2. Leave Their Stress

The most troublesome thing was when Ronald had to go back to his family's mansion and meet his grandpa. Ronald felt like he wanted to work overtime every day, but John J. Gavel had warned him never to come home after 7 pm or he would pick up Ronald by force from Ronald office. Imagining that threat made Ronald shake his head quickly. He didn't want it and really hated it.

Approaching his mansion, Ronald slowed down his car. From behind the lush trees of their luxurious estate, the black roof of the mansion glistened in the evening twilight. Getting closer, Ronald can see a large courtyard decorated with a small fountain in front of the main staircase of the mansion.

The Gavel family mansion is the most attractive of all the mansions at 1 Dupont Court, Greenvale; 'cause even though their mansion is only 500 square meters in size with a simple black and white building model, the courtyard area is 2000 square meters. That's double the land of the other mansions in the estate. That's why the silver BMW Alpina driven by Ronald had to pass through the super wide front yard before finally arriving in front of the mansion.

As usual, Ronald exhaled heavily when he had to face a situation that he didn't like. After getting out of the car and entering the mansion, his grandpa would immediately greet him with the same topic as always, "How so, son? When will you get married?"

So, for a moment, Ronald was stuck in the car as if he didn't want to leave his luxury car, even though he was even more unwilling to let himself be trapped in an annoying situation with his grandpa.

"Should I run away?" Ronald began to make a strategy.

This was all because of his grandpa's terror before. John J. Gavel succeeded in getting (read: forcing) Ronald to finally see the list of women's names along with their photos that John had sent. If Ronald now enters the mansion and meets his grandpa, who knows what else Ronald will have to face.

While Ronald was busy racking his brains to find a way to escape from there, someone suddenly stood beside the windshield of the driver's car, then bent down and tapped the windshield for three times. Ronald, who was not ready for the knock, immediately jumped in surprise. He turned his head and immediately breathed a sigh of relief knowing that it was not his grandpa.

It was Tom Freud, his grandpa's personal assistant.

Ronald rolled down the car window and asked, "Hey, Tom. What's up? Why are you hanging around outside?"

If Ronald has a very cold stern face, then Tom Freud is one level above him. The man in a neat formal suit almost never changes his poker face. Ronald even never seen his genuine smile other than when John, who was a prankster, always told him to smile. But, 'cause Tom's stiff and forced smile actually looked scary, in the end, John J. Gavel never asked him to do it again. And for now on, when Ronald threw the question along with a faint smile, Tom kept his expressionless face.

"I was ordered by Mr. John to greet you in front of here," said Tom, standing straight as before. For a moment, he raised his glasses which had slipped from his nose before then focusing back on his young sir.

Ronald laughed odd. "'To greet' me, huh?"

As if he didn't understand his young sir's odd reaction, Tom just nodded his head.

Ronald snorted. His grandpa's 'greet' version actually wasn't that sweet. Tom was more precisely told to make sure Ronald went home and brought him to John. Ronald know this procedure so and too well.

"But sorry, Tom." Ronald suddenly started his car engine again. He smiled meaningfully. "There's an important document left at my office. Tell my grandpa that I can't join him for the dinner."

As if he didn't need Tom's response, Ronald just sped away as soon as he said that, leaving Tom still standing where he was and still showing no reaction for a few seconds. When Ronald's car was seven meters away, Tom finally took a small breath while he raised his glasses again.

Tom knew that he would go the extra mile today.

***

"How about your meeting with dr. Lim, Kim?"

Kim choked on her beer when Suji suddenly asked that. Kim was very relieved before, because Suji didn't even mention that since they were in the office before until when they got home from work earlier. Apparently, Suji was just waiting for the right time.

Twenty minutes ago, they're just relaxing in Kim's apartment with five cans of beer and some snacks. The comedy show on television that they had watched became the only sound in the living room until Suji finally asked.

After coughing from choking, Kim opened her eyes nervously. The curious gaze that Suji showed her made Kim either want to or not want to tell her friend about the results of her meeting with dr. Lim. Because, there are two possible reactions that Suji could give. First one, Suji will show her concerned face while patting Kim's shoulder and giving encouraging words. Second one, Suji actually burst out laughing while hitting Kim's shoulder and mocking her as much as she could.

Unfortunately, Kim is more certain about the second possibility.

"Hey! You just quiet? You're not going to tell me, huh?" Suji narrowed her eyes.

Baek Suji is also from Korea, just like Kim. They have been friends since they were in college until they applied for jobs at the same place. Today, Suji deliberately visited Kim's apartment because it was closer to their office, while she was lazy to back to her apartment because it was too far. Suji would likely also sleep here if it need be. Yes, their relationship is that close, so it's just natural if that Suji was very curious about the results of Kim's diagnosis.

'Cause Suji kept intimidating her into answering, Kim finally gave up. She sighed while she placed her empty can of beer on the table. Before answering, Kim leaned her body against the back of the sofa she was sitting on, lifted her legs, then buried her face between her knees. "Genophobia," she said then, almost in a whisper.

"You say what?" Suji raised her voice because she couldn't clearly hear Kim's words. She even put his ear close to Kim now. "Say it clearly, Kim!"

"Genophobiaa!!!" Kim finally screamed. Her voice sounded as frustrated as her face when she looked up and saw Suji.

Silence for a few moments.

"Geno ... phobia?" Suji covered her mouth with her hand. Slowly, she started laugh. "You are? Really?"

Kim immediately limp knowing her guess was 100% correct. She stared blankly at Suji who was now guffawing with satisfaction while pointing at Kim face. Kim just smiled wryly while she reached for the next can of beer and downed it in big gulp.

"Shit! I wanna get drunk!" Kim growled after she drained the beer with nothing left.

Like there is a lightbulb lit above her head, Suji was struck by an idea from Kim's words. Her laughter just stopped and she returned to devote all her attention to Kim. "You wanna get drunk, Kim?" she asked excitedly.

Kim glanced at Suji and muttered indifferently, confirming the question.

A wide smile appeared on Suji's face. Her narrowed eyes narrowed even more with the wide smile she was smiling. "Okay! Let's go then!"

Suji, who suddenly stood up and pulled her hand to get up, made Kim frown in confusion. "What? Let's go where?" she asked absent-mindedly.

Suji clucked excitedly. "Where else?! Of course to a nightclub! You said you wanted to get drunk, right? That's the right place, Kim!"

Hearing that one, Kim blinked.

***