18

Rewards and Recognition. The quarterly crap. Nobody liked this part of the year. As an Assistant Manager, I wasn't even eligible for the rewards, but I fucking hated it too. I still had pending hate from the days I used to be eligible for this shit-when I wasn't promoted to be an AM.

It was like being rewarded for being fake. Everyone knew that the 'good' employees were the ones who didn't do the difficult shit at all. And those who did do the crazy tasks were always falling short on the so-called 'eligibility' criteria to get an official award. Sick.

The worst part was that this quarter, I was a volunteer there. Well—not the worst part, per se. It was a decent job. Standing to the side, just making sure I was available if anyone needed any help. From making sure that the mic was working well to calling an ambulance for someone. I could do anything. And it wasn't just me. We were around ten people, a mix of men and women who just had to manage the crowds and work. Two senior managers, three managers and five of us assistant managers because who else would be doing the actual job here? The AMs, of course. The position parity was severe and one of the reasons I wanted to climb the professional ladder was this. I was convinced that the volume of work declined as you went up.

And because my guardian angel was on a smoke break, it just happened to be Friday today. This meant I had just slapped another assessment on Jeon Jungkook's face before getting downstairs to the Neureva Events hall that looked like it was trying to be an opera dome. Not quite there yet. Low budget—but still. Maybe that was where all my paychecks were going. To this fucking hall.

It wasn't even that great. It had a small platform stage in the centre with a projector screen behind it and a large empty space spread around. That's where the chairs went. And the colours were like brown, brown and oh yes, brown. How could I also forget brown?

The volunteers, like us, were seated in a line to the right of the stage. Behind us were a few people who were going to get up and yap about the company on cue. I think they were just there to flirt with the volunteers. Nobody wanted to know how well Neureva was doing. Not unless we were getting something from it. But you know the corporates, they give you everything but enough money.

But never mind the useless centrepieces of my life; my priorities were set straight today for the one thing I was looking forward to. Showing off my new dress. That's right.

I liked this dress so much that it deserved a highlight in the office, you know?

This was the perfect chance to not look overdressed either. It was my mom's. Now mine, of course.

She used to love this navy checkered dress that looked like it was stitched from the cloth of a man's trousers. So elegant. I know. The cuffs were white, just like the stiff collar. I had even lowered the neck a bit to give it a V shape. That way it complimented my face shape well.

This is why I love the corporate sometimes. Where else could I wear such pretty formal dresses? There should have been a place where I could do this and not have to work. Modelling? But there was this whole other shit of staying too thin until you die or something. So not that.

I fixed my white pointy heels and jumped to my stands as people began pouring in.

It hadn't even started and I was already nauseous.

Higher executives, the hosts and people who were going to speak a few things on off-handed and random topics—I noted. It was going to be boring as hell.

I peeped at my phone, the blank notification panel making me itch. What a fucking stupid feeling was this. I couldn't think of anything else but it.

I was a jackass.

After we kissed that evening, things became heavy very soon. I didn't go further. I stopped. Not like I was doing myself a favour, like, oh wow! You stopped?! No. None of that. Kiss or not, my pride had been demolished. I knew that. But I still saved more damage. We parted ways and I went home. Sure. But all I could think of was the kiss. Did I do right? Did I do it right? Did I do wrong? Or was I making a huge deal for nothing? Yeah, exes could kiss, right? I mean, how could you just go back to being strangers just like that? The emotional stench of it had to black me out sometimes. Right? Wrong.

Yet, Jong Suk. He checked up on me last night when I got home. He talked. He was ready to understand all my excuses.

But there was nothing from him this morning. Was he giving me some space? Fuck you with your space Jong Suk. That was not my type. I like invasive and obsessed men. All up in my face, not letting me breathe anything but their own breath kind of crazy. Jong Suk wasn't like that. He was calm and collected. To him, such a heavy exchange—only a fucking kiss by the way—between us meant that I was supposed to be given space now. Maybe build my comfort in a day or two and then pursue more.

Not everyone gets their type, you know? And that was fine.

The event began and the hosts talked about Neureva and its expanding business. The way they talked, it didn't make sense why we were miserable working here.

We sat in our places, applauding people who stood up to give their small speeches.

All good. No unnecessary volunteering work for me.

"Wow, is that the... cybersecurity director? Really?" A girl tried to whisper, clearly failing. Because I was hearing all her bullshit.

She was talking about Jeon Jungkook who headed to the stage next for his address to the public.

That cybersecurity bastard was called on stage as the Director of Cybersecurity logistics—whatever the fuck did that mean.

I remained in the audience to the girls going berserk in the back. And weren't even wrong to. That's what pissed me off the most.

Like, damn, man. Did you practice this entry or what?

