7 : The truth untold
1521 Words
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"Are you already prepared for tonight?"
Sunghoon asked her, looking on the road as they drive their way towards the office again.
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"Are you already prepared for tonight?"
Ethan asked her, looking on the road as they drive their way towards the office again.
It's been a week since Athena was hired as his personal assistant.
And it's been a hell for her.
Countless sleepless nights, When Althea said no one can keep up with his pace, She surely mean it. After a project, there's already another one. he just keeps on moving forward. It was really quick.
But Athena couldn't understand herself.
As the days pass by, She started liking her job. At first, It's really awkward with Ethan's moody attitude. No one can predict him. But then, She started to read him accurately without her even noticing it. She's trying her hardest to keep up with him. Fortunately, Ethan is at least acknowledging that fact.
"Tonight?"
She checked on the tablet the schedule for tonight, clueless about what will happen.
"Ohh.. A party..?"
It's not just a party. The debut of the President's Daughter.
"Yeah. They invited me. And you are obliged to come."
"And why?"
"Why not?"
"Well.."
Athena think of any reason why not, and she seriously can't find any.
"I have to memorize the language books Ms. Althea gave me. I can't make it for tonight."
"That's not an excuse. I am the one who gave you the books, so i have the rights to take them away from you if needed."
Athena pouted.
"I don't have any dress for tonight."
"Let's go to Claus' Place Secretary Lim."
"Yes Sir."
The driver, Johnson Lim agreed, maneuvering the car's steering wheel to the direction where the company isn't from.
"are you seriously-"
Athena looked at Ethan seeing him staring at her eyes.
"You still have something else to say?"
Ethan's face went closer to Athena's as he stared at her imminently. Athena can even smell his sweet strawberry breath because of how near his face is.
"You just want someone to accompany you, right?"
Athena stared back, gulping as Ethan moved closer towards her, Leaning unto her neck and whispered some words on her ears.
"And so what if i do? Can you resist me?"
he said in a low and serious tone. Athena can't help it but to blush.
"c-childish."
Athena pushed him away from her. Ethan chuckled with her actions.
"You're too flustered. What are you thinking?"
"Nothing! As if I find you attractive."
She said rolling her eyes sideways.
"Oh you don't?"
He teased her, earning a glare from Athena.
"Don't be too full of yourself Chairman! You are a jerk so no one will love you. That's hella obvious. "
Ethan shrugged his shoulder, Leaning his back on the chair and closing his eyes with a sly smile on his face.
Minutes later, they arrived on a famous fashion booth named CCC's. (Claus Closed Closet)
"let's go and buy you some dress."
Ethan said, Grabbing her wrist and forcing her outside the car. They walked towards the elegant fashion line.
Athena can literally feel the class the moment they walked inside the luxurious rotating door. It was a feeling the same as when you are shopping in a luxurious fashion line on Paris.
"Where's Claus?"
Ethan asked the woman on the counter. The woman bowed politely seeing who is asking her.
"I'll call Mr. Claus at once. Please proceed on the lobby as you wait sir."
She guided them with extreme politeness to the lobby, then left to call Claus Steinfield, The owner of the fashion line.
After a couple of minutes, Loud thuds from high heels can be heard from the inside the booth.
The both of them looked at the hallway where the thuds came from.
"AM I BEING DEAF OR MY DEAREST GODCHILD REALLY VISITED ME??!!"
A rather extravagant voice can be heard from the other side of the hallway as a fine man walked on the red carpet.
"Mr. Claus."
Ethan bowed at him, Claus held his shoulder and raise him up, giving him kisses on the cheeks.
"So what is happening here? Why are you- Oh hello sweetie~"
Mr. Claus' attention went towards Jiyoung who stand there shyly.
"Is this your girlfriend-"
"No!"
"Not yet."
Athena looked at Ethan with shocked eyes, confused with what he meant by "not yet".
"fufufu how lovely. She look so..." Claus observed Athena from head to toe, and then suddenly laughed. "rather peculiar.." Athena looked down, feeling a bit of shame with Mr. Claus' comment.
