CHAPTER 5

Jumin Han, ZEN, Yoosung, Jaehee Kang, Rika

Yoosung : The girl who saved V...

ZEN : Why? What about her? You met her already, Yoosung??

Yoosung : She's sooooo beautiful and has a very nice voice. But... she's tall (T_T) She might be the same height as me if she doesn't wear heels.

ZEN : What do you mean 'but tall'? It's not a sin for a girl to be that tall just because you're short.

Jumin Han : But she got a very short temper (-_-)

Yoosung : Lolololol

Rika : Haha. That's because you literally dragged her to the hospital when she's didn't want to.

ZEN : Serves you right lmfaoooooo

ZEN : Damn it! I should not leave the ward that soon. If it's not because of the stupid director rescheduling things during last minute...

Rika : Nevertheless, I hope everyone can pray for Jumin so that Miss Hae Soo agrees to be his assistant someday ^^

Yoosung : Her name is Hae Soo?? (O_O)

Rika : Yes! It's Min Hae Soo. Pretty name, is it? Not only she's beautiful and kind, she's that feisty to decline Jumin's offer.

Jumin Han : Given her situation, is it necessary to be 'feisty'? I gave her such a golden chance to reschedule the interview but she rejected it right away. I still don't get it.

Rika : For certain people, they're that considerate and... their integrity is really something, Jumin :)

ZEN : Thank God she's that smart to accept the offer. Or else, all of us will see a pretty lady suffers and grows wrinkles like Jaehee. Gosh, working with that trust fund kid is basically a slow suicide.

Yoosung : Lolol, ZEN. Do you really have to mention Jaehee's wrinkles here, though?

Jaehee Kang : That's okay, Yoosung. ZEN just stated the truth since we met this evening and yes, I have grown wrinkles.

Jumin Han : My company allows people to grow their skills. With a lot of skills, they can secure a good future since they will survive no matter where they end up with. That's one of our visions here. Apparently, Assistant Kang's life goal doesn't have those what I have mentioned so yeah. She can leave.

ZEN : She will consider to include those you have mentioned in her life goal had you haven't treated your employees like a slave. What the heck is wrong with your brain??

Jumin Han : My company system has nothing to do with you.

ZEN : It has now because Jaehee is my friend and will be my manager.

Jumin Han : You stole her from me so you don't deserve to say something heroic like that. It's fake as... what's... what's the word again?

Yoosung : J... Jumin?

Rika : Please don't fight, guys... V and I didn't ask Luciel to develop this messenger so that you guys can bicker all days ;( Please show a good example for our youngest member.

Yoosung : Yeah, thank you, Rika ;( You don't have any idea how scared I was when you and V left me with these two during the first Christmas I joined RFA. The aura T_T I thought someone would be stabbed at that time.

Jaehee Kang : By the way, how's your leg, Mr. Han? Are you okay?

Jumin Han : I am not happy with the question, Assistant Kang. Do you really have to ask that right now?

ZEN : Yes, she should. So that you would be reminded constantly that you just committed a sin to such a beautiful lady.

Jumin Han : Your words don't make any sense at all. First, you don't even see her yet but you claimed that she's beautiful already. Second, if she's ugly, are you saying that it's not wrong for me to commit that 'sin' to her? Your mindset is frigging sick.

Jaehee Kang : Frigging, Mr. Han? O_O

Yoosung : Oh no, Jumin learnt something bad. It's all ZEN's fault!

ZEN : Hey, what do you mean!? You and Seven also swears a lot here!

Rika : Here we go again... I should ask Luciel to ban those people who swear after this...

707 has entered the chatroom.

Yoosung : Oh, speak of the devil!

Rika : Luciel!

707 : Jumin (T_T)

Jumin Han : Owh, Luciel. I will pay all the car repairs. Don't worry about that.

707: Okayyy (T_T) That's all I want to hear after all.

Jumin Han : But...

707 : But...?

Jumin Han : .

707 : .?

Jumin Han : ..

707 : ..?

Jumin Han : !

707 : !?

Jaehee Kang : I guess Mr. Han also learned alien language from Luciel -_-

ZEN : Really need a very deep story to understand these two...

Jumin Han : Please take note that the society can be cruel, Luciel. I am not done with you ^^

Jumin Han has left the chatroom.

Rika : Oh, my... When I was just about to give briefing about the communal work...

707: Omg, he's going to kill me for real!!! Rika, help me T_T

Leaving Seven with a lot of questions either he could even survive a day after this was so fun. The messenger was strangely addictive if he wanted to be honest. Not only he used it whenever he was tired of Jaehee's voice, he also found comfort in it. He could escape the heavy responsibility of being a director. He could run away from being disgusted by how fake his father's girlfriend.

"Can't I be an excellent boss too? What's with this feeling since I learned that Assistant Kang is going to quit?"

