About You: Love & Sacrifice

When Love Reaches You

It had been thirty minutes since Jihoon had been sitting in his great chair and all that time he had been silent staring at the pile of files in front of him. His mind was empty not because of dizziness with office affairs, but Hyejin's shocking speech this morning still mengiang in his head and ears.

A thing that Jihoon really wanted but once it came his heart was even restless. She did not understand her own feelings, feeling tight in her chest as if she could not accept the fact that Hyejin was pregnant. Jihoon massaged his forehead. Suddenly he remembered Younha, how would Younha feel if he knew this?

"SUN Entertainment submitted a cooperation proposal." June puts a file on Jihoon's desk. When he wanted to turn around immediately, he looked at the dreamy look of the boss and then ventured to call again. "Sir Jihoon? Sir?"

The man waved his hand in front of Jihoon's face, and soon the Director came to a realization. Jihoon was a little shocked when he found his secretary already standing there. Ah, was his mind so messy that it was not aware that anyone had entered?

"Yes, what's up June?" Ask Jihoon.

"There is a proposal for cooperation from SUN Entertainment." June pointed at the map she had just put down. "Because Your Answer column we have a lot of fans, they want to apply for the promotion of the Survival Show program."

"O-Oh, yeah. Sure." Sure." Jihoon blinked in a daze then scratched his side of the head before finally staring at the secretary. "Then, what should I do?"

"I'm sorry?" Chirps June was confused. "Of course Mr. Jihoon should check and sign it."

Jihoon nodded quickly. "Where's my ballpoint pen?"

"Bolpoin?" June dyed, flipping over some maps thinking the ballpoint pen was covered. June realizes that Jihoon's pen is still in his right hand. "That's in your right hand."

Jihoon turned to his hand and it was true that the thing he was looking for was still there. He quickly opened the proposal sheet and placed three signatures in the second-party column. With a slightly blurred look, he read a few sheets with a little closer towards his eyes. I don't know why he feels dizzy too. Maybe because last night was making him tired.

The secretary who saw the face of the pale superior immediately responded. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm good." Jihoon replied that he was still focused on signing. "I was late last night to compile observation materials."

"Why did you make it yourself?" June did not understand. "It should be left to the Field Team."

Jihoon chuckled. "What's wrong. For this observation I want to jump straight into the field. Please clear my schedule for the next five days, June."

"Good, sir."

"Exit also Kim Younha's schedule without reducing her salary."

"H-Huh?"

"This is my command."

"Sorry before sir, but what's wrong with Younha-ssi?" June blinked and received her attachment map which was returned by Jihoon. Still do not understand the purpose of his superiors, why empty the schedule of management team members suddenly?

"He'll be with me five days of observation. Tell him I don't accept rejection." Jihoon explained in a tinge.

"He's from the Management— Team"

"Then?" Jihoon Sahut fast. His tone grew colder when he remembered that the secretary had been presumptuous to date Younha at that time. Hah, Jihoon was eager to punch June in his wrath. "He is good at summarizing opinions and conclusions. His intelligence is sufficient to accompany me to observation."

"I mean—now the task of Team Management is piling up." June tried to find an excuse. "Some ad inhibitions have not been bridged either. Wouldn't it trouble them if one of its members permits even up to five days?"

"What is this about you?" Jihoon glared in wonder. Why June is so chatty. "Sunday deadline just finished. They're still three weeks away for the next month's magazine."

"After all, Younha must be willing." Said Jihoon refocusing on his thin tablet.

"All right."

June passed from Jihoon's room, then sighed while lamenting the fate before the door.

...*****...

"What what the fuck?"

Younha said sewot, looking at June and Pak Hyunwoo alternately. They are now in the cafeteria. The two men approached Younha after five minutes there. They sat on the bench a bit off the edge, a little spaced away from the other employees and it made June relieved who was already worried if Younha would claw.

"Sir Jihoon doesn't want you to turn him down Younha-ssi." Said June. "He might fire you if he refuses."

"So silly!" Younha crossed her arms while murmuring. "Why fire me if I don't comply? Semenena mena once. A director should know the duties and activities under him. Why did he decide? Who does he think he is?! It's been great like that?!"

June and Mister Hyunwoo just exchanged glances while swallowing their hard-earned saliva. Not daring to interrupt Younha's words because the woman if already angry like a bull. Difficult dirme.

"I have two kids and they're kids. One of them is still a baby." Younha. "After all, observation has nothing to do with Team Management like me. Many people from other departments are willing to submit for simple activities like this. I was dizzy after Sunday's deadline and there was still a lot of work I hadn't done. Holy jeez!!! What is that man thinking!! Why is his brain so shallow?"

