Chapter 27: She Missed Tan Badly.
Ji-Tae felt more than a little disappointed. He had wanted to spend the night with her. He sat quietly as the driver drove them back to Nana's house. His phone rang, and he checked the caller ID; it was Min-Jung.
He knew if he didn't take the call, Min-Jung would keep calling, and Nana would get suspicious, so he answered the call.
"Don't tell me you're still with her?" Min-Jung asked jealously the moment Ji-tae answered the call.
"I'll call you back later. I'm in the middle of something," He said, dropping the call. He wasn't in the mood to deal with Min-Jung's tantrums.
"Will I see you tomorrow?" Ji-Tae asked, taking Nana's hands.
"I'll be resuming work tomorrow. My leave is over," She said with a small smile. If she hadn't been on leave, Min-Jung wouldn't have been able to ask her for such a favor. Now her whole life had changed because of it. She missed Tan badly.
"I don't know why you keep working there. I've told you I'd take care of you; I even offered you a job in my own company where you'll be paid triple times more than you're currently earning. I don't get why you're so stubborn. I want you always to have my time. Is that too much to ask?" He asked with a confused and sad look plastered on his face.
"We are not getting into this argument again today. I've already told you I like to earn my keep. I'm not going to rely on you or anyone else to give me favors I do not deserve," She said with a determined look. Ji-tae closed his eyes wearily. This was one reason he loved her and the same reason he had a problem with her. She was too independent and stubborn.
"But you deserve it. You certainly do deserve it," He said.
"Did you think so before or after you started dating me? If I remember correctly, I was at your office for a job interview before we started dating and wasn't accepted. Let's leave things the way it is." She was tired. Why was the car so slow? She wanted to get home and be alone. She needed to think about her life and this ache she was constantly feeling in her heart since she left Tan.
"Okay, even if you don't want the job, can I give you money to pay off the loan shark? I don't want anyone embarrassing you or your father," He said with a concerned frown. He wasn't going to bring up the marriage issue yet. He wanted her to be genuinely surprised when he popped the question.
"That's sweet of you to offer for the hundredth time. But no, thanks. I already took care of it," She said, smiling at him.
"What? How? Who gave you such an amount of money? Don't tell me you went to borrow from somewhere else?" He asked with a worried frown making her chuckle.
Well, she could always tell him Min-Jung had helped her with it. After all, he wasn't going to be able to ask Min-jung anything, and even if he did, Min-Jung could quickly tell him the same thing she had told her father. "Min-Jung. She helped me with the money," Nana said, avoiding his gaze. Being the terrible liar she was, she couldn't afford to look directly at him.
"Oh! I see. Babe, can I ask for a favor?" He asked, looking at her. He was no longer comfortable hearing Min-Jung's name around Nana. He had to speak up now.
"Sure. As long as it's within my power," She said, giving him her full attention.
"Can you not tell Min-jung anything that concerns us? Don't discuss our relationship with her, and don't mention her name around me," He said, trying not to sound too concerned.
"Why is that? She is my best friend. If I can't discuss my relationship with her, who will I do so with? You're not planning on cutting me off from my friends, are you?" She asked with an accusing look.
"No, not that. I'm just not comfortable around her. I may not be able to give you the exact reason, but I hope you will think about it," He said as the driver stopped the car in front of her house.
"Goodnight," She said, opening the car door herself before Ji-tae could get around the car to open it. She didn't want any contact with him again until she sorted out her feelings.
"I love you, baby," He called after her, but she didn't respond as she let herself inside her house.
**********
The driver had been listening to the conversation between Ji-Tae and Nana the whole time. As a matter of fact, he had recorded the entire conversation. Min-Jung had told him to report to her whatever transpires between Nana and his boss. She had promised to take care of his future when she eventually married Ji-Tae.
What harm would it do? He asked himself as he brought out his phone to report to her when he dropped Ji-Tae off.
**********
"What have you got?" Tan asked Mi Cha impatiently as he checked the time; it was past 8 pm already. They have been on this the whole day.
"Nothing yet. I'm sorry, but I think it's either she lied about her name or her job," Mi Cha said, getting up to leave. "But don't worry, I'll keep checking when I get home. I need to start leaving now before mom starts getting worried. Besides, Min-jun is still waiting in the car." She said as she made her way to the door.
"Thanks for today Mi Cha. I appreciate having you around," He said with open arms as she leaned in to hug him.
"Goodnight, big bro. I'll call you if I find anything," She said as she entered the car's front seat, making Tan look at her with curiosity. Something was up here, and he intended to find out about it later.
"Thanks for waiting. Min-jun, please drive her safely," Tan said to Min-jun.
"I will, sir. Please help me extend my gratitude to Mi-Ok for the meal she brought over. I enjoyed it," He said with a smile before driving off.
Mi Cha looked at him. It was her first time seeing him smile. He looked more gorgeous than she had thought; he had cute dimples.
"You should smile more often, you know? You look better when you smile," She said, making him smile back at her.
Now, could you give it to her right? The voice in his head screamed at him. "Ma... Sorry, you said I shouldn't call you ma. I hope you don't mind; I got gifts for everyone around the house and for you too," He said, making her look at him in surprise.
"Really? Why didn't you give it to me earlier? Where is it?" She asked, pleasantly surprised.
"I thought you might be angry about it. And I know you're rich and can afford the best quality of whatever you want, so please do not..." Her laughter cut him off.
"Do you realize you're babbling? Just hand it over," She said with outstretched hands.
He reluctantly reached his hand under his car seat and brought a cute little teddy bear and a box of chocolate. "Awww!" She exclaimed as she took it from him, "Thanks, I appreciate the sweet gesture. I'll have to get you and everyone else something in return," She said with a smile.
He didn't know what to say. He just had to pray she wouldn't ask the others about the gifts he claimed to have gotten for them all.
The car ride back home was smooth; Min-jun felt proud for finally giving her the gift, while Mi-Cha was happy she was finally bonding with her brother.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone