ZHEN SUN MI (ARCHITECT)
Written by Margie
Edited 2016 by All-About-AAE
It is 1:00 a.m. and being a long-term insomniac, Yun Hyung Chul, succumbing to the fact that this would probably be another long night, or rather, morning, reclined on the sofa and closed his eyes. Although unable to sleep, it does help to relieve his tired body after a very long day in the office. He very often sleeps over in his office as he does not relish the thought of going back to an empty and lonely apartment. His ears alerted him to the unmistakable sound of someone tampering softly with his doorknob. He sat up and from the tinted-glass of his door; he could make out an unmistakably female form. An exponent of the martial arts, HC did not feel the least bit threatened, but his curiosity piqued; he lay back on the sofa and pretended to be asleep.
After managing to get the door to open, Sun Mi, being overly zealous in getting what she wanted so she could get out of there, did not notice the reclining HC on the sofa. She was on all fours, crawling determinedly on the carpeted floor towards her target and did not realize that crawling as she was in that manner; her butt was waving provocatively in the air. Even though the room was dark, the well-lit corridors provided sufficient light through the gaps for HC to notice that he was looking at the most perfectly shaped derriere he had ever spotted on a woman.
She muttered a soft colourful descriptive when she hit her head against the leg of his desk. How un-ladylike, the amused HC could not help smiling at her dramatic antics and before he could stop himself, he said, "Don't you think it would help if you if you switched on the lights?" and did just that.
"Ohhh..!" she jumped when he spoke and was so startled by his words; she let out a scream, forgetting that silence is golden. HC took a good look at his unwelcome visitor. Her hourglass but slim body was dressed in black polo-neck sweater and black track pants; her hair done up in a pony-tail. Big, round eyes starred back at him, her naturally pink asking-to-be-kissed luscious lips rounded up in shock. She's beautiful and cute, HC thought.
"I don't what you're looking for, but perhaps if you tell me, I might be able to help you?"
Sun Mi finally managed to gather her wits together and said to him, "Ah, ah, er, I'm sorry, I did not know that there would still be people working. I'm ah, I'm, ah, the cleaning lady and I was just looking for dust under your desk."
Cleaning lady? Has anyone seen a more unlikely cleaning lady? HC tried to keep a straight face, "Oh really? I know the aunty who cleans my room everyday and believe me, she goes through everything with a toothbrush, so I don't think you would find any dust there."
"No dust?" Her mouth forming a perfect "O" at having been caught out in a lie. "I'm, eh, in that case, I..I mean, I guess I don't have to clean this room then, so I better leave you to your sleep and go clean the other rooms," an anxious Sun Mi was desperately eyeing the door, wondering how she was going to get past the 6-ft Man-God blocking her exit. She has never seen a more perfect male specimen jet-black hair, big eyes framed by long lashes, a perfectly-sculptured nose and a well-formed mouth. God is so unfair!
She inched nearer to the door but before she could go further, a hand snaked out to grab her wrist in a vice-like grip, "Ow, let go!" and she started to struggle against his iron hold, at the same time, kicking at his shin. Since she was wearing soft rubber shoes and his legs were like two steel posts, her kicks did not make any impact on his shins at all.
"Will you stop struggling? I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to know what you were hoping to find?" HC's face was so close to hers that she could see her own reflection in his eyes.
She stopped struggling and her nerves had calmed down enough for her to reply "OK. Please let go of my wrist and I'll tell you everything."
He released her hand, invited her to sit, did the same and waited for her to begin.
"Well, my name is Zhen Sun Mi and my dad owns a private investigation agency but I am an architect by profession," she waited for his reaction but finding none, she continued, "I did not really break into your office because I have a key. I wanted to retrieve a resignation letter."
HC spoke up, "resignation letter? Whose resignation letter? Didn you say youe an architect?"
Sun Mi noted that he was getting confused. "No, I mean yes, I am an architect and my dad's agency has nothing to do with your father's company but I'm referring to my best friend's resignation letter." Secretly, Sun Mi thought which best friend would place her in this predicament, but it's not really Zhao Di's fault.