"He... He means our director?" Pak Hyunwoo looked for an explanation from Younha who boldly mentioned Jihoon with a pronoun. "Sir Jihoon?"

"Be quiet Mr. Hyunwoo!" Younha answered quickly. "I'm being emotional."

"Oh, yes Younha-ssi. Continue."

"Just tell Mr. Jihoon that I cannot!!"

When Jihoon's existence was seen in the cafeteria, the servants who were eating in unison stood up while bowing respect—ada who was choking so shocked. The man greets his friendly employees and dings to find Younha.

"Does Mr. Jihoon need help?" A cafeteria manager spoke. "We'll make you a menu you want to eat."

Mr. Hyunwoo who felt the boss coming closer to their table immediately pulled June to move elsewhere. Younha was only indifferent when she knew Jihoon was sitting in front of her. He will regard Jihoon as a statue or an invisible demon even though his ears begin to be amused to hear the whispers of neighbors. Maybe after this will also circulate rumors that he is teasing other people's lovers—yakni the daughter of the commissioner himself, Eun Hyejin.

"I know June told you about the local observation." Jihoon chirps with low sound volume. "I really want you to come. Just five days."

"Can't." Younha replied still clumping the mushroom sausage relaxed.

"You can leave the kids to Mirae."

"Mirae now works at the hospital. He's rarely in the apartment."

"Then leave it to my father."

"Can't."

"June's gonna get you a license with no salary deduction at all."

"Can't."

Jihoon snorted in annoyance. "Why can't it?"

"You have a secretary and thousands of employees who will accept your pleas willingly. You also have Hyejin—"

"He went to Japan for a week."

"Then wait for him to come home."

"Can't."

"Then I can't either." Younha let out a breath of air. "What would people think if we went just the two of us. I want to live a quiet life without Lee Jihoon's interruption!"

"Then bring the kids too. We're gonna stop by Grandma's house in Busan."

"So you think it's a company observation or a family vacation?" Younha put down her chopsticks and stopped eating. Hurry up and step out of the cafeteria. Jihoon was trying to rack his brain, looking for a way to make Younha's stance tremble.

...*****...

"You'd better go with Younha. The fine for denying the superior's duties was not small. Especially from the director." Eunbi said softly while persuading Younha to take part in the observation.

Before Younha got to his desk, Mr. Jihoon had just sent June to give a fine warning sheet to employees who ignored the duties of superiors. Younha was getting dizzy, why would Jihoon want to go with her so much?

"I don't know much about observation." Younha started to say. "What if I can't help Mr. Jihoon later?"

"You're very smart Younha. I'm sure you can." His friend patted Younha on the shoulder. "What are you worried about. The kids?"

"Of course." Quickly follow. "My son is still a baby."

"Just put it on your trusty baby sister. Seojun can already drink formula milk, right? It doesn't matter if it's away from you within five days."

Thinking for a moment, Younha arranged her expression and heart so as not to get past her emotions before finally exhaling a long breath. "All right, I'll consider."

"Well, that's better." Eunbi smiled then stepped towards the photocopy spot and at that time the woman gave the code Okay with her fingers to Jihoon who had peeked in the doorway.

...*****...

"Yeonjun really can't come?"

The four-year-old boy continued to whine, hanging from the neck of Younha who was carrying him from earlier. The little one's lips curled downwards, his round eyes almost crying because Younha could not bring him along.

"Mom just go for a second." Younha rubbed her son's back gently. Calm down with the entertainer phrase he often used when Yeonjun was sulking. "Let's bring you some new clothes and toys, huh?"

"But Yeonjun will miss mama!!"

Jihoon who was busy holding Seojun turned towards Younha. Follow rubbed his first son's hair while seducing to bribe the son. "Later get a video call from aunt Mirae's phone. Smart brother, right?"

Yeonjun nodded with pursed lips.

After ten minutes of family drama, Jihoon and Younha were finally able to leave as well. Yeonjun ran hugging Younha's waist while revealing the words that the boy often heard from fairy tales. Like don't forget to eat, prince dear mama, mama don't get tired later prince sad, and so on. Younha replied with a kiss, understanding that she was proud of her little prince.

They drove Jihoon and Younha to the front of the apartment lobby. Yeonjun was treating the drug with a full smile, as was Seojun who was held by a baby sister.

The car started to go. Younha let out a long sigh, feeling bad for her two sons. He will definitely miss the smell of baby powder let alone five days. Younha had just missed.

While Jihoon was now driving leisurely, following the slightly full path. While glancing at Younha who was focused on her phone, Jihoon's smile thinly outlined devising any plan they could both do. Perhaps nostalgia for a walk in the twilight while holding hands?

Younha, just being with you beside me like this gives strength that I can still open my eyes to tomorrow.

Sorry, I'm late....

...*****...