6 5. The Struggle is Real

She gets up from her bed, slowly heading to the bathroom with dizziness, and then looked at her self in the mirror.

***I can't go to work with my face like this!

Just before shower; she immediately put a cold washcloth as a cool compress over her eyes, to get rid of those puffy and swollen eyes after cried all night long before going to work.

This is her first day gets back to K.A.C, she wants to looks femininely refreshing and professional, and that is why she chose a white khaki plain viscose long sleeve shirt and her favorite white sneakers to go with her black denim jeans.

Her choice of fashion, she mostly preferred comfortable over stylish.

Fashion style is indeed important for her who works in fashion industry but she rather prefers wearing an outfit that can also portray herself with her own style.

For her it has to looks appears ravishing and yet comfortable because wearing comfortable outfit is the most important thing for her.

"It's all good" she said while looking herself at the mirror and fixing her ponytail out from her shirt.

She turns off the light and an air conditioner before picked up her white blazer and her black leather tote bag on her bed then headed straight away to the kitchen.

Lin made pancakes with a strawberry jam and hot milk as a quick breakfast; she needs to gain some energy for her new day. She even took a taxi to the company because it's raining outside.

"Now.. back to reality" She let out a nervous sigh just before entering the office.

***Just stop thinking about him, this is your choice

As usual Lin came to work earlier than the others; she sweep, mopping the floor, cleaning up the meeting room and also preparing a paper works to put it on each table for meeting references later.

She then gets back to her table and continues on wiping her table, arranging her stuff and watering her cactus and printing even more paper works.

After a while….

"Morning Lin, you came early as usual; how was your holiday?" manly voice just greets Lin right after he's entering the office then straight to his table and Lin answered him back with greetings..

"Morning Sir, I'd enjoyed it very much and I'm really sorry for not informed it beforehand" She feels really bad after gone for holiday without even said anything to him and the others.

He slightly shook his head; disagree with what Lin had said.

"Don't said like that my dear!... you've done nothing wrong at all of course you deserved that vacation for sure" he answered. He then settled down putting his bag and turns on his computer before he goes out from the office and rushed to the kitchen to make him a cup of coffee.

He's the man with a very deep voice and yet very soft and has a sentimental personality, he's none other than Mr. Park; he is the assistant manager at sales marketing department and also the one who's sitting next to Ana.

He's the oldest staff among them and actually related with the owner of the company.

He turned out to be the uncle to the CEO of K.A.C Company.

He never wanted to take over the company even after his older brother has announced his retirement from the company because of his illness.

When his brother decided to step down from that position; furthermore Mr.Park has turned down the offer; it was automatically pass down to his next generation which is his son and Mr. Park's nephew.

***I never met him before and yet people kept talking about him; that how his charismatic and attractiveness facial feature really affecting his first impression of being the new CEO of the company.

***And his good looking genes really run through the family. But something happened on the day before prosecuting his new job appointment event and that event just canceled right away so without being announced to the public, he just appointed as the new CEO since then.

Mr. Park never said anything regarding about that matters and eventually just let it slip away as time goes by; people started to forget about it.

So up until now the real identity of the new CEO has just remained unknown, even all the staffs in there have never once meeting him neither gets to know about him at all.

As for his uncle Mr. Park, the only reason that the CEO position was given to his nephew was because of him.

He never wanted to accept any higher position in the company even after being offered by his brother like a dozen times already, he just rejects it right away because he just wants to live like a normal person.

For him as long as he's happy with his family; that's quite enough for him beside he never wanted to live with those fame and luxury in the first place.

All of sudden,

"Morning…morning" A cheerful voice appeared.

Another manly voice could be heard from afar even the voice owner has not yet entering the office.

As the door slammed open, a guy with a grinning face and smiling eyes wearing a dark navy blue blazer suddenly entering the office and that guy was actually their maknae, Taejin.

Right after he saw Lin standing right in front of him; he then swiftly ran towards her and gives her a huge hugs.

Lin would never get used to that sudden affection behavior from him.

"Noona, you're back...."

"I miss you so much "

He's obviously the happy virus among them with his super undying cheeriness and cuteness. He can be so annoying sometimes but still he's one of their precious maknae ( refer to the youngest person in the group).

