"Stay By My Side" | Chaeyoung x Male Reader

“Maam, we’re now here.”, the driver said after slowly driving toward the front of a very large mansion after entering through the gates.

The woman behind him who is sitting in the passengers seat, heard him. She slowly removed her back from leaning and reached for her bag to grab.

The driver stopped the car and went oitside first to open the door for her boss. The long blonde haired woman stepped outside and then walked through in front of a door where a familiar figure is standing, crossing his arms out.

“Let me guess, bad day?”, her brother Jeonghoon said, tracing her from head to foe but he focused most on her sister’s face.

“Did it ever changed whenever I come here?”, her sister raised her eyebrow.

“ That confirms it.”, then Seunghoon released a sigh. “Cmon inside, the dinner’s already set.”, he signalled his sister to enter the house and the older immeditiately followed.

While walking, she caught the glimpse already of her parents preparing the table for dinner. “Evening, mom and dad.”

“Good evening too my dear baby beast.”, then she pulled her for a peck to the cheeks.

“When will you guys listen that I’m not a baby anymore?”, she said after groaning in annoyance.

“You still is and always will be to us, daughter.”, her father just chuckled. All four of them took a seat around the table and they started to place some food on their plates.

As they’re finished, Mr. Son started some topic to talk about.

“How’s the company?”

“Still the same. Being surrounded by a bunch of pathetic people.”, she said unenergetically while stabbing the beef with her fork.

“For how many times I told you this, they’re doing their best, Chaeyoung. Ofcourse, it’s normal for them to fail, everyone has their own limits.”, Mrs. Son reminded.

“ Well, I can’t see it.”, Chaeyoung just shrugged.

“Because you definitely rely on your high standards.”, Mrs. Son side-eyed Chaeyoung. “I suggest you set it down, daughter.

“I appreciate the advice mom, but no thanks.”, Chaeyoung finally raised her head and turned her eyes at her mother with a small smile. “They won’t gonna improve if I will be like that.”, she shook her head.

“Then atleast don’t be too tough for them.”, Mrs. Son said in concern not just for her but the employees too.

“So back from what even made my day worse...”, she said, ignoring her mother and moving on to her story today. “...is that my “former” secretary. Yes, “former” who is living to her idiot self, messed up again.”

“Again? Wait, you fired Ms. Bae?”, her father looked at him in shock, eyebrows nearly meeting at each other.

“I just gave her a lesson, since I’m at my limit... I did what I had to do.”, Chaeyoung said that in a proud tone, but also with a mix of frustration at what her secretary just did a while ago.

“Jesus, Chaeyoung that was like... the 4th secretary you had.”, Mr. Son exclaimed in disbelief. “So, you’re gonna find again?”

“As much as I want not to anymore, I don’t have a choice but to have someone who will serve me again.”, then she scooped another rice in her spoon.

“Oh, so that means you have a vacant position in our company.”

“A cursed one.”, Chaeyoung said after taking a spoonful in her mouth. “It’s their choice. To work for a witch like me.”

“You just call yourself that because he made you like-”, Mrs. Son was about to finish her words when Chaeyoung quickly interrupted her, dropping both her spoon and fork for a free fall through the table.

“Don’t mention that bastard again.”, Chaeyoung said, not looking at her mothet’s eyes. Her lips twitching furiously.

“Chae. Stop it. Hon, let’s forget about it.”, Mr. Son tried to calm down her daughter and stop this already which he felt that it might lead to something not good and ruin the dinner.

Meanwhile, Chaeyoung’s brother is just watching them... feeling bad for her parents, especially to her sister. What her ex did to her in unforgivable, and he could’ve wished he did something to that man that will make him regret what he did to her sister.

“How could I?! LOOK WHAT HE DID TO OUR DAUGHTER! UNTIL NOW, I STILL CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS OUR DAUGHTER WE’VE RAISED.”, Mrs. Son complained to her husband, voice raising a bit more this time.

“I SAID STOP!”, Chaeyoung shouted, making all three of them flinch at it. Her brother looked at her in fear and worriedness. He’s seeing right now the damage that man had caused to her daughter and he doesn’t even know if she will change again.

“Please... I-I just don’t want him on my mind again.”, Chaeyoung lowered her head, heaving a huge sigh then sucking much amount of air after to calm herself down. She’s trying not to cry in front of her family. She doesn’t want to look like she’s being affected of pain anymore. “I chose to be like this, then so be it.”

All four of them went into pure silence, her parents looking at the other direction, thinking how unfortunate of an event her daughter experience to be like this. For them, she didn’t deserved this at all. She’s just a woman who gave her whole trust that her lover will fulfill what she only wanted from him.

To be loved.

To be there on her side when he is being needed.

But it all didn’t happen. That man made Chaeyoung disappointed, especially hurt and broken when he left their daughter like their relationship was nothing.

They can’t blame Chaeyoung turning into this. They were wishing and hoping that she could have somehow help herself to be okay again, but hearing it from their daughter that this is her way to do it... they know there’s a better option to do so.

