers one last time, she picked up the box and turned to leave. But she suddenly paused, thinking something must've slipped her mind. When it hit her, she gasped and hurried towards the CEO's office. Without checking if anyone was inside, she pushed the door open, only to find Nam Ho Seok and his secretary with several guests engaged in a business discussion. All of them looked up, visibly startled by her abrupt entrance.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Ma Ri bowed deeply, realizing her mistake. She quickly closed the door. Ho Seok, with a small smile, stood and addressed his guests.

"Then, let's call it a day," he announced. As he rose, the others followed the suit, shaking his hand before leaving.

"Please send the girl in and wait outside." After seeing his fellow businessmen out, he instructed his female secretary.

"Yes, sir!" She bowed politely and went outside.

Ma Ri was thinking of leaving when she noticed the people coming out, conversing with each other. So, she waited outside, holding the box although it was getting difficult to keep holding the heavy box.

"Ms. Han, the CEO would like to see you now." She gestured for Ma Ri to go in, then stepped away.

When Ma Ri entered, she found Ho Seok standing, leaning against his desk, focused on his phone. As she approached, he slipped it into his pocket. His expression couldn't be read due to his poker face. For a moment, he just stared at her.

"So, you're leaving too?" he asked with his calm tone.

"Huh?" Ma Ri set the box down and looked at him confusedly.

"This is why I don't want to be involved with someone emotionally," he sighed heavily. "Everyone leaves eventually." he sighed again.

"Hey, don't be like that! We're best buddies, aren't we? Just because I'm changing companies doesn't mean I'm moving away forever! We can always meet up, chat, call each other. Don't get all grumpy now." Ma Ri looked into his eyes, ruffling his hair playfully just like a mother, caressing her son.

"But…you're not just changing your job. You're going to change yourself, too. I know you will. Soon, you'll hate me like everyone else. You'll turn away from me, just like they all did. Tell me I'm wrong." His gaze dropped as he struggled to hold back his emotions and tried to act cool.

"Why would I? You know it very well that I'm not gonna change myself for anyone. And I've…." she replied softly. But before she could continue, he interrupted.

"NO! I know you! And no matter how hard you try to deny it, you do change yourself for the sake of other people around you. Can't you look at yourself? Think about yourself? What YOU truly want? Just once? I saw how hard things were for you. I don't want you to go through the same." He took a deep breath, his voice softening.

"I told you before and I'm telling you now…I could help you if that's what you needed. But there must be something else, isn't there? Please tell me. Tell me so that I can be at ease. I don't wanna lose such a friend like you. And I'm willing to give up my life for you because you're the one who gave me another chance to live." Ho Seok was getting more emotional. He touched Ma Ri's face gently, staring at her as if he was seeing her for the last time. The shimmering water which gathered in the edge of his eyes, tried to fall down anytime.

"You're afraid of me pushing you away, right? That won't be. I promise! I promise that I'll always be there for you. You can always lean on me, you know that, right? Don't worry. I'm sure things won't go wrong." Ma Ri said with a stoic expression. She kept staring into the space as every word from Ho Seok was true and considerable.

"That's not….Argh! Let's do this…forget that jerk. Marry me instead." he burst out suddenly, gripping her shoulders.

"What?" Ma Ri stared at him, stunned, pulling back to free herself from his grasp.

"I mean it!" He tightened his grip, looking at her with his pleading eyes. Before he could understand, Ma Ri slapped him although she aimed for his cheek, her hand nearly hit his eyes as well as his heart. He loosened his grip and Ma Ri exceeded herself.

"Fine! I admit! I have things I've hid from you! And I wanted to tell them once I'm ready. But, now…I hate you! I hate this side of you when you try to put yourself down because of me. You know it very well that things between us can't be changed. So, why are YOU pushing yourself so hard? Why are YOU trying so hard? Why? I just came to say hello, but now, maybe I'll just have to bid you farewell." Her voice wavered with emotion as she turned to leave, but Ho Seok caught her hand and pulled her into a tight embrace, unable to hold back his tears.

"I'm sorry! It's just…there's nobody else who cares for me. Not even my family. I wish I could love you that way. I wish I could mean those words. I guess they're right. I'm just a cursed evil and rotten dirt for the world. Hate me all you want, I also hate myself. But, don't leave me. If you also leave me, I don't know how I'd survive where everyone thinks of me as garbage. So, Please don't leave me. I beg you. Please!" His voice cracked as he buried his face in her shoulder, clinging to her desperately.

"Look at this giant baby! Are you crying?" Ma Ri teased, hoping to lighten the mood. She patted his back gently, knowing the depth behind his words, but there was nothing she could do without taking a big and heavy sigh.

"Um-hm," he mumbled, sniffling as he shook his head.

"Dumbass! There! There! You're not trash, okay? You're a nice person. So, don't hate yourself. I'm sure you'll find someone who'd love you for who you are and you'll not be alone. Now, let me go. What if some stuff walks in and sees their CEO cry? Your tough guy image would be shattered, no?" Ma Ri smiled softly as she found him cute.

"I wasn't crying," he insisted, letting her go and wiping his face.

"Yeah! Yeah! You weren't." She grinned, helping him wipe his tears before stepping back.

______________________________

When Jiang was about to leave his office, Ryu Gil knocked on the door gently. Jiang took his seat again as he was standing right next to his chair.

"Yes?" He replied in a professional way although he had guessed who it was by the knocking sound.

"Sir, here are the documents Mr. Lee asked me to bring over." Ryu Gil placed a few papers on the desk. Jiang picked them up, flipping through them briefly. His expression changed as he recognized the contents.

They were the results from the morning's interviews. As he scanned the candidates' scores, he froze when he saw Ma Ri's name at the top of the list. He hadn't expected her to score an impressive eight out of ten, especially since he had personally added questions designed to challenge even the best candidates.

"How could this be?" he muttered, staring at the papers in disbelief. With a moment's hesitation, he called Mr. Lee, head of HR, to confirm. Mr. Lee assured him that Ma Ri's answers had indeed stood out, her bold responses much like before. Reluctantly, Jiang accepted it. He just wanted to challenge that girl, so how come things reversed and it became his challenge to crush her pride? Jiang wondered.

"Fine. Prepare her new employee ID and send her an email confirming her start in the HR department next week." He hung up, sighing in exasperation.

"This is the game you want to play, huh? Fine! Bring it on. I'd love to see what else you've got." He stood up while mumbling to himself.

"Huh? Play? Do you want to play, sir?" Ryu Gil asked. Confusion and curiosity was written on his face clearly.

"Huh? Oh! Sure! Let's go to the arcade!" Jiang threw his coat on his shoulder and strode out, with Ryu Gil trailing after him, bewildered.