WHEREVER /JJK

Chapter 28 - Facing Fears

After serious doubts about the wisdom of her decision, Hei-Won finally agreed to be Hobi-s PR Consultant, which would involve working closely with Jia as Digital Marketing Consultant. Hobi was ecstatic, he felt he'd achieved a dream team of having his competent friends working on his clothing brands. As a bonus, Jia was allowed to endorse his sportswear line, since none of the clothing brands she endorsed had this kind of clothing line.

Hei-Won entered the building of Hobi's new corporate office, now located in Gangnam. She was nervous, because for the first time since she broke up with Jeon, they would be meeting face-to-face, and to make matters worse, Jia was coming as well.

She was accompanied by one of the staff to the meeting room. Upon entering, Jia and Jeon were already there, sipping coffee as they talked. To say she was unprepared was an understatement. To see Jeon, looking so handsome in a business suit, smiling as he was talking to Jia, the source of her heartache, also looking well. She wanted the floor to open up and swallow her.

The smiles on their faces, suddenly disappeared, replaced by looks of uncertainty. Jia was the first to recover, standing up and pulling Hei-Won to the table.

"Hei-Won, nice to see you again. Have you had breakfast? Hobi ordered food for us."

"Hello, Jia, Jeon." She felt like she was about to have a panic attack. She tried to control the shaking of her body.

Jeon nodded at her with a half-smile. 

Hei-Won chose to sit across them after getting herself some coffee.

"How have you been Hei-Won?" Jeon asked.

"Better now, Jeon. Thank you." She said this while pretending to fix her skirt, refusing to look at him. She felt like someone was choking her. She wanted to be anywhere other than in this room. She stood up.

"Excuse me I just need to go to the restroom."

She went out before anyone could say a word. She went to the restroom and gave in to tears. It still hurts, she realized. Almost two months after, the pain was still raw. They weren't doing anything, just having a conversation, but the sight of them looking at each other, obviously happy in each other's company, was something she wasn't prepared for.

She badly needed the release of her emotions. She tried to calm herself down, fixed her make-up and after she finally composed herself, she went out to face them again. Outside, Hobi was waiting for her. Seeing him made her cry again.

Wordlessly, he took her to his office, seated her, and got her some water to drink. He got some tissue and blotted the tears from her face.

"You want me to call off the meeting?" He asked calmly.

"No. I need to face them sooner or later. Hobi, they're not bad people, please don't get the wrong impression."

"I'm not judging, I know Kookie so well. He's a good guy. From what I heard, Jia is also a good person."

"It still hurts to see them together."

"But they're not together, Hei-Won. They're still just friends now."

"They're in love, Hobi. Jeon loves her in a way he never loved me."

He held her face in his hands.

"Hei-Won, think. Does it really hurt that bad? Could it be just your ego that is hurt? Reflect on it, ok? The only way you will ever recover is in knowing where the root of your pain lies."

He straightened her hair and held both her hands to make her stand up.

"Take a deep breath, Hei-Won. I'm with you. We'll enter the room together, you're not alone. You have me."

He still held her hand as they walked out of his office. He didn't care that his staff saw them hand-in-hand, even when Hei-won tried to pull her hand away out of shyness, he tightened his hold. They went into the meeting room still hand-in-hand, which was not lost on Jeon. He looked at Hobi, wanting to know what was wrong. Hobi merely nodded at him.  He nodded back, understanding that Hobi needed to do this to give Hei-Won strength.

The meeting progressed smoothly, although Hei-Won listened more than spoke. She was thankful Hobi calmed her down. From the discussions, she was thankful that her exposure would actually be more with Jia than Jeon.

Maybe someday she would get used to seeing him with her without feeling this pain. Although she knew Jeon wasn't doing anything wrong, she still was unprepared to see them together even if it was for a meeting like this. She just needed to get her act together.

---

The meeting was over. Jia and Jeon were on their way to Jeon's apartment to have lunch and print some documents needed for Hobi's video. They were both concerned for Hei-Won, who obviously shed tears upon seeing them together.

"Jeon, I'm worried about Hei-Won."

"Yes so am I."

"I feel guilty for causing it, even though we're not doing anything wrong."

"She still refuses to talk to me. I'm sorry Jia, this shouldn't be affecting you."

"It's not anyone's fault. We just need to give her more time, Jeon."

"I'm thankful Hobi was able to help her."

"Hobi seems to like her."

"You think so?"

"I sense it. Do you mind?"

"Not really. It might be awkward at first because he's my friend. But if he can make Hei-Won happy, then he should go for it. It's funny though, why are my friends after my girlfriends? First, there was Jin, and now Hobi."

"Jin? Jin talked to you? What did he say?"

"He said he wanted to date you."

"So.....I'm your girlfriend, huh?" Jia said this with a teasing tone.

"Wait, what? When did I say that?"

"You just said your friends are after your---"

"Jia, stop."

"So, we're on that level now huh? I have my first ever boyfriend."

"Jia, I swear, if you don't stop teasing me, I will stop the car and kiss you right here."

Jia stopped talking, her mouth forming an "o" as she looked at him. After some silence, she turned to Jeon again.

"Jeon—"

The car lurched a little as he yanked the handbrake and pulled her to him, kissing her full in the mouth for a full 10 seconds. The impatient honking of the car behind them prompted Jeon to let her go and continue driving.

"Goodness, Jeon, I was just going to ask what we'll be having for lunch."

He stole a glance at her, liking to see her flustered and flushing from his prank. He smiled naughtily at her. 

"I always wanted to do that."

"With me?"

"Yes of course. Only with you. You know what else I want to do with you?"

Jia covered her ears. "NO."

"Coward," Jeon said, laughing out loud.