Jaehee held the flashlight beneath both of their feet, while Jumin remained close to her as they walked aimlessly through the halls. "I still can't understand why you wanted to come with me, Mr. Han... you would be perfectly fine on your own," the assistant commented with a sideways gaze.

"I'd rather be in your company," was his simple reply. "I wonder what everyone in the RFA are doing..." he trailed off, comfortably shoving his hands into his pockets.

Jaehee agreed with a soft hum. "Perhaps we should check on them," she suggested.
---

[Jumin Han has entered the chatroom]

[Jaehee Kang has entered the chatroom]

707: ...And that's how I got banned from Disneyland!!

Yoosung: Please don't do that ever again.

Zen: Whoa! Speaking of the devil...

Jumin: By devil, you don't refer to me, do you?

Zen: Nah, that would be offensive to the devil.

Jumin: Why are you the way you are?

Yoosung: lololol Jumin just logged in and Zen's already attacking him

Jumin: Your remarks are particularly insulting today. I wonder, are you perhaps jealous of me?

Zen: Lol I'm shocked you're even capable of "feeling" offended. I thought you couldn't insult robots. 

Zen: Also, jealous?? In your dreams, Trust-Fund Kid!! 

Jaehee: Hello? I am also here.

Zen: Oh, sorry, Jaehee!

Jumin: You may be rude to me, but don't be rude to my assistant.

Zen: I wouldn't dream of it. Unlike you, Jaehee is actually a respectable person, with feelings. Anyway, how is it going with you, Jaehee?

Jaehee: ...I'm fine.

707: Not drowning in piles of work?!?!

Jaehee: Actually, me and Mr. Han are at the library.

Yoosung: Doing some kind of project?

Jaehee: No, we're just-

Jumin: Hanging out. Is that what you call it?

Zen:

Yoosung: W- w- wait. Hanging out as... Not working??

Jaehee: Um, yes.

Yoosung: Like... As friends?

Jumin: Ya.

Yoosung: You can do that?!?!

Jaehee: What is wrong with it?

Jumin: What is wrong with it?
--

Jumin and Jaehee immediately turned at each other with eyes as wide as plates, and amidst their surprised staring, Jaehee started laughing. At first muffled, she let herself laugh out loud a bit when Jumin couldn't help but chuckle as well.
--

707: Their minds are even connected now!!

Yoosung: Isn't it weird hanging out with your boss??

Zen: Obviously! I'm sure Jumin dragged Jaehee there to look for books for his cat or something lol

Jaehee: Actually-

Zen: Why would she want to waste her time with the Trust Fund Kid of all people?

--

Jaehee suddenly found herself in a difficult spot. Even though she loved Zen more than her own life, she didn't like how he was treating Jumin today. "Why does he hate him so much?" she wondered with a clear frown. As far as she knew, the guy had never done anything to him.

"Assistant Kang, are you alright? You're glaring at your phone." Jumin looked at her with a worried face.

"It's just... I believe Zen is being quite harsh right now," she admitted, her grip on her cellphone tightening.

"Oh." Jumin realised. "I'm used to it. It's just the way Zen is..." His eyes shifted away; and she could tell by his upset voice, he really wasn't used to it as he said.
--

Jaehee: Zen, please don't take it the wrong way when I tell you this, but...

Zen: What is it?

Jaehee: Please stop talking about Mr. Han in such a matter. He does have feelings, and as any other person, they get hurt when you're constantly insulting them for no reason in particular.

Zen:

Jaehee: I'm sorry if I come off strange, but I enjoy spending time with Mr. Han as much as any member of the RFA... We're...
--

She wasn't sure how to finish her sentence. She could see from the corner of her eye how Jumin's eyes widened and the color of his face changed.

She gulped down this odd feeling in her gut, and decided to type the last words.
---

Jaehee: We're friends.

Yoosung:

707: What the actual frack is happening today

707: Is it Opposite Day already and I didn't know??

707: Or maybe April Fools?? Is it your b-day Zen?!

Yoosung: We're in October, Seven ;;
--

While the conversation occured in the chat, Jumin and Jaehee paid no attention to it. He was smiling at her; grateful, and admittedly giddy inside. And she smiled back.

As if some magic of fate, the lights returned. The library's hallways became fully illuminated again. And as both corporate heir and assistant looked out the window they could see it had quickly become nightfall.

They both felt that tinge of disappointment their little escape was over.
--

"Have a good night, Assistant Kang," Jumin told her sincerely while dropping her off at her home. "I... greatly appreciated being your friend," he said, a small happy smile forming over his face again.

Jaehee chuckled softly, returning the same expression. "Me too. We should do it again."

Jumin nodded, and she gave him a last peek before closing the door.

He stood there for a few more seconds, smiling to himself like a dork, when another voice caught him red-handed.

"Jumin... What are you doing in your assistant's house so late at night?" a sly feminine voice teased.

He quickly turned around with shocked silver eyes and his mouth half open. He wasn't able to say a word at the sight.

"Could it be true that you two really are dating?" she muttered, blue eyes narrowed. "Gross. I just thought it was paparazzi being imaginative."

"Echo Girl... Were you following me?" he questioned, his own eyes narrowed in a more threatening way.

She giggled into her palm, obviously amused. "Why would I? I was just taking a ride with my daddy."

"That's correct." A short, stubby man appeared from behind her with a cunning grin. "I had no other choice but to look for you, son. I believe your father informed you of our meeting already?"

Jumin sighed, shifting his face to the side with irritation. "Yes. He did," he replied curtly. "What do you want?"

"I want a little alliance," Mr. Choi said, looking just as innocent and happy as a blackmailer could. "Me and your father arranged a marriage between you and my sweetie Kyungju. If you two lovebirds get married, our companies would be tied together... We could get some benefits out of that."

"But not nearly enough ones," Jumin stated, redirecting his glare at him. "I will not agree to any arranged marriages."

"Eh...?" Mr. Choi elongated his fake gasp. "Why not, son?"

"Because I'm already committed to another woman," Jumin responded before crossing his arms. He wasn't going to get married to anyone if it wasn't Jaehee; it was the only hope of her not leaving the company after all.

"Pft?!" Echo Girl almost choked on her own spit. "What the he- You liar! You don't even have a girlfriend!"

"She's not my girlfriend yet..." he admitted, his firm gaze wavering for a second before returning just as determined. "But I'm hoping she will."

"B- but—"

Then he turned around and walked away.