Jeonghoon just hold her sister’s hand on the table. Chaeyoung nodded and smiled very slightly to show her appreciation for her brother’s affection of comfort. She has to. She loves her brother that’s why.

“I wish you found someone to make you back at yourself again, my daughter. Say it over and over that you are okay with this, but you’re not. This isn’t you.”, Mrs. Son said, this time in a low tone.

Chaeyoung can hear still what her mom is saying, and deep inside of her, she knows that it’s the truth.

She’s still not perfectly fine.

She just wants to recover and move on, that’s all.

“I miss the Chaeyoung I knew. If we, your parents and your friends can’t make you... then I hope someone will.”

“I miss myself too, mom.”, she muttered to herself.

“Ok let’s get enough of this, shall we?”, Mr. Son said, trying to change the atmosphere this time so he thought of some new topic to talk about. He hummed while he’s thinking.
Then he remembered that her daughter mentioned just a while ago that she fired her secretary.

“Since you actually don’t want to find anymore... why don’t you take a break for this one and... let me do it by myself?”, Mr. Son suggested which caught her daughter’s attention at this one.

“You’re gonna search a new replacement as my secretary?”, Chaeyoung questioned her father. The latter just hummed as an answer.

“That sounds great.”, Chaeyoung said. She thought of that because she ain’t gonna be more stressed this time. She can now only focus on her paperworks while her dad take care of this one. “But, you know what I want and what’s the huge violation to me, Dad. “

“I know, my daughter. Trust me, you won’t gonna be disappointed with this one.”, Mr. Son said, feeling confident and proud at this time. He doesn’t refer at whoever might get the position, because has SOMEONE already in mind. He is smirking secretly too becaude he knows that this is a perfect job for that someone he will give the position at.

“You have my word, this is definitely gonna be your last.”

“I’ll chose to see it first with my own eyes before agreeing.”, Chaeyoung said, refilling her glass with water.

“Okay. Let’s move on now and settle this some other time.”, Mr. Son nodded. Her daughter didn’t responded but he knows deep inside that she is thanking him for what he did today. No matter how cold her daughter acts in front of them, he knows her daughter that much that her old self is just hiding deep inside of her, still responding at everything they do for her.

“Jeonghoon, how’s the basketball tryout?”, he then turned his attention at his son who is enjoying his food.

(2 DAYS LATER)

“These stupid paperworks.”, Chaeyoung said in frustration. There was a bit of a growl that can be heard on her voice while arranging all the papers she needs to check and sign on aggressively. “Agh, if only that dumbass didn’t do wrong she still would be here, fixing this mess not even intended for me.”, then she stroked the upper bridge of her hose and to the middle of her forehead.

While trying to relax herself from how stressed she is right now, she heard her telephone rang as it vibrated due to the impending call. She picked it up and started to speak through behind it.

“What?”

“Maam, I just want to inform you that someone is coming in your office. He said that he was sent by your father to take the secretary position. Do you know this, maam?”, the person said behind the call which is the receptionist of the building.

“Wait, HE?”, she removed her back from leaning at the back of the chair, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion.
She didn’t expected that this time, her father would find a male employee that will assist her this time. It’s her first time to be honest.

But also, she doesn’t think if she will enjoy this one so much because... oh well, after what happened to her, she lost trust and she hated men until today.

“U-uhm, I only know that my Dad will find one for me but he never mentioned who would it be.Anyways, I’ll take it from here. Bye.”, then she ended the call, placing it back at it’s place.

“Guess this will be over soon then, i’m sure. Men are trash.”, she spat it in disgust, clicking her tongue.

Few minutes later after focusing once again at her papers, she heard a knock on the door. It made her alert, because she knows that her mysterious new assistant secretary is now about to be revealed.

“Get in.”, she still kept her eyes glued at the door, lowering her eyeglasses.

She watched it open and then what appeared next made her eyes widen and her blood boil as she immediately remembered all the memories she had with this man in front of her.

Ofcourse, all of those were bad.

“Hi.”, you only greeted her with that simple words, still keeping your smile as if you don’t know what this woman is to you.

“What.. the... fuck are you doing here?“, Chaeyoung stared at her in anger.

“Jeez that’s strong. Well, you’re looking for a secretary position right?”, you said to her, still keeping yourself cool, grasping the strap of your sling bag.

“And it’s gonna be you?! Screw this, get out. I don’t want you.”, she then returned her eyes back at her task today.

“ You’re underestimating me still.”, you sighed. You know this was about to happen, so you were prepared for this.

“Well isn’t that perfect for a guy who’s just behind me, remember at college right?”, she leaned her face a bit closer to look at you intently, smug expression is all over her. “No matter what you do, I’m still reigning at top which you never can.”, then she pointed at you with the ballpen she’s holding.

“I get it, yes but... if I’m not mistaken, you gave your father the rights to find a new employee for you. That means, he has the one who will decide too.”, you said, which made her back away from her seat when you struck her at that realization. “He even mentioned to me, this is gonna be your last though.”

