EUPHORIA ¦ PARK JIMIN

Chapter 30

18th December, 2010

Ha Eun had arrived earlier than the two gentlemen that she had to be with. While she waited, she had roamed around the building to have a thorough check up to ensure that the opening was smooth and trouble free. In the midst of her dazed and amused look on a large painting that somehow made her feel so nostalgic, her memories brought her back to the her childhood where she had first met Mark in a gallery. They were merely still innocent children not knowing anything about the world.

It was the day where their skeptical eyes that glared at each other became the reason for their repeated coincidental meetings. A smile curved on her lips when she felt a presence on both her sides. Jimin and Mark had stood there with her: Jimin, figuring out what was so amusing in the painting and Mark, simpmy grinning as the same memory flashed inside his head. Ha Eun immediately greeted both of them as soon as she fell back down to Earth. When her eyes caught Mark's, the same sheepish smiles were both on their faces, intriguing Jimin even more.

What's going on between them? He thought curiously. First, Secretary Jung had told me they bumped into  each other a few days ago where Mark spilled coffee on her arm. Then yesterday, I saw them both on  a cafe then this... those gazes and smiles that they give to each other, they must mean something.

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'JungBiseo,' Jimin called as Ha Eun was a few steps ahead of him.

'Ne, huijang-nim?' Ha Eun spun around with a smile on her face.

'Are you having an affair with Mark Tuan?' Jimin asked, so straightforwardly that resulted for Ha Eun's violent reaction.

'Eh?!?' She responded so loud that her voice echoed around the building. Her eyes widened as she stared at Jimin and at tempting to function the words that has just slipped from his lips.

'What's with the reaction? I'm just asking since I'm curious,' Jimin replied but somehow it felt as if it was more than just curiosity. 'I saw you two yesterday in a café, so it just got me thinking,'

'Ah, aniyo, huijang-nim,' Ha Eun chuckled awkwardly. 'Mr Tuan and I have no affair but he is my childhood bestfriend,'

'Eolin sidae ui gajang chinhan chingu (childhood best friend)...' Jimin repeated and nodded his head. 'What a coincidence,'

Ha Eun merely smiled and looked over to Mark who was too busy entertaining a few other important people while they were on their way out of the building.

'Well, I think we should go now,' Jimin suggested and walked abreast with Ha Eun who's eyes were still glued on Mark.

While Jimin waited for his driver to arrive, Mark also stepped out of the building and joined Jimin and Ha Eun at their post.

'Miss Jung, I could give you a ride if you'd like,' Mark began.

Jimin, stunned and shocked with such smooth act, furrowed a brow.

'Ah, JungBiseo, I'll send you home. It's good, Mark. No need to bother yourself,' Jimin interfered in.

'Sillyehajiman (Excuse me but,) I think I'll use my own car to go home. Thank you so much for your offer,' Ha Eun said and bowed to the two men before approaching her car and driving away.

'Well, I guess there's no reason for both of us to stand here and look at each other,' Mark broke of the silence after Ha Eun's departure.

'I guess you're right,' Jimin replied.

'Keureom..' Mark said then slightly bowed at Jimin who responded similarly before they both parted ways.

I'm suspicious. Do they have an affair and there are possibilities that JungBiseo lied when I asked. Jimin wondered as he revved his car engine.

On Mark's point of view, he could somehow read that Jimin seemes to have something for Ha Eun but he wasn't certain. However, that was something that he no longer have any access or rights to. Ha Eun was indeed the woman that he had fallen in love with a few years ago and he knows that she no longer felt the same that she did.