The Resignation Letter
The Resignation Letter
While working on Ha-joon's schedule, Lian turned to Cho-Hee and asked, "What is it dear?"
"My British boyfriend proposed to me. We are getting married!" Announced Cho-Hee.
"Wow! That is great!" Lian said awkwardly. "Didn't you just met online four months ago?"
"Yean, but I love him so I am heading off to the UK!" Cho-Hee began to hum to the tune of wedding bells.
"Well, congratulations! I am happy for you, but what can I help you with?" Lian asked, shrugging her shoulders.
"I need help writing my resignation letter. This is my first job ever and I don't know how to make one," said Cho-Hee with pleading eyes.
Lian's brows drew together. She said, "Google?"
"Oh, please, Lian. You know how my supervisor is very emotional. I want to do it right! Please help me!" Cho-Hee pouted her lips and hugged Lian by the arm.
Lian was left with no choice. She sighed and said, "Okay, you know what? I can send you a copy of the resignation letter I made from my last part-time work in Guangzhou."
She took a moment to check on her email and forward Cho-Hee a copy. "Just edit it according to your real reason, which is that you are leaving for the UK!"
It was after lunch that Cho-Hee returned with a printed copy, asking Lian to check her resignation letter. When Lian read it, she exclaimed, "Why do you have my name on here! Quickly change the name! Haha!"
While Cho-Hee revised the resignation letter to her situation, she failed to edit Lian's name at the bottom. She left the mistaken copies on Lian's desk and returned to her own cubicle to make a new one.
Before leaving for work that day, Lian handed all the paper works to Ha-joon, in his office, mistakenly inserting Cho-Hee's resignation letter in between folders. She placed them on his desk and said, "Will there be anything else, sir? I would like to take my leave now."
Lian gazed directly into Ha-joon's eyes, waiting for an answer.
Ha-joon first looked at the pile of papers before him and turned to Lian. He saw no hint of reluctancy in her gaze. It was then when he realized Anton was right. She did not have the same expressive eyes as before. The adoration - the longing seemed gone.
"Do - do you want to have dinner?" He tried to take initiative, wanting to reconnect with her again. He has been trying to ask her out since his talk with Anton, but she always denied him.
"I'll have dinner at home, Sir. I prefer to eat alone. If there is nothing more, can I go now?" Asked Lian.
He looked back to the work he needed to accomplish and re-directed his gaze to Lian. He said, "It's fine. Thank you. You may go."
Ha-joon stayed in his office for another two hours, reviewing all the reports until he finally came across the resignation letter which read:
----------------------------
To whom it may concern,
I will be leaving for the UK by the end of the month, and so I'm writing today, August 29, to offer my formal notice that I'll be leaving my position. My last day will be September 30.
Thank you for the opportunities you have provided me during my time with the company. I am more than grateful to have had the opportunity of working with the team here. If I can be of any assistance during this transition, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Xia Lian
----------------------------
Ha-joon gulped. The words leaving for the UK became painted into his head. He felt his heart pounding, his forehead sweat, and his throat drying up.
"Is this for real?" He asked himself with a frown on his face.
He studied the resignation letter again and while it was not signed, the fact that it was dated for tomorrow, meant she was planning to hand it over the next day.
He got up and rushed outside, leaving his work undone. He drove straight to Lian's apartment building, parking a few meters away. It was because he knew she had asked the security not to let him in that he went through the back of the building, perfectly evading security. He would have to deal with the surveillance cameras later on.
With the use of his strong arms, he climbed up to the first level of the building's fire escape route. Then, for the rest of the 19 floors, he used the metallic staircase.
When he reached the twentieth floor, he took a minute to recover from panting. His next dilemma was to break through the fire exit door. When he could not get it open, he climbed sideways next to the nearest window, which was already Lian's living room window.
He only had very little space to grip on and about five inches of concrete frame to step on, but he persisted, using every bit of his strength. The second he reached for the window frame, he thrust his torso forward, not minding breaking the glass window.
"Aaaahhh!" He heard a woman's scream.
He knew it was Lian that she called for her, "Lian! It's me! It's me!"
"Ha-joon! What are you doing here?" Lian yelled with her eyes wide open.
Broken glass was scattered on the floor and Ha-joon was coming out in between her curtains. Only when she saw blood on his forehead did she rush to him and help him enter.
"What were you thinking? Don't you know how to use the door?!" She said while pulling him in with care.
"The security won't let me in!" He countered.
Ha-joon ended up getting another cut on his hand after he held tight on the window frame.
"Goodness! Ha-joon! You are giving me a heart attack!" Said Lian. She guided him to take a seat before she said, "Let me get my first aid kit."
Ha-joon had a small cut on his head and about two inches on his hand. He took off his coat and his shirt, using it to stop the bleeding on his hand.
When Lian walked back to the living room, her mouth fell open. She said to herself, 'Oh, my goodness. There is a half-naked man in my living room.'
She thought she had practically sinned, lusting over a man who was injured. She could not help it. It was the first time she saw Ha-joon and his well-formed frame... without clothes. 'So much for getting over the guy!'
Her face turned ugly, realizing she had worked so hard over for more than a week, trying to bury her feelings for the man, and here he was, sneaking inside her apartment, half-naked, practically calling her inner yearnings.
She shook her head and walked towards him, stomping her feet heavily. "Why did you even come here - "
Her words were cut with Ha-joon holding tightly against her waist. He buried his face against her abdomen and said, "Don't leave, Lian. Don't leave."
"What?" She asked with a frown.
"Why in the world would you go to the UK? Why would you resign from work just like that?" He asked while further tightening his hold on her.
Lian's eyes panned from left to right. Her lips formed into a circle before she clarified, "Resign?"
Ha-joon went down on his knees and added, "I'm sorry. I really am, but I know now what I must do. I have been trying to find the chance to tell you... I like you! I sincerely do!"
"Lian, this is all new to me." He gulped before adding, "Will you please give me a chance? Please don't leave."
Lian pouted her lips and looked sideways. She now understood where the misunderstanding was coming from. She said, "I don't know - I think the UK is really nice."