JUNG SOMIN

 

Simple pink top with black blazer and black A skirt? Checked. Simple make up? Checked. Black elegant shoes? Checked. Black watch? Checked. Ponytail hair? Checked. I looked at the mirror one more time. 'This will do.' I took a deep breath before getting my favorite black bag over my bed and started to walk outside my bedroom. On my way to the dining room, I took a glance to my wristwatch. 6:30. 'Still enough time.'

 

"Morning, honey!”  Mrs. Jung greeted as she put a plate on the table. “Omo! You look very stunning."

 

"Thank you. And, morning, Eomma!" I kissed her on her cheek and sit on a chair. "Oppa?"

 

Mrs. Jung looked at the stair. "He hasn't come yet. Eat your breakfast first. Oohhh.. It's soo wonderful. Finally you are going to work." Mrs. Jung smiled widely. And, she sat next to me and handed me a pair of bread and chocolate jam.

 

I also smiled along while taking the bread and that jam. Yes. This was my first day to go to work. I was so happy for myself. I really wanted to prove that I could do this - Looking for job by myself and getting acknowledgement for my ability. I definitely would not bring shame to this family. Appa and my Oppa already tried so hard to become this success.

 

"Daydreaming on your first day will not bring good impression." A kiss on my forehead woke me. I sent glare to my Oppa. And, he just smiled widely before landed a kissed on our Eomma’s cheek.

 

"Yah! Who is daydreaming?" I bit the bread on my hand.

 

Yonghwa sit across Somin and Mrs Jung and sipped his coffee. "Do well. And, do help Shinhye. I think she is killing herself for working almost 14 hours a day in the office." Yonghwa took bread and a strawberry jam.

 

I just smiled and nodded. "I will. I will make her proud and thankful to accept me."

 

Yonghwa chuckled. "Why is it again you prefer to work at other company instead of helping me in our family company?"

 

I rolled my eyes and gave a deep sigh. "I told you before-"

 

"Ah! I remember. It is your value to experience lots of thing and not being golden child of the company." Yonghwa cut my statement.

 

"I am glad you remember. Beside, ULTIMATE is doing just fine with you and Seohyun Eonnie." I took another bit of my bread.

 

"That's enough, children! Let’s have a wonderful breakfast here. Yonghwa, stop teasing your sister! Or she will be trapped in bad mood for the rest of the day." Mrs. Jung tried to remind Oppa that my emotion was quite unstable. Once I got irritated, I would have bad mood along the day.

 

"Arasso." Yonghwa sipped his coffee again.

 

I chewed my bread in silence. “I am nervous.”

 

Yonghwa and Mrs Jung looked at me and they began to smile.

 

I looked at their eyes to get assurance. “Do you think I can do this?”

 

“Honey, of course you can. Look at you! You really have the look. A young successful business woman.” Mrs Jung held my hand and gave a light squeeze.

 

I looked at Yonghwa.

 

He grinned. “You have the blood anyway. The Jung’s blood. Success is on your way. Have faith on yourself.”

 

I smiled and nodded.

 

“If you cannot handle KIM Group, I will open ULTIMATE’s gate for you.” Yonghwa ate his bread again.

 

“Yah!” I snapped. “I will not come to ULTIMATE as a failure in other places.”

 

“That’s my dongsaeng.” Yonghwa smiled widely.

 

His and Eomma’s smiles eased my nerves down. I took another deep breath and smile. I was so lucky to have such a supportive family. I took a glance to our family picture that hangs at the middle of the living room.‘Appa, I will not disappoint you.’

 

“He is proud for you.” Mrs Jung also looked at the picture - followed my sight. “He is really proud to have you both.”

 

 

 

 

AUTHOR

 

"What is going on?" Somin opened her window and tried to look a far. She looked at her watch. 07:40. it was almost 30 minutes she just stayed at her place now and not moving at all. Somin grabbed her bag and looked for her phones. Once she got it, she looked for Shinhye’s number and pressed call button.

 

"Yeoboseyo!"

 

"Eonnie. This is Somin."

 

" Somin-ah, where are you? The meeting will be held in 20 minutes."

 

"I am stuck here. I have not moved for more than half hours. Ughh.. I do not understand. I do go early from home."

 

"Ok. Calm down. Just find a way to be here in 20 minutes. I wait for you in the 27th floor."

 

"Arrasso. Gomawo."

 

Shinhye hung the phone. Somin put back her phone at her bag and see that vehicles in front of her were starting to move forward.

 

"Thank God!" She said out loud as she stepped on the accelerator.

 

07:55.

Somin ran to the elevator. She looked at the signage. The elevator was still in the first floor. And, now she was at the 33rd floor. 'This is too long. I have to be at 27st floor by now.' Somin headed to the stairs and started to run downstairs.

 

Floor 30.

She took a break for a while before started to run again. 'Three to go!'

 

Floor 27.

'This is the floor.' Somin was about the step her feet on the floor before he bumped to a person and her lips found that person's lips.

 

 

 

SOMIN

 

'What the hell?!' I opened my eyes wide and stared at the wall for few second. ‘What was that?!’

 

The kiss was still in the position for few second before that person moved his self a few back steps. I moved my sight to the person who stands in front of me. And, there he was. I swore to God, He felt the same as I did. Shocked! I could see it on his face.

