Chapter 17: Bad Timing
The next morning, a beam of sunlight came shining into Sora’s room. She squinted as the bright light shined onto her eyes and woke her up. She then sat up in bed and stretched out her arms.
Finally, Sora got out of bed and walked over to her chest drawer where she had placed the bouquet of red and white roses that Park Jungsu had given her in a vase.
She ran her fingers on the soft rose pedals and a soft smile formed from the corners of her lips. As she stared at the roses, she thought back to last night, recalling how Park Jungsu had saved and protected her from Chang, the security guard who was working at her company building. After what happened last night, she now has a different impression of Park Jungsu.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang from her place. DING DONG!
Sora was a bit startled by the sudden sound. She walked to her door and looked at the small screen on her intercom. Then she opened the door.
“Good morning, oppa!” greeted Sora.
“Good morning, Sora. I hope I didn’t wake you up this early in the morning”, said Victor, who was neatly dressed up in a suit wearing a pair of glasses, making him look rather dashing and sophisticated.
“Oh, no worries, I just woke up not too long ago before you came”, she said.
Victor looked around Sora’s place, “Sora, there’s something I need to talk to you about. Do you have a bit of time?” he asked.
Sora looked at Victor and replied, “Of course! Have a seat here, oppa”, as she ushered him to the living room. “So, what is it that we need to talk about?” Sora asked.
Victor sat down on one of the couches as he rubbed his two palms together and asked, “Did something happened last night?”
Sora’s eyes widened from the question and said, “What do you mean? What could have happened last night?”
Victor looked at Sora and let out a sigh. He raised his eyebrows and said, “You know exactly what I mean, Sora. Unless you want the Chairman to know about what happened, then go ahead and pretend you don’t know what I mean. How long has it been since the last time you’ve got a curfew?”
Sora looked at Victor while crossing her arms and said, “Well, clearly you knew what happened yesterday or else you wouldn’t be asking me”. She leaned back on her chair, waiting for Victor’s response.
Victor placed his hand over his mouth. Then he took a few glances at Sora and said, “I have a bit of idea, but would like to know a bit more from you. So even if the Chairman asks, then I’ll know what to say.”
Sora sighed and said, “Aish…Fine, fine, fine… You know Chang, the security guard at our company?”
“You mean the one I told you about who was interested in you? That Chang guy?” asked Victor.
“Yes him. Well, yesterday when I left the office, I already felt something strange. I felt like someone was following me. At first, I thought it was just me since I have been very busy lately and that it might have been my exhaustion that was playing with my mind. But it turns out that it was Chang who was following me and then he attacked me and my friend. Thank goodness my friend stopped him in time before the police came and took Chang away. Then we just give our statements to the police before we could go home”, Sora explained briefly while Victor listened tentatively.
Victor nodded and asked, “So, who was this friend of yours?”
“Yah! Oppa! Is that the first thing you should ask after what I have just explained? Shouldn’t you be concerned about my safety and asking me if I’m hurt, or like whether I’m okay or not?” Sora complained.
Victor fixed his glasses with his finger, while raising his eyebrows and said, “Well, I should know who this friend of yours is so that I could thank and send my regards to your friend. Besides, you clearly look and sound more than fine to me.”
What Victor just said left Sora dumbfounded and then she began to stuttered, “B…but…”
“Now, can you tell me who this ‘friend’ of yours is?” Victor persistently asked, not letting Sora get away with from his question.
“Oppa! What’s important is that I’m safe, right?” Sora was still trying to avoid Victor’s question.
“So, since when did President Park became your friend, Sora?” asked Victor, who clearly knew more than what he claimed to know.
His last words left Sora speechless. She was shocked to know that Victor knew who she was with yesterday.
“Were you spying on me?” Sora asked, sounding a bit unhappy.
“Do you think I have that much time to spy on you? I heard it from Melissa yesterday. But my concern is why won’t you tell me that you and President Park have become friends? Unless, you both are more than just friends”, Victor suggested.
He looked at Sora, waiting for her response. However, Sora didn’t know what to say since she wasn’t quite sure whether she and Park Jungsu are at that stage to be considered as boyfriend-girlfriend yet.
“Well, I’m sure you both are just normal friends since you seemed like you were really annoyed by everything he did before. I’m surprised that you even decided to become friends with him now, when you were complaining nonstop about him before” said Victor, who was giving Sora some slack.