Sun Mi explained, "Zhao Di works as a secretary to the head of personnel, Mr. Kim, a lecherous old man. Having been subjected once too often to Mr. Kim's unwanted advances, Zhao Di decided enough was enough and tendered her resignation, but just after she had placed her letter on Mr. Kim's desk, she found out due to the complaints of sexual harassment against Mr. Kim, he would be transferred to one of WH Yun subsidiary. So with the thorn-in-her-flesh gone, she wanted to take back her letter but unfortunately, Mr. Kim's maI'll were all were diverted to his superior, who just happens to be HC."
"Actually, Zhao Di had intended to take back the letter herself but as her father suffered a heart attack and had to be taken to the hospital; Zhao Di had to rush back to Cheju Island. That's why I'm here. I hope you won't take action against Zhao Di because she just found out that she's pregnant and she needs this job. If you would give me her letter, I'll leave immediately and disappear from here, even before you can say 'Go!' " Sun Mi looked imploringly at HC and waited with bated breadth while he walked slowly to his desk.
HC sifted through slowly through the pile of mail, stopped at one and held up the letter, "Is this her letter?"
Sun Mi, having recognized Zhao Di's handwriting, replied that it was and reached out to take the letter. But HC held the letter out of her reach and arched an eyebrow at Sun Mi, "Did I agree to give the letter to you or did I even tell you to go?"
Sun Mi was starting to panic, "You mean you are accepting Zhao Di's resignation? I told you, she needs this job and if weren't because of Mr. Kim, she would never want to resign. How could you be so heartless?" Sun Mi who was getting angry at HC for his inconsideration, glared angrily at him with hands on her hips.
Waving the letter at her, HC seemed to be enjoying having the upper hand. "Ms. Zhen Sun Mi, you have a habit of putting words in my mouth. I just wanted to say that you can take back the letter, but, on 2 conditions."
Immediately, warning bells started to ring in Sun Mi head, "Can I just have the letter back? What if I just treat you to lunch?" She hated the words "On 2 conditions" and tried to negotiate with him. Even 1 condition would be hard for her to agree, what's more 2 conditions? Why can't he just scratch out the last 3 words?
HC, still holding the letter aloft, answered softly, "Take it or leave it."
Sun Mi was really in a spot but having come so far, she could not possibly back out. After all, there's no harm hearing about his conditions. If she didn't like the conditions, she did not have to agree. It would just be too bad for Zhao Di.
"Okay, what are the 2 conditions?" Sun Mi asked, still hopeful that it would be something as simple as accompanying him to a show or dinner.
HC walked towards her, looked intensely at her and named his conditions, "First condition, I want you to quit your job and come here to work for me."
To say that Sun Mi was shocked was an understatement somehow, she managed to sputter, "What? Why should I come and work for you? I'm very happy where I'm now. I love my job, I have a terrific boss, I earn a good salary and.. andmmmmm.."
Her outrage was cut short by HC's lips on hers. After a good long 5 minutes of intense lip-locking, HC lifted his head and told the stunned Sun Mi, "THAT was the second condition!"
Sun Mi arrived at the reception of WH Yun & Son Properties and asked to see HC (the 'Son' in WH Yun & Son Properties) and although she did not mention her name, the receptionist knew at once who she was and buzzed HC's secretary. A few minutes later, HC himself appeared at the reception and led Sun Mi to his office. Sun Mi was surprised that he is already in his office so early in the morning, but then, she realized that he had probably slept in his office the previous night, just as he did when he caught her crawling around in his office a month ago.
Sun Mi thought back to the scene and recalled how he had claimed that second condition without even asking her first and how he had said that he would give her 3 days to think it over. In the meantime, he would consider Zhao Di as being on compassionate leave, but after that 3 days, should Sun Mi fails to give him the reply he wanted, he would accept Zhao Di's resignation, even knowing of Zhao Di's intention to retract her resignation.
