CHAPTER 15

Hana.

Not coming in today. Take messages and files for me.

- CEO Wu

I stare at the text for a few seconds before typing a reply of 'Yes sir' then sent it to Kris.

I feel like there's something wrong about Kris lately. Ever since the incident of having accidentally heard his conversation with Xiumin, things have been off. I feel guilty.

For some reason, I actually do. I remember when he came to my office that certain afternoon and...

“I just... wanted to thank you for earlier... the lunch and everything”

Damn it Hana! How could you have acted so cold?! Kris, for the very first time, thanked me! Thanked. me. My hands find it's way to my head and I clutch my hair as I lean forward on my desk, biting my lip so hard to the point that it was ready to bleed. I just faked a smile... I was clouded with bluntness. I'm frustrated; there it was, an unforgettable memnto in my life and it just so happens that I was too upset to even notice.

Kris didn't deserve anything. He was the right one! I was the wrong one! A whimper escapes my lips and I let out a sigh before leaning back on my chair. Aigo.

I lift my head up and an idea comes into my mind. Quickly, I walk out of my own office and head to the 35th floor.

Kyungsoo.

Ding.

I step out of the elevator doors and begin my journey towards Kris's office when all of a sudden, I stop in surprise when the door opens and Hana steps out... in a sneaky manner. I raise a brow and call out to her

“Hana-ssi...” she jumps and I chuckle in amusement. Cute.

“Oh!” She looks at me in surprise and bows “Good morning, sir!” she smiles brightly and I advance towards her. She looks back at the door then turns to me and informs “Mr. Wu isn't in today”

“But you just came out from his office” I state; Kris leaves his office locked when he's out... unless, he gave Hana some spare keys. She picks something from her blazer's pocket and show me a set of keys. Just as I thought. “I see” I smile at her. I clear my throat and pocket one of my hands “I guess I'll be going down now, I'll see you around Hana-ssi”

I turn on my heel and walk back to the elevator. I pressed a button.

“Kyungsoo-ssi!”

I turn around at the sound of my name “Yes?” Hana ran towards me and smiled “Can I talk to you about something?”

Well... I hum for a moment then turn to her; I have nothing to do anyway. “Sure”

Hana and I sat across each other on the lobby, cups of coffee and cakes on our table.

To be quite honest, I never thought she would last under Kris. Although she has given such an impressive background on her resume, I was assuming that she could only do so much and then get fired by Kris over a clumsy mistake. She's smart, she's hard-working and she's good at her job. Not to offend her, but she can be quite clumsy and careless at times.

I mean... who the hell hands the CEO the wrong folder for an important speech?

But it amazes me how she's still here. I'm beginning to think that Kris doesn't have the heart to fire her. That or Hana secretly begs him for her to keep her job... or she just does a good job at all times, making up for the bad ones.

“Kyungsoo-ssi...” she begins. “Has Kri --- Mr. Wu, ever said thank you, to you?”

Huh? What a weird question. “A couple of times, why?” Now you've made me curious, Hana.

She stays quiet for awhile then her brightness seems to have gone dim. I grab my cup of coffee and take a sip; Wait a minute... I smile and put down the cup. “Has he said thank you to you?”

Hana looks at me, taken by surprise and I let out a chuckle. No way... He did... didn't he? “When?”

“W-what?” she asks; I give her a smile in hopes to keep her from being so jumpy “When did he say thank you to you?”

A light tint of pink gets painted on her cheeks as she looks down on her hands resting on top of her lap. “W-well, I...” she starts. It seems like she didn't know where to start. “Hana...” she looks at me with nervous eyes “I won't tell anyone” I assure her and she relaxes.

“A week ago... I think” she relays to me the story of what she did, the reason behind the thank you and how she was too clouded with other thoughts to have noticed the thank you come out of my colleague's mouth. A shame indeed to have shot over it. Sigh.

Hana bit her lip. A habit of hers that I'm beginning to notice;

“Hana... can I ask you something?” she nervously sips on her coffee then nods her head. “I want you to be honest, okay?” she nods her head and I give her a serious look. “Honest, okay?” I emphasize and she nods her head again.

“Are you and Kris...” I trail off hoping she would understand by then but she only tilted her head to the side in a questioning manner and I sigh. “Are you two in a relationship?”

“BWO!?” she shrieks in shock and I hang my head low a bit. Everyone's staring and I know it. Hana flusters and bows to the people around us before bowing her head to me and apologizes repeatedly. “It's okay... I take that as a no?”

Hana gives me a sheepish smile and slowly nods her head. For a second there, I actually thought they had a relationship. I clear my throat and look out to the open window that showcased the landscape outside. “Can I ask you something, Kyungsoo-ssi?” I nod my head, still looking outside.

“Why is Kris like that?” I take notice of the rose bush outside, one in particular that hasn't had any roses on it for years now. Everyone in the company found it odd but no one really bothered to investigate it, it's not like a life depended on it. “Like what?”

“Cold and impenetrable” I finally turn my head and saw a look in Hana's eyes that I've never seen from an employee here before. Concern, hurt and sadness. A deadly combination. I take a sip of my coffee before I begin to answer her question. Where do I even begin?