Then he looked at his watch and told Sora, “Anyways, I have another appointment to attend to, so I’ll leave you to your own business.”
Sora was relieved to hear that Victor thought she and Park Jungsu were just friends and that he needed to head out to another place.
“Then you must hurry, oppa! You don’t want to be late for that now, do you?” Sora stood up while urging Victor to hurry out.
“Should I stay a bit longer? You don’t look so well after my questions”, he teased her.
“Aniya! I’m fine, oppa! Hurry!” Sora replied while pushing him out the door.
“Arasso. Take a bit of rest if you’re tired and don’t push yourself too hard”, he reminded her.
“Arasso, I will”, she answered
Victor chuckled as she waved goodbye. However, as soon as Sora closed the door, Victor’s smile faded and headed out of her building.
Sora, on the other hand let out a sigh of relief. She didn’t know why, but somehow she didn’t want Victor to know her current relationship with Park Jungsu.
***
RING! RING! Sora's phone rang while she was in the bathroom.
Sora came out and walked over to her phone and a smile formed from her face.
“Yeopseo?” she answered the call.
“Good morning. Did you sleep well yesterday?” asked Park Jungsu, who greeted her on the other end of the call.
“Good morning. Yes, I did and yourself? How is your wound? Did you change your bandage?” she asked with concern.
“It’s still a bit painful when I move. But no, I haven’t changed it yet. Should I be changing it though?” he complained like a child.
“Omo! Then try not to move too much and you should take a few days off of work to rest if you can. And of course, you have to change the bandage. If you don’t, you might get an infection and that won’t be good”, she said to him worriedly.
“Maybe I should take a few days off”, he said in agreement and then suddenly he exclaimed over the phone, “Ah!”
Before Sora could ask him what happened, the line was already cut off.
“Yeopseo?...Yeopseo? Yah! Park Jungsu-ssi!” she called out over the phone. She quickly got dressed and headed over to his place by taxi. She tried calling him again on her way there, but no one picked up and she grew more worried.
When she reached his gates, she rang the intercom to see if he would answer. “Jungsu-ssi, open the gates!” she called out on the intercom. “Come on…Park Jungsu…Hurry and answer…” Sora said to herself as her body began to shudder.
“Sora?” a voice came out from the intercom.
BUZZ!!! A buzzing sound came from the gates.
Sora hurried through the gates as they opened. When she got to his front door, she recalled his code from last night when he told her that it’s alright to look.
As soon as the door unlocked after entering the passcode, she rushed inside. Before she realizes, she had already ran into Park Jungsu and was fully caught into his arms.
She gasped and uttered, “Omo!” Then she found herself looking and coming in contact with a nicely toned bare chest.
“Are you alright, Sora?” a familiar voice asked.
She was so closed that the fresh scent from his shower ran through her nose. *Her face began to blush as she looked up.
There he was, standing before her with his bare upper body exposed and arms surrounded her as he looked at her with a soft smile. They stood there for a short moment before Park Jungsu pulled Sora in a little closer and asked, “You missed me already?”
That was when Sora snapped back to reality and quickly punched Park Jungsu lightly on his arm. She looked at him and said, “Yah! Why did you scream over the phone? I tried calling you over and over again and you didn’t answer. I thought you were in some kind of trouble!” This was when Sora began to tremble.
Park Jungsu saw Sora’s worried face with her trembling body and pulled her close into his embrace. He lightly stroked her hair and whispered softly, “Shhh…It’s alright, Sora. I’m fine”.
He slightly pulled himself back with his hands on her arms and explained, “I just accidently spilt something on my shirt and I dropped my phone on the floor – damaging it. So I’ll have to get it fixed.”
“I hate you!” Sora whined.
Park Jungsu looked at Sora with a smirk on his face and said, “Do you now? But I think your reaction says otherwise.”
“I’m just reacting like how a normal person would react”, Sora defended.
“Is that so?” he asked as he draped his arms around her and pulled her in even closer. “Then let’s see how you will react if I do this,” he teased her as he leaned closely towards her until they were practically face to face with each other.
They both looked into each other’s eyes as they both sense a mutual longing for each other. He then began to tilt his head to the right as he moves closer with his eyes gradually closing.
Sora on the other hand, reciprocated as she slowly tilts her head to her left and rests her hands on his arms. Soon their lips finally touched and Park Jungsu began to softly work his lips onto Sora’s until both ended up in a deep passionate kiss.
