PLOT:
After settling their little misunderstanding over the book concert, Young Joon and Mi So decide to go on a coffee break before they head to the former’s office to work on the other art center preparations.

*As told from Mi So’s point of view*

Seconds felt like minutes. Minutes felt like hours. Hours felt like days.

Ever since I had walked away from Young Joon that night, I felt as if everything was passing by so slowly.

I shifted endlessly in bed, hoping that maybe time would hasten up a bit because there was something that I had been wanting to do, and that was to talk to Young Joon.

I was never the type that would fall asleep angry. As much as possible, I would always want my day to end on a good note and having that misunderstanding with him was the last thing that I had wanted to happen.

The fury in his eyes that night was something that I had never seen in the nine years that I had spent working as his secretary.

I couldn’t help but wonder why a simple exchange between Morpheus and I would lead to that, but after having found out that Morpheus was the “hyung” that he had despised so much, I couldn’t help but feel guilty for somehow, lashing out on him for being angry with me.

There were so many questions in my mind after what happened. Questions that I was dying to know the answers to, but just sitting right across him, in this small table for two, made me lose my focus with the matter at hand, because all I could think about was how attractive he looked in that crisp, corporate attire of his.

Aish, Mi So yah.

“Kim Mi So, you seem a bit pre-occupied.” Young Joon said as he placed the coffee mug on its designated saucer. “Are the preparations for the art center tiring you out too much?”

“Ah, aniyo buhoejang-nim.” I shook my head in reply. Well, I couldn’t admit that I was thinking about him right nor was I admiring his physique or else that would just add to his narcissism.

“I guess I’m just…” I said, trying to find a reason for my spacing out. “I’m just thirsty.” I added, upon laying my eyes on the iced coffee that he had bought for me. I, then, sipped carefully to convince him that I really was thirsty, even if I wasn’t.

“I see.” Young Joon nodded. “You know, you should feel special that you’re sharing this table with me, at this café. The last person I brought here was the executive of Alias Enterprises, the British company that’s making waves in England right now.”

“Of course, I do, buhoejang-nim. I was the one who made the reservation for you.”

Moo.

“Uh, chincha?” Young Joon said as he cleared his throat in embarrassment. “I might have forgotten. You do know that I expect international guests every once in a while right?”

“Approximately two every month as per request, buhoejang-nim.” I smiled.

How could I not know all these business-related matters? Nine years is nine years, after all.

“Anyway,” He said, in an attempt to change the topic of the conversation. “I hope you’re not working too hard, Kim Mi So. I know that everything will go as planned and that we will succeed in this endeavor of ours. I trust our working team and most of all, I trust you.”

“Neh?” I said, a bit dumbfounded at what he had just said.

It was these subtle moments that would make my heart start beating erratically. It wasn’t just because he was looking at me with those deep, brown eyes of his, but because of the way he said the phrase “I trust you” so confidently, that even I, Kim Mi So, his once ultimately flawed secretary, could actually believe that she was capable of doing anything.

“Mi So, I’ve worked with you for nine years.” Young Joon said. “I’ve seen you at your worst, and I’ve seen you at your best.”

“I know that you’ve gone through such difficult times with me, that your mind has been filled with doubt, but I just wanted you to know that as my secretary, you’ve constantly outdone yourself in almost everything that I’ve asked of you, which is why… I am proud of you and I feel thankful to you for all that you’ve done.”

“I’m not the kind of person who gives too much praises to other people nor am I one who apologizes even if I’m at fault. You do know that. But… I value you... and I just wanted you to know that I do.”

Speechless was the perfect word to sum up how I felt in that very moment. My boss of nine years, Lee Young Joon, the man who I thought was once heartless and selfish, was sitting right across me, flashing a small, but genuine smile in hopes that I could feel the sincerity in his words, and I did. I really did.

“Buhoejang-nim, jeongmal kamsahaeyo.” I uttered. “Your words are the very reason why I’ve been working hard these past few days.” I added. “I promise to make you proud.”

“Even as you sit right there,” Young Joon said, his deep, brown eyes once again meeting mine. “You already are, Miss Kim Mi So.”