He didn't even strut. He walked, calm and composed like he knew the room by the dents. He glowed—fucking glowed—under the dangling lights of the stage. I remembered this outfit from the morning session today. Yes, I did. Did I like it? Yes. Did I like it on him? Oh, yes. Did I like him wearing it? When hell freezes over. His black shirt was neatly tucked in his fitted grey trousers. Sleeves rolled up, displaying shoots of veins that I was made aware of when he fixed the mic.

He wore glasses. He didn't wear glasses in the morning. But now he did. Thin frames, almost invisible. Elegant choice. And yes, I hated him even more.

Why did he have to be a dick and dress well? That was just unfair.

"Good day everyone." His usually annoying voice boomed in and the girls behind me squealed again. "I'll keep it short."

Yeah you better, Jungkook.

"Don't worry. I have five minutes before the mic is snatched from me."

—light laughter. He adjusted his glasses and smiled. All professional. Like he was a picture on a brochure for something corporate. A business magazine, maybe.

He was in his element. Didn't even know that someone like Kang Haerin existed. I was relieved it was so. At least I wouldn't be getting pissed off for no reason right now.

"This quarter, we're rolling out Phase One of our Behavioral Assurance Strategy. In simple words-more streamlined alerts, better protection, and a reduced likelihood that your login credentials will end up on a dark web listing next to discount coupons."

More chuckles. Was it just me or were female chuckles louder and more than the males? I must be a guy then because my mouth didn't even twitch.

"It's a balance we're trying to strike. Between vigilance and ease. Security shouldn't feel like surveillance—it should feel like safety. And that starts with us taking responsibility before we place it on you"

There it was. That business-ey tone. He sounded measured. Calculating. Slightly intimidating too. Wow. It's like this man never shot his foot out and made me trip. Dual as fuck.

"Reach out to my team with questions. Or even if you don't have questions. We're trying to be more human this year." He added.

Human? Well, he alone was occupying the ass region of the human specifics.

"—which is ironic, coming from Cybersecurity." He paused. A stiff smile. Some laughed. And then a cordial bow to end it with fluidity. "Thank you."

With that, people clapped.

He walked down the stage, the next person following after with another speech.

I couldn't bother more because my phone was pressed between my fingers to sense the buzz of it before anything arrived. Nothing.

"Haerin...!"

I heard a noise just then and turned to Sohyun. And so did the few people around me. I caught their brows knotting. Irritated.

Sohyun awkwardly pushed her way towards me, all of us realised.

"Why are you here?" I tried to whisper aggressively when she was close enough.

I met eyes with one of the women. She didn't look happy. As if trying to say, get out of here. I stretched my lips as politely as I could then shot daggers at Sohyun.

Sohyun crouched beside me, her hand on my knee, "I swear I can't take Namjoon anymore. I'm going to go formal with this one if he doesn't stop pissing me off."

"This is what you came for?" I raised my brows and I swear Rihanna's voice played in my head for a second more before I could resume. I blinked. "Sohyun? We're in the middle of something? Like, look around, it's a damn R&R!"

She scoffed, adjusting her half-sitting body in the balance of her toes now. "I can't wait a second. I couldn't dare wait there when he made me land on my face! In front of all those strangers at the entrance! People laughed at me, Haerin!"

"Tripped you? As in shot his foot forward and sent you like a stack of hay?" I bent forward in my seat, trying to understand.

Why was this deja vu shit happening right now?

"As in, pushed me with his hand and made me slam on the door so hard it cracked!"

My jaw fell.

That's when I saw Namjoon strutting towards us. He grabbed my chair from the back, leaning low, too, so that he was closer to my ear.

"She dropped coffee on my shoe. Do you think I was going to let it go?" He rasped and my brows knotted.

Sohyun's eyes shot wide. "You stepped in my way!"

"How could you just start drinking coffee in a place like that?" He sneered. "I know you're not getting rewarded but at least respect the others in line."

"Oh yeah? You're that worried about strangers in this building?" Sohyun raised her chin. "Are you getting awarded for something? Bootlicking, maybe?"

My lips pressed into a line.

Another glare was shot from someone next to me and I knew that this was over the head.

I held Sohyun's hand resting on my knee, "I will get back to you two. Let's finish this event first, okay?"

"Like I said, Haerin, I can't wait a second with this man." She aggressively gushed.

"Neither can I." Namjoon snapped. "Send her off or something."

"Why me?" Sohyun frowned. "You go!"

"O—okay, guys." I tried. "We are not given mics for a reason now."

It was like a trigonometry lecture. Nobody was listening. I tried to shush them and earned a few scoldings from the people. Like they hadn't done enough already, Namjoon and Sohyun continued bickering.

They would slow down when someone cursed at us but resume in less than a second. We were all spiralling. Together.

My gut told me to get up and run. Yes. Maybe then they could follow me out or something.

Then—

It happened.

