Chapter 16

~AT SUNGMIN’S WORK~

 “Here.” Kyuhyun arrived out of nowhere on one Monday morning and puts one box on Sungmin’s table.

The confused Sungmin looks up from her work towards the man.

“What…is this for, Mr. Cho?”

“An apology.” He answers short.

“Eh?”

“You love Mr. Doughnut from the King’s Doughnut, right? I bought these there.” Sungmin’s eyes sparkles almost immediately when Kyuhyun informed that.

No, I need to keep my cool composure. Sungmin shakes her head few times. She coughs a little and straightens herself while fixing the glasses.

“I don’t take bribes, Mr. Cho. Also, it’s working hours. I can’t accept any gift for the moment.” She said, tries to decline the present though already watery just by looking at the King’s Doughnut figure on the box.

“Hmph.” Kyuhyun sneered at her, “Don’t act so tough Miss Lee. I know you can never resist sweet, especially Mr. Doughnuts here.” He said, purposely patting on the box to make Sungmin more craving for it.

“I did not.” Sungmin disagreed.

“Really?” Kyuhyun smirks at her as he stared into Sungmin’s eyes.

Sungmin looked at him with the same intense stare of not giving up. Of course, she wasn’t that easy to be bribe for forgiveness just like that. But, on the other hand, Kyuhyun just knew which button to push Sungmin to the limit.

“Fine, then. I guess you’re just not fancy of Mr Doughnuts anymore.” He makes a sad face, “I’ll take it back.” He takes the box away from Sungmin.

“Ah…” Sungmin’s eyes follow the moving box dejectedly.

Kyuhyun inwardly laughs to see her reaction. It was so obvious that she wants it. He did that on purpose just to anyway.

“Still want it or not?” he asked, teasing at the same time.

Sungmin pouted, very much understood the tease.

“Don’t be such stingy ahjussi.” Sungmin gets up from her seat and snatches the box away from Kyuhyun, sticking out her tongue towards the guy.

Kyuhyun laughed though. He really loves to see the cute reaction from Sungmin because he knew how rare it is and it is worth it.

“So, am I forgiven then?” he tries his luck, referring to the quarrel they had on the last meeting.

“Nope. You are far than being forgiven, Mr. Cho Kyuhyun.”

“Hey…”

Klak!

The door suddenly opens startled them, just before both of them start another argument. Kangin appears from his office. They look at each other in surprise.

“Ah, Kyuhyun you’re here already.”

“Hey, Hyung.” the lad greets the elder brother.

“Great. I need to talk both of you on something.” He walks towards them in hassle step.

“Miss Lee, book for me one ticket to Sydney this afternoon. Just try to find any flight that is available, put the charge on me.” Sungmin hurriedly took note on what Kangin told her, “Also, about the meeting in Japan for the day after tomorrow, it has been cancel.”

“Cancel? I didn’t receive anything about it.”

“Miss Himura called me directly just now. She wants to postpone the meeting to an early date. She said she will email to you about the new date and venue. Maybe a bit later.” Kangin informed her.

“Okay, I’ll wait for it.” She scribbled down the information on her notebook while nodding her head to the information.

“And here’s the job for you Kyuhyun.” Kangin turns to his brother and hands him a file.

“Eh? What is it?”

“I need you and Sungmin to go to Japan for the meeting.”

“WHAT?!” Kyuhyun and Sungmin shout of shock in sync.

“Don’t be so shock about it. It’s just a normal meeting. Sungmin will inform you everything that you need to know. Also Sungmin, I want you to book the ticket to Japan as soon as today too. Miss Himura is really unpredictable, you know how she is. So, it’s better that both of you are there rather than waiting here. ” Kangin continues giving them orders though they still didn’t recover from the shock yet.

“But, hyung. Why? How about you then?” Kyuhyun asks.

“Dad is waiting for me in Sydney. We need to ‘undergo’ some sort of…I don’t know, a meeting or something like that with all the board on expanding the company there. So, he needs me to be there. But, the deal with the Japanese company is also important. I can’t just let it past.” Kangin explains in fast mode.

“So, I still need to go?”

