Stranger's In Love
14|SHE LOVES HIM

Irene was in her room, sitting in her chair working on the paperwork that Zean had to sign immediately. Already half a day the girl focused on her work, but occasionally her mind deviated from work. He thought about Zean especially after last night's incident, the man did not contact him again.

Honestly, Irene felt guilty about her statement last night that she didn't love Zean. Like there was something wrong with her words, Irene's heart seemed to disagree with the sentence she uttered last night. Strange feelings re-emerged, disturbing Irene's heart and mind, all because of Zean. Does Irene love him? Or is this just a feeling of guilt because he can't reciprocate Zean's feelings?

Irene sighed then closed her eyes for a moment, she was tired. Then he glanced at the circular watch in his left hand, at 01:00 pm. Irene decided to go to lunch. He walked out of his study to the elevator, squinting his eyes to try to convince his vision of the two men standing in front of the elevator. Yes, it was Zean and a man who was no stranger to him.

"Irene!" greet the man who saw Irene walking closer to the elevator.

Irene's smile expanded, she quickened her pace and immediately hugged the man.

"Hans" said Irene who had embraced him.

That man was Hans, Hans Nicolas. Hans was a close friend of Irene when she was living in Tokyo and it was Hans who taught Irene to drive as well as mastering drift techniques. And, yes, Hans is also a Hashiriya.

They deciphered his embrace and looked at Zean in turn. Zean looked at them with his flat face that was not surprised in the slightest at the closeness of Hans and Irene. Because Zean knew this from the beginning.

"Do you and Mr. Lorwerth know each other?" ask Irene.

"Yes" replied Hans.

"Do you work here?" ask Hans.

"Yes, I'm Mr. Lorwerth's secretary" Irene replied as she looked at Zean who wasn't looking back.

"Zean why didn't you tell me Irene was working for your company?" ask Hans.

Irene knitted her brows, puzzled. Does Zean know if Irene and Hans are close friends?

Zean looked coldly at Hans. "Is that important?"

Hans chuckles at Zean's behavior, and Hans knows that Zean isn't okay.

"Are you coming to the moon?" hans asked Zean.

Zean swerved and pressed the elevator button and the elevator opened, and he immediately entered regardless of Hans and Irene who were still sculpting. Seconds later Zean pressed a button inside the elevator and the elevator door closed.

"What's wrong with her?" Irene suddenly said.

Hans turned to look at Irene with his ignorant smile.

"Are you thinking about Zean? You seem to care a lot about Zean's change of attitude, do you like it?" Hans attacked Irene with his questions.

Irene rolled the lazy eyeball.

"Can we go to lunch? I'm so hungry, I even want to eat you right now, Hans!" Irene said before leaving, which Hans followed with a gelled laugh.

Irene and Hans were sitting in a cafe opposite the Lorwerth Corporation building.

"So you and Zean know each other?" asked Irene to open the conversation.

Hans cut the meat off his steak.

"Yes, he even knows you, Irene"

"How does he know me? While I didn't know him" Irene was confused.

"Zean is the son of my father's co-worker, and we've been close since Zean and his father came to Tokyo to work with my father's company. Me and him being close, we told him a lot, especially about car racing, and Zean was interested" Hans exhaled for a moment.

Irene just kept waiting for Hans to continue.

Irene nodded in understanding.

"Then you know Zean for working for his company?" guess Hans.

Irene shook her head while sucking her milkshake.

"It's not because of that" Irene said and told her everything thoroughly, telling Hans how she first came to know Zean. The first time he set foot back in Boston, went to the night club until he was chased by a police patrol car and ended up in prison and Zean helped him out of that damn prison.

Hans laughed loosely while touching his stomach which began to feel cramping due to prolonged laughter.

"Don't laugh at me, pretty boy!" Irene was annoyed to see Hans laughing at hearing her story.

Hans started to calm himself down and catch his breath.

"It's funny, hahahaha..." Hans gave a pause of his speech.

"If I become Zean, I won't help you. So you know what it's like to spend the night in jail and get a prank from Alice" he continued.

Irene snorted in annoyance. "Damn, you!"

Hans chuckled slightly as he looked at this girl before him.

"Hans! What do you think was the reason Zean helped me back then?" Irene asked seriously.

Hans flinched, seemingly thinking.

"It's definitely because he knows you. Or because he likes you, but there's no way he likes you" Hans replied.

Irene was saddened by Hans' reply that said if it was impossible for Zean to like her, it was clearly last night that Zean himself said that Zean loved Irene. Did Irene have to tell Hans about last night? Ah, it seems like it should.

"He likes me, Hans. Even he told me himself last night, if he loved me" Irene recounted last night's events, when Zean suddenly comes to his house half-drunk, he says he loves Irene.

Hans rolled his eyes full with his mouth slightly open, he was shocked.

"No way, Irene" Hans said.

Irene knitted her brows confused by Hans' reaction.

"It's unlikely, because Zean will be engaged to Rebecca in a few days" Hans continued.

In that instant, Irene's world collapsed. Pain and tightness invaded his heart, his body was squeezing. His face turned pale, Hans who saw the change in Irene's face started to worry.

"Irene" called Hans at Irene who was staring forward with her blank look.

Irene heard Hans calling her but she reluctantly replied, her head was dizzy as her brain memory continued to twist the memory of Zean. That guy's getting engaged to a woman named Rebecca? Irene's eyes warmed up, she could feel the water droplets that started to fall soaked her cheeks. No way, it's impossible that if he just realized it now, that girl loves Zean.

"Irene" call Hans again. This time Irene turned her head, looking at Hans.

"Do you love, Zean?" hans asked who was worried if it was true that the girl loved Zean.

Irene wiped her tears, then moved from her seat. Hans immediately blocks Irene's hand.

"Where are you going?" ask Hans.

"Finding her, because I love her" Irene replied, at the same time Hans took Irene's hand off and let the girl go, chasing her love before it was too late.