Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.

Viktor E. Frankl

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Jieun’s POV

            A few minutes have passed since I received the phone call from my father, enough time for me to calm down. Yongguk helped me to a bench just outside the hotel. By then, the blood that had been dripping down my calf already dried. I had a few quiet moments to think things through, and to be honest it was comforting that Yongguk chose to stay with me. Perhaps his kind nature that had drawn my grandpa to him was now working its magic on me.

            “My father,” I sighed, breaking the silent tension between us finally, “forced an engagement between me and Daehyun.” I paused after I spoke, realizing that Yongguk had probably never heard of Daehyun before. He listened quietly though, showing no sign of wanting to question me. He just wanted to listen.

            “I grew up with Daehyun in South Korea. It’s a little embarrassing to admit, but he was the only friend I ever really had.” I couldn’t help but smile, remembering all the times we’ve shared doing foolish things as kids. These moments though, were best kept as memories; sweet little instances in life that were best relived only in the mind. I let out a heavy sigh, and then cringed at the cold wind that blew by. I never felt so weak and vulnerable in a long time.

            “I knew that this day would come though. I just always believed that by the time they gave me the news I’d have something planned to counter it. Turns out it was all just my wishful thinking.” I scoffed, watching a group of magpies hover around in their popular V formation. It was getting colder in Canada, almost time for the birds to migrate south.

            “You don’t like Daehyun?” Yongguk breathed after marveling another lengthy silence.

            “I do like him,” I declared quietly, noticing how Yongguk’s soft smile slowly dropped to a frown, “As a friend.” I couldn’t count how many times I thought over my feelings for Daehyun. People always throw me the “what ifs” and I think I’ve pondered each and every one of them. Sure I could see Daehyun being a sweet husband and all, but it just didn’t fit right that he’d be next to me. It was as if humankind wanted to shape fate into what they saw as convenient, defeating the whole concept of a destiny.

            “As great of a person as Daehyun is, I feel like all the time he’s spent around my father changed him into… a corporate airhead.” I regretfully admitted. There was no softer way to put it. As we grow up, we find what’s most important to us, and that was when the biggest changes happened. Wealth and status over all else was the philosophy my father lived by, and it was as if Daehyun’s unending desire to impress him changed him to endorse my father’s beliefs. Yongguk listened, only nodding as I spilled to him just how disappointed I was with my family in Korea. Even though he didn’t speak a word, I could actually feel that he understood everything. For someone who wasn’t a chaebol, it almost seemed like he could relate. Or perhaps my grandfather had already told him everything before he got transferred here. I ended my tragic tale, though the real ending had yet to come, and waited for any questions Yongguk might have. Sure enough, there was.

            “With your parents being so controlling, how did you ever get them to allow you to work in Canada?” He inquired, gazing up at the clouds and avoiding my stare as if to relieve me from the immediate pressure of answering. This was a question people threw me quite often, a question that had complicated answers. Rather than another long story to bore him out of his mind, I decided to give him the simple—but no less true—answer.

            “Since I was little, everyone who knew me would know that I’d been born with severe wanderlust.” I smiled, remembering another section of my childhood that unconditionally loved adventures and seeing new places. Yongguk turned to me, giving me a confused gaze.

            “It’s a desire to travel and see the world. I guess adventure is just something that’s in my blood. Being in charge of our company’s international affairs allows me to pretty much shoot two birds with one stone. I can travel to new places for work.” I explained further, unable to contain my smile as I did. This was in fact my dream job, and the only thing taking away from my otherwise perfected fantasy was being held back by my father and his ulterior wishes. Though I was all the way in another continent from him, it felt like no matter how far I ran, I’d never be able to rid myself of his tight grip in my life. I was in Canada, the epitome of freedom, yet ironically I felt just as caged.

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Yongguk’s POV

            A few weeks later, Jieun was given a notice that she’d have to visit a branch in Australia in the next few months. It was an annual but necessary visit to make sure that the branch was running smoothly, and she appointed me as the head manager of her branch in Vancouver mainly to look after things when she was gone. I wasn’t sure why she trusted me so much to promote me on a limb, but I wanted to prove to her that I could do a great job in the new position I was given. A lot of news was flowing back and forth from each branch lately, and unfortunately, not all the news was good.

            Jieun had been depressed all week, sometimes locking herself alone in her office to sulk with her secretary, Hyosung, left peeking through the windows in order to check on her. Those little episodes worried many of the staff in the Vancouver branch, but Hyosung and I tried our best to keep gossip on the down low. Today was the day that Daehyun announced he would drop by for a temporary visit. It was as unnecessary of a visit as all his others, and even though he claimed it had nothing to do with Jieun’s father, she knew that he was only being manipulated in order for her father to exert more control.

            Beside me, Hyosung stood with her legs shaking in both fear and anxiety as she glanced at her watch every few seconds, and then darted her eyes back at Jieun’s office doors. Two hours passed since she’d locked herself inside.

            “Daehyun should be arriving any minute now…” Hyosung bit her bottom lip and said in an almost whining voice. After gulping once, she shuffled to Jieun’s door and knocked three times.

            “Jieun… it’s almost time. Are you okay?” Her question was answered with the door swinging open, almost knocking Hyosung off her feet. Jieun stepped out, dressed the same as she would every day at work. The only difference was the dead look in her eyes, as if all hope had been taken from her and she was living nothing more than an empty shell. She proceeded to close her office door, leaning against the wood as she looked over at the main entrance. I watched as her eyes grew wider, and then followed her gaze to the spinning glass doors. In stepped an overdressed man with neatly groomed hair and an overconfident smile—Jung Daehyun. My eyes flew back to Jieun, who had already receded back into her office. Hyosung worriedly twisted the door knob, gasping in relief that it had not been locked. Daehyun walked firstly towards me with a filial posture, squinting as he examined my face.

            “You must be new…” He affirmed cockily, and then moved on to greet Hyosung who bowed almost 90 degrees in front of Jieun’s office.

            “Miss Hyosung, you’ve gotten prettier.” He complimented, confirming my suspicions of his flirty nature. I saw Hyosung’s usually pale cheeks glow pink as she hid her face and then motioned for him to meet Jieun in her office. I gawked as he pat Hyosung on the head like an animal, and then flung the office door open as if to make his arrival more important than it really was. His accent was almost unbearable to listen to; thick enough for me to suspect that he probably didn't know much English at all. I knew for a fact that he did not know his place here. Unlike Jieun, he thrived off of his chaebol status, flaunting his wealth and power wherever he wanted. It was just the kind of thing Jieun hated. And so did I. If this were anywhere else, I would have probably wiped that arrogant smirk off his face with one punch, but I had to respect that this was Jieun’s territory. I had a feeling that she’d deal with him her own way.

A/N: I was actually in a really good writing mood today... but then something came up and I got a little stressed so when I wrote this chapter, I didn't actually feel like writing anymore. I'm sorry if it's not good... it's kind of like a filler -sigh-. I'm sorry if the plot is going too fast. The fanfic title shows up as "Wander____" now. Is AFF censoring the word lust? Ugh... I don't want to change the fanfic title. Oh well.