 

He stared at me and swept his lips with his hand. "You will not tell anyone about this." He said as he left me and walked to the open door.

 

After a few second I stilled at my position. My heart started to beat very fast. I lifted my right hand and press it onto my chest. My first kiss. Taken by nobody-know-who. Handsome. But cold. I sighed. 'This was not definitely a first kiss I would imagine.'

 

RING! RING!

 

My phone ringtone cried out loud, taking me back to the real life. I opened my bag and searched for it.

 

"Eonnie.."

 

"Somin-ah. Floor 27th. Room 271"

 

"Arrasso."

 

 

 

AUTHOR

 

Somin entered the room slowly, hoped that the people inside room would not recognize her. But, she was wrong. By the time she walked in, most of the people stared at her in confusion. The room was full with so-called-professional people - Dressed nicely and gave serious impression. Somin threw her sight all over the room. She looked for Shinhye. It was easy to locate Shinhye. Apparently, she was the most beautiful person there. As for others were men. Shinhye waved her hand to Somin. Somin fastened her step toward Shinhye.

 

"I am glad you can make it.” Shinhye touched her shoulder. “Ah, Somin-ah. This is Yoon Shiyoon-ssi. Marketing Director.”

 

Somin looked at the man who stands in front of Shinhye and herself. “Annyeonghaseyo!” Somin bowed a little.

 

Shiyoon smiled. “Nice to see you, Somin-ah. It is a relief that Shinhye finally get herself a personal assistant.” Shiyoon stared at Shinhye who smiled back at him.

 

Somin looked at them and also gave a small smile.

 

“Somin-ah, first Monday each month, there will be consolidation meeting. All director and personal assistant are required to come." Shinhye explained after Shiyoon excused himself to greet others.

 

"Eonnie, are you already a Director?"

 

"What? No!" Shinhye smiled. "Not yet."

 

"But, you said that all director are required.."

 

"Ah, our department reports directly to the President that is why I am also required to come."

 

Somin nodded.

 

In sudden, the crowd faded as a young man entered the room. The entire Directors took seats at the oval table. All the personal assistant seated behind their boss.

 

"That is our president. Kim Hyunjoong." Said Shinhye, before she took a seat.

 

Somin looked at the man who stood at the main position of the table. ‘He seems familiar.’

 

When Hyunjoong's eyes met Somin's eyes, Somin gasped. ‘That is him!’ Somin hurriedly took a seat behind Shinhye and lowered her head. 'This cannot be good.'

 

 

 

YONGHWA

 

“Love!” I heared her voice as I stepped out from my car. I looked at the place where the voice came from.

 

A beautiful woman rushed at me. She took my hand and married our fingers. “Morning, love!”

 

I grinned at Seohyun. “How are you today?”

 

She smiled. “Perfect! Ah, Somin starts her first working day today, right?”

 

I nodded as we walked to the building’s lobby. I could feel that people stared at us. Well, they always did. Fortunately, they all used to see us together and knew that we were dating. After few years, they already accepted us as couple and wished us to get married soon.

 

“Love, my parents want to see you tonight. You are invited to have dinner at our house.”

 

“And, is there any particular reason that I should know?” I just felt there was something fishy.

 

We reached the elevator.

 

“Well, you know that from two years ago they started to ask me whether we are going to take this relationship into a serious phase..” Seohyun did not continue her statement.

 

I already understood where this conversation would end.

 

“And, I also explained to them about the situation that you are not going to be married until Somin get a job and settle. And, today Somin is finally going to her workplace. And,..”

 

“Arasso.” I cut her statement. I looked into her eyes. “You know it well that by the time I propose, it is because of my own will.”

 

She nodded.

 

“Don’t worry. It is you. You are the one who will be my wife and mother’s of my children. Have faith in me, will you?”

 

She stared me back in the eyes and smiled. Her patience and her understanding were the reasons why I chose her in the first place.

 

“You better get me a big and beautiful diamond ring when you propose.” She said before she chuckled.

 

I smiled widely. “I will keep that in mind.”

 

The elevator door opened and we walked in. I took a glance to her and remembered the ring that I had kept for almost five years now. ‘I already have the ring. I will give it to you soon. Please wait for me a little more.’

 

 

 

KIM HYUNJOONG

 

“That will be all.” I gave the signal that the meeting has finally come to an end. I saw my watch. 11:55 ‘Great! On Time!’ It was one of my rules that meeting would only be held half day top. If it was held longer than that, it would not be such an effective meeting. People would feel exhausted.

 

I packed my things on the table as I sensed most of the people already left the meeting room. Then I saw her. I felt a little bit unease and remembered this morning incident. And, as I looked at her again, I came to the conclusion that the woman was charming in her way and seemed nice.

 

“Hyunjoong-ah, will you come and eat with us?” Shiyoon came closer.

 

“With who?” I asked.

 

“With me, Shinhye and Somin.”

 

‘Somin, so that is her name. I believe she is the one that Shinhye told me few days ago – the personal assistant.’  

 

“So, will you come with us?” Shiyoon demanded for an answer.

 

“Sure.”

 

 

 

PARK SHINHYE

 

“Somin-an, this is your office and your table. My office was right behind you. Please make yourself comfortable.” I pointed to a room in front of my of