"Mark will you take your own car to the airport or would you like to take a ride with me?" Mr.James asked, fixing his tie.
"Oh I'd like to ride with you. I didn't bring my car to the office today..I was too excited to drive myself haha" he let out a nervous laugh
"Hey Mark? It's going to be a long flight.. you need to relax. You're finally going to prove your worth to your father in about 15 hours or so.." Mr.James, a tall man in his late forties, patted Mark.
Mark, who was too nervous to reply just nodded his head.
***
"Make sure everything is ready! This is a very important deal and the CEO has worked really hard for it. Please, don't let anything go wrong." Mr.Kim told the head secretary.
"Oh! Is the CEO in his office?" He asked the staff member passing by who gave an unsure nod.
There were people running all around the company, here and there. Everyone was nervous.
"Is the CEO in his room?" Mr.Kim asked the secretary sitting outside the CEOs office.
"No, he just left a few minutes ago.." the secretary replied
"Where did he go?" Mr.kim asked
"He went home..he wasn't feeling well. He said he'd be stopping at the hospital on the way home.."
"Why? Was his wound irritating him?" Mr.kim looked concerned now.
"He didn't really say anything. He looked okay to me and he took his own car..he actually looked a little..excited.." the secretary said as he continued to type on the computer.
"Try calling him.." Mr.kim said
"He isn't picking up. The director came looking for him just a few minutes before you and asked me to call him. He switched his phone off.." the secretary replied
"Wow..and I thought maybe he got his senses back after the accident.. wishful thinking..fine, try calling him and if he picks up tell him to come back as soon as possible" Mr.kim left.
"Excuse me? I'm looking for Dr.Ash?" Haneul said leaning towards the receptionist's computer, trying to sneak a peek at the schedule hoping to find Ash's name.
"Ahem..sir, Dr.Ash just left the hospital." The nurse said turning the screen of the computer away from Haneul
"Oh alright you can give me her address then!" Haneul said casually
"Sir", the nurse said sternly,"that's against our privacy policy" she continued to write something on the register in front of her.
"But, look, I'm her friend!" Haneul tried to argue
She rolled her eyes at Haneul and then shook her head
"You don't believe me!" Haneul huffed
"Sir, how am I to believe you when you don't even know her address?" The nurse asked, folding her arms in front of her chest.
"I met her for the first time four weeks ago in 3 years..I need to know her address. Please" Haneul said, taking his mobile phone out
"I don't know..you don't look like a stalker to me..I'll call dr.Ash and ask her if she knows a..?" The nurse raised her eyebrows
"Haneul..a Seung Haneul" Haneul grinned but it took a good one minute for the nurse to look away.
"Is there something on my face?" Haneul asked rubbing his face
"Um..no..no..uh she isn't picking up the phone. I'll give you her address anyways.." she said, her hands were shaking.
"Hey hey are you alright? What's wrong?" Haneul asked worried
"No-nothing! Here!" She said thrusting a piece of paper
"Owkay..good day to you! Or night haha! " Haneul joked as he left. Still a little concerned about the nurse.
"Let's see where she lives.. Gangnam - what? She lives right in front of me?!" Haneul said surprised.."what a coincidence.." Haneul whispered as he walked to his car.
*Ting*
Ash stepped out of the elevator and lazily walked to her apartment. She opened the door, kicked her shoes off, threw her bag away and fell on the couch. It was 9pm.
...
*Ting tong* *Ting tong*
Ash slowly opened her eyes, and looked around. It took her a few minutes to realize that there was someone at the door. She wiped the drool off her face and walked to the door.
"Who is it?" Ash asked, scratching her neck
"It's I.." the visitor said
"Oh hi I! How may I help you?" Ash asked,sarcasm.
"I live right Infront of you.." he replied
"Oh..okay, good to know. Goodnight. If you brought a pie or something, you can leave it Infront of the door I'll pick it up later!" Ash said as she turned around
"Ash..open the door please, I don't feel really well.." the guy said
Ash stopped when she heard her name how the hell does he know my name?!
Ash quickly opened the door and saw Haneul with a box with a cute blue ribbon on it.
"Haneul?" Ash asked, still eyeing the box.
"Yes! Hi neighbour! I brought cookies." Haneul grinned.
"You're my filthy rich neighbour?" Ash asked giving him way to enter her apartment.
"Filthy rich? Oh come on! I'm not that rich! But hey you have a pretty nice place!" Haneul said looking around.
"What do you do? I thought you'd be..I don't know working somewhere in..I don't know I just never imagined you to be rich! How do you feel by the way? you left without getting your complete treatment" Ash said
"My wound hurts a little but it doesn't really distract me and..I never knew your first impression of me was a poor kid who didn't even finish his highschool and would probably be living on a street using a newspaper as a blanket.." Haneul joked
"No! No it's not like that! But nevermind..have a seat!" Ash said gesturing towards the couch she was sleeping on. There was drool on the couch and Haneul definitely saw it because he was laughing now.
"Ash you left your drool on the couch!" Haneul laughed
Ash, who was now very embarrassed tried laughing with him but she could feel her cheeks heating up.
"Sit somewhere else.. I'll clean this" Ash said embarrassed but Haneul waved his hand at her and took his handkerchief out and wiped the drool off the couch and sat down.
