My name is Joonie Yim, and I’m 20 years old. I work part-time as a waitress in a small restaurant. Life is okay, but…

??: “When are you going to pay off your debt, huh?”

Yep, I’m in huge debt with these gangsters. My dad borrowed money from them and then disappeared without a trace, leaving me to deal with it.

“Umm… Can I pay you next month?”

??: “Next month? How many times have we come to collect? Do you have a death wish?”

“Just give me one more chance! One month, I promise I’ll pay you something!”

??: “Alright, but you’ll have to pay it all.”

“All of it?! But how am I—”

??: “If you don’t pay your father’s debt, we’ll come for you, and maybe… you can pay us with your body.” They laugh sinisterly.

I hate their filthy threats.

??: “Let’s go.”

As they already left I went Inside my house.

“How am I supposed to pay all this money in just one month?”

I was so stressed, I grabbed my small notebook and laid it on the table.

“I need a plan.”

Goal Plans:

Plan A

1st: Get a job (if it doesn’t work…)

Plan B

1st: Find a rich husband.

“Haha… so ridiculous of me.”

As I was thinking, my phone rang—it was HR calling.

“H-Hello?”

HR: “Hello, congratulations! You’ve passed the interview. We’d like to inform you that you can start working next week. Will that be okay?”

“Yes! Thank you so much!”

HR: “You’re welcome. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

“No questions, thank you.”

HR: “Great, we’ll see you then.”

Call ends.

“YESSSS! I FINALLY GOT A FULL-TIME JOB!”

I was so excited that I accidentally tripped and fell to the floor. BUMP

The next week finally arrived. I was riding my scooter to work when suddenly, a car came speeding toward me and crashed into my bike, sending me flying a few feet away.

Luckily, I wasn’t seriously injured—just some scrapes on my knees. As I was about to curse out the driver, he stepped out of the car and looked down at me.

This guy was unbelievably handsome—sharp features, piercing eyes, a chiseled jawline, and sleek, perfectly styled hair. He was dressed in a tailored suit, exuding confidence and power, with a cool, composed expression and a tall, lean frame.

I was about to change my tone because of how hot he was, but…

??: “Can’t you move faster? You’re blocking my way.”

“Pardon?”

I was too shocked to say anything. Omg, he’s such a jerk!

??: “If you’re not hurt, I’ll be on my way.”

He turned to leave, heading back to his car.

“HEY! Get back here!”

He turned around, clearly surprised that someone had dared raise their voice to him. I grabbed him by the collar, glaring at him.

“You’re not leaving without a serious conversation!”

His bodyguards stepped in and tried to pull me away, but I held my ground and yanked at his hair.

The bodyguards were shocked, watching as I pulled at him until they finally managed to drag me off.

“Let go of me!”

He calmly fixed his hair and straightened his shirt, then handed me his credit card.

??: “Use this for your medical bills.”

I stood there, watching him drive away.

“UGH!! POKER FACE! I SWEAR IF I SEE YOU AGAIN, I’LL MAKE YOU GO BALD! DON’T LET ME SEE YOU AGAIN!”

At work, inside the boss’s office.

Manager: “This is Joonie Yim , CEO Gunho Yoo.”

As soon as I saw his face, I knew… this was the end of my life. Of all people, WHY did it have to be HIM as my boss?!

Gunho: “Not interested.”

I’m not interested in you too! You poker face!

Manager: Laughs awkwardly “Haha… Ahem, I’m going to take my leave now.”

Manager (whispers): “Try your best to convince him.”

“But, I—”

He pats my shoulder and leaves me alone with him.

*Door closes*

Okay, I can do this.

“Hello, my name is Jonnie Yim. Starting from today, I’ll be your care assistant.”

I bow my head politely after introducing myself to him, but something feels off…

The silence is so awkward. It feels like I’m being mocked.

Come on, say something, you jerk!

I look up and see him casually checking the files on his desk while sipping his coffee.

The sunlight streaming in from the glass window behind him makes him look even more handsome. His black hair, long lashes, and tailored suit… he’s really my ideal husband type, despite his shitty personality.

Gunho: “How old are you?”

“I’m 20 years old this year, sir.”

Gunho: “Too young.”

Isn’t being young a good thing?

Gunho: “Since you’re new here, I won’t give you too much work.”

He sets the file down on the table, leans forward with his elbows on the desk, crossing his fingers under his chin, and smiles brightly at me.

Wait, I didn’t know he had a kind side…

Co-worker A: “These are 20 files sent from the boss. I’ll leave them on your desk.”

Co-worker B: “There are 10 more files from the boss.”

Co-worker C: On the phone “Yes, yes, I got it—Hey, newbie! We need to finish everything by tonight!”

Everyone is busy answering calls from different locations while I’m buried under these crazy files from him.

I TAKE BACK WHAT I SAID EARLIER!! GUNHO YO, YOU’RE SUCH AN ASSHOLE!!

I scream inside, hitting my desk in frustration and hurting myself in the process.

“Ouch… ow.”

A few hours later

Co-worker: “Good work, everyone!”

Co-worker: “Thank you, sir! Great job, guys.”

Co-worker A: “Your name is Jonnie, right?”

“Yes.”

Co-worker A: “I’m sorry about the workload earlier. We have no choice but to follow the boss’s orders.”

“No, no, it’s okay.”

Co-worker A: “Please don’t take it personally.”

“Who? The boss?”

Co-worker A: “Yeah, he’s strict and scary sometimes, but he’s really kind deep down. So, don’t take it to heart.”

“Don’t worry, senior. I’m not someone who lets things like that bother me.”