“Why of all the people my father needs to choose, it has to be you?”, she said, crossing her arms as she looked at you like she’s placing you in her judgement.

“ Treat this as fulfilling his favor to me.”, you said.

What you’re talking about is that, when Mr. Son approached you at that day; he asked a favor to along with his offer to hire you for a job, which is to become Chaeyoung’s secretary.

You and Chaeyoung were rivals since college but both of each other’s father were friends. While your father is having some talk with Mr. Son, he mentioned that you are looking for a job these days, as a part of your plan to try living on your own this time and not just relying yourself to your family. Mr. Son took a note of that, and because of what your father has done to him at some point when he needed help, he sweared that he will try to find an opportunity for him to help his friend back... through you.

And there, he had one... which is through her daughter. He used it to accomplish his mission and he did it. But, seeing again his problem regarding how the way her daughter acts these days, he then tried to give you a favor to do while being her new secretary.

“Attempt to make my daughter be fine again, will you? We failed already, and I think maybe you’re the only hope I can get to do this. I know you and my daughter has this quarrel going on until now but... I beg you, please help Chaeyoung heal the open wounds of her heart.”

You were hesitating at first because you are somewhat thinking that you can’t do this and you know you’re gonna struggle with this one. But, there’s nothing wrong but to try right?

And also, Mr. Son already helping you. It’s such a shame not to return back what he did to you so with no other option, you just accepted it and instead prepared yourself from something predictable to happen.

“Oh, and by the way. I never even wanted this in the first place, especially when I found out that you’re gonna be my boss... but you should be lucky that I am desperate for a job and so are you on looking for one, so I took it instead.”, you explained to her, giving some summary of the reason why are you now here, standing in front of her, in her office, in her company, her kingdom. “Guess, I’ll be helping you then.”, you then took a seat at one of the solo couch on the side of her room.

“Aww poor little Y/N, struggling in his life that’s why he needs something to save himself at.”, Chaeyoung tried to mock you but you just chuckled at it, making her look at you confusedly.

“Are you really sure about that?”, you smirked at her. “Well, fun fact: I just want a job because I want to try living on my own. It’s fine to me whether I won’t get one, atleast I tried.”

“It’s still the same.”, she fought back, trying to come up with some reason. “Also, there’s no way in this world I would be lucky to have you here always on my side, you hear me?”, she shook her head, her voice is trying to make it sound that she’s clear at this.

You can’t help but to feel irritated at her behavior so you just can’t control yourself but to ask this to her this time. That battle of the school rank thing you had with her in college was something you never wanted to be part of of. It was just such a small thing to you so you asked her why is she making this such a big deal.

She wasn’t like this worse when you and her were still studying.

You finally believed her father that she really isn’t fine right now, which makes you wonder next what really happened to her why she became like this...

...and what could be its solution?

“Why are you still so mean to me? I didn’t even do anything wrong to-

“Yeah, didn’t do anything wrong?”, she stood up to her seat hurriedly, then she stepped away from it to walk ahead of you, taking a turn from her desk. “What do you call those times when YOU’RE TAKING THE SPOTLIGHT AWAY FROM ME, YOU BEING EVERYONE’S FAVORITE, ALWAYS BEING ACKNOWLEDGED FOR YOUR INTELLIGENCE WHEN I’M HERE, ABOVE YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE AT THAT TIME.”, she said in front of you, you just looked up and watch her pour all her anger at what you did to her. Again, you never wanted to do that and it kinda makes you feel bad to yiurself that you weren’t aware of it.

“That makes the fact that I’m better than you, why don’t I get what I deserve to have?”

“You really think I even wanted that in the first place? I’m not the one who’s at fault here, blame them! They chose to choose me rather than you.”, you fought back, still choosing to keep still at your seat not to confront her right at her face by standing up.

“Don’t get me with that bullshit, Y/N.”, she shook her head, her laugh is a bit maniac to hear with a mix of disbelief. “Those smiles... the way your face enlightens whenever they do that to you, I can see it. Don’t fucking tell me you didn’t-”

“You know what, enough of this. It was all in the past. Let’s get it over here and focus on the real deal.”, you interrupted her, not wanting her to keep continuing this because you didn’t arrive here to make war with her, but for peace.

You stood up, grabbing your bag with you as you faced her because you want her to hear what you’re about to say loud and clear for her to understand. “Hate me if you want, I don’t care... but let me tell you this, I’m not like anybody else before me. What you’ve done to them, that won’t cross to me that easily. Whether you’re my boss, no one has the right to make me horrible when I am building myself at my best.”

But that didn’t intimidate Chaeyoung and who is she to let you do that to her, so she stepped forward, now she’s even closer at your body. She looked up to match her eyes to yours, well probably because of her height; not showing any signs of emotions. “Let’s see about that. You shouldn’t have took this, Y/N. Mark my words, you’re gonna regret this. As long as you’re with me, consider yourself being in hell.”, then she walked away from you, giving you one last glare from her. Making it as the end of your argument with her, you then proceeded to what brings you here in this place.