"I'll wash your handkerchief for you!" Ash said extending her hand to take his handkerchief
"No it's alright. You should splash some cold water on your face, you're red as a tomato!" Haneul said, trying to control his laughter. Ash rolled her eyes at him and sat on the chair opposite to Haneul
"So how may I help?" Ash asked
"Yea yea keep rolling those eyes maybe one day you'll find a brain back there! " Haneul joked
"Ha ha ha." Ash gave a sarcastic laugh and raised her eyebrow
"Okay okay, no need to show me that dry humour of yours. I just came here to give cookies to my new neighbour. I've waited 2 years for a neighbour. Just so you know, this used to be a part of my house but I realized I don't need such a big space so I gave away half of it.." Haneul said
"Oh wow! So kind of you.." Ash said in a sarcastic tone again
Haneul ignored her sarcasm and continued, "the director bought this place for me..I don't even know why he takes so much care of me..first he let me stay at his place and now he cho-"
"Aha! I knew it! So the director got you this place huh? Why is the director so nice to you? To a mere.. employee who dresses like.." Ash looked at him from head to toe then continued,"like a model. Do you clean the bathrooms or something better like fix their computers?" Ash asked
"Ouch." Haneul said as he dramatically put his hand on his chest
Ash rolled her eyes at him again.
"I fix bugs. Anyone can fix computers but only really awesome people fix bugs and I do that" Haneul said
"So you're like a ...ahh maybe the director has a soft corner for you..he's a nice person" Ash waved her hand and got up
"He is a very nice person. Nice seems like an understatement. He helped my sister and I a lot and I owe him my life.." Haneul said, his gaze following Ash to the kitchen, as she opened the fridge and grinned
"Do you want juice or coke?" Ash asked him
"I'll take water..why are you smiling so wide?" Haneul asked
"Because this is the second time I came home and the first time there's something in the fridge. Seems like my grandparents paid a visit" Ash replied as she gave Haneul a glass of tap water.
"Your grandparents doing good? They'd be happy to know I'm your neighbour" Haneul winked as he took a sip
"Honestly Haneul I'd be happy if you leave my place right now because I am really tired and I would like to sleep" Ash said
"One question.." Haneul said raising his index finger
"Ugh what?" Ash asked, annoyed
"Two, actually. No three! Three?" Haneul held three fingers and Ash realized he won't leave until she answers his questions so she gestured him to shoot
"Okay first, why did you let me in?"
".. because..I don't know, because I knew your broken ribs are still healing and I could just kick you and..I don't know.." Ash shrugged
Haneul smiled, "okay, second question, how did you recognize me after 3 years?"
"I don't know..how did you recognize me after 3 years?" Ash asked
"Ash..I want an answer.." Haneul said
"I don't know your eyes maybe? I mean you have pretty eyes. Gleaming deep blue eyes..maybe? I'm not sure" Ash replied
"I really feel bad now, I wear contacts Ash..The only thing you remember about is my fake eye colour..hahaha.." Haneul laughed
Ash's jaw dropped, "WHAT THE HUNK! NO WAY!!! That..you..WHYYYY?!"
"Because I have a weak eyesight?" Haneul laughed again
"noooo...That's the only thing I liked about you! your eye colour! which isn't even real! You're lying, right? please say you're lying!" Ash begged
"I;m not lying Ash, I really am wearing contacts! I..I promise!" Haneul said
"oh no..so what is your real eye colour? Hazel like your sister's?!" Ash's face lit up again
"no, brown, dark brown, just like yours!" Haneul said pointing at her eyes
Ash sighed and looked away
"that's not rare or..amusing, that's boring.." she sighed again
"Ah come on! don't be so mean.." Haneul whispered
"alright, what's your third question? Mr.Not Blue eyes!" Ash said grumpily
"..can you please let me eat those cookies too?" Haneul gave his best smile
Ash looked at him, unbelievably
"what is wrong with you..Why don't you just take that box back home!? There's no way I'm sharing my cookies!" Ash rushed to the box and Haneul followed
Ash grabbed the box and Haneul kept trying to snatch it from her, "Just one cookie Ash! I haven't eaten anything since morning!"
"you really look like an experienced beggar wearing expensive clothes!" Ash stuck her tongue out at him, as she hid the box behind her back
Haneul tried reaching it and his cheek touched Ash's ear. Ash froze. Her body became stiff and she quickly gave him the box and stepped aside
"..what's wrong?" Haneul asked
"..uh..nothing" Ash said stiffly
Haneul laughed it off, "I win! I heard their double chocolate cookies are the best..oh! there's only one in there?" Haneul said as he examined all the cookies, "oh so all these are different..Ash..?" Haneul turned to0 look at Ash who was still standing stiffly, playing with the sleeve of her sweater.
"Ash?" Haneul called her again, "hm?" she flinched
"what were you thinking about? come here, look, I heard this cookie is the bestest cookie and they're the only one's who make it, so I'll let you have it!" Haneul stated
Ash narrowed her right eye and looked at Haneul, shaking her head sideways, "Oh thank you so very much for being so generous. Oh you are so kind.." Ash rolled her eyes at him
"I know right?" Haneul replied with a conceited smile
"actually, I'll be honest with you, not that I'm being compelled to lie, but, someone sent these cookies to me as a present and I also didn't have anything to give to my neighbour so I thought we'd share. I didn't feel right just giving them away without tasting..someone sent them to me with so much love, I cannot just..ignore that now, can I?" Haneul explained
Ash shook her head, "ofcourse you cannot..but, Why would someone make such an effort as to send cookies to you, or anything for that matter..?" Ash joked
"yea yea, this beggar doesn't deserve anything..I'm sorry miss, you can enjoy your night..oh and I'll take this because I don't think you deserve to eat it now!" Haneul said taking the cookie Ash was holding. He put it in his mouth before Ash could protest
"okay bye! goodnight neighbour!" Haneul waved as he walked out
"..he ate my cookie!" Ash muttered
