#ban juyeon

[akariamai]

Kdrama Master List

Weak Hero Class

Yeon Si-eun

Footnote

Part 1, Part 2

Ahn Su-ho

What's Buried in Bento Boxes

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Drive Slow

All Because I Liked a Boy

Go Hyun-tak

Old Wounds, New Faces

Part 1, Part 2

Two Years After

Park Hu-min

Hospital Visits

Silent Rescue

Heartache

Happiness

Jung Yi-hyun

The End is Near

Part 1, Part 2

Bloodhounds

Kim Geon-woo

Battle Wound

My Dearest Nemesis

Ban Joo-yeon

Man in the Suit

Main Masterlist

[akariamai]

Man in the Suit

Pairing: Ban Joo-yeon x OC

Word Count: 2091

Their relationship didn't begin with a myriad of heartfelt symphonies, but rather in digestible sprints. There was no definitive moment that pushed them together. It just happened organically. Her first introduction to Ban Joo-yeon was nothing short of boring; a simple man who couldn't handle his liquor. All she knew was that he was a businessman. The new director of the strategic planning division for the Yongsung Department Store and a potential victim for her friend, Baek Su-jeong, the infamous 'Director Killer.'

"Help." Su-jeong said, in a strained voice, as her arms tottered from the weight of the intoxicated man she attempted to haul. The man was far gone, whisked away by the warmth of sake, and now he was rendered useless. Sleep kept him in a tight grasp and his body looked ready to drop if not given the necessary support. "He's slipping!"

Ha-eun hurried out of the car and caught the nearly unconscious man before he hit the sidewalk. "Who is he?" It wasn't the first time Su-jeong had called for a ride after a night out with co-workers, but it had never been this late and she had never seen this man before.

"The new director." She groaned as she watched her load him into the car. His body was unsteady; his limbs limp. He mumbled something under his breath. Ha-eun swore it sounded like 'chocolate milk.' She sent him a confused look before deciding it wasn't worth it.

Her first impression on the man was indifference. He was just a mumbling drunk in the back seat of her car that she’d help get home. He was meant to be a trivial thought; a man destined to be another victim of the ‘Director Killer,’ but somehow he became more than just a brief moment. He steadily trickled down into her life and carved a permanent space for himself into her heart.

The second time they met was completely accidental. Ha-eun was very fortunate enough that her job allowed her to have a lot of leeway that she was able to walk around whenever she felt like it. She had just bought a double chocolate latte from a small cafe and had found herself entranced with the figures a street vendor was selling. She didn't know when it happened, but she was surrounded by children.

"Let go. I had it first." She heard a man say from her right. He was close, but she didn't bother to look up from the cute chibi figurines of Frieren.

As she glanced over the figures one last time before deciding which one to get, she could listen to the argument between man and child right next to her.

"An adult should give it up."

"A child should be polite."

"I really want this one."

"I'm sure." The man agreed, before ranting, "You can't even get it outside of Korea no matter how much you pay. It's the space edition, but it was out on the streets. Of course, you want it. I admit you have good taste, but I need to have it, too."

Once she successfully purchased her figurine, she turned her head towards the commotion. The child was half the man's height. He wore a simple yellow shirt and jeans. The man was wearing formal attire: an expensive suit, tie, and dark shades. There was something about him that seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite tell from where. The two were currently trying to tug to box away from each other. It was almost comical seeing the two struggle for the collector's item.

"Mom, this man is weird!" The child yelled before looking around for their mother, who appeared to be absent, "Where did Mom go?"

The man was able to get the item out of the kid's grasp, but paused when Su-jeong came into the picture. 'When did she get here?' Ha-eun thought to herself. She hadn't seen her approach, but then again her attention was elsewhere.

"Director?" Su-jeong, holding onto a small paper in her hand, held an expression of confusion like she'd never thought to run into him around these parts. Ha-eun took a sip of her drink, while she tightly held the bag her figurine was in. "Ha-eun? What are you doing here-"

"How about you, Ms. Baek?"

"Shopping."

Ha-eun and Su-jeong's boss both replied at the same time.

"Are you following me or something?"

"No." She held out the paper and flipped it over, "I needed to pick up something. Are you buying that one?" Su-jeong eyed the box in his hand. "You must like toys."

"This isn't just a toy-"

"It's a highly sought after collector's item." Ha-eun mentioned as she took another sip of her drink, enjoying the soap opera play out in-front of her. It was obvious Su-jeong's boss felt embarrassed to have been nearly caught red-handed by his co-worker and Ha-eun knew the feeling.

Her school years were filled with hiding interests that were too out of the norm to save face. The older she's gotten, she wished her younger self would've chosen to ignore the opinions of others, but words cut deeper as a child.

"And this child wanted it so badly." He handed the box to the kid. Ha-eun could only see the back of his head, but even she could tell he was devastated uttering the next few sentences. " It's precious stuff. I'm getting it for him since he wants it so badly."

Su-jeong appeared to be stunned by his generosity before saying, "You're much sweeter than I thought." She bent down slightly when she turned the attention to the little boy, "You must be happy to receive the gift."

"But this man-" The child was about to clarify, but was interrupted by the man.

"Go on your way now. I don't want any unwanted interest."

"Okay." Plastered onto her face was an annoyed look. "I'll talk to you later, Ha-eun."

"Yeah." She didn't know what to say as Su-jeong walked away. The man pulled out his card with a shaky hand and unwillingly handed it over to the vendor.

