32 The Bathroom – It was cold inside the bathroom. On top of that, her clothes were wet. But the most humiliating part was she was inside the bathroom with Kyung-Soo, and he saw her in a bra. Since the day she joined K&Q, something or other embarrassing event has been happening in her life.
Kyung-Soo gave her a towel and ordered her to use it to make herself dry. She knew whatever he said was right. She needed to get rid of her wet clothes else she could fall ill, and she just started her job. Moreover, it was the first day of the main event of her job. Her idea came to fruition, and she had to see it to the end.
She took off her wet clothes and wrapped the towel. But it was still uncomfortable for her knowing that she was naked from the waist up and was locked up with a man. After she was done wrapping the towel, she looked at Kyung-Soo, he was standing facing away from her. In addition to that, he had his hands all over his eyes.
She smiled at his sweet and respectable gesture. She realised that even though he turned around, everything was visible in the mirror, so he closed his eyes. She was grateful to him for that. She knew that she could not get out like that but if the door opens, Kyung-Soo can exit, and she could dry her clothes in peace.
She looked at him. His bareback was all muscular. The broad shoulder was quite prominent. She lowered her eyes, hesitated for a minute, and then spoke, “NK, could you try to knock again and see if they can hear us now?”
But the music was still audible inside the bathroom. He lowered his hands and turned towards her. But instead of looking at her, he looked at the floor and replied, “it won’t help, music is too loud.”
His eyes were looking for something. Nivritti noticed that. She didn’t want to impose but the curiosity got the best of her, “are you looking for something?”
Kyung-Soo while still looking around answered, “there was a bag here, have you seen it?”
Nivritti gasped, “that was your bag? JJ thought someone left it here, so he took it out.”
.....
“He did what?” shouted Kyung-Soo and looked at her. She immediately looked at the floor actively avoiding his gaze while tightly clutching onto the towel.
Hesitantly, she replied in a soft tone, “Yeah, he... said someone... must have left it by mistake.”
Kyung-Soo gritted his teeth, “that sneaky bastard.” He understood everything. He now knew the reason how and why Nivritti was locked with him inside the bathroom.
“You should not say bad words about anyone,” scolded Nivritti.
He smirked at her and taunted, “You will kill him after I tell you what he did.”
That made Nivritti look at him. “What do you mean?”
Kyung-Soo scoffed, “he deliberately locked us together in this bathroom.”
A gasket blew in her brain. Smoke started coming out of her ears. Jung-Hwa intentionally locked her up with Kyung-Soo which meant he was aware that the bathroom was occupied when he sent her in. “What? Why?” she shouted and stepped towards him.
He could see the anger in her eyes. The widened eyes and the flared nostrils made him stammer, “uh... I might have told him about us.” He stepped back, afraid of her anger.
Her jaw drooped on the floor. She shrieked, “About us? About us?? There is no us. What are you talking about?”
“Woah! Okay relax, I can see that you are angry,” he tried to calm her down.
But his attempt failed. “Angry? You haven’t even seen me getting angry. Oh, I can strangle you right now.”
She moved towards him in anger, raised her fist to hit him on the chest but controlled herself and gritted her teeth in frustration. She closed her eyes and clenched her jaw. Her arms were raised ready to hit him, but she clenched her fists as well and tried to control her anger.
But something came over him. He grabbed her wrists and pulled her closer to him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her lovingly.
“Are you ok?” he asked adoringly.
“You really think I am...” she opened her eyes while replying to him only to find that she was uncomfortably close to his bare chiselled chest. She gasped loudly and lost her voice. Mesmerizingly, she kept admiring his beauty. He didn’t have the chance to dry his hair completely. So, the water droplets clinging to his hair occasionally kept falling on his broad shoulder, his handsome face, his sculpted abs.
She had been close to him a few times, but this was the first time she was touching his bare chest. Moreover, the pearls like droplets of water were enhancing his beauty. She followed a drop that fell on his cheeks and traced its path all the way to his lips. The drop vanished between the lip lines. A sudden urge to kiss him took over her which sent a chill all over her spine giving her goosebumps.
Kyung-Soo felt her shiver. Instinctively, he pulled her closer to his chest and hugged her tightly.
“Are you cold?”
She gulped and thought, “No, I just got the urge to kiss you even though I have been telling myself to stay far away from you.” She took a deep breath, licked her lips, and expertly lied to him, “Yes, that’s it. I’m feeling cold.”
He smiled at her adoringly. He raised his hand and touched her cheeks with the back of his hand. “I’m sorry I wanted to hide what happened between us from the world because you asked me to, but Jungie is very observant. He found on his own that I like you.”
The moment she heard the words “I like you” an electric current ran through her body. It felt as if she had been electrocuted. “You what?” her voice failed her, it came out as a whisper.
She huffed loudly and pushed him away with all the force she could muster. Her breath shuddered and tears started filling her eyes but somehow, she stopped herself from crying and said to him in a sorrowful voice, “Please don’t say that. Never say that.”
Kyung-Soo heaved. Seeing her controlling her emotions he felt like someone crushed his heart. Without thinking twice, he ran up to her, pulled her closer and hugged her tightly.
“I’m sorry if I hurt you in any way. I’m really sorry,” he apologised.
His hug and his sweet words broke the dam of her tears. She started sobbing. “I am so angry at you.”
“Be angry, that I can take, just stop crying,” he pleaded.
He kept consoling her for a few minutes holding her tightly in his arms. Everything tuned out for Kyung-Soo. He held her close to his chest. Her shoulders were cold, but he covered them with his hands. Her soft skin was silky to the touch. He was glad that he could protect her. He was glad that she was close to him. It had been days since he saw her and now, she was in his arms.
Even though she was not happy with him, a little angry at him, he was glad that he was there when she needed help. He promised her that he won’t let anything happen to her. He could not protect her from getting wet but could protect her from getting sick. He closed his eyes and took in all the feeling of hugging her.
Suddenly everything was quiet. They realised that outside music was now silent. The next moment they heard the unlocking of the door. They instantly broke up the embrace. Kyung-Soo promptly turned towards the door shielding Nivritti with his body so that no one could see her.
The door opened and Jung-Hwa peeked in with a big smile on his face.
“Are you guys, okay?” Jung-Hwa could not stop smiling. “Sorry I forgot you were inside Hyung and by mistake, I send Ritti inside.”
Nivritti heard his voice and lowered her head. She held Kyung-Soo’s back tightly and hid behind his large stature because she didn’t want anyone to see her in a towel, well, anyone else.
“The moment I walk out of here, I’m going to break your head,” barked Kyung-Soo.
But Jung-Hwa kept smiling at Kyung-Soo, teasingly.
“Throw my bag in and get lost,” rebuked Kyung-Soo.
“Okay,” said Jung-Hwa and ran outside. He returned with the bag and looked at Kyung-Soo. He raised his eyebrows and asked in signal how was Kyung-Soo doing. Kyung-Soo ran a finger on his throat and signalled towards Nivritti. Jung-Hwa understood with the gesture that she would kill him the moment she gets out of the bathroom.
His mind recalled Jeong-Eun’s words about the situation turning into a disaster. He was right. He gave a concerned look to Kyung-Soo and ran outside, shutting the door behind him.
“Shit!” exclaimed Jung-Hwa. His plan backfired. Now, Nivritti was angry at him.