"If she asked you guys to come here and talk to me, I'm not interested," Sunwoo remarked as he held the knob of Chanhee's office, ready to leave.
"Kim Sunwoo!" But, the stern call of the boss had his plan cancelled. "Stay here. I'll leave you guys."
Chanhee walked towards the door, shoving Sunwoo's hand from the knob away as he glared. It seemed like he was cursing something 'Such a rebel' which surprisingly held such a big power.
Hadn't it, Sunwoo wouldn't have breathed out the heaviest as soon as the door closed before he turned on his heels, looking at the guests he wasn't really happy to see.
Contrary to his tight facial muscles, Jacob could still have a smile on and Minju obviously, was just scared that the plan didn't go their way. To kick off the discussion, Jacob then beckoned everyone to settle down into their comfortable seating.
It was nerve-wracking for the older. Though he had been to many conferences, meeting a lot of people from all over the world, he'd never once been put into this kind of situation. He had voiced out the concern beforehand to Minju on their way to the cafe and the girl assured him 'No one other than you can do this'.
Well, no option.
"I don't have much time. So, I hope you guys can make it quick," Sunwoo bitterly said, crossing his arms as he stared nowhere.
The sarcasm left Jacob speechless, gulping in between. Nonetheless, he knew he needed to move faster. Otherwise, the boy would be enraged.
"First of all, I would like to apologize," Jacob sincerely conveyed his sincere thought, his eyes darted to the floor to show how sorry he was. "You might've not believed me, but the news broke about me and Soobin isn't true."
"Tch," Sunwoo chuckled in disbelief, glaring as the smirk on his face faded. "I've been once deceived. Do you really think I will believe you easily?"
Jacob inaudibly sighed. He glanced over Minju which the girl blinked once, encouraging him to keep going.
"Sunwoo, you know, Soobin smiled a lot when she was a kid. When I first saw her, she probably was 8 years old. She was bright, especially knowing that she would get a new mother." Jacob flashed a small smile while reminiscing. "But, eventually, those pretty smiles faded as she grew up."
Jacob looked straight at Sunwoo's face, his almost knitted brows somehow proving that he was intriguing and silently urging the older to continue. Even if Sunwoo didn't mean that way, Jacob still wanted to keep going.
"My mother was always anxious about me. She was worried that I couldn't make it anywhere within the society because I was only a stepson of the powerful family. So, she asked Soobin if she could give up every title she would be getting. For me."
Up until there, Sunwoo's breath hitched. He indeed was taken aback but he believed, he couldn't show any emotion. At least, not yet.
But, it angered him despite a big question over his head: why should he care?
Jacob then continued, "Surprisingly, Soobin obeyed and let me have the spotlight everywhere I go. Because she thought, that way, my mother would love her. But, little did we both know, all this has left her walking on eggshells."
"Crazy girl," Sunwoo unknowingly cursed Soobin under his breath, both of his hands now clenched on his lap.
It seemed like he finally had a reason to hate the lady. No matter who she was.
The curse wasn't audible. Jacob and Minju heard it well that they secretly exchanged glances before the male cleared his throat once.
"Sunwoo, I stayed close to Soobin to make up for the damage my mother has caused her. If my closeness with her is what has concerned you, I'll take a step back. I'll trust her to you."
Sunwoo's face slightly scrunched, his thick lips quivered as if he was about to say something but then he chose to seal it.
"Jacob is right," then Minju spoke up. "I'll trust Soobin to you too."
"What?" Finally, Sunwoo managed to speak something. "Why should you guys?"
"I hope you haven't moved on," Minju shrugged before she drew a smile. "You know, when I saw her crying at my wedding, I knew she had something unspoken."
That, Sunwoo vividly remembered. The night he found her, she was being honest about crying and she certainly said that it wasn't jealousy.
So, what it was about?
"Loneliness. I've been with her all my life until she dated Juyeon. When they broke up, she thought she would be fine by coming back to me but suddenly I announced my marriage. Can you imagine what she's feeling?" Minju intently looked at Sunwoo, her orbs contained pain and guilt.
"Anyway..." Jacob interrupted as he saw the confusion all over Sunwoo's face. "Minju thinks that Soobin is not over you yet. Normally, she would recover well from all the people who judged her but she's not, with you."
Sunwoo lightly giggled, scratching his eyebrow in the process. It wasn't easy for him to believe because who knew if they just wanted to flatter him?
"Why should I believe you guys?" He moved his neck to both sides, easing the numbness. "She's not even looking my way anymore. Or should I say, she had never. I'm not going to waste my time for someone like her."
At that, Minju suddenly jolted up, breathing out noisily as if she were holding back anger. It had activated Sunwoo's defensive mode, and a subtle flinch his body made was seen.
"That's why you shouldn't have ditched someone, you spoilt kid!" The harsh comment not only made Sunwoo startled, but even Jacob was gulping at its abruptness. "She asked you out on a date to let you know that she's ready. Though I think it's absurd to take you to her mother's grave, that's proved something. Because she never brought any outsider there including me!"
A wave of relief breath then released, Minju held her head as she felt dizzy. Letting out everything in one breath surely wasn't easy. But, she was satisfied.
However, Jacob seemed to notice the discomfort within the compact space they were in. It was mostly engulfing Sunwoo, the boy seemed to be at a loss for words. And Jacob knew, the more they told, the more confused he was.
"I think, we should go," Jacob rose on his feet, pursing his lips as he looked at the female. "We should give Sunwoo time to think."
"That's good. I don't think I can talk more," Minju complained, straightaway aiming for the wooden door which she didn't look at the boy when she walked past him.
But, Jacob seemed to have a second thought. Especially when Sunwoo was staring down on the floor, deeply in thought. He moved closer to him, fished out a card from his wallet and casually passed it.
Sunwoo didn't follow at first. His confused orbs were blinking as he looked up at the older who was smiling.
"What is this?" He asked, Jacob then smiled wider.
"It's okay if you change your mind about my sister. But, I do want to work with you," Jacob took Sunwoo's hand and placed his name card on his palm. "I've heard the demo song that you passed to her and I like it. I have a plan that I want to carry out with you. So, please call me if you are interested."
Then, the older walked away, leaving the room. The click of the door closed made Sunwoo feel suffocated to breathe normally, too many things occupying his head.
What is this all about? What am I feeling right now? What should I do?
All. They were all gathered within the compact space of his head, urging him to move. But where? To whom should he move? What should he prioritize first?
Was it Jacob? Because he offered him something priceless?
Or...
Wasting time no more, he rose, rushed to the door, and opened it slightly harsher making it squeak too loud than it was supposed to. All eyes were on him - this time it wasn't only Jacob and Minju. Chanhee, Changmin and Kevin joined the picture.
"Is it true, noona?" He asked without any context, the female flinched, and didn't expect to be the target.
"W-What is it?" Minju stammered.
"That... she was ready?" Sunwoo's head slightly tilted to the left, he was scared to find out the truth.
Minju scoffed as she looked at Jacob, the older, however, was smiling. He knew the question was for Minju but somehow he was eager to answer that.
"She is, Sunwoo."
The boy's tense shoulder slumped at the answer, it truly felt like the heaviest burden had finally lifted.
"Ah," he added, remembering something else. "She... hasn't moved on yet, right?"
While waiting for a reaction, Sunwoo internally prayed: please... I won't be able to live if she has moved on.