MY STOMACH SUDDENLY GROWLED in starvation as my mind kept remembering me of food. Although I already had the fried rice that Hyerin made for me, I still had to starve since it wasn't enough as I shared it with her.

Well, I'd usually prefer to eat alone. But after knowing her, I'd like to eat with someone. A person who I can talk with and a person who gives a good vibe to me.

"Alright, you guys can go now." I ended the meeting and stood up. All my staffs waited for me to walk out from the meeting room so that they can separate their ways as well. That was one of the ways they depict their respect to me. Though more than half of them are older than me, they still respect me as their employer.

"Have a nice day, Sir." Some of them approached me nicely as I walked pass them.

Then, I felt someone suddenly held my shoulder. I heaved a sigh right away, knowing that it was my friend; Park Jimin who worked at the same company as mine as I make him as the co-chairman here. So he was technically my share partner in this company. "Yo Jungkook, where are you going?" He asked very casually as he walked with his hand wrapped around my figure.

I scoffed at his action. "We're at work, Jimin. Please act matured or the people will not respect you," I reminded him. He loved to act like a high schooler kid wherever he goes, unlike Hyerin who can differentiate the situation.

He then rolled his eyes at me, "You're serious literally everywhere. Can't you just chill for a second?" He let me go then crossed his arms.

"So why you suddenly come to me? Did something happen?" I asked as we walked into the elevator.

He frowned then scoffed at me. "You should treat me for lunch because I've helped you just now," he rolled his eyes.

I frowned in confusion, "What do you mean? I don't get it." I stated and walked out from the elevator, gesturing him to get into my office so that we can continue talking.I was curious of what he was going to say because his face literally changed from smiley to serious in a second. "What's wrong?" I asked.

"Sora," he mentioned the name that I disliked the most. "She came here," he finished his sentence and it really affected my mood. That girl was really triggering my anger.

"Then what did you do?"

"Well, gladly I'm a sweet talker. I told her that you left for a meeting at Daegu and she seemed to believe me. Then she left." He answered.

"Did she say anything else to you?"

"No," he answered. "But she looked so mad." He added. Mad? For what reason? "I wonder what you did to her." Jimin said.

I frowned. "I did nothing. She tried to seduce me a few days ago and forced me to sleep with her. But I refused." I leaked the secret to him, knowing that even he's not serious, he's a loyal person who can keep secrets.

"What?" He was surprised. "You— rejected Kim Sora? She's Korea's top model though. What were you thinking?"

"What were stopping you though?" He was mocking me but I suddenly remembered of that day when an image of a pair of dark hazel eyes stopped me. I suddenly remembered of Hyerin's beautiful eyes and when I looked into Sora's eyes, I quickly realised what I was doing because her eyes aren't the same as the ones that I adore. Kim Hyerin's eyes.

Her eyes are captivating. Very beautiful and gorgeous.

"It's— a secret," I told him.

"Anyways, I haven't seen that girl— I mean, your favourite barista girl. Yeah, I haven't seen her in awhile. Where's she? " Jimin suddenly wanted to know about Hyerin.

Annoyed, I looked at him. "Why are you looking at me like that? Is anything wrong?" He acted as if he didn't know. "Why? You don't like me asking about her? Pfft, come on Jungkook. I just want to be friends with her. She seems like a good person with a good personality. I really want to know her more. That girl is interesting, though." He said.

Well, he didn't know her yet. "If you think you gonna flirt with her, just forget about it. She's not like the other girls you've met. She's a type of a girl you can't play with. Believe me," I asserted. Even I just know her for a short time, but observing from how she acts and how she talks, I know that she's a girl with principle.

With a scoff, he looked at me before rolling his eyes. "Why? Am I that bad to get rejected? I'm a good person. She'll like me for sure." He tended to try again.

But sorry Jimin, you can take any girls but not Hyerin.

12:45 p.m.

It was time for me to have lunch. I asked Jimin to go out with me so that we can have lunch together but unfortunately, he had something to settle on so he couldn't make it. That made me to have to eat alone today. How sad.

I had been kinda used to eat with someone now and having to eat alone again made me feel kinda sad. But however, there was nothing I could do so I just decided to go out and eat at somewhere near my office.

I drove my car to the nearest restaurant from my office and reached there in just 5 minutes. I got off my car then made my way into the restaurant. But, something happened before I could even step my foot into the restaurant. Someone suddenly gripped on my arm, very tightly and made me looked at her. I was surprised to see her, Kim Sora in front of me.

She looked so mad as her face was red. "Jeon Jungkook," she said my full name before letting me go. "I knew that your friend will lie to me," she hissed as she looked up at me. She wasn't wearing any makeup and she looked so pale. I think it was the effect for wearing too much makeup. She looked so different from herself when she wear makeup.

I sighed. "What else, Sora? I want to eat," I scoffed and waited for her to say something. I was aware that I was just wasting my time for waiting for her to speak. I should just had leave but I didn't want her to make a chaos by shouting in public if I did that. "Why aren't you talking? Say something or I'll leave. " I said with annoyance in my voice.