“So, where can I start?”, Chaeyoung stopped her tracks, still in disbelief that you’re gonna be her new secretary, but at the same time she’s liking it as she looks forward on whats gonna happen as time passes by.

She’s gonna enjo

y making your experience here horrible as much as she wants.

(2 WEEKS LATER)

“Y/N!!! COME HERE, RIGHT NOW!”, she shouted as she commanded you after she just saw half of your body entering her office. You finally showed up as you slowly appeared yourself in front of your boss who is really out of her mood right now.

“What is it?”, you asked her, but your voice doesn’t sound so good because of a bit of grogginess in it.

“You peasant, WHY ARE YOU LATE? THE MEETING’S ABOUT TO START!”, she slammed her hand on the desk, but not enough for you to flinch. Well actually it’s because your hearing is somehow weak today, along with all of your senses.

In short, you don’t feel so good today.

“S-sorry, I just went s-somewhere first.”, then you tried to open your eyes widely but you can’t It was just too droppy because your body’s energy is very low.

“SOMEWHERE FIRST? ISN’T EVEN THAT IMPORTANT?”, she angrily asked you. Then she traced your whole body, holding the bridge of her eyeglasses.

“Can you fix yourself, first? God you look like a disaster... well way more cuz you already are.”, she said, looking at you in a disgusting way. You then looked at your outfit today and it doesn’t seem bad to you. Your uniform is neatly ironed, only your sleeve and collar isn’t in proper place so you adjusted these to finally make yourself look organized. You then stroked your hair again when you noticed in the mirror that it’s a bit messy.

“So back to my question, WHAT DID YOU DO? You do know I don’t like making me wait.”

“Because I’m s-sick today.”, you then coughed a bit, covering your mouth with your scarf. Chaeyoung just leaned her face away, still expressing her distastre towards you as she’s closing her eyes “I fell asleep again because my head feels spinning, but I tried still to be active for you and for this job. And also the place I went to first before coming is a drugstore first to buy medicine.”, you explained to her.

“Sick or not or whatever it is, Let me remind you something, I don’t accept soft ones here in my building, Y/N.”, Chaeyoung said, still not getting affected with your poor status. “They die or not, it’s their choice to suffer. I didn’t forced any of you to be here. You all went here to serve me.”, that right here made your eyes widen and furrow your eyebrows at her in utter disbelief. Sure, your ears are slightly blocked but that words she just said didn’t escaped from you.

“I won’t be shocked if you’re not being careful that’ why you end up like this, well even based on your performance to me so far... you suck.”, she said, chuckling at you like you are a joke to her. Well, what happened these week, yes, you were making some mistakes and Chaeyoung is pissed at every single one of what you did. But you can’t blame yourself, you’re just new and also still learning at this field so it’s normal for you to be like this. It’s just that you are working with some arrogant and short-tempered boss that’s why you’re struggling to be better at what you do next time because all she does is to scold you for it.

“And and I’m trying my best to hold up with people like you who only knows nothing but to make mistake because after all, you are a failure.”, that last words left such a bad taste in you, making your face clench in anger. That made your emotions rise to displeasure so you didn’t hold back your words this time at her.

“I AM A FAILURE?”, you shouted at her, throwing your bag at the couch, not giving a damn if your throat kinda hurts. “WELL GUESS WHAT, LOOK AT THE MIRROR CHAEYOUNG AND SEE HOW HYPOCRITE YOU ARE BECAUSE HOW CAN YOU SAY IT TO ME LIKE THAT IF YOU’RE JUST LIKE US HERE.”, you pointed at her then you twirled your finger in the air. Chaeyoung is jut watching you seriously while you’re snapped.

“You run and stay at this place, wouldn’t that make you the same too? Sure, you may be the “princess”, the face who runs this place, the highness who sits in a throne, but that won’t change the fact that your words you choose also to define others is what also makes you the same as them. What happened to you, Chae? You’re not even this worse when I met you.”

Chaeyoung broke her silence. “Say what you want, Y/N. I don’t care about everyone around here, especially to men like you. I’m not who’s at fault here by just doing what I need to do.”

“Then your way of discipline is out of the line, Chaeyoung.”, you said to her.

Chaeyoung leaned her body forward, her hands placed at the top of her desk. She pushed her head directing to you. “You don’t dictate what I should do. I’m the boss here, not you.”, she said in a sassy way, all you had to do is to look at her with your fuming eyes. She then reached for some folders containing documents and her laptop placed on the desk. “Alright, let’s stop this irrelevant talk. I’ll spare you for now because I don’t want to look like an embarassment to the other clients because of you.” she said as she walked ahead to the door. You just took a seat on the couch to start taking a rest because you really feel that you needed it since you’re already exhausted.

“Stay here and wait for the punishment I will give to you after the meeting.”, she said before closing the door, finally exiting her office, leaving you all alone inside.

“As you say so.”, you responded breathily instead because she already left and she won’t even gonna hear what you’re about to say. In fact, she doesn’t need it anyways, you thought.

