Chapter 3: An Unreasonable Request.

Jung Group HQ.

Ae Ra’s POV.

I forced myself to stand and pulled out my phone. With shaky hands, I dialled 119 but immediately ended the call. There were too many rumours flying around for an ambulance to come here. I called Him-Chan instead, Chairman Jung's Personal Assistant.

If anyone knew what to do, it would be him. He picked on the first ring and I sent a silent thank you to God. "Please help. I-I don't know what to do." I sobbed.

"Miss Ae Ra? Slow down so I can understand you. What's wrong?" He asked, his baritone voice rid of emotion.

I took deep breaths and steadied my breathing, having a breakdown right now wouldn't help the Chairman. "Chairman Jung, he was about to leave the meeting room but he lost consciousness," I responded as clearly as I could.

"Stay right there, don't call anyone else. I'll be right there." He hung up.

I dropped beside the Chairman, "Please be alright, sir," I begged as I stared at his unmoving body. The rising and falling of his chest was the only thing that comforted me. It's hard to believe that he was so full of life one minute ago and now he's as white as a ghost.

The door flew open as Him-Chan came running in. He looked from me to the Chairman as he caught his breath. "Give him space." He ordered.

"R-right." I stood, placing some distance between his body and mine. "Did you run all the way here?" Idle chatter was what I needed to distract myself right now.

His chestnut hair was messy and sweat trickled down his square face."I did." He straightened up by the door. His stunning chocolate-brown eyes were trained on the Chairman the entire time. "How long has it been since he lost consciousness?"

"Ten minutes," I answered. "What are you doing?" He had not moved an inch since he came in.

"Countless meetings happen a day, Miss Ae Ra. I should stay here in case I need to turn people away." He replied.

"You're guarding the door?" I exclaimed in disbelief. "Shouldn't we get some help for Chairman Jung?!"

"There's no need to, I'm here. He doesn't need anyone else. Just keep an eye on him while I do my part by the door."

I looked away from him anxiously.

I knew Him-Chan knew what he was doing but I didn't like that we just sat doing nothing while Chairman Jung lay unmoving in front of us.

"Hmm..." the Chairman groaned. I dashed to his side immediately and helped him up. "Chairman Jung!" My eyes watered. "Are you okay, sir?"

His eyes were sunken and unfocused as he breathed haggardly. "I am fine, Ae Ra."

He was anything but fine. "Let's have your doctor take a look at you, sir" I pulled out my phone.

"No!" They chorused, causing me to jump a little from their fierceness.

"Don't call anyone," Him-Chan warned threateningly.

"He needs some help!" I snapped at him. "Can you not see how bad he looks right now?!" I cried frustrated by their stubbornness.

Chairman Jung held my hand, "I am okay, Ae Ra. It's just stress but I promise you, I am fine."

I wanted to believe him, but he didn't look like someone who was just stressed, "It looks like it's beyond stress, sir," I said softly.

I turned to Him-Chan but he avoided my eyes. It made no sense that Him-Chan, who cared about the Chairman the most, was so adamant about not taking him to the hospital or having the doctor come here to have a look at him.

Something was wrong.

"I understand rumours are flying around so you're being careful but your health matters more than what the media thinks, sir." I pleaded with him.

Chairman Jung was like the father I never had. After hearing so much about the rumours of him being terminally ill, I was greatly discomforted by his fainting and his refusal to get treatment didn't help one bit.

"Ae Ra, trust me, I am fine." How can I trust him when he wears such a pitiful smile?

"No sir, you aren't." I turned to Him-Chan, "You may not show it, but I know you're just as worried as I am. I know how deeply you care for Chairman Jung." I tried to reason with him.

He sighed as he came forward. "You don't get it, do you?" His guarded eyes softened as his gaze shifted from me to the Chairman; he was hunched over in pain, taking deep slow breaths. "It's too risky to take him to a doctor." He looked away painfully.

"Then have the doctor meet him–"

"Where?" He cut me off. "Where would he meet him, Miss Ae Ra? Not his house, or a hotel, or the hospital or any other forsaken darn public building! He is not ordinary like we are. His presence will not go unnoticed." He yelled, frustrated by the situation.