Just by looking at Taejin frolicsome-ness, he always makes Lin feels better and smiles though he never know what was going on to her these days but he has always being a mood lifter to Lin.

Taejin is 3 years younger than Lin and he used to be an intern just a year ago before became a permanent staff.

Most of people always mistakenly him as a foreigner because of his facial feature and his hair color apparently just like an American style; the fact that he's actually Honhyeol (half Korean and half Japanese).

His ethereally beautiful face is so flawless and attractive sharp line jaw and Lin also thought that he's even more beautiful than her along with his blonde hair and light brown hazel eyes.

***To be honest I'm also attracted to him on the first day we've met but then he just ended up being like my little brother

"Morning; is everyone here already?" and now; Ana voice just appears from behind her along with two other women, Minjung and Soojin.

"Yes" Mr. Park replied to her right away.

"Good"

Wide smiles suddenly appeared on their faces and get overly excited by the time they saw Lin as both of them started to exclaimed, "Lin! You're back "and said it at the same time.

Meanwhile Ana hurriedly put her bag to the table then bringing her favorite pen, laptop along with some files before walks straight away to the meeting room.

***What's with her rush?

"Okay everybody to the round table now" ordered Ana, which was one of the signal codes for them; by meaning it's time for meeting. In spite of what they called it 'round table', it is actually a big rectangular shape table to be exact.

Only their department are usually used that kind of coding things unlike with the other departments, Sales Marketing department is far more fun and enjoyable that everyone are usually being treated as in equal.

"Come on hurry up guys" said Mr. Park while waiting at the front door of the meeting room.

Everyone then hurriedly walks towards the meeting room and immediately took their seats along with their paper works and laptops meanwhile Lin just silently sitting with just a pen and paper.

During at meeting, Lin could not concentrate at all; she was absolutely out of focus when she didn't even realized that Ana was calling her several times already.

"Lin!" she suddenly raised her voice.

Ana saw her fully distracted by something when she saw her eyes are completely fixed into that particular piece of paper just in front of her and she kept writing something on it.

Even to her surprise, Lin wrote Jay's full name on that same exact spot and she didn't even realized about it at all.

Ana couldn't help but to let out a deep sighed as she look at Lin.

***Lin, you're obviously couldn't forget about him don't you?

Lin started realized that her name was being called after Minjung the one who known to be the best information provider regarding what happens inside the company and also her old school fashion trendsetter just tapping Lin's arm with her elbow.

She then spontaneously says "Yes?"

"Lin, are you okay? She asked.

"I'm okay…" she shyly replied.

"We are in the middle of a very important meeting right now so please pay your attention" said Ana, Lin even got reprimanded from her.

Ana was being recognized with her professional and firm attitude during her work, no matter how close she was with her friend, she will not hesitate to reprove and take disciplinary action towards them if they didn't do their job properly.

"I…I'm s...Sorry" Lin stuttered, feeling guilty by her action, she knows that she supposed to not combining her privacy life with her job and she really was in fault.

Since on her first day of working after holiday, everyone seemingly noticed something different about her as she suddenly becomes quiet and distant.

Unlike before; she was always seemed happy and cheerfully a talkative person but now she likes to be alone by herself.

She thought that she somewhat managed to keep her feeling inside her heart and pretending to looks like she was fine and happy. But the more she tried to be happy the more she just introvert-ing herself.

She knows that she needs to put herself together and stopping herself for being such a pitiful woman otherwise Ana will definitely notice, so she intentionally got herself busy with anything she could do to makes her forget about him.

******************************************

+++

At the same time at Coffee Day Café,

"Jay, are you ready now?" Max takes a look inside of the locker room.

He saw Jay wearing cotton white shirt along with his dark grey tie and black pant, just sitting on the bench while his body bent down and his elbows just rested on his knees. He looks so down and glum.

***Obviously he's not ready at all

In anytime soon; he will deliver his first speech as the new owner of Coffee Day Cafe. Despite of waiting for that nerve wrecking moment to come; he's in some way looks more concerned about something else.

He found himself staring down at his phone, which he still clutched in his right hand as if he's waiting for someone's call. Max noticed that as he walks closer and sitting down next to him.

