because I skip workouts.»
«Judging by the tone of your voice, you are not very pleased with your new job. Starry Olympus is not as bright as it seems from afar?» he asked mockingly, and I began to think over his question, stopping in place. The punching bag pushed me back, and I staggered, then laughed because of my sluggishness.
«What are you doing?» my best friend asked in surprise.
«I… seems to have received an answer from someone I didn’t expect at all,» I answered, still laughing, and patted the pear with exaggerated care.
«So what’s up with your job?» he impatiently reminded me of something he’d asked before.
«They ignore me, but for some reason, this does not anger, but only causes a feeling of pity.»
«Well, I’m sure there’s something to be sorry for idols. I hope you haven’t changed your mind about going through with this deal?»
«No way!» I replied, continuing to box, «I’ll find a way with him. It would be too boring if he gave up without a fight.»
«Well, good luck to you. I have to go. I’ll call you later,» he said goodbye and hung up the call.
I felt a surge of energy and, at the same time, a pleasant fatigue throughout my body. Having collected my things from the locker, I decided that I would take a shower at home, so I went up to the apartment and froze on the threshold from the delicious smell of food burning my mucous membrane. Something hissed appetizingly and I, leaving my shoes in the hallway, walked into the kitchen.
Dad, in home clothes and an apron, skillfully prepared dinner, quickly moving from the surface of the kitchen island to the stove and back.
«Min Hee?» he smiled happily as his gaze lingered on me for a moment, «You’re on time. Get dressed and I’ll be waiting for you for dinner. We’ll have guests, but it’s a house party. So there’s no need for formal wear.»
«I didn’t plan on wearing anything formal,» I chuckled and trudged into my bedroom, which had its own bathroom.
When we moved into this penthouse, I chose the smallest room for myself, which now contained only a large bed, a closet with my clothes and a work desk where I spent my nights.
Under a stream of warm water in the shower, I felt empty that in the last five days I had not once made time for the business that I had been dreaming about for the past few years. My father taught me to dream and to believe that nothing is impossible for me. And it’s not because he and mom had enough power and money. On the contrary, he taught me discipline, dismissing momentary desires and thoughtfulness in everything that concerned my own life. And for that I was grateful to him. The only thing that he could not overcome in any way in me was my passion for fast driving and for everything that caused an adrenaline rush and an emotional outburst in my mind.
I had a plan, and I was not going to let one single person (albeit a very influential one) deprive me of the opportunity to achieve my goal.
I dressed in casual pants and a wide cotton sweater and dried my hair with a hair dryer, finally feeling at home. In peace, comfort and peace of mind.
«You have no idea how much I want to eat!» I exclaimed and entered the kitchen, after which I stopped abruptly and looked at my father in confusion.
«I said we’d have guests,» he excused himself with a shrug, then turned his gaze to Cho Hee, who was looking at me with a smug smile on a bar stool behind the kitchen island. He filled his glass with water and pulled it towards him.
«Hello!» The young man waved his hand at me in greeting.
«What is he doing here?» I asked my father.
«You’re not a very hospitable hostess,» dad laughed and made an inviting gesture towards a place located next to Cho Hee, who handed me a glass filled with red wine.
«Are you still mad at me about that incident in Itaewon?» With a sweet smile on his face, a young man who looked dazzling even in a simple tracksuit addressed me, «Let’s clear our past misunderstandings. And officially introduce ourselves. I am Min Cho Hee, Min Sung Joon’s younger brother. His assistant, loyal friend and singer for MW Corporation. You don’t have to introduce yourself. I already know everything about you,» he smiled, extending his hand for a handshake.
I put my hand in his well-groomed hand and shook it weakly in response, hardly conscious of what he told me.
«So guys, dinner will be ready in five minutes. You can have a little chat,» the father suggested, enthusiastically stirring the fried rice in the pan.
«How do you like working with my older brother? Did he torture you a lot?» Cho Hee continued to have fun.
«No. He didn’t torment me at all. Although no, not like that. He tormented me with his indifference. As the person who knows him best, tell me, does he ever eat at all?» I could not resist asking a question related to my immediate duties.
Cho Hee grinned and took a leisurely sip of water, and then looked at me point-blank, and his grin suddenly changed into a sad smile.
«Honestly, I thought you’d give up on the first day, but… slipping food on him won’t get you anywhere,» he spread his hands out to the side.
«Why? Does he have a special diet?» I was not going to miss the opportunity to unravel Sung Joon’s strange behavior by my standards.
«No. Sung Joon doesn’t eat food that he doesn’t know anything about or gets it from someone he doesn’t trust. I mean, from no one,» he lowered his voice to me, «so you better stop trying to feed him. He and does not drink water if the bottle somehow looks suspicious.
«Don’t you two think it’s not very polite to talk about a person when they’re not here?» Father turned to us and looked at the clock located on the door of our refrigerator. And a moment later, the doorbell rang, «Min Hee, open the door,» the father ordered, arranging the food on plates.
I got up from my seat and walked into the hallway, wondering who it could be. But to my great dismay, it was Sung Joon who entered our apartment without a word, took off his flip flops and went to the kitchen. And from his behavior, I realized that this was far from the first time he visited our apartment.
«Song Joonie, come in. Cho Hee, pour him some wine. Min Hee, daughter, where are you?» My father called me. And I was able to get out of the stupor by closing the front door, after which I trudged to the kitchen and returned to my place. Now between me and Sung Joon was only his little brother, «ok guys, the food is ready,» my father announced in a solemn tone and put plates of fried rice and japchae in front of us, as well as spicy chicken legs that he had just finished cooking.
I felt my stomach constrict in a hungry spasm, and, paying no attention to anyone present, I began to eat, enjoying every portion that I ate.
«Have you not been fed for a week?» Cho Hee asked me through laughter, and out of the corner of my eye I noticed Sung Joon poking his little brother in the side with his elbow.
«Why are you speaking informally? Min Hee is older than you,» he grumbled.
«It’s okay. We’re already, you might say, friends,» I tried to defuse the situation, hastily chewing everything that managed to put in my mouth.
«When did you two become friends?» Sung Joon asked indignantly and, for the first time today, looked at me point-blank.
I was slightly taken aback by surprise and could not immediately find an answer, with difficulty swallowing what I had already chewed.
«We have common interests, and we have already met three times in the last week in the most unexpected places. What is this, if not fate?» With a dreamy look, Cho Hee answered instead of me, after which there was an awkward pause.
My father