Joo Yeong raised her head to the sound of a familiar voice and flinched - Lee Min Hyun was towering above her like a mountain, and although he was smiling, his usually handsome face was now absorbed in a dark, somewhat sinister shadow.
"Oh... Right. Yeah, I'm fine. I'm sorry."
"That's a relief. But... You don't look so good since morning, are you unwell?"
Miss Lee looked into his kind smiling eyes and could not help but feel strange - his usual aloof behavior was replaced by sudden consideration and concern which he only offered to Yoon Se Ah up until now. She noticed it today as well, after both of them attended the party, Min Hyun detached himself from his mentor and did not even talk to her unless she addressed him first. What made him change?
"No, I'm alright. I'm just worried about my friends... After all, had they not come to the party, they might have avoided getting hurt."
The intern leaned forward, his face almost touched Joo Yeong's, and spoke in a soft, charming voice,
"Oh, Miss Lee, you are too nice. I had no idea you could be so considerate."
The woman flinched as she felt his hot breath brushing over her ear and pulled her face away. She felt awkward. But also flattered.
"Well, Miss Yoon is not the only kind person here, you know."
She mentioned Miss Yoon on purpose, she wanted to provoke the guy, and she succeeded. Min Hyun brought his left hand behind his back and clenched his fist while his face remained unbothered by her pathetic provocation. He straightened his posture and leaned back on the wall, still looking intently into Miss Lee's eyes.
"Miss Lee, are you free this evening?"
"I beg your pardon?"
She widened her eyes as if she had just heard something outrageous. Min Hyun smirked and repeated,
"I said, Miss Lee, are you free this evening?"
"Why? Do you want to go on a date with me?"
"Only if you say yes."
Although she has already admitted that she was attracted to the intern physically, she never expected him to reciprocate that feeling. Was she mistaken then? Did he like her instead of Miss Yoon this whole time? Joo Yeong could not help smiling as that thought crossed her busy mind but then quickly regained composure, and nodded.
"Alright. Let's meet at the "Blue Rooster" bar next to the K-Mall at 8 PM. I have to go somewhere after I clock out so you can just wait for me there."
"Perfect."
Min Hyun waved at Miss Lee as he went into the meeting room, leaving her alone and rather bewildered. He walked up to the broad white desk, picked up his phone, and typed something hastily with a strangely pleased smile on his face. Everything was going as planned.
***
"Blue Rooster" was one of the oldest bars in Itaewon and was famous for its unique cocktails and a rather cozy but dark atmosphere. It was the best place for those who wanted to spend some time unbothered and alone, but also for those who wanted to meet people discreetly. Fortunately, weekdays always left the bar deserted, thus, the fact that Miss Lee chose that very bar felt like a blessing to Min Hyun.
The time was already 8:15 when Joo Yeong fell on the couch next to the intern, fixing her slightly messy hair with her hands.
"I'm sorry I'm late! I had to drop something off at my friend's house and got stuck in traffic. Order me a glass of dry red wine please, I'll go to the bathroom first."
Min Hyun nodded with a kind smile on his face and when the woman closed the bathroom door behind her, he waved at the waiter and ordered the drinks.
"Proceed as discussed?"
The waiter asked quietly as he looked at Min Hyun's expressionless face, and when the latter replied with another nod, he walked up to the bar counter, gestured something for the bartender, and returned with two glasses of red wine.
Miss Lee returned shortly afterwards and flopped onto the couch, letting out a long loud sigh. She then grabbed her glass and took a generous sip from it.
"Wow, as expected, the alcohol here is on another level."
"But Miss Lee, why did you want to meet me in the bar? We could have gone to have a nice dinner instead."
Min Hyun looked at the woman with the genuinely curious eyes of a puppy which made her scoff, she almost tried to pat him on the head.
"First dates tend to be rather stressful, alcohol helps loosen up and actually enjoy them. Won't you agree?"
She took another sip from her glass and moved her already glistening eyes to the table, she was beginning to lose focus.
"Wow, is it because I am drinking on an empty stomach? I already feel so dizzy!"
The guy watched her fidget with her glass as if she did not know what to do with it, and grinned. Joo Yeong's mouth felt like it was melting and her eyes could not stay focused even for a second. She tried to move her tongue in an attempt to speak but it, too, felt unusually heavy and all she could say was barely comprehensive mumbling with only the word "Hyun" stuck perfectly to it.
Min Hyun leaned forward and grabbed her face by the chin.
"Miss Lee, how could you get so drunk already? Is this your idea of a date? I did not know you were so easy."
When he finished that sentence, two tall guys were already standing by their table waiting for his orders.
"Bring her to room 1001."
The guys grabbed Miss Lee by her arms, lead her out of the bar, and shoved her almost lifeless body into a black car with tinted windows. Min Hyun put a cigarette in his mouth while Chae Ji Seon lit it up with his lighter, and when a thick grey cloud of smoke escaped his mouth, he gestured for Ji Seon to move and got into his own car.