Considering the threatening implication of his words, Sun Mi made known to him in no uncertain terms, that his ultimatum was blackmail. All HC said was there was no such word as blackmail in his vocabulary and that he preferred to use the word "persuasion". His further words to Sun Mi were "I can assure you, that you would not regret working for me and whatever salary you're getting now, I will pay you two times as much; not to mention, that you would have total freedom with your blueprints. But above everything else, you would also find that I can be more terrific than your present boss."
Although he had said he would give her 3 days to consider, yet, he had called her the next day and the next and the next to remind her that she really did not have a choice. Even that Zhao Di, seemed to be echoing HC word-for-word; and at the risk of sounding like a selfish best friend, she said that she really loved her job at WH Yun & Son and if her resignation letter is accepted, she would have to find another job, which is near impossible, considering she is now pregnant.
So, Sun Mi had no choice but to tender her resignation and though Mr. Jin, her boss, was surprised and reluctant to let her resign, he understood when she lied that she was too ambitious to remain in the small company. He shook Sun Mi's hand and magnanimously wished her good luck. Sun Mi had to fight to hold back her tears, for in all the 4 years that she had worked for Mr. Jin; he had been a really good boss to her and all the other staff. He never pressured them, never lost his temper and had even been the father figure to those who needed his advice.
Sun Mi was therefore understandably, resentful of HC, but she withheld the animosity she felt towards him and tried to make the best of her situation. She resolved to quit after Zhao Di had delivered her baby; because by then, it would be too late for HC to carry out his threat.
HC ushered her to his office, explained to her the terms of her contract and brought her to a meeting room where she was introduced to the management staff. It was then that Sun Mi found out that HC was actually a Director of WH Yun and Chief Architect. All senior and junior architects have to report to HC, who would hold meetings with them every week to discuss their individual projects.
The next few months were extremely hectic months for Sun Mi, and apart from the weekly meetings with HC, she hardly ever saw him. True to his word, HC has never rejected any of the blueprints Sun Mi designed and she found that HC is really a good and caring boss to all his subordinates. Although he acts like a domineering boss at times, he always gives everyone a chance to voice his opinion. Sun Mi no longer feels resentment towards HC and had even started to like him.
Walking towards her office adjacent to HC's, she found a message from her secretary. A sense of panic assailed her when she read the message and she started to cry, "Oh No, my dad!" and as she rushed out of her office, her secretary was just entering the room. "Oh Ms. Zhen, I've been looking for you". The panting secretary was trying to get the words out "Your....your dad..the hospital wanted you to get there immediately". Her secretary's words had trailed off because Sun Mi was already running towards the entrance.
Trembling and sobbing, Sun Mi got into her car and tried to start the engine, but the engine sputtered a few times and died. She tried again, sobbing all the more and finally managed to start the engine, but in her haste to get the car to move, she released the accelerator too soon and the car jerked forward. HC, who was just returning from an appointment, saw what happened and immediately got down from his car.
"Sun Mi, where are you going?" and when he saw her tear-stained face, he asked her what happened. She did not answer him and kept trying to start her car, her trembling hands on the steering wheel. HC turned off the engine and pulled out the key, then asked Sun Mi's secretary, who was hovering near the entrance, what had happened.
The secretary told him that Sun Mi's father was assaulted by his construction workers over overtime payment and Sun Mi's father, who had suffered several broken ribs and internal bleeding, had to be hospitalized. The hospital had wanted Sun Mi to get to the hospital immediately.
"You're in no state to drive. Get out of your car, I'm driving you to hospital!" and pulled her out by her hand. After getting her settled in his car, he got in and drove at lightning speed to the hospital. Along the journey, he kept looking at Sun Mi who had stopped sobbing and but was still trembling. Keeping one hand on the steering wheel, he held both her hands in the other while reassuring her that her dad would be fine.
At the speed HC was driving, it was a wonder that they got to the hospital at all in one piece. A group of her father's construction workers were there, as were the police, who were taking down statements. When the workers saw Sun Mi, they all gathered round her and offered her words of consolation while telling HC what had transpired. It wasn't even Sun Mi's dad's fault but the management's; Sun Mi's dad had merely acted as an intermediary, but was assaulted when the workers thought her dad was taking the side of the management.
