CHAPTER 22

“Ahhh ~ you really pass for a barista, Xiumin” Luhan says after sipping on a warm cup of coffee that Xiumin made in the small kitchen on his office floor. The latter raises his own cup of latte and gulps down the liquid he had just sipped “Mm! I was planning on getting one”

The two of them sat inside Luhan's office; his finished Rubix cubes lying around his desk. Xiumin has always wondered how many of the little puzzles Luhan has but never raised a question. He just assumed that maybe when he was done with the ones in sight, he would just scramble them up all over again and solve them, vice versa.

It's such a fine day today. Luhan thinks to himself as he glances out fo the large glass windows behind his chair. Too bad I'm lazy enough to even bother sprinkle my skin under the sunshine.

A chuckle dances of Xiumin's lips as he stares at Luhan's face, plastered with a look of longing. Cut off of his drizzling thoughts, Luhan turns to look at him “What's so funny?” he asks the round faced guy, sitting across him on the visitor's chair.

“Your face is” Xiumin chuckles once more and sets his cup down on the polished wooden surface of Luhan's desk “Do you want to go out or something?”

Sigh. “Nope” he shook his head and sips on his cup of latte once more “It's a fine day but I'd rather stay here and play with my cubes”

“Speaking of which” Xiumin finally decides for the sake of putting his self-questioning to rest “Just how many of those things do you own?”

Luhan shrugs “I lost count, one closet at home is filled with them; the drawer over there” he points to the left side of his office where there was a wall moounted drawer “has the same condition”

Is he addicted to them or something? Xiumin's eyes widen a bit in bewilderment, amazement and at the same time concern; having so much of those little brain boggling cubes doesn't seem so... normal. “Do you buy them?” he asks once again. Luhan picks up one of the finished cubes and stares at it.

“I only bought one... the rest are gifts” Eh? Doesn't he get sick receiving the same thing over and over again? “Doesn't it lose the element of surprise?” “It does” Luhan nods.

Knock. Knock. Without waiting for a resonse, the door opens

“Eh? What's this? Afternoon coffee without inviting me?” Sehun pouts as he enters, a cup of bubbletea in his hand, the other closing the door. Luhan rolls his eyes at the younger guy “Don't be such a drama queen, Sehun. Don't up such a good afternoon”

Xiumin shook his head at Sehun as the said boy sat on the chair next to him. He quietly sips on his bubbletea for a moment before breaking his mouth to speak “So... Hana, herself, broke the old man's wish” obviously enough, he had ignored Luhan's earlier remarks.

“In some ways? Yes” Xiumin said, nodding is head. Luhan leans back on his chair “Well, who knows? Maybe she fulfilled another... so much for keeping it a secret, huh Minseok?” he chuckles.

Sehun turns to Xiumin “So, has Kris come for your ?”

Xiumin stands up and turns to take a look at his backside “Hm. My is still intact, as you can see, so... no” he sat down once again and laughter fills the room for a brief moment. “I don't think he even quesioned Hana why she was there” he admits.

“Seems like the case” Luhan agrees with his words.

“Kris seems to be coping well, as expected from him though... cold man indeed” Sehun says. Xiumin chuckles for a moment before turning to the one who had just spoken and replies “I think Hana would beg to differ” he finishes off his drink before continuing further “I really do think she saw what we couldn't”

“But we're his friends; surely, I think he would shed a few tears infront of us” Luhan raises a brow, a little bit of disagreement in his voice. Sehun snorts a sarcastic laugh. Pfft. “He'd never do that... we'd for a ing month if that happens and even if it did happen, I think our phones would have the evidence”

Luhan finishes off his drink aswell and tilts the cup to point at Sehun “Point taken”

“Cold as he may be, if I shot him with a bullet, he'd still bleed” Xiumin smiles.

“Anyway...” Luhan interjects, pushing himself off the backrest of his chair and leans forward on his desk, propping up his arms and intertwining his fingers together as he smiles “The fashion summit is coming up”

Sehun sniggers “And Tao's eyebags are almost reaching the ground”

Hana.

Oomf! The papers in my hands fly everywhere and I frantically bow in apology at the person that I had bumped into before trying to desperately pick up the papers as fast as I can before someone could step on them.

“I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I wasn't looking!” I continue to apologize. A chuckle makes me take a glance up “K-Kai!” she stammers.

