Joohyun bring a cup of coffee to Seulgi office. Actually it just Seulgi excuse to have a talk with Joohyun because it has been a day since his PA talk to him. Yesterday he is busy so he don't have time to ask Joohyun. He don't know what's wrong with Joohyun that she avoiding him
"Baeby, sit" Seulgi command before Joohyun leaving his office. The PA obeys to her boss but her expression still cold and straight "What's wrong with you lately?"
"Nothing wrong with me. Why?" Joohyun speak nonchalantly
"You're avoiding me. You not talking to me, you not reply my texts and not answer my calls. What I do wrong, baeby? Tell me"
Joohyun rolled her eyes and scoff "Let me be straightforward like you. I'm not avoiding you but I make a distance between us. I don't want to step in someone territory"
Seulgi getting confuse "Baeby, what are you saying? I don't understand"
"Stop calling me baeby. My name is Bae Joohyun!"
"I really don't understand now. What is territory that you're talking about?" Seulgi puzzled
"Do you forget Ms. Kim Jisoo?" Joohyun giving Seulgi cold stare
"You...you know about her?" Seulgi panic
"Hey, I'm at my desk when you and her walk out link arms with each other. I'm not blind Seulgi"
Seulgi palm sweating as he realize his mistake. He totally forgot Joohyun that time. He not supposed to let Jisoo holding him but he is too careless. Now he taste his own medicine. Joohyun is angry because of him. He know he deserve that resentment
"Why do you silent? You just realize my existence now?"
"Baeby, I'm sorry. I don't mean to make you angry. We're just friend. There is nothing between me and her"
Joohyun snort "I don't know that both of you're too close to that extent. Do you holding hands with Chorong too? Maybe I don't realize it when we go out together. Next time I will be sharper"
"Baeby, I swear there is nothing going on. Trust me" Seulgi plead
"You don't have to swear or something. I don't want to think about it anymore. It's enough for now. I don't know if you want me to feel the same when you saw me with Seungwan or not. If you do, you're success now. Don't worry, I won't stand on the line. We're just friend and I don't have rights to stop you seeing anyone. I don't know who Ms. Kim to you and I don't want to know. I think I made drastic decision for letting you courting me. I'm sorry for being emotional and unprofessional. I hope you will be happy with whoever you end with" Joohyun said calmly with short smile that Seulgi can't even read the meaning behind it. Her stare alone is enough to send chill down Seulgi's spine
"Please believe me. Me and Jisoo just friend...we're best friend" Seulgi still trying to convince Joohyun
Suddenly Seulgi phone ringing as sign of incoming call. The caller is no other that Jisoo. Both of them stare at the phone
"Your BEST FRIEND is calling" Joohyun said sarcastically
Seulgi pick up the call with heavy sighs. Joohyun keep staring at her boss coldly while he is talking to Jisoo. He tries hard to avoid Joohyun piercing glare
"Dinner...tonight?" Seulgi said hesitantly while take a glance at Joohyun "Okay, I will pick you up...okay, bye"
"Best friend, huh?" Joohyun remarks after the call end
Seulg rubbing his face "I don't know what else to do to make you believe me"
"You don't have to do anything" Joohyun said "Oh, before I go out I want to let you know that I will go back to my hometown. I take leave for 3 days. Chorong will replace me to attend you or you can ask your best friend for help. I guess she know you better"
"Why take leave so long?"
"My parents said they have something to discuss with me...about my future"
Seulgi eyes widened "Your future?" suddenly he feel uneasy
"You don't have to know. Enjoy your dinner with your BEST FRIEND" Joohyun said then leave
.............................................
Before go home, Chorong and Joohyun go to supermarket to shop for groceries. Both of them go to different section. Joohyun is at detergent section while Chorong at frozen foods. While Joohyun choosing her fabric softener, someone tapping her shoulder and she turn around
"Seungwan?" her eyes widen in shock
"Joohyun, can we talk?" Seungwan asked softly
"I don't have anything to talk with you" Joohyun speak coldly
"Please, I want to clear thing between us. Let's grab a coffee"
"No, just make it short and talk here. I'm not in mood to hangouts" Joohyun said with serious tone
"Okay" Seungwan give in "I want to say sorry for what happen before. I really don't know what's wrong with me that I unable to control myself. I really screw up big time. Please forgive me, Joohyun"
Joohyun run her hand through her locks "Okay, I will forgive you" Seungwan smile in relief "But I will never forget what you had done. You're lucky that I not lodge a police report"
Seungwan bow his head "I'm very thankful for that. We're good now, right?"
"Yes"
"Can we be friend again?"
"Sure thing but we're not going out like before unless someone joins us. If just you and me, it is a no. Do not come near me without reason. Don't come to my apartment ever again"
"Why?" Seungwan sad "Is Seulgi told you to stay away from me?"
"No, this has nothing to do with him. I just want to protect myself. If Seulgi know about that, you're surely dead by now. I don't want to involve him in this case so I'm not telling him"
"Okay" Seungwan said weakly "Do you...like him?"
"Yes, I do" Joohyun stated confidently while lock her eyes with Seungwan's to tell him that she is serious "Stop your plan to court me because I will never be yours. I never see you more than friend and superior"
"Are you saying this so that I will stop disturbing you?"
