Chapter 8: Can I

“Who was that?” Jeong Hoon asked; his tone was stiff and emotionless.

“My boss,” I replied casually.

“You were with him all night?”

“All afternoon until just now, to be exact,” I said.

“Is there something going on between the two of you?” he asked me.

“Jeong Hoon, are you crazy?” I exclaimed. “I was just working late with my boss. Why are you jumping to conclusions?”

“You sounded different when you answered the phone earlier.”

“I was working. I was trying to focus. Why are you being so unreasonable? What are you really upset about? You’re sick of me? Are you? Are you sick of us?” I asked him.

“Mian,” he said, his expression softening as soon as those words came from my mouth.

“Already I’m so tired from work and you’re giving me this crap about me having an affair. Gawd!” I exclaimed.

“Mian,” he said and he pulled me into his arms quickly, as if I were about to run away in that split second.

“Jeong Hoon,” I gasped, because he was hugging me really tightly.

“Mian,” he whispered against my hair. “I didn’t know what came over me. I was waiting for you the whole night and I just flipped when I saw you pull up in that car with that guy.”

“What’s up with Min Woo?”

“He looked like such a player. I was afraid you were really involved with him.”

“He’s a nice guy, Jeong Hoon.”

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“It’s okay. Stop apologizing,” I said, and I kissed him.

“Are you hungry?” he asked as we pulled apart seconds later.

“Starving,” I said.

“Let’s go in,” he said as he took my hand.

Jeong Hoon’s cousin, Shin Hee, turned out to be a sweet little girl, albeit being spoilt. At least she was polite towards me.

“Annyeong,” she said as she stood up when I approached the table.

“Annyeong,” I smiled.

“Sierra, this is Shin Hee,” Jeong Hoon introduced. “Shin Hee, naui yeoja chingu, Sierra.”

“Oppa,” she said, “I speak English you know. I can understand if you introduced her to me in English,” she added as she smiled apologetically to me.

“It’s okay, Shin Hee,” I said as I sat down. “I understand some Korean.”

“Oh good!” she said, and she started speaking excitedly in a rapid stream of Korean.

“Shin Hee,” Jeong Hoon interrupted her.

“Wae?”

“She understands some. Not all,” he laughed as she looked at me with a confused expression.

“Yea. I only know the basics.”

“That was embarrassing,” she laughed nervously.

“It’s alright. I get that all the time,” I smiled.

“What are you eating?” Jeong Hoon asked me.

“I’ll just have mushroom soup and garlic bread,” I said, and Jeong Hoon walked over to the counter to order for me. His friend owned the cafe, so most of the time, we didn’t bother to call for the waiter. There are times when we’d walk straight into the kitchen to get whatever we wanted.

“Is that how you stay so slim?” Shin Hee asked me as soon as Jeong Hoon walked away.

“Me? No… I don’t have an appetite today. I usually eat as much as, sometimes more than Jeong Hoon.”

“Chongmal?”

“Yep…”

“Then how do you stay slim? I’ve tried so many diets but I can’t seem to get rid of my baby fats,” she said sadly.

“Really? I’m sorry, can’t really relate to that, because I’ve never had baby fats,” I said, trying not to sound smug. “But there was a time when I did put on weight, and I had to control my diet and exercise like crazy to lose it.”

“Hmm… maybe I should exercise,” she said wistfully.

“I think that would be the best way.”

“What’s the best way for what?” Jeong Hoon asked as he approached the table.

“Girl talk,” I said dismissively, and Shin Hee giggled.

“Yah… you better tell me or I’m gonna leave you here,” he threatened Shin Hee.

“Leave her alone, you big bully,” I poked Jeong Hoon in the ribs, and he jumped.

“You wanna play rough, huh?” he smirked at me. “I’ll get my revenge later,” he said as he looked at me meaningfully.

“You’re sending me home and you’re taking Shin Hee home with you.”

“I’m sending Shin Hee home, and I’m coming home with you.”

“No way,”

“Yes way…”

“Your under aged cousin is sitting right in front of you, quit the sexual innuendos.”

“She’s no longer under aged in Korea.”

“This is Singapore.”

“And who said anything sexual? I’ll just hit you where it won’t show,” he grinned.

“Yah! Kim Jeong Hoon!” I exclaimed.

“Oppa! You’re so bad. I’m gonna tell your mother.”

“Tattle-tale,” he said as he stuck his tongue out at her.

“Look at you,” I laughed. “Does he always behave like a 10 year old?” I asked Shin Hee.

“Always… His mother is always asking him to find a wife and grow up.”

“Tell her I’m not getting married, ever,” he said.

“Yah! Then what about me?” I glared at him. “If this is going nowhere, I think we should end this.”

“No, no… I meant that I won’t marry the girls she’s always trying to match make me with, since I have you,” he said quickly, as he put an arm around me.

“Hmmph!” I exclaimed as I tried to shrug his arm off.

“Hajima…” he pleaded, and he turned to glare at Shin Hee who was giggling at him.

Just then the waiter approached the table to put down the bowl of soup I’ve ordered.

“Thank you,” I said as I pulled the bowl across the table, towards me.

“Shall I feed you?” Jeong Hoon asked, sweetly.

“Save it,” I said as I focused my attention onto the bowl of soup while he sulked.

“Ya… onni… can I call you onni?”

“Sure.”

“Oppa is usually the king at home. It’s so nice to see someone who’s able to overpower him,” she laughed.

“I’m still in charge, okay,” he said as he puffed up his chest indignantly.

“Sure you are,” she laughed.

“He’s usually very well behaved,” I winked. “Ne?” I said as I turned to Jeong Hoon.

“Ne,” he bowed submissively, and Shin Hee laughed again.

“Good boy,” I said, and I kissed his cheek.

Few hours later, Jeong Hoon pulled up in front of my apartment gates, and I started to unbuckle my seatbelt.

“Want me to walk you in?” he asked me.

“It’s okay,” I said as I picked up my bags. “Shin Hee’s tired. You should go home.”

“Call you later,” he said as he leaned over to kiss my cheek.

“Araso,” I smiled. “Good night.”

As I walked into the lobby, the security guard called out to me.

“Miss Sierra, someone dropped this off for you awhile ago.”

“What is it?” I asked as he handed me an envelope.

“Don’t know. But a man dropped it off awhile ago and said that you’d left it behind in his car.”

“Thanks,” I said as I stared at the enveloped, puzzled.

I ripped the envelope open as I walked into the elevator, and inside was a bracelet.