chapter 38

                                 1"I should have informed him that I was going. He might be looking for me. Or maybe he didn't like my attitude and could have changed his partner!! Noooo... I can't let this happen! How stupid of me! I was enjoying the food. I should ask for his contact number, so that I can stay connected with him. But I wonder if he would want to share his contact number with me."Having all kinds of thoughts Zaini reached her department. Kim Jae was sitting all alone looking at his cell phone which was lying on the desk. As she entered the room, he looked at her and rushed towards her. "Are you alright? Where have you been? I was worried for you", said Kim Jae wanting to hug her but could not do so. Zaini looked at his face and then his eyes. She could see how tensed he was. "I am sorry. I made you worry for me. I was called to the pediatric department and I could not tell you", said Zaini looking in his eyes. Kim Jae was not convinced. Kim Jae held Zaini's hand and said, "Don't listen to others. Even if their dirty words falls in your ear drums. Don't let them hurt you. They are just jealous of you. Not having a heart and brain like you, makes them envious of you! You can talk to me anytime you feel low or hurt. I am there for you."Zaini felt a different rush of emotions when Kim Jae held her hand. She was overwhelmed by his kind heart warming words. She was on the verge of crying as she had dumped all the bad feelings deep down in her heart but his therapeutic words made her realise how hurt she was earlier. She didn't know Kim Jae had heard everything. She controlled her emotions and said, "It's okay. I am used to it." "No one can be used to such mischievous remarks. You should attack back at them. People badmouth others easily. I have been there too. I have read countless hate comments addressing me. I know how it feels. For me these were all virtual without knowing who these people are. For you it must be more difficult as you know them", said Kim Jae. Zaini recalled when she read hate comments on Kim Jae's posts. She used to get furious too. Many times she had defended him on many posts. She never thought one day the tables would turn around and she would become a victim like him."It's okay, Mr. Kim. I am thankful to you for thinking about my feelings but trust me I am strong enough to handle all this. They will talk about me for a while and when they will not get any response from my side, they will stop talking about me", said Zaini looking into his eyes. Kim Jae was still holding her hand which was making Zaini uncomfortable as she was having another thoughts. It was becoming hard for her to look away from Kim Jae's face. "I guess fighting back makes you strong rather than bearing the pain", said Kim Jae. "You can not change someone's heart for you. Only your actions and words can make a place in their heart. I know one day they will know that they don't need to hate me", said Zaini."When people are jealous of you being good, they never change their thoughts for you. Every time something good will happen with you, their hatred will increase. I think I will have to do something", thought Kim Jae. "Did you have lunch?" asked Kim Jae to change the topic."Ah... Yea. Dr Ji Hoon offered me lunch as I was on duty because of him. You remember that kid who was talking to me in my mother tongue? He is being treated by Dr Ji Hoon and the kid's health is not good. He asked the doctor to call me. Right now he is under surgery. I will go to meet him in the evening", said Zaini.As soon as Kim Jae heard Ji Hoon's name, he slowly unheld Zaini's hand. "Do he offer everyone food or you are some special case?" asked Kim Jae."Why is he feeling jealous!?" thought Zaini."I don't know. It was first time for me", replied Zaini looking at her hand which Kim Jae was holding."I didn't have lunch. I was worried for you and it looks like you were doing fine", said Kim Jae almost sulking.Zaini looked at Kim Jae and she was amused to see his sulking face."You are so cute Mr. Kim! Your face expressions are killing. That's why all the girls are die hard fan of yours!!" said Zaini without filtering her words as a doctor who was not his fan. Kim Jae blushed."Call me Jaesu. Now can we eat something?" said Kim Jae."Jaesu?" "Yes, my name is Jaesu. It is confidential. Don't let anyone know about it", whispered Kim Jae in Zaini's ear.Standing so close to him, Zaini felt butterflies in her stomach. She could not stop looking at him already and she could not stop smiling now. "My shift will end in an half an hour. We cannot eat here. You cannot eat in the cafeteria as many people will be there. What to do?" said Zaini."Let's go to your flat and order something there", said Kim Jae."How do you know that I'm staying in a flat here?" asked Zaini in surprise.Kim Jae thought hard and said, "Kim Min Ho... He told me.""Ohh... That useless person", said Zaini feeling angered."What? Useless? Why are you saying that?" Zaini told Kim Jae about the last night's incident. "I am sorry. Because of me you had to go through all that. He is a nice man. He fought with the culprits and brought you back home safely", explained Kim Jae."Why are you feeling sorry? How do you know so much about the incident? Even I don't recall anything. How can Kim Min Ho tell you all that?" asked  Zaini."I am working in his drama. He wrote a storyline, talked to a director and then to me. We are working together again. He said he got the whole idea about drama from you. This was also a reason to choose you out of all students", said Kim Jae trying to clear Kim Min Ho's name from her haters list. Zaini recalled how she and Kim Min Ho talked about this when she met him first time on the flight. "So, he was telling the truth", thought Zaini.