" We are leaving now," Angela said as they sat in the car, Quen and AJ standing in front of the car.
" You should have let me call a driver to take you home. It's late, " Quen said, his hands tucked in his pocket.
" Thanks, but we'll take care of ourselves. Don't worry. " She smiled. Quen has been surprisingly nice to her, and she found it weird but good, too. " It was nice meeting you, AJ. Hope we will keep in touch, " she added.
" Me too," AJ answered back with a genuine smile.
Angela and Alan said goodbye and left off. The next morning when Angela came to work. She found a coffee mug on her table and later learned from Betty that Quen made it for when he was making one for himself. And she would be lying if she said it didn't warm her heart.
"So, what are we doing today?" She asked Quen when he came back from the chairman's office.
" Nothing much. Just going to visit the factory, " he answered, taking his seat before looking in Angela's direction. She was in pink over the shoulder 6.30am of her her slender neck. Only God knows how much he wants to kiss that captivating neck. He averted his eyes when Angela raised a questioning brow at how he was lost staring.
He cleared his throat." Hmm... You can tag along if you want. "
" I'd love to," she said with a wide grin. " Sounds exciting," she added.
" You think so?" He half smiled at how adorable she was.
" Who wouldn't like to explore the factory, especially LG factory? Well, not you, of course. That's why I always tell you that you are no fun, "she suddenly laughed.
"What's so funny?" He frowned. So she liked funny and lively guys, on the other hand he is cold and unamusing. The complete opposite of her type. This is so heartbreaking.
Instead of answering, she continued to laugh uncontrollably. Quen frown deepened into an annoyed groan.
" Ok ok sorry" she said, teary from laughing. " I was just imagining you swimming in an office suit, not forgetting you fancy shoes and watching, and then you could shout in anger, causing a short quake in water just because your suit is ruined. I can even imagine your look at the moment, scary but funny too. Haha, " she laughed again.
Quen rolled his eyes." You are as stupid as your imaginations,"
Who swims in suit. Stupid.
" That's a compliment, right?" She giggled, making Quen roll his eyes again in response. He chose to ignore it since it would be a waste of time arguing with her. Her mouth seemed to have no end.
The whole ride to the factory, they talked about work, and Quen told her a little about the history of LG. She comes to know that it was founded by Quen's grandpa from a bar, and she could feel Quen's admiration for both his father and grandfather. When they arrived, they were welcomed by a big team of men and women wearing working outfits. They shook hands with a man and a woman who introduced themselves to Angela as executive officer in charge of production and his vice. The toured around Quen asking things here and there while Angela kept her ears open and mouth shut since she knew nothing about liquor making. They passed by a tall board, and on top of it were many tools and boxes. They accidentally fell, and unfortunately, Angela was right under it. Quen
Saw it in time and run back to her, pushing both of them to the ground, making sure to be the one to on the ground and Angela falling on top of him. Some workers helped them to stand, and Quen flinched in pain. His left arm was hurting like a bitch.
" Are you okay?" Quen asked her checking every corner of her body to any sign of injury.
" I should be the one to ask you that. You are in pain" she said in concern
" I'm fine " he answered though he was in pain. He couldn't show it.
" No. Let's go to the hospital".
" I'm really fine " he assured. Ofcourse she didn't believe him but there was no way she could persuade the stubborn Quen so she let it go.
After the tour, they had a quick meeting with employees concerning their welfare and company's development.
" Its time to go back now. Right?" She asked after the end of the meeting.
" We have another meeting with administration and safety team" he said checking his watch.
" I don't think it was on the schedule Betty gave me" she asked confused before realising what was going on. She sighed. He is really stubborn. Why make a big deal out of it.
" Is it about what happened?" She had to ask if she wanted to stop him.
" Ofcourse. What if something happened to you huh?" Angela sighed again. Now he was angry and she knew well how hotheaded the man before her was but she wasn't going to let him make a fuss over something unimportant like that.
" But nothing happened. You must let it go" he ignored her as if she suddenly changed her language. " It was my life at stake and I'm letting it go. Why can't you do the same" she half yelled. She knew she was being irrational but again she knew what happens if he get angry. He will snap at them if not get fired. What she didn't know is that the more she try to persuade him, the angrier he get.
" Miss Angela Collin" he called in a low but angry tone. " I don't think you give your life any value but at least its precious to me" though those words were said by an angry man, they didn't miss any inch of their target. Angela's heart. She was hit hard that though she didn't want to, she couldn't help wondering if there's another meaning behind the word which she absolutely heard myriad times in her life but found difficult to understand right this moment. Precious. Why would her life be precious to him. Could it be that he....
She brushed off the thought right away as it came and almost slapped her inner self for being ridiculous.
" You come if you want" Quen's words were the one that made her realize that she had zoned out for a quiet time. She just nodded and followed behind him.
Outside the meeting room where Angela chose to stay, she could hear Quen's voice snapping at them asking if they don't need their job anymore. All along everyone stayed quiet. They didn't even defend themselves. Poor guys they must have been frightened by the devil which always arouse whenever Quen is angry. They only said sorry like high school students. Thankfully no one got fired and it was much relief to Angela. After the meeting, Angela and Quen left for the company in complete silence.
Angela kept her eyes outside the window. She didn't even dare to look in his eyes earlier when he opened the car door for her at the factory and it was frustrating Quen too much. She finally started warming to him but he had to ruin everything by his short temper. The attitude of him he didn't like anymore because of Angela. She must hate him. No matter how he wanted to change that, Angela was always a way far from him. Out if his reach. He didn't want to admit it since it would mean admitting his own death.
He put the car on halt and let a soft sigh escape his lips before turning to Angela who was about to unbutton her seat belt.
" I'm sorry " Angela snapped her head up to face him. She didn't expect him to speak to her so soon and it almost startled her.
" I didn't mean to snap at you "
" It's okay. You were right. If it almost hurt me, it can hurt other people so precautions were needed"
" Well, that's not "
" I understand. Really " she gave him an assuring smile. From a month working with Quen,she learned that though he kept a cold indifferent expression, he is a caring guy and couldn't turn a blind eye if someone's safety was endangered especially when he is present at the moment. She remembered one time when they went to have lunch with Betty in the restaurant near the company he almost beat a guy who unintentionally pushed an old lady on the ground. If it wasn't for Angela and Betty the poor man would have been beaten to purple and send to jail. They settled it to an apology. That's when Angela realized that he was not as bad as she thought.
" Okay. I got some errands to run. See you tomorrow" he said pleased that at least she is not angry.
" Thanks for saving me. I owe you twice" her genuine smile melted his heart that he couldn't do anything but smile back at her.
" See you " she hopped out of the car and walked to the company. Quen stared at her leaving figure and sighed. The feeling of emptiness filling his heart. He felt like that every time she said good night or see you and left. He missed her already.