"You okay buddy?" asked Max. Placed his left arm right on Jay's back and makes Jay startled by his sudden appearance.

"Yeah, I'm okay" he smiled casually, while pretending to read his manuscript speech.

"For now just let everything aside first and do your best later okay" said Max confronting him.

He just nodded and smile.

"Okay let's go everybody's waiting for you" using only his right hand to help him stand up.

Jay grabbed his blazer, and heads toward the door.

He is now looking much better with his new haircut (Quiff undercut fade), because of his new position that he wants to give a good impression towards his new employees and guests.

In the meantime, everyone just patiently waiting for Jay's speech while enjoying their food and beverages that served by the staff of the Cafe.

There are some of very important guests attending the event, the sponsors, and the suppliers, the families of the former owner, the staff and last but not least the customers.

He kindly greets every guests that passed by him with his attractive smiles and gentle manner.

Now it's time for his speech, but first of all he slowly take a deep breath while clenching his fists to calm himself down, to be honest just being standing in front of the audiences can be so intimidating especially for someone like him.

He has never getting used to speak to the large amount of people like what is he about to do right now, this is indeed one of a life-change and benefits for him to undergo such an experience.

He walks up to the front of the room, clearly nervous and stiffly standing in front of the people with cameras and spotlights are now focused only on him. He slightly coughs, cleared his throat before giving a speech.

"Good morning to you everyone"

"Before I begin, let me briefly introduce myself"

"My name is Shin Jae and I am delighted to be here today and to talk to you as the new owner of Coffee day Café and thank you so much for coming."

[He bowed his head towards the audience that is applauding for him and then continuing his speech again]

"As you may know about a week ago right at this place, Me, Shin Jae was appointed as the new owner of this Café."

"Although some of you already know me personally but some of you may not and I just hope you guys will works together with me not as a superior and subordinate but as a family and friend."

"I've been informed by the former owner of this place and she has agreed to let me carry on this business operation and lead this team as well as this place into the best café in town and to make it happen I really need each and every one of your participation. So then again I hope we can work well together and make the impossible into possible."

"Well that's it from me and thank you very much."

He bowed again to the people before walking out from there, without waste of time he immediately grabbed his phone out from his pocket to check any new notification from her but it always turns out nothing at all.

After his one successfully speech, the audiences just loudly cheered for his speech and warmly applauded him and unexpectedly chanting his name.

"Shin Jae...

Shin Jae...…..

Shin Jae….."

Everyone especially women were absolutely stunned by his appearance as their eyes were totally fixed on him during the speech.

Even after delivering his beautiful speech, he received lots of love letters from his fans, most of them were sent by his customers and also got few from his staff workers as well; which most of them confessed their love to him and even wants to dates him.

However the one and only person that he's been really anticipating and hope to see right at that moment was not there to congratulating him.

His phone still clutched inside his grasp; waiting for her call every single time but she never appears nor calling him ever since that day.

With her absence, Jay admitted his profound disappointment because of her not being with him on this special day.

Jay just got himself busy assisting new staff and training them step by step. On the other hand he also got a meeting with F and B supervisor for their new menu modification and food tasting.

While his friend Max gets busy preparing some documents and data that he wants to bring to Itaewon District with him and to assist Mina for her new cafe in there. There are absolutely lot of things that need to get settle before they open a new café.

As we may know opening a new café basically required some financial services as well as a statement and even more staff also will be needed, so it will definitely takes awhile for them to find someone and hiring some potential workers.

"Just call me when you get there okay and send my regards to Mina" he bid a farewell to Max before gives him a big hug because it's going to take some time to be able to see him again.

"Okay will do and take care of yourself as well" he returning his hug with a pat on the back just before gets in into his car.

After Jay sends him off, he could feel his phone vibrates inside of his pocket.

Then again it's from someone that he's not expecting to see.

[From Se Ra;

Hey, just don't forget on Sunday okay]

**********************************

+++

For the past few days Lin managed avoiding herself from meeting Jay. He usually tried calling her few times but Lin just ignored him.

Regardless of being broken-hearted and yet she still go to work as usual pretending to be okay but she simply could not hide her sadness.

