14 Cappuccino or Mint Chocolate?

L'Amitié. Cheongdam, Seoul.

The atmosphere is classy, and I am here with the said event organizers. The Dean representing the whole college was there, the chairman of the university and the MC were present at the dinner. I, CEO Seo, and Secretary Pyo were on the opposite side. Everything was luxurious. The food was delicious, and I could diverge myself to French cuisine.

A huge dining table was there, and a white tablecloth was on the table. The chairs were comfortable to sit on. I looked at the transparent glass vases with flowers. The pink roses seemed to complement the overall vibe of the restaurant.

"Do you like pink roses, Miss Li?" CEO Seo asked in a small voice while smiling at me.

"Yes,"

"I see,"

"Is Miss Li your girlfriend, CEO Seo?" The MC, named Miss Wu, asked us, and both of us were wide-eyed as a response.

"Not yet," Secretary Pyo answered, and everyone burst into laughter.

"I get it. I get it." Miss Wu laughed elegantly. "How nice it is to date around at that age,"

"Us, old geezers, can't relate to this, so let's change the topic, okay?" The university chairman just cleared his throat, "How are you managing your company, CEO Seo?"

"I'm doing great, he said. "I am managing the company well, "I still receive investments from the parent company but relatively, I am doing well."

They continued the talk about managing the company well. I'm here ho-ho-ing and ha-ha-ing along. And when it was finally time to part ways, every one of us stood up and shook the opposite party's hands. And when I shook Miss Wu's hand, I felt her intense gaze and charisma. They seemed to be close with CEO Seo, too, or so I think?

"It was a wonderful time to get to know you, Miss Li," Miss Wu said while smiling. Her face radiated that wonderful glow, her alluring eye makeup and red lipstick made her seem like an amazon ready for battle.

We let the elders take a taxi outside, and when they finished, we were able to gather into a circle to talk about our plans.

"Do you have any plans?" CEO Seo broke the ice and turned to Miss Wu, "Are you going home? It's 5:30 PM already,"

"Yes," she said as she gave CEO Seo a sweet smile. "I'm going home, Jinwoo-oppa. I live in an apartment in Gangnam, so it's not that far from here."

Oppa? They seem to be closer than I think that they are. Hmm, maybe a college sunbae-hoobae relationship? Ex-girlfriend & ex-boyfriend relationship? Uh, what else are there?

"Would you like us to offer you a ride?" CEO Seo asked Miss Wu, and he turned to me, "How about you, Miss Li?"

"Ah, I have to go somewhere, CEO Seo," I said as I nodded at him. "It was an honor for me to be a part of this event. Thank you so much for this great opportunity." I looked at Miss Wu and bowed slightly. "It was nice meeting you, Miss Wu."

+++

I looked at the text message that I had received earlier when we were having dinner. Rina-sunbae sent me a cute message.

Rina-sunbae: Is CEO Seo's speech event finished already? Let's meet up! I want to catch up with you, Ssuji-yah! ❤️❤️

Me: Catching up? You mean, the usual place that we hang out? ❤️

Rina-sunbae: Ne, ne.

Tom N Toms Coffee is our usual hangout spot. I might not have mentioned this before, but Rina-sunbae and I are close and getting closer. We have known each other since our college days. We hang out from time to time, but she has never learned my little secret.

I entered the establishment and looked for Rina-sunbae in the corner, who already ordered her iced cappuccino. I don't know why she drinks coffee in the evening. I can't sleep if I drink coffee after 2 PM.

"Rina-eonni!" I called her name as I put the bag on the couch opposite her and said. Her expression lit up when she saw me. "I'll order my drink first, okay?"

"Okay~."

"One mint choco, please!" I said as I went to the counter.

The part-timer girl received my card, "That's 3,450 won, ma'am."

As I heard him, I gave her my card to pay and gave her a stamp card for the coupon too. She seemed young and pretty, just like me. She wore light makeup, and her makeup complemented her overall innocent look. I remember the days when I used to work in my college days, two to three years ago. Those were the time I worked and studied, it was hard, but it was such a great memory.

"Thank you," I said with a smile. I always remember to respect everyone, whatever the job is. Because it's something that people do and can be proud of, they are working for a cause.

