"Haha. Boss, you must be kidding, right?" Hana asked in disbelief. "That..this.."
"This-That.That-This. You don't really want to eat with me?" Jacob tilted his head to side while watching her, her facial expression and subtle movements were recorded in the deepest part of his memory.
"Fine!" Hana grabbed her bag and walked out of the locker room with Jacob following behind her. She didn't slowdown at all even when they were about to cross the street.
"Hana, watch out!" His loud yell and sudden forceful grab of her hand startled her so much. When she realized what happened, she was already in his warm arms. "Are you trying to kill yourself?! Do you hate me so much that you would rather die than to have lunch with me?!" his eyes were red from anger and Hana didn't know what made him think that way.
"Boss, don't be too loud. We are in the middle of the street." Hana spoke to him in a whisper, trying her best to pacify him.
"So, you know we are in the middle of the street! There are cars passing! Why didn't you watch where you are going?!" he scolded her without sparing an effort. He was really mad. When he saw the car was about to hit her, he thought his heart was about to leap out from his chest. He was so scared. He felt as if, he lost her before and it was happening right before his eyes again.
"I'm sorry boss." Hana mumble while avoiding his fierce eyes. He looked like he was about to chew her into pieces. "Sorry boss. I was in a hurry."
"You are in a hurry to die?!"
"Sorry." She couldn't find any other words to say anymore. All she could think of was to apologize and calm him.
People were looking at them already and she was embarrassed, not only because she was scolded but because, she was still in his arms. He was hugging her! In the middle of the street with people from all walks of life!
"Little lady, don't just cross the road without looking for the cars. Look at your boyfriend. You scared the hell out of him." An older lady smiled and reminded Hana. She wanted to deny it but another on-looker butt in.
"Correct. Look how anxious he is. He is even sweating from fear of losing you."
Hana tap Jacob's back lightly to bring him back to their current plight. "Boss. Boss, we are gathering so much attention. Please let me go. People are already making assumptions." Jacob tightened his hug on her instead. "Boss, don't ruin my reputation."
"I am surprised that you care about your reputation." Jacob stated before letting her go. He looked at her face, her arms and her legs to make sure that she wasn't hurt anywhere. "Do you feel any pain?" His concern and worry were clear in his handsome face.
"My ribs are hurting." She murmured softly.
"Let me send you to the doctor." Jacob took hold of her hand and was about to hail a cab when she pulled him close to her.
"It's hurting because of your tight hug, boss." Her wide grin clearly tells him that she was alright.
"Let's go and eat. Stop being mischievous. Behave yourself." It might because of the moment or because it felt natural to them, that they didn't notice they were still holding their hands even until they came inside to a restaurant. "Stop spacing out next time. I won't be always with you to save you in time." He reminded her again as they walk down the aisle to the reserved table.
Rudolf and Adam had been waiting for Hana to have lunch with them. And when she finally came, Adam's eyes widened in surprise. Rudolf, on the other hand, was frowning. His eyes were staring at the holding hand in between his daughter and some man.
"Yo!" Adam waved his hand to call out their attention.
Instead of moving forward, Jacob was glued on the ground. He couldn't move his feet and he was nervously staring at the man beside Adam. 'She wasn't lying! She is really eating with her father. And there's Adam, too. I thought she was just avoiding me!'
"What are you still standing boss? We are running out of time for lunch." Hana nudged him and pushed him towards their table.
His face turned white to green to white and to red. His expressions were really funny that Adam started teasing him. "I didn't know you would be dining with us. We could have brought our mother so that she can see her so-m-em-lo (son-in-law). His words were muffled after Hana covered his mouth with her hand when she let go of Jacob. She can't let her brother embarrass her!
Jacob turned towards her father and made a 90-degree bow. "I am sorry for scolding your daughter sir. I know it is not my position to scold her but I couldn't stop myself when it was her life on the line."
Rudolf looked at his daughter with questioning look. He wasn't upset that his daughter was scolded since he didn't know about that. What he wanted to know was why he was holding hands with her.
Hana cleared her throat and pulled Jacob to her side. "Boss didn't bring his lunch today so I grab him to eat lunch since it would be boring to eat alone." Jacob knew she was lying and he wanted to clear the truth. It wouldn't be good to think a woman inviting a man to lunch. Besides, he invited himself. However, Hana was squeezing his hand tightly to shut him up. "On our way here, I was almost hit by a car. Boss, saved me."
"Are you hurt somewhere?!" Both Adam and her father asked her simultaneously.
"Just as I said, my boss saved me." Hana restated.
"Thank you so much for saving my daughter. Scolding her isn't a big deal compared to her life." Rudolf pulled Jacob to sit on the chair between him and Hana. "What's your name, young man?"
"I'm Jacob, sir. Nice to meet you."
"You are so polite. Just call me Uncle Rudolf. It's nice to finally meet you."
"Ahh!" Hana exclaimed making all three men looked at her with concern. She shook her head when Jacob was looking at her but, when he turned to her father, she was throwing deathly glares to her father and brother. 'Oh god! Please don't let them make a slip of the tongue! I will really jump off the building if he knew I like him.'