Chapter 5
Granola Bar
8:04AM, Gangnam
Sulli is fired up! She will give her best today. She will learn everything in the training and she will absorb each topic like a sponge. She will be the cost resource person for the project led by Minho’s team. She will try her best to succeed. Because she’s no longer the loser she was yesterday, she’s now Sulli the Fighter!
“I am not going to repeat this twice so you better listen carefully.” Said Luna.
Sulli nodded energetically.
“You look like you had coffee this morning.” Said Luna.
“Coffee?”
“You look like you have energy. You usually come in every morning like a zombie.” Said Luna.
“Oh!” said Sulli. Wow, Minho was right! Mindset can really change you.
“I was able to sleep well last night.” Said Sulli.
“Hmm…so you really have insomnia huh?” said Luna.
Sulli tried to smile.
“I’m slowly overcoming it.” Said Sulli.
She can only thank her savior. He is the reason why she can sleep well at night and she can have this new found energy to fight.
“Let’s start then.” Said Luna.
“Sulli, Hwaiting!” said Sulli.
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10:30AM, Gangnam
Minho and Ms. Lin walked the 3rd floor of the building.
“So there’s the Purchasing department over there. Ms. Seo is the person we need to talk to.” Said Ms. Lin.
Minho nodded.
“Is Ms. Seo aware of the project?” asked Minho.
“She was in the kick off meeting yesterday.” Said a male subordinate.
“Good.” Said Minho.
Minho and Ms. Lin walked on.
“Oh, so that’s where the Cost Department is seated.” Said Ms. Lin.
Minho stopped and saw a few steps from them, Sulli and Luna bent together on some reading materials. It seems Luna is teaching Sulli something and Sulli is attentively listening. She has that stern look in her face. Her hair is tucked behind her ear.
“I didn’t know she’s pretty.” Said the male subordinate. “That girl always has her hair on her face.”
Even others are starting to notice.
“She looks like she’s really getting ready for the project.” Said Ms. Lin.
Minho saw Sulli biting her lips as she seemed to struggle understanding what Luna was explaining. Sulli took a deep breath and then wiped a sweat on her forehead.
“Ms. Lin.” Said Minho. “Can you go ahead to the meeting with the Purchasing team? Tell them I’d be a few minutes late?”
“Umm…sure Boss.” Said Ms. Lin.
Ms. Lin and the male subordinate walked on.
Minho took his phone and looked for the internal company chat app. He looked for Sulli’s name.
“I think we need a quick break.” Said Luna.
Sulli nodded.
Sulli noticed the chat app on her computer. She opened the window and when she saw who was chatting her, she immediately covered the monitor. She peeked at the message.
“Fire exit, 3rd floor. Now.”
Sulli took a deep breath.
“I’ll just go to the washroom.” Said Sulli.
“Don’t take long.” Said Luna. “We still need to finish this.”
Sulli nodded.
Sulli went to the fire exit and found Minho, his back to the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.
“What do you need?” asked Sulli, her brows still closed together.
“Was it hard?” asked Minho.
“Huh?” asked Sulli.
“I saw you and your team mate while I was walking by. You seemed to be having a hard time.” Said Minho.
“Oh that.” Said Sulli. “Luna was explaining something complicated.”
“What did you eat for breakfast?” asked Minho.
“Umm….”
Truth is…she ate nothing for breakfast hoping she can wait for her Boss’ free bread by lunch.
“You’re breaking sweat on your forehead. You’re a bit dizzy and hasn’t been getting anything Luna was saying for possibly an hour.” Said Minho.
“How did you know?” asked Sulli.
“You’re low in sugar.” Said Minho. “A person who is not eating well will surely not be able to focus well.”
“So…I need to eat…but I don’t have money right now.” Said Sulli.
Minho walked beside Sulli and put something on her forehead. It fell on Sulli’s hand. It’s a pack of granola bar.
“Food…” Sulli’s eyes widened, she wet her lips in anticipation.
