31

"Are you out of your mind?!" I slammed my hand on the table, rattling his stupid cup. "You—you told her that you like me?"

"Relax, Miss Kang."

He turned and sat on his seat again, motioning for a refill to the waiter in the distance.

"It was nothing but polite clarification." His eyes caught mine for a fraction of a second, "Coffee?" He stupidly asked.

"What part of 'Haerin's too shy to confess she likes me' feels like a POLITE CLARIFICATION TO YOU?!" My veins were boiling in my blood. The Karate in me was not far away. One chop. That's all that he would need to lose his manhood to a girl he pissed off beyond repair.

Jungkook simpered, "The part where I don't use my own words, but yours, Miss Kang."

"Don't." I stepped closer. It was my turn to tower over him now. "Don't use that to ignore the fact that Mirae was on a date with you. What I did was completely different. What you did might have hurt her feelings!"

"Hurt? I just cut her hopes before she could think of a future with me. And I was very cordial about it." He stanced, speaking with me like he was learning something. "I'd rather you say how wrong it was for you to force a date on me without knowing my preference in that matter."

"Oh, stop bullshitting me," I sneered, rolling my eyes at how ridiculous that sounded. "Everyone likes Mirae. She's a nice girl. You could have gone through with the date instead of lying your ass off and making my life difficult with it! Do you know what that looks like after we just had a meeting about the rumours around us, Mr Jeon?"

He didn't say anything to that, but quietly sipped on his drink.

"You know what? I'm going to tell her you want another date with her." I placed my hands on my hips, the challenge glimmering in my eyes. "You need to sort this out before I become a monster you will be afraid of."

"Is that a threat?" His brow cropped and my head exploded because I didn't give a fuck about that! I wanted to rip those eyebrows off!

"Yes, it is. A very clear one." I jabbed.

He stood up. Too fast.

I blanched comically and stepped behind.

"Miss Kang, you're telling me to take my words back and go through with a date I don't want to?" He prodded closer, almost menacing and annoyed now. Who cared? I didn't.

I shot him the same look back to give him the idea of what his must look like. Damn bastard.

"And you think I will do that?" His hands slipped into the pockets of his trousers like he thought he was the boss of the world.

"And you think you can just spout nonsense about me on a date and get away with it?" My eyes narrowed, fingers gripping the end of the table for moral support. "Nuh-uh. I don't fucking think so. You better make this right with her or—"

"Or what?" His chin rose higher, "What exactly is your tiny body capable of doing to me, Miss Kang?"

My jaw dropped. "I don't appreciate your body-shaming me repeatedly. You're a man. Of course, you're bigger than me. That does not mean I'm tiny. And for a fact, being bigger than me does not guarantee a bigger dick now, does it, Mr Dickinson?"

Honestly, I had expected him to say something so harsh that I'd bleed from my ears. But he didn't. He fucking didn't.

His tongue poked his inner cheek, a soft smile of enjoyment on his lips. He was relishing this insult. Beautifully.

I don't know why but I blushed.

There was just something so fucking hot about a man who didn't take a small-dick joke personally.

Well, he wasn't worthy of my appreciation so I had to beat the blush back down and get into the arena of actuality again because what the fuck was smiling at me an answer for? I searched his face but he just smiled and nodded and then stepped behind.

"What? Was that too personal? Hah. Didn't think that way when you rubbed yourself up against me." I smirked.

Jungkook tilted his head, taking a quick look at my clothes and then my face. "If this is your idea of convincing me for a second date with your friend, it's really good. Because it's working."

He was being sarcastic. Asshole.

"Try as hard as you want to, Miss Kang." He smiled at me. "But you're the one who started this and you know it."

"The date with Mirae? Yeah, I did." I rolled my eyes.

"No. This game. Where you use my affections for your own advantage." He reminded me.

My face flushed.

Because damn it, Haerin. He just scored. Of course, he would play dirty. He was using my tricks for his own purpose now. I was seething.

"Sure. Be ready to regret this day, Jeon Jungkook." I snapped and then turned on my heel, resolved to break this man down like he was made of Lego.

•••

Resigning from corporate is like breaking up with your boyfriend. There's no nice way to do it and you're both left trying to act like it didn't hurt when you did. It's all stupid after that.

One of Mr Han's team members had finally stepped out of that whorish playpen. I was happy for them even though I didn't even know who they were. But as a part of courtesy, all of us—my team and co, had to join the farewell ceremony where they cut a cake—I don't know for what purpose—and showered gifts, colleagues cried because they'll miss each other. Perfect break-up moment.

Resignation on a Monday wasn't on my to-do list but I guess that's what life was all about. Fucking you up over and over till you were pregnant with depression or something.

I stood behind, with the dormant crowd as the girl continued giving her speech on how much she enjoyed working with the people at Neureva. Honestly, I could take down some points too because who knew when I'd need something?

No. I was not going to leave this soon. I had bills to pay so unless a rich CEO didn't want to date me for my body, I couldn't tap out from here.

"Haerin?" Something tapped my shoulder.

My body turned so fast that my spine almost snapped, forget about the consequences on my neck.

A tall, familiar face stood over me. Hoseok.

