13 | Happy

***

Sighing as she looks up to the night sky, Seohyun smiles while walking to the side of the straight. The sky has few stars but she felt in a good mood. Not because she ate her favorite food nor she had fun earlier with Yoona but simply because she earned a little earlier after she drove one of the customers in a restaurant to his home. She didn't know driving a drunk person in South Korea is a thing and Tiffany laugh at her on the phone after learning how happy she was because of it.

After a while, she reached the convenience store and received a message from Yihyun once again.

"Ugh, why can't she just leave the house? She's not doing anything to help us." She mumbled, walking into the store with heavy steps. She headed straight to the freezer and grabs some beer cans again and fruit juices before she grabbed the bag of cheese chips Yihyun asked her. She was about to go to the cashier when she received another message but she didn't expect to read a message coming from the doe-eyed.

Yoona: Seohyun. Is that your korean name?

Yoona: I mean, I just remember, I heard your friend calling you that. 

Her heart skipped a beat upon reading it. She doesn't know how to answer or think about it. It came so suddenly and randomly. Especially when they just met hours ago.

Yoona: In korean, it means strong and independent. Just like who you are. Why aren't you using it?

'What the, why is he curious?' She got nervous. 'What should I tell him.' And a bit in panic as she thinks of an answer.

"Miss? Aren't you going to bring that here?" But the guy from the cashier interrupted her thoughts.

"Y-yes." She stammers and hastily brought her basket to the counter. "Mianhe." She apologized as she opened her purse while the guy is scanning the cans and bags. 

"That's 5 thousand won."

She hastily pays for it and grabs the plastic bags before leaving the store. But instead of walking back home, she finds herself walking to the nearest park while thinking of an answer or more like a story behind the name.

When she spotted a young girl with her parents leaving the park, she suddenly thought of her childhood. She has a complete and happy family back then until her father divorced her mother. Her mother has never been that happy and always drinks. Her life was totally messed up and it got worsen when a fire broke out in their neighborhood.

She sits on the swing and finally types her response.

I haven't shared that name because I don't want to look back to my past anymore.

But that past is definitely the reason why I'm strong and independent like you've described it.

Did I answer your question Mr. Curious?

Yoona: Now I'm curious about your past. But whatever it is, I'm sure your parents are proud of you.

"Ha! what does he know about it?" She didn't answer as she put her phone back in her pocket and sighs heavily as she looked up to the sky with a heavy heart. 'Looking back to the past shouldn't be hurting like this.' She's annoyed yet she's proud of herself. She got through with it and now lives rightfully as she deserves.

Suddenly hearing her phone chime again, she nonchalantly took it and reads the doe-eyed's reply.

Yoona: I'm sorry about that. I probably made you think of your past.

"Now he knows that. Tsk.

It's okay. I'm perfectly fine. ^^

Yoona: Oh, Thank God. But let me make it up to you the next time we see each other.

Oh, See you on the reality show! 

"Right, the show is starting next Wednesday." She mentally reminded herself.

***

After a good conversation and playing games with Butter and Yuri, Jessica can call the night over. It's the night she's going home finally but Mr. Baek didn't refuse Yuri's order to drive her home. She feels like it was too much but she couldn't decline and now, she's enjoying the ride peacefully from the backseat while watching the beautiful moon shines through the night.

After a while, she reached the building and bowed so many times to the driver before she headed inside. 

"Omo, fany?" She saw her friend by the lift, standing and waiting.

"Whoa, Jessica Jung. What are you doing at this time of the night?" Tiffany literally laughs but is happy to see her friend.

"I told you I did go home straight. I came to Yuri's villa. How about you? I thought you were going too lazy around the apartment, eh?" Jessica teases as she nudges her friend.

"Change of mind. Hang out with Taeyeon and realize the time went by too fast." 

"Being with someone you like really makes you forget the time." 

Tiffany scoffed. "So you just admit it, You are liking Yuri." She at the same time.

"Yah! I was talking about you and Taeyeon. Don't change it to me."

They both laugh at their antics. And as the lift arrived, they stepped inside still laughing, thankfully no one was with them as they continue their teasing until they reach the floor of their apartment. When they walked into the living room, empty cans and bag of chips are on the floor while Yihyun is on the sofa, sleeping with open, creating loud snores, that fills up the entire place.

"She's ing embarrassing." Tiffany couldn't help it and commented as she began to clean up.

"What did she reason for staying again?" Jessica asks while helping her.

"She wants to join the group and also, wants to be with us when we open the storage room. Aigoo, she's just really doing nothing. As if she's our youngest sister." 