“I’ll add that to the food you have to pay next week.” Said Minho.
Minho turned to leave but Sulli caught his arm.
“Wait. How much is this? I can’t eat anything expensive.” Said Sulli.
“It’s a very cheap granola bar. I won’t give you anything expensive. Who do you think you are?” asked Minho.
“Thank goodness.” Said Sulli as she quickly opened the bar and ate it with vigour. Minho’s eyes thinned into slits.
“Oh, thank you very much for this.” Sulli said while her mouth was full. “So good!”
“I’m doing it for the success of my project. You have to be a real Cost expert by the time my project starts. You need to learn as much as you can today.” Said Minho.
“I will do my best.” Said Sulli. “I’m fighter Sulli.”
Minho smirked and then he left the fire exit.
Sulli took a deep breath. The Granola bar tasted heavenly.
He saved her yet again. Sulli stopped chewing her food as she felt something funny in her chest. Sulli looked at the granola bar’s name.
“Is there a funny ingredient? Why is my chest feeling all tingly?”
Sulli bit her lip.
Minho Choi is a really kind person. He might be irritated by her because she’s a blackmailer, he might not be happy that she’s invading his home but he… couldn’t stop himself from taking care of the people around him. If he’s already like this to a nobody, how much more to his team?
Sulli shook her head.
She’s becoming like the other girls.
Minho Choi is a good Boss. Now, she has no choice but to agree with them.
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Minho went to the Purchasing team meeting. They stayed at the purchasing department’s workstation.
“So we are committing 2 hours a day of two of my men to work on your project.” Said Ms. Seo of the Purchasing Department.
Minho could see the Cost Accounting team from where he stood.
“We need four hours of two of your men.” Said Minho. “2 hours is simply not enough.”
“That is true.” Said Ms. Lin. “According to our estimates four hours is already conservative.”
Minho saw Sulli’s aura now changed. She appears to be not so stressed about what Luna was discussing. She has eaten the granola bar for sure.
“That is going to be hard to manage.” Said Ms. Seo. “We have two other projects down the pipeline.”
“Let’s meet in the middle then. It’s going to be a win-win solution. 3 hours per day, but your men has to deliver the commitments.” Said Minho.
“I’m giving you my best men, I’m sure they can deliver. 3 hours per day then.” Said the Purchasing manager
Ms. Lin , Minho and the male subordinate walked on.
“That was fantastic Boss. This morning, you told me to ask for 4 hours when we only really need 3 hours. And in the end, you got your 3 hours.” Said Ms. Lin.
“Learn from what I did.” Said Minho. “Managers want to make sure their subordinates have enough capacity to do all their tasks. They won’t commit too much workload. That is why, you have to make it appear to them like what you got is only part of what you asked for.”
Sulli saw Minho walking by. She raised her hand to acknowledge him. She smiled. But Minho darted his eyes from her and walked on.
“Were you trying to greet Mr. Choi?” asked Luna. “Smiling at him too?”
“Oh…No…I was trying to greet Ms. Lin.” Said Sulli.
Minho Choi snubbed her. It was as if he did not see her or know her.
Well…it shouldn’t bother her right? In the office, nobody knows they know each other. Their little project meeting interaction would not be enough to be friendly with each other.
Sulli bit her lip. She was so happy about the granola bar she forgot that in the office, he is Mr. Choi…the unreachable Boss.
“I guess Ms. Lin did not see me.” said Sulli.
Something did not feel right. Her chest has that funny feeling again, this time it doesn’t feel as good as it had earlier in the fire exit.
“You ok?” asked Luna. “You suddenly looked pale.”
“Oh…are you worried I may not pay attention to you because I’m sick?” Said Sulli.
“Here goes your mental illness again.” Said Luna. “You should just say ‘I’m all right, Don’t worry.’ Instead of saying all those nasty words.”
“I…I’m sorry.” Said Sulli.
