77 A few drinks (1/2)

At work, Chang Wook couldn't stop thinking about Eun Ha, wondering if she was doing okay in school and worrying if she was getting bullied at this moment.

”Is this what it feels like to be a father?” Chang Wook wondered.

Hong Joo knocked on Chang Wook's office door, and when she was allowed to enter, she quickly placed a book on his desk. He wondered what she meant by this. Why was she giving him a book? Was this one of the many books they have published?

”Could you give this to Ji Seok?” Hong Joo asked him.

Chang Wook raised his eyebrows.

”When did Hong Joo and Ji Seok got to know each other so much that they started to borrow each other's books? A better question would be, when did Ji Seok read?” he wondered, since to Chang Wook, Ji Seok didn't look like the type to read during his spare time.

”Why don't you give it to him yourself?” he asked her. Hong Joo looked down as her face reddened.

”We met last night by coincidence, and we talked about stuff, and he said some stuff, and I made a fool of myself, and now I don't have to see his face,” Hong Joo said quickly, refusing to make eye contact with Chang Wook.

Chang Wook could only think that Ji Seok tried to ask her out and he failed miserably. Although he didn't know exactly what happened between the two of them, Chang Wook felt sorry for his brother-in-law. If something happened between the two of them they shouldn't avoid each other, at least in Hong Joo's case, Chang Wook could tell Hong Joo wants to avoid him.

”I'd love to help you, but that is something that's between you and Ji Seok. I don't want to be the love intermediary for the two of you.”

”LOVE?! Who said anything about love?!” Hong Joo yelled and forced a chuckle, ”We just…it's not what you think…” Chang Wook smiled.

”Oh! How is Mrs. Lee doing?” Hong Joo asked. Chang Wook chuckled at how she changed the subject ”The news was covering Ha Eun's sudden collapse the night of the party.”

”She's fine. She just fell in the pool” Chang Wook told her. Hong Joo nodded with a smile on her face and a sigh of relief ”Why do you look so relieved?” he asked her. She just changed the subject; there wasn't a need for her to be so dramatic.

Hong Joo's face reddened ”Well, I really look up to Mrs. Lee, and she's your wife so of course I'd be concerned,” Hong Joo said.

Chang Wook thought back to the time Ha Eun mentioned how she didn't have any friends. Although Hong Joo is an employee, it wouldn't hurt to try.

”Hong Joo, would you like to join Ha Eun for a few drinks tonight?” Chang Wook asked her.

Hong Joo widened her eyes. She always wanted to meet Ha Eun, but she thought it would be better if it started with a hello and maybe they would talk more as the days went by. She didn't think it would be a good idea to drink with Ha Eun without knowing each other first.

”Do you mean to join you and Ha Eun?” Hong Joo asked.

”No. Just the two of you. I don't know if you've noticed, but my wife doesn't have any friends. Rather than talk with old guys about the company, I think it would be good for her if she talked with someone close to her age for once and not about business.”