Cheng-Welcome to our Team!

'I am so sorry for being late,' she apologized to everyone. 'I had to attend an important call.'

I smirked and gulped down my drink. Manager Ahn introduced her to the group. She was avoiding my gaze. After introducing herself, she sat down near Mina noona. Manager Ahn forcefully poured some alcohol in her cup before going to join the karaoke session. It was traditional in Korea for younger people to accept drinks from their elders. Otherwise it was considered rude. Of course, from what Professor Ahn told me, Mia was well versed with all that. But alcohol was a different issue for her.

Mia looked troubled. She could not say no to her senior but couldn't drink the soju either. Nervously, she picked up some chips. I walked up to her. She choked on her chips. I thumped her back and poured her a glass of water.

'You know,' I said in a sweet tone as she drank the water. 'We haven't met formally yet. I'm Park Cheng. And you are...'

'Mia,' she managed to blurt out. She felt awkward. I leaned over. She looked startled.

'Don't worry,' I whispered. I looked around to see no one was watching. Everyone was enjoying the karaoke. No one looked at us. I quietly exchanged her full glass with my empty one.

'I'll take that,' I said over the noise as I drank it all down. She smiled.

'Professor Ahn told me about you,' I said.

'You know him?' she asked, surprised.

'Yeah, he was my teacher during the trainee days. He contacted me after your application was accepted here. He also asked me to make you call him. I think he's free now. Do you wanna talk to him?'

'Yes!' she exclaimed over the noise.

'Okay, let's go outside.'

We walked towards the backyard where it was quieter. I dialed Professor Ahn's number. He answered the phone.

'Hello Professor Ahn,' I greeted. 'How have you been?'

'I have been well, my son,' he said heartily. 'Are you fine? And what about Mia?'

'I am fine and Mia is here with me now,' I replied. 'Here, talk to her.'

I handed the phone to Mia.

'Hello Professor Ahn,' she greeted. 'Are you doing well?'

'Yes, my dear,' he replied. 'How are you? And how is little Deen? Did he adjust to his new life?'

'We are fine Professor. And Deen is doing well. He got admitted to school. Today was his first day!'

'Oh, our little Deen is growing up!' Professor Ahn exclaimed. 'It feels as if just yesterday when you first walked in to my Korean classes with him on your lap.'

'He is,' Mia smiled. Her face flushed with pride when she talked about her son.

'Thank you for your help, Professor. I am very grateful.'

'Don't thank me my dear. It was your persistence which got you there. Now work hard and build a new life for yourself and for your son. Talk to you later. Bye.'

Mia bid him goodbye and hung up. She handed the phone to me.

'Your son,' I said. 'How old is he?'

'He turned nine in Korean age,' she replied. Nine? Mia must have been in her late teens when he was born then. My curiosity was piqued. Why was she raising her son on her own? Where was the father? For some reason, I doubted Mia was ever married. There were many questions in my head but I didn't know whether to ask them or not.

'What are you thinking about?' Mia asked a bit defensively. I think she knew what was going on in my head.

'Nothing,' I said. 'So Miss Mia. I know both of us didn't get off to the best start and you may think I'm a pig. But let's try to get along. Welcome to our team.'

I extended my hand to her. She smiled and shook it.

'I don't think you're a pig,' she said. 'A playboy, yes. But an honest one. That's cool with me.'

'I was under the assumption you hated playboys,' I frowned.

'Were you honest with all the women you slept with that your relation was nothing but a fling?' she asked.

'Yes,' I said. 'I never lied to any of them about my intentions.'

'And they were okay with it?'

'Most were. Some did end up clingy like Re-on.'

'Oh well,' she said. 'Unless you made false promises to bed a girl or forced yourself on someone, I can deal with it. But don't ever try to flirt with me,' she added sternly. 'I'm not gonna put up with that.'

'Girl,' I said in a serious tone. 'Even I have limits. If there is no consent, I don't force anyone. Nor do I lie.'

'Well, Sir,' she said. 'Then we'll get along.'

'Ugh, call me Cheng,' I said. 'Everyone in the staff calls me that.'

She hesitated.

'It's okay,' I said. 'After what you saw today, you don't have to be formal with me.'

'What I experienced with you, was nothing compared to what happened with Soo-Yon Sir,' she said. Her expression looked traumatized, as if trying to forget a bad memory.

'What happened?' I asked curiously. She told me about how he caught her humming and dancing to Roly Poly. After she was done, I burst into laughter. I could imagine the expression on Soo-Yon hyung's face. She looked mortified.

'Stop laughing!' she exclaimed.

I stopped to catch my breath.

'Don't worry,' I said, panting. 'He's not the type to judge people. He probably found it amusing. Soo-Yon hyung is too nice.'

'But it was embarrassing!' she moaned. 'My Starry pride got crushed.'

'AHA!' I clapped my hands. 'So you are a Starry. No wonder you went all red when you saw me. Wait a minute...DID YOU WALK INTO SOO-YON HYUNG'S ROOM ON PURPOSE?'

'Of course not!' she exclaimed. 'I got in there to take the clothes for measurement. How am I supposed to know he was referring to the wardrobe outside?'

I peered into her eyes.

'But you knew he was in the shower,' I said shrewdly. 'Your Oppa. In the shower. Naked.'

I burst into laughter again. This girl was seriously an idiot. She shot me an angry look.

'Not everyone has a dirty mind like yours,' she said. 'Pervert.'

'But jokes aside,' I said. 'Don't worry. He's not the type to judge people. I know him. He is the strongest and the wisest person I know. He will treat you nicely.'

'You guys are really close, huh?' she asked.

'We're like brothers,' I said proudly. 'He helped me out a lot.'

'Yeah, I know. After the split you guys must have gone through a rough time.'

She turned to look at me. Her smile faded upon my hard expression. All my amusement was gone. The split huh? Just thinking about it was boiling my blood. Mia realized, she shouldn't have brought it up.

'I am so sorry,' she said. 'It was careless of me. I-'

'Miss Mia,' I said curtly. 'We should go in.'

She nodded. I walked in front of her. We were nearly at the entrance when I turned and said to her sternly, 'Never mention the split in front of us. Ever.'

'Yes,' she said meekly. I knew I should not have gotten angry. But any mention of that incident only makes me want to break something. To me, it was not a split. It was a betrayal.

Mia seemed to have gotten scared at my expression. I sighed.

'Just don't mention it again,' I said softly. She looked at me with a little concern and nodded.

We walked back towards the entrance when I noticed Soo-Yon hyung standing near the bushes, talking on the phone.

'Soo-Yon hyung?' I frowned and walked towards him Mia followed me.

'Till next time, my friend,' he said, hanging up the phone.

'Till what next time, hyung?' I asked. Hyung spun around.

'Till she gets time to call again,' hyung sighed. 'That was Je-na on the phone. She barely got time to call us after our military service ended. She said she'll call again. Oh, Miss Mia.'

He turned to greet her. 'How was your first day?'

'Good,' she said. I snickered.

'Hyung, let's go in,' I said. 'They're probably waiting for us.'

Hyung nodded. 'Ladies first,' he motioned. Mia thanked him and walked in first while we followed suit.