The Boss is right. Maybe she really has that mental illness. Luna seems to be really trying hard to help her.
“I’m all right. Don’t worry.” Said Sulli.
Luna sighed.
“Let’s continue.” Said Luna.
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11:03AM, Gangnam
Minho sat on his chair. He opened his laptop. And then he closed his eyes. An image of a girl waving at him flashed on his mind. He immediately opened his eyes.
Earlier, that girl waved her hand at him. What was she thinking doing that? Was she expecting him to wave back? Doesn’t she know what the office set up is? They have not yet worked together. They’re supposed to not know each other. That girl is bound to make a mistake soon. Just one mistake from her and someone would know their set up. She’s bound to make his life complicated if she doesn’t leave his house soonest.
Minho played with the card from his pocket. It was the card that was given by the gangster yesterday.
“The woman you’re trying to protect owes us a sum of money. We won’t stop hunting her until her loan is paid. This one time will not stop us. In case you want to pay her loan, here… we’re open for negotiations.”
Minho opened his chat box. He searched for Sulli’s name and chatted her.
“Hey, hide your chat box. Meet me at this place later today. We need to talk.”
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11:05AM, Gangnam
Sulli saw it when Minho’s chat box popped up. She immediately put it down so that Luna won’t see it. She ignored it for a while and when lunch break came, she opened it.
He wants to meet at this place to talk? Why not just meet at the house?
“You should eat something, Sulli. We still have a long afternoon.” Said Luna.
Sulli nodded.
Food…is a problem.
The Boss handed Sulli a bread.
“I know you’ve been waiting for me to give this.” Said the Boss.
“How did you…”
“I just know.” Said the Boss. “Sometimes, Bosses know much more than the subordinate want to share.”
Sulli smiled faintly.
“Thanks Boss.” Said Sulli.
Is Minho Choi like that too? Does he feel the needs of his subordinates the way her Boss does?
Sulli shook her head. She needs to stop relating things to Minho Choi. She opened her bread and ate it.
“So Good!” said Sulli.
Her Boss is not bad. He’s under rated but he’s a sensitive Boss.
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8:24 PM, Gangnam.
Sulli stood by a small restaurant near the office. She doesn’t feel comfortable too long out. Where is Minho? Why did he want to meet her here? Did he want to treat her for dinner?
Suli looked at her watch. It’s 8:26PM, she’s been waiting for half an hour already. Where is Minho? Should she have asked for his phone number?
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8:50PM, Gangnam.
Minho sighed as he looked at his watch.
“You’ve been looking at your watch. Are you supposed to meet with someone?” asked Kyuhyun.
Minho sipped his coffee.
“No one important.” Said Minho.
“If you say so.” Said Kyuhyun. “I have told the coach that you’re free for the football game.”
Minho smiled.
“I hope everyone comes.” Said Minho.
“Once they learn you’re going, I’m sure they’d go too.” Said Kyuhyun.
Minho looked at his watch again.
“Are you really going to look at your watch every minute?” asked Kyuhyun. “Just go ahead if you have to meet someone.”
Minho sighed.
“No. It’s nothing.” Said Minho.
Kyuhyun checked his phone.
“I told you, they’re now starting to give confirmations that they would play.” Said Kyuhyun. “Oh, except Gary.”
“Gary?” asked Minho. “Why not?”
“It seems his sister is having some problems with a loan shark. He didn’t want to get exposed in a televised game until that is resolved.” Said Kyuhyun.
“I didn’t know that.” Said Minho.
“You’re too busy to get in touch. Gary’s sister took a loan for Gary when he was hospitalized once. The loan shark charges a 20% interest.” Said Kyuhyun.
“That’s illegal.” Said Minho.
“That’s how loan sharks work. When you’re desperate and you don’t have collateral to loan from a bank, loan sharks are the only choice there is around.” Said Kyuhyun.
Minho’s brows closed together.
“What happened to Gary’s sister?” asked Minho. Minho leaned forward.
