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[Paranormal ] - [Enhypen]

The hotel was already buzzing with activity as staff members prepared for another busy day. The dean's visit had been a whirlwind, and today marked her final inspection before she departed. 

As she sat at the head of the table, her son played with his food, creating a mess while she ate her breakfast with practiced grace. 

The six students lined up across from her, their eyes following her every move with the intensity of hawks stalking prey. Their smiles were stretched so wide it was a wonder their faces didn't crack.

Winter, managing to keep a forced grin, leaned slightly toward Jia and muttered through her teeth, "Can this woman leave asap before we get busted?"

The dean looked up suddenly, causing everyone to freeze and then plaster even larger, more exaggerated smiles across their faces.

Taerae, standing next to Haein, leaned in and whispered, "If everything gets exposed, no one can save you."

She turned to him, her eyes narrowing with determination. "I don't need anyone to save me. I can handle it myself," she said, her voice low but firm.

The dean called for Haein, and she smiled widely as she walked over. "Coming, miss," she said with a chipper tone.

Jia, taken aback, murmered "I think she's cracking. Even her way of talking has changed."

Haein's tone hadn't changed because she was nervous; rather, it was a habit she had picked up unconsciously from her sister-in-law back home. 

 "I'm leaving the hotel soon."

Haein's smile became strained, and she nearly muttered, "Thank God," before quickly turning her face to the side and covering her mouth. 

She continued, "How can I help you?"

"I'd like to meet with Jaeyun," the dean requested.

Haein's smile faltered slightly as she ran her hands through her hair. 

"The boss? Haha... I don't think he can come, you know, because he's busy. He's the ceo and all."

"Then how am I going to get reports on you?"

Giselle mumbled, "We're done for this time."

Haein forced a nervous smile and bowed to the dean. "I'll go fetch him," she said hastily before running to the kitchen to get Jake.

She opened the door with force, her eyes darting around the room until they landed on Jake. Her voice wavered with nervous urgency as she addressed him, "You need to go to the restaurant. The dean wants you to give her our reports."

Jake didn't even look at her as he loosened his tie, his expression indifferent. 

"Find another stuntman. I quit," he said flatly.

Jay turned to him quickly, drying his hands with a dish towel. "Nah, bro, don't do this. You broke our only way to fame. They were going to write a book about us: 'From Washing Dishes to Signing Money Deals.'"

Haein and Jake exchanged bewildered looks. Jake flicked his hand dismissively, shaking his head. 

"Ignore him. He's on something."

"Isn't he always?"

Jay, looking exasperated, deadpanned, "I'm literally standing right here."

Then, Haein stared Jake dead in the eye, her arms crossed tightly across her chest. She stepped closer, her voice steady but tinged with frustration.

 "If you were going to betray me the very next day, why'd you come up with the plan, huh? Don't be a wuss."

The sim boy eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. "I'm not betraying anyone, Haein. I just... I'm done with this roleplay."

Jay, who had been watching the exchange with a smirk, glanced between them, clearly entertained by the tension. "I love your energy, sister-in— I mean, Miss Haein." He stepped up to Jake, towering over him, and clasped his hands in a mock prayer. "Do you want the poor girl to stay at home broke?"

Jake shoved his bestfriend away with a huff, irritation flashing in his eyes. "I'm not giving them fake ratings."

Haein's eyes softened for a moment, then hardened again as she fought back her desperation. "Look, you're ruining my future." Her voice wavered slightly, a rare crack in her tough exterior.

 "Enemy of civilization," mumbled Jay

Jake looked at Haein and Jay, both of them looking at him with pleading eyes. He could feel the pressure mounting. Finally, he sighed, running a hand through his hair in resignation. "Fine," he muttered, turning towards the door.

Twenty minutes had already passed, each second stretching into what felt like an eternity. The tension in the room was palpable, with everyone fidgeting or checking their watches repeatedly.

 Giselle, her patience fraying, was contemplating drastic measures like selling her clothes, her thoughts racing as she glanced anxiously at the clock.

