"Mmm...."

Oh geez....Morning already. What? Its 9am!

I looked to my side and saw no sign of Kris.

There was a note on the table.

'Taking the Taylors to the station'.

That's right...They were catching the train to Incheon at 8.40am.

They had to get up at 7am.

I peeled off the cooling pad that was still on my forehead.

Good..My fever's all gone....

Click...

"Oh, you're up. How are you feeling?"

"I feel much better now, thanks to you. I should apologize for not going to see them off."

"It fine. I already explained it to them. They apparently enjoyed yesterday with the guidings you gave,"

"I see. Good then.."

That means I made myself useful to Kris, right?

"What would you like for breakfast? I had some already but..."

"Could I get some at one of the Cafes nearby?"

"Alright, we can head out a little early. I could go for some coffee myself."

We checked out ahead of schedule.

Then we went to a Cafe near the lodge.

What a lovely place...It has such a calming atmosphere.

Is the ceiling high? Or is the the large windows facing westward?

"What are you looking around at?"

"I was just thinking what a nice Cafe this is and wondering why that was."

"Tell me about it .."

"I was thinking is it the overall harmony? The use of two colors inside?"

"Or is it the way the Cafe is built or how the furniture is placed?"

"You're a workaholic.."

"Hardly, I'm just trying to keep an awareness for these things. In the team, I'm on, everybody's been on the design tem since their twenties. I have no sense for design compared to them and I'm lacking in experience..So I want to close that gap as quickly as I can."

"I see.."

As we spoke, my sandwich combo and our coffee were brought to the table.

"So what was it you were doing?"

"Hmm?"

"You said you had plans for yesterday."

"Oh that. It was the afterparty for the wedding for someone on the sales team. It was apparently a pretty big party. Seunghyun emailed me pictures from it last night."

"Seunghyun?"

"Yes. She came to our wedding?"

"Our wedding? Is she that tall woman?"

"That's Tiffany. Seunghyun has more serious look."

"..."

"Its fine.. I'll show you the picture when we get back."

"Sorry."

"Its fine. You've only met them once. I couldnt expect you to remember them."

"Not that...Well, that too, but... Sorry about the afterparty."

"..."

"I just really needed to have you come with me for this."

Kris........

"And, uh...I want to thank you."

"You dont need to thank me, really. Because of your advice, I am in charge of the wine bar project. So I should say the same to you."

"But.."

Kris fell silent as though he had frozen up internally.

He's so weird...

He acted so forceful in telling me that he expects me to carry out my duty as a wife.

And now he's seriously bothered...

Just then, a rickshaw passed by the window outside.

Luckily it didnt seem to have any passengers.

"Then I'd like to ride that Kris."

"That?" he asked in surprise.

"The rickshaw. Let's ride it together..."

"That's the one hour historic route for two right? Thanks."

"I've never ridden this before. What about you Kris?"

"This is my second time."

"Did you enjoy it?"

"It wasnt that bad."

"I cant wait..." I said as look back at my husband, who was pulling a scarf out of his bag.

"You came prepared huh," I said to him.

"I heard it would get cold this weekend."

What....?

"Are you sure its okay for me to wear it?"

"You're recovering from illness. Didnt I tell you not to push yourself?"

"But.."

"You may not be familiar with them but the rickshaws can pick up an impressive amount of speed. So you can catch a pretty bad wind chill while riding one."

"Your hubby is right, Missy,"the rickshaw driver said.

"I see, thank you Kris."

"Its only natural."

I smile faintly at him.

Is it just me or is Kris acting closer to me than usual?

Was it because the business entertainment went well?

"Okay, you're both on board. I'm moving out!"

As the rickshaw rocked back and forth, I bumped elbows with Kris.

It was such a little thing but it made my heart pound.

Ugh..Even in middle schol, my heart never pounded like this.

If only I could be with him like this all the time........

If only I could feel Kris closer to me.........

As we moved into November, it got busier and busier at work.

That was because with the change in seasons, we had to act quickly on christmas jobs.

In the midst of this...

"Jiyoon, do you have a moment?"

"Coming.."

"What? I've been nominated for a job?"

"Yes, it seems to be from an acquaintace of your husband."

"Of Kris? Who is it?"

"The name is Jong Min."

"Jong Min?"

Come to think of it, Kris did have a supervisor named Jong Min. Kim Jong Min.

We've been introduced at the reception.

Did Kris told him about me?

"What's the nature of the request?"

"You're being asked to handle some interior coordination,"Mr Choi answered. "You should be able to handle this much by yourself. I'm sure."

"Ye sir."

"If there's anything that you're unsure of, find me or Jinki."

"Alright."

Still, to get a job request through Kris...

I have to thank him later.

"That should do it. All I have to do now is to warm it up when Kris gets home.."

Click..

HuH? Is he home already?

"I'm home."

"Welcome back. You're home early."

"Yeah. I've finished a major assignment the other day. It'll get busy again next month."

"Oh, that must be rough. Go ahead and change. I'll get dinner ready in a snap."

"Right."

He's been coming home around 9pm two days a week lately.

If only it could stay that way and I could spend more time with him, I'd be so happy."

"Dinner's up. Here, have a bowl of rice too."

"..."

He looked unhappy.

"Is something wrong?"

'I dont care much for this."

"You mean the hijiki seaweed?"

"Yeah."

"Why not? Its good."

"Its supposed to be edible but its black. I dont understand it."

"Huh?"

"I dont want to put it in my mouth."

"Is that so? Then I'll have both portions."

"..."

He is still sulking.

"Is there anything else taht you dont like?'

"I dont like black things in general."

"Black? Such as?"

"Seaweed, squid ink, eggplant."

"Eggplant arent black,"I pointed out,

"They're close enough."