He bends down and helps me pick up the papers; we both got up to our feet and he handed me the papers “Thank you” I bow my head in thanks. He pockets his hands “You're still clumsy, Ms. Kim... what's with the rush?” he asks. I swallowed hard before breaking my mouth to explain, nervously laughing “I was just –ah, you see I'm helping Tao with the preparations for the fashion summit”

“Ah, I see” he nods his head “Well, I gotta go...” he gives me a quick pat on the side of my arm before walking past me. I smile brightly as I turned to watch him walk away. He certainly seems happy. “Oh, by the way” he abruptly turns around and smiles at me “Coffee?”

It's been awhile... maybe one cup wouldn't hurt. “Sure, same time?” he gives me a smile and a nod before turning around once more and walked off.

I took a deep breath before continuing my way towards the elevator, my fingers flipping through the papers to make sure that everything was there. I press the button and waited, my eyes still fixated on the papers. Suddenly, a pang of pain hits me in my lower abdomen causing me to flinch.

“Ow...” I winced, my hand automatically pressing on the area. That's strange... must be the food. Sigh.

Ring. Ring. I fish my phone out of my blazer's pocket and slid my finger across the screen and press the phone onto my ear “Hello?”

“Hana-ssi” came Chanyeol's voice. Ding. The elevator doors open and I step inside “Just a sec...” I told him, tucking the phone between my ear and shoulder and reach out my hand to press a button for Tao's office floor. Afterwards, I take the phone in my hand again “Yes, sir?”

“Aigo, you're too formal” he chuckles “Anyway, I just wanted to ask if Suho has already asked you to book the hotel for the Jeju trip?”

“Ah, no... not yet, sir” the doors open and I step out of the four-walled compartment. I walk through the busy floor where some employees came in and out of the main boss offices that were there. Some bowing at me as I pass and I bow back or smile in response. “But I'll let you know once he gives the order”

“Thanks Hana! Oh but um, if you do... leave out mine and Lay's room, okay?” I stop before Tao's door and give a nod of the head “Yes sir” “Bye” and I could picture a goofy grin on his face as he says so. Typical Chanyeol... I chuckle before knocking and walked inside.

There sat Tao behind his desk, drowned in paper work, fabrics and other fashion what-nots. I close the door behind me and he looks up with a stressed look on his face “Oh, Hana... you're here?” his voice was a bit strained because of exhaustion.

Suddenly, I felt a pang of guilt for asking him that favor the other night.

“You okay?” I ask him as I walked towards his desk and placed down the papers on his desk. He mumbles a thanks before running a hand through his dyed black hair. He had to change his blonde hair for the funeral. I don't know why, Chinese cutoms I guess? “I'm still breathing” he chuckles, taking the papers and puffed out a breath.

He opens his drawer and takes out a brown envelope “Here” he says as he hands it out to me. My breath hitches up a bit as I reached for the item.

This is it. I cast him a grateful smile and bow “Thank you, Mr. Huang”

Tao chuckles and waves a dismissive hand at me “It's not for free so don't thank me, Ms. Kim...” Right... I help him with the fashion summit in exchange. A laugh dances off my lips and I nod my head.

“Are you gonna take care of it today?” he asks. I look down at the envelope in my hands, taking a deep breath and let it out before looking at him “Yes... might aswell”

My hands feel clammy right now. My thoughts are on the brink of flying away but I know that I should stay focused; I don't know why you trusted me this much, Mr. Wu... but I'm gonna fulfill that promise. “His dad must've really liked you, Hana” I felt my face burn at his remark but I laugh it off “Or he just really needed someone to fulfill this for him”

“Whatever you say” he says, rolling his eyes. I thank him once more and exit his office.

“Hey Hana” Baekhyun chimes; he had just exited Suho's office and jsut in good timing because I was about to enter mine. I stop and smile at him “Good afternoon, Mr. Byun” I bow my head.

I glance at the papers in his hand “More work?” I point. He looks down at it and lets out a sigh “Yup” he says, a hint of dismay in his voice.

I actually feel sorry for the group; now that the fashion summit is nearing, their work has been tripled. It's mostly hard on Tao. “Do you need help, Baekhyun-ssi?” he chuckles at my question and shook his head “Nah, I'm fine, Hana... besides, you have some things to work on as well” he says gesturing his head at the envelope in my hand.

Right... I give an understanding nod “How have you been?” he asks.

“I'm fine, Baekhyun-ssi”

“Don't stress yourself, alright?” he gives me a pat on the shoulder as he walks past me.