She gritted her teeth, "So you're tired of me now? When you asked me to sleep with you, you were so eager." She scoffed as she brought up the moment back. That disgusting moment— I had no idea how I could even wanted to sleep with a girl like her. I was stupid.

"It's not like I'm the only guy you've slept with. You slept with so many guys and, you didn't lose your virginity to me. I wasn't the first guy you sleep with. But you're still thinking of marrying me? I don't like used things." I said that to her face and I could say that she was taken back by my words. "And for your information, I was drunk at that time. If you didn't seduce me, I wouldn't ask you to sleep with me. You were the one who was eager to have a night with me." I reminded her back.

I heard she groaning in anger. "You— I hate you!" She was about to slap me but I held her hand right on time.

"Seriously? You're thinking of slapping me? No way." I let her hand go then looked at her sharply. "Stop acting like you're a victim, Sora. I'm so sick of you. You literally have no value for sleeping with random guys almost everyday. You change you partner as if they're toys. Then you're still thinking of marrying me? Pfft," I scoffed. "Even if you got pregnant and said that it's my child, I won't even believe you. No one will believe a person like you," I said to her before leaving her on the spot.

After taking a few steps, I finally heard she yelling my name. "I hate you Jeon Jungkook!" She shouted.

I hate you more, Kim Sora.

Kim Sora had ruined my whole mood and I wasn't feeling like eating anymore. I went back to my office until Chan suddenly appeared in front of me with Hyerin beside him. I stopped then looked at Hyerin who was holding a cup of ice cream in her hand. I furrowed my brows. "What are you doing here?" I looked at Chan. "With Chan?" I finished my sentence.

"She went for a grocery shopping with Mrs San but Mrs San suddenly had to go back to her hometown since her daughter just gave birth to her first grandchildren. Hyerin had no transport so I had to pick her up. Before sending her home, I wanted to stop by your office to give you some files your dad asked me to hand to you." Chan explained.

I nodded, "Oh,"

"So you're sending her home?" I asked. I usually don't care about where my staff want to go. But Hyerin was different since she's quite close to me.

"Yes," Chan answered.

Without thinking any further, I held his shoulder and said "It's okay, let me send her home." I said. Chan raised an eyebrow but he didn't say anything.

"Okay."

I looked at Hyerin, "Let's go, let me send you home." I said and she nodded. With her ice cream in her hand, she followed me from my back like a kid. The way she walked was so funny yet cute. I laughed mentally by looking at the way she followed me. Cute.

Author

Instead of sending her home, Jungkook brought her to a restaurant where the both of them could eat. He turned off the engine then without any explanation, he got off from the car and waited for Hyerin to do the same.

"What are we doing here, Sir?" She asked with a bit of hesitation as she thought that he was going to meet his client here so she had to take a taxi to go home.

He looked at her who was clueless then said, "Let's get in." He said and walked into the restaurant right away without waiting for Hyerin because he knew that she would do as he said.

"Sit here," he said as he opened the menu. He suddenly got his appetite back and he was feeling like eating something. "What are you waiting for? Sit." He looked at her who was still standing in front of him.

"But, aren't we supposed to—"

"I'll send you home after we eat. Now, sit down and eat with me." As always, Hyerin had no other choice except for listening to his demand.

"Alright Sir." She nodded then sat across him.

"Open the menu and order anything you want to eat." He said without looking at her because his eyes were focusing on the food in the menu book.

Deep inside, Hyerin was hesitate to order her food as she thinks that it is not nice to make people pay for her food. Her parents always taught her to not taking advantage on people. But since she knew how Jungkook would react if she said no, she decided to order the side dish only. "Um, I'll have the pudding." She said.

Hearing that, Jungkook looked at her. "And?"

"That's it," she answered.

He frowned. "Are you kidding me? You only order the side dish? Pfft, it won't even fill up your tummy. Order some heavy food. You're too thin." There he go again, calling her the name she didn't like. If you still remember, the main reason of them bickering with each other before she works with him was because he called her thin.

She inhaled, "It's okay Sir. I'm already full." She insisted.

He stared at her. "I know you're hungry. I can hear your tummy growls." He smirked.

Hyerin face palmed when she was caught lying on purpose. "But, Sir—"

"Just let me order your food. All you have to do is just eat. Easy. No buts, just eat then I'll send you home." He cut her off.

"I— fine," she sighed.

They just stayed quiet for the whole eating session. None of them felt awkward or anything since the both of them are so easy to blend in together. But Jungkook low key didn't like the silence between them because he wanted her to talk to him. He wanted to have a conversation with her because he likes talking to her. She's a person with a fun personality but she has a wise words. That's what Jungkook likes the most about her beside her eyes.

Thinking of something to talk with her, he suddenly remembered about the argument he had with Sora, literally an hour ago. He almost forgot that he had an argument when he was with her. He felt peace whenever she's around him.

He cleared his throat, "Hyerin, I've something to ask you."