"I see, anything else?"

"I dont care things with strong smells."

"Like celery? Or cilantro?"

"I hate them..."

"What about herbs? Rosemary? Thyme?"

"I dont care foe much beyond basil and perilla."

*giggle*

"Why are you laughing?"

"Well, I mean..You're like a child."

"What do you mean by that?"

"The things you dont like are pretty similar to things taht make children squeamish."

"Thats not true."

"I know plenty of people that get squeamish about eggplants and cilantro."

"Well, I can force down a cup of mint tea even when herbs make me squeamish. I had to drink lots of it back in Cairo."

"I see."

The way he's talking is childish..But if I said that, he's just snap at me.

Just then Kris's cell phone rang.

"Hm? Who could it be at this hour?"Krsi said, annoyed.

"Hello?"

"Oh yes..I see. It has to be today? Hold on a moment. I'll check now."

"Are you free next Saturday?"

"I am. Is something going on?"

"There's a mountain climbing meet. Its just an informal union gathering but I'd like it if you can join us."

"Sure thing."

I nodded and Kris turned back to the phone.

"Yeah, it wouldnt be a problem. I'll be me and my wife. Okay, thanks."

Kris ended the call and let out a breath.

"You're not too keen on it, arent you?"

"I'm not. I dont care much for outdoors. But its important to socialize. i could build more relations this way."

"Is that why you joined the unions?"

"No. Our company is old enough that joining it is more or less compulsory ahen you come to work for the company. "

"Is that right? Must be tough."

"Its a good occasion to connect with people outside my own office."

"I see."

Hey actually...

"Kris, dont you have a supervisor named Jong Min?"

"Yeah, what about him?"

"Actually, a request came in work today. I was specially nominated for the job. They said it was because it was an acquaintance of yours? That must be him right?"

"..."

"Oh its not? Do you know another Jong Min?"

"Was the client a man?"

"I didnt check."

"I figures that it would be your supervisor. So I was sure it had to be a man."

"I know two poeple named Jong Min but I've never mentioned your job to my General Manager."

"Then who's the other one you know?"

"I doubt its her. She wouldnt remember even if I did mention it."

Her?

His way of referring to her nagged at me for some reason.

"Would you mind checking if the request came from the General Manager?"

"Of course I will...can it wait until tomorrow?"

"Sure."

The reason Kris said that became clear the next say oddly enough.

"Jong Min? It was a woman."Mr Choi said. "Come to think of it, I didnt get many details drm the client."

Mr Choi showed me a memo sheet.

Jong Min,31,female.

"So? Is there something about that?"

"No, sir."

Its clearly that the Jong Min isnt his supervisor.

But why would she nominate me for the job?"

Just then Bora called over after taking an internal call.

"Mr Choi, there's a Jong Min to see you at the entrance!"

"Jong Min?"

"Jong Min who? I didnt make any appoinments for today.."

"One moment, I'll check."

"Its the Jong Min that put in the request for interior coordination the other day,"Bora informed.

"Oh.."

Mr Choi got a pensive look.

"Alright. I'm coming now."

"Is that her?"I asked.

"Yes, what will you do?"

"I'll go with you."

I've got a bad feeling about this.

My bad feeling was dead on.

The woman I couldnt forget no matter how much I wanted to, was standing before me."

"I'm sorry to come without an appointment. I was the one who called about the request yesterday."

Its her... She's the one who kissed Kris the other day at the park!

I felt my pulse beat harder.

"How do you do. I'm Choi Si Won.'

"How do you do. I'm Jeon Jiyoon."

"Ah, Jeon Jiyoon. Shouldnt it be Wu Jiyoon?"

"I go by my maiden name at work." I replied.

"I see. It like you're in denial of your marriage,"she commented.

"..."

"Please, I cant have us all standing around talking here. Let me show you to the meeting room."

"Do you mind if I smoke or is this place non smoking?"

"I dont mind if you keep it in the booth,"Mr Choi said.

"Thanks. The hubby gets all bent out of shape about it at home."

"Hubby?"

"My, didnt you know? My husband works for the same company that Mr Wu works at."

The same company? It couldnt be!

"The General Manager Kim Jong Min is..."

"My husband. Mr Wu is always bailig him out at work."

"Not at all. Its Kris who gets bailed out instead."

He's fooling around with a married woman. And she's his supervisor's wife?

"By the way, about your request.."

"Oh yes."

"I'm going to rent out a new condo and I'd like you to have a look a the interior."

"Is your family moving in?"

"No, its an apartment for me. For work. I always do work at the house but I've started wanting a seperate workplace so I'm renting one. And I'll like Jiyoon to do the coordination for it."

"I see. What sort of apartment do you have in mind? Any specific image?"

"Image? Let's see...."

Ring!

"Excuse me. I need to take this,"Mr Choi said .

"What is it? ...Oh yes. That time already? Alright."

"Mrs Jong Min, I'm terribly sorry. I need to step out now so could I ask you to handle the rest through Jiyoon?"

Huh? Mr Choi is leaving?

"Sure, I dont mind. I should be the one apologizing on a short notice."

"Its fine. See you later Jiyoon."

"Yes sir,"

I was left alone in the booth with her.

"So let me explain about the image for this condo,"she continued. "I want tio make it like a secret refuge."

"A secret refuge?"

"Yes, like a place for striking a backroom deal or enjoying a love affair. That sort of place. How about it?"

She looked at me with a pointed smile.

"That's not very becoming for a workplace, is it?"

"Oh, you think so?"

"Yes. It makes me picture a hidden place where you go to meet someone you're cheating with."

*giggle*

"My, such strong words."

"..."

"You must know by now... What kind of relationship Kris and I share.."

I stared right at the woman sitting before me.