The kiss lasted for a few minutes before Park Jungsu slowly pulled himself away and said, “Wait here, I have something for you.”
He went off to one of his rooms as Sora asked, “Where are you going?”
Then he came back with a bag in his hand.
“This is for you,” he said as he handed the bag to Sora. She began to open the bag and saw a new handbag inside.
“I’m sorry that I ruined your handbag last time. So I bought you a new one. Do you like it? It took me a while to choose it”, he said.
However, Sora didn’t say anything and left Park Jungsu a bit worried. “You don’t like it?” he asked nervously. Sora then looked at him and he looked at her. Then Sora caught him off guard when she kissed him on his cheek and said, “Thank you, Jungsu oppa.”
Her kiss had left him dumbfounded. He didn’t know why, but he always feels differently when she is the one initiating. Park Jungsu turned to Sora and asked, “So will you use it?”
Sora timidly nods in reply with a happy smile. From her reply, the corners of his lips start to rise and then he asked, “Will you use it every day?”
Sora finally burst into laughter and said, “I can’t use it every day. I’ll need to change the style of the bag every now and then.”
“Should I buy you a few more handbags then?” Park Jungsu asked as he got behind Sora and embraced her while laying his chin on her shoulder.
“There’s no need. I’m just alternating between the handbags I already have at home. I don’t like to spend too much on handbags”, she said as she placed her hand on his face. “And…when do you plan on letting me go?” she asked.
Then Park Jungsu got close to Sora’s ear and said softly, “I don’t plan on letting go at all.”
He twirled her around slowly and tugged her hair behind her ear. Then he gradually leaned forward with his head slightly tilting. He was about to land another kiss until she suddenly placed her finger on his lips and said, “Wait. My phone’s vibrating.”
BZZZ…BZZZ…
Park Jungsu let out a deep sigh when he heard the buzzing sound from her phone. She answered her phone, “Yeopseo?”
“How’s my princess doing?” asked the man on the other side of the phone.
“Appa? Why are you calling me this early in the morning?” Sora asked her father who was on the other side of the phone.
Park Jungsu, on the other hand, was surprised that Sora’s father called. He walked over to his open kitchen and poured himself a glass of cold water from the bridge. As he slowly gulped down the water, he couldn’t help eavesdropping a bit.
“Director Choi and I will be meeting up for dinner tonight and we would like you to join us. Minho-ssi will also be there too, so dress appropriately”, her father informed her.
“But appa! Why do I have to dress up just because Minho-ssi will be there? Furthermore, why do I have to go to tonight’s dinner when it’s your own gathering?” Sora asked.
As soon as Park Jungsu heard Sora mention the name Minho, he slowly walked over to Sora, still shirtless and sat down on his sofa as he crossed his arms and legs while looking at her.
“You have to attend because you’re my daughter and you need to show some courtesy. It’ll be rude if you don’t attend. Plus, your mother and I haven’t seen you for a while and she misses you a lot”, Sora’s father insisted.
“But appa!” Sora tried to argue, but her father cut her off by saying, “No more buts. We’ll see you tonight.”
“Yeopseo? Appa? Appa!” she protested over the phone. However, her father had already ended the phone call.
Sora looked at Park Jungsu, who was sitting with his arms crossed. The way he looked at her, she could tell that he wasn’t somewhat pleased by what he heard.
Sora went over and sat next to him on the couch. She turned to face him and noticed that he was in deep thought.
“What’s wrong?” Sora asked as she leaned closer.
“It’s nothing”, Park Jungsu replied as he uncrossed his arms and began to fiddle with his fingers.
Sora saw his sudden change of gesture and could sense that something’s not going right. So she placed her hand onto his and said, “There’s clearly something bothering you. Now tell me, what is it?”
Park Jungsu saw and felt her hand on his and then asked, “Who are you having dinner with tonight?”
From what he asked, she knew why he was reacting the way he did and said, “I’m going to have dinner with my parents and Director Choi’s family.”
He looked at her and asked, “And he’s going to be there too, right?”
“He?” she said, having trouble processing what he meant.
“That Minho guy, he’s going to have dinner with you and your family tonight, right?” he asked.
In response, she explained, “Well my father and his father are old friends so that’s why they’re meeting up for dinner tonight. Both my parents will be there so it won’t be just me alone with Minho-ssi.”
“So he’s meeting your parents while you’re meeting his”, he said annoyingly.