Ha-eun took one look at the box and recognized it from another store. Before she could utter her realization, the man hugged the box, and in proximity, the kid, and kissed it goodbye.

He kept his head down as he walked in defeat, his steps slow and sluggish, granting her enough time to say, "I know where you can find another one."

The man came to an abrupt stop before rushing back towards her. "Where?" If it weren't for his shades, she knew all she would see was the desperation in his eyes. She gave him the address and number to the establishment before continuing on with her impromptu shopping trip.

Ha-eun thought it would be the last she would see of him, but fate clearly had other plans. Su-jeong would ask for a favor and somehow her boss, whom she later learned his name, Ban Joo-yeon, was close by. The more they saw one another in passing, the more curiosity began to bubble within them, leading to conversations in the dark.

Ban Joo-yeon, the pinnacle example of a perfect businessman, had secrets hidden in his closet. Secrets that must be expertly hidden from the press and especially his grandmother. His grandmother could never know he continued to be enthralled in hobbies seen as inappropriate for a man of this status. His mind should be solely drilled into the intricacies of the company and anything else was a mere distraction.

When his grandmother grew suspicious of him, Ha-eun and Su-jeong concocted a plan to move his stuff to Ha-eun's apartment. The spare room she'd often used as an office was able to hold the majority of his collectibles. They weren't able to move all of his stuff right away, but his grandmother became distracted by a picture frame and left believing she had uncovered his secret.

Once Ha-eun couldn't hear mumbling from the other side of the wall, she waited for a while until she felt the coast was clear, and emerged from his secret room. She found him kneeling down by shards of broken glass and a frame.

"You don't pick up the glass with your hands, you'll hurt yourself." Ha-eun warned, slowly creeping closer, but pausing unsure of what to do.

She watched as he turned it around, "You know my parents died in a car accident, right?" He didn't even bother to look at her, his eyes focused on the untouched family in the picture.

"We were on the way to an anime event. They were both busy, but I begged them because I wanted to go. That's when we got into an accident on the way. I survived because of them, they died because of me. My grandmother indeed lost her only son because of me, so I decided to make it up for her. To become the person she wants and replace my father."

"Joo-yeon-" The words became stuck in her throat as he stood up and faced her.

"But even after that, I still couldn't give up on my joy. The next volume of my favorite cartoon, and the band's new song and show. I needed things like that to look forward to tomorrow. Even though no one loved me, I felt fulfilled. That's why I hold on to them. A reminder of when I was really happy."

"You looked really happy, then." She took a small glimpse at the photo. A snapshot to days long since passed, but still treasured. "I want you to continue to be happy."

He looked at it with immense emotions. "I like you." He confessed, "I've hidden things I liked for a long time, but I don't want to do that with you. You make things feel lighter and even if you don't feel the same way, I just wanted to say I like you so much, Ha-eun. Thank you for today."

His confession echoes in her mind. They were two souls that found solace with one another; incomplete without the other. They'd grown to be friends and were slowly turning into something more. Her legs began to function again, her heart ready to bounce out of her chest as her lips met his, and they shared a blissful kiss. It soothed her erratic heart, knowing he wanted her the same way she did, it was riveting.

It seemed like nothing could spoil their euphoria. It had been months since the two lovers who grew comfortable with each other, but with comfort-ability leads to miscalculations and blunders. For them, it came in the form of a person with a camera, secretly taking pictures of the two, money burning in their eyes.

The tabloids ripped her being apart, tore apart the things she loved about herself, there were no kind words sent her way. She was called names such as gold digger, money-hungry hag, and status hopper. They released her name for all to see, uncovered her job as a small business owner, called her business an absolute failure, and dug deep into her history.

Although the tabloids didn't strike Joo-yeon in the same way it did her, it sent his grandmother into a whirlwind. She revoked his job as director, spilled words never meant to be heard, kicked him out of the company, and sent him packing. There was nothing he could do to change her stubborn mind. The image he tried so hard to uphold wasn't enough. He simply wasn't enough.

He stood on her doorstep, dejected and abandoned, "I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you." He sniffled, "I didn't think it'd be like this. Not for you."

Ha-eun pulled him into a hug, "I'm okay." The words cut deep. Deeper than she cared to admit, but she knew he wasn't at fault. "Are you?"

"No." He sounded so broken. "I don't know what to do."

"Let's go inside." She suggested. It was no use standing around outside her apartment door where her neighbors could interrupt. She didn't want others to see him so vulnerable, adding more to the flames of their predicament, "I have tea."

"Okay." He agreed.

She released him from her hold. Her hand holding his as she pulled him inside. They made their way to her couch. "I'm sorry about the trouble I caused." His life was in ruins because of their relationship.

"She shouldn't get to dictate who I love or not." Joo-yeon said, "I'll survive. I just don't want anything the tabloids publish to get to you. You're wonderful. Beautiful. Intelligent. Those are the words that should've been published instead of that smear campaign."

"It wasn't your fault." He established once again. "I wouldn't change it for the world if it meant I could love you in public. They only care because I was going to be the head of the company, but they'll forget once grandma's found a replacement."

"Well, you can stay here as long as you want?" Ha-eun offered. "And you wouldn't have to hide yourself anymore either."

"Can I?"

She brushed a stray hair that fell from his face, "Of course. I want you here."

"Thank you." He whispered, stroking her face, unable to believe he was lucky enough to be chosen by her.

She smiled up at him before giving him a peck. "We'll figure this out together."

Main Masterlist