"Assistant Kang?" Jumin called, but Jaehee didn't respond, only silently staring out the window like she had been for the past ten minutes.

"Assistant Kang?"

Again there was no response from her; she was clearly distracted, which was extremely strange coming from the always efficient Jaehee Kang.

Finally, she snapped out of her thoughts, blinking and bowing down slightly. "Oh, I'm sorry. Was there something you wished to say?"

Jumin's grey eyes narrowed slightly, worried, and he examined her carefully. "You seem distant today... are you okay?"

Jaehee immediately gave him a smile, as if out of reflex. "Yes, of course." she reassured him just as quickly, then glancing away. She didn't want him to worry because of her.

Jumin seemed quite unbelieving, still staring at her in silence.

"Mr. Han...?" the brunette spoke, sounding awkward.

The corporate director sighed as he promptly got up from his leather chair. "I wanted to ask you about Miss Park's internship. How is she managing?" He approached her until he stood up right next to her by the window, from where they could see almost all of the city from the high, and beautiful, view.

"Oh, Mi-Cha— um, I mean, Miss Park has been doing well lately. At first I was worried about her since the position seemed like a lot to handle for a newcomer, but eventually she learnt how to be a qualified worker." She smiled sincerely this time, quite content to tell the good news to him.

Jumin smiled in return, glad to see her cheer up, even if just slightly. "I'm glad. You're truly a good teacher."

The chief assistant wasn't sure why, but her heart suddenly leapt on her chest at the compliment. "How was your meeting this morning?" she asked him, geniunely curious of how his day went.

Jumin's smile instantly vanished, and Jaehee was worried she accidentally said something wrong. "Oh, that..." he muttered, momentarily closing his eyes.

She could see the built-up stress on his face, and he massaged his temples as an attempt to get rid of it.

"Since Father is on that trip with Mother, it became more difficult to maintain things in order... It's extremely draining, but not impossible at least," he explained to her, sounding quite tired, but thankfully not disheartened.

Now it was Jaehee's turn to look at him worriedly, but she smiled slightly at him. "I'm sure you did a wonderful job. You're a good director, and you will be an even greater chairman someday," she reassured him with sincerity, softly laying a hand over his arm in comfort.

Jumin wouldn't say it, but hearing her say that gave him all the strength and confidence he felt was missing after all those stiff meetings and corporate arguments.  She truly was wonderful. He couldn't help the warm smile that grew on his face as he looked back at her.

The two stared at each other for a while, lost in their own thoughts, before turning around and facing the wide sky ahead again.

"Oh, the clouds are really grey... and they're starting to cover the sun." Jaehee noticed with concern. It looked like extremely heavy rain, walking under it would be a chore.

"Hm. It seems like it's going to rain," he agreed, then he turned towards her with a face of all seriousness. "You should come with me and Driver Kim so you can get home safely."

"Oh, well..." She thought it over for a bit, she supposed there really wasn't anything to lose. Then nodded at him with a small smile. "Alright, thank you."

Jumin sighed in relief. "You know you're always welcome to come with me," he reassured her as he ruffled her head ever so slightly. "I like you, after all," he stated with the same poker face.

Jaehee blushed at his words and couldn't help the sputter that escaped her lips as she turned at him. "Mr. Han!" she reproached him, even if a little. "Saying it so casually..." She shook her head at him, but her smile betrayed her true feelings.

"There's truly no one like you, is there?" She laughed, walking toward him, then happily taking his hand, making him smile. "Come on."

...

As the two now sat next to each other in Jumin's black car, Jaehee suddenly felt a cold shiver rush through her body. She attempted to keep herself warm by rubbing her arms with her hands. "Huh, it's getting quite cold..." She looked at the chilly rain causing the cold weather outside that somehow seeped inside the vehicle.

"You're shivering," Jumin noticed, looking at her.

Jaehee looked back at him. "It's fine, you don't have to give me your coat." She still remembers when he did so, when they were together at the amusement park watching fireworks.

Jumin was silent for a moment, then speaking again. "I can do something else then." Without an ounce of hesitancy, he moved closer to her, hodling her in his arms warmly and laying his chin on her head.

The cold had definitely left now.

Jaehee's brown eyes widened and she looked up at him, but then moving closer to him, too. "This... is quite nice." Her head fit perfectly under the crook of his neck, and she let herself rest there.

Jumin smiled, closing his eyes blissfully. "I agree."

Sitting closely next to each other, huddling together, they felt themselves relaxing.

But when Jumin looked down again, even though her smile was still there, her eyes looked troubled as she glanced away.