“Kris's mom died a few months after she and the Chairman got divorced...” Hana's eyes looked at me intently, her eyes sparkling with curiosity now. “That's one of the reason's why he's like that... he lost someone so dear to him and that someone was the one who provided Kris with warmth but because that someone could no longer be with him, he had temporarily stopped on his tracks as a boy and the only thing that made him walk again and kept him walking down the paved path was fear... hatred... sorrow... almost everything negative”

I stopped there. Hana looked at me, as if waiting for me to continue but... I can't bring myself to do so. I get up from my seat and give Hana a small apologetic smile. “Sorry Hana”

I think she wanted to whine when I had left her on a cliffhanger but this was Kris's past we're talking about. I can only say so much, the rest is left to him. It's his life after all. Hana gives me a sigh and a weak smile “It's okay...” she also gets up “I have to check on Ms. Stephanie now, anyway... thank you for your time, Kyungsoo-ssi” she gives me a bow and I smile some more towards her. “My pleasure, Hana”

She then takes her leave.

Aren't you just so interesting, Hana? A thank you from Kris, huh?

Kris.

Groan. Sunlight enters the room all so suddenly and I haul the duvet over my head. “Get up, Yi Fan” an old woman's voice sternly tells me yet I don't move. “No” I say instead and close my eyes some more. Not a second sooner, I feel something hit my bottom and I immediately shoot up with a shout of pain.

“I'm up! I'm up!” I exclaim as I sat up and rubbed the sleep away from my eyes. “Jesus Christ, give a man some rest, will you?” I groan as I turn my head to look at the old woman holding a stick in her hand. Ugh. Why did I even think fo staying the night here? The old lady gives me a disappointed sigh. Grandma. “Breakfast is ready downstairs Yi Fan, get up or I'll drag you down”

I huff out some air and get out of bed, disappearing in the bathroom to wash up.

The house was still the same as I had remembered eighteen years ago before my dad took me away to live with him in Canada. ing bad memories. I exit the bathroom and head downstairs; I entered the lavish dining area and sit across my grandmother, she still looks as stern as she was back then only older. “How is your father?”

Ugh. “Can we not talk about him?” I ask her. She emits a hearty chuckle and I give a sigh. “You haven't visited your mother for awhile and now that you have... something's bothering you, isn't there?” I stop poking the eggs on my plate and rest my forehead against my palm as my elbow rests on the surface of the table. “Grandma, I came here because I wanted to get aw -”

“Wu Yi Fan, don't you give me those 'get away from ' reasons of yours...” she calmly states. “Young man, tell me... are you in love?”

I could almost laugh at her set of words. Tss. “You're kidding me, right?”

“Well, are you?” she questions and I roll my eyes “I am not inlove, grandma... I just wanted to see mom”

She gives me a gentle smile but as much as I wish I felt warmth, I didn't. It's like I've been so permanently frozen that no source of heat from anyone dear and close could melt me. I only look down and eat my food.

“Yi Fan, I'll be leaving for the States soon and no one will be staying here... would you like to?” I shook my head “No, I'd prefer my condo... just sell the property if you want, Grandma”

She slams down the utensils on the table but I don't flinch. “How could you say such things?! Your mother is buried here!” I look at her sternly “Grandma, I said if you want. It's a suggestion; I don't want to reside in this house, I just came here to visit mom and happened to stay the night, that's all”

A hopeless and defeated sigh comes out of her lips and she sits down once again “The property was entitled to you; it's in your mother's last will. If you plan on selling this, then expect me out of your life”

Smirk. “Is that a threat, grandma?”

“No, Yi Fan...” she breathes “But remember that I am half of the family you have left”

I swallow hard as I stop cutting my food and look at her.

Right. There's just dad and her left for me. How cruel.

The afternoon settles down and I found myself where I was last night. In the back of the house, sitting on the swing beside my mother's grave. I don't remember how many years has passed since I last visited her. Five, maybe? I don't know. Even so, until now, it's still hard for me to accept the fact that she's already gone.

It only seemed like yesterday when she told me she would never leave me. Yet you let Dad take me away and you just stood there watching with pain in your eyes. But no matter how hard I try... I have never found myself to be upset with my mother. Despite everything.

She was the only person who brought warmth to my life.

Yet she's taken all of it with her and left me with nothing but a cold heart.

Beep. I feel my phone vibrate in my hand and upon looking down on it, I see Hana's name. I frown but open the message; It better be important.

Sir, everything is ready for the party. Invitations have been sent. I have organized the files for you. Mr. Huang came to your apartment but you weren't there, he says it's nothing important though.

Wherever you are, please be careful sir.

P.S. I'm sorry about acting dull for the past few days sir. Have a nice day, Mr. Wu & don't forget to smile. It suits you :)

- Hana

I pursed my lips together and breathed out slowly. “Mom...” I pocket my phone and turn to the marble stone “I'll visit you again some time...” I get up from the swing and bow before the gravestone before getting back up to my feet and ran a hand through my hair.

“My weird PA informs me of some matters to attend to... she's weirder than you, Mom.”

I trace my hand over the name of my mother before taking my leave. Sigh.

Success!

I shall update again tomorrow dear readers but for now I shall sleep :)

It's 1AM here and my bed is calling me. thanks for your continued support!

Please anticipate the next chapter! Goodnight chinggus! Author-nim will rest for awhile! :D

P.S. haven't done grammar check on this one yet, maybe tomorrow. so sleepy <3