Later that afternoon
My classes are done for the day & an excitement begins to build inside me.
"Eonni, I'm going to volunteer at the hospital after this, right?" I ask Hana as we walk towards the car.
"Yes, you're volunteering from 2 PM to 4 PM. Then after that-" She talks while checking her tablet, but the ring of her phone stops her from talking further.
"Who is it?" I peek curiously at her phone.
"It's from Sajangnim's secretary. Hello? Yes. Alright. I'll be right there." She hangs up after the brief conversation.
"What is it? Is Abeonim looking for you?" I anxiously ask.
"No, she only told me to come by his office to pick something up. So, I guess I'll have to leave you at the hospital alone." She explains.
"Oh, alright. I'll be fine, don't worry."
"I'm very worried actually. The last time I left you alone, you got yourself a boy friend. Huh.. I don't have a choice though, do I? Just don't ask him to come to the hospital. There are too many eyes there."
"Alright eonni, I promise. Sorry for keep making you worried." I apologize, feeling guilty for dragging her into this mess.
"Ya, why are you apologizing? You make feel bad. Just listen to me this time, ok?" She sighs.
I nod my head obediently & get into the car with her.
A few minutes later, we arrive at the hospital & she drops me off at the lobby.
"I'll come back right after I pick up the thing from Sajangnim's office. So don't wander around." She opens the window & says.
"I won't. See you later." I wave at her before walking through the glass door & stepping into the building.
I go straight to the pediatric's ward & meet the supervising nurse. She then guides me to the recreation room where the children are already waiting. Most of the patients are new, so I don't recognize a lot of them, but it doesn't diminish my joy of seeing them.
I read them stories from the books I've prepared, play simple games & sing nursery rhymes with them. Without realizing, it's already time for me to go.
"That's all for today kids. Thank you for having me." I smile at them & get a loud reluctant groan as a reply.
"I promise I'll be back soon to play with you guys again, ok? Anw, is there anything you want to tell me before I go?"
"Miss! I have something to tell you." A little chubby boy with a cast on his left arm raises his hand.
"Yes, Jeongwon? What do you want to tell me?"
"I don't know if you'll believe me, but I feel that I need to tell this to someone because I'm so afraid. I was wandering around the hallways one night because I couldn't sleep. And I suddenly heard loud screams from a room that I passed. I believe it was a lady & she was crying for help. I was so scared but I wanted to help her, so I braced myself to grab the door handle. But before I could open the door, one of the nurses found me & brought me back to my room. I told her what I heard but she didn't believe me. I tried to find that room again the next day but it was empty. Do you think it was real? Or was I dreaming?" His round eyes show how genuinely scared he is.
"Jeongwon ah, you might be just having a bad dream. Don't be afraid. There are a lot of nurses & doctors here. They will protect you & keep you safe. Just try to forget about it, ok? Think about happy things, instead of focusing on that." I hold his hands & say gently to him.
"Ok. Now that I've told you about it, I feel much better. Thank you nuna." He smiles, his eyes disappearing into two curved lines.
I pack up my things & bid my goodbyes, feeling recharged after spending time with the kids.
However, the story Jeongwon told me is stuck in my head & I can't seem to chase it away.
Was he really dreaming? If he wasn't, who was screaming for help & why didn't the nurse hear her? Ugh.. Why am I so bothered by it?
The vibration of the phone in my bag snaps me out of my daze. It must be Taehyung calling.
I rush towards the quiet wing of the hospital & cautiously take the phone out.
"Hello?"
"Hey, what are you doing?" His husky voice a music to my ears.
"I've just finished volunteering at the hospital. I miss you." A pang of longing hit me right in the chest.
"Ya, we spent so much time together last night. Wasn't it enough?" He chuckles.
His statement triggers a warning in my head as I recall Abeonim's suspicion about the alarm.
"Tae, did you turn off the alarm last night when you came? The security found it turned off this morning & my father became suspicious. He almost discovered this secret phone too, if it wasn't for Hana who diverted his attention at the last minute."
"Oh shit. I forgot to turn it back on. Ugh, I should be more careful next time. Sorry, did he cause you any trouble?"
"Not yet. But he probably thinks that I'm up to something. So maybe it's better if you don't come to my house again. Not that I don't want you to, it's just safer for both of us." I quickly add, afraid that he'll misunderstand.
"I understand princess. Anw, my client is here. I'll talk to you again later."
"Ok. Bye-" He's hung up the call before I finish my sentence.
Is he mad? He didn't even say that he missed me too.
My mind is still drowning in worry when I hear footsteps approaching. I frantically hide myself behind a wall & take a peek.
Wait, isn't that Abeonim's lawyer? Park lawyer?
He turns a corner into another corridor & disappears from my sight.
Out of curiosity, I follow his steps & stop at the sign on the wall.
Psychiatric ward? What is he doing here?
Right then, a hand suddenly grabs my shoulder from behind, startling me to the core.
"Miss, what are you doing here? I've been looking for you everywhere." Hana pants.