Throughout the commotion, HC had kept his arm around Sun Mi's shoulder and when her dad had been wheeled out from surgery, he accompanied her to her dad's room. A fresh bout of sobbing started when Sun Mi saw the state her dad was in and HC rushed to her side. The doctor told them that although the operation was a success, the next 24 hours would be a critical period for her dad.
"Sun Mi, you stay here with your dad and I'll get Zhao Di to bring you some fresh clothes. Give me your house keys," and when Sun Mi gave him the keys, he headed for the door.
"But Sanbaeneem, I have to go back to office," Sun Mi's desperate voice stopped HC. "I have to complete the plans for tomorrow's 10 a.m. presentation, so I can't stay here with my dad." Sun Mi looked as if she was about to start crying again.
HC walked back to Sun Mi and asked if she had made any notes of her plans and when she said she had noted everything in her file, HC insisted that she remained in hospital for her father. "Don't worry about the plans, I'I'll do them for you," and HC shushed her when Sun Mi would have protested, because he was her boss after all, how can she expect him to draw the plans for her?
On arrival back at the office, HC gave Zhao Di the keys to Sun Mi's house and instructed his driver to send Zhao Di to Sun Mi's house, get the necessities for Sun Mi and her father and to send Zhao Di to the hospital. He then went into Sun Mi's office and searched her drawers for her notes, and when he found them, he took the notes and the half-completed plans back to his office and started on them. It was not until midnight that he managed to complete the plans.
Three months went by and Sun Mi's dad had recovered from his injuries. However, he refused to press charges against his assaulters who had apologized to Sun Mi's dad for their recklessness. Greatly relieved at her dad's recovery, a happy Sun Mi thrived in her job and had even won't an award for "Most Promising Architect" for one of her townhouse designs. HC was very proud of her achievement and was strutting around like a proverbial parent. Business boomed for WH Yun and Son Properties and they had more projects than their team of architects could handle and HC had to call in some architects from WH Yun's subsidiaries to ease the workload.
It was late afternoon on a Friday when Sun Mi went to HC's office and asked his secretary if she could see him for a short while. Instead, his secretary told her to go straight in and when she went in, she found HC resting on the sofa with his eyes closed. Thinking he was asleep, she hesitated and started to retreat, but HC startled her when he said without opening his eyes, "Zhen Sun Mi, do you have something to ask me?
Sun Mi smiled, "Sunbaeneem, you can see with your eyes closed?"
HC sat up and smiled at her, "No, I can't, but I can recognize your scent".
Sun Mi was not sure what he meant by that.
"Sanbaeneem, I just wanted to ask you if you have any plans for tonight. If you do, it's okay but if you don't, I would like to buy you dinner, to thank you for helping me to finish my design when my dad was in hospital".
Sun Mi looked hesitatingly at HC who cheekily said, "Ah, actually you want to date me? If that's your real intention, you don have to give so many excuses. I'm free, but be warned, I have expensive tastes."
"Aiyah, who's trying to date you? I just want to thank you for your help in everything. Never mind, forget it", Sun Mi said and pretended to head for the door.
HC pulled her back by her hand, "Hey, so sensitive, cannot take a joke? Okay, I am all yours for tonight but I mean it when I said I have expensive tastes. Still willing to treat me?"
Sun Mi laughed at his words and assured him, "No matter how expensive, it's no problem. Since you're my guest, you can choose the venue. Any place in mind?
When Sun Mi left HC’s office to freshen up for their dinner date, HC told his secretary to call his father’s office to postpone their dinner appointment and went to the entrance to wait for Sun Mi. However, he saw that Sun Mi was already in her Mini, slowly reversing towards him.
She looked inquiringly at him, “Sanbaeneem, come on, aren’t you coming into my car?”
With hands akimbo, the offended HC refused to move an inch, “Zhen Sun Mi, I’m a six-footer, give or take an inch. Do you expect me to double up to squeeze myself in, or do you expect me to sit half-out, half-in, in this tin-can you call a car?