While walking at the hallway to head her way onto the conference room, Chaeyoung stopped in the middle of her steps when she remembered what you said to her a while ago.

She frowned as she felt pain in her heart when she heard you questioned her about her sudden complete change of her personality, making her realize from how worse she become after her ex-lover broke her heart.

She wanted to cry, but she decided to save it for now because she has something important to do right now.

If only she can assure you that she didn’t wanted to be like this but she doesn’t really know how could she free herself from this suffering.

All she can do is to apologize secretly from you so far on everything she’s been doing to you these days.

Meanwhile, back at Chaeyoung’s office. You just finished drinking water through your tumbler along with a tablet of medicine for your fever.

As you placed it back at your bag, you returned back at the couch to sit and try to make yourself comfortable. You then thought of Chaeyoung and what you observed to her during your time here so far in her company.

“She’s going hopeless now. Too bad for her. But I will not give up still. I know there’s something wrong, what really happened to you, Chae?’”, you spoke your words in your mind, sighing at it.

(A WEEK LATER)

The night after you and her had another argument, something unfortunate happened to Chaeyoung as she and her family received a bad news. Her 85 years old grandfather who is confined in the hospital passed away.

Chaeyoung was hurt the most because that was one of her favorite person in her life. Her grandfather became her guardian during her childhood because her parents always weren’t around due to business.

She didn’t even had a proper last talk and a goodbye to him before he rest in peace.

Now here she at the cemetery, in front of the grave of his grandfather who just laid beneath minutes go, sitting and staring at his resting place.

Her parents let her be alone for a while to grieve because they know how much Chaeyoung is affected at this loss, so Mr. Son instructed you to guard and watch her instead which you followed. You stayed in the car, keeping your eyes at Chaeyoung who is just sitting alone in the green grass.

You feel bad for Chaeyoung because you haven’t seen her look really devastated. Sure, she sounds and speaks like it but it hits you hard when you can literally see it all over her.

You noticed the clouds started to became dark until the raindrops starts to fall through the ground. You became worried of Chaeyoung which the latter doesn’t even mind if she gets wet from the rain.

You pulled your umbrella and opened it after you walked out of the car.

While Chaeyoung is still staring at the grave of her beloved grandpa, already bathe by the rain, she noticed that it stopped falling through her. Her shadow under her even became wider an as she looked up, she saw the white umbrella which is being held by you who is standing behind her.

She just ignored you as she turned her sight back at the grave.

But she’s admitting to herself that you looked like a guardian angel at her first sight, shielding you from the bad weather and making the dark clouds above her disappear as you blocked it with something light and bright.

“What are you doing in here?”, she asked, looking up at you with her uninterested expression.

“To keep an eye on you.”

“Did I even ask?”

“No. But your parents asked me for, and I also wanted to do it.”, you answered. She went silent again, you took the initiative to do what you were wanting to express from her since right at the beginning of her grandfather’s funeral.

“I know you’re full of hatred towards me and we just had a fight last week. I’m just here to send my deepest prayers and condolences.”, Chaeyoung’s lip twitched and the blinking of her eyes goes faster as her tears starts to form around it.

“I’m so sorry for your loss. Hoping that you find comfort and peace during this difficult time. This may be hard to process in your mind what you’re about to hear but... Just want to let you know that I am here willing to help you make you feel better.”, you said to her your only objective left to do for her... which so far isn’t really working but you’re still not losing hope because she is really a mystery to you and you know there’s a key for you to solve it.

Meanwhile, Chaeyoung was shocked at your words for her right now. She was slightly looking at the right behind her, focused on listening at you.

“Only if you want though, but seriously... I am willing to do it for you. Not just as your secretary, but as your friend. I don’t know if this will be enough for you to believe me but, I didn’t even wanted to be your enemy, Chaeyoung. Never.”

“And how can I trust you?”, she asked you. She has a doubt still inside of her but she’s really interested on this for her to see.

“Then please let me be to prove you right, I’ll do my best because...

I don’t want to disappoint you.”

That words you said in the end made Chaeyoung give you a chance to do what you want to do for her. You ain’t aware that you hit her right at the spot. You don’t know that this is one of things she only wanted to have and for her to know and experience from a men like you.

You made her get interested at you because of that. So she’s anticipating on what she could see from this side of yours she didn’t even bother to observe at since you and her were classmates in college.

“Sorry for interrupting your grieve. I’ll let you continue your moment of silence. I should shut-”

“I-I’ll come with you. If you won’t mind?”, Chaeyoung turned her body at you, now she’s looking up at you. you saw her messy and wet face being blocked by some strands of her soaked hair.

“Okay.”, you smiled, nodding at her. You lend your hand at her to help her stand up. She took a one last look at her grandpa’s grave before turning around and walk back at the car.

“You should take a bath after this, it’s hard to get sick, boss.”, you placed and wrapped a large clean towel around her to make herself get dry. After that, you had the courage to wrap your arms around her, placing your hand at her shoulder to make him feel warm whatsoever.

You were expecting a punch straight to your face from her, but nothing happened.

