EUPHORIA ¦ PARK JIMIN

Chapter 2

May 1, 2010

'Jimin, our new employee is here. Should I direct her to your office?' His best friend, Min Yoongi said while walking abreast with him from the meeting room. Jimin immediately halted from his tracks and stopped unbuttoning his blazer. He turned to Yoongi and blinked.

'Her?'

Yoongi knew what exactly his reaction would be. He sighed and pondered for a few seconds-- forming the right words he would say to Jimin, who just looked at him in disbelief. Jimin had tortured four employees in a month over his stupid reasons based from Yoongi. He tortured them by giving them unnecessary jobs and making them work over time. Yoongi understood what his best friend was going through but it was certainly too much. Jimin was the person who'd never forgive nor forget. As much as Yoongi hated to think about, he knew Jimin hadn't moved on and still loved Areum.

'Ya, I can watch you tear yourself apart and mess up your life because of a woman but I'm not gonna stand her and watch you torture our employees, especially the women. I'm not going to let you ruin the company your mother worked so hard for just because of what that twat did to you,' Yoongi whispered, cautious to not let anyone hear.

Certainly, his first few sentences were partially true and untrue. True: He hated every moment Jimin gave the employees unnecessary jobs and he didn't want the company to fall apart. Untrue: He wouldn't stand watching his best friend ruin his life.

Somehow, a pang of guilt hit Jimin after what Yoongi had said. He was too absorbed with his anger and it overpowered him.

'Why don't you be the CEO?' Jimin wittily answered back and walked towards his office with Yoongi trailing close behind him, irritated and just preventing himself to whack Jimin on the head in front of the employees. By the moment the door closed after they entered Jimin's office, Yoongi's hand swung across Jimin's head. I'm already tired of being in charge in the company's finance and I'm the COO of the company and I have to deal with this childish actions?! Yoongi thought angrily.

'Hyung, what was that?!' He whined while holding his nape. Yoongi was in total irritation that he somehow just couldn't hold it anymore.

'Listen to me, you numbskull! Not all woman are the same as Areum. And you torturing our female employees here because of her is completely a stupid idea. Remember, a woman built this company and that's your mother,' Yoongi fumed and left the office to call the new employee at the lounge area.

' Geez, like I care about those woman. Except, my mom of course, ' Jimin muttered to himself and sat down on his chair.

' That idiot is getting into my nerves,' Yoongi muttered angrily.

While Yoongi was on his way to the lounge area, Ha Eun meekly waited for him. Her sweating palms clasped together and her heart racing. She was a fresh graduate and this was her first occupation. She fixed her skirt and soon, Yoongi arrived with a scowl on his face. Startled and agitated, she immediately stood up and bowed at him. She noticed that he seemed to be in a bad mood compared to how he welcomed her just now. Maybe something happened? She thought to herself. Yoongi bowed slightly and cleared his throat.

'Follow me,' he said solemnly and spun around. Ha Eun, completely clueless and mental blocked, stood at her spot for a good 3 seconds before she rushed and trailed close behind Yoongi who could care less if she was even following or not.

He lead her to Jimin's office and along the way, employees stared, glared and giggled to themselves but with one glance from Yoongi made them all scurry away like frightened cats. Yoongi pushed through the glass doors and welcomed her to the main department of the company. The area was spacious and cubicles were situated on both sides and a red carpet on the aisle, leading to the CEO's office. When they reached Jimin's office, Yoongi opened the door for her and once Jimin laid eyes on her, he stopped whatever it was he was doing and stared at her in awe. Ha Eun smiled and bowed at him before he snapped back to his senses and cursed in his mind.

'Please, sit down,' Yoongi said and gestured her to sit down on the chair in front of Jimin's table before he left. Meanwhile, the CEO was still staring in disbelief.

'Good morning, huijang-nim. My na---' Hae Eun began cheerfully but as soon as Jimin raised his hand, gesturing her to stop she shut her mouth close. He scrutinised her once more and gulped.

'I've got a question,' He said, trying to keep his bad, cold hearted boss image and pointed a pen at her.

'Ne, huijang-nim?' Ha Eun replied and anticipated for the question. She prepared to answer anything he would ask.

'Did those clothes come from your grandmother's wardrobe?' He asked. Hell, my grandmother dresses better than her. Jimin thought.

'Ne?' She raised both her brows and looked at him, confused. She heard him clear but that was the unexpected question and she was completely unsure if that was exactly his question or not.

Jimin dropped the pen from his grip and leaned back on his chair. How on Earth do I work with this woman when she can't even dress up properly? He grimaced. While he glanced at her once more, he mentally face palmed himself and clicked his tongue.

'Huijang-nim--?' Ha Eun asked nervously.

'Ya! You're working as my secretary here not as a cleaner!' He snapped at her. 'You look hideous!'

Ha Eun, shocked and taken aback felt ashamed. She thought she had dressed her best but who was she kidding, her future boss just called her hideous and he might not even accept her anymore as his secretary because of her outfit.

'Do you see what those women are wearing outside?' Jimin questioned. Ha Eun, still stunned, couldn't speak.

'Ya! Are you mute?!' Jimin yelled which brought her back to her senses.

'Ne?' She looked utterly puzzled which irritated Jimin even more. How on earth did she even get in the company?! Jimin speculated.

'Go home and come back when you're decent enough to work as my secretary. You have half an hour,' He demanded. Instead of scurrying away, she sat there, still puzzled.

'Ya! What are you looking at?!' Jimin yelled and slammed his hands on the table, startling her. She jolted up her seat and nodded her head before she ran out of his office and rushed to get home and change. Yoongi spotted her and dash away and entered Jimin's office.

' What happened?' He asked.

'Hyung, how on earth did she get in?' Jimin asked back immediately.

'Mwo? Neo museun tteus iya (what do you mean)?'

'Did you see her clothes?! My grandma dresses better than her!' He whined.

'So, you didn't hire her because of her outfit?'

'Ani. I told her she had half an hour to change into something more decent. Geez, I have a reputation to keep and a secretary dressed like that is embarrassing,' He shuddered and grimaced as he remembered he outfit and how dumbfounded she looked just now.

Yoongi, grinning, left Jimin's office and chased after Ha Eun.

Hell, how rude of him but, it was my fault anyway. What a good day to start my first day of work. She pressed the elevator button a couple of times and as soon as it opened, she rushed in.  By the time she had reached the ground floor, she had 25 minutes left.

'God, I'm not gonna make it! Geuneun michyeossda (is he crazy)?!' She muttered and quickly hailed for a cab.

'Miss Kim Ha Eun!' Yoongi called while jogging out of the building. Her heart dropped, she began to think that the CEO must have told him to tell her that she was no longer qualified for the job.

'Am I not going to get the job anymore?' She asked as Yoong stood in front of her.

'Oh, ani, ani,' He laughed. 'I just want to tell you that won't make it if you go home and change,'

'I have to try. I need this job,' She replied, her voice filled with determination.

'Of course, you do. So, follow me,' He smiled but she froze on her spot again, perplexed. 'Ya, he won't hire you if you're just going to stand there,'