My eyes narrowed, "Did you just call me Haerin?"

"Sorry, Miss Kang." He raised his paws defensively. "But haven't I always called you that?"

I smiled as professionally as I could and nodded, "No. You haven't."

He chuckled and then his face fell, "Oh. I came to you for something, actually. I messed up, Miss Kang Haerin."

"Why is it that I'm only involved when something's going down?" I muttered.

Because I wasn't even lying. Every time someone from the team came up to me, something or someone's ass was on fire. And honestly, I didn't even know if I had any water left in me.

"We forgot the farewell cake." He blurted. "I had to pick it up from the shop ChocoTripper downstairs but I just—"

"How do you forget the cake on a farewell day?" My eyes narrowed. "Do you forget your eyes when you buy glasses?"

"Well, actually I do," he awkwardly admitted and that just gasted my flabber like nothing else did. "But that's a story for another time."

I turned to face him completely now, "No, what story is this? How can you physically forget your eyes?"

Hoseok chuckled, dull and reminiscent of whatever lie he was pulling at, "Believe me, I have some crazy trips around the world. It's perfectly possible to forget your eyes. And it happens to people."

"Oh my days."

"Please, Miss Kang. Can you get the cake from downstairs before her speech ends?"

"What?" My jaw dropped like Mr Han's character. "You're seriously asking me out of all the people here? Are you dreaming right now? Is—Is this your nightmare because—"

"But you're the fastest!" Hoseok grabbed my fingers, hopping in the same place to show me how desperate he was. "I swear, nobody will—"

"You must have mistaken me for Usain Bolt, Mr Jung." I retrieved my hands out of his grip, already getting pissed off.

"Please, Miss Kang." He implored, clasping his hands in gentle prayer. "Her speech might end anytime. Please help me! Please—"

"No!" I whispered furiously. "I don't want to—"

"Please, please, please," he continued making puppy eyes at me. And I don't fucking fall for such cheap tricks but what I do fall for is what he said after that.

"Mr Han will kill us! And that girl will be so sad. It will ruin her moment, please!"

Ugh.

"Fine. But you owe me, okay?" I snapped my finger at him.

"I'll prepare the deed while you're away!" He whispered desperately, nodding like he was in a hurry.

I took off in the other direction, my feet slapping against the marble floors. In a few minutes, I had already rented a bicycle from the office premises and began pedalling my way out of the gigantic cemented road.

Well, I am fast. The realisation made me swell up a little—with pride, of course.

And when you're in a bad situation, I promise that everything else will be worse. And it is only so that your life has some character, I swear.

The bicycle I rented had to be a serious prank on my femininity.

The seat was too high, the pedals were crooked and it made a squeaking sound with every rotation of the wheels against the rusty chains. I mentally made a note to complain against the person renting these bicycles because why the fuck did I have to look like a circus freak for this? My trousers and coat didn't help the situation at all.

Okay, Haerin. Focus on the task. Not like you're here to impress anyone, right? Except maybe the guys at the cake shop. They didn't have to know about this piece of metal crap.

"Choo! Choo! Choo!" I breathed, imagining that this was a train instead.

Stupid, I know but how the hell do I make such a tedious trip interesting? Make it a train!

Get there quicker.

I was still running high on bad luck so the universe had to spank me once more. Yes. That's right.

At the nearest turn for a gate, I almost prepared myself to rely on the rusted chains.

A dark SUV crawled into the turn, slamming its brakes right before I did.

The tires of my bike screeched. I put my foot down, nearly falling off the bicycle.

WHO THE FUCK—

My gaze snapped up at the man sitting in the driver's seat, fashionable black sunglasses on his eyes as he watched uncooperative as hell. He didn't even look shaken or concerned about the fact that his SUV could have been the one that got hit. But no. Bastard rich son, I guessed.

My fingers tightened around the handles.

Fine. FINE. If this is what he wanted, then he was about to see some Power-Ranger Haerin stuff.

Tring! Tring!

I rang the bell on the bicycle, establishing dominance. So what if that SUV looked like it could eat me up? I wasn't going to back out of this because of his shitty attitude. What was with the male population and shitty attitude? Did they eat shit for breakfast or what?

He blared his horn and I flinched.

I rang the bicycle bell again.

"You're on the wrong side!" I pounded my fist in the air aggressively. "Move!"

My words were loud enough for him to understand. I knew he did. But he didn't react for a good ten seconds, trying to see if I was going to budge.

I didn't.

Haerin wasn't going to give up on such a thing this easily. That's right.

After the seconds had passed, the car swerved to the right and rolled away, giving me the road to freedom.

I didn't even wait because I had a fucking cake to get. I shot through the air, speeding my way out of the exit and into the street where the cake shop was.

I dropped the bicycle at the entrance and charged into the shop, retrieving the cake like it was my lifeline. Bastards hadn't even paid for it so I had to spend my own money on it.

I hung the bag on the handle of my bicycle and turned, speeding across the air like I was a jet.

A jet that recognised something stupid right from the corner of my eye.

I was so in my head that I nearly missed Jungkook next to me on his monstrous bike, at my speed. He was imitating me pedalling as he passed me by.

