"Since you signed the waiver, Mr. and Mrs. Park, we will begin the blindfolded eating competition." The first waiter announces as more waiters pour into the room, carrying different types of sushi.
"Blind eating what? What waiver? Mr. and Mrs. who?" I reached for Eiichi's shirt collar. Shaking him to tell me the truth, but he just laughed as the waiters fastened on our blindfolds.
Ready. Set. Eat!
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"Park Daisuke will kill us." I paced around the room, while Eiichi stood stunned by the bill.
"Technically, he will kill you. You ate more than I did and even won the competition." He scratched his head.
"My picture, tell them to remove my picture from the wall." I pointed at the embarrassing profile of me about to take the winning bite, planted on the victory wall. How embarrassing. With the blindfolds on, I got too competitive and didn't want Eiichi to eat all the sushi. But worse of all it said Mrs. Park on the name tag.
"There's a lot of zeros on this piece of paper." He joked.
"It's called a bill, and you said I should trust in the card." He rubbed his chin, peered at the bill in his hand, then straight at me. My heart began to beat faster. I could feel my cheeks heat up as he moved closer, not breaking his gaze.
"We run. No?" I almost fell through the earth. I gathered my strength.
"No. We can't do that. The cops will put you in a box with bars genius." I grabbed his shoulders and shook him violently.
"You mean prison. Daisuke will bail me out." He laughed.
"I don't have any rich friends to do that for me. Besides, it won't come to that." I stared at the bill, and truly the zeros never seemed to end. Was it a zero per bite? This bill was insane.
"I'll call Daisuke. He'll save us." I reached for the grey card in his pocket and waved it in his face.
"But you said trust in the card. The special sugar-baby card. Was it all nonsense?" He patted his chest, hurt.
"I would never lie to you. But if we used the special card to pay for 'this,' the bank would launch an investigation." He pulled out his phone and dialled for our saviour. How embarrassing. I won the competition, I ate most of the food, my picture is up as Mrs. Park, and I'm about to be saved by my devil manager.
The doors swung open, and Mr. Dark and Handsome made his way to us. I felt my self choke. How would I even begin to explain that I and Eiichi (his driver) practically attempted fraud but failed miserably? He stopped then turned towards the receptionist at the counter. I was losing my mind while Eiichi swung his legs and whistled calmly.
"Cha-cha relax. Don't worry about a thing, cause every little thing s' gonna be alright," he sang at me. I'm going to strangle this idiot; if Park Daisuke doesn't kill us both, first.
After attending to the bill, without even batting an eyelash at the steep fee, Park Daisuke turned his attention back to us.
"Eiichi of all the stupid, inconsiderate things you've done. This takes the cake," He growled at Eiichi. "And you..." He turned his rage unto me.
"Me...?"
"Mrs. Park?" He smirked while furrowing his brows.
"Eiichi made me do it." I turned to rat him out.
"You were sold on the bento boxes." Eiichi gasped at the betrayal.
"You said I should trust in the grey card." I raised my voice in defence.
"I don't care about the money, or the stupid Mrs. Park picture, or the misuse of company property," He pointed at the card in Eiichi's hands. "I'm furious that you both distracted me from a meeting, forced me to drive my damn self all for something so bizarre," he groaned. Then He pointed his slender fingers at me, "and...Ho Mizuki. Shouldn't you be working or are you hired to eat?"
"I...was." He waved me to shut up.
"Is this some ploy to get back at me for giving Seol Soomin your designs to render? Could you take your job more seriously? Dealing with your shit over and over is becoming irritating." He placed his hands on his hips as if done with the entire thing.
He was 'dealing with my shit' What shit? What had I done? If that was the case- "I'll pay you back," I muttered. I'd rather die than owe devil face one.
"Damn right, you will. Eiichi here are the keys, drive us back. Now." He passed Eiichi the keys and walked out of the restaurant.
"I think it's best if I use the bus," I told Eiichi. Who scratched his head. He then placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Cha...Mizuki. I didn't mean for this to happen. I'll speak to Daisuke I'm sure he doesn't expect you to pay him back. With what money, right?" He laughed, but his charming smile had lost its effects. Now I was angry at both him and Park Daisuke. But mostly at myself.
At least the office was silent, everyone was more focused on the new client's assignment than on me, as I snuck into the office. I crept towards my desk, peering down at the printouts piled on my table. Seol Soomin didn't even have the decency to place the printouts somewhere that wasn't covering my previous work. Now I had to sift through and figure out the new one from the old one.
I was finally through with the first batch of prototype testings, all that was left was to send them to Park Daisuke for review. "I might as well use the opportunity to apologize."
I reached for the handle and entered the office. Park Daisuke pointed at an area on his desk, designated for dropping off our assignments. After I dropped the binder and I waited for a few minutes it was clear that he still hadn't noticed that I was waiting for his attention. "Excuse me."
"You have been excused," he responded. Still not looking at me. I would gladly toss him out the window. Just let me at him.
"I meant excuse me, I need to speak to you" I responded curtly, then he looked up and smiled. But it wasn't the smile you receive from a friend or the one you get from awkward neighbours, it was a cold, uninterested smile. And suddenly I didn't feel bad about eating all that sushi. In fact, Mrs. Park might be making another stop at Nobu's, I never did get my bento box. "Actually forget it, I'll figure it out myself." I smiled back and turned to the door.
"I know you work hard. I'm not blind Ho Mizuki." Unfortunately, Park Daisuke, that's debatable.