JESSICA 

Nothing is more annoying that a whining companion in this poor island. You might have affection for them, ever ending nagging and complaints actually blind you and end up making you roll your eyes heavenward. That's what I am actually doing right now.

I tried being patient because it's a virtue, right? What am I even saying? 

"Will you just shut up?" I snapped

"What? What exactly am I doing?"

"Oh, you call whining shutting the hell up?" I retorted. "Just walk, and enjoy the view," I said and started walking. 

I didn't hear anything from him then but I know he's still tailing behind me. That's better, at least. He isn't complaining but I wanted to hear his voice. I'm crazy.

I led him to the small seafood house I knew that can offer high-class taste meals. Well, at least it tastes luxurious though it wasn't much of high quality.

Stopping on my tracks when we reached the place, I waited for Jiyong to approach me. "Enjoyed the view?" I asked, betting he had roamed his eyes around the place. 

"Very much," he answered. I thought he'd be serious but no, "You got a great back view."

I hit his arm. "."

"Why? Be glad I appreciate them. They weren't that bad."

He earned another slap on his arm from me, harder than earlier. "Aw!" he yawped. "What are you really? You hit like a man," he was caressing that part. "It hurts."

"Then don't be a girl."

"Yah, I--"

"Uh-uh!"

"Fine. I'm hungry."

"Let's go in," I said and dragged him inside the eating place ans settled on the seats further from the crowd, I knew he hates noise. "Stay here. I'll make sure you'd eat well."

He just gawped at me and move his hand as if shooing me. If I hadn't known him for few weeks now, I'd probably think he doesn't like it, but I knew he's just a bit chesty. It's something I have learned to like about him, like a charm.

The eatery owner recognized me in no moment and gave me a full smile as she told me it has been awhile since I had stopped by. I told her I just got busy and that I'd not stay long. She knew my favorite and that whay she told the cook.

"Hm, make that for two, please," I said and she looked at me, surprised.

"Are you with someone?"

"Yes. I have, uhm, my friend with me," I told her after contemplating what to say or name Jiyong. Well, he couldn't be my boyfriend, and my boss. A friend is kinda what's close to what we actually are, which is frienemies.

She peeked to our table, and smiled after. "I see. A very fine young man. He looks expensive."

A smug smile crept on, as I looked to his way. Yeah, he does look luxurious. 

"Okay. I'll have it ready within 15 minutes. Is that okay? That's the fastest we can be. You know, I just lost two workers last week," Mrs. Choi told me.

"Yeah, sure. It's okay, we can manage. What happened, though?"

"Well, financial issue, dear," she gloomly told but quickly it was replaced by a friendly expression. "Have your seats, Sooyeon. Make yourself comfortable. It'll be cooked perfectly."

I swiftly nodded. "Yeah. Thank you." I returned to our table and I was met by Jiyong's tensed expression. "Hey, what's wrong with you?"

He stared on his phone for a moment before putting it inside his pocket. "My secretary called. Work calls."

I was speechless for a molike ment, I don't know what to say. I don't know what to do whether I should be happy at all. He's a needed person who owns a big company that comes with responsibility. And I just forgot about that. How dare I am to just drag him here like he's just someone I know on the streets. 

Thinking about it, I am causing much trouble.

"What's with that long face?" he pointed out.

"Are you calling me a horse in a friendly way possible?" 

His eyes went a little wider, and abruptly, he shook his head. "No, no, of course not. I meant, you seem, you know..." he was stuttering.

He looked so cute that way, and yes, "I was just kidding. I knew. I just thought of you."

The way his eyebrows arched tells me his quite surprise I even said that in a smoother way possible. You know, telling him otherwise what I am really thinking. Glad that I am working on that, being quite feisty, honest.

I had a mocking smile on my face as I shook my head. "You're surprised. Can't you really tell, Kwon?"

The obvious stare didn't bother me as I know he was also thinking the thing I couldn't still tell him, not when I am still not quite certain if he'd feel the same or a bit of it for me. The way his eyes scrutinized my whole face was of my liking, like everything about him is my liking. The things he has that I get annoyed of, they seem just there but not affecting my feelings for him at all.

"Don't you find me attractive?" 

Paw! It was too late to take it back. It just slipped through my mouth, and his gaze wasn't helping either. It was just that feeling that I need to say it out loud, one by one, little by little, and if I won't, I don't know when will I. If it's already as ed up as my life before he came?

I was hoping he'd answer, but instead he told me, "Are you flirting w