"Why can't she return to New York?" 

Tiffany stopped from picking up the cans. "I didn't ask her that. She may be escaped or something because why can't she leave, right?" 

"She has a better reason for staying and we better know that before things get ugly." Jessica looked at Yihyun and grimaced. 

"Jihyun though, we can't contact her." Tiffany remembered her older sister.

"Chincha?"

"Yihyun shared with us the new number her sister is using and she too was surprised when we couldn't contact her."

Jessica nodded slowly. "Something is going on in New York. I can feel it."

"I hope it won't come here." Tiffany anxiously shared. "Otherwise, it's the end of us." 

"We'll definitely be ready so it won't totally affect us." Jessica confidently replied while staring seriously at Tiffany.

***

[The Next Day...]

The moment she reached the building of the hospital, Jessica hastily runs out of the cab and almost knock someone down when she accidentally bumped into a stranger along the way. She apologized however but she wasn't able to enter the lift as it closes the moment she stopped in front of it. There are other patients and doctors that are using the stairs instead of it so she had no time to wait and just go along with the others.

After two floors, she finally can relax as she walks to the doctor's clinic but she stopped when she spotted Mr. Cha outside. 

"So... I was late. Aish." She hastily jogs towards him and catches on her breath first.

"I thought you ain't coming, Ms. Park." Mr. Cha smiled to see her.

"I'm sorry I was late. I didn't notice the time. And there are a lot of people in this hospital, I almost knock someone on the floor." She shared sheepishly while smiling. "Is he inside?" She didn't wait for his response as she asked right away.

"Yeah, talking personally with the doctor about the result. So... please breathe. You don't have to face the doctor anymore, Ms. Park." Mr. Cha let out a soft chuckle.

Taking a deep breath, Jessica slowly exhales as she walks to the bench nearby. "Mianhe." She awkwardly smile again as she noticed her sweats. She took her handkerchief out and wipe it off gently. 

"It's been ten minutes since he got inside, so maybe he'll be out in a few minutes." Mr. Cha took his seat beside her. 

"How does he look when he entered, Mr. Cha?" 

"He looks relaxed, there's nothing to worry."

Jessica nodded slowly. "Because last night, he said he was feeling a little pain in his chest but it went away after a few minutes of relaxing."

"He complained about it?" 

"Yes. Well, technically I always notice he will touch his chest and give it some rub but doesn't say anything. So hopefully the result isn't that serious." She shrugged her shoulders and check her phone briefly. 

"We'll definitely know later." Mr. Cha heaved a sigh as he felt a little anxious out of a sudden. He remembers Mr. Kwon had heart surgery back then for heart enlargement. He hopes Yuri didn't possess the same disease, coz that only means, he has to keep his stress at work under control. 

Moments later, the door finally opens and Yuri stepped out of the clinic, bowing a few times to the door and thanking him before he faces his head butler and Jessica, who are anticipating any update. "Why don't we grab some food first, Hmm?" He offered as he flashed a bright smile. He didn't wait for them as he walk ahead to the lift.

Jessica and Mr. Cha hastily catch up with him.

"Something's not right." She squinted her eyes at Yuri as he stood in the middle of them in the lift.

"I know right, Ms. Park?" Mr. Cha crossed his arms and looked at the young chairman suspiciously.

Yuri rolled his eyes in annoyance. He pressed the close button so the lift would go down. "No one press the button, that's something wrong." He nonchalantly said.

"Okay." Jessica shrugged her shoulders again.

"Let's make a deal." Yuri then turns to face the woman on his right. 

"As long as-"

"I will tell you guys about the result but... after that, we will start dating." He interrupted, stunning Jessica.

"Wha-what?"

Mr. Cha smiled giddily.

"I'm just kidding." Yuri chuckled softly. "Your face is funny." 

Jessica is agape and speechless. She literally hit his arm as her cheeks blushed that instant. "I hate you. I freaking hate you."

"Yah, I'm still your boss. Don't get too comfortable like that." Yuri reminded which made her hit him a few times. He laugh and grab her hand before she could hit his chest. "Be careful. You don't know the result yet." 

"Aish." Jessica pulled her hand off and crossed her arms as she huffed.

"Just date you two, what's taking too long?" Mr. Cha giggles.

"Mr. Cha even knows." Yuri mumbled as he glance at Jessica.

"Let's see the result first." Said Jessica as she glance at the envelope Yuri is holding and immediately stepped out of the lift and lead them out of the hospital.