Sora chuckled as she saw the expression on Park Jungsu’s face. She squeezed his hand and asked, “Are you jealous?”
He quickly looked at her and said, “Why would I be jealous of that guy?”
“Well just now, your face and reaction totally betrayed you. So just admit it”, Sora teased him.
Park Jungsu quickly pushed Sora back as he gazed into her eyes and then said, “The only think I’ll admit to is that you’ve been very bothersome. Always got me thinking about you ever since that time when you first looked at me.”
“The time when I first looked at you?”, Sora trying to recall that time and remembered when he was referring to – the time when she saw him at the department store where she looked at him closely.
She was about to say something but couldn’t as he gave her an intensive gaze. There she was, both speechless and helplessly trapped between Park Jungsu and the couch.
“Yes, the first time you looked at me. Just like the way I’m looking at you right now. The way you looked at me got my heart beating like it was about to burst and got me burning inside”, he said to her as he moved closer. “Are you feeling the same way right now?” he asked.
Sora was indeed feeling the way he said he felt and she was beginning to burn up. They were so close together that her whole body was heating up. She thought to herself, “What am I letting him do to me right now? I should really stop him, but why does he have to show his bare chest in front of me? Aish! Kang Sora! You shouldn’t let yourself be like this just because he has a nice hot body and that you’ve accepted him. You can’t be that easy to get!”
When he was about touch her lips with his, she quickly pushed him back and managed to distance herself from him. However, she used a bit too much strength and got him crying in pain from his wound.
She quickly apologized when she realized her push was a bit too strong, “Omo! Mianhe, oppa! Are you alright?”
Park Jungsu place his hand on his wound as blood was soaking through his bandage. “I’m alright” he told Sora, trying not to make her worry.
She saw the blood seeping through and quickly cried out, “What do you mean you’re ‘alright’? You’re bleeding already! Let me go get the first-aid kit and fix your wound.”
Sora went and came back with the first-aid kit. She knelt down on her knees as she removes his bloody bandage. “Oh no, what have I done?” Sora mumbled, blaming herself for what happened.
“It’s okay, Sora-ah. I can do this”, he said while trying to change the bandage himself.
“Stay still and don’t move!” she ordered him as she gave him a stern look.
Park Jungsu saw the look on her face and remained still as he lay back on the couch with his arms spread along the back of the couch while Sora continues to tend to his wound.
Just at that moment, someone entered the passcode to his entrance door to the house. The person went inside the house and headed towards the living room. “Jungsu-ah, are you home?” asked the person, who saw Park Jungsu resting on his couch with his arms spread out.
The person’s call startled the both Park Jungsu and Sora. They both turned to the person and Park Jungsu quickly called out, “Eomeoni!? What are you doing here?”
Sora looked at Park Jungsu and said, “Eomeoni?” when she saw the lady standing before her. Her jaw quickly dropped as she glanced back and forth between Park Jungsu and his mother. Sora made a ninety-degree bow and greeted Park Jungsu’s mother, “Hello Mrs. Park. I’m Kang Sora and it’s nice to meet you.”
Park Jungsu’s mother nodded in return and said with a happy smile, “Hello Miss Kang Sora-ssi”. She saw not only how her son was topless, but also together with a woman on the couch. “Omo, Jungsu-ah, I’m so sorry. You should have told me that you have a guest here”, his mother looked at him and said. She knew she came at the wrong time but was happy to find her son bring home a girl. “Pretend I’m not here Miss Kang Sora-ssi and please continue”, Park Jungsu’s mother said with a joyful smile as she was about to turn around and make her way out.
“Eomeoni! It’s not like that. Sora was just helping me with my wound that I told you about”, Park Jungsu stood up and said with embarrassment.
His mother stopped and said happily, “Oh, is that so? Then you both should hurry and change the bandage. Please take good care of our Jungsu-ah, Sora-ssi. Can I call you Sora-ssi?”
Sora looked at Park Jungsu and his mother with her pursed lips, trying to hold in her laugh and nodded shyly in return.
“Eomeoni!” Park Jungsu raised his voice and then looked at Sora as his ears were turning beat red from embarrassment. “You’re embarrassing me…” he clenched his teeth and said to his mother while Sora was trying hard not to laugh by Park Jungsu’s reaction – which she found quite adorable and cute.
For the first time, Sora had met Park Jungsu’s mother. Although it wasn’t necessarily the most appropriate place to be when meeting the parents, especially when the man’s not properly dressed, but it seems like Park Jungsu’s mother was quite happy to meet Sora.