Jumin stroked his chest as he inhaled deeply. The familiar suffocation that he had brought with him since so many years ago felt weird tight today. He had told himself that being emotional was a waste for his time and energy. It would not do him any good but...

A tangled ball of threads...

Was what he described the feeling he had in him.

He ignored it for so many years but whenever someone stirred the peace in him... Whenever someone made him lost his trust...

The threads would get more tangled. The ball would be bigger...

Maybe... I should reflect on myself... As much as ZEN is annoying, I don't think he said those things because he had nothing to do. It must be something that I've never seen before that made Assistant Kang quit suddenly...

"Meow..."

The silky white fur touched his hand, sending Jumin to sigh in thrill. He looked at his cat before his eyes sized up to see what Elizabeth the 3rd was up to.

She was rolling on a black file that contained resumes for his potential chief assistant.

"Elizabeth the 3rd, you shouldn't roll on that..."

For some reason, her sparkling eyes made someone's face cross his mind.

"Min Hae Soo..."

"You look so beautiful in that dress, honey! Really!"

"I know, right? Our daughter, Soo looks good in anything because she takes after me!"

As the old married couple were excited and spoke loudly that it might annoy the neighbours, they did not have any idea that their only daughter was standing right in front of the house.

Plastered knees, tired body and mental, being banned from an interview, gained permission to reschedule the interview for an unacceptable reason... eventually finding that her parents spent her money without thinking would never be Hae Soo's wish. All she wanted was a comfort from her own family.

But, now, she was hesitating to seek the comfort from her own house. Her parents were all excited and she did not want to ruin it.

Or maybe, she just did not want to go back because she knew what to expect when her mother saw her knees.

Her mother, Jung Hwa hated the most when she had scars on her body. 'It will ruin your beauty' was what the woman had reasoned out.

"Soo, there you are!" Another loud voice but from the house next to theirs echoed suddenly.

"Shhh!" Hae Soo grimaced, pointing her finger at her own house to make Ae Ra understand what kind of situation she was currently in.

"What's wrong...woahhh," the brown eyes sized up at the sight of Hae Soo's tragic knees but unlike before, she could control her voice. "That's... that's very wrong! What just happened? Going to an interview or serving the army, pick one already."

"Just... just an accident," Hae Soo said, too tired to explain more.

"God, really..." Ae Ra immediately made her way before clutching Hae Soo's arm. "Save your tragic story for now. Let's go inside and take a rest, will you?"

"No, it's okay. Really, I can rest at my home..."

But Ae Ra was looking at her as if she would break down any moment.

Which was very true. That was why Ae Ra still her friend. The cute girl understood her way better than her own parents.

"I am fine... really."

"I am fine, my foot...You know you're not fine when you said you're fine when no one asked you either you're fine or not."

Yeah, she caught me right away. There's no use to lie.

"Let's go inside."

After that, because of her sudden presence with tragedy, Ae Ra's whole house was filled with various responses and emotions from Ae Ra and her parents.

"Mom, where do you put the first aid kid? Hae Soo injured herself."

"What!?"

"Hae Soo is here?"

"Is she back from the interview?"

From Ae Ra's family, at least Hae Soo could experience how was it like to have a normal and loving family.

"Han Jumin? That Han Jumin!? Awesome! Is he handsome in real life?"

"This brat, is that important right now!? Go get the dinner for Soo!"

"Okay..."

"It's okay, Mrs. Song. I can eat dinner..."

"No need to be shy, Soo. The dinner was made specially for you. Fried chicken, ribs, kimbap... I made all your favorite foods since Ae Ra said that you're going for the interview."

Receiving all those simple but loving words made Hae Soo over the moon.

Ae Ra is so lucky...

As she was slowly having her dinner, Hae Soo erased the image of her own parents who might sleep like logs in their cramped living room in her mind; with all shopping bags and clothes every corner. They did not even bother to put all the new clothes into their laundry basket.

She might have to get up way earlier tomorrow.

After three days, Hae Soo was still miserable with what happened to the C & R interview. The chairman surprisingly considered to reschedule her interview but she decided to give a call to his chief assistant and decline the offer politely. Her knees might take longer time to heal and she also did not want such a busy company to wait around for a pathetic and unlucky soul like her. Heck, no one included herself could not guarantee that she could do a good job as an assistant either.

It was better to save her and their time and energy.

Plus, she did not want to meet Jumin ever again.

So, after deciding that she would not gain anything productive for her empty soul but spending time at her house, she went out. She would rather spend the days in an orphanage which she volunteered since four years ago at rather than doing nothing in her house. Her mother would barge in her room in any second just to make her work again with Cha Kyu Jong.

It was the closest orphanage with her house so she could just walk there. Hae Soo volunteered three times per week as a PE instructor. Talking and playing with the innocent kids who had strong bond with each other was so rewarding.