Then, the door swung open, and Jake strolled in with a casual confidence that seemed almost out of place given the situation. Relief washed over the group like a tidal wave; he was their savior, their beacon of hope in this chaotic moment. 

His entrance was like a breath of fresh air, but beneath the surface, the uneasy truth lingered. Even as everyone sighed in relief, the shadow of impending consequences loomed over them, a reminder that their temporary reprieve was just that—temporary.

Jake entered the room with a professional air, his smile wide and genuine as he greeted the dean. 

"Good morning! I hope you had a restful night."

 "We did, indeed. Although, my son has a bit of an allergy to certain bed materials, but thankfully, he slept well."

Jake was about to respond when Jay, lingering behind him and playing the role of his secretary, jumped in with unsolicited advice.

 "Oh, have you tried laurels for your son's allergies?" he asked.

A puzzled silence fell over the room. Everyone turned their heads to look at Jay with raised eyebrows. Jay, oblivious to the awkwardness he had created, continued, "Laurels are quite effective for allergies. If you like, I can give you the recipe for a tea that works wonders."

Jake's smile faltered slightly as he shot a quick, disapproving glance at Jay, who was now earnestly offering his "expertise." 

"But, my son is just 6 years-old I'm not sure..."

"It's the perfect age for using laurels. You can find them anywhere. It's just like any tea—boil the water and—"

Jake, clearly frustrated, mumbled under his breath, "This isn't the time for granny recipes."

The dean's eyebrows shot up in confusion. "Did you just call me a granny?"

The six students, who had been watching the entire exchange with growing discomfort, collectively facepalmed. Their synchronized gesture was a clear indication of the escalating awkwardness.

 "No, no, God forbid, you're just a middle-aged woman."

The room fell silent, the tension palpable as everyone processed the implications of Jake's ill-chosen words. The dean's face reddened, and the students exchanged glances of disbelief. Jake shifted uncomfortably, his attempt to smooth things over clearly falling flat.

The dean, clearly eager to move past the awkward moment, said, "Moving on... the reports. I'm going to take notes, and you'll send a detailed one to the university."

As she began digging through her papers, Jay, with a mischievous glint in his eye, winked at Jia. Jia rolled her eyes, unimpressed. Jay, undeterred, attempted a finger heart in her direction, but the dean's sharp gaze caught him mid-motion. 

 "So, who do we start with?"

Jake's eyes scanned the room, taking in the faces of everyone present. His gaze was intense, pausing on each individual, except Taerae, whom he gave a particularly icy glare. Jake's eyes then lingered on Haein the longest, a mixture of curiosity and something unspoken in his gaze.

He started with Winter, saying, "Miss Minjeong is quite talented when it comes to organizing the food lists and the preparations."

Winter's face lit up with a genuine smile, clearly pleased by Jake's compliment. The room seemed to momentarily brighten with her acknowledgment.

Jake's gaze swept over Giselle, who was absorbed in her phone, a relaxed smile on her face. "Giselle?" Jake's voice cut through the air, a bit sharper than intended. 

The name was repeated several times before Giselle looked up, her smile still in place but tinged with confusion.

Jake, trying to salvage the situation, began rating her work. "Giselle has been an asset to our team," he said diplomatically. "Her skills are commendable." 

Jay added, "Yeah, we're lucky to have Miss Giselle here. Not sure if she feels the same." Her smile faltered momentarily but quickly returned as she offered a nervous laugh.

The evaluation continued smoothly until Jake's attention turned to Haein. His expression shifted, a glint of mischief in his eyes. He gave her a look that seemed to say, I'm about to make this interesting. 

 "Ah, Miss Haein, where should I start? She's excellent at managing the kitchen and can command everyone with just a flick of her hand. She has a certain charm, but..." Jake's voice took on a slightly ominous tone, "her cooking skills, I cannot ignore."

A murmur of confusion spread through the room. None of them had ever tasted her cooking, so the comment left them puzzled. 

"Oh, no, haha, you've got this wrong. I'm really not that good at cooking." Haein waved her hands nervously, a nervous laugh escaping her lips.

 "I've heard many good things about you, Miss Haein. I was a bit concerned that you might not take this seriously because of your father's position, but you've certainly proven me wrong." 

