It had been a week since the explosive confrontation with my parents, and I was still reeling. But life didn't stop for heartbreak, and I'd thrown myself into my new job at Seong's friend's company, hoping to bury the pain under mountains of paperwork.
The office was sleek and modern, buzzing with activity. Despite my heavy heart, I was determined to make a good impression. I couldn't afford to screw this up—especially not after everything Seong had done to get me this job.
From the moment I stepped into the building, I focused on nothing but work. My boss, Ji-Ho, was a sharp businessman in his early thirties, well-dressed and exuding confidence. He had an easy charm, always professional but with a smile that could put anyone at ease.
And despite the cold knot in my stomach, I managed to find a rhythm in the office. Sorting files, answering calls, assisting with meetings—it was fast-paced, but I liked it. It was a distraction.
Still, Jun's absence hung in the back of my mind like a heavy cloud. I hadn't seen him much lately, nor Seong. They gave me space to recover, but now I was beginning to miss them more than ever.
"Censia, can you bring the financial reports to my office?" Ji-Ho called out one afternoon, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I grabbed the file and hurried over to his office. When I entered, Ji-Ho was leaning back in his chair, rubbing his temples.
"You look like you need a vacation," I said softly, trying to lighten the mood.
He chuckled, glancing up at me. "If only. The joys of running a company." He motioned to the chair across from his desk. "Take a seat for a moment."
I hesitated but sat down, passing him the file.
"You've been doing great work here, Censia," Ji-Ho said, his voice genuine. "I know it's only been a week, but you've already impressed me. Seong was right to recommend you."
I smiled, though it didn't quite reach my eyes. "Thanks. I'm just trying to stay busy."
Ji-Ho studied me for a moment, his expression softening. "I can tell something's weighing on you. Is everything okay?"
I felt a lump form in my throat. "I'm fine. Just... a lot going on."
He gave a sympathetic nod, standing up and walking around the desk. "If you ever need to talk, I'm here. I know this job can be overwhelming on top of everything else."
Before I could respond, Ji-Ho leaned down and gave me a gentle hug. It was brief and comforting, but at that moment, the door burst open.
"Censia!"
I flinched, pulling away from Ji-Ho just as Jun stormed into the room, Seong trailing behind him. Jun's eyes flashed with jealousy as he took in the scene—me sitting in Ji-Ho's office, his arms still lightly resting around my shoulders.
"What the hell is this?" Jun snapped, his voice low and dangerous.
I stood up quickly, holding up my hands. "Jun, it's not what it looks like—"
But Jun wasn't listening. His gaze flicked between me and Ji-Ho, and I could practically see the fire in his eyes. He clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. "You think you can just… what, hug my girlfriend at work?"
Ji-Ho raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. "Jun, calm down. It was just a friendly—"
"Stay out of this!" Jun barked, his voice harsh.
"Jun!" I stepped toward him, trying to put myself between him and Ji-Ho. "It's not what you think. He was just comforting me. That's all."
Jun wasn't having it. He grabbed my wrist, pulling me toward the door. "I'm taking you home."
"Jun, wait! I haven't finished my work for the day—"
"I don't care," he growled, his voice tight with barely restrained anger. "You're coming with me. Now."
I glanced back at Seong, hoping for some intervention, but he just sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Jun, maybe we should—"
"I said I'm taking her home!" Jun snapped again, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Ji-Ho stood by, watching the scene unfold with a bewildered expression. "Censia, you can take the rest of the day off if you need it," he said softly, though his eyes lingered on Jun, as if sizing him up.
I sighed, knowing there was no point in fighting this. "Thanks, Ji-Ho. I'll be back tomorrow."
Jun dragged me out of the office, his grip firm but not painful, and I could feel the heat radiating off him. He was furious, his whole body tense as we walked to the car. Seong followed silently, but his gaze never left me, his calm presence somehow grounding me despite Jun's stormy mood.
We reached the car, and Jun practically shoved me into the passenger seat, slamming the door behind me. He circled around to the driver's side, yanking the door open and getting in. Seong slid into the backseat, remaining quiet as Jun started the car and sped off.
The ride home was silent, the tension thick in the air. I wanted to say something, anything, to break the icy atmosphere, but I knew Jun needed to cool off first. His knuckles were white against the steering wheel, his jaw clenched so tightly I was surprised it hadn't cracked yet.
When we finally pulled up to my apartment, Jun parked the car and turned to face me, his eyes still burning with jealousy.
"Do you really think I'm stupid?" he asked, his voice low and bitter. "I walk in, and there's your boss with his hands all over you."
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Jun, it wasn't like that. I was upset. He was just trying to comfort me. That's it."
Jun's eyes narrowed. "So I'm supposed to believe that? You think I didn't see the way he was looking at you?"
"He wasn't looking at me any way," I protested, feeling a surge of frustration. "Why are you blowing this out of proportion?"
"Because I care about you!" Jun's voice rose, and for a moment, I saw the hurt behind his anger. "I'm not okay with other guys touching you like that."
I exhaled slowly, trying to calm myself. "Jun, I would never betray you. You know that."
Seong, who had been quiet the entire time, finally spoke up. "Jun, you're overreacting. Ji-Ho is just a friend, and Censia is working hard. You should trust her."
Jun let out a frustrated groan, leaning back in his seat and running a hand through his hair. "I know. I just… I hate the thought of someone else getting close to you like that. It drives me crazy."
I softened, reaching out to place a hand on his. "I get it. But you need to trust me, okay? I'm not going anywhere. I'm with you and Seong, and that's not going to change."
Jun looked at me for a long moment, his expression conflicted, but eventually, he sighed, his shoulders relaxing. "I know. I'm sorry. I just… I can't stand the thought of losing you."
"You're not going to lose me," I said gently, squeezing his hand. "But you can't drag me out of work like that. I still have a job to do."
He pouted, his usual playful self slowly returning. "Fine. But I'm still jealous."
Seong chuckled from the backseat. "We know, Jun. We know."
As we headed inside my apartment, the tension finally eased, and I couldn't help but smile at the ridiculousness of it all. Jun was stubborn, but he loved fiercely. And despite the chaos, I wouldn't trade it for anything.