As you did that to Chaeyoung, she felt tender care from you. She was speechless because she is too stunned to react so she just nods at you after.

“Y/N”, she called your name as both of you entered the car.

“Yes?”, you looked at her from the rearview mirror.

“Thank you.”, that made you smile. It felt so good to receive such an appreciation from her. Well mainly because she almost doesn’t do this to you that’s why.

As you started to drive away, Chaeyoung was saying something on her mind, and it was for you.

“I didn’t even cared for you when you got sick, but you still chose to be concerned about me.“, she said it to herself while grasping the towel you gave to her, hugging it tightly in her arms.

(5 DAYS LATER)

“You really look handsome today, Y/N.”, your fellow employee, Sakura said to you after you just got out from the cafeteria and met her.

“Thanks.”, you smiled, showing an appreciation from her compliment.

“Do you even had a girlfriend before?”, she said, swaying her hair that is placed on her should to her back. You didn’t saw that she was looking at you while she did that.

“Well uh no actually.”, you gave her an embarassed expression, forcing a smile at her.

“You must found one, you know?”, she teasingly pushed your shoulder. You just laughed at her. “Such a waste if someone won’t have you.”, you just absorbed her continous praise towards you but you don’t look at yourself highly like that. It’s better to be humble for you and you know that you still has some flaws at what you do and what you have.

“What is your ideal woman though?”, she asked you as she smirked.

“Hmmm well I like-”, you were about to finish your words when some couple of fake coughs from behind you caught your attention. Both you and Sakura turned around to see your boss Chaeyoung crossing her arms, her lips pursed while her one eyebrows is up.

She glared at Sakura which made the latter gulped in nervousness.

“Oh uhm... M-Miss Son, I’m very sorry. I will go back now, bye Y/N.”, she said to you as she bid her farewell, you gave her back too. She bowed her head to Chaeyoung before she walked pass beside her, leaving you two alone.

“What a sneaky bitch you are, Y/N. Never heard that flirting is one way of taking a break now.”, she said, her mouth is slightly opened as she raised her tongue inside while both of her eyebrows are now up this time.

“Hey s-she’s the first one who talked to me after I went out from having lunch, okay?”, you tried to explain to her but you nervous even more when the stutters is ruining it, worried that you might sound that you’re lying to her. “ I g-guess she likes me that’s-

“And you like her too?”, she asked you. Her tone went really serious at that.

“No.”

“You sure? Because it looks like you’re having fun talking to her.”, she rolled her eyes, looking away at a distance.

“She complimented me okay? I mean, how could anyone wouldn’t be happy at that.”, you still tried to defend yourself to her. You know what she’s saying isn’t right and you don’t want her to keep teasing you at that because it just makes you feel awkward.

Sakura is a pretty fine woman, yes. But... you still prefer THIS someone who is slowly stealing your heart as it began just a past few days.

“Okay.”, she only responded as she nodded while pouting her lower lip.

“Then it’s good.”, she whispered after but it was a bit loud that you even noticed it.

“You said something, Chae?”

“Nothing.”, she shook her head. “Now, go back to work. You pissed me off, break’s over. Prepare my presentation later.”, then she pushed you to start moving now and do your task she gave to you.

“Sure, boss.”, you said and then you proceeded to walk away from her to reach the elevator.

Meanwhile, Chaeyoung is questioning herself on what she felt after she heard your explaination and what she just said after that made you nearly heard it.

“Why did it felt like a relief to me?”

It was not the only questionable thing she’s having. The next day after her grandfather’s burial, you really lived up to your words to her. You were there on her side at all times, even quicker when she needed you to come to her office to give you some task to do.

You didn’t want to stress her that much because she doesn’t still feel good despite of what happened to her. So you did your best to improve your performance around her and in this place.

Fortunately, she can see your efforts.

And it actually makes her feel touched when she knew that you were doing it all for you.

Not just at work, you were there for you whenever she’s alone. You only come to your office when you were about to do something.

You tried to make her happy by cheering her up on some things.

You asked her what does she loves to wtach or listen. You even shared some random things about her.

And to your shock, it was slowly getting effective. She was reacting non-coldly at it. Not too much though, but it’s already fine to you.

To Chaeyoung, she was somehow liking it.

You being her comfort, support, stress reliever and the one who cheers her up.

It’s like she ain’t having such a bad day now compared to those she had after that horrible day she went through.

She can’t believe that shes saying this but...

... she’s liking your presence being felt with her.

She likes being around her enemy which is strange.
Until every night she always had you in her mind and dreams, wishing that she could just be with you the whole time.

Same as you who is liking it too because you can see now some glimpse of humanity in her. That Chaeyoung her parents or family adored much is slightly showing once again after being trapped by her defense mechanism to make herself look strong despite being still weak and in pain after what her ex has done to her.

“Y/N, is the presentation good to go?”, Chaeyoung asked you as she went through your office. It was weird to you because she never ever approached you in your room. She prefer being on hers all the time.

“Wait, just one... last... sentence.”, you said as you were typing something on the keyboard while looking focusedly on the keyboard.

“Done.”, you clicked the mouse.

“Let me check.”, she entered your room and walked towards your side. She leaned her head closer to the monitor to see your work. “Mmhhmm... good. I like it.”

“Really?”

“Why? You want me to bring it back?”, she looked at you. You didn’t turned your eyes away at her because of how pretty she is.

Even Chaeyoung is also doing the same as yours as she was just looking at your face too.

“Your looks is mesmerizing.”, she thought.

Yeah, you’re also starting to admire her looks because you just can’t deny anymore that she IS really gorgeous. It’s just that her behavior distracts you from it.

Something unexplainable feeling is growing into you for her and you don’t know why you’re just letting it grow more.

You guessed that it’s safe to say that you have a crush with Chaeyoung. But you chose to just keep it as a secret to yourself because you were a bit afraid that maybe she will just dump you when she learned about this.

Well, she would really do it, you thought.

Oh little did you know what’s about to come next.

“ N-no, it’s just... this is my first time being complimented by you. You rarely do that to me.”, you said, shaking your head as you still can’t get your eyes away. As it made her realize what she did, she looked away fast to hide her blush from you.

“O-oh, is that so? Well, you made me impressed with your work. Keep it up, I guess.”, she said as nodded while not looking at you. She breathe heavily and cleared her throat first before speaking again.

“Let’s move, some investors already arrived and is now waiting for us.”, then you followed her command as you stood up from your seat, grabbing your laptop and join her on her way to the conference room.

As both of you reached its door...

“Chae...”

“What?”

“G-goodluck.”, you gave her a smile. Chaeyoung just fluttered at your support.

She just nodded at you as a respond and open the door. You don’t know that she didn’t answered you back because she was trying to contain herself first.

After the successful presentation, Chaeyoung went to the restroom. She looked her terrified reflection in the mirror.

She is now falling in love with you, and she’s terrified that you she won’t get back the same from you.

(5 DAYS LATER)

After the success of the company’s partnership with another famous and strong fellow company to widen the connections of each other’s business, the CEO of that company hosted a party for this.

Now here you are at the venue where the party is being held. And right now, you are about to approach someone that caught your eyes after having some talk with the other employees.

“Hey.”, you called Chaeyoung who is sitting at the pool alone, sipping her strawberry milk in a box.

“Oh? Do you need something? If not, just go there and have fun.”, she said to you. You can’t help but to slump your shoulder after hearing that because you’re getting tired at this.

She was being distant and acting as if she doesn’t want you getting close from her for too long again these past few days.

Before, you know why she’s being like this to you unlike these days where you are just completely clueless.

You know you’re still increasing your efforts not to disappoint her, but it seems that it’s not working again.

But can she atleast just say anything from you, you thought to yourself.

She wasn’t even giving any rude, harsh and over the line words towards you. She is like, making some ways to distance herself away from you, which makes you wonder what is her problem this time.

You wanted to help her like what you just sweared to do so for her, but how can you do it if she’s pushing you away?

“I am having fun right now.”, you said. You took a seat beside on the pool, dipping both of your feet onto the water. “Can we talk, Chae?”

“Is it gonna be worth my time?”, she asked you, pure dead-like tone can be heard from her.

“I can’t tell but for me, yes.”

“Then no, leave me alone. You are not my secretary for today so do whatever you want.”, she stood up from the pool and she starts to walk away.

You just couldn’t let this happen anymore so you were getting frustrated now at her attitude.

You ran towards her to block her way. Now you’re just standing in front of her as she is now been stopped on her tracks, thanks to you.

“What is it now? Can’t you-”, she irritatingly asked you but you just didn’t cared for it.

“Chae, why are you pushing me away?”

“What? I don’t-”, she said in confusion but you interrupted her again because you ain’t buying this. She knows what she’s doing, you know that.

“Stop lying to me, I know you are. Even when I’m doing my job as your secretary these past few days, I notice you are being like this to me.”, you said, finally letting out your problem through your observation on her actions at you.

“Tell me, what did I do wrong this time? Don’t let me be hanging in the air, Chae.”

“Because I hate you. You want the reason right? There you go.”, she even leaned her face closer to make sure that she literally spat it out strongly at your face to make you realize, but still you didn’t believe that was the real reason.

You know she always hated you, despite you two are now getting closer at each other.

You know everything you do for her isn’t enough to wipe out her dislike towards you, but as long as the two of you can somehow get along well... it’s fine to you already.

“I know but what is it this time. You hate me for what?”, she tried to find another way again to take just to walk away from you. You couldn’t stand it anymore so you grabbed her arm to make sure she won’t escape this time.

“Oh no, THIS AINT GONNA BE LIKE IT AGAIN, CHAEYOUNG, CAN YOU ATLEAST TELL ME WHY?”

“ I HATE YOU BECAUSE YOU’RE MAKING ME WANT YOU!!!”, she shouted at you, thank God nobody in the people in here heard her just bursted out at you. You just looked with confusion at her who is now crying at you, figuring out what is she implying at.