Finally, Sora got out of bed and walked over to her chest drawer where she had placed the bouquet of red and white roses that Park Jungsu had given her in a vase.
She ran her fingers on the soft rose pedals and a soft smile formed from the corners of her lips. As she stared at the roses, she thought back to last night, recalling how Park Jungsu had saved and protected her from Chang, the security guard who was working at her company building. After what happened last night, she now has a different impression of Park Jungsu.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang from her place. DING DONG!
Sora was a bit startled by the sudden sound. She walked to her door and looked at the small screen on her intercom. Then she opened the door.
“Good morning, oppa!” greeted Sora.
“Good morning, Sora. I hope I didn’t wake you up this early in the morning”, said Victor, who was neatly dressed up in a suit wearing a pair of glasses, making him look rather dashing and sophisticated.
“Oh, no worries, I just woke up not too long ago before you came”, she said.
Victor looked around Sora’s place, “Sora, there’s something I need to talk to you about. Do you have a bit of time?” he asked.
Sora looked at Victor and replied, “Of course! Have a seat here, oppa”, as she ushered him to the living room. “So, what is it that we need to talk about?” Sora asked.
Victor sat down on one of the couches as he rubbed his two palms together and asked, “Did something happened last night?”
Sora’s eyes widened from the question and said, “What do you mean? What could have happened last night?”
Victor looked at Sora and let out a sigh. He raised his eyebrows and said, “You know exactly what I mean, Sora. Unless you want the Chairman to know about what happened, then go ahead and pretend you don’t know what I mean. How long has it been since the last time you’ve got a curfew?”
Sora looked at Victor while crossing her arms and said, “Well, clearly you knew what happened yesterday or else you wouldn’t be asking me”. She leaned back on her chair, waiting for Victor’s response.
Victor placed his hand over his mouth. Then he took a few glances at Sora and said, “I have a bit of idea, but would like to know a bit more from you. So even if the Chairman asks, then I’ll know what to say.”
Sora sighed and said, “Aish…Fine, fine, fine… You know Chang, the security guard at our company?”
“You mean the one I told you about who was interested in you? That Chang guy?” asked Victor.
“Yes him. Well, yesterday when I left the office, I already felt something strange. I felt like someone was following me. At first, I thought it was just me since I have been very busy lately and that it might have been my exhaustion that was playing with my mind. But it turns out that it was Chang who was following me and then he attacked me and my friend. Thank goodness my friend stopped him in time before the police came and took Chang away. Then we just give our statements to the police before we could go home”, Sora explained briefly while Victor listened tentatively.
Victor nodded and asked, “So, who was this friend of yours?”
“Yah! Oppa! Is that the first thing you should ask after what I have just explained? Shouldn’t you be concerned about my safety and asking me if I’m hurt, or like whether I’m okay or not?” Sora complained.
Victor fixed his glasses with his finger, while raising his eyebrows and said, “Well, I should know who this friend of yours is so that I could thank and send my regards to your friend. Besides, you clearly look and sound more than fine to me.”
What Victor just said left Sora dumbfounded and then she began to stuttered, “B…but…”
“Now, can you tell me who this ‘friend’ of yours is?” Victor persistently asked, not letting Sora get away with from his question.
“Oppa! What’s important is that I’m safe, right?” Sora was still trying to avoid Victor’s question.
“So, since when did President Park became your friend, Sora?” asked Victor, who clearly knew more than what he claimed to know.
His last words left Sora speechless. She was shocked to know that Victor knew who she was with yesterday.
“Were you spying on me?” Sora asked, sounding a bit unhappy.
“Do you think I have that much time to spy on you? I heard it from Melissa yesterday. But my concern is why won’t you tell me that you and President Park have become friends? Unless, you both are more than just friends”, Victor suggested.
He looked at Sora, waiting for her response. However, Sora didn’t know what to say since she wasn’t quite sure whether she and Park Jungsu are at that stage to be considered as boyfriend-girlfriend yet.
“Well, I’m sure you both are just normal friends since you seemed like you were really annoyed by everything he did before. I’m surprised that you even decided to become friends with him now, when you were complaining nonstop about him before” said Victor, who was giving Sora some slack.
Then he looked at his watch and told Sora, “Anyways, I have another appointment to attend to, so I’ll leave you to your own business.”
