Chapter 5 That Annoying Smirk, Mr. Tattoo!
KARA'S POV
It is a beautiful Saturday morning when I wake up.
I head straight to the shower to freshen up because I am going shopping today. The hiring manager of Stewheinz and we, interns have agreed that we do not have duty on weekends. This arrangement is intentional, so we can focus on journal making and complete the paperwork assigned to us to take home.
There is not much to do anyway. Ma’am Arroi only gives me two papers, so I plan to work on them later tonight. That leaves me the entire day to go out. I cannot join Sancha and Louisse today because they go home to their families, saying they feel completely drained, even though we have only been interns for almost a month.
“Karaella, are you leaving?”
I am already fully dressed and coming down the stairs when Daddy steps out of his room from the other staircase.
I smile and run to hug him. He shakes his head with a small laugh, then reaches into his pocket and hands me some bills. He tells me it is extra money for my self-pampering. Aside from shopping, I am also planning to get a foot spa and a facial treatment.
God, internship is making me look so stressed.
“Dad… can I spend—” I fidget with my nails and act cute, but he does not let me finish.
I only want to ask permission to stay overnight at Louisse’s place. And it is not just a simple overnight, because we are going to party.
“Actually, I’m planning to bring you to a business party on Sunday. It’s tomorrow,” he says before I can respond.
“But, Da—” I try again, but once more, he cuts me off.
“You are coming with me, Kara. You won’t be going out with your friends. End of the discussion!” He rushes toward the kitchen as if the matter is already settled.
I drop onto the sofa, stomping slightly, my face twisted into a pout.
What am I supposed to do there anyway? It is full of old people and businessmen. There are not even any handsome boys.
Even though I am annoyed, I still tell Daddy goodbye, though my lips remain in a frown.
As soon as I step outside the house, the heat of the sun greets me, but it is not enough to melt my irritation. Still, I force a smile to myself. This is my day, I repeat in my head. A day for myself, for rest, and for a little happiness after the exhausting weeks of internship.
When I arrive at the mall, the noise and brightness immediately swallow me whole. The cold air from the air conditioner feels like an embrace I have been waiting for. I head straight to the boutiques. One by one, clothes pass through my hands, fabrics as soft as clouds, colors that instantly lift my mood. I buy a few blouses suitable for office wear, and a simple dress with a quiet but striking charm. With every swipe of my card, it feels like I am slowly buying back the confidence that exhaustion has been stealing from me.
After shopping, I go straight to the salon. The place smells of chemicals and perfume, mixed together but oddly calming. I sit on the swivel chair and study myself in the mirror.
I look… tired.
So when the stylist suggests adding a bit of color to my hair and trimming the length, I do not hesitate. As my hair slowly changes color, it feels like something inside me is being erased too like the stress, worries, and sleepless nights. When it is done, I smile at my reflection. There is something new about me. Something brighter.
Next comes the manicure and pedicure. My nails are cleaned one by one, slowly and carefully. Every gentle touch feels like a reminder that I deserve to be taken care of too. I choose a color that is not too bold but elegant, simple yet striking, just like how I want to feel. When I stand up from the chair, my steps feel lighter, as if I am carrying a new kind of strength.
But all of it, the happiness, the lightness, suddenly stops.
As I am about to enter a takoyaki shop, my body freezes. It feels like a cold hand tightens around my chest. I do not know why, but I cannot move. In front of me is Mr. Stewheinz. He is sitting at a small table with a fair-skinned woman, long-haired, smooth-skinned, wearing a smile that looks well-practiced in receiving attention. They feed each other takoyaki, laughing, as if no one else exists around them.
It hurts.
I cannot explain why, but it hurts.
I force myself to step inside the shop, hoping he does not notice me. But in an instant, he looks up. Our eyes meet, and that smile immediately appears on his face, a smile that clearly means something, edged with mockery. My blood boils even more when I see his hand slowly slide up the woman’s thigh, never breaking eye contact with me. As if it is intentional. As if he is trying to prove something.
Maniac!
He even waves at me, like everything is normal. I ignore him. I do not have the strength to smile, nor the energy to pretend that I am fine. I turn away quickly and almost run out of the takoyaki store, each step carrying a weight I did not expect.
I go straight to the powder room, lock myself inside a cubicle, and clutch my chest. My breathing is uneven, as if I have just finished a long run. I look at myself in the mirror and see flushed cheeks and emotions completely out of control.
I start to overthink.
Is he annoyed? Is that smile sarcastic because I did not greet him? He is still my boss, and I am just an intern in his company, so basically I should have greeted him. Maybe he is already forming opinions about me.
But more than that, one question screams louder in my head...
Who is that woman?
I do not know why it matters. I do not know why something like jealousy creeps into my chest when I have no right to feel it. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
"Get a grip, Kara," I whisper to myself.
But no matter how hard I try to calm down, the heaviness stays, a feeling I cannot explain, yet one I feel deeply, all the way down to the very center of my chest.