I went back to my seat and waited for my favorite mint choco to come. I am so eager to have it since it has been two weeks since I had one.

"What did you order?" Rina-sunbae asked.

"Of course, it's mint chocolate! My favorite!" I said in a cheerful tone. "You know me, Rina-sunbae!"

"But we are not going to talk about mint chocolate, okay?" She smirked as she leaned in for a whisper. "You know why I'm here, right? Li Suji?"

I nodded as a response.

"So, how are things with you and with CEO Seo?"

I laughed nervously, "I was just an assistant there, nothing else."

"Really?"

"Well, he said that he likes me," I confessed, "Do you remember the guy I told you who used to give me letters back when I was a freshman?

"The mysterious guy whom we never get to see? And stopped sending letters to you?"

"Yes," I nodded. We paused for a while when we received my order. "Thank you,"

"And then, what about it?"

"Well, CEO Seo claimed that it was him?"

"Really?!" She exclaimed as her eyes widened in shock and bewilderment. "Are you sure?? I thought the guy was someone from the Creative Writing Department?"

"He said it was him," I took a sip with my mint chocolate, "The night I made him something for dinner and went to his office, I saw a picture of myself back then when I was at college. And that was why I asked him about it,"

"Omo, omo, this is getting interesting." She said as she squinted her eyes, "This is getting fishy. I mean, I think he knows a lot about you that it seemed to be getting borderline creepy? He knows your birthday, has a picture of you in college," she paused. "What else?"

"He knows I am a reincarnated mermaid too," I mumbled.

"What?"

"I said he knows about my place too."

"Yes, that one!" She snapped her fingers, "I mean, how does he know the road to your place?"

"GPS, I think?"

"Did you punch in your location, though? You said that you don't live in an apartment and that it's your parent's property,"

"Yes, that's the weird thing about it. I didn't punch in my location, but I just told CEO Seo that I live with my parents,"

"Something is fishy," Rina-sunbae took a sip out of her ice cappuccino.

"I don't know. He seemed like a good person, though," I said. "I mean, I got to know a bit about his background today. He's a hardworking person who knows how to make things work,"

"Yes, yes, of course. I hope you ask CEO Seo about things, though. He's getting out of hand. I know he's our CEO and all, but he can't abuse his power, right?"

"Well, I think he can. No bias, but it's because he has a copy of my resume and all, so he will know about it," I sighed. "He's someone I can trust, I think?"

"If you say so. How about Seungwoo, though?" She looked at me with a funny expression on her face and smiled naughtily. "I noticed that you guys are getting closer than ever?"

"Well, I don't know."

"CEO Seo or Kim Seungwoo?" She asked and held her ice cappuccino, and took my mint choco drink. "Cappuccino or Mint Chocolate? Choose only one!"

"How can you compare my mint choco with your cappuccino, though?" I whined as I took my mint choco back, "It'll be unfair because I like mint choco better."

She snapped her fingers again, "Exactly my point! There's someone who you like the most! So, who among them is the mint chocolate?" She grinned, "Is it going to be Seo Jinwoo or Kim Seungwoo?"

I never thought sunbae would ask me this kind of million-dollar question. I mean, Seungwoo and I are colleagues and friends, but that doesn't mean I am not attracted to him. He has that natural bad boy aura yet seems to be playful, mean, but has a caring attitude. Meanwhile, I am trying my luck out of CEO Seo since I think he's the guy I have been looking for--someone I believe is fated, and I am curious to know whether he truly is the man I have been looking for to end my curse. The question is, are we truly fated? Or is this just a part of fate playing with my destiny?

"Ssuji-yah," She called my attention, and I snapped back to reality. "Who are you going to choose?"

I was about to answer her when I heard a loud commotion just a few meters away from where Rina-sunbae and I were sitting. I turned my attention to it, and I saw some girl throwing a fit at the part-timer.

"This was not I ordered!" The girl was wearing a navy blue tank top and a short skirt paired with high heels. "I said, NO SUGAR, why does this matcha tea taste sweet?!"

What shocked me--I mean everyone in the cafe the most, was when the girl threw her grapefruit ade to the part-timer.