03. Foreign Place

Tukk

"Akk, what are you doing?"

Hyungtae protested, his lips pouting and chewing spaghetti while his hand rubbed the head that is hit by Aera's spatula.

"I am not hitting you, Kim. It's just that my hands that so angry they moved on their own." Aera held back her laughter a little for fear of being noticed by the maids in this house.

Who told Hyungtae to always be proud of himself as high as the sky. So, that Aera can count, how many times had he acted like that even though she had only known this man for a few hours. Now, look how cute that face that always looks handsome is wincing in pain from being hit by Aera's punches.

"Hurry and eat your food. How long are you going to look at me like that? Eat first, then you can continue your activities after you finish eating." Said Hyungtae nonchalantly, his mouth busy chewing.

"Tch, what part of the world have you actually saved? Why does every sentence that comes out of your mouth contain high confidence and always put on a handsome face like that?" Aera said she couldn't bear to say this all along.

"I don't understand and I don't care what you mean, but what I know just now is that you're acknowledging my good looks," answered Hyungtae with an innocent face.

Whatever, whoever quickly takes Aera away from this place. Hyungtae's narcissistic soul really can't be helped.

••

Aera is in the garden behind Hyungtae's house. For some reason, until now she still hasn't left Hyungtae's house. Seeing how annoyed she was from the first time she opened her eyes until the last time she had a conversation with Hyungtae while eating earlier.

"Why should I obey him?" Aera was cursing herself.

After the meal, Hyungtae has to get ready to go to work, because the company will hold a shareholders' meeting at 9 o'clock, about 30 minutes from now. He advised Mr. Park that Aera is not allowed to set foot out of Kim's house. He said there are still many things that Aera needed to be responsible for. Those words again. Aera can only surrender, "I don't know what he really needed to do to be responsible for that damn Kim".

Apart from that, Aera really enjoyed the view in Hyungtae's flower garden. How beautiful the flowers are blooming here because now it's starting to enter spring. There are many types of flowers in Hyungtae's garden and Ashoka's flower is one of the plants that catch Aera's attention the most.

Ashoka flower is her favorite flower. Besides being easy to care for, this flower also looks very beautiful. Although the shape is simple, when it blooms, it will definitely look so sweet.

Not only glued to flowers, but Hyungtae's garden also is not the ordinary flower garden that Aera usually encounters in other people's homes in general. This place carries an indoor theme, the entire wall is made of glass so that it is transparent from the outside. Anyone who sees this garden will definitely be interested in visiting it. And again, just look at this combination of wood and small stones successfully making the road to the garden look very charming.

The garden's exterior decoration reflects the exclusive style of a pair of cute and classic bears as if greeting everyone who comes in and out of this place.

You don't have to go to Japan to enjoy typical oriental relaxation. Just being in this garden feels like it represents the atmosphere there.

In both hands Aera is holding a flower basket and a pair of scissors, she aimed to pick some pretty flowers here. Suddenly a light purple butterfly landed on Aera's right hand. Aera cannot help but melt when she sees how excited and beautiful the animal is. A little treat the feeling of tightness that had been buried in his heart.

"Well, it's not bad that I'm still in this house. There are so many beautiful and luxurious things that I have never enjoyed so far. Even the breakfast is more luxurious than the most luxurious food I have ever eaten."

Aera said with sparkling eyes, happy and feeling small at the same time. How can Aera deal with a man as rich as Hyungtae.

At least she never expected to enjoy this kind of luxury. Because every day she just hoped that she will no longer feel lonely. Moreover, for the past 2 years, her close friend has been married. So she rarely gets to accompany Aera. Apart from her best friend Yerin, she really doesn't have anyone on her side.

After graduating from high, school Aera left the house. Her parents told Aera to live independently. What about the cost of living? Of course, it is Aera's own responsibility. As if they had given up, Aera's parents seemed to throw away their own child, Aera will only return to her parent's house once a year during Chuseok or Christmas celebrations like today. But, because she is fed up with the rules and her unclear relationship with her parents. Finally, tonight she chooses not to go home and wandered around the city of Seoul and also see the view of the Han River.

••

The sound of the shower water gurgling faintly. It sounded from inside the bathroom. Exactly, at 8 pm after 20 minutes ago, Hyungtae got out of the car to his yard. The first thing Hyungtae does, when he just stepped into the house is to look for Aera's whereabouts. A girl who is adorable when she is angry filled his mind since he is in the office earlier.

He wondered if Aera would follow his words not to leave his house. Or even after he left for the office, Aera hurriedly left his house as soon as possible. Those two things succeeded in making Hyungtae irritated, what's wrong with him not like his usual self.

Then he discovered the fact that the girl, who had been stealing his focus all this time, is fast asleep in the guest room which is not far from Hyungtae's room, only 1 room apart. This spontaneously makes Hyungtae's heart relieved, it's not in vain that he thinks about this cute girl all day.

After taking a bath he planned to visit the guest room again, his tired feeling disappeared after seeing Aera earlier. Hyungtae slowly closed the bedroom door so as not to disturb Aera's sleep.

••

Mr. Park said that Aera had not had dinner yet because she is busy spending time in the garden all day making her tired. As a result, now she wakes up in the middle of the night feeling her stomach growl as if she is struggling to be filled with food until it is full. She is so hungry that she does not notice a man's hand is beside her sitting on the bed.

"Omoo!! who are you?" Aera shouted in surprise which made her stomach even more hungry.

Hyungtae fell asleep while sitting on the bench next to Aera's bed, actually he does not intend to stay in this room for long, but somehow he unconsciously fell asleep here.

"Hey, don't shout. You see what time it is?" Hyungtae's hoarse voice signaled to Aera that he wasn't a bad person.

"You... why are you sleeping here?" Aera asked stuttering, unconsciously she is nervous to hear Hyungtae's voice.