The Smile You Bring Me

Episode 14 pt. 1:Protect

Ji Pyeong's worst nightmare came: Dal-Mi met Do San when she needed him the most."Why did you not call me?" he wanted to ask her; however, seeing how exhausted and weak she looked, nothing— of that— mattered that time.

"So, all have been sorted out already— I'm glad!" he said instead.

"Yeah..." she weakly replied.

Aside from the exhaustion and tiredness, Dal Mi felt the whole night; Ji Pyeong could also see that Dal Mi was suffering more inside.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I've been asked that more than a hundred times today..." she said, dodging to answer his question.

Ji Pyeong knew she was not okay: that she needed to let it out from her chest.

"So, are you okay?" he repeated.

"Yeah! ...But I feel so ashamed!" she said, and her tears began to build in her eyes.

"Why? ...even, the Pentagon gets attacked! —It was just bad luck," he said, and he hoped that might help her feel better.

"No!... That excuse won't work... I felt ashamed of myself; I should have backup everything...before the 'demonstration' this kind of problem occurred, and I don't know what to do!" she paused and fixed her blouse."I cannot be more pathetic!" she finished as she laid her back on the chair.

Ji Pyeong could tell the real reason; why Dal Mi felt that way, and it wasn't because of the ransomware attack; it was because she met Do-San at her worst.

She couldn't stop her tears from falling anymore, "This is humiliating!—Just why does he have to be on vacation... now—of all time?" she said.

Ji Pyeong handed her a tissue; he couldn't see Dal-Mi that way— it also hurt him. —And if he could only take away the pain in her heart, he would have done it for her.

Ji Pyeong saw Dal Mi's employees were about to enter, and he couldn't let them see her that way. Ji Pyeong immediately hid Dal-Mi under her desk and hushed her; even though she was confused by what was happening, she still obeyed him —without asking any questions. Then Dal-Mi heard her employees—they were looking for her. Everything he did make sense. Her employees went out again after they saw that she was not in their office. Ji Pyeong carefully assisted Dal Mi out under the table. She sat on her chair while he closed the window blinds for her. Ji Pyeong felt Dal-Mi needed time to be alone and 'somehow' rest.

On his way out, "You stay here until you calm down. Lock the door too!" Ji Pyeong said, and he closed the lights. "Mr. Han, thank you for everything...as always," Dal Mi said before Ji Pyeong left the room. Ji Pyeong smiled at her and closed the door.

**************

Ji Pyeong was waiting for the elevator to open when he felt a box in his pocket. He smiled at himself as he realized that he had forgotten to give it to her again, "I can give it to her next time, but not today!" he said in his mind. 

The elevator door opened, and Do-San appeared. "What is he doing here? He can not see Dal Mi in that situation," he said in his mind. He pushed him back into the elevator, "Let's talk!" he said authoritatively.

Do-San removed Ji Pyeong's hand from his chest, "I don't have anything to talk to you about!" Do-San said.

"Aren't you here to see Dal Mi?"Ji Pyeong accused, "If you are, find another time, not today!" he continued.

"Do I need your permission to see Dal Mi, Director Han?"Do-San asked, trying to intimidate Ji Pyeong.

But he wasn't intimidated by him, "Yes!" Ji Pyeong said— short and confident.

The elevator opened when they reached the lobby. He held on the elevator door open for Do-San, but Do-San didn't want to go out —just yet—not until everything was clear.

"What gives you the right?"Do-San asked again, but that time he wasn't sure if he was ready to hear his answer.

"I am pretty sure I have the right!" Ji Pyeong confidently said. Do-San couldn't believe what he was hearing from him, "Don't tell me..." he wanted to confirm more, but Ji Pyeong already cut him, "Yes, you're right!" he said. 

Ji Pyeong saw how scared Do-San was; to hear him say more. But he needed to keep him away from her—at least, at that time. 

"Three years is a long time for relationships to change!" he said,  leaving Nam Do-San thinking. He gestured for him to leave the elevator. Do-San obeyed him and stepped out of the elevator, feeling defeated.

Ji Pyeong didn't feel good about lying to Do-San, but Dal Mi always came first— for him. And her tears earlier— when she talked about Do-San— were a clear indication; she didn't want him to see her in that situation. And Ji-Pyeong felt responsible for making it happen.