Co-worker A: “You’re strong. Oh, by the way, could you take this file to his office? I would do it myself, but I have a family appointment.”

“Oh, of course! I’ll take it to him.”

Co-worker A: “Thanks! See you tomorrow. Bye!”

Sigh I don’t want to see his face, but since I work under him, I guess I have to see him almost every day.

I walk to his office, about to knock on the door then I hear a female voice inside.

“Is that his girlfriend?”

I glance around to make sure no one sees me eavesdropping, then suddenly the door slams open aggressively.

A tall woman, around 6ft in Chanel high heels, walks out. Her long, wavy black hair, slim figure, and striking red lipstick make her look like a supermodel. Her eyes are so intense, I feel like I’m standing in front of an angel.

She glares at me with disgust and anger.

??: “Oh? Is this your new toy? Is that why you pushed me away?”

Gunho rubs his temples, looking exhausted.

Gunho: “Sigh, she’s just—”

??: “Whoever she is, you’ll regret what you did.”

She gives me a death stare and bumps into me as she storms out.

“Damn, you’re really such an asshole,” I mutter.

Gunho looks at me, furious, and I suddenly realize I said that out loud.

Shit… I just poured gasoline on the fire. My life is over.

Tears start to well up dramatically.

To be continued…

Gunho walks back to his desk, sits down, and pinches the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger. He looks completely exhausted.

Gunho: “Is that paperwork?”

“Oh! Yes, it is. He asked me to bring it to you because he had a family appointment and couldn’t come himself.”

Gunho: “Leave it here, and go.”

“Okay.”

I place the paperwork on his desk and glance at him with curiosity.

Gunho: “If you have nothing else to say, you can go home.”

“Um, boss? May I ask you something?”

Gunho: “No.”

Ugh! This guy, seriously…

Gunho: “Is it about that woman? Is that what you wanted to ask me?”

Oh, he knew.

“Yes, is that your girlfriend—”

Gunho: “She’s not.”

“Then, what is she to you? I mean, she’s really pretty, like a model. Every angle of her is perfect.”

He suddenly puts the paperwork down and stands up, walking toward me. Instinctively, I step back as he closes the distance, until he corners me against the wall, his hand resting beside my face. Our faces are so close, we’re almost kissing.

“U-um, I apologize if I said something wrong, but isn’t this a bit too close—?”

I squint my eyes, heart racing so fast I can barely breathe.

“Stay still and open your eyes. Let me take a closer look at your face.”

How am I supposed to stay still?! My heart is about to explode! But I do as he says, slowly opening my eyes and staring at him. I quickly look away, avoiding his intense gaze. His sharp eyes are so captivating, they’ll make me fall for him even more.

Gunho: “I think she must have really bad eyesight.”

“What?”

What does he mean by that? Before I can react, he steps back.

Gunho: “I’m leaving now. Don’t forget to turn off the power before you go.”

He walks out, leaving me standing there, still puzzled. As I head home, I can’t stop thinking about what he said.

“Does he mean I’m ugly??”

Ugh! Just thinking about it makes my blood boil. I catch my reflection in a shop window and strike a sexy pose.

“I don’t look bad at all. I’m still pretty and hot. He must be jealous of my smooth skin.”

I laugh to myself, but suddenly, someone rushes up behind me and grabs me, holding a knife to my side.

??: “DON’T COME ANY CLOSER, OR I’LL KILL HER!”

What the hell have I gotten myself into?! Why am I so unlucky today?!

Just as I’m panicking, a hero appears. He leaps out from the crowd and kicks the guy hard, slamming him into a nearby store window.

I collapse to my knees, trembling. When I look up, I see him. He has shiny black hair, a scar over his left eye, and an air of danger about him. He looks like a gangster, but he’s incredibly handsome.

??: “Is that you, Jonnie Yim?”

I’m shocked to hear him call my name. Wait, does he know me? I take a closer look and realize—

“Ohhh! It’s you, the crybaby from 10 years ago!”

He was my classmate back in the 5th grade. He used to cry a lot, not just because he got bullied, but even when his parents were late to pick him up once.

“Hyungjoo Lee!”

I ruffle his hair, happy to see him again. He gently pushes my hand away and instead takes my hand in his.

Hyungjoo: “I’m not a kid anymore, you know. I’m 19 now.”

“Yeah, yeah, you are. Oh, shall we go somewhere to talk?”

Hyungjoo: “Sure.”

He smiles at me, and I can’t help but smile back.

*At the restaurant*

“Ahh, it’s been ages since we last met.”

Hyungjoo: “How was your day?”

“Ugh, just thinking about it pisses me off.”

I tell him all about my day, from work to my frustrations with Gunho. But when I mention Gunho, Hyungjoo’s expression suddenly changes.

“Are you okay? You don’t look well.”

Hyungjoo: “Ah, I’m fine. Just something on my mind, but I’m good.”

He smiles, but I’m still worried. I reach out and gently touch the scar on his left eye.

“Did it hurt a lot?”

I give him a sad, concerned look. He seems surprised by my touch, then smiles warmly, rubbing his cheek against my hand.

Hyungjoo: “I don’t feel any pain anymore, especially with my noona worrying about me.”

I stare at him, blushing furiously, and quickly pull my hand away, changing the subject.

He’s going to drive me crazy if he keeps doing that! I scream internally.

After dinner, we exchange contact information and head home separately.

As Hyungjoo walks down the street, 10 cars surround him, and six men step out of each, circling him. One of them approaches with a cigarette and lighter.

??: “Boss, here’s your cigarette.”

The group bows respectfully to him.

Gangs: “Boss!”

Hyungjoo: “Mm.”

To be continued…