"Eonni, you startled me! I was calling Tae-" I'm about to tell her about what I saw, but she keeps rolling her eyes to the left & mouthing 'no'.
"What's wro-" I frown in confusion.
"Miss Y/n? Annyeong hasimnikka. My name is Park Jimin. Kang sajangnim has assigned me to be your assistant starting today." A male stranger appears beside Hana & bows at me.
Assistant?

I look him up & down, at his meticulously styled hair, his cold & serious gaze, his preppy suit & tie, & his stiff body language. He is definitely Abeonim's man.
Maybe he's sent to spy on me? Is Abeonim getting suspicious?
Cold sweat begins to perspire in my palms, but I try to appear nonchalant.
"I already have Hana ssi. I don't need another assistant. Please go back to the office." I tell him flatly.
"I'm sorry I can't do that Miss. I got the order directly from Kang sajangnim. If you don't need my assistance, you should talk to him." Jimin bows at me again.
As if on cue, Hana's cellphone rings all of a sudden.
"It's Sajangnim. Hello? Yes, Sajangnim. He wants to talk to you, Miss." Hana hands the phone to me.
"Yes, Abeonim." I put the phone on my ear & say.
"Have you met Jimin?" He asks.
"Yes, but I don't understand why-"
"Hana is lacking these days & I think you need more protection after the alarm incident last night. He's the son of my trusty assistant back in the day & he has a black belt in karate, so he should be good enough." He cuts me off.
"Abeonim-" I was about to protest, but then I glance at Hana & she's discreetly shaking her head, indicating that I have no other choice.
"-thank you for being considerate." I force myself to say.
He ends the call & I give the phone back to Hana.
"Park Jimin ssi, I have to accept you since my father insists me to, but I'll fire you right away if you make any mistake. Do you understand? Let's go, Hana ssi." I stride away quickly with Hana scurrying behind me.
"What happened?" I whisper to her, while Jimin is still out of earshot.
"He is the 'thing' that I needed to pick up from the office. We need to be careful, I think he's here to watch your every move & report it to Sajangnim. But you can't tell him to go away, otherwise Sajangnim will be even more suspicious." Hana whispers back & slows her pace when she notices Jimin has caught up with us.
What should I do? It will be impossible to meet Tae now that Jimin is following me everywhere I go.
My brain continues churning, thinking of ways to sneak out & meet Taehyung. I'm a bit desperate because I feel like I've hurt his feelings when I told him not to come to my house again because of the problem with the alarm.
He must think that I'm blaming him, while he made such a huge effort & risked his safety just to visit me. That probably explains his lukewarm response earlier. I should go meet him & apologize. But how? Maybe I can sneak out at night after Abeonim is asleep? Ok, I'll do it tonight.
I anxiously wait for the day to be over. Luckily, Abeonim has a business dinner tonight, so I don't have to see him.
Once I'm done with dinner, I hastily go up to my room, but then I notice Jimin is following me upstairs with Hana.
"What are you doing?" I glare at him.
"Sajangnim instructed me to escort you until you are safely back to your room." He nods at me & explains.
"Hana is going to do that, so you just stay downstairs & go home once your shift is over." I turn away from him & continue climbing the stairs.
"I'm sorry I can't do that, Miss. I was instructed to-"
"Park Jimin ssi, you are my assistant. The key word is ASSISTANT. Right now, I don't need your assistance, so please stop following me or I'll tell my father that you are harassing me." I threaten.
It was an empty threat, but it works. His brows furrow slightly, a hesitant expression clouding his face.
"I understand Miss. I'll go check the alarm system & security cameras now. Have a good night, Miss." He bows at you & heads back downstairs.
"Ugh, he's so annoying." I roll my eyes & sigh lowly.
"As expected from your father's man. I heard his father also worked for Sajangnim years ago & he was his right hand man. I guess his family is predestined to be your father's dogs." Hana scoffs.
Her words irk me a little because no matter how annoying Jimin is, he is only doing his job & doesn't deserve to be called a dog. But you stay quiet because you don't want to offend her.
"That's it for today Y/n ah. Do you need anything else?" She asks when we've reached my room.
"Nothing. Thanks for today. I'll see you tomorrow." I smile at her.
"Y/n ah, please don't tell him to come here again tonight, ok? Sajangnim has definitely told the guards to tighten the security around here. I don't want you guys to get caught." She pleads, genuine concern written all over her face.
I contemplate about whether I should tell her about my plan of meeting Taehyung tonight, but in the end I decide against it.
"Don't worry eonni. I won't." I assure her.
I'm not going to ask him to come. I'm going out to meet him, but you don't need to know that because I don't want you to worry.
"Alright then. Good night. See you tomorrow." She flashes me a faint smile & leave.
I lock the door behind me & quickly fish out the phone from my bag.

My heart sinks to the bottom upon reading his reply.
Is he angry? Or is he bored with me already? No, that can't be. We were fine last night. I don't understand. How could he still be busy even after midnight? Is he with.. another girl?
The chaos inside my mind goes rampant ask I think about all the worst possibilities.
