Ash followed Haneul out of the hospital, "Haneul sir? I don't have any clothes to take with me, can we stop at my place first?" she asked
but Haneul didn't reply because he didn't hear her, as he was too busy with his phone.
Ash walked to him and cleared her throat which caught his attention, "what?" he asked
"can we stop by at my place? I need to pack my clothes..and other things.." she repeated
"yeah okay.." he said stopping in front of the car and unlocking it, "I have to make a phone call, you should get in.." he said, pointing towards the car
Ash nodded and got in. She took her phone out and started playing a game on it. Haneul got in after 10 minutes or so, "sorry to keep you waiting, I was on phone with Tania, she'll come to your place and she'll be going to Busan with us.." he told as he started the car
Ash nodded, not saying anything, which caused Haneul to look at her in confusion but he didn't say anything either.
~
"you can come in if you want.." Ash said as she got off the car, in front of her apartment building
"hm? no it's alright, I'll wait here, Tania is supposed to come so I should stay here.." he replied
"okay.." Ash simply replied and walked inside the building, leaving her phone in the car
Haneul saw her walk away and took a deep breath, "what is this weird feeling?" he asked himself, rubbing his arms.
Ash came back wearing a denim shorts overall with a white shirt and black sneakers. She was wearing glasses and had her hair tied in a ponytail. She was holding a brown leather backpack.
She got inside, putting the bag near her feet
"that was quick.." Haneul stated,
"since you don't like waiting." Ash replied, "Tania ma'am isn't here yet?" she asked
"no, not yet.." Haneul replied as he checked the time on his watch, "it's nice seeing you wear something other than jeans and collared shirts..you look cute.." he said looking out the window
Ash looked towards him and smiled a little, "t-thank you.." she stuttered, looking away with embarrassment.
"there she is! Tania is here.." Haneul said, getting out of the car, Ash too got out, not liking the way he announced her arrival.
"I'm sorry I'm late SH, I had to take care of a few things at the office.." Tania said,
"it's alright, we didn't wait long.." Haneul replied, Ash let out a small huff, "20 minutes isn't long, obviously.." she whispered
"Ash! you look really..different." Tania said, examining her from head to toe
"thank you?" Ash said
"it doesn't really suit you.." Tania replied, which shocked Ash and Haneul, but neither of them said anything
"shall we get going?" she asked Haneul, who nodded and got in.
Just as Ash was about to open the door to sit in the front Tania opened it and got inside, "thank you for opening the door for me Ash..it wasn't necessary.." she said.
Ash took a deep breath and shook her head and got in the back.
Haneul looked at her through the rearview mirror and saw her eyes glisten in the light. He felt his chest tighten on seeing tears in her eyes.
"can you please..hand me my bag and phone..?" Ash asked in a shaky voice
"right!" Haneul handed her the bag and her phone, "while you were away, someone named Mark was calling you.." he told
"Mark? Mark was calling me?" Ash asked in excitement and awe
Haneul frowned, "yea..I just saw the name flashing on the screen." he replied and started driving, he saw Ash smile through the rearview mirror and that annoyed him.
"Mark!" Ash said in the phone, Haneul looked at her again, he saw she was on the phone now, she probably called him.
"where did you get my number from?" she asked excitedly, "you met my mom? why?" she asked
"oh my god! you're a grown man! yessss! I'm just going there, I'm on my way..where are you staying? alright..we'll meet there then! see you tonight! there's so much we need to talk about! alright bye!" she put her phone away and looked out the window with a big smile plastered over her face.
