I hated losing.
I have always hated losing. It didn't matter who I lost to, it just never felt right. Besides, that rarely happenedâme losing. It was like a freak of nature because 99% of the time I was right. So, imagine the tremendous blow my pride took standing in the conference room, hearing the words.
"It's a community and charity event, let's go bigger."
That meant they liked Keziah's plans better than mine.
Granted the board didn't know whose idea was which since we presented the plans as a unified one, I still felt the gut punch.
Keziah nodded with a polite smile.
"This all looks great."
The board stood to shake her hands at the end of the meeting.
"We expected nothing less."
We gathered our things only when we were alone.
"That went very well." She subtly gloated. How shallow.
"You'd think so." My voice was cool, but the chill was there.
I didn't mean for it to show, but there it was. So, I caught myself before I spiraled into the dark chasm of my unidentifiable emotion. I hurried out and left her with an annoyed look on her face.
"I heard the meeting was a success." Eun Soon said when I got to the office entrance with Keziah in tow.
I gave her a forced smile.
"It was."
"Then we should celebrate, don't you think so, Oppa?" She grabbed Keziah's hand in excitement.
Another reason to be mad at Keziah, she'd given Eun the permission to call me by the Korean title knowing well that David would have been fine.
"With food and soju or beer, whichever one you want. On me."
That was a sweet offer, but I honestly didn't feel like it.
"I think it's a premature celebration. We are yet to implement any of the plans. I'd rather not jinx it."
Eun's face fell in response to my less than chipper attitude.
"You're right." She said.
Keziah patted her hand.
"We will definitely celebrate next weekend. And it can be just you and me." Keziah told her, turning to coax a smile. "And we won't be inviting any sour apples."
I smiled wryly at her not so clever nickname for me.
It was definitely a downgrade fromâwhat was it? The Yeti.
"Step right up ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. Behind those doors is the most controversial creature to walk the planet. Yes, people, it is real. In that office is the Yeti. A live breathing monster who feeds on the misery of young dames and relishes in the tears of frightened little girls." Keziah had said in imitation of a carney's voice.
"We call him Junior, Welsh Junior. The ice monster." Keziah continued.
And then Anne pitched in. "Did you know that with just a stare he can turn you into an ice sculpture?"
"Many have walked into his lair alive and none have lived to tell the frigid story. Save one." Keziah finished.
Oh, yes. I heard everything. It had taken everything in me not to bring it up at work, and I'd almost forgotten about it until now. But it still wasn't the right time to bring it up.
"You can come over tonight." Keziah suggested.
"I'll bring the chicken and beer. Do you like chicken and beer?" Eun generalized the question, assuming that they involved me in their plans.
"We love chicken and beer."
That seemed to lift Eun's spirit.
"Good. Then I'll be over so long as it's fine with Oppa. I don't want to be an inconvenience."
Keziah scoffed, waving me off.
"We don't need his permission. I'm an equal tenant and he's not our boss." The irritation in her voice masked by her little laugh at the end.
"Eun, I don't see how you could ever be an inconvenience to me. You are welcome." I said, squeezing her shoulder in a show of mild affection before getting into our vehicle, which arrived at that moment.
"We should immediately start working on the plans." She chatted in excitement.
"I can send you the other ideas I've been developing with the ideas the board chose."
"It was just the one idea, Miss Mills. Real professionals don't let little things like these excite them this much."
The drive home did very little to ease my bruised ego. I must say, I hated feeling transparent. I'd almost forgotten how this felt since it hadn't happened in a long time. I concluded it would be better not to say anything else to Keziah.
There was no doubt in my mind of the brooding picture I made sitting at the other side of the door. She looked irritated with me. A warm bath helped, taking off a little of the edge. Keziah hadn't flaunted the board's decision in my face or made some callous comment just yet, and the waiting was hard.
I used my time to work on the project, which was now one step closer to becoming material. A much better use of my time. But I couldn't really focus with the peckish feeling taking hold.
So I abandoned the office in search of something to munch on before supper.
"Yes, mom." Keziah's voice traveled downstairs into my little nook, where I was nibbling on some packaged prawn chips.
I stepped back and froze in place, my heart knocking against my chest and my stomach flipped as though in fright. Her pure smile brought a glow to her face. And just like that, the stubborn mood I've been trying to wrangle ebbed away like the remnant of a nasty headache.
"I'm so happy. They liked my idea, mom. My idea." She covered her mouth and nodded to something her mother was saying.
"I know I feel so useful, I haven't felt like this in a long time. And I know it's this minor achievement, but it feels so good." She stepped out of my line of sight and moved further into the living room.
My feet slowly climbed up the stairs, carrying me to her. I suddenly didn't mind that they cast aside my ideas. Her face was beautifully animated as she related her ideas to her mother. A slow smile crept on my face, sharing in her excitement while being won over to her side.
I stepped into her line of sight, and her eyes landed on me. Her smile faded, her sunny countenance shifted, and her guard went up. Not the usual reaction I received. Well, not from others.
"Okay, Mom, let's talk some other time. You should go back to bed."
"Hi, Liz," I said, popping another snack in my mouth.
"Yes, it is." Keziah glowered.
"No Ma, I have to go. He said he'll call you when we're not busy."
She quickly hung up.
"She wanted to speak to me?" I inquired.
"She needs to sleep. And I don't want to promote your relationship."
I nodded.
"And have you already spoken with Anne?"
Keziah absentmindedly pouted.
"No. She's a deep sleeper when she's tired, so she didn't pick up."
