So everyone walked on eggshells around him while we were at work.

He kept yelling at other employees for not doing their job right. I could feel everyone hated me more as they were witnessing Haru venting his anger at them but still a softie around me.

In the aftermath of a hellish week, I couldn't stay still anymore, I walked into his office for the lunch break. "Haru, we need to talk..." 

Haru was sitting behind his desk, getting someone's number. He lifted his pointed finger to signal me to wait. I sat down on the couch in the middle of his office, waiting for him to finish. 

He approached and sat next to me when he was done with his call, resting his head on my shoulder. "What's up?..." 

I brushed his cheeks slightly. "Can't you be nice to them?" 

Haru lifted his head and stared at me. "What do you mean?... If they had done their job properly, I wouldn't have gotten mad at them..." 

I muttered, "But you don't have to be so harsh..."

He touched my neck, looking pissed. "Are you scolding your boss?..." 

I clenched my fists, "Bringing the boss title in such a situation like this is a cheat, you brat..."

He chuckled and lay his head on my lap, "Fine... I'll try~... but you have to pay me back by giving me a head massage right now... I have a terrible headache."

"DEAL!..." I answered and put my fingers on his head, starting to massage it lightly... 

Haru closed his eyes and sighed in relief. I could feel his muscles relaxing beneath my fingertips. His breathing grew deeper and more peaceful as I continued to massage his head. 

He nodded off for 45 minutes in that position, and I remained still and let him be since he looked so tired. I nuzzled his hair and observed his face while he was sleeping. I moved my finger towards his eyelashes, they were unbelievably long, then I slipped down his nose and touched his lips slightly which somehow reminded me of the time when he suddenly kissed me when we were kids... As I was lost in old memories, Haru suddenly opened his eyes, and I flinched backwards as a reflection. 

"What's with the sudden jump?!..." He asked while sitting up. 

I looked away, blushed, "Nothing~... you startled me~..." 

Haru grinned at me and leaned closer to me with his mischievous gaze, "Hm~..." Then held my face and bit my cheek gently. I pushed him right away, "Stop messing with me, I'll go now you're awake~..." I stood up and headed to the door, "Make sure to eat something before the last 15 minutes end." And left the room hurriedly while my heart was pounding so hard. I could hear his laughter after teasing me...

~

At night, we had a dinner meeting with one of his VIP clients. As his assistant, I also accompanied him... 

The client was a middle-aged man named Choi Kihoon, incredibly rich, so he was absolutely crucial to our company...

Although, he was such an irritating talkative person... 

As they were talking during dinner, I just ate my dinner calmly and tried not to get involved in their talk... 

But for some reason, my action had an adverse effect... I got his attention unintentionally... He asked out of blue," Are you Haru's boy?..."...

"Excuse me!..." I answered... 

He said, "You're the one everyone talks about, right?..."

Then Haru intervened and said, "He's my secretary. However, we've known each other for a long time..."... 

He laughed a bit, "Aha~~... is that so?!...

I didn't expect him to be this cute and innocent..." 

Then he moved his chair closer to me and put his hand on my thigh as he scooched towards me. He said with a creepy smile, " Do you want to work for me instead of him?... I'll be kind to you...also I have way more money... I'm interested in you..."...

At that moment I was like, "What the fuck?... you old perv... Don't give me that disgusting look of yours..."... But damn it, I couldn't have said that because he was important... I should've tolerated this pervert until the meeting was over.

Haru rigidly said, "Mr. Choi!... He's not what you think, so don't cross the line..."... then he grasped my right arm, "Myung, you've wanted to use to the restroom since earlier... If you're done eating, you can leave now and wait for me in the car..."... 

The mood had become tense, and I was taken aback... Haru's eyes were terrifying when he signalled me to get out, so I apologized and said goodbye to Mr. Choi and left the room hurriedly... 

I rushed back to the car and waited for Haru to return...

I was extremely nervous about what would happen if he broke the deal...

Then everyone will blame me... 

When Haru got in the car, he started yelling at me, " Are you dumb or what?!... Can't you see what he was trying to do?... Why were you sitting there like an idiot and letting him touch you!... "... 

I was indeed scared since it was the first time that he's got angry at me. I answered nervously, "He's your client... What could have been done?...

That deal was a necessity..."... 

-"Would you let him rape you because of a deal?!... huh?..." 

He gripped my shoulders and shook me... "answer me!..."

+"No... I~... was... just~... that contract was important to you~... So..."

-"Fuck that!... If I hadn't stopped him, he would've jumped on you right then... " He squeezed my arms and sighed deeply... then dropped his head... 