This was the most effective way for her to escape from her deepest hole of despondency. Everytime she suffered from trauma, depression or loss of hope, she would go there more often. The kids were affectionate to her even she felt bad that she could not buy them even a simple dinner due to her financial problem.

All her hard-earned money was like going straight to the drain thanks to her parents' extravagant lifestyle.

"Huh? So we can't exercise together today?"

"Yes, my knees are still in pain."

"Poor Soo unnie."

She might not be a proper instructor for today but the head of the orphanage was kind enough to allow her to spend time with the kids. Plus, an association called RFA had their members to visit the orphanage and do some activities with the children so having Hae Soo would be an extra help.

Speaking of RFA, Hae Soo could not be more surprised that the founder was Rika herself. She was even more surprised that the woman was so happy to see her; more excited than Ae Ra when she told the girl that she had met Jumin on the street.

Well, Hae Soo was the one who rescued V anyway so Rika might just be too grateful that Hae Soo was the reason that she did not end up losing her future husband. That was what Hae Soo had repetitively told herself whenever Rika acted too friendly.

Thanks to her trust issue due to her past trauma dealing with various kinds of people, sudden kindness scared her the most. She loved to take it slow when it comes to a new relationship, be it with a man or a woman.

From talking about V's condition, Hae Soo's injury, they ended up sharing some of their personal life. From addressing each other formally, they decided to drop it and talk more casually.

"Is that heavy? Let me help..." Hae Soo was so concerned about the big box that Rika was carrying that she forgot that she was in no position to offer her strenght. As soon as she stood up, she could feel like someone just hammered her knees with the full strength. She winced, her hand reached both her knees.

"Soo unnie, are you okay?" One of the children asked.

"I'll be fine."

"Your knees are still healing. I... really feel bad for you. If only V wasn't careless..."

"It's okay. I get used to these kinds of injuries somehow."

"You get used to it?? Don't tell me... Have you injured yourself many times, Hae Soo?" Rika asked.

"Yes, you can say that. I was a school athlete up until I graduated from colleage so I got injured a lot."

"I see. No wonder you got such a good figure. You take care of yourself so well."

Yeah, my mother also did a 'good' job there...

"We hold charity events for unfortunate people and also parties for those talented but underrated talents. It's good to expand your circle and get to know a lot of people. They are all interesting and as much as we're so different from each other, we all seek for the same thing. It's happiness. Don't you think so?" Rika remarked as Hae Soo randomly asked more about RFA. She was ashamed of herself. The woman was so nice to her but so far, she sounded brusque.

"Yeah," despite her lack of words, her eyes could not conceal the instant admiration she felt towards the woman. Truth be told, Rika left her a nice and warm first impression when it was the first time they encountered each other.

Unlike Jumin.

No, why would I think about him?

"We currently have seven members including V and Jumin. The rest will be here later since they all have works to do. If it's not because of your knees, I will ask you to join us. You seem like you are used to these kids already."

After being disappointed to herself that she could not come up with more words, Hae Soo ended up smiling as bright as possible.

Man, this time around, maybe her depression was worse than she thought? For some reason, her heavy thoughts could not fully heal by just looking at the children.

Hae Soo hated to sit like a queen and do nothing. So after literally bickering with a teacher to at least let her put the brooms that they have used to clean up the dorms back into the store of the second floor, she could breathe a relieved sigh. She was here because she wanted to do something physical even they did not even have to exercise or carry heavy things. She wanted to sweat a lot so that she could be healthier.

So that she did not have to dwell on those dark thoughts.

Plus, Jumin had arrived which was the double shock for her. She wished she could forget whatever happened between them as soon as possible.

"Wait, Seven isn't coming?"

But as stubborn as she got, as soon as she reached the stairs, she hit a muscular chest while her ears could catch a man's sweet voice, exclaiming about someone or a number (?) named Seven. She lost her grip before all four brooms hiting the floor with a loud sound.

"Gosh, miss... please be careful," a man with a long grey hair remarked anxiously. "It's okay if I get hurt but what about you?"

"What the heck, ZEN? Is that a pick-up line?" Another man with a blond hair exclaimed in disbelief.

"What do you mean 'a pick-up line'? I am seriously worried about this girl. Are you okay?" The grey-haired man asked.

"Yeah," ignoring both men who tried to look at her face as it was veiled by her long hair, she tried to stand up straight but failed. Hae Soo winced as her injury sent more signals to her brain.

Heck, if her knees could talk, they might say something like 'Like, seriously... just go back home and rest, damn it!'

"Miss, are you okay?" The blonde man repeated. "Do you hurt somewhere?"

"No, just my knees..." as she looked up, she met another pair of purple eyes. "Huh?"