Should I go anw? But I don't know where he is. Besides, I don't want to make him feel that I'm clingy & annoying.
Without realizing, tears of frustration rolls down my cheek. I've never experienced such situation before & it's so suffocating knowing that I can do nothing to solve the problem.
Let's just wait until tomorrow. Maybe he'll feel better then.
I wipe away my tears & huff heavily.

An hour later, Taehyung POV
"I think I was being too harsh on her." I mumble to myself as I read her text again & again.
An inexplicable guilt is eating me out, making me unable to think about anything else.
Why am I being like this? I'm not supposed to feel this way towards her. I think to myself as I throw my phone away.
But then, uneasiness keeps tugging at the back of my mind, so I pick up my phone again & open up her text.
She must be sad right now. I should text her.
However, right when I'm about to start typing, the door to my apartment swings open.
"Taehyung ah, I'm here."

Midnight, Y/n POV
The house is as silent as a graveyard, only the sound of crickets in the garden echoing through the walls.
Abeonim must be asleep by now.
I check my phone again for the countless times, still no text from Taehyung.
It's funny how I seek freedom in him only to be mentally prisoned by him. My heart & mind are completely in his control. His warm smile can make me fly to cloud nine & his cold shoulder can send me spiraling down to frigid hell in a second.
I try to sleep, but it's impossible with my head being in such a mess.
What is he doing now? Is he with someone else? Is it a girl? One of his many female customers?
Negative thoughts fill my mind, making me even more anxious by the minute.
A faint knock on my door startles me out of my thoughts.
"A-Abeonim?" I call out. No response.
Taehyung?
I swiftly jump off my bed & unlock the door.
Taehyung immediately rush into my room as I frantically lock the door again.
"T-Tae?" My eyes widen in surprise.
He drops the backpack he's carrying onto the floor, steps closer to me & pulls me into a kiss.
His familiar smokey scent fills my nostrils, his passionate kiss electrifies the nerves all throughout my body, his aggressive touch reels me in even deeper.
I didn't know that one kiss from one person can hold so much power against me.
"Damn." He pants as our lips part.
"I- I thought you said you were busy." I know it sounds so stupid & demanding for saying that, but I just can't help it.
"I was, but I finished earlier than expected so I came rushing here to see you." He smiles as he caresses my cheeks with his thumbs.
"Really?" I skeptically ask.
"Look, I was a bit rude to you earlier because I was not in a good mood. I was angry with myself for creating troubles for you by forgetting to turn the alarm on again. I promise I won't repeat the same mistake tonight. And.. as my apology.. I brought you some snacks."
He excitedly opens his backpack & bags of snacks tumble out of it like a waterfall.
"I wasn't sure what you like, so I got one of everything. Oh & I got us some drinks too." He grins.
I chuckle at his cute gesture & lean forward to peck his cheek.
"Thank you, Tae. I love them all."
"Shall we open them then?" He picks a bag & tosses it to me.
"Sure, but we need to be very quiet." I put my forefinger over my lips & hush.
"Okay." He mouths as he rips open one of the bags in an exaggerated pantomime, causing me to cover my mouth with both hands to muffle my laugh.
Tonight has turned out way better than I expected.
All we do is sitting on the floor, feeding each other, & talking about random things, but it's enough to make my heart full.
"Y/n ah, have you ever had soju before?" He suddenly asks as he pulls out a green bottle from his backpack.
"You think? Of course I haven't." I roll my eyes playfully.
"Do you want to try?" He offers.
"Well, yeah sure." At this point, I'm down for anything.
"Great. Wait, let me find the glasses." He rummages through his bag & takes out two shot glasses.
"Omg, how many things do you actually have in there?" I giggle in amusement.
"A lot. Can you grab me some tissue please? In case, I spill the alcohol on the carpet." He asks.
"Alright, let me go grab it." I get up & walk to the dressing table to get the tissue box.
When I come back, he's already poured the drinks into the two glasses he prepared.
"건배 (geonbae=bottom's up)!" He raises his glass & downs the whole content in one gulp.
I don't want to look weak so I follow his action & I instantly regret it.
The alcohol burns my throat, making me cough uncontrollably.
"Why do people like to drink soju? It tastes disgusting!" I exclaim.
"Hahaha! You're just not used to it. It's actually quite delicious especially after a long day of work. And most importantly, it can make you forget a lot of bad memories albeit temporarily." He scoffs bitterly at the last sentence.
"Why? Is there something that you wish to forget?" I ask curiously.
"Nahhh, nothing serious. Just regular stress from work. Anw, should we have one more glass?" He pours into my empty glass again before I can say anything.
I've lost count of how many shots I've downed. All I know is my head is spinning like crazy.
"Y/n ah, are you alright?" Taehyung's voice sounds so far away even though he's right beside me.
"I- I think I'm drunk." I stammer.
"You better lie down then. Don't worry I'll clean up the mess." He helps me get on to my bed & covers me with the blanket.
"Good night, princess." He says as he kisses my forehead.
"Good night Tae." I lazily smile at him before drifting into a peaceful sleep.