EUPHORIA ¦ PARK JIMIN

Chapter 14

While they both reached the exit of the hospital building, Jimin mentally cursed at himself only to remember that they came here with only one car. Ha Eun, noticing his facial reaction, immediately understood it and decided to call Jimin's driver only to find out that her phone wasn't with her. Jimin pulled it out from the pockets of his blazer and handed it to her.

'Kamsahabnida, huijang-nim,' She said and bowed at him then immediately calling the driver.

'Ah, madta (ah, right)! The doctor said you need to eat,' Jimin blurted after Ha Eun made the call.

'Ne, huijang-nim,' She replied and smiled.

'You can take a rest for today as well. You can go home,' Jimin added.

When he had mentioned that she was allowed to go home, she felt triggered and scared. She didn't want to.

'Ani, nan gwaechana. I can work,' She insisted.

'I'm the boss here and I'm telling you to go home,' Jimin persisted sternly.

'Aniyo! Naneun jib-e kago sipji anh-a (I don't want to go home)!' She yelled with tears suddenly racing down her cheeks.

Jimin was stunned that she had suddenly yelled at him for the very first time. She wasn't herself after the past few days that Taemin disturbed her. Shortly after, she realised her actions and immediately looked at Jimin while cupping her mouth. The male was still stunned.

'Huijang-nim, joseonghabnida,' She said spontaneously and sustained her bow.

'You can stay that way if you want, I don't mind,' Jimin said instead.

Ha Eun perked her head and straightened herself while eyeing him cautiously.

'I have to be honest, Secretary Jung. You're the first secretary I had that yelled at me like that. I'm amazed,'Jimin added with an indefinable smirk on his face.

Ha Eun didn't know whether he was being sarcastic or he was serious. Frankly, Jimin meant it. With all his years of being a CEO, not any of his former secretary had yelled at him like that. He was amazed of her bravery. Little did he know, she wasn't herself when she yelled at him. Her mind was blank and she felt scared going back home.

'Joseongheyo, huijang-nim,' She apologized again.

When the car arrived, Ha Eun had informed the driver that they were heading straight back to the office then suddenly Jimin made a last minute decision to head to the restaurant instead. He doubted that Ha Eun would even eat once they arrived at the office. He noticed that even if he wasn't giving her unnecessary jobs to do, whenever she came in his office to remind a meeting or merelt Jimin calling her in to ask about event preparation or his schedule, she would ask if there was anything else that he wanted her to do.

She was dedicated to her work so much.

'Huijang-nim, what are we going to do in the restaurant?' Ha Eun asked. She wondered if he had any meeting in there that she hsd missed to inform him.

'Ah, morogeseo, Secretary Jung. Urineun geogi anj-aseo saramdeul-i meogneun geos-eul boge doel geos-ibnida.(Ah, I don't know. We'll sit there and watch people eat).'Jimin sarcastically retorted with a forced smile.

'Ne. Ihae haess-eo (Yes, I understand).' She replied awkwardly and pursed her lips.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, Ha Eun prevented herself from asking any questions and just followed Jimin's orders. A waitress came over their table and handed a menu book which Jimin didn't bother to even open and just blurt out all his orders as if he knew the content of the food menu by heart.

'Huijang-nim, wasn't that alittle too much?' Ha Eun asked.

'You've been looking pale and dead for the past few days and coming to work as if you haven't eaten nor slept for a week. Yes, the order was alittle too much,' He answered wittily.

'Ah, ne,' She replied and forced a smile.

A few minutes later, the food arrived and the table was full of dishes that could feed 5 people already.

'Eat up. I don't want your mother complaining me to the labour department because you're getting sick and accuse me for abusing you in work,' Jimin said with a serious reaction plastered on his face.

Ha Eun nodded with a smile on her face. Little did she know, from afar, Taemin watched her and it triggered him more upon laying eyes on Jimin and Ha Eun smiling at him. His hands balled tightly into a fist and desired of only one thing: To have Ha Eun back.

'Huijang-nim..,' Ha Eun began.

'If you're going to thank me again. No need,' He said beforehand without looking at her instead just kept eating.

'Aniyo. I just want to remind you that you have to be in the boutique later by 5PM,' She said.

Jimin perked his head. 'OK. You don't have to come later. You can rest.'

'It's alright. I'll go,' She smiled.

Jimin nodded, no longer wanting to argue, unless he wanted to get yelled at again. He had to admit, she looked scary when it happened.

'Secretary Jung,'

'Ne, huijang-nim,'

'I'm curious, why were you crying just now when you yelled at me?' He asked, unable to hold his inquisitiveness.

'That...well...,' she began but somehow couldn't find a lie that she could use to cover up the real reason. 'I cried because....'

'Never mind. Don't tell me,' He suddenly blurted out, feeling stupid that he had to ask her about it.

With a sigh of relief, Ha Eun nodded and smiled. The thought of Taemim made her have goosebumps. It scared her even more that after all these years that she thought she had lost him, he saw him again in one of Jimin's meeting and now, he was completely back.

After their meal, they both went back to the office. Female employees stared at Ha Eun, and again, they were back at their gossiping like before.

'I wonder what's her relationship with the CEO and COO. She must be dating one of them,' She heard a familiar voice comment.

'Mwoga? How can she flirt with either of the two with those looks?' Another added.

The voices were familiar and once she spun around, it was the same girls that gossiped about how long she'd last in the company.

'Secretary Jung, do I have any meeting after this?' Jimin asked, particularly to Ha Eun who was left behind.

Receiving no response, he turned around but found Ha Eun distant from where he was it. He watched her cross her arms and approach three female employees with an irritated face and her smile was those smiles that people used which literally meant 'I'll kill you' . He approached her but stopped once Ha Eun began to talk.

'Hoksi (by any chance), can you ladies do me a favour?' Ha Eun said, her deadly smile still sustained.

'N-ne, Secretary Jung?' One answered with a trembling voice.

'Wonderful!' Ha Eun exclaimed. 'Do you mind getting back to work and minding your own business? Can you guys do that?'

'N-ne, Secretary Jung,' They answered in unison.

'Daebak! Naneun neohuideul eul joh-a handa (I like you guys).' She sarcastically remarked at the employees who looked as if they could run away in any time that Ha Eun would turn into a tiger. 'Ah, and if you guys want to tell me anything, don't be scared to tell me, okay? You know where to find me. Talking about people behind their back isn't good,'

Jimin snickered and shook his head. He was amazed on how she handled that situation. She sighed and walked away and smiled at Jimin who stood there, witnessing what she had said.

' This way, huijang-nim, ' Ha Eun said and lead the way towards the elevator.