"Ash..don't you have any manners?" Tania said from the front
"hm?" Ash asked as her smile disappeared
"it's wrong to make a phone call while sitting with other people!" Tania said in an annoyed tone
"I.." Ash lowered her head, "I'm sorry..I got too excited.." she whispered
"huh! it's not about being too excited..you lack morals and ethics anyways..which everybody saw at the party..how you to-"
"That's enough Tania!" Haneul said in a grave and calm tone, he parked the car on the side of the road and turned to look at Tania, "you've crossed a line now..no, wait, you've come too far from the line that now you can't even see where it is anymore! I was waiting for the right moment to tell this to you and I think now is the right moment..That night at the party..what happened to Ash, I told you not to bring that up again..and if you clearly remember I told you that I'll make sure the culprit faces the consequences..and after doing a thorough investigation and attaining enough proofs..I now know who the culprit is and it is you..You tore her dress Tania..you changed the menu using her computer, you did not inform her of the change in time, you..you ridiculed her in front of so many people.." Haneul lowered his head and took a deep breath, "I cannot have someone-"
"AAHHH!" Ash let out a horrifying cry, interrupting Haneul, he turned to look at her
"what's wrong?" he asked, shocked
"I have a very bad stomach ache! Aaaah..it hurts a lot.." Ash cried, clenching her stomach
Haneul unfastened his seatbelt and moved towards Ash, "where does it hurt? what kind of a pain is it? should I take you to the doctor?" he asked, worried
"I think..I'll be alright if I walk in fresh air a bit..can you please help me out.." she asked, still clenching her stomach
"oh..okay!" he said, quickly getting out of the car and helping her get out as well
"sh-should I come as well?" Tania asked, she was shocked too
"no you wait in the car.." Haneul said
"Ash..if it's something serious, let's take you to the hospital.." he said putting her arm around his neck
As they walked a little away from the car Ash straightened up and hit his arm, "YAH!" she said
"what the- you're okay?" he asked
"I'm alright! but you're out of your mind! how can you fire Tania?!" she asked
"what?" Haneul narrowed his eyes and then it hit him, "I'll show you how..come on.." he said grabbing her hand
"no! you cannot fire her! she..she made a mistake, she has already apologized for it! I've forgiven her! she did that all out of jealousy..she really likes you and seeing me with you all the time really just triggered her jealousy..she..really worked hard for this company and as you said this company is what it is because of her efforts too..you cannot just fire her because of me..for someone who just started working here..for someone who has done nothing for this company, I'm the person who you can fire or hire and it won't really affect the company..please don't fire her..just tell her it was wrong but don't say anything else..please.." Ash held his pinky finger
He looked at their hands, "you're still the same Ash..you forgive people too easily. Hiring and firing you won't affect the company, agreed. But it will affect me.." Haneul whispered
"..why is that?" Ash asked
"because..I get annoyed when you're in the office and I can't work when you aren't there..it's like I want you to be there in the office and still not want you to be there..it's..confusing.." Haneul replied as he freed his hand and turned around
"..anyways, don't fire Tania ma'am..please.." Ash said as she walked past him
"you..don't really have a stomach ache, right?" he asked from behind but Ash didn't reply and got in the car
~
"i-is everything alright?" Tania asked looking at Ash
Ash nodded with a smile and Haneul cleared his throat, "yes, everything is fine..seemed like she had.." he looked at Ash through the rear view mirror and smirked a little, Ash's eyes widened when she realized what he was about to say, she shook her head warning him to stay quiet but Haneul wasn't the one to listen,
"she just had gas..which she wanted to get rid of.." he winked
Ash sank in the seat on hearing those words,
"really?" Tania asked laughing and turning to look at Ash
As if Haneul wasn't satisfied he continued, "yes, a lot of gas..it's a good thing we got out of the car..otherwise..you know.." he tried controlling his laughter
"what did you eat for breakfast?" Tania asked laughing
"..nothing. I didn't have time for breakfast and..anyways, releasing gas is a natural phenomena, actually if you don't or cannot release gas, you should see the doctor, it's really important to get rid of the gas building up in your body.." Ash said straightening up in her seat
Haneul smiled proudly, "..anyways, I was talking about metaphoric gas.." he said as he refocused towards the road.
"..SH you were saying something before.." Tania asked a little scared
"oh.." he looked at the rearview and his eyes met Ash's, "right..I just wanted to say that I hope next time nothing like this happens and you being the senior employee should take care of your juniors..I hope..you take care of Ash and all the other juniors well from now on.." Haneul turned the music on and focused on driving
Tania turned around and looked at Ash, "I..had my window rolled down..I heard you talk to SH, I..am really thankful..and really really sorry..I hope we can sort out our differences on this trip.." she whispered
Ash's eyes widened and then a smile took over her face as she nodded excitedly, "I would love to do that!" she replied
Even though it seemed like Haneul didn't hear anything, he actually heard the whole thing and he was smiling the whole way, proud of Ash.
~
"goodwork today, doc!" Haneul said as they got off the car
Ash smiled, "thank you for helping me..Haneul sir.." she bowed
Haneul nodded and patted her head, "anytime..miss Ash.." his smile disappearing suddenly
Ash nodded and went on with Tania to meet the rest of the staff
Haneul watched them from behind and took a deep breath, "look at them go..they've grown up.." he whispered
"you sound like an old grandfather sir!" Jung said from behind which shocked Haneul
"Jung-ah!" he put his arm around his shoulder, "I am the grandfather of this company..the people working here are my family..today is an important day..so much happened which needs to be celebrated..let's go enjoy with the rest!" he cheered as they walked to the rest of them.