“Hey, that insult was not necessary and my car’s not really that small. If I push the seat back, you would be comfortable. You’re just exaggerating. If I’m the one who’s treating, I should be the one to drive too”. Still feeling insulted by his condemnation of her car, Sun Mi would not let him get his way so easily.
HC muttered to himself, “God, she’s stubborn, but I can be too”. He ignored Sun Mi and signaled to his driver to drive his Mercedes over. He also heard the sniggering of the security personnel and his driver. The dark look he gave them immediately brought on the desired deadpan expressions on their faces.
HC’s choice of venue was an exclusive restaurant in one of the poshiest hotels in Seoul, where only the rich and famous could afford to patronize. On entering the restaurant, Sun Mi was enchanted with the restaurant’s tastefully furnished décor and calming ambience; and was especially captivated with the centrally-located fountain. A five-piece band was playing a soft, romantic ballad.
Upon seeing HC and Sun Mi, the Maitre-D, who seemed to be well-acquainted with HC, politely led them to a table in a quiet corner. When the Maitre-D has left after taking their orders, HC smilingly asked an appreciative Sun Mi, “Are you worried about how much this treat is going to cost you?”.
Sun Mi indignantly answered, “Of course not. Do you take me for a cheapskate? You have warned me about your expensive tastes, remember? Don’t worry, I can afford it. Oh, you’re worried I did not bring enough cash with me to pay for this treat?”.
HC smiled but did not say anything else.
Their food arrived and Sun Mi devoured her food hungrily and when she noticed HC’s amusement, she explained that she had skipped lunch. HC chided her for having skipped her meals once too often and ordered dessert for her, which she ate up without any protest. After a full dinner, HC wanted to move to the terrace to enjoy the breeze.
At that Sun Mi remarked, “Oh, I’m so full, I can hardly move.”
He rubbed his hands gleefully and said with a glint in his eye, “Good, that will give me a chance to carry you”.
Sun Mi laughed and said “I can move now”.
They walked slowly to the sheltered terrace, found a nice spot and sat down. For a few minutes, they were both content to watch the stars in the sky, listen to the dreamy music and just enjoy each other’s company. Without looking at her, HC quietly spoke “Sun Mi, remember the first time we met in my office? You said your dad owns a private investigation agency but I know that your dad works in construction.”
Sun Mi clarified, “Both are true. My dad does own a partnership in a private investigation agency but he leaves the running to his partner and works full time in construction.”
She sighed and continued, “I would rather he retired and not work at all, because both jobs are just as dangerous. I told my dad, I can afford to support him but he is very adamant and said he needed to work to keep his mind alert, otherwise he would become senile.”
“I see. Another thing, you said you were the cleaning lady looking for dust under my desk, remember?”
Sun Mi eyed him with a questioning look but let him continue
“From that lie, I know you’re not a very good liar. What cleaning lady would clean someone’s office in the dark, without a vacuum, cleaning cloth or feather duster?”
Sun Mi giggled, “I guess it was the silliest excuse, wasn’t it? You’re right, I could never tell a lie, even a white one! My dad could always tell when I’m lying to him.”
HC seemed to be lost in his thoughts for a moment and when Sun Mi asked him what he was thinking, he replied, “Sun Mi, you have been working for me for about a year, correct?”
Sun Mi nodded.
HC turned to face her and asked, “So, how do you feel about me?”
Sun Mi did not know why her face felt flushed when he asked her that question. She pretended to misunderstand his question. “Oh, I admit you’re a good boss, kind, considerate and concerned about your staff’s welfare.”
But HC would not give up so easily, “No, I don’t mean how you feel about me as a boss. I mean your feelings for me - as a man.”
Sun Mi quickly stood up and in haste, stubbed her toe against the cobble-stone, “Ouch!”
HC was all concerned and asked her if she was hurt, kneeling down to look at her foot.
“No, no, Sanbaeneem, I’m not hurt. But it’s getting late and I should be getting home,” she walked quickly towards the entrance without giving him a chance to say anything else. If she had looked back, she would have seen the disappointed look in HC’s face.
She took out her credit card, wanting to pay for the dinner, but was stopped by HC.
“Sun Mi, this is my treat, as a reward to you for having won't the award.”
