His Noona

15 Years After

15 Years Later

AMIN

"Are you there already?"

"Yeah." I say, talking with the phone secured between my shoulder and ear. "Just get done with whatever you need to— quick."

Shilla's bright voice comes from the opposite end.

"I heard you got accepted to BHM Corps!"

I laugh. "Don't try to change the topic. You're still making me fill in for you for the shift you're supposed to be working."

She just chuckles back awkwardly, before hanging up with a squeaky goodbye.

And I tuck my phone in my pocket, turning around to serve the first customer.

It's a tall man, dark hair almost covering his doe eyes. The suit he's wearing is so crisply ironed that I can't find a single wrinkle, stretched taut across his lean, muscled figure.

"Hi." He says with a small smile. "Can I get the banana milk, please? And a coffee for my friend."

"Haneul!"

"I told you I can't drink coffee," Another voice says, deep and baritone as footsteps rapidly approach the counter. "It's too bitter."

"So what would you like?" I say, looking back up. "I'd recommend—"

And I stop.

Not possible.

"What would you recommend for me?" He says, and I almost stutter as I motion shakily at the menu.

"We have, uh, a lot of sweet selections if you don't like bitter. Hot chocolate, café latte..."

"One hot chocolate, please."

Now I was sure. Even though his voice had completely changed down deeper, I could still recognize the features.

Sian.

The man standing in front of me was Chae Sian.

But he turns away after ordering, and I stare at his back as he finds a table along with his friend.

He didn't recognize me.

He hadn't.

And I can't take my eyes off of him. Even though his outer appearance only showed a faint trace of the child before, his personality still seemed to be the same.

Sweet. Lovely.

Only when he walks out the door do I finally manage to get my eyes off of him.

He'd grown so well.

I'd worried for him when he was younger, being so small compared to the other kids. But just now he had towered over me, his figure slender but firm with strength. His cheeks had held a healthy tint.

And if he had been adorable the last time that I'd seen him, now he was unbelievably beautiful.

I blink slowly, my eyes trailing the two men long after they leave the cafe.

Did he really not remember?

________________________

The next day I go to the café again, to meet Shilla. I'd only come because she'd bribed me with one of my favorite menus.

But of course, she's nowhere when I go inside the petite building.

Late again.

Blowing out a breath, I take my spot on one of the tables and start working on an assignment. I'd kind of expected this anyway— she always came at least ten minutes late to anything.

"Excuse me."

A low voice echoes right above my head.

And my entire body freezes in surprise to see Sian's confused eyes.

"Do you know where the cashier went? I thought you, um, might know because I saw you here yesterday."

And I just stare at him for a second.

I had so many things I wanted to ask.

"Oh— I'll take your order instead," I say, cursing Shilla out as I abandon my table. "My friend's running late again."

"What would you like?"

Sian points at the coffee selections. "Can I get the americano?"

That makes me look up for the second time. The Sian I'd used to know couldn't drink a bitter thing for his life. But now he was an adult, so maybe—

He'd changed.

"One Americano," I say softly. "Anything els—"

"Actually."

"Can I have a smoothie?"

"Sure," I say, hiding a smile as I start on his order. I'd filled in for Shilla so many times at this point I was like a regular worker here.

And that girl comes running at the same time I hand Sian his drink.

"Thank you." He says, turning away as soon as I do. I watch his back for a moment until someone else takes away my attention.

"I'm so sorry!" Shilla huffs, her hair messy. "Wait a sec— did that guy just order? Oh my goodness."

Combing down her hair with her fingers, she rushes to get her apron on. I take mine off, raising an eyebrow.

"Did you set an alarm like I'd told you to?"

"Not really?"

"I knew it." I sigh, loosening my ponytail as she pulls hers up. "Do it right now. I swear you'll get fired by the end of the week."

She pouts, then sticks out her tongue.

"You're just making fun of me because you already got your future secured at BHM."

And she says it loud enough for the entire café to hear.

"Not going to help." I sigh when her eyes widen, clapping her hand to her lips and looking around nervously.

Shilla's cheeks blush red.

"Did anyone hear?"

"Everyone."

"Holy crap." She says, blushing harder. "I'm sorry, Amin. I promise I won't say it ever again."

"Sure." I laugh, my eyes roaming to the end of the café. "You always—"

Sian?

His posture is stiff. His fists are clenched tightly together, pressing into his lap.

He looks mad.

So I go to him.

"Sir," I say, shifting to get a better look at his face. He jerks slightly when his eyes clash with mine.

"What's wrong, Si— is there anything wrong? With the drink?"

I offer a forced smile.

Damn. I couldn't forget the fact he didn't know who I was.

"Noona."

I blink.

Sian's piercing, almond eyes are narrowed as he grips my hand. It's so large, that it covers all of mine.

I laugh.

He had recognized me after all.

"Typical. So typical, Sian."

"No." He shakes his head, standing up. "Noona. What did you say? You're going to work at where?"

He interrupts me before I can even answer.

"BHM?"

I nod slightly, and the confusion must be starting to show a little on my face because his jaw flexes.

"You can't go there."

"Why?"

"Because— Because." He says, and what he says next he says so quietly I barely catch anything.

"Sian, say it louder."

"I just don't like the man who owns that company, okay?" He exclaims, brushing back his hair. "He's a damn player, and I know that he's gonna—"

"Hey, hey," I whisper, and he flushes when he notices people starting to look.

"Come out here and talk to me."

The blush on his cheeks is still faint when I pull him outside the building. And he looks so familiar— so unlike the cold facade he'd been showing.

"Alright, Sian."

"I don't want him near you." He growls, lips twisting together. "I don't."

"How do you even know him?" I ask, tilting my head in curiosity. "He didn't seem like a bad man."

I'm playing with him, and I'm enjoying it too much.

His face flushes again, this time in anger.

"No. All he cares about is women, and he's a terrible leader. The moment you get in there, he's just going to start—"

"So you don't want me to go?"

He shakes his head firmly.

"No."

And I feel like the girl coaxing a child fifteen years ago when I soften my voice.

"Sian, then I won't have any other place to find work."

"That's not true." He cuts in. And he looks genuine.

"You can work for me, Noona."

I tilt my head when he suddenly waves his hands rapidly in front of himself.

"I mean— I want you to be my secretary. Just anything, but I can't let you work for that man."

"Your secretary?" I laugh, making him frown. "Sian, I wouldn't even know what to do."

"You don't need to." He says, voice convincing. "It's really easy. You just need to help me a little and that's it. Promise."

Wait.

I pause.

"You own a company?"

Sian nods. And when he points at the top of a massive building near the center of the city, my face pales a little in worry.

KCL.

"What—"

Sian? The CEO of the second largest business company in Korea?

"Call me, Noona. Okay?" He says, and I blink when he passes me back my phone. I hadn't even noticed him take it and put in his number.

"I need to go."

He waves at me with a little smile, before getting into a dark car that had pulled up next to the sidewalk.

_________________________

I can't take his offer.

It would be irresponsible of me if I did.

Even though I had been top of my class when I'd graduated, I had no experience in being someone's secretary. And to work as Sian's, who owned such a huge company.

I'd mess up eventually.

And I knew how much a mistake could cost someone in this business.

Sighing, I loosen my ponytail as I get closer to my apartment. My feet feel heavy, knowing how much I'll disappoint him.

"Miss."

I pause. And when I turn around, I see the man who had been with Sian the other day.

I tilt my head.

"Haneul-ssi?"