+"I'm... sorry~~... " I trembled in fear... 

My arms and shoulders hurt from his strength... 

-"Please~... learn how to say no and refuse... don't let others take advantage of you... Why are you so naive?... I shouldn't have brought you here in the first place..." 

+"I get it, I was a nuisance to you there and ruined everything... I'm truly sorry, Haru...now~ let me go~... You're hurting me!..."... 

I was upset and worried... that woman is going to scold me again for ruining this meeting... 

I couldn't even think about what Haru was trying to say... 

As he hugged me, he said, "Why don't you realize I'm worrying about you, but not about that! You've never been a nuisance!... You don't have to worry about it... I'll fix it..."... 

Then he started the engine and dropped me off in front of my house... 

~

Tomorrow morning when I got up, I had a terrible headache with a bit of fever since I couldn't sleep a wink... thinking about what that old perverted man did, and our contract... 

But I shouldn't take a day off... 

Because of yesterday's mess...

I arrived half an hour late, since I was barely able to walk... 

When I arrived, Lee Sora and Haru were already in his room talking... 

As soon as she saw me, she said, "You're late, Mr. Park... "... 

I apologized to her and told them that I would bring them coffee... Before I left the room, she said that she hates it when people don't have discipline... 

So I apologize again... 

I brought them coffee, and then Haru gave me a sign to go out, so I left them alone... 

When she got outta there, she came to my desk and said, "I hope from now on you'll be more careful not to make trouble... tch..."‌, and then left without letting me respond.... 

Since Haru was super busy that day, we didn't even get the chance to eat for a whole day until working hours were over... 

My headache has worsened, and I was feeling dizzy... 

I barely stood on my feet the whole day... 

Haru took me out to have dinner together...

After we ate, he told me that his parents had left this morning, so he asked me to stay the night at his place.

I wasn't feeling well at all, and I refused by saying I'm not feeling well.

But he just ignored me with a sulken expression and drove to his home anyway, and I didn't have the energy to complain either...

As soon as I took a shower after Haru, I climbed the bed and lay down beside Haru. He was still on his phone scrolling through Instagram while my eyelids became heavy, and I fell asleep in a minute.

~

It was in the middle of the night that my condition worsened. I got a sudden feeling that I wanted to vomit, so I rushed to the bathroom... 

I vomited everything that I'd eaten, and my whole body was shaken. I felt cold, and my head was spinning. I was barely able to stand up and make it back to the room

Haru followed me and knocked on the door, asking me if I was okay...

I was about to answer him, but suddenly, my chest felt heavy, and all I could see was darkness. Then I lost consciousness... 

When I opened my eyes, I was in the hospital's ER... 

Haru was sitting next to my bed with an anxious expression on his face... 

As soon as our eyes had met, he sighed and said, "Gosh... you scared me to death... "

-" What happened?..." I still was a bit dizzy...

+"You passed out... the doctor said it's due to stress and fatigue... " 

-"Ah~~... My head is killing me... 

What time is it?! What should we do about work?"... 

+"Seriously?!... Look at yourself first, then talk about work!... You can have a day off... we can go home after your IV finishes... "

-"But... I can't~... again~..."

When everyone's eyes are on me, how would I be able to rest or not be stressed?...

They all look down on me already... I don't want to give them any more reasons to judge me. I just want to be accepted and be able to do my job in peace. I can't handle feeling like I'm being constantly watched.

-"Stop... I don't wanna argue with you again... Just do what I'm saying..."

~

It was around 5AM when we got home...

After lying down, I fell asleep again...

When I awoke again, I saw Haru getting ready and asked, "Are you sure it's okay if I don't come?..."...

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he caressed my cheek and then touched my lips gently with his thumb... 

-"Yeah... sleep more. You still have a fever... your lips are dry... 

I'll be back soon after my meeting and bring you some porridge..."... 

+"I'll go home..."

-"Stay here... don't even think about moving an inch... "

+"I don't wanna be alone here..."

-"I'm going to be at home when you wake up... see ya..."

He left after that. I've got so many things on my mind... 

I don't want to feel left out in this empty house when I'm sick... 

I know he's worried about me, but I'm uncomfortable when he's not here and I have to wait for him...

What kind of sarcasm is Lee Sora intending to use the next time she sees me?... 

They definitely think I'm taking advantage of Haru's generosity... 

On the other hand, Haru's mom keeps texting me about him, and I don't know how to respond... 

I was so damn tired.

Am I complicating things?... Or is everything somehow out of the ordinary?...