Akinetopsia

11 : To be or not to be?

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"So... What do you want to talk about?"

Kent childishly crossed his arms with a sly smile on his face. Athena kept her head down low starting from when she knew Kent was actually the President of JoyTours up until they reached his office.

She regretted being too judgmental.

"I'm really really sorry for what i said earlier sir!!"

she stood up on her seat and bowed 90 degrees. Kent found it cute so he leaned towards her and flicked her forehead.

"silly,"

he said while laughing. Athena massaged her aching forehead, looking at Kent with regretful face.

'He's too young to be the president..'

said by the assistant who worked for a 19 years old blind guy.

"So what's your deal. You're from what company again...?"

he asked her. Jiyoung looked at the folder she is holding and gave it to Jay.

"I'm from the Skylark Group... Chairman Mircovich wants to give you this,"

she said nodding her head. Kent looked at her from head to toe making her unconscious.

"You are his new assistant?"

Athena shyly nodded her head as an answer.

"Interesting..."

Kent leaned his hands on the table and stared at Athena.

"There's nothing special about you.. But you're cute."

Kent complimented her

She don't know if she will take it as a compliment or insult, Athena just nodded her head.

"Thank you, president,"

She said, bowing.

"So yeah. I guess this is the certificate of partnership he told me,"

Kent said as he stood up from his seat. Athena looked at him with confusion.

"Won't you sign this contract M-Mr. President..?"

Athena said with slight nervousness.

'did he just voided the contract because of me? Oh shoot i'm dead!'

Kent glanced at her, taking his leather jacket off and putting a more formal attire from the closet of his office.

"Let's go and grab some lunch first. I'm starving,"

he said while smirking.

' I can't say no here... Right?? '

She thought to herself, nervously smiling and nodding her head.

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"So when did you started working for him?"

Kent asked after they ordered their meals. They went on an expensive Japanese restaurant near the building. Kent was the one who recommended the place so she doesn't have any choice.

"Uhmmm... I can't really recall... A week or two already?"

she talked casually now. Kent told him to not be so formal when they are outside the company's premises. He want her to act much more casual like what she did earlier.

Their orders quickly arrived on their table. Kent's eyes shimmered with his tonkatsu ramen.

"You lasted that long??"

he said in disbelief while looking at Athena as he bite on his tonkatsu.

"I'm also surprised... I thought he was the worst guy in the world at first..."

Athena looked at her ramen on her table and smiled before continuing her statement,  "But he was just too introverted. You know, he don't want to get involved to anyone. He built high walls so that he can protect himself... That's clearly understandable on his side."

Kent stared at the smiling Athena.

"You understood him very well."

he said, smiling, Athena looked at him with slight confusion.

"What's your relationship with the chairman?"

Athena asked with curiosity.

"Well, I treat him as my bestfriend."

Kent chuckled with his thoughts, "We grew up with each other. I think that's 7 years ago? Yeah i cannot really recall." Kent said while recalling his memories with Ethan. Athena grew curious.

"Mind to tell something you can remember? Like his past? Can i ask about what happened to him?"

Kent glanced at her as if he's testing her patience.

"If Ethan can hear this, we are probably dead by now."

Kent said as he laughed nervously. Athena just stared at him with curiosity, waiting for his answer

He sighed before recalling his part of their story, "I actually do not know what happened to him. 7 years ago, I met him. He's really cold and stiff. He do not usually talk. I found him boring at first. he's so timid," Kent softly laughed while narrating, But his father kept asking me to play with him. He finally appreciated my efforts after two years. Me and Gavin. He talked about his disorder once. He said he also can't remember what happened to him. He said he just woke up, not seeing anything that moves. And then he never opened up that conversation ever again. "

Kent said, nodding his head, and feeling satisfied with his memory as he can still remember the things Ethan told them years ago.

Jiyoung just nodded her head... slightly understanding what happened to Ethan's past...

"Mind if i join your chit-chat? "

Someone suddenly said making the both of them flinch. Kent and Athena's eyes went wide the moment they heard that voice. Kent stood up, turning on his back seeing Ethan casually eating his udon.

"E-E-Ethan?"

Ethan gave Kent a glare. Kent looked away, glancing at Athena who is now sweating with nervousness.

"I think you are talking about someone i know. Can i butt in?"

 Ethan sounds so pissed and it was intimidating. Kent nervously laughed, scratching his nape as he stepped towards Sunghoon.

"Uhh.. Ethaaan~ You clearly misunderstood everything-"

"who misunderstood what?"

Ethan didn't even bothered  to look at Kent. Kent internally screamed.

"W-W-Why are you here anyways? Perhaps you are not busy?"

Kent asked, shifting the topic. Ethan shifted his gaze towards him who is sitting in front of his table now.

"I came here to eat. Isn't it destiny that lead us both here?"

Ethan sarcastically smiled.

"ahaha... haha.. Ethan you're so funny!"

Kent  said while faking a laugh which pissed Ethan even more. Meanwhile, Athena is just slurping on her ramen. It might be her last meal afterall.

"Where's the contract?"

Sunghoon stared at him with blank expression, wiping his lips with the table napkin

"a-ahh... About that- I still do not sign there yet. Wait for a second,"

Kent said and rushed towards Athena, asking for the contract. Athena gave it to him with trembling hands.

"Here. The renewal of the partnership is completed," Kent said giving Ethan the contract. Ethan looked at him and stood up.

"Pay for my meal as a compensation for what happened and I'll take it with a grain of salt and forget everything,"

Ethan commanded and faked a smile before grabbing Athena and walking away without even bidding his farewell. Jay just trailed on their tracks with his eyes until they are both out of his vision. Finally he sighed a breath of relief.

"scary scary ethan~"

Kent collapsed on his seat, swiping on his phone seeing Athena's number on it.

Meanwhile, Athena struggled from Ethan's tight grip on her wrist.

"Chairman ouch!! Yah- what--!!!"

she whined as she was thrown inside the car before she can even realize it.

Ethan sat on the other side of the car, Secretary Lim started the engine quickly.

"What did i ask you to do?"

Ethan coldly asked her, making her look away.

"Make Mr. Park sign the contract...."

She answered

"And what the hell are you doing?"

"eating... I guess?"

She nervously smiled at him.

"You really thought you can fool me?"

"Ehhh- I'm sorry okay? I'll never do it again."

Ethan glanced towards her direction.

"tss. I can't guarantee that. You're too nosy to stop being so curious about everything,"

he whispered, sighing.

"I promise!! Okay? I'll never do it again. I swear in the name of god,"

she said raising her hand like she's taking an oath or something.

Sunghoon chuckled slightly.

"Then promise me to stay with me no matter what. I won't let Gavin or Kent take you away from me."

he said with a straight face, Athena looked at him with disbelief, slightly blushing.

"Whaaat....?!!!"

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