Sun Mi protested: “But I said I would treat you, so I will pay.”
But HC had already signed for the bill. He told her that since he has an account, it’s more convenient to just sign for the bill. Telling her she can treat him another time, they walked in silence to his car.
They did not say a word on the journey back to her house and Sun Mi was relieved that he did not broach the subject again in the car. However, when his car stopped in front of Sun Mi’s house, he placed his hand on hers, when she would have opened the door to alight.
“Wait, you have not answered my question”, HC persisted.
“What do you want me to say, Sanbaeneem?”
HC told her, “Just tell me the truth, but before you do, I want you to know, I have very strong feelings for you, feelings I have never experienced with another woman. Although I hope you feel the same about me, I can’t deceive myself that you would. However, I know that if you did not like me before because I made you quit your former job, now you do like me a bit at least?” HC’s hopeful look was not lost on Sun Mi.
Turning to him, Sun Mi felt obliged to be honest with him, “Sanbaeneem, yes, I do like you but I’m not sure of my true feelings. I was badly hurt by someone close to me and I have been telling myself that I would never give anyone else a chance to hurt me that way again. All these years, I have been out on dates with men before, but when anyone of them tried to go beyond friendship, I just can’t bring myself to see him anymore”.
HC would not give up so easily, “Do you need more time to think about your feelings? I promise that if you do, I would not pressure you and from this very day on, our relationship will be as before my revelation, alright?”
Sun Mi’s eyes misted up with her tears for HC’s patience and thoughtfulness and she nodded her head.
“May I kiss you? Just to say goodnight?”
HC waited for Sun Mi’s response and she nodded again. He held her hand, pulled her closer to him and kissed her on her forehead. After telling him not to speed, Sun Mi got out of the car, gave him a slight bow and turned to go into her house.
The next morning in the office, HC’s secretary informed that the architects from WH Yun’s subsidiaries were waiting for him in the meeting room. Telling his secretary to call all their architects to the meeting room, HC entered the room. Sun Mi was already there, chatting and joking with a good-looking man of HC’s age and did not notice his presence in the room. A feeling of jealousy came over him but he maintained his composure and walked over to them.
Sun Mi immediately stood up, gave him a respectful bow and introduced the young man. “Sanbaeneem, this is Jin Woo Jin, a childhood friend of mine. We lost contact a long time ago. I was surprised he works for WH Yun as an architect too! And Woo Jin Oppa, this is Director Yun Hyung Chul, my boss and Chief Architect at WH Yun & Son.”
HC politely extended his hand and shook hands with his ‘nemesis’ who just as politely greeted HC with a bow.
“Director Yun, although I was in the U.S. for many years and had joined the Pusan subsidiary very recently, I have heard so much of your achievements. I am most honoured to be given this opportunity to work with you”.
HC was more interested in WJ’s relationship with Sun Mi and asked WJ, “You have known Ms. Zhen for a long time?”
WJ acknowledged with a nod, “Yes, since Sun Mi was in her birthday suit in fact”
HC’s frown deepened and looked at the flushed Sun Mi.
“Sanbaeneem, what WJ Oppa meant was that I was still in the nursery and he was only 5 years old when we first met!”
Sun Mi and WJ laughed and HC knew, Woo Jin was the one who had hurt Sun Mi.
The other architects trailed in one by one and after the perfunctory introductions were made, HC started the meeting. While at other times, he did not indicate where any of them should sit, he made an exception this time and requested Sun Mi to sit beside him. After the preliminary details of the new development projects have been ironed out and Sun Mi and the team of architects had left, HC went back to his office. He could not concentrate on his work and kept recalling the close rapport Sun Mi seemed to share with WJ. He knew the reason why his heart felt as if it had been compressed with a heavy load.
Two months passed during which time, except for the brief weekly meetings and the occasional glimpses, HC rarely saw Sun Mi as she seems to be with WJ the entire time. He missed her terribly and he felt he had to do something about it. He went to her office but as he expected, she was not in. He sat in her chair and waited for her but when 10 pm. came by and she still had not returned, he left a note on her desk and returned to his office.