"But she just don't know how to style herself. fufu what a beautiful lady.."
His british accent was visible as he commented again. He smiled at Athena sincerely and looked at Athena.
"So.. What's the deal? Why are you here my godchild Ethan?"
Ethan looked at Athena.
"She needs a dress for tonight's party."
He said. Athena gulped.
"The theme?"
"Korean Historical Drama."
"Oh is it the presidential daughter's debut? She sure loved Korean dramas!!"
Mr. Claus giggled, reminiscing his last conversation with the presidential daughter.
"Okay... I will find the best cloths for her. Give us an hour or a two."
Mr. Claus suddenly grabbed Athena's wrist, Dragging her inside the clothing booth where countless dresses are presented.
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6:30 pm
"Assistant Saavedra?"
Ethan knocked on Athena's door, even tho it is already wide open, he still didn't forgot to knock to tell them he's coming. The stylists who are surrounding Athena looked at Ethan and gave him a thumb's up.
"She's done."
Mr. Claus said and walked towards Ethan, leaning on his ear to whisper something.
"She's so beautiful. Can i have her as my model?"
Ethan raised his eyebrows and tilted his head. Mr. Claus just chuckled.
"pfft- Just kidding~"
he said laughing as he exit the room.
Ethan walked towards Athena.
"I look so ugly Chairman."
Athena looked at him with a displeased look. Ethan froze on his position trying to find where she is.
"You-"
He was taken aback as he finally saw how she look.
"You are right."
He said and turned around, hiding his smile.
"So mean."
Athena hissed as she stood up, pulling her beautiful Hanbok. Hanboks are Korea's national costume. It is also the theme for the party later.
"let's go. We shouldn't waste your ugliness here."
Ethan joked around. Athena just rolled her eyes.
"Oh wow Thank you very much Chairman Park."
She sarcastically said, Looking at Ethan's modernized hanbok.
It actually suits him very well. he's like a historical emperor with his royal blue silk hanbok and golden linings. The Black inner suit completed the look with the accessories on his neck.
"You look like a king reigning in tyranny. The main antagonist who always get killed."
Athena laughed earning a glare from Ethan.
"I at least looks like a royalty. Even with your beautiful dress, You still look like a peasant."
Athena hissed again with Ethan's comment then stomped her way to the stairs.
They arrived on the limousine, prepared by the President himself.
As they ride the limo, Athena can't help it but to wonder.
"Chairman?"
Ethan, who is leaning his back on his seat and closing his eyes hummed softly.
"Can you see me while we are on a car?"
Ethan opened his eyes, seeing Athena curiously staring at him. He closed his eyes again.
"Yeah. of course."
"Then why are you always sleeping when you can see inside the car? I always see you closing your eyes every time we are inside the vehicle."
"Aren't you being to nosy already Assistant Saavedra?"
Ethan answered her without even looking.
"meh.. I'm just curious."
She rolled her eyes.
Awkward silence suddenly enveloped the whole vehicle. Jiyoung just watch the outside
"What do you think Akinetopsia is, Assistant Saavedra?"
Ethan slowly opened his eyes, His hazel iris staring at the void.
Athena already searched it on the internet.
"Motion Blindness. A disability in which a patient cannot perceive motions on his visual field, despite being able to see stationary objects without issue."
Athena, who memorized already that line spoke. Ethan looked at the window, Sadness can be seen on his eyes.
"It's traumatic. While I am on a road, I cannot see anything outside. It's like i am totally blinded. And that is scary. That's why i always close my eyes. In that way i can calm myself."
Ethan looked at her.
"No matter how hard I pretend that i can see it, I actually cannot. It's just that i have grown used to it after years of dealing with this s**t. So i became the great pretender. "
He shrugged his shoulder, fixing his hanbok for a little bit.
"We're here."
he said as the limo stopped on their location.
She was still stunned about the truth. No matter how hard she educate herself about Ethan's disability,
She can never understand unless she was on his shoes.
What does it feel to be blind?
How traumatic is it?
How sad is it?
She can never understand those things.
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- Writer
