"Doctor Ash, there's someone waiting outside for you, they don't have an appointment, but since you're free for an hour, that person wants to meet you.." the nurse said sticking her head inside Ash's office
"hm? you told them that I'm free for an hour?" Ash asked, narrowing her eyes
"yes..should I let them in or should I just tell that you're busy?" the nurse asked
Ash thought for a moment and then nodded, "I'll meet them, send them in.." she said, standing up and walking towards the door to receive the mysterious visitor. Just as she reached the door Haneuls grandmother entered
"oh!" Ash quickly bowed, "ma'am..hello..when did you get here?" Ash asked pulling a chair for her, but instead of sitting she held Ash's face in her hands and kissed her cheek,
"I've come to meet you.." she said ever so softly
"..you could've told me to come over, you made all this effort..would you like something to drink? Tea?" Ash asked
"nothing, sit down, I want to talk to you..last time, I never really got a chance to talk to you properly and I've been feeling like we've pushed you both into doing this..which is wrong of us, but you know.." she said, taking Ash's hand in hers, "Haneul..lost his parents very early..and being the eldest one, he thought it was his responsibility to take care of his younger sister..just recently..we were reunited with Haneuls little brother who was supposedly..dead as well..it is a long story, I'll tell it to you some other day. What I came here to say today is that, Haneul has always been a hard working child, he studied well in school, graduated with multiple distinctions..he worked hard under his previous employers, bore with the way they treated him, he wanted to make me proud. He was always very serious but there was a phase in which I noticed that he smiled and laughed a lot, he was happy all the time, that was after his accident, after he met you. I liked seeing him happy and then suddenly everything changed, he put a wall around his heart, he couldn't face Yuna, because he couldn't bear to look at his sister like this, he stopped coming to meet me, he left the house and uptill now we have no idea where he lives..but, you know what's funny? He started visiting me almost a month back, he comes over whenever he can, takes Yuna out for a drive, practices karate with his brother..he's opening his heart again and I think, and I may be wrong, that it's all thanks to you..I'm just realizing that.." she looked up at Ash who had her head down and had been listening carefully since the beginning
"I appreciate how you think so highly of me but I'm sure it isn't because of me at all..since the day I set my foot in his office, both of us have been fighting..he acts as if he has completely forgotten our old friendship, he's a true boss and I'm the rebellious secretary, if there's something he hates more than dishonesty, that might be me..I told him I have a bigger purpose for working in his office, and that purpose is only to mend the bond which I unintentionally broke..but that seems impossible now because I don't think I'll be able to show my face to him now.." Ash said covering her face
"why is that?" grandma asked
"...I became a little too emotional and said some things that made me sound like a jealous girlfriend even though I was just stating facts.." Ash said, nervously rubbing her hands together
"was it something related to Tania?" she asked, which caused Ash's eyes to bulge out, with her mouth wide open,
"how do you know ma'am?" she asked
"I personally don't like that girl either, she's too sure of herself.." grandma replied with a disgusted face, "and you must call me Grandma or granny from now on! no more caling me ma'am..you're going to be my granddaughter in law.." she continued, caressing her cheek
Ash nodded shyly.
"..aren't you supposed to be in Busan today? what are you doing here?" she asked Ash
"I uh..about last night.." Ash gestured vaguely
"Doctor Ash! your patient is here.." the nurse said
"hm? right, send them in!" Ash replied, getting up
"I must go then.." grandma said
"no, please stay, I'll drop you off.." Ash replied
"haha..the car is waiting downstairs, your patient will get mad if I stay longer..don't worry too much and take care.." she said kissing Ash on the cheek again
"I'll see you off.." Ash said following her out
"Thank you, go back inside, your patient is waiting! see you!" grandma said rolling down the window of her car, Ash bowed and waved her goodbye.
"doctor Ash? the patient is inside.." the nurse told, and Ash nodded as she entered her office
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting..I had to-" Ash stopped, she considered running out of the office but she was too late because Haneul had already seen her
"Hi Doc!" he exclaimed raising one hand in the air
"h-hi! what a-re you doing here?" she asked nervously
"I'm..here for a check up.." he replied, "you seem a little weird, are you okay?" he asked
She took small nervous steps to her seat, "y-yes..uh..how may I help you?" she asked, avoiding eye contact
"actually, I'm here to pick you up because we're going to Busan and secondly.." Haneul bit his lip
"Busan? I don't want to go..Haneul sir.." Ash said softly
"that's not for you to decide, grandma has given her order and I am no one to say no..but that's not the main thing.." he replied
"then what is?" Ash asked, "then what is the main thing Haneul sir?" she asked a little softly this time
"I..um might have accidently, well not accidently, told Tania that we're engaged.." he said in a very low voice
".." Ash was quiet, Haneul looked at her, "aren't you going to shout and hit me or something?" he asked
"everybody was going to know eventually..I just regret not being able to see her expressions when you told her.." Ash replied
"hm? what's wrong doc? you're really acting weird today.." Haneul said, looking at her face
"I..am sre she was shocked..after everything she did to me..she still lost, I feel wonderful.." Ash said, raising her head and looking into Haneuls eyes
"everything she did to you? you should've seen her expressions then! they were priceless!" Haneul said trying to lighten up the mood
".it's a pity I couldn't see it..anyways..lets go then..to Busan and officially announce our engagement.." Ash said getting up
"I'm not really ready yet.." Haneul said, "I don't want to make a mistake of falling in love again." he continued
Ash gulped and nodded slowly, "neither am I. I won't make the same mistake of giving my heart to someone again. Just consider it as a business project.." she said with clenched fists..
"you're a horrible person Haneul.." Haneul thought to himself.
