Daisy Flower In Winter

Chapter 19's

The clock has been set at 10 a.m. But the morning atmosphere is a little cloudy to make the sun not too hot and make the air fresher with the wind blowing slowly. Hyun-ri and Hwan-ki are walking side by side to return to Hyun-ri's office. They had deliberately walked to go to breakfast together in order to enjoy the atmosphere of a cloudy morning.

"Hyun-ria, thank you for accompanying me to breakfast" Hwan-ki said.

"You're like a stranger, oppa. Whenever you want to be accompanied for a meal, I will be ready to accompany you, oppa" Hyun-ri replied with a warm smile.

"Hyun-ria, can I ask you something?"

"Say, oppa!!"

"Do you love Seok Gwan?"

Taps...

Hwan-ki's question instantly stops Hyun-ri's steps. He stared at the back of Hwan-ki who preceded him because he stopped suddenly. How could Hwan-ki ask him that question? What should he answer? Hyun-ri continues to twinkle with her thoughts, having to answer what kind of sudden question from Hwan-ki.

Hwan-ki, who realizes Hyun-ri is not answering and does not walk beside him, stops his steps and looks back. Hwan-ki looks at Hyun-ri who is looking at him confusedly.

"Why? Is it too hard to answer?" hwan-ki said as he approached Hyun-ri.

"I know everything, Hyun-ria" Hwan-ki said with a slight bow and brought her face closer to Hyun-ri's face.

"Oppa.." said Lirih Hyun-ri a little nervous because their faces were so close.

"You and Seok Gwan, you guys are in a relationship more than legalized?"

"Oppa.."

"I know Hyun-ria. Don't try to cover it up from me. I know everything" said Hwan-ki, holding his body up and putting his hand on his pants.

Hyun-ri can only be quiet and continues to stare at Hwan-ki with sad eyes feeling guilty for hiding it from Hwan-ki.

"Come!!! I have to hurry to the office" Hwan-ki asked with a smile after seeing the watch on his left hand.

"Oppa.."

"You don't have to answer. Come on!!!" take Hwan-ki again with a warm smile and gently break Hyun-ri's hair.

Hwan-ki who saw Hyun-ri was still silent and immediately touched Hyun-ri's fingers and hands. They continue walking back to Hyun-ri's office, side by side without any more chatter.

******

"Where are you from?" coldly asked Seok Gwan who was already sitting handsome on the sofa of Hyun-ri's room.

"Opp.opp. You, you here?" hyun-ri asked a little surprised.

"Why is your face sad like that? What's up?" seok Gwan asked as he watched Hyun-ri's sad face as she entered his room.

"Nope-no. It's okay, oppa.."

Seok Gwan sighed softly, knowing that Hyun-ri was not doing well. Something was troubling his mind.

"Sit down!" seok Gwan orders while patting the place beside him.

Hyun-ri walks over and sits himself next to Seok Gwan.

"Where are you from? You haven't answered me!! I've been waiting for you for 30 minutes" Seok Gwan asked back with an explanatory gaze at Hyun-ri.

"Sorry oppa, I just went out for a while" Hyun-ri replied without turning to Seok Gwan.

"Where to? Your secretary doesn't even know, if you leave the office" reads Seok Gwan flatly.

"Breakfast. With Hwan-ki oppa" Hyun-ri listlessly replied.

"Wam-ki? She here?"

Hyun-ri just kept quiet and didn't answer. For some reason, Hyun-ri keeps thinking about Hwan-ki's sad gaze on him. What happened to Hwan-ki? Why do his eyes look so full of sadness and disappointment? And how does he know about his relationship and Seok Gwan.

Hyun-ri continues to dissolve in his mind and stares blankly straight ahead, regardless of Seok Gwan who is beside him.

Huhhhh..

Seok Gwan sighed harshly, looking at Hyun-ri who was deep in thought. Until Hyun-ri ignores him.

"Han Hyun-ri!!!" call Seok Gwan coldly by twisting Hyun-ri's shoulders.

"Oh, oppa. What's up?"

"Ma-sorry oppa. Me, I'm just a little tired. Me and Hwan-ki oppa, on foot to the nearest restaurant. Sorry oppa" explained Hyun-ri feeling a little guilty towards Seok Gwan.

"Is that so? Then you just rest. I'm going back to the office"

"This fast?" ask Hyun-ri quickly

"Hum, you rest"

"But.."

"Rest. And tomorrow night I'll pick you up for a party hosted by Mr. Kang" said Seok Gwan who had stood up from his seat and stroked Hyun-ri's head.

Grep..

Hyun-ri immediately hugs Seok Gwan tightly, he really feels guilty for ignoring Seok Gwan.

"Sorry, oppa. I didn't mean to ignore you" Hyun-ri said by hiding her face in Seok Gwan's chest.

"It's okay, I get it" Seok Gwan replied with Hyun-ri's embrace.

"Can you stay here longer?"

*******

When someone is able to smile hide all the sadness and disappointment he feels, and is able to deceive people around him. But, it is not certain that someone can hide his sadness and disappointment through the look of his eyes.

Highlights eyes that can never be deceiving, eyes that cannot be hidden from a forced smile. Highlight the eyes that are only able to tell the truth without being able to hide. All will be seen clearly when someone who is sincere looks fixed eyes of sadness and disappointment that are deliberately hidden through the fake smile. Only a sincere and genuinely caring person is able to see and feel the glare of eyes full of sadness and disappointment that is intentionally covered up.

******

"Hwan-ki!!!!" call Aeri who is walking closer to Hwan-ki.

Aeri comes to Hwan-ki's company building. He accidentally waits for Hwan-ki in the basement parking lot of the building.

"Go, I have nothing to do with you" said coldly Hwan-ki.

"You're still cold, oppa. You never change"

Hwan-ki with his flat face look walked back past Aeri who was in front of him.

"Hyun-ri" said Aeri as she turned her back and smiled.

Hearing Aeri mention Hyun-ri's name, Hwan-ki immediately stops his steps. Hwan-ki with her sharp eyes turned her body and stared fiercely at Aeri who was walking closer to her.

"It looks like you love your best friend, Hwan-ki oppa" said Aeri, confirming Hwan-ki's tie.

Plaque...

Hwan-ki instantly brushes aside the hand of Aeri that touched his tie.

"Never touch me with your filthy hands, Jal*ng" said Hwan-ki.

Aeri who heard Hwan-ki calling him jal*ng immediately laughed loudly. He even wiped the tail of his eyes which let out a few tears.

"Oppa, you never change one bit. You still consider me jal*ng. And, this jal*ng is still crazy about you, oppa" Hyun-ri said with a sweet smile.

Aeri steps closer to Hwan-ki and draws her face closer to Hwan-ki.

"I'm going to ruin my life, Hyun-ri. The friend you love" said Lirih Aeri right on Hwan-ki's ear.

Grep...

Akh...

With a growl Hwan-ki gripped both of Aeri's cheeks. He brought his lips closer to Aeri's.

"Listen well jal*ng. If you approach Hyun-ri 1cm only. Then I'll make sure, your body will be stretched stiff" said Hwan-ki with indignation and emphasis.

Roughly, he took off his grip on both of Aeri's cheeks and walked away from Aeri. He did not care even though Aeri's cheeks were bruised because of the grip. He won't let anyone hurt Hyun-ri.

"I'll repay you, oppa. And.. I'll get you too"

******