"Ahhh, it's Miss Min Hae Soo, right!?" The immediately excited Yoosung exclaimed, much to both Hae Soo's and ZEN's surprise. 'Like cousin, like cousin' was what crossed Hae Soo's mind as Yoosung's response reminded her of Rika. "Glad to meet you here!"

"Yes, it's the same..." the slow response from Hae Soo since Yoosung seemed weirdly excited gave space for ZEN to digest the situation.

"Min Hae Soo... you mean the one who saved V..."

"Yes, ZEN. This is the person! Miss Min, this is ZEN..."

"The most handsome man in RFA. No offense."

The fact that ZEN wasted no time to show off his good look managed to bring awkward vibes among the trio. Yoosung who sometimes found that ZEN was annoying took used this perfect timing to embarrass the man.

Owh, these guys might be from RFA as well. But unlike Yoosung, this guy is... I feel...

Cringe as...

Hae Soo might avoid swearing at any cost but that did not mean she was expert enough to conceal it from her face. Seconds passed when Yoosung was still quiet, ZEN with his anticipated look, Hae Soo with puzzled expression but eyes still looked at ZEN as if the man was an alien...

"Erm, you... you don't need to take it seriously though. I was just joking. Like who on earth would praise himself immediately like that? Hahaha..."

"On this earth, you do it everyday, ZEN. Admit it," Yoosung might use this perfect timing way too perfect, much to ZEN's chagrin.

"Shut up."

"So you guys come here for the charity works, right?" Being straight to the point was indeed Hae Soo's expertise. She did not find any reason to be immediately chummy to these guys after all.

"Yes, yes. Perhaps, you have met Rika inside?" Yoosung said.

"Yes, she's is in the first dorm," Hae Soo. "Then, excuse me."

"Wait," ZEN immediately blocked the girl from passing them. Something had bothered him. "Where are you going, by the way, Miss... Can I just call you Hae Soo, then?"

"Why are you asking?" Her response was way colder.

"It's because... I want to be friendly with you?"

Damn, ZEN. What's wrong with you? Why are you being nervous all of sudden?

But, from the way Hae Soo looked daggers at him, ZEN knew that it was too late to take back his words. For some reason, the girl was already angry.

"No, the first question. Why I need to tell you where I need to go?"

S...scary. Normally, people just answer the question without thinking much, Yoosung could not help but flinch. Hae Soo suddenly looked different from when they met each other for the first time in V's ward.

"Erm... I remember that you hurt your knees when you saved V and just now, the way you walk didn't seem stable enough so I was thinking to help you carrying the brooms..."

"No, that's fine. I can do it on my own," the puzzled ZEN made Hae Soo almost lose her temper. "Can you please move aside? I need to use the stairs."

"I am not a bad person, Miss Hae Soo. I just want to help," to make it worse, ZEN's determination to let her know that he was being sincere overcame him feeling intimidated by her.

"I appreciate it but I can do it on my own. Excuse me."

With Yoosung was too surprised to react, it made Hae Soo easily leaving them with wide-opened eyes and their voices stuck in their throats.

"She's quite paranoid, isn't she? As much as I hate to admit it, now I understand why Han Jumin got kicked on his calf. This girl is very firm."

Meanwhile, Hae Soo could already guess what Yoosung and ZEN though of her.

Call her paranoid but Hae Soo would not risk anything anymore. A stranger suddenly offered to help...

She did not want to accept it easily. There was no way one would suddenly offer a help without asking for something in return.

Without none of the them noticed, their actions were observed by Jumin, not far from them.

"She sure's very skeptical of strangers," Jumin mumbled.

"Jumin, what're you mumbling about?" Rika said, showing up from his back.

"Nothing," the heir remarked quickly before clearing his throat. "Is V okay at home?"

"He's. He said he'll be fine," Rika said nonchalantly. "By the way, why are you looking at Hae Soo?"

"You already dropped the honorific. Is it safe to say that you are in a friendly term with her?"

"Maybe. We already decided to drop the honorific. It turned out that she also volunteered here when she has free time."

"As a?"

"A physical instructor. She plays with the children a lot but since her knees still hurt, the exercise slot with the children was cancelled."

Jumin's eyes wandered to the stairs where Hae Soo disappeared to.

"She's fit and has a degree in physical education. No wonder her kick hurt as hell."

"What did you say?"

"No... Nothing."

Two hours later, when they all called it a day, Jumin also learnt another fact about Hae Soo.

Her slap also hurt as hell.

Thanks to Cha Kyu Jong who suddenly showed up at the orphanage as one of the active donors for the institute, all RFA members got to see another 'stunt' from Hae Soo who was already mentally unstable.

Kyu Jong changed his personality like flipping a coin as soon as he saw Hae Soo, much to the girl's rage. He picked a fight so this time, Hae Soo avenge publicly.

That made none of RFA members dare to even make a sound. All of them turned speechless at how brutal the girl could be.