What a fucking jerk. I didn't look like that. I didn't look like my entire body was pedalling the bicycle. Right? Right??

I rolled my eyes and continued on my way in the opposite direction.

Once I had dropped the metal piece of crap to the side, I rushed inside with the cake in my hands. My mind bolted. I had to get into an elevator before that jerk appeared. He must have parked his bike by now.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I punched the elevator buttons, my legs shaking as I bit my lip.

He was going to make fun of me. I didn't want that negative energy around me so early on a Monday morning.

My eyes darted to the pinging elevator door, announcing its arrival. I dashed, hoping to get in first but the moment the doors opened, the entire population of Korea stepped out of it. It was like getting trapped in a potential stampede.

People kept pouring out. And the worst part? They were pushing me.

Oh fuck this shit. Why did this have to happen with that dick energy looming around me?

My eyes nervously tried to find if he had arrived already and was laughing at me getting thrown around by strangers.

That bastard was right behind me like a ghost.

"Miss Kang, you look like a squirrel right now." He laughed.

I closed my eyes. FUCK.

I turned to curse him but he grabbed my arm and pressed me to the side against a wall.

"Wha-—

He put himself between me and the crowd, "Now, speak."

I tried to peek over his shoulder. People were still dashing into him as they passed by but of course, He-Man here didn't even budge from his position. Good shoe grip, I guessed—my eyes landed on his shiny shoes.

"I don't have the time." I rolled my eyes.

My shoulder brushed against his chest. I hated him. I hated him like a bitch because why the fuck did he have to wear such a strong perfume? It was burning inside my head. I held the cake bag to my chest, nervously watching as the elevator finally emptied itself.

I elbowed his chest. "Move." I glared.

He clutched his chest, pained but followed me inside.

He pressed the floor buttons for me too. I didn't thank him and just glared.

Was he trying to be nice to look down on me or something? That was the only way it made sense. He couldn't be nice without a reason.

Wait. Was it to fuel the rumours—

"Don't you dare be nice to me in public," I whispered aggressively into his shoulder.

He twisted his neck to look down at me, "And in private?"

"Shut up!" I groaned. "Not in private, not in public. I know what you're trying to do. You're trying to make the rumours look true. No. You're Mirae's boyfriend."

He scoffed, "And you just decided that because?"

"Because I did." I glared. "If you use me to get away from her, I will use her to get you away from me."

His hand pressed on his jaw, trying to hide the smile underneath it. How the fuck did he always end up enjoying this while I am losing my shit?

"Are you a sadist or what? Why are you grinning like that?" I scowled, stepping away from him.

He chuckled.

The third floor arrived like a saviour.

Jungkook took the cue and moved.

He didn't look back and just walked out of there like nothing ever happened between us.

Suddenly, all I could think of was launching my heel into his tight butt.

Once I was back on the sixth floor, I launched myself towards the reception to pass the cake because my stomach was hurting from all the running.

"Excuse me, can you please pass this cake to the pantry area to Jung Hoseok?" I said to the guy at the reception. He took the bag from me.

"Bicycle girl?" A warm voice toned in.

My head snapped one-eighty because for a moment I thought that Jungkook had followed me to death.

Instead, someone else stood there. Someone I didn't even know. A tall man, dark curly hair over his eyes and a million-dollar face.

"SUV?" I scowled, confused. "Is that you?"

"Yep." He grinned. "I didn't know you worked here."

"Oh, really? Why else would I be in the premises if I wasn't?" I rolled my eyes. "But—you—" I looked down at the brown paper bag in his hands. "I haven't seen you on the sixth floor. New joinee?"

"No. I'm here for my brother." He lifted the paper bag to show me. "Apparently, he will be murdered by his manager if he doesn't get his Danish cookies today."

Wait...

My eyes suspiciously narrowed at him. Danish cookies? Manager who could murder him? This sounded too familiar.

"Who is your brother?" I turned around to face him completely now.

My eyes immediately assessed his clothes. Expensive, sure. But very Y2K. Baggy grey faded jeans, sneaker shoes, a t-shirt and a black leather jacket. He even had chunky headphones around his neck.

"Oh, would you know him?" His brows rose up, a boyish charm on his face. "Kim Seokjin. Tall, broad-backed? Too lazy to exist and looks like he's high all the time?"

Hah.

So this was that lazy toot's brother.

"Yep." I smiled. "Nice to meet you. Kang Haerin, the apparent manager who's about to murder Seokjin for the cookies."

He blinked. Then, he looked down at the hand I had offered for a shake.

"Well, assistant manager, but yeah." I shrugged and dismissed.

"Hey." He took my hand and gave me a firm shake. "Coincidence at its finest. Kim Taehyung."

"Thanks for the cookies," I smiled. "Give them to Seokjin. I'll take it from him."

"Sure." He nodded but he wouldn't stop staring. As if I had just dropped a bomb on his head, which I kind of had.

He blinked again, his eyes trying to piece me somewhere he obviously couldn't.

"I need to get going, but nice to meet you, SUV." I grinned and then headed back inside.

At least, SUV was polite. Unlike some eyebrow monsters lurking around Neureva.