Ugly Duckling » k.nj

SIX

   I slipped my phone into my pocket and kept my grip on my briefcase. I walked past the secretary desk and Nakida-- who was sitting there silently-- jumped up.

   "Is something the matter?" I ask, raising one eyebrow.

She bows and says, "Good morning, Mr. Kim." I nod back and touch the door knob to my office. "Did you have a good sleep? What time did you go to bed last night?"

   "My sleep was fine, thank you."

   "Just asking, sir." She kept her head down but I could still see her hazel eyes searching the floor.

   "No need." I stepped into my office and closed the door behind myself. I pulled out my phone to glance at the text I read a million times last night.

Good Night

 I felt a little guilty for not responding then. The door opens and it hits me in the back. I stagger forward bus take the pain. "Please knock." I cleared my throat then rubbed the sore spot on my back.

   "Sorry," she bowed her head a little. "Mr. Jung wants to meet you, he's outside in the waiting area. I told him that--"

   "No. Don't let him in. Ever." I took my seat behind my desk.

   "He says it's important."

   "Tell him I said, he can go--"

Suddenly, another hand appeared on the door and a head peered through.

   "I'll take it from here, Ms." He looked to Nakida and smiled. She shyly smiles back and ducks out of the doorway.

   "I told you that I didn't want you anywhere near my place of business." I explained as I leaned back into my chair.

   "Well... I tried calling you and you didn't answer."

   "Just cut to the chase. What is it that you want?"

   "Dasom is in the hospital?"

   "What?" I raised my eyebrows. "Why?"

   "She had a small incident with her wrist. She's at the nearest hospital. You should go check on her."

   "If It's just her wrist, she'll be fine. No need for me to leave work. I have a ton of things I need to catch up on anyway."

   "Namjoon, Dasom is your fiancee. It would be courteous if you checked on her. Her wrist could be broken for all you know."

   "You said small incident. So from your context, Jung Hoseok, it sounds like she got nothing more than a sprained wrist. Even if her wrist were broken, that reckless girl would deserve it."

   "As expected..." He scoffed. "You don't love her. You don't care about anyone but yourself."

   "What goes on between me and my fiancee is none of your business! Now get out of my office!"

   "What happened to you, Kim Namjoon?" He furrowed his brows at me as if he were trying to solve me like a puzzle.

   "Life." I run my fingers through my hair and pull a folder full of papers out of my drawer. "Now when I look back up, I hope that you're not there."

I read the paper and spun the pen between my fingers.

The door clicks when it closes and I sit back to let out a small sigh.

I wait a while before I pack up my things and pick up my briefcase.

I walk out of my office and past Nakida at the secretary desk.

   "Mr. Kim!" She got up from her seat. I stopped and turned to her. "Mr. Kim..."

   "What?"

   "Where are you going?"

   "Don't worry about it. I'll be right back."

   "Sir, you have a meeting at ten o'clock."

   "That's an hour from now. I'll be back before then."

   "Just tell me where you're going in case someone asks... Sir."

   "Just tell them that I'm out and I'll be back shortly." She nodded in response. I walked to the nearest elevator and pressed the down button.

I looked back at Nakida who took her seat behind her desk. She looked up at me then quickly turned to her computer screen once she saw that I was looking back.

The elevator opens and I step on.