The dean then turned her smile towards Jake, who was still standing confidently beside her. "We need more young CEOs like you—ones who truly understand their role and their employees."

Jake beamed at the compliment, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. He turned to Haein, his gaze holding a mix of triumph and challenge. She met his gaze with a subtle nod, acknowledging him but maintaining her composure. 

The mood in the room shifted dramatically as the dean's gaze settled on Taerae. Her expression tightened into a grimace.

"I do have one small complaint about this gentleman right here," she said, her tone clipped. "He has this arrogant demeanor that belittles everything around him."

Jake nodded in agreement, his expression unreadable. "I've noticed it as well, Miss."

"We could just say he's not quite ready yet." Jay, ever the opportunist, chimed in with a sardonic smile.

Taerae's face flushed with a mix of anger and frustration. He quickly loosened his tie, his movements sharp and deliberate. Unable to contain himself any longer, he stormed towards the dean's table. The room fell silent, all eyes on him.

"Have you ever considered," Taerae began, his voice steady but edged with defiance, "that this 'arrogant' look comes from a position of power?"

Haein, recognizing the brewing storm, rushed forward, her heart pounding as she tried to intercept him. "Taerae, don't—" she started, but her voice was barely a whisper against the rising tension.

Taerae, however, was undeterred. His eyes locked onto the dean's, brimming with determination. 

"Oh, you haven't heard?" he continued, his tone now carrying a note of pride and defiance. "I'm also an owner of this hotel."

The revelation hung in the air, leaving a stunned silence in its wake. The dean's eyes widened in surprise, and Haein stood by, her heart racing as the confrontation escalated.

The dean's face flushed with a mix of anger and disbelief as she banged her fist on the table. Her voice rang out, cutting through the room like a blade. 

"Explain everything to me right now!" Her eyes bore into Taerae, demanding answers.

The tension in the room escalated to a palpable level. The once-composed atmosphere was now thick with unease. Taerae's smirk only seemed to intensify the dean's fury. He leaned casually against the table, clearly enjoying the chaos he had unleashed. 

"Oh, you see," he said with a broad, almost mocking smile, "these two"—he gestured vaguely at Jake and Jay—"actually wash the dishes. You were played. Oh, and they used to be mechanics too, by the way."

The room seemed to constrict around the dean, her face a storm of frustration and outrage. Her eyes darted between the snitch and the others, her anger palpable. The six students, caught in the crossfire, exchanged uneasy glances. 

Haein's face went pale as she watched the confrontation unfold. Her nerves were on edge, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. She could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on her, and she tried to step in, but the room was spiraling out of control.

To make matters worse, the door to the room burst open, and Minho, Haein's father, walked in. His face was a mask of confusion as he surveyed the scene before him. 

"What's going on here?" he asked, his voice edged with concern.

He approached the dean and extended his hand for a handshake trying to diffuse the tension with a polite but confused smile.

The dean shook his hand, her expression stormy. "Your daughter introduced this man to me as the CEO," she said sharply, her voice dripping with irritation. Her eyes flicked toward Jake, then to Haein, who stood nearby, visibly anxious.

Minho's gaze was a sharp, disappointing arrow aimed straight at his daughter. Haein could feel the weight of his disappointment like a physical blow. Her heart sank as his eyes conveyed a deep sense of betrayal and regret, making her feel smaller with each passing second.

As his gaze shifted to Jake, it carried a tone of disillusionment. The silent message was clear: "I expected better from you." The look in his eyes was one of subdued anger and disappointment, as if he had placed his trust in Jake and felt let down by the deception.

Amidst the charged atmosphere and the cacophony of conflicting emotions, Haein's hand instinctively reached out towards Jake. Her fingers brushed against his, and he grasped her hand firmly.

His grip was warm and steady, offering a moment of calm amidst the storm.

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yea im back....another verrryyyy long chp but u guys like this book so it's fine 

anyways don't forget to stream romance: untold and vote for xo on music shows it's a masterpiece album I don't want it to get the orange blood treatment, queen deserved better