“Yes.” he determined, “Miss Lee, books the tickets right away. Bring me the documents for the next board meeting too, now, inside my room.” he orders, and goes inside his room without any more words.

Sungmin hurriedly arranges her table and take out the things needed by Kangin just now. Kyuhyun is still in a daze, while holding the file in his hands.

“Let’s talk again later, okay?” Sungmin smiles at him apologetically and follows Kangin inside the room.

Kyuhyun let go a heavy sighs.

I really hate doing this so suddenly. He complains, though only to himself inside.

No matter what, he is still a good dongsaeng. So, he follows what his brother told him and reviews the documents carefully for the preparation. He really is having no problem of going to Japan to attend the meeting. He can do it even with closed eyes. But, with the thought of Sungmin going with him, alone, makes it harder and actually difficult for him to stay calm.

We are best friends, right? Everything will be okay. It will not be awkward at all. He assures himself inside.

~AIRPORT~

Later that evening, they meet again at the airport after getting just a few things pack for each other. They separated when the announcement is made. Kyuhyun and Sungmin rides the plane to Tokyo whereas Kangin with the other plane to Sydney.

Kyuhyun’s eyes brows into a deep frown. He’s confused. The girl sitting beside her is actually happily eating the Mr Doughnuts that he bought this morning. Why is he confused? It is mainly because they are actually inside the plane to Tokyo and here, Sungmin is casually eating outside food where it is supposed to be restricted. Truthfully, by the time they step into the plane, he is already feels strange. Without asking, a stewardess greets Sungmin happily, then another one comes serving her a glass of apple juice without ask, and of course, the girl is looking so normal with it.

“Emm...” Sungmin moans deliciously while eating the doughnuts, “Oiishi.” She giggles happily.

“Just because we’re leaving to Japan, you started to be one?” He mocks at the girl.

Sungmin glared at him by the comment.

“Anata no kankeinai (It has nothing to do with you), Mr. Cho Kyuhyun.” Sungmin answered him in Japanese, mocking at him back.

They had an eye-battle with each other. Their silent battle ended only after a stewardess come to serve them with Kyuhyun’s drink.

“Also, this is for you, Sungmin-ssi.” She gave Sungmin a piece of note.

The stewardess and Sungmin exchange a hidden smile and she leaves afterwards.  Kyuhyun looks at Sungmin strangely. She looked so happy after reading that note.

“What is it about?” he asked curiously.

Sungmin hides it almost immediately from him.

“Nothing.” Sungmin replies, short and simple.

Kyuhyun stares at him, unsatisfied by the answer.

“Fine, you can do whatever you wish for.” He sulks.

“I’m sleeping. Wake me later.” He takes the eye patch and covers his eyes, and forces himself to sleep.

He can still hear Sungmin’s chuckles with his action. But, the girl didn’t do anything but just continue to eat and leaves him alone. He peeks through the eye patch and watches Sungmin by the corner of his eyes. Sungmin is still reading the note she got with a smile. He can see some scribble written, ‘I love you’ on the paper. His eyes twitched almost immediately after that.

Is it Siwon? He guessed mentally, and feels jealous too.

Kyuhyun continues on watching the girl’s movement in silent.  It has been so long since the last time he went somewhere alone with only Sungmin. He doesn’t want to admit it but he is happy even with a little disappoint by the girl’s attitude. He let go a small sigh and leans himself more to the seat. And forced himself to fall asleep, with a hope everything will be even better later.

After a few more minutes, tiredness overwhelmed him and Kyuhyun fall into a deep slumber. Sungmin also has just finished eating one doughnut. She glances by her side and looks at Kyuhyun who has fallen asleep. Her lips formed a smile automatically seeing Kyuhyun’s cute sleeping face. Just like Kyuhyun, she also feels happy to have the chance to be alone with him even though it was all just work.

She takes a blanket and carefully cover the man. She continues admiring him and brushed away some strains of Kyuhyun’s hair away.  Her lips were smiling and it’s not a lie to say that she is happy.

“You’re forgiven, Kyuhyun.”  She whispered softly, a gentle smile on her face.

TBC