Chae Hyungwon

"no! you can't break it off with me, please! i loved only you for so long and waited for you. why can't you try for me at all?!" eun gyeol knelt down and bursted into tears.

today, i finally got to confess the truth to eun gyeol. and as i had expected, she wasn't taking it in very well. i stood still letting her cry the pain out. however, nothing was going to change my mind nor the situation between us. i wanted to stop fooling eun gyeol.

i wanted to stop giving her the false hopes that our relationship could work.

i slowly got down on one knee and looked at eun gyeol who was broken and crying right in front of me. seeing her hurt was also hurting me deep inside because she had always been my best friend.

"please tell me this is a joke... i really can't let go now. everyone on my side has always rooted for us both, hyungwon-ah. my only wish was to marry you." she pleaded.

"aren't you tired and frustrated of me? i know there have been times when you've reflected on it, eun gyeol-ah. you notice how the love you give isn't reciprocated. we have to cut it from here because i can't keep hurting you and i can't keep lying to myself either."

"at least pretend, hyungwon-ah. it doesn't have to be genuine but just stay by my side. being with you and being your girl is all that i need."

i looked at her with pity in my eyes. i didn't understand eun gyeol and the way she was putting me high on a pedestal. she's always adored the thought of us being together like a childhood crush that she was trying to fulfill for herself. but what about me and how i feel?

Baek Ha Rim

i decided to go up the ceo's floor in the office building as i had already finished the first half of my tasks. after all the things that have happened a just few days ago, i wanted to seek comfort from hyungwon and i knew it couldn't wait until i finish my office hours.

i just had the urge to see him immediately because i've been lonely sleeping at a much cheaper hotel place that i have availed of for a few nights. after storming out of kihyun's place and cutting off ties with him, it was where i had to go.

today, it was due for me to leave so i needed to ask hyungwon if i could stay with him once again.

arriving at the hallways of his floor, i walked my way to his office while noticing that his secretary and guards were nowhere to be seen. usually, i had to ask permission before entering but they weren't present today.

"where is everybody else?" i wondered as soon as i stood outside hyungwon's door.

suddenly, i heard muffled cries coming from inside. as an immediate response, i slowly twisted the door knob open and took a peak inside to see what was happening.

to my surprise, i found kwon eun gyeol crying a pool of tears right in front of hyungwon. she was on the ground while hyungwon knelt, silently staring at her without control of her outburst of emotions.

it felt strange for me to witness. it seemed like i was an intruder, and i knew i was probably part of the reason why eun gyeol was crying that way.

before i could even exit the scene, hyungwon had already noticed my presence. as soon as he laid his eyes on me, it almost felt like my breathing had stopped for a moment. quickly, i nodded my head at him to signal that it was alright and closed the door behind me.

standing outside, i quietly released a heavy sigh. i wanted to spend time with hyungwon but it wasn't the best timing for it. i didn't want to bother him, although, he already caught sight of me which also meant that i somehow interrupted the moment.

suddenly, the office doors opened rashly which caused me to flinch in surprise. turning around to see, i found eun gyeol frowning at me while hyungwon caught up right behind her.

"just by the look of distraction in his eyes, i knew you were right here." she spoke.

"eun gyeol-ah, calm down." hyungwon tried to hold her.

eun gyeol shook away his hand and walked closer towards me.

"i knew from that moment i first saw you that you were going to be a threat. my hunch was right all along and i hate you for proving it. why did it have to be you?!"

"eun gyeol, please." hyungwon spoke.

"no need to hold me back. i'm getting out of here myself." she turned to him and proceeded to glare at me before walking out.

as soon as eun gyeol was out of our sight, hyungwon turned to me and slowly pulled me close in an embrace without any words. i gently rested my head on his chest and allowed myself to take in his scent along with the feeling of being this close to him after all the tension.

______________________________

i took a sip of coffee and gazed at hyungwon who was sitting right in front of me. somehow, his office seems cozier to me now than it ever did before. i loved this space and i didn't mind spending my time here with him.