As a normal human being, we'd get anxious whenever someone said that to us all of the sudden even we know that we've done nothing wrong. She stopped eating her food then gulped down her saliva. "Y-Yes?" She stuttered.

"I wonder." He began to speak, "What do women really want in life? Why do some women are— willing to sell their own dignity to get what they want? Is it because they're that desperate?" He asked without thinking of how Hyerin would react. She was frozen for a few seconds and Jungkook realised it. "I hope you don't take it wrong. I'm just asking. I'm not saying that all women are the same. Please get it right." He said to prevent her from thinking that he was trying to condemn women's dignity.

She took a few moment before responding. She seemed like she was analysing something; probably thinking of the right answer. Jungkook waited for the to begin speaking as he really wanted to know her answer. "Who made you to ask this such question, Sir?" Instead of answering his question, she threw a new question to him.

He blinked his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"The way you ask me— it seems like you experienced it by yourself. Have you ever— being lied by a woman because of your wealth? Because it's rare for someone to ask this such question if they don't go through it. And judging from your personality, you seem like someone who won't care about women. But you suddenly ask me this question. So, have you ever got lied by a woman?" She asked, very seriously. She had no expression on her face.

"No," he answered shortly. "I'm asking this for my friend— who got lied by a girl. That girl sleeps with anyone who affords to pay her. I'm certain that she does that for money. She wants to get everything she wants but she wants it in an easy way. Doesn't sleeping with plenty of men make a girl looks cheap? Like, where's her dignity as a woman?" He asked.

Hyerin quietly tried to analyse everything Jungkook had said. She knew what he meant and she was aware that he wasn't trying to look down on women. She got it. Inhaling for air, she looked at him in the eyes with full of seriousness before starting her speech.

"Dignity is always focused on women as if they're the only creature in this earth who has to take care of their dignity. Yes, that's true. Because being a woman isn't easy. We, women, always have to face the consequences alone. A man will usually give us tons of promises so that they can have us in bed, just to satisfy their lust and needs. But when they get what they want, they'll just leave the woman and if she gets pregnant, she has to face it alone. " She said and Jungkook was listening to her.

"Women are defined by the way they dress and by the way they act. The society keeps judging us without giving us the chance to live the way we want. Being a woman is unsafe. We can't go out at night alone, we can't go to the beach alone, and we're also seen as weak. Why? Because we're women. "

"And I admit that there are some women who act the wrong way. Yes, there are some gold diggers who are willing to do anything as long as they get what they want. But that's because they're not matured enough to think about what they've to face in the future. No men want to marry a woman who lost her virginity. But— if she lost her virginity to him, then what's the matter? Why can't he just marry her?"

"And, talking about your friend, if he already knows that the girl only wants to sleep with him because of his money, why didn't he reject her? Why didn't he say no? That proves that he's also a jerk but he only put the blame on the girl,"

Jungkook was taken back by her words but he was aware of the fact that he's not the first guy Sora sleeps with. She had sleep with plenty of guys before him so it wasn't fully his fault if he doesn't want to marry her. "Women with dignity will work for the thing they want. They'll work hard for it to make sure they get it." She emphasised.

"Men should also show a good behaviour. They also have dignity but they act like they don't. They sleep with random girls just to satisfy their lust then they leave her just like that. Do you think that it's a good thing to do? Is it what we call dignity? Just because they won't get pregnant, they think that they shouldn't care. Such a huge shame to be someone like that." She added, making Jungkook to get offended a bit. But he wasn't mad at her. He knows that she was saying the truth.

He felt ashamed of himself for the first time.

"My mom once told me," she added, "The phrase of boys will be boys doesn't exist."

"But the truth is, boys will be what they're taught."

He felt that. Very much.

He dropped her off at her apartment. "Thanks for the treat, Sir." She thanked him for treating her for lunch.

"Thanks to you too for having lunch with me," he added.

"Oh, that's nothing." She smiled and opened the door but she didn't get out because Jungkook seemed like he wanted to say something more.

"Um, thanks for your words at the restaurant. I really felt that." He finally got the urge to say those words.

"It— really moved me," for the first time, he lowered his ego to thank his employee.

Hyerin just sat there frozen but then, she smiled at him. "No mention, Sir."

"I wonder where did you heir the cleverness from. Is from your parents?" He asked.

She just smiled when he mentioned about her parents because they are already passed away but Jungkook didn't know that. "Yes, my parents taught me well." She stated.

"Yeah, I admit that." He said and she got off from his car.

"Thanks for sending me home, Sir." Hyerin said once again before getting into her apartment.

"I enjoy talking to her," Jungkook mumbled as he watched her walking into her house.

Hyerin

beep

I heard a notification sound from my phone.

Sir Jeon
sent 3:25 p.m.
Don't forget about this weekend. We gonna spend time together.

Honestly, I got a minor heart attack while reading the sentence we gonna spend time together. But I didn't take it to heart since I know what he was talking about. He just wanted to know what I do on weekends. Nothing more.

But— deep inside, I couldn't deny the reality that my heart fluttered a bit. I felt— happy. And I like the feelings.

•••

[A/N]

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