He softly brushed her hair with his fingers, bringing her attention and comforting her at the same time. "Jaehee? Are you alright?" he asked her gently, his voice low.

Jaehee flinched slightly for half a second, but soon melted in his arms again. "I-I thought we would keep referring to each other by our professional names..." she murmured under her breath.

"We're not at work anymore," Jumin pointed out, tenderly brushing long, silky brown strands away from her face.

"Ha, you're right. I... just don't want to risk it," she admitted, though by her eyes widening, it seemed the words escaped her by accident.

Jumin raised an eyebrow. "Risk what?"

Jaehee sighed deeply, looking down. "Risk hurting you..." She confessed with a pained expression.

Jumin was even more confused now. "Why would you hurt me? You're the person who makes me happy," he told her simply. He trusted Jaehee completely, and he knew she would never do such a thing.

Jaehee seemed unconfident in what he said. "A-am I...?" she questioned in what was barely a whisper.

Jumin only hugged her more tightly, nuzzling her hair. "I told you that I liked you, didn't I...?" he murmured under her brunette tresses.

Jaehee herself shifted slightly, nuzzling his chest. "I don't want to tarnish your reputation or cause anything that would harm you... we're both in different levels..."

The raven-haired man pulled away from her, raising her chin with his hand so she would look directly at him. "Jaehee... I sincerely could care less about what anyone thinks about me when it comes to you," he told her firmly. "You're more important to me than any kind of reputation or any other person's opinion, and..."

"We're not that different." Jumin smiled a little. "If anything, we have things to learn from each other... I learnt a lot of humility and normalcy from you, Jaehee."

"Knowing you so intimately is partly how I fell in love with you. I... feel safe with you. You don't have to prove anything to me." He finished, looking at her seriously.

Jaehee stared up at him with widened brown eyes; her lips slightly parted with surprise. She was speechless as she glanced away from him for a moment, then she chuckled.

"Jumin." She smiled brightly at him, still hugging him, and affectionately ran a hand through his raven hair, making him blush without the intent of doing so.

"You're a very precious person to me... Thank you," she told him as she her hand slid from his hair until it was resting on his cheek, making his heart start beating rapidly.

Jumin smiled back at her, leaning into her touch gladly.

"But I... I don't want to ruin anything, I feel like I will... because I don't deserve you." Jaehee's hand fell and he raised his head in puzzlement.

"What are you talking about?" Jumin frowned, looking intently at her. "If anything, I'm the one who doesn't deserve you..." He thought back to all the times he was cold and almost heartless to his assistant; the piles of work she had to go through, working overnight while everyone else left. Staying with him.

Yet she was always efficient, with an always perfect performance. She kept her complaints to herself (and occasionally to the RFA members), but he remembered her telling him she was still grateful to have worked with him nevertheless.

Jaehee was such a pure and beautiful person and he... "I'm merely fortunate to have you so close to me..." He gently laid a kiss on the top of her head.

"That's not why. You're with me because I like you," she told him, now she was the one frowning at him. "I know that you've changed a lot from how you were. You're... you're better. And I like the better you."

Jumin's silver eyes widened slightly when she rose up a little, nervously, and he realized she was going to kiss him. But the vehicle moved and her lips landed on the corner of his mouth instead.

Jaehee immediately pulled away, avoiding his gaze and pretending as if nothing happened; clearly embarrassed.

Jumin blinked twice before a smirk extended on his face. "Couldn't you kiss me a little further to the left?" He whispered next to her ear, teasing her, and she feels his warm breath hover over her skin. A pleasant shiver runs down her spine.

But Jaehee blushed in embarrassment and glared at him. "Shut up," she muttered, then buried her face on his striped shirt and he laughed. She secretly hid her own laughing.

His laughter sounded so deep and melodious. She wished she could hear him laugh more often.

When the laughter died down, Jumin lowered his head, nuzzling her hair again. "It's as if all my stress and exhaustion leave completely when I'm with her."

--

Driver Kim is content seeing the two, knowing the young Mr. Han trusts him to know about his relationship with Ms. Kang, which he's glad of, since Jumin was almost like a son to him.

Before, he had noticed the way they behaved and reacted to each other, and there was constantly some kind of tension surrounding them (so thick it could be cut with a knife); as if they wanted to do more than they actually allowed themselves to.

It was sweet to see the happiness radiating off their faces through rear view mirror, and he smiled.

...

"Are you sure you're fine, Jaehee?" Jumin asked for the umpteenth time; it still seemed Jaehee was heavily preoccupied with something, and he wanted to make sure she was okay.

"You've already asked me ten times today... I told you there's nothing wrong."