I exhaled, I had better say what was on my mind before I changed my mind.
"You did well today." I rolled up the bag and put it away, setting a serious gaze on her. "I should have said this earlier, but your ideas were great."
"What?" Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Did you just say something nice? To me?"
I lowered my head and softly chuckled.
"Is it weird?"
"Very. So I will wait for you to be mean again. That shouldn't take long." She paused.
"I have never been mean to you."
I couldn't recall a single instance when I acted so horribly aside from today, of course. Keziah looked like she had a lot to say. Alas, I was saved by the bell.
"It's Eun." She said getting up to allow our guest into the house. Eun bowed in greeting.
"Annyeonghaseyo. Hello, I brought chicken and beer."
She had come with one of our colleagues, Hae Soo.
"It's so good, you'll be licking your fingers." She cleared the centerpiece and placed the chicken on it.
I sank my teeth into the third piece of the juicy, tender chicken wing and watched along with the ladies. But try as I might, I failed to see the appeal of the Korean drama.
"Is this just a soap?"
"No." Keziah replied, annoyed that I would even think that.
"Most Korean dramas give us 16-20 episodes of good plot, characters, and acting, unlike your American soaps."
I chuckled to myself. Was she identifying as Korean? I attempted to keep my thoughts to myself, seeing how intently the ladies were following the drama.
I took a sip of my beer and when I looked back up; I found Keziah glaring at me and mouthing something incoherent. I shook my head and mouthed back.
"What?"
"I'm thirsty. Mr. Welsh, can you help with the cups?" She quickly stood and gestured that I follow.
"I think you should excuse yourself, you apparently don't like the drama."
I begged to differ.
"You are wrong, I find it entertaining."
Keziah crossed her arms with a sarcastic look on her face.
"Oh really? Why don't you tell me what happened in the last episode?"
When I said I found it entertaining, what I meant was I found Keziah's reaction to every scene entertaining. I couldn't tell her even what the last five minutes were about. For the record, it wasn't like I was intentionally watching her. She was very distracting with her commentary and her dramatic reactions.
"I would have been able to tell you the entire story, but I found that watching these dramas with you and the others can be distracting, what with all the bursts of anger and laughter. You three forget it's only a drama."
"Then leave. Go to your room and watch a game or something."
That was a jump from the necessary, and I was sure my face showed my question.
"You're making this awkward for Eun. Can't you tell how uncomfortable she is?"
"Eun has been chatty and Hae seems rather comfortable."
"No. Eun is quiet. We can't talk about everything with you there."
I understood what Keziah meant. She wanted to have a girl's talk and I being the man was ruining the moment according to her.
"I don't mind, you can speak freely in my presence."
"Eun minds, she's uncomfortable."
"And you aren't?"
"No, I'm getting used to you." She rubbed her temples. "That is not a good thing either."
She pointed and gently poked my chest, surprising me.
"You are going up there and you will excuse yourself without seeming suspicious. Watch a few minutes or half an episode, okay? Good."
She ended apparently not needing a response from me before climbing up the stairs.
"You forgot the cups." Eun told Keziah, but when Keziah turned, I had the three cups in my hand.
Somehow, Keziah managed to look both thankful and annoyed that I kept up with the ruse she had created. Women, such strange creatures. After handing them the cups, I grabbed two pieces of chicken and carried two cans of beer.
"Oppa, you're leaving?" Hae asked.
"Yes, to my room. I just realized I'd rather watch sports in my room."
Keziah glared.
"Are you sure you don't want to watch a few more minutes before deciding to give up?"
Like we planned. Her eyes finished for her.
"Oh no, that is fine. I already feel like I'm intruding." I smiled at her.
"That's not true." Eun argued with Hae's support.
"Honestly, ladies, I really can't stand another minute of it."
Hae quickly got up,
"Then let me help you." She took the cans from me and the cup.
"I'll be right back, tell me what happens."
"Thank you, Hae." I said after I took the drinks from her in my room.
Now she could leave, but she lingered around.
"Your room is spotless." She looked around, playing with her straight brown hair.
"Did you expect a bomb to have gone off in here?" I joked. She giggled. It sounded a bit forced. Like the one Keziah probably made whenever she was acting cute with Thomas.
"No. I expected this from you."
She walked closer in my direction, though. Her steps were confident.
"Oppa, I believe you are a wonderful person."
"You're being too nice, anyone can keep their room clean." I attempted at a joke.
"It's not just that. I've honestly not met a man like you in a long time. You're caring and sweet and you make me laugh."
Not intentionally. I swallowed when Hae got too close and I tried to avoid her without making it look too obvious.
"I have my downsides."
"Don't we all." Her fingers slid up my exposed forearms.
I knew what she was offering. Maybe I would have accepted the offer at a different time. But I just wasn't interested, not in any woman as of late. It was a disease.
"I'm not asking for a commitment. Just fun. You must really be lonely here in Korea. It's obvious Keziah doesn't like you, and Eun is too shy to speak her mind."
I was mildly surprised at Hae's forwardness. As the universe would have it, Keziah walked in at that moment. My face turned red as a naughty child caught, then I pushed past Hae and stood a safe distance away.
"Keziah."
She looked surprised.
"I'm sorryâI didn't knowâ"
"No, it was nothing." I tried to explain, but she closed the door.
I sighed.
"Ms. Young, it's time for you to go."
And she had the nerve to say, "Call me."
I closed my eyes, sighing at the ceiling. Why did she have to walk in on that?
I glared at the door. And why wasn't the damn door locked?