False Impressions I Book 1: Lee Heeseung

Chapter 3: Purple and Ivory

"Y-Youre here."

"If you're not time conscious, I am."

Aerin was appalled by the sudden change of atmosphere. The arrogance is loud. What happened minutes ago was all for the show. That smile was even fake. She secretly applaud herself from thinking it that way beforehand.

"I'm sorry. I took the stairs. But anyway, let's start. Hi, I'm Choi Aerin from Starlight Magazine. I am so honored to have this interview with you, Lee Heeseung-ssi."

Aerin heard a soft chortle. She didn't like the sound of it. It felt rude to her ears. She met Lee Heeseung's deep, serious stare.

"I dislike slow pokes as much as I despise being interviewed." he continued with a more displeased voice. 

Aerin was flabbergasted by the unexpected, harsh remark. What made Lee Heeseung unanticipatedly raging is a puzzle for her.

"Look, it's not easy climbing the stairs to get here in less than a minute. And I refuse to accept your rude statement. I am not a slow poke. I came here on time but the security prevented me to go up to make a way for you guys to settle firsthand."

"I'm not interested with any explanation. And you wasted five minutes of your alloted time already. You have five minutes left."

"Wait, what?! I got only ten minutes for this session?! Are you kidding me?!

"Barely four minutes left now."

That cold, straight face is enough to accept the fact that Lee Heeseung will not entertain any question coming from her and Aerin loathe him more for that. 

"You are unbelievable." she hushed in disbelief.

Heeseung laughed. Revealing those straight teeth once again sabotaged her solid stance. Aerin gulped hard and slow, the kind of manner that her thoart obviously ebbed and flowed. Lee Heeseung chuckled even more.

"Time's up! You're a time waster, Ms. Choi. Nonetheless, I hope to read a good write up."

The sarcasm is so strong she almost falter. Did he just cut her off? Aerin wanted to shout in annoyance, straight to his cunning face, but controlled the rising temper. 

"You don't know the power my fingers hold, Mr. Lee." she warned.

"Let me guess. Are they fast enough to take me down? For an unfamiliar company which I never heard of, I don't think so."

Aerin felt her heart breaks into a million pieces. She's getting a deja vu. Why does it always happen everytime she's set to meet an idol? Did she jinxed herself for making unnecessary remarks against Lee Heeseung? Or maybe she's cursed for judging him even before she met him? Whatever it is, she's convinced being an entertainment writer is not her calling.  It's time to pack her bag and leave.

Aerin stood up, finally accepted her defeat. She can't win over a narcissist, never will. She quickly took her questions out and puts it on the table. She fighted back Lee Heeseung's fix and intent stare while holding her head high. She will not crimp over a heartless idol.

"I understand you're stance about this whole process. You don't want an interview, I get it. But can you please answer this questions I've prepared for you? I wrote down my email address, you can just send it to me. I need to pass my article before the deadline."

"We're flying to Japan in four hours. What makes you think I have time for that? No one's giving me assignments except Hybe."

She was born with a thick skin and a solid heart but the rejection hit her hard like a boulder rock. Aerin felt small and frail. The first rejection years ago made her stronger but that new one, took away the little confidence she'd ever had on herself. It's awful as she felt her tear is about to break lose.

"Have a nice day, Mr. Lee."

Having her said that, Aerin stormed out of the vicinity as quickly as possible. She promised herself to never set her foot on that place ever again, let alone cross paths with the selfish prick, Lee Heeseung. 

____________________________________

"Yes, Hee?"

It took a while for him to answer, he don't know how to start. Heeseung was glued to his seat and is moving impermanently. It was days already but the conversation he had with the female journalist had him surprisingly rocky. He somewhat felt guilty acting so cocky.

"We're going in minutes. Can you do something for me?"

"Everytime. What is it?"

Heeseung saw Jungwon gather the members as the boarding gate opens. Heeseung sighed before speaking again.

"Can you keep an eye on Choi Aerin? She's a journalist of Starlight Magazine, the one who had an interview with me in the company's office a week ago. I need you to stay close and prevent her from doing something unnecessary."

"Unnecessary? That interview didn't go well, is that right?"

Heeseung took his cap off and shoved his hair with bare hand to release the tension he suddenly felt. 

"I wasn't planning to. But some things arise and messed up the moment. It wasn't intentional."

"Alright, Hee. As you say it."

Heeseung sensed a sudden relief. "Thanks, Yuki. And one more thing--"

"Hyung! Let's go!" Ni-ki's calling made him jumped out of his seat.

"I placed a sheet of paper on the company's drawer in room 204. The moment you see Ms. Choi, give it to her immediately. Make sure she meets her deadline."

"Hyung! Move it!" Jungwon's voice sounds like a cat's whine but it's a lion's growl to his ears. 

"And Yuki, please tell her I'm---"

"Geez, how many calls are you trying to make before we fly? Move that lazy feet now." Jay suddenly grabs the phone out of Heeseung's hand and immediately pressed the end button.

"What's the problem, man? You seem a little zoned out lately?" Jake asked as they walk through the air bridge.

"He's meeting the headline." Sunghoon cuts in fast, chuckling.

"I heard deadline not headline." Sunoo scoffed, eyes rolled back on his head.

"Who's hitting the headline. Are you, Hyung?" Jungwon was puzzled, eyebrows bumping in confusion.

"Oopsie. I smell trouble." Ni-ki laughed.

Heeseung groans exasperatedly. The thing Aerin had said bothers him constantly, he couldn't concentrate on that last concert stop. He'd never met someone so firm and steady and literally hitting his ego, hence the rejection.

How can she not move an eye while battling with his words? And how can she decline such a nice invite with his most genuine smile? Her being so mysteriously arrogant is rocking his mental soundness . What a pity, Choi Aerin possessed the most beautiful eyes he'd ever seen yet the attitude is dreadful it could ruin a life.

Heeseung took his seat and was thankful for being alone. A stranger man beside him doesn't even care who he is and just proceed of giving him a nod. He took his headphones out and placed it carefully on his ears, an obvious notion that he don't want to get distubed. 

Heeseung closed his eyes as he listened to The Weeknd superb tracks, by then, just randomly, his mind took him back days before he took that latest flight.

It's that one question on the paper that his brain made a complete turnaround and realized he went out of his head, regardless the cold treatment he got from an obscure journalist.

Question: What is a random thing that made you smile today?

Just as he was in disbelief answering the queries, what he wrote on the last question surprised him even more.

Answer: A purple eyeshadow on a bright, big eyes that sparkles like ivory.