Desire

She was a college student who had never considered herself special.

It was the greatest moment of her life when she graduated from secretarial school and obtained a position with Eunseong Group.

The first place she was assigned to was the administrative office of Vice Chairman Seo Minhyeok.

She started out by preparing refreshments for the guests.

For one year Vice Chairman Seo Minhyeok never met her eyes properly.

She watched from a distance, feeling as though she was seeing God.

She was only an office worker who only received two million won a month. (TN: ~$1800)

On the other hand, Vice Chairman Seo Minhyeok, who would soon inherit the Group and whose fortune could fill aquarium tanks, did not seem to be on the same level as her.

Then an incident happened a year in.

Vice Chairman Seo Minhyeok’s personal secretary at that time was injured in a car accident and was not able to accompany him on a business trip.

It was only two days before the trip.

Minji was hurriedly substituted in as his secretary and soon she was on a private plane to Rome, Italy.

She was so nervous she couldn’t even look at Vice Chairman Seo Minhyeok properly.

He exchanged almost no words with her except to say hello to this newcomer who took the place of his old secretary.

Their first proper contact was due to unexpected circumstances.

Minhyeok seemed to have eaten something wrong before the plane took off earlier.

There was a emergency medicine inside the plane, but it was of little help.

Minhyeok’s face was so pale that the crewmen and people on the plane were at a loss.

Minji stepped in.

"Do you want me to prick your finger?"

Minhyeok looked at Minji with a pallid face.

It was the first time the two looked closely at each other’s eyes.

Minji thought that Minhyeok’s eyes were similar to hers.

She thought he was a god, but he was human.

A person who has eyes like hers and was a human being.

"Minji, what are you talking about? Out of the way. Vice Chairman, here’s some more medicine."

The head of staff was trying to push Minji away when Minhyeok took her arm.

"I already have my medicine. She’ll prick my finger."

"What? You want to do that?"

"Why? What’s the problem?"

"No, you could get infected..."

"That’s nonsense."

Minhyeok told the head of staff to leave then locked eyes with Minji again.

"Did you say your name was Minji?"

"Yes, Vice Chairman."

"Have you ever pricked your finger?"

"Yes. Several times."

"You’re not infected are you?"

Minhyeok had a joking expression on his face and Minji laughed out loud.

He made a joke with her because he she knew would be nervous.

Minji took a needle from the steward and sat next to Minhyeok.

Minhyeok mumbled when she held the end of his index finder.

"You said you’ve done this before, but this is my first."

"It won’t hurt. It will make you feel better."

"I hope so."

Minji pricked his finger with the needle.

There was a soft gush of blood, heard only by the two.

"Oh, it’s blood,"

Minhyeok said in a child-like voice.

"You must have a lot of upset stomachs. The color of the blood is dark red."

Minji wiped the blood carefully with a cloth handed to her by a crew member.

Minhyeok said quietly,

"It’s like magic."

"Hm?"

"I feel comfortable already."

Another joke and a smile.

She pretended like it was nothing, but inside Minji thought it was a magical moment.

She took Minhyeok’s hand and pinched his finger.

He was like a heavenly god who came to earth and stood before her.

And Minhyeok’s upset stomach disappeared like magic.

By the time they landed at the Rome airport, his color had completely returned to normal.

As a small reward Minhyeok upgraded Minji’s room to a suite.

The splendid night view of the city of Rome was like a portrait.

"Ah...it’s a waste to sleep in a place like this."

Minji walked around the large hotel room, looked out the window alone, took a shower twice, then went to bed.

The red drops of blood came back to her.

There was a ghost that floated in front of her like a balloon.

-It’s like magic.

It was Minhyeok’s voice and face.

She wasn’t able to sleep at all when suddenly the hotel phone rang.

It was past eleven o’clock at night.

Anyway,

"I didn’t wake you up, did I?"

The smooth voice belonged to Minhyeok.

"Vice Chairman!"

Minji sat up and composed herself automatically.

"How’s your room?"

"Great! It’s so great!"

"It’s too small a price for saving my life."

"Saving your life? I just pricked your finger."

"I thought I was going to die."

"I guess you’re always so dramatic. Hehe."

"Did you just laugh?"

"Oh...I’m sorry."

"If you can’t fall asleep, would you like to have a drink?"

Minji gazed out the window

It was the softest voice she’d ever heard.

Was today a magical day?

TN: Pricking one’s finger with a needle is an old Korean folk remedy for an upset stomach