"ah.. did you manage to tell kihyun anything?" hyungwon suddenly opened up.

right. that night, he drove me to kihyun's place and i assured hyungwon i'd eventually let his cousin know the truth between us. i also admitted to hyungwon that i've never grown any romantic feelings for kihyun.

"i did.. it didn't end well between us so i had to leave and stay at a hotel."

"kihyun let you out in the night like that?" hyungwon asked with his back suddenly rising up, straightening his posture.

"i chose to leave, myself." i shook my head.

"you should've let me know. i would've picked you up and let you come along with me immediately. or maybe, i should've stayed instead of dropping you off."

"it's okay, i didn't wanna bother you because we've already just spent the entire day together."

"you're not a bother to me, ha rim-ssi." he clarified.

"is that so? then can i stay at your house now?" i asked.

"yes, you can. you're coming home with me."

i smiled and took another sip of my coffee. hyungwon was such an easy person to talk to. my request has been granted just like that and he was glad to accommodate me.

at the back of my head, however, i was wondering if kihyun let him know anything about what we've fought over that night.

"how about you, hyungwon-ssi? did kihyun let you know anything else that night i left?" i asked.

"nothing at all. i'm quite upset he didn't even contact me that you already went out. it probably hurt him that we're together now, but i was expecting he'd care a bit about you and your safety."

i internally felt a sense of relief that hyungwon seemed to be oblivious about my situation with kihyun.

my secret was safe.

"ah, by the way. my father already wants to meet you formally." hyungwon smiled.

i looked at him with widened eyes, gently putting my cup of coffee down the table.

"...you already told your father?" i asked.

"i let him know honestly and he was accepting and supportive of us being together. you have nothing to worry about now." he assured.

i felt the pressure building up inside of me. if my father knew i already met mr. chae without having done anything about it, i'd be a great disappointment. it was a betrayal to the years i've waited and prepared.

"let's meet him this weekend. it's going to be his birthday and we will be celebrating it in my parents' house. it's just the perfect timing." hyungwon smiled.

but i wasn't ready yet. i've always thought i would seize the first opportunity to get back at mr. chae, but here i am, caught up in a mess. what would i do? how would i react to seeing him?

most importantly, what was our future going to be?

someday, i was bound to face it all.

Im Changkyun

i laid down in bed after a long day of working on mr. baek's garden which he was trying to create in the house to gift to his wife who just got into plants.

i closed my eyes thinking about ha rim's absence. there was a void; an empty space without her. i wanted to come to her but i still carried the guilt of hurting her and i didn't want to upset her any further.

suddenly, my phone started ringing which broke off my train of thoughts. fishing it out of my pocket, i accepted the call without bothering to look at the caller id.

"kyun-ah." i heard the familiar voice.

"baek ha rim?" i asked, my eyebrows gently rising.

"mhm. how have you been?" she asked.

"i've been busy working.. mr. baek has been into gardens lately."

"is that so?" she responded.

however, i felt the heaviness in her voice.

"...where are you?" i asked.

"i still wouldn't wanna tell you." she answered.

"why are you sounding like that? what did you call me for?"

"on days when i feel the heavy burden and i couldn't turn to anyone else, i think of you." she spoke.

my heart skipped a beat yet she didn't know how those words made me feel.

"changkyun-ah.. i'm going to be meeting mr. chae soon." she revealed.

i took a moment of silence to think about the tone of her voice. it wasn't turning out the way we've all envisioned it before. facing mr. chae up-close meant steps closer to victory.

"yet you don't seem so happy about it." i frankly stated.

"mhm.." she responded with a hum.

i kept quiet letting ha rim collect her thoughts.

"because i... i already like chae hyungwon." she eventually confessed.

my heart shattered into pieces with the mention of those words. a tear escaped my eye, but i kept silent, not letting ha rim know how broken i was that she fell for him.

i wouldn't say i was exactly surprised; i was rather disappointed it still led to this situation even though i anticipated it.

"i have a final request, kyun-ah." she revealed.

"...what is it?" i toughened up my voice to avoid it from cracking or seeming weak.

"i need you to bring me something. meet up with me this wednesday." she spoke.

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i think we're nearing the end of this book guys!

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