A few minutes before Ji Seok entered Chang Wook's office…
Hong Joo was looking over some paperwork when she saw a hand on her desk. She looked up and saw none other than Ji Seok. Ha Eun's younger brother "The second most eligible bachelor in Korea!"
Ji Seok looked at her with a surprised expression. Hong Joo suddenly realized that she said that out loud. People around her were looking at them and she could tell by Ji Seok's surprised expression that she made a complete fool of herself.
There's no way she can save herself from this so she quickly stood up from her chair, but her chair swung back and hit the small bookcase behind her, which made a few of the books fall down. She tried to pick up the one closest to her which fell under the desk but as she stood up she hit her head and the pens that were on top of the desk fell down right in front of Ji Seok.
Hong Joo felt her spirit leave her body. Embarrassing herself in front of such a handsome guy. She said to herself "I should just die right now. I'm ready. Take me right now God, just take me" she was crying inside.
"Um…it's a…how can I help you?" she asked as she placed the book on her desk. She tried to maintain eye contact and act as nothing happened.
Ji Seok found her actions hilarious. If he didn't have an image to maintain he would laugh right now. He's made girls feel flustered before but nothing like this.
"You know who I am but who are you?" Ji Seok asked.
"Where are my manners?" Hong Joo chuckled awkwardly "My name is Jung Hong Joo" she reached out her hand for his but she hit the lamp on the desk which fell towards Ji Seok's foot.
Hong Joo looked, as it fell, in shock. Ji Seok looked in surprised. He didn't have enough time to move his foot so when the lamp hit it, he was in an extreme amount of pain.
Hong Joo widened her mouth and looked up at Ji Seok "I…I am so sorry" she said. Ji Seok tried his best to act like it didn't hurt.
"Don't worry about it. It didn't hurt" he said "I'm here to see my brother-in-law. Is he in?" he asked.
"Um…yes" she said. She knocked on Chang Wook's office door and opened it for Ji Seok.
"Hello, brother-in-law" he said.
Chang Wook was surprised by his sudden appearance.
"Ji Seok. What a surprise" Chang Wook said. He suddenly looked at Ji Seok's red face "Are you okay?" he asked him.
"Yeah. I'm perfect" he said then bowed at Hong Joo.
She looked at him worried "Are you sure you're okay. I can bring you some ice"
"I'm fine. You can go now" he said. Hong Joo felt horrible but bowed and closed the door behind her.
Suddenly Ji Seok made a pained expression and acted like he was yelling as he took off his left shoe and started to rub it.
"What happened?" Chang Wook asked him worriedly.
"I think my toe is broken" Ji Seok said. Chang Wook was even more shocked by this. He rushed towards Ji Seok and examined his foot.
Chang Wook let go of Ji Seok's foot and sat on top of his desk, right in front of Ji Seok "You didn't break your toe. You're just a big baby" Chang Wook said, "What happened?"
"A lamp fell on it" he said. Chang Wook looked out the glass wall and noticed Hong Joo picking up the lamp on her desk and pens on the floor. He chuckled.
"Hong Joo is quite something" Chang Wook said.
"A natural disaster is more like it" Ji Seok said, pouting.
"There, there. Don't be mean" Chang Wook chuckled "So, what brings you here? You forgot where Ha Eun's office is?"
"I came to see you" Ji Seok said "Dad told me a very interesting story last night"
Chang Wook's eyes widened. Ji Seok noticed the color left Chang Wook's face which made him started to laugh "So, he was telling the truth?!"
"What did he say?" Chang Wook asked worriedly.
"He interrupted you and Ha Eun from doing the dirty" Ji Seok was still laughing. Chang Wook looked down in embarrassment.
"He knew?!" Chang Wook asked shocked. Ji Seok just laughed even louder.
"You must have been so embarrassed!" Ji Seok said "Oh My God. No guy would like to trade places with you at that moment"
Chang Wook's face started to grow red. He was feeling even more embarrassed. One thing is walking in on someone, another thing is telling someone else about it "Did you just come over here to laugh at me?"
"I'm sorry. I'll stop laughing. It was just so funny" Ji Seok composed himself "I wanted to ask you to have a few drinks with me tonight. Have some brother-in-law bonding. What do you say?"
"Oh. I'm actually busy tonight" Chang Wook said.
Ji Seok suddenly grinned at Chang Wook and raised his eyebrows at him "By busy, do you mean busy?"
"I'm sorry but I am not having this conversation with you"
"That means that you are, right? Right?" Ji Seok asked.
"It's just a date" Chang Wook said loudly.
Ji Seok smiled at the flustered Chang Wook "I'm glad Ha Eun met you" he said "She's been cold and expressionless for a long time. When she brought you home, it was the first time I saw her genuinely smile"
Chang Wook thought back to that day. She was only throwing insults to her step-sister and step-mother, then she had a heated argument with Woo Yeon. He didn't remember her ever smiling that day, but he decided to take Ji Seok's word for it.
"Take good care of her alright? She's my most precious sister" he said.
Chang Wook smiled. He wondered if Ha Eun knew how much Mr. Oh and Ji Seok loved her. Her relationship with her stepsister and stepmother might be strained, but she does have people that love her.
"I promise" Chang Wook said.
"Well, I'll be leaving then" Ji Seok got up to leave but stopped himself before he reached the door "I almost forgot. People will always think you slept your way to your position. You can't stop them from thinking that or talking about it, but what you can do, is not get into a fight with everyone that voices their opinion on the matter, in front of you"
Chang Wook looked down. So, this is why Ji Seok came to see him. He knew he shouldn't have gotten into that fight, but when that guy was bad-mouthing Ha Eun, it made him lose control "He was bad-mouthing her"
"Ha Eun has been in the spotlight for a long time. She's used to people talking about her. She's even used to worse words than the ones your classmate said"
"If you keep going like this, one of these days you might get in a fight with someone who will leave more than a few scratches on your face. My family has never been good at comforting each other, I'm guessing that's' one of the reasons why Ha Eun is so cold towards us, but you are Ha Eun's family now. If anyone can comfort her and make her smile. That's you"
"Well, I'm leaving now" Ji Seok opened the door "But I still want to go out for some drinks with you"
Chang Wook nodded with a smile and waved goodbye.
As Ji Seok made his way out, he glanced over at Hong Joo and grinned at her.
Hong Joo bowed her head.