MY R.O.D

CHAPTER 18 - WITH HIM

It's already been two weeks since we arrived here in France. T.O.P called me and Jiyong for an important announcement.

"Mr. Park called yesterday to ask how's the situation, so I told him the truth, which is still negative." He paused. "I know he told you that you'll only stay here for two weeks, but because of the situation, we've decided to make you stay here longer."

WHAT?!

"How long?" I asked.

"Still not sure about that. Maybe a month or two." He answered.

"Jinjja?!" He nodded.

"Ahhh.." I responded.

"Will that be fine to the both of you? Geokjeongma, we'll pay for your expenses." He assured us.

"It's fine to me hyung."

"Nado." I answered.

"Alright. Well, enjoy your stay and... sorry for the inconvenience, if there are any."

I exited the room after Jiyong.

"Chaerin-ah!"

I turned around and saw Minho. "Oh! Oppa! Wae?"

"Uhhmm... wanna grab lunch together?"

"Sure!! Where?"

He shrugged. "Dunno. Same as always?"

I smiled at him. "Geurae. I kinda missed that place."

"Alright! Gaja!" He held my hand which got me a little shock by his action. He must've too because he quickly removed his hand from mine. "Mian."

"Ani. It's okay."  I assured him.

We arrived at the diner we always go to before. He opened the door for me and I gladly stepped in, him following behind.

We sat at an empty table. "Wah~ I miss this place." I said as I observe the surroundings. "A lot has changed now."

"Kinda. Only the structure changed but the employees and the foods are still the same way we love it." He corrected me.

"Oh~ daebak!"

Then a French ahjumma approached us. "Hello there, Minho! Nice to see you again. It's been a while since the last time I saw you here."

"Hello, Jane! Sorry. Just been busy these days." He smiled.

"Ahh... and who's this you bring here? New girlfriend? Looks like you already moved on from her, huh?"

Her?

"Uhhhh..."

I looked up and my eyes met with her.

"Oh!!! Chaerin!!! Is that you?!"

I giggled and nodded. "Hi, Jane."

"Oh my gosh!! I didn't recognize you, sorry."

"That's fine."

"You're back now?"

"I'm afraid not. I'll just be here for work."

"That's a bummer. I thought you're here for good." I just smiled.

She eyed the two of us. "You two got back together now?"

The two of us diverted our eyes somewhere else because of the awkward situation.

"..."

"We're not. We're just catching up with each other until she's here."

She nodded. "Ahhh... Well, I hope you two do. You both look really good together."

Jane.. can you already stop this?

When she already felt the awkwardness between Minho and I, the changed the subject. "Ehem. So what do you want? My treat."

"No no no. You don't have to." Minho interjected.

"Nah.. don't worry about it. It's my treat for seeing the two of you here again. I kinda missed you. This place kinda become sad when you stopped coming here."

"Sorry." We both said.

"That's fine. At least I finally saw you again."

We came back to the office together. Being a natural gentleman, Minho walked me back to my office.

"Gomawoyo."

"It's nothing. Say, how 'bout we go to lunch together at Jane's starting tomorrow?"

I smiled. "Sounds good to me."

"Alright! See you later."

"Okay!"

I entered my office and saw Jiyong sitting there on his chair. "Had fun?"

"Huh?"

"Where have you been?"

"To lunch?" I said, more like I asked.

"With who?"

"Why do you care?"

"Just asking."

"Well don't."

He shut up and I went to my table.

"Looks like you and that Minho are very close, huh?"

"Why keep asking?"

"I just wanna know."

"Wae?!"

"I just do."

"Don't be. It doesn't matter to you anyway."

"Of course it does."

"Wae?!"

"Because I'm worried."

Huh?!

"What did you say?"

"I-I'm worried."

"Again, wae?!"

"Because we barely knew the other employees here. Who knows what will happen if we don't stick together."

"Gosh Jiyong! Since when do you care?"

"...."

"Well...?"

"..."

"Yah! Answer me!!"

"Since you and that Minho started hanging out!" He blurted out.

I sighed heavily.. "Minho's my friend, a close friend. There's no use of being worried because he's a very kind person." I explained.

"Still.... you told me that you just saw him again this past day since you left, right?"

"Yeah.."

"Then maybe, he already changed. People change, Chaerin especially when you didn't talk or see them for too long."

"Are we going to argue about this kind of topic again? Why are you always judging every person I hangout with?"

"No I didn't. I'm just reminding you to be careful."

"Whatever. Just focus on yourself not with who I'm with. I never say anything about your friends so don't be on mine."

"I'm just being a good friend, here."

"Technically... you're both not."

"Huh?"

"You're not being good and you're not my friend."

"Ouch!"