“She was hunted by gangsters who worked for the loan sharks. At first, they went inside her house and almost destroyed it. Good thing the girl wasn’t home then. But the loan sharks did not stop. They hunted her even to her work area. They waited for her every day. The poor girl almost lived in that office just to hide from the gangster.” Said Kyuhyun.
“What does the gangster do if they capture the girl?” asked Minho.
“The girl was indeed captured once. It was then that the loan sharks called up Gary. His sister finally called him up for help. The gangsters… were trying to make her a prostitute so that she can pay the loan.” Said Kyuhyun.
Minho clenched his hand.
“Gary promised to pay them in instalment in order to save his sister.” Said Kyuhyun. “He’s halfway through payment. He only needs a few more to finalize the whole amount.”
Minho stood up and took his coat.
“Hey, where are you going?” asked Kyuhyun.
Minho looked at his watch.
“I told her we’ll meet at 8PM.” Said Minho.
“Her?” asked Kyuhyun. “It’s now 9PM. Who’s the girl?”
“Hurry, we might be too late.” Minho started running.
“Too late?” Kyuhyun ran after Minho.
They both went inside Minho’s car. Minho drove fast.
“Wait…Minho, slow down.” Said Kyuhyun. “Why are we racing? Who’s the girl you’re supposed to meet?”
Minho did not answer.
Minho reached the restaurant and parked. He immediately went out. Kyuhyun followed him.
Minho looked around.
“Tell me what she looks like.” Said Kyuhyun.
“She’s a tall girl, her hair is always on her face.” said Minho.
Kyuhyun starting looking around.
What if she tucked her hair behind her ear?
“Kyuhyun! She’s pretty when she clears the hair from her face.” Said Minho.
Kyuhyun smiled. “I’ll call you if I see her.”
Minho tried to look all over the place but couldn’t find Sulli. Did she go home? Minho called his house phone. Nobody picked up. She won’t pick up. She said she’ll live there like she’s not there.
Kyuhyun went back running.
“Are you sure she should be here?” asked Kyuhyun.
A man walked by from inside the restaurant.
“Sir did you see a tall pretty girl here earlier?” asked Minho.
“There are a lot of tall and pretty girls here.” Said the man.
“Someone who might be attacked by gangsters.” Said Minho.
“Oh, now that you mentioned it. Earlier, there were a couple of goons here. They took a girl with them. The owner tried to call the police, but they were gone when the police arrived.” Said the man.
“Gangsters?” asked Kyuhyun.
Minho regrets not getting Sulli’s phone number. He doesn’t know how to contact her now.
Wait…he still has a way!
Minho took the card from his pocket and called it.
“Do you have her? Do you have Sulli?” asked Minho.
“Don’t worry about her anymore. She’s going to personally pay the loan she owes us. She said she doesn’t like you so you don’t really need to get involved pretty boy.” Said the man and then he hang up.
Minho gripped the phone.
“When you said Gary’s sister almost became a prostitute, you weren’t exaggerating, right?” asked Minho.
“I wish I was.” Said Kyuhyun, now realizing the situation.
“Call Gary, I need to know where they take the women they get.” Said Minho.
“Don’t tell me you’re going to look for her? Surely not without police, that’s too dangerous.” Said Kyuhyun.
“Just call Gary now. I have a feeling she’ll be in more danger if I get the police involved.” Said Minho.
Kyuhyun sighed.
“Who is she? Why will you even bother about her problems?” asked Kyuhyun.
“I will never forgive myself if she’s being fed to men right now.” said Minho. “It’s my fault. I might’ve just fed her to the lions.”
“And your conscience is attacking you, huh?” Said Kyuhyun.
Minho closed his eyes. He made her wait too long. He exposed her to too much risk. The thought that the gangsters may take her did not bother him at first. But after hearing Kyuhyun’s story about Gary’s sister… everything turned red.
“I need to find her.” Said Minho. “And get her home.”