Something brushed my waist. Light. Feathery. Almost like the tail of a squirrel. Like someone was testing if I was ticklish.

I froze for a split second.

My body? It acted.

My brain short-circuited. Blew up.

I gasped, my elbow swinging to the diagonally up. Full force. Olympic-level precision.

It cracked against Jungkook's face—or cheek, whatever it was, it mattered not. I was blinded when realisation dawned.

Jungkook? This bastard?!

"Fuc—" He sucked in a painful gasp. His hand clutched his cheek, even though he didn't even stumble from the impact.

My phone slapped the floor with a loud noise.

And just like that, I became the centre of all hate in that tiny space.

They tried to turn around and scold us but Jungkook's million-dollar face shut them up. I mean, yeah, who could yell at the head of a department so carelessly.

"Miss Kang..." He sucked at his teeth, clenching his eyes shut.

"Where—where did you even—"

I looked around and people were watching. Too much, actually. A crowd was beginning to form and the stage was getting distracted. Looked like I was performing some snake arts here or something.

"Is everything alright there?" The woman giving her speech halted.

Damn it.

My brain fused.

I let out a huff and forced a smile, waving at her. "Yes!"

With my other arm, I clutched Jungkook's wrist and pulled. He didn't fight back. He let me drag him out of that mess and towards the back exit. Honestly, I didn't even know where I was headed. I saw the exit sign and flew through.

My heart did a sledgehammer shift. My brain had already combusted and I could think very little with a face burning on a stove.

The back exit turned out to be a stupid road. It ended up going to the main office building. I had hoped to come out into something infirmary shit. Going to the office building meant going all the way to the infirmary on the other side.

I gulped, halting too fast. He crashed into my back. I stumbled forward, my hair flipping.

There was a beat of silence. Just the noise of my breathing and my brain rattled. All rattled. Think, think, think, you bitch.

Then I heard a pfft. Something short of a chuckle. Then a cackle.

Snickering in a couldn't-believe-this-was-happening kind of way.

"You're laughing?! Really?" I spun around, tossing his hand away like it burned. "You know what? I wish you bled and fainted there. You're clearly not hurt enough."

He slowly uncovered his smile.

Wow. World-class curtain drop.

His cheekbone had turned red.

He didn't wince but that looked like it hurt. Of course, it did.

I clutched my elbow reflexively. I didn't know why I did. I just fucking did.

His smile faltered, "Are you hurt too?"

Oh, right. Hurting women shit, right? I rolled my eyes and hid my arm behind my back.

"Why don't you look at your face? You look like a clown with half makeup on."

I had hoped for one of those sassy comebacks. But he looked dead serious now. Like he was about to murder me for breathing.

"Miss Kang, this isn't a joke. Are you hurt anywhere?"

"I elbowed you in the face and you're asking me?" I glared. "Is this some patronising trick again? Well, I'm foolproof." I bit back.

He paused. Then, a smile formed on his face again.

He smirked. "Right? Why did you do this to me, Miss Kang? Have you been jealous of my face?"

I sized him up judgementally. Disgusting. This man really had to try and be handsome in such a stupid situation?

"Look, I was already embarrassed out of my mind there." I raised a hand to stop him. "Why don't we just be formal and let me kick you into the infirmary or something?"

"Kick me?" His eyebrows shot but he winced. Finally.

I was forced to think if I would have to keep elbowing his face to stop him from showing them off.

"Tsk. Why am I even talking to you?" I mumbled and grabbed the rolled-up sleeve of his shirt. Soft.

I tugged. He didn't budge.

My neck whipped back at him. "I can drop an elbow to the other side of your face. Make it equally painful, you know?"

The wind blew. Silence. Then, he nodded, as if to let me go on.

I turned, dragging his sleeve through the office building and finding the infirmary like my life was on the line. And it was. I physically assaulted him today. He could take this up with HR. Ruin my career. All that stuff.

It smelled like fake medicines and faker concerns there.

I knew that place. Too many trips for all the wrong reasons.

The nurse wasn't even there. She was always like that. Trying to play hard to get with her patients. Why the hell would you leave your desk at this time of the day?

"She's not here."

"Wow. Five points for the discovery." I replied and heard him take a chuckle back in his throat. I whirled at him at the same time that he walked closer to me. "We'll have to think of something."

"What? Steal medicines?" He scoffed.

"Well—I can patch up some ice. Yes! Ice." I spun around to see a lady in a white lab coat walk inside.

She looked at us.

One beat.

Then said, "This isn't a place for romantic expeditions."

He laughed. Not loudly—but enough that it filled the silence.

"Well, she did drag me here by the sleeve," he said.

I turned to glare at him—but he was already looking at me.

Something slow passed between us.

A beat. A second.

Then I snatched the first aid kit from the table at the side and threw it at his lap.

"Patch yourself up. Loverboy."