«I can’t believe we’re talking about such serious things like this sitting in the kitchen,» I laughed nervously.
«I’m just stating the facts,» he shrugged nonchalantly.
«And what am I supposed to do with these facts now? You do understand that we can’t work together. One of the conditions was that I must not, under any circumstances, start a relationship with you.»
«Only with me?» He asked, raising his eyebrows in surprise, but trying unsuccessfully to suppress a smile. «What a pity! It looks like your father will suffer losses when the truth comes out,» he laughed, but I didn’t appreciate his sarcasm, «let’s not quarrel before meals. Better look for glasses for the mineral water that is in your refrigerator.»
IВ obediently carried out his order, pouring water into glasses while Sung Joon placed aВ plate ofВ fried rice, aВ plate ofВ vegetable cuts, and pickled radish kimchi inВ front ofВ me.
В«Thanks for the food!В» IВ sincerely thanked, trying toВ ignore the fact that Sung Joon was sitting next toВ me, but at the same time IВ glanced at him from time toВ time toВ make sure that he was really eating.
«You can relax. Today I’m going to enjoy my meal with you,» he chuckled as he caught another quick glance at me.
В«You should have let me have lunch with you,В» IВ told him regretfully, realizing that we could have avoided our trip toВ the hospital.
«We’re having dinner instead,» he remarked gleefully, popping a spoon full of rice into his mouth, «so take it easy. Tomorrow we’ll have a long day.»
«I’m not taking you with me,» I announced decisively and shook my head. «You will go to work according to your schedule. The doctor said that you need to get a good rest.»
В«IВ rest when IВ am near you,В» he said without aВ hint ofВ embarrassment.
В«Song Joon,В» IВ called out toВ him, putting the spoon aside, В«why do IВ get the feeling that you see me as aВ lifeline?В»
В«ToВ aВ certain extent it is. You save me from loneliness. IВ think when you understand what makes your heart flutter, you can admit your feelings for me,В» he shrugged and continued toВ eat.
В«Hmm, how presumptuous!! IВ snorted contemptuously and took aВ sip from my glass ofВ water toВ hide my awkwardness.
«Well, I think it’s time for me to go home. Are you sure you won’t be afraid to stay here alone tonight?» He asked, peering intently into my already glowing face.
«I’m often alone. My parents are on business trips most of the time. So just go home,» I pleaded, getting to my feet to walk him to the door.
The ease with which he spoke about his feelings unsettled me, and I did not quite understand how I should react to this, but I knew that I could not afford to succumb to Sung Joon’s love provocations in any way.
***
The next morning, I found Sung Joon’s housekeeper Ms. Jung Eun in my kitchen, arranging new dishes in my kitchen cabinets.
«Miss Min Hee, I’m sorry for barging in like that without warning, but Mr. Sung Joon insisted that I deliver everything to you immediately,» a middle-aged woman with a sweet smile and dark hair tied in a high, tight bun apologized to me. There was not an ounce of makeup on her face. At the same time, her skin was perfectly even and had a bronze tint. Her miniature figure now and then flickered with various items of utensils in her hands, placing them in their places in the cabinets even at the moment when she spoke to me.
В«IВ understand. Thank you,В» IВ smiled wanly, feeling tired despite having slept for almost six hours.
В«Miss Min Hee!В» Ms. Jung Eun called me and IВ stopped half way back toВ my bedroom, В«Mr. Sung Joon sent you food,В» she pointed towards the refrigerator.
IВ slowly walked over toВ the refrigerator toВ look inside and found several containers ofВ various sizes filled with edible contents.
В«Thank you,В» IВ replied inВ shock, feeling slightly dizzy at what was happening.
It looks like Sung Joon has seriously decided toВ violate my personal boundaries. IВ need toВ change the code for the apartment.
I got to work on the subway and walked into Sung Joon’s manager’s office, unable to contain the flow of thoughts that brought me back to the events of the previous evening. Sung Joon’s hunger swoon is not something I could understand and accept so easily. His eating disorder was due to trauma, and it was terrible. It was utterly unfair to him. And I sincerely wanted to help him overcome his painful memories, but will he allow me to do this? And will it solve the problem with his contract? And what will I do if his feelings, about which he spoke to me yesterday, are not an empty phrase?
В«What are you thinking about?В» IВ shuddered at the piercing, velvety voice ofВ Sung Joon, who carefully sat down on aВ nearby chair, handing me aВ glass ofВ warm tea. В«IВ know that you are not aВ coffee drinker.В»
В«Thank you,В» IВ replied, trying not toВ look at my charge any longer than necessary, as his presence embarrassedВ me.
В«Did you have breakfast?В» He asked inВ aВ businesslike tone, continuing toВ stare at me inquisitively.
«What about you?» I answered a question with a question and plucked up the courage to look at him in response. Sung Joon nodded his head in the affirmative and drank from his glass, it seems, coffee. «You shouldn’t have bothered Miss Jung Eun.»