"No, I just tell the truth. Why would I making that excuse just to stop you? I'm not that kind of person"
Seungwan nods his head "So he won, huh?" he scoff
"He not wins anything. I like him even before you know me so he won without compete with you. I'm not a prize for sure" Joohyun paused "I don't know what actually happen between both of you but please grow up. You're a good man and you will meet someone who deserves you. There are a lot of woman who is better than me. We can't be more than friend. I don't want something bad happen between you and Seulgi. If you still want to be my friend, please don't do something that can put everyone into trouble. I respect you. I don't want to give you cold shoulder. Please don't hold grudge on me and Seulgi"
Seungwan is speechless hearing Joohyun lecture to him. She indirectly knocks some sense to him. He finally looked at Joohyun with guilt
"I'm sorry Hyun"
"Don't be sorry, I told you I forgive you already"
"You really have kind heart. I'm thankful that I meet you" Seungwan tearful as he look at the girl in front of him "We not end up together but thank you for making me happy. You notice or not but I'm very happy spending time with you. I hope one day we can hangouts again as best friend"
Joohyun beam happily "I also happy spend time with you. You're great friend. Sure, we can go out but not now. Seulgi was upset when he know I go out with you. I don't want to make things worse. He just cool down from jealousy"
Both of them giggle "Bear with it. It won't take long for him to cool down. Are you two dating now?"
"Not yet, we still work things out"
"Okay" Seungwan nods "I hope the best for both of you. Look forward to hear the good news"
"Sure thing"
"Got to go now. See you around"
"Alright"
Seungwan walk away after bid goodbye. Joohyun is watching him with big smile. She feel relief because the problem with Seungwan is settle. She hopes Seungwan will make it up with Seulgi too.
The only problem now is Seulgi and Jisoo. Seulgi hurriedly leaving the office earlier because he want to meet Jisoo. If not for Chorong, she already throw a thick file to him due to her jealousy and dejected. Seulgi courting her but he's still going out with other woman. She don't mind if Jisoo is his friend and they not cling with each other but they are too much for her delight.
Every time she saw Seulgi, she feel like smack his head for toying her feeling. He can just reject Jisoo invitation but he still go even he know Joohyun is upset. It looked like Jisoo is more important than her. She purposely telling him that she will take leave for days so that he will spend time with her but he is dense and ditch her instead.
Somehow she wants to teach him some lesson. She smirk as she got the idea and go to find Chorong. She found the secretary at veggies section
"Chorongie" she called
"Hyun, are you done choosing fabric softener?"
"Yes"
"You took so long I guess"
"The place quite pack so I can't get mine quickly" Joohyun lied. She would not telling Chorong about the meeting with Seungwan or else Chorong will go crazy again
"Okay then" Chorong done picking few types of veggies "Where else we should go?"
"You're done picking your stuff?"
"Yes"
"Let go buy Pringles"
"You're Pringles addict too? Is Seulgi brainwashing you to eat that snack?" Chorong teased
Joohyun cackle "No, I just eat it occasionally. I want to restock his Pringles at his penthouse. He runs out of stock few days ago. Besides, you don't have to buy it for him when I'm not around"
Chorong poked Joohyun shoulder "What a sweet girlfriend, huh?"
"Hey, I'm not his girlfriend!" Joohyun whine
"Alright, let just say I don't know anything"
"Aigooo" they walk to find the snack for their boss "Hyun, you haven't told me yet about your long leave. Seulgi inform me about it earlier"
Joohyun mentally smirk as Chorong will make her plan easier "I go for days because my parents said someone want to meet with me"
"Who is it? Old friend" Chorong curious
"Yeah, he is my childhood friend"
"Oh, a guy" Chorong smirk "Our boss will be crazy if he know this"
Joohyun pouting "Hmm, I don't know how to tell him"
"He will be fine since that is just your friend. It's not like you will meet boyfriend of yours"
"But...my appa said his family asks him for my hand in marriage"
Chorong gasped and her eyes almost jump out of socket "Seriously?"
"Yes, I go home to discuss about that matter" Joohyun almost burst out laugh when seeing Chorong reaction. She knows this news will reach Seulgi since Chorong root for both of them. At first she don't want to tell this to anyone but she curious to know Seulgi reaction regarding this matter so it left her no choice
"What about Kang Seulgi? Don't you love him?"
"We're not dating yet so there is no assurance for me. Besides, we don't know if his family will approve me and him. Their good treatment to me doesn't mean they will accept me as their daughter-in-law. Kang family is too rich and my family is nothing compare to them. They must be want to see their only son marry with someone who also from their circle"
Even it just part of her plan, Joohyun also thought about that things since she start develop feeling for Seulgi. It is her worries since she decide to involve with Seulgi more than just her boss. She don't want Kang family think that she is after their son for his wealth. She know how capable is Mrs. Kang and her family. Mess with them is last thing she wants to do
Chorong spacing out for a while as she registered what Joohyun just said "It makes sense"
"Besides that, I think Ms. Kim also like him. They suit each other" Joohyun pouting
"Ayy, Ms. Kim is just his old friend"
"We don't know what's going on. You see how happy they are last time. I guess Seulgi family will be happy if they end up with each other since she's also from wealthy family. Seulgi also seem like enjoy her company" Joohyun end with heavy sighs
"I don't think so" Chorong strongly denied "She has dark history with the family"
"Things can change by times"
"Hmm" Chorong run out of idea
"Just take care of him for me when I'm not around" Joohyun said for real
"No problem. I will make sure he will behave well"
"Okay"
"I'm lazy to cook tonight" Chorong whine
"Then come to my apartment and we eat dinner together"
"You will cook for us?" Chorong asked cheerfully
"Yes, we can watch drama together too"
"Alright then"