After Dark (Prompts)

Confidential Assignment - 17

Min Tae Gu stopped in his tracks when he entered the shop the following day. There, browsing the display cabinets of recently pawned items, was  Baek Jang-mi.

"Hi," Min Tae Gu greeted.

"Hi," she returned, shyly, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

"What are you doing here?" Min Tae Gu asked.

"I just... I wanted to see Pyo Chi Su."

"What?! Why him? He's fired as of today," Min Tae Gu quickly said, much to the surprise of the man behind him.

"What? Why am I fired?! You, what lies did you say to my boss?" Pyo Chi Su grilled the woman.

Baek Jang-mi looked at Min Tae Gu confused. "Why are you firing him?"

Because you're looking for him, Min Tae Gu thought. Out loud, he asked, "Why are you looking for him?"

Rolling her eyes at him, she answered, "I was just going to ask for Na Wol Suk's number. I was hoping to see the ahjummas again."

Min Tae Gu's eyes softened. "I see. I guess that's a reason to keep him around." When she got the information she needed, he asked tentatively , "Do you want to stay?"

Jang-mi tried to hide the hope in her eyes. She missed him, it was pointless to deny it but she wished to consult the ahjummas first because she wanted to make sure she did this right.  "I should go. Oh, I wanted to return this."

She handed him the container of the food he gave her previously. "Did you like the pasta?" he asked.

"Yes. Is it a new recipe? You didn't cook that before," she commented, thinking back to the time they were together.

Min Tae Gu nodded, happy that she noticed. "I've been researching recipes on the internet. Some are horrible! You're really lucky to be spared from those bad ones."

That made her laugh. "I'm glad this one worked."

"Just send me a message if you want some more," Min Tae Gu offered.

Pyo Chi Su cleared his throat. "Yah. Boss? If you and this woman are going to flirt around, can you do it at the back office? You're blocking the way of the customers."

Min Tae Gu gave him a stern look, mirrored by Baek Jang-mi who was trying her best not to pull out her knife at the rude man. Turning to her, Min Tae Gu asked, "I have your food at the back. Do you want it? I made you bibimbap."

"You did? Really? Yes, I want that please!" Jang-mi replied and followed him to his office. She peaked into the lunch box and seemed to be searching for something.

"What's wrong?" Min Tae Gu asked.

"I don't have a note," she commented, pouting up at him.

Min Tae Gu smiled. "Oh. Hold on." Quickly, he took a piece of paper and wrote one for her. Folding it up, he dropped it in the bag and said, "Read it later."

"Okay." They stood looking at each other, smiling. Happy that they were in each other's presence. "I should go."

"Alright. Call me if you need a ride home, okay?"

She nodded. Before she finally left, she took his pen and wrote on the pad he used earlier. There were a bunch of numbers on it. Looking at them, he gazed at her questioningly. "In case you need me to protect you. I don't trust the face of that Pyo Chi Su man."

Min Tae Gu chuckled and immediately typed in her mobile number in his phone, not wanting to lose it. "Thank you."

Jang-mi made a move to leave. She wanted him to kiss her nose but didn't know how to ask for it. She also wasn't sure if that was alright given their currently undefined status. Sighing, she waved goodbye then left.