Although extremely tired after a long exhausting day at the site, she rushed home to take a shower, packed some sandwiches and drove back to the company. She put down her things on her desk, temporarily covering HC’s note, then went into the pantry to make herself a cup of coffee. Although she noticed the light was still on in HC’s room, she did not want to disturb him and went into her own office.
When she noticed the note, she went again to the pantry to make another cup of coffee for HC and headed for HC’s office. She knocked lightly on his door and when his door immediately opened, he pulled her so hard into his embrace, she almost spilled the cups of coffee.
“Sanbaeneem, what is it? Something happened? I made coffee for you”, she was still clasped in his embrace. Inhaling the smell of cigarette on his shirt, she chided him, “You’ve been smoking again?”
HC released her and took the cups of coffee and the snacks from her. He motioned to her to sit beside him on the sofa.
He drank the coffee silently and took the sandwich she offered. “I haven’t seen you for so long. I really missed you”, he told her quietly.
“Sanbaeneem, I’ve been so busy running to and fro to the site that I had no time to remain in the office. This and that problem kept cropping up.”
Due to HC’s depressed state, he sounded brusque with her when he queried “Why didn’t you tell me? Or maybe, you think WJ is the only one who could help you?”
Sun Mi was surprised at his attack and “What do you mean by that? Woo Jin Oppa had his own problems and he was seldom with me. Sanbaeneem, why are you angry? Did I do something wrong?”
HC spoke “All my life I have been waiting for that someone and I had even resigned myself to the thought that I would never find her; untI'll that night, the very minute I saw your face, I knew. Not only did you crawl into my office, you had also crawled into my heart”
He turned to look at Sun Mi, “I would have returned the letter to Zhao Di had she been the one to ask for it and I would never have used it against her.” He held up his hand to stop her when Sun Mi would have interrupted. “I have not finished what I want to say. Yes, I admit I used that letter to force you to work for me, how else can I make you take that step towards me?”
His pained expression tore at San Mi’s heart but she let him continue to pour out his feelings.
“When I saw how close you were getting to Woo Jin, I found I was wrong. I know now that you still harbour feelings for Woo Jin and I do not mean anything to you at all. You have really broken my heart, so, I’m releasing you from your contract, you’re free to go”
Sun Mi looked at HC’s slumped shoulders as if he has finally admitted defeat. She moved closer to him, pulled at his jacket lapels to make him look at her, saw the pain expression in his eyes and exclaimed, “You’re jealous!”
HC looked at her but did not reply. Sun Mi bright eyes looked at HC, “I was wrong when I thought you were a man of few words.”
HC was thinking how could she still joke at a time like this?
To Sun Mi, it was now or never and she took a deep breadth. “Sanbaeneem, you are wrong when you said I still harbour feelings for Woo Jin Oppa. If I do, it is what I would feel for a brother.”
HC’s surprised and hopeful look gave her the strength to continue:“Sambaeneem, my feelings for Woo Jin Oppa died a long time ago but my feelings for you grew after I discovered the real you under that domineering exterior,” she smiled when HC frowned and added, “At the time when you asked about my feelings for you a few months ago, I was still afraid to let myself love another man after I was hurt by Woo Jin, but you made me change.”
“You were always there for me; when I’m sad, when I’m lonely, during my good times and bad, you were always beside me. I missed you terribly too these past 2 months but I had a job to do, otherwise, my ogre of a boss would scalp me!”
HC could now afford to smile at Sun Mi’s words. “I know for sure now, I would walk straight in your direction and not look anywhere else.”
Hyung Chul once again crushed her to his chest but a few seconds later, Sun Mi said with her head still buried in his chest, “Sanbaeneem, come to think of it, you’re getting a better deal than me.”
HC was puzzled, “In what way?”
Sun Mi looked up at him, “Well, I’m giving you my heart whole but you’re giving me a broken heart! Isn’t that an unfair exchange!”
“Don’t worry, my sweet Zhen Sun Mi, my broken heart has been mended with your love,” Hyung Chul sighed with deep satisfaction.
THE END!