Sora was relieved to hear that Victor thought she and Park Jungsu were just friends and that he needed to head out to another place.
“Then you must hurry, oppa! You don’t want to be late for that now, do you?” Sora stood up while urging Victor to hurry out.
“Should I stay a bit longer? You don’t look so well after my questions”, he teased her.
“Aniya! I’m fine, oppa! Hurry!” Sora replied while pushing him out the door.
“Arasso. Take a bit of rest if you’re tired and don’t push yourself too hard”, he reminded her.
“Arasso, I will”, she answered
Victor chuckled as she waved goodbye. However, as soon as Sora closed the door, Victor’s smile faded and headed out of her building.
Sora, on the other hand let out a sigh of relief. She didn’t know why, but somehow she didn’t want Victor to know her current relationship with Park Jungsu.
***
RING! RING! Sora's phone rang while she was in the bathroom.
Sora came out and walked over to her phone and a smile formed from her face.
“Yeopseo?” she answered the call.
“Good morning. Did you sleep well yesterday?” asked Park Jungsu, who greeted her on the other end of the call.
“Good morning. Yes, I did and yourself? How is your wound? Did you change your bandage?” she asked with concern.
“It’s still a bit painful when I move. But no, I haven’t changed it yet. Should I be changing it though?” he complained like a child.
“Omo! Then try not to move too much and you should take a few days off of work to rest if you can. And of course, you have to change the bandage. If you don’t, you might get an infection and that won’t be good”, she said to him worriedly.
“Maybe I should take a few days off”, he said in agreement and then suddenly he exclaimed over the phone, “Ah!”
Before Sora could ask him what happened, the line was already cut off.
“Yeopseo?...Yeopseo? Yah! Park Jungsu-ssi!” she called out over the phone. She quickly got dressed and headed over to his place by taxi. She tried calling him again on her way there, but no one picked up and she grew more worried.
When she reached his gates, she rang the intercom to see if he would answer. “Jungsu-ssi, open the gates!” she called out on the intercom. “Come on…Park Jungsu…Hurry and answer…” Sora said to herself as her body began to shudder.
“Sora?” a voice came out from the intercom.
BUZZ!!! A buzzing sound came from the gates.
Sora hurried through the gates as they opened. When she got to his front door, she recalled his code from last night when he told her that it’s alright to look.
As soon as the door unlocked after entering the passcode, she rushed inside. Before she realizes, she had already ran into Park Jungsu and was fully caught into his arms.
She gasped and uttered, “Omo!” Then she found herself looking and coming in contact with a nicely toned bare chest.
“Are you alright, Sora?” a familiar voice asked.
She was so closed that the fresh scent from his shower ran through her nose. *Her face began to blush as she looked up.
There he was, standing before her with his bare upper body exposed and arms surrounded her as he looked at her with a soft smile. They stood there for a short moment before Park Jungsu pulled Sora in a little closer and asked, “You missed me already?”
That was when Sora snapped back to reality and quickly punched Park Jungsu lightly on his arm. She looked at him and said, “Yah! Why did you scream over the phone? I tried calling you over and over again and you didn’t answer. I thought you were in some kind of trouble!” This was when Sora began to tremble.
Park Jungsu saw Sora’s worried face with her trembling body and pulled her close into his embrace. He lightly stroked her hair and whispered softly, “Shhh…It’s alright, Sora. I’m fine”.
He slightly pulled himself back with his hands on her arms and explained, “I just accidently spilt something on my shirt and I dropped my phone on the floor – damaging it. So I’ll have to get it fixed.”
“I hate you!” Sora whined.
Park Jungsu looked at Sora with a smirk on his face and said, “Do you now? But I think your reaction says otherwise.”
“I’m just reacting like how a normal person would react”, Sora defended.
“Is that so?” he asked as he draped his arms around her and pulled her in even closer. “Then let’s see how you will react if I do this,” he teased her as he leaned closely towards her until they were practically face to face with each other.
They both looked into each other’s eyes as they both sense a mutual longing for each other. He then began to tilt his head to the right as he moves closer with his eyes gradually closing.
Sora on the other hand, reciprocated as she slowly tilts her head to her left and rests her hands on his arms. Soon their lips finally touched and Park Jungsu began to softly work his lips onto Sora’s until both ended up in a deep passionate kiss.
The kiss lasted for a few minutes before Park Jungsu slowly pulled himself away and said, “Wait here, I have something for you.”