She scarcely smiles lately even during her friends were joking around together but she had always lost in her own world, even how much she told Ana that she was okay and not to get worry about her but then she has completely not okay at all and Ana knew it all along.

Ana eventually just had enough of it, she doesn't like seeing Lin being pretentious and acts differently, she knew that Lin was actually in pain and suffered after that night.

Those depressive-ness and decision that she made has actually eating herself inside and it did affecting her emotion very deeply.

As for Ana, she needs to do something to help her and she's now has a better idea for Lin to make her stop thinking about him and that is to get her busy.

During a meeting,

"I've got a called from our head department and he wants me to send someone to the factory to attending the seminar and also helping them out for two months so…" she took a glance towards Lin.

"Lin I want you to go there starting from tomorrow" her sudden orders really surprised others and makes everyone put their attention towards Lin; everybody just goes in silence and in puzzled.

"What…." She surprised as her eyes wide open and her lips parted. She glimpsed at Mr. Park just for a moment before she gets back to Ana.

Then suddenly Mr. Park also joined in the conversation.

"Ana, that's the heaviest job to do for a woman beside it's originally my responsibility so just let me do it instead" Said Mr. Park.

He also puzzled by her decision.

"I understand about your concerns Mr. Park, you are indeed more competent than her but there's some reason why I choose Lin instead of you" She explained then she turned her face back towards Lin.

"Lin, I'm sorry to say this but I want you to go there starting tomorrow" Ordered Ana.

Hearing that unexpected orders from Ana, Lin just rigidly sits still on her chair while staring at Ana who slowly approaching her and stopped just right behind Lin, and put her hand on Lin's shoulder and saying, "This is an order…about your job here don't worry about it….I'll handle it"

"So listen up everyone starting from tomorrow …I'll be the one who will take care of her work"

"So regarding to her jobs right here..all of you can come to me..."

She has once again making an unexpected announcement to others while Lin still in confused and trying to process what was exactly happened.

The staff who had been to the factory before, had always mentioned that it was the hardest job ever, even for a man, just hearing from the sound of it just makes people thinks of it as a physically challenged job but it was actually a job of mentality challenged.

While everyone just nodded and concerned about Lin as if she was being punished the fact that she was actually just been given an order to a new responsibility.

"So that's it for today's meeting, except for Lin all of you may dismiss now and thank you for today everyone" She continued.

They quickly stood up and left those two inside the meeting room, at the same time Lin just quietly looking at Ana when she turned her face towards her

She sighed.

"So what's going on Lin?" asked Ana. She gets back to her chair and sitting with her legs crossed.

"What?" she asked in confused tone.

"What happened to you?"

"What do you mean?" she asked her back. She paused before continue.

"Of course nothing happened to me don't worry…"

"Hey...Wanna grab some lunch later?" she said with a controlled smile, tries to change the subject and avoids any deep questions.

Ana heaved a sigh of upset before she speaks.

"For the past few days I've been noticed that you couldn't kept your focus to your job like you have been distracted by some reason and I don't like your job performances these days, so that is why I send you there for a while to regain your concentration to do your job properly" she continued.

As matter of fact Ana was right about that, Lin has actually more distracted than the time when she was rejected. There are a lot of things inside her mind, she kept asking herself; did she just make it more obvious which was why Ana could be able to noticing her.

She tries to hide her sadness behind that smile, and stay silent.

But then,

"I decided to let him go" she finally revealed the truth.

"Are you sure you can do that?" she questioned her with a question that she's already knew the answer.

An alleviated smile crossed her lips while her brow furrowing in thought.

"No but I will try my best, besides he never likes me anyway" answered Lin.

"If you said so, well I think I made such a good idea to sent you there, why not just take this job as your first try…while get busy so that you can stop thinking about him for a while" She said in tend to let Lin knows that was actually not a bad idea at all.

"It's not like you will be there forever because it's only for two months so…" She added.

"Okay, I will go"

Ana stands up then walks closer towards her and slightly bent down her body as she reached Lin hands to comfort her. "I know it's hard but I'm sure you can do it"

She gave Lin a quick hug before started reaching out her things.

"So for now, you need to get prepare for your transferring and you owe me a dinner" she said in teasing tone and just walks out from the meeting room and gets back to her table continuing her job.