Yuri can't help and smile giddily while following her. Mr. Cha couldn't describe the childishness of the two but he likes what he is seeing, especially the young chairman.

—

"What would you love some, Mr. Chairman?" ask Mr. Cha while checking the menu in a small restaurant across from the hospital. The entire place is filled so it's totally noisy.

"A broth would be good." Yuri replied after a couple of seconds of thinking. "A beef broth." He added as he wander his eyes around.

"Is it your first time here, Mr. Chairman?" Jessica got curious because he looked like he had been in the place as well.

"When I was ten I think, I and my parents used to eat here. At that time, my father was still the chairman. He loves this place whenever we leave the hospital after a check-up." Yuri shares, smiling warmly at Jessica across from him. "It's my favorite place now but I don't usually come because of my schedule." 

Jessica slowly nodded as she wanders her eyes too. She remembers that small pop-up bar too in Itaewon, it's kind of a coincidence they have the same likes of small yet comforting places. And It warms up her heart. 

"Ms. Park, how about you?" Mr. Cha noticed she got quiet.

"Oh, Uh, a beef broth too please." She hastily told him.

Yuri smiled quietly without looking away from her.

"So what's the result?" She coughs so she can pour some water on her own glass. She can't believe she's feeling hot. 

"Let's grab some food first as I've said." Yuri insists, giggling at the same time. He grabs the tumbler and pours his glasses too with the tap water. 

'The way he's delaying it, this is really serious.' Jessica could sense it but she was proud to see he was taking it well.

—

While everyone's enjoying their meal, quietly and peacefully, Yuri suddenly chooses to share the result in the middle of it, as he brought the envelope to the side, near Jessica.

"It's the same as my father's." He said.

Mr. Cha's heart skipped a beat and he quickly grabs the envelope, beating Jessica from checking the result. His eyes couldn't believe the findings although he had expected it.

"What do you mean?" Jessica tried to see the result as well.

"Heart Enlargement or cardiomegaly. But it's not actually a disease as I've known. Just like my father's. It's an indication however that something's going on with my heart and I need surgery so it won't risk my health. You know my father has hypertension and it causes heart enlargement." Yuri explains and smiles a little as he sips on his water.

"I... I don't know... wha-what..." Jessica had no words as she felt bad for Yuri. She felt like she wanted to hug him but she was across from him. 

"It's okay." Yuri nodded, reaching for her hand and giving it a gentle hold. "This actually means, I have to be careful with whatever I eat now. Take me meds regularly and... exercise." He chuckled at the end. 

"So are you going to schedule a surgery soon, Sir?" asked Mr. Cha, curiously and in concern.

"I'm still thinking about it. The doctor told me to take my time since it's not really dangerous. But it could really be if I don't follow his instructions." Yuri added, staring back at the speechless girl before his eyes. He smiled at her again as he nodded a little. "I'm fine." He softly says.

"I'm... really so sorry to hear that." Jessica slowly looked down at her bowl, trying to understand her feelings at the moment. She's sad, confused, hurt, and really sorry for him. It reminds her of her parents out of a sudden and she can't hold back her tears. 

"Tsk, so this is how you react to someone you like?" Yuri teasingly said immediately regretting because she glared at him with those watery eyes. He hastily grabs a tissue from the side and handed it to her. "I'm... I'm sorry." He apologized immediately.

Jessica grabs it and used it to sniffle instead. "You better take the surgery." She commanded firmly. "You're still too young and got more life ahead of you." She whimpered as she wipe her tears off.

'Why is she so dramatic?' Yuri is stunned yet he finds it adorable. "I'm definitely doing it... but not too soon. That's what the doctor has said also."

"This means no more alcohol for you, no smoking, and... don't you ing overstress yourself from work!" Jessica cursed mindlessly earning a few stares from customers nearby.

"Aish. You're embarrassing us. I'm doing it, okay? Don't cry." Yuri grabs another tissue and asks Mr. Cha to give him too. Jessica grabs their tissues and continues to cry before them. "We shouldn't have gone here." Now he regrets bringing the latter to a public place as stares are on them, especially the owner of the restaurant. 

Jessica continued to cry her heart out while both Mr. Cha and Yuri are covering their faces from everyone's eyes.

"Stop her, Sir." Mr. Cha ordered under the tissue paper.

"You should do that. You're next to her." Yuri whispered back and kick his butler's leg under the table. But as the cries continues, he got even more guilty. He gets up and hugs her. "Shshshs... please... calm down now, Rose-ah." He sighs, heavily for doing it again but in public for the first time.

—

"What is the chairman doing?" asked Mr.