Actually, I've been feeling exhausted lately. Everyday after work and my classes, I always feel like my shoulders are being weighed down by a ton of bricks. I'm constantly sleepy and at times, I just feel like going home and rolling myself in bed or stuffing my face with food.

I'm guessing it's my way of coping up. I remember being like this when my mom and dad passed away.

I enter my office and grab my bag; I've already informed Suho about going out for the afternoon, I didn't tell him the true reason behind it though. Although it's not in my vocabulary to lie, most especially to someone who is my boss, I have no choice but to cover up.

It's not that I don't trust Suho, it's just that i can't involve more people in this. Tao was already hard enough to convince to promise me not to tell Kris.

“Jongin!” the high pitched voice of Yookhyung brings him back to the reality of the moment.

He sat inside his office, sprawled on his desk were colored fabrics and designs of sports wears, gears and other equipments as well as magazines. The female gives him a frown and slaps down the folder of her designs on his desk as if she was defeated and was done trying to attain victory.

Kai looks down at the papers and picks one of her designs out fo the folder “It's good... forward it to Tao by this afternoon” Yookyung's frown worsens and she glares at Kai. Upon noticing this, he glares back at her “Ms. Wu, may I remind you that you are my employee and you have no right, whatsoever to give me such a look”

The young Wu looks away, wiping the frown off her face and replaces it with a blank look. She pockets her hands in her blazer's pockets and turns back to him “What happened to you?”

“What do you mean by that?” he smirks as he questions her, his eyes falling down onto the fabrics. He picks them up one by one, feeling the texture with his thumb and index finger. He would sign the papers attached to each fabric if he liked it and would toss the ones that he didn't like to the side where there was a basket.

Yookyung examines him for a moment. He's different. Kai was the same –physically but the way he's been acting lately as she has noticed was not like him. As far as she was concerned, Kai never dazes out into the open and he never looks lost. He was a man of games; sweet talking girls was breakfast, getting them in bed by lunch and dumping them before dinner. That was the Kim Jongin she knew.

Her eyes turn to slits and a wry smile gets painted on her pretty face as she rests her hands on his desk and lean forward a bit “Are you... inlove?”

Kai raises his head and looks at her for a moment before bursting out into a laughing fit. It was as if it was the most ridiculous thing he has ever heard in his existence.

“Do you honeslty think that a guy like me is fit for that thing?” he questions her. Yookyung's face turned sour. Kai leaned back on his seat, a cocky smile on his face “Falling inlove is not for me and as far as I am concerned, girlfriends are just gonna ruin my life”

She pushes herself off his desk and heads for the door “You are hopeless, Kim Jongin”

“Like you?” she stops on her tracks and turns around “I am not hopeless”

Kai smirks “You're right... you're not hopeless... you're hopelesly inlove with someone who can never be yours”

Yookyung shot him a smirk aswell “Look who's talking... do you really think I can't see the way you look at Hana? You and I are on the same boat, Kai”

He shook his head, laughing it off “You look at everything as if it's a movie, you give meaning to everything even to the smallest, thoughtless actions and you tell me that see how I look at Kim Hana?” Yookyung swallows hard, her hands clenching to fists “Get a grip, Ms. Wu... life is not a movie, not everything a guy does has meanings”

He turns back to his work “Get back to your desk, you're wasting my time with your fairytale bull”

Without another word, she walks out of his office, making sure to slam the door shut. As soon as he felt the lonesome atmosphere settle in, he puts down his pen and takes a deep breath.

I'm getting off that boat.

Meanwhile.

Hana walks up to the front desk of the unfamiliar building and hands over the brown envelope to the female teller after exchanging greetings. The female reads over the contents for a moment before flashing Hana a smile “Just a moment, Ms. Kim” then gets off her stations and disappears.

Hana takes a deep breath as she quietly waits by the counter. After a few minutes or so, the female returns with the same bright smile on her face.

“Mr. Kim would like to see you”

Hana blinks her eyes for a moment and questions herself as to who was this person and why he wanted to see her but for whatever reason it may be, she just assumed that maybe it was part of the transaction.

Soon, she finds herself being led to an office by the employee. She enters and sees a man sitting behind a desk with bright red hair; He looks like the devil. She thinks to herself, swallowing hard before walking inside. The man looks up and a smile gets drawn on his face

"Ah, Ms. Kim Hana! Welcome!" he chimes and Hana bows.