He went off to one of his rooms as Sora asked, “Where are you going?”
Then he came back with a bag in his hand.
“This is for you,” he said as he handed the bag to Sora. She began to open the bag and saw a new handbag inside.
“I’m sorry that I ruined your handbag last time. So I bought you a new one. Do you like it? It took me a while to choose it”, he said.
However, Sora didn’t say anything and left Park Jungsu a bit worried. “You don’t like it?” he asked nervously. Sora then looked at him and he looked at her. Then Sora caught him off guard when she kissed him on his cheek and said, “Thank you, Jungsu oppa.”
Her kiss had left him dumbfounded. He didn’t know why, but he always feels differently when she is the one initiating. Park Jungsu turned to Sora and asked, “So will you use it?”
Sora timidly nods in reply with a happy smile. From her reply, the corners of his lips start to rise and then he asked, “Will you use it every day?”
Sora finally burst into laughter and said, “I can’t use it every day. I’ll need to change the style of the bag every now and then.”
“Should I buy you a few more handbags then?” Park Jungsu asked as he got behind Sora and embraced her while laying his chin on her shoulder.
“There’s no need. I’m just alternating between the handbags I already have at home. I don’t like to spend too much on handbags”, she said as she placed her hand on his face. “And…when do you plan on letting me go?” she asked.
Then Park Jungsu got close to Sora’s ear and said softly, “I don’t plan on letting go at all.”
He twirled her around slowly and tugged her hair behind her ear. Then he gradually leaned forward with his head slightly tilting. He was about to land another kiss until she suddenly placed her finger on his lips and said, “Wait. My phone’s vibrating.”
BZZZ…BZZZ…
Park Jungsu let out a deep sigh when he heard the buzzing sound from her phone. She answered her phone, “Yeopseo?”
“How’s my princess doing?” asked the man on the other side of the phone.
“Appa? Why are you calling me this early in the morning?” Sora asked her father who was on the other side of the phone.
Park Jungsu, on the other hand, was surprised that Sora’s father called. He walked over to his open kitchen and poured himself a glass of cold water from the bridge. As he slowly gulped down the water, he couldn’t help eavesdropping a bit.
“Director Choi and I will be meeting up for dinner tonight and we would like you to join us. Minho-ssi will also be there too, so dress appropriately”, her father informed her.
“But appa! Why do I have to dress up just because Minho-ssi will be there? Furthermore, why do I have to go to tonight’s dinner when it’s your own gathering?” Sora asked.
As soon as Park Jungsu heard Sora mention the name Minho, he slowly walked over to Sora, still shirtless and sat down on his sofa as he crossed his arms and legs while looking at her.
“You have to attend because you’re my daughter and you need to show some courtesy. It’ll be rude if you don’t attend. Plus, your mother and I haven’t seen you for a while and she misses you a lot”, Sora’s father insisted.
“But appa!” Sora tried to argue, but her father cut her off by saying, “No more buts. We’ll see you tonight.”
“Yeopseo? Appa? Appa!” she protested over the phone. However, her father had already ended the phone call.
Sora looked at Park Jungsu, who was sitting with his arms crossed. The way he looked at her, she could tell that he wasn’t somewhat pleased by what he heard.
Sora went over and sat next to him on the couch. She turned to face him and noticed that he was in deep thought.
“What’s wrong?” Sora asked as she leaned closer.
“It’s nothing”, Park Jungsu replied as he uncrossed his arms and began to fiddle with his fingers.
Sora saw his sudden change of gesture and could sense that something’s not going right. So she placed her hand onto his and said, “There’s clearly something bothering you. Now tell me, what is it?”
Park Jungsu saw and felt her hand on his and then asked, “Who are you having dinner with tonight?”
From what he asked, she knew why he was reacting the way he did and said, “I’m going to have dinner with my parents and Director Choi’s family.”
He looked at her and asked, “And he’s going to be there too, right?”
“He?” she said, having trouble processing what he meant.
“That Minho guy, he’s going to have dinner with you and your family tonight, right?” he asked.
In response, she explained, “Well my father and his father are old friends so that’s why they’re meeting up for dinner tonight. Both my parents will be there so it won’t be just me alone with Minho-ssi.”
“So he’s meeting your parents while you’re meeting his”, he said annoyingly.
Sora chuckled as she saw the expression on Park Jungsu’s face. She squeezed his hand and asked, “Are you jealous?”