The reason why Him-Chan was tagged as his loyal dog was because he was more or less raised by him. His father worked as a live-in driver for the family and after his passing,

He took his place, not because he was asked to but because he felt indebted and thought it was the only way to pay off that debt. After all, Chairman Jung was the reason he was alive in the first place... or so the rumours go.

I have never cared about rumours nor believed them but my gut was in big twists and knots right now. "I can book an appointment and cancel your prior engagements for the day right this moment if you give me the command, sir," I begged.

"You're being illogical. Do you not see that this is an unreasonable request?!" Him-Chan snapped. "The news of him visiting a hospital would spread like wildfire!" He yelled.

"I'll fix it!" I glared at him. "Give me the order, sir."

Please, say you'll go.

He looked away with a sigh, "Ae Ra..."

"Are the rumours true?" I asked weakly.

Deny it. Deny it. Deny it.

"Are the rumours true, sir?" I held eye contact with him.

My eyes glazed over with unshed tears, scared to hear his answer. I swallowed and balled my right hand into a fist. I was so nauseous it felt as though I would throw up. The loudness of my heart deafened me as my stomach churned in discomfort.

Time slowed to a stop as silence overcame the room. The sound of the wall clock ticking was unbearably loud as I waited for his answer.

"They are." He exhaled sharply, "I am terminally ill, Ae Ra." He admitted defeatedly.

My legs gave way and my knees came in contact with the floor. The man who had loved me as a parent taught me as a teacher, cared for me as a friend and trained me as a boss.

The man I shared no blood with who was better than my very own flesh and blood father. The thought of him suddenly not being by my side, was a thought I had never had.

"What is it?" I asked quietly.

"Glioblastoma," he answered softly. "It's an aggressive brain tumour, an incurable one."

"I see." I nodded slowly, staggering to my feet.

I could no longer hear anything that was being said. All I knew was I needed to be alone. My body was wracked with nerves and withheld tears. If I didn't get out of here I would completely break down and I had no intention of crying my eyes out in front of him.

"I... I just need a moment. I'll be back..." I announced absent-mindedly as I walked past him and Him-Chan. "I'll be right back." I left the meeting room and rested my back against the door for support, he was going to die. I thought bitterly as I drew in the air.

The sound of footsteps caught my attention, in the heat of the moment, Him-Chan had strayed away from his guard post. I pushed myself off the door and wiped my eyes.

"Is anyone there?" I called out.

Bang!

"Who's there?"

The hurried sound of heels scurrying off was alarming, they may be a threat to the chairman, but more importantly... running helped clear my mind. 

So I ran.

I ran after the person who had painfully gotten farther away. "Damn it." I hissed as I chased after them.

They were fast, at this rate, I was going to lose them. I should have chased after them immediately. "Stupid, stupid," I muttered under my breath and tried to gain more footing but crashed into an unsuspecting group of people.

"Are you alright, Miss Ae Ra?" Minho, the Marketing Manager asked as he steadied me.

"I am, thank you. Did you guys happen to see a suspicious person running freakishly fast on your way here?"

He shook his head, no. "I don't recall seeing anyone suspicious." He turned to his team. "Did you guys notice anyone suspicious?"

"No," they chorused.

I craned my neck to look behind them but it was pointless, I'd lost them.

"It's the Chairman," they broke into an excited chatter and rushed to greet him. Chairman Jung smiled briefly at them and carried on with Him-Chan. I joined them but decided against telling them about the issue.

"Are you retiring for the day, sir?" I asked.

"No, I have a date with an important investor. Wouldn't it be weird if I took a break?" He asked as we stopped in front of the elevator.

"You're the chairman, no one would dare to think it's weird. You can do whatever you want." I responded.

"And what about my investor? What if they believe the rumours because of my absence?"

I frowned as we got into the elevator. "You've never missed a date with an investor?" I asked, unsure.

"Never." He answered. "And I won't start now. Try not to worry too much, Ae Ra. I'll be just fine" He turned to me with a smile. "I'll also appreciate you treating me as you always have."

"O-of course, sir." I stuttered. "Enjoy the rest of your day, sir.".

"Take the rest of the day off, you need it more than I do" He laughed heartily as he exited the elevator.