Concern was still etched on his face, but he sighed. "...Alright. But if you want someone to talk to... I'll always listen to anything you have to say." She caught a glimpse of him blushing slightly, then he looked at reassuringly. "You can trust me."

Jaehee silently stared at him for a moment, before smiling slightly. "I do trust you. Just..."

"I'm not ready to talk about this yet..." She pushed away the thought to keep walking. "Rest well, I'll see you tomorrow." She waved at him with the same smile.

Jumin smiled back. "Indeed. I want you to rest as well. Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Was the last thing she said before walking inside her apartment.

Jumin turned towards Driver Kim. He sighed. "She's been acting strangely since this morning, I'm very worried about her..." He admitted to the driver, who nodded at him.

"Maybe you should give her some space, Mr. Han," he suggested.

Jumin looked up at him. "Perhaps..." He glanced away. "I hope she feels safe with me, too. Safe enough to tell me what she feels so I can help her..."

Driver Kim hummed. "Love is a complicated thing, isn't it?"

Jumin chuckled slightly. "More than I wish to admit."

"I hope Jaehee's okay..."
.
.
.

Jaehee sighed deeply as she closed the door behind her, then she looked out the window. "It doesn't seem like the rain is going to stop any time soon..." she whispered.

She walked towards her room, proceeding to fall on her bed with her arms extended. She then glanced at the Elizabeth the Plush and Alexander the King laying comfortably next to her.

Jaehee's lips quirked up a little. "Elizabeth? Alexander?" She chuckled slightly, staring at them. She took Elizabeth and slumped over the plushie as if it were a pillow. "I'm so exhausted... thinking about everything..."

Jaehee absentmindendly played with Alexander, holding him in her hands. "Jumin..." she muttered, being reminded of him. "He seemed worried..."

---

Jumin reached down, feeding Elizabeth the 3rd and lovingly petting her head. "How are you today, my princess?"

Elizabeth purred in response.

Jumin's smile faltered. "Tch... I can't stop thinking about her... But Driver Kim suggested I give her space," he said worriedly, walking towards the window and staring outside. "...I already miss her, though."

Elizabeth walked toward him, brushing against his legs, and he lowered down to pet her.

Suddenly, his cellphone started ringing. Taking it without looking at the caller ID, he picked it up begrudgingly. "How dare they. Interrupting my time with Elizabeth the 3rd..."

"Yes?" he said coldly.

"Ju-Jumin? Did I call at a bad time...? I-I'll hang up..." He heard Jaehee's voice in the other line and immediately regretted his tone of voice.

"Jaehee? Wait, don't." His voice became warm. He sat down on the floor, Elizabeth on his lap. "I'm sorry, I thought you were someone else. You're always welcome to call me. In fact..."

"It's quite pleasant when you do..." he admitted, laying his head on the floor, where Elizabeth sniffs his face curiously.

Jaehee was silent for a minute before speaking quietly. "I... I'm confused."

"Why? Is there something wrong?"

Jaehee buried her head on the white fabric of her plushie. "I'm not sure. Yesterday, I bumped into Mi-Cha, you know, Miss Park, after leaving a coffee shop, and she asked me if I would like to have my own café..."

Jumin was surprised. "Really? That seems quite sudden."

The brunette chuckled, agreeing. "It was... but coming from Mi-Cha, it's common. She's a very unpredictable person... maybe that's why... that's why she suggested to me that I get my own coffee shop when I leave C&R. She knows I really love coffee, and I think she saw me staring at the café."

"And?"

Jaehee couldn't help but frown, he sounded quite uninterested. "And what?"

"Do you want to have your own coffee shop after you leave the company?" Jumin explained his question.

"I..." She was silent for a long while, concerning him, but thankfully she spoke again. "I would... But it's a very risky and unstable job... There's many ways it could go wrong." He could hear the anxiety in her voice. "I'm worried I would be making the wrong decision."

"But it's what makes you happy, isn't it?" Jumin asked calmly.

"Well, yes—"

"Then I want you to do it," he told her, voice unwavering and reassuring.

Jaehee was momentarily speechless, but then chuckled. "Normally, you're the logical one, Mr. Han..."

Jumin laughed slightly. "You called me Mr. Han again."

Jaehee laughed as well, realizing it now. "It's a source of habit."

Jumin smiled even though he knew Jaehee couldn't see him. "What you said about it being an unstable and unpredictable job is true, but if it will make you happy, I think it is worth to at least try. Before anything, I want you to be happy, Jaehee. Can you promise me that?"

Jaehee took a deep breath, then smiled warmly. "I... I promise."

...

RFA message:
Yoosung: Is everyone ready for our hangout tomorrow? I'm so excited!