В«IВ asked her for aВ favor. It was the first time. And she seemed toВ be delighted,В» he smiled and winked playfully atВ me.
«Thanks. But that’s not necessary anymore. I don’t need your tutelage,» I said, but it actually sounded like I was trying to convince myself of this, not him.
«I just decided to thank you in this way for yesterday. Besides, I understood well that you drew a line in our relationship, so I’m not going to cross it, so as not to put you in an awkward position,» he said conciliatoryly, and I felt ashamed that I admitted that his words caused me disappointment. «Let’s get to work? I have to go to the studio in three hours,» he smiled, peering into the first box he saw.
We looked at all the gifts together and even took aВ photo toВ share with fans ofВ Sung Joon carefully examining the gifts received, after which we went down toВ the dining room for lunch, and then Sung Joon went toВ work inВ the studio, and IВ returned toВ the letters. When the task was almost completely completed, Min Hyuk entered the office.
«Min Hee, you did great! To be honest, I wasn’t sure if you’d make it on time. You’re doing well. And Sung Joon is pleased with his assistant for the first time. What can be compared to a real miracle,» he continued to praise me on the way to the work chair, and I rose to my feet and looked at him guiltily.
«It’s not like that,» I answered stifledly, and swallowed nervously. «Mr. Min Hyuk, I have something to tell you,» I swallowed the lump in my throat, feeling extremely embarrassed and guilty. It all happened because of my negligence.
«What’s wrong, Min Hee?» He was instantly alert.
«It’s about Sung Joon,» I replied in a barely audible voice, «he was admitted to the hospital last night.»
В«What are you saying?В» He exclaimed angrily and frowned, scorching me with his brown eyes.
IВ plucked up the courage toВ tell him everything that had happened yesterday, knowing that IВ was doing the right thing no matter what.
«You should have reported this to us right away! If anyone saw you, Sung Joon would get into a scandal! Do you realize how imprudent you were?» I nodded my head guiltily, hiding my eyes, but at the same time I fought with myself, as I was outraged that the possibility of Sung Joon appearing on the news worried the general manager more than the health of the agency’s leading artist. «You think that your father is the owner of the agency, so you can be negligent in your duties?»
«Do you think I’m waiting for your indulgence?» I could not contain the fit of rage, «if I did not feel guilty, I would not tell you anything. So please do as you always do in such cases. I will accept any punishment that is provided for in our contract. I followed all your instructions regarding fan gifts and wrote everything on the sheet. The same list is available electronically in your mail. With your permission…» I bowed to him and hurried to leave the office, holding back tears with all my might, although I understood that this whole situation was not worth my worries.
IВ did not expect that everything would take such aВ turn. Feeling offended (which was not typical ofВ me) and tears coming toВ my eyes, IВ hurried toВ aВ cozy balcony, the exit toВ which was only accessible through the meeting room located on the fifteenth floor, hiding my burning face behind my hair and trying not toВ look at someone who might get inВ myВ way.
Tiredly plopping down on aВ small sofa located under aВ glass canopy, IВ closed my eyes and covered my face with my hands, feeling the events and people around me press on me. IВ did not think that this work would touch my feelings and affect my emotional component so much.
«You rushed past me so fast that I didn’t immediately realize it was you,» Cho Hee’s mocking voice rang out, and I turned to look at him. He walked over to the couch with a smile and, at a safe distance from me, gracefully sat down beside me, «it’s hard, isn’t it?»
В«What exactly?В» IВ asked, continuing toВ look at him. Despite being tired, Cho Hee looked quite happy.
В«Working with my brother is hard?В» He clarified and looked at me with aВ sad smile inВ response.
«No. I wouldn’t say that,» I shook my head, wrapping my arms around my shoulders, «it’s hard to watch him deliberately deprive himself of health and happiness.»
«Song Joon was against it when he found out that I want to debut in a group as an idol. We even had a fight. And the more I’m here, the more I understand why exactly. He worked hard to give me what he doesn’t have He took care of me since he was eighteen. He replaced my mom and dad. Cooked breakfasts, attended meetings, picked out school uniforms and supplies. And all so that I was happy and did not feel lonely. But I know that all this time he himself was alone. And he truly deserves everything he has. Especially the love of the fans. But… this love is so ghostly and elusive that it is not so easy to feel it. Besides, if they knew the real Sung Joon, they wouldn’t have squealed like that when they saw him,» he chuckled, obviously remembering some events in his life with his older brother, «but after you appeared, he began to change.» After these words, Cho Hee’s smile became wider, «No matter what you are thinking now, no matter how much you hate everything that happens to Sung Joon, do not leave him if you care about him. Because you also began to change after you bonded with my brother. And now you two have a real chance for mutual love.»
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию (https://www.litres.ru/pages/biblio_book/?art=67738457&lfrom=174836202) на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.