“T-that’s why I’m moving away from you, so that I-I shouldn’t be feeling this way. But I can’t fight it, from your first time being my secretary, I can see actually how you’re willing to do everything for me, without minding how I look down and harshly treat you... until you comforted me when my grandfather died, you made me observe you deeply and you made me believe how actually great of a person you are.

You showed me what I am searching to a man. Funny how the one I hated the most was even better than the one I loved the most before.

But thinking about that part where definitely I made you hate me too for how much nightmare you had being near me, I tried to deny my feelings because of it... but the more I do it, I just loose my grip from holding on.

I hate you for being very strange. If you ain’t like this to me, I won’t suffer struggling with this feeling I’m having for you, Y/N.

Now I’m getting scared too because, I-I’m falling in love with you and... I know you that won’t gonna catch me and instead crash onto the ground, all I will receive again was nothing but pain.”, then she finally stopped her speech she just made after finally revealing her feelings for you.

You just can’t believe that you made her feel the same as you.

You never thought that she will develop love at you.

But you felt bad to yourself after you realized that you still caused her some hard time to decide whether she will keep her feelings or scrap it out because she was afraid of her belief that you won’t gonna accept her after everything she did and what has she became to you.

“I’m sorry.”, that’s all you could say to her at what you have done to her.

“Do you think, one single sorry will fix this? Huh?”, she said as she aggresively poking her chest with her index finger.

“I know it doesn’t...

but I guess this might work.”, and Chaeyoung didn’t even noticed what happened next because it was just too fast and unexpected.

Your lips is now attached to hers.

Yours felt so good that she doesn’t even want to release quickly, so both of you took some time to continue dancing with each other’s movements and tasting the deliciousness of each other’s lips.

You were the one to pulled out from each other’s lock. You grasped the side of her head and stroked her hair with your fingertips as you brought your eyes around at her gorgeous face.

“Don’t fight and don’t be scared anymore. I assure you that everything is gonna be fine, Chaeyoung.”, you said softly to her. You can feel how her face twitches because of her sniffing, so you used your another hand to wipe away the tears in around her eyes and cheeks.

“It’s my fault. I should be held responsibility for what I did... and I’m willing to took it upon myself... because of what I also feel the same for you too.”, her eyes widened as she stared at you.

She looked in utter disbelief at the man she once looked as her enemy and foe which now turned into her lover as you also confessed your growing love and admiration at her.

“Yeah I know we had this rivalry you created, but now hearing you saying those... I know you wanted to end it just like what I’ve been wanting too.”

“I was scared too, just like you. Thought that you will just reject me because yeah... I never even thought you’ll see me the opposite.”

“This shouldn’t even occured between us, Chae... but, we could erase it and replace still with something else this time. Accept my love, Chae. You have nothing to be scared about, you’ve been saved.”, you assured to her which made her even cry harder this time. You tried to ease it more by pulling her again into yours for a warm hug.

“I’m sorry. I don’t deserve you, Y/N. I’m sorry for everything, I-I made everyone, including you... broken just like me.”

“No worries. You got what you wanted, same as I and it’s fine to me now. Atleast it all makes sense to me why you became like this.”, you said to her. It was all clear to you now, no more questions left at you.

“He tore you apart so much and he left you damaged. It’s his fault, not yours.”, then she even hold you tighter as she squeezed you by wrapping her arms around you like she doesn’t want you to let go like what her ex did to her.

“Y/N, can you promise me something?”, she asked you.

“What is it?”

“Always stay by my side, please. Don’t leave me often in the dark.”, you pushed her away from you then you cupped both of her cheeks to say this for her to listen intently.

“If that’s what he can’t do before, you have my word... I’ll make it happen for you. I will fix you again.”, you gave her a wide smile which made her really confident that she is now in safe hands.

“Thank you so much, Y/N.”,

“Anything for my love.”, then you leaned closer to her and gave a peck to her forehead, making a loud releasing noise after.

“I really need to give my dad a gift after this.”, she chuckled. Oh this sight of her slowly showing her emotionally recovered self is such a wonderful sight to you.

You finally learned that all she wants to be better again is to experience the things her ex can’t accomplish for her as a boyfriend.

To be loved, to be cared and to be with there for her through her darkest times.

You are so excited to report this to her parents especially Mr. Son later, that you did it.

“Grateful, eh?”

“This won’t all happen to me if it wasn’t to him too, you know.”, she said.
“I owe him one for this. He found me someone to pick up all the pieces of my shattered heart back to it’s proper form, and it was you who did it.”, she said as she holds your hand after.

“And I won’t have any plans to break it again.”, the two of you exchanged a smile after, feeling grateful with this new relationship you have with each other tonight.

“Hey, do you want some piña colada? I wanna try it actually.”, you asked her after you remember that drink one of your co-employees is drinking while you’re talking to them.

“Sure. I’m getting thirsty too so why not.”, Chaeyoung accepted. You nodded at her then she hooked her arm at yours and cuddled at it as the two of you starts to walk ahead to the bar to order.

-🐯-