He quickly looked at her and said, “Why would I be jealous of that guy?”
“Well just now, your face and reaction totally betrayed you. So just admit it”, Sora teased him.
Park Jungsu quickly pushed Sora back as he gazed into her eyes and then said, “The only think I’ll admit to is that you’ve been very bothersome. Always got me thinking about you ever since that time when you first looked at me.”
“The time when I first looked at you?”, Sora trying to recall that time and remembered when he was referring to – the time when she saw him at the department store where she looked at him closely.
She was about to say something but couldn’t as he gave her an intensive gaze. There she was, both speechless and helplessly trapped between Park Jungsu and the couch.
“Yes, the first time you looked at me. Just like the way I’m looking at you right now. The way you looked at me got my heart beating like it was about to burst and got me burning inside”, he said to her as he moved closer. “Are you feeling the same way right now?” he asked.
Sora was indeed feeling the way he said he felt and she was beginning to burn up. They were so close together that her whole body was heating up. She thought to herself, “What am I letting him do to me right now? I should really stop him, but why does he have to show his bare chest in front of me? Aish! Kang Sora! You shouldn’t let yourself be like this just because he has a nice hot body and that you’ve accepted him. You can’t be that easy to get!”
When he was about touch her lips with his, she quickly pushed him back and managed to distance herself from him. However, she used a bit too much strength and got him crying in pain from his wound.
She quickly apologized when she realized her push was a bit too strong, “Omo! Mianhe, oppa! Are you alright?”
Park Jungsu place his hand on his wound as blood was soaking through his bandage. “I’m alright” he told Sora, trying not to make her worry.
She saw the blood seeping through and quickly cried out, “What do you mean you’re ‘alright’? You’re bleeding already! Let me go get the first-aid kit and fix your wound.”
Sora went and came back with the first-aid kit. She knelt down on her knees as she removes his bloody bandage. “Oh no, what have I done?” Sora mumbled, blaming herself for what happened.
“It’s okay, Sora-ah. I can do this”, he said while trying to change the bandage himself.
“Stay still and don’t move!” she ordered him as she gave him a stern look.
Park Jungsu saw the look on her face and remained still as he lay back on the couch with his arms spread along the back of the couch while Sora continues to tend to his wound.
Just at that moment, someone entered the passcode to his entrance door to the house. The person went inside the house and headed towards the living room. “Jungsu-ah, are you home?” asked the person, who saw Park Jungsu resting on his couch with his arms spread out.
The person’s call startled the both Park Jungsu and Sora. They both turned to the person and Park Jungsu quickly called out, “Eomeoni!? What are you doing here?”
Sora looked at Park Jungsu and said, “Eomeoni?” when she saw the lady standing before her. Her jaw quickly dropped as she glanced back and forth between Park Jungsu and his mother. Sora made a ninety-degree bow and greeted Park Jungsu’s mother, “Hello Mrs. Park. I’m Kang Sora and it’s nice to meet you.”
Park Jungsu’s mother nodded in return and said with a happy smile, “Hello Miss Kang Sora-ssi”. She saw not only how her son was topless, but also together with a woman on the couch. “Omo, Jungsu-ah, I’m so sorry. You should have told me that you have a guest here”, his mother looked at him and said. She knew she came at the wrong time but was happy to find her son bring home a girl. “Pretend I’m not here Miss Kang Sora-ssi and please continue”, Park Jungsu’s mother said with a joyful smile as she was about to turn around and make her way out.
“Eomeoni! It’s not like that. Sora was just helping me with my wound that I told you about”, Park Jungsu stood up and said with embarrassment.
His mother stopped and said happily, “Oh, is that so? Then you both should hurry and change the bandage. Please take good care of our Jungsu-ah, Sora-ssi. Can I call you Sora-ssi?”
Sora looked at Park Jungsu and his mother with her pursed lips, trying to hold in her laugh and nodded shyly in return.
“Eomeoni!” Park Jungsu raised his voice and then looked at Sora as his ears were turning beat red from embarrassment. “You’re embarrassing me…” he clenched his teeth and said to his mother while Sora was trying hard not to laugh by Park Jungsu’s reaction – which she found quite adorable and cute.
For the first time, Sora had met Park Jungsu’s mother. Although it wasn’t necessarily the most appropriate place to be when meeting the parents, especially when the man’s not properly dressed, but it seems like Park Jungsu’s mother was quite happy to meet Sora.