And when I asked you how you'd been

I meant I missed you more than I've ever missed anything before.

It was maybe a couple of seconds but to Yong-sun it felt like forever. The girl, or should she say women now that they weren't the same teenage girls they once were, opened as if she wanted to say more but gave another smile and kept walking not wanting to hold up the line.

She was grown now, a bit different from how she remembered seeing her a couple of years back.

Her black hair now brown, the baby fat that she grew out of. She looked good. Yong-sun's eyes followed Byul-yi's walking figure and all of a sudden she began to get nervous again.

This was the last place she thought she would run into Byul-yi. She looked at Naeun who didn't even have a clue on how she just ran into her ex that attended her book signing.

The next person stood in front of Yong-sun so she snapped out thinking about Byul-yi and focused on the person standing in front her. She gave them a smile and continued with the rest of her schedule.

It was maybe an hour later that she finally finished the book signing, Yong-sun thanked everyone one last time with a bow and walked to the back of the stage.

Her hands were a bit clammy from her interaction with Byul-yi earlier. So many thoughts were running through her head. Why did Byul-yi come to her book signing? How was she? Was she still into her?

“Hey that was exciting, huh?” Naeun said putting an arm around Yong-sun.

“It was interesting.” Yong-sun said dragging her friend to their car, ready to get home and just lay down. Naeun followed, as if she had a choice.

Yong-sun didn't’ know why she was nervous about seeing Byul-yi again, she figured she was over the girl by now. She hadn't thought about Byul-yi for awhile now but after seeing her again today, Yong-sun didn't know what to think.

They walked through the parking lot and Yong-sun searched for their car “Umm where did we park again?”

Naeun rolled her eyes “Gosh you're always bad with directions. I think we parked somewhere on this side.” Naeun pointed.  

They walked over to the car and Yong-sun didn’t know what to think. “So how was today?” Naeun said putting on her seatbelt.

“It was fun.” Yong-sun muttered.

Naeun backed the car up and drove out of the parking garage. Yong-sun forgot how different it was here in Seoul than being in  the states, where she stayed it wasn’t too big of city just a little mix of living in the country.

She watched the buildings go past her “She came.” she said in a soft voice that Naeun almost didn’t hear her.

“Who came?” Naeun said taking a glance at Yong-sun then keeping her eyes on the road again.

“Byul-yi.” and Naeun took another glance wondering in there was a sudden change in Yong-sun’s facial expression.

“And how was that?” Yong-sun thought for a second, a bit dry, she didn’t know how to word how she felt.

Ironic.

“It was” a pause “okay.”

“Just okay?” Naeun raised an eyebrow “What did she say?”

“What could she say? She was holding up the line so she just left.” Yong-sun gave a sigh.

“What did you want her to say?” Yong-sun really did hate Naeun for asking rhetorical questions like these.

Yong-sun stayed quiet, did she expect Byul-yi to even be there? Noticing her friend’s quietness Naeun lead on the conversation “Did you want her to say she still loved you? That she still wants to be with you?”

“No.”

<>

“Be safe, okay?” Yong-sun gave Naeun a tight hug “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t worry about me, I’ll be okay. I won’t be gone for long, a week maybe.” Naeun muttered in a raspy voice. She had to go back to the states after finding out her grandmother had passed away, although she wasn’t too close to her grandmother she knew her mom was.

She needed to be there for her mom, she knows just how much pain her mother must be going through. “I was only here for two weeks and we didn’t really get to do much so when I get back, be prepared to show me some cool places.” Naeun tried joking in this god awful mood.

Yong-sun gave her a smile “Definitely.” and gave her one last tight squeeze.

She watched as her best friend walked away  with her suitcase following behind her. Yong-sun was sad that she was leaving, also her next book signing in Busan wouldn’t be until another week.

She wondered what she would do, she had plan on taking Naeun to a restaurant to meet Seulgi and Hakyeon but she guess that they would have to take a rain check on that.

Yong-sun made her way out of the airport and drove to a nearby noodle joint.

She tapped on the steering wheel and hummed to the song that was playing, it took twenty minutes to actually get there.

Yong-sun went inside and grabbed a table, she must’ve looked like a loser sitting by herself. She poured hot water into the cup and waited for it to cook.

This would do for lunch.

<>

“It’s nice to finally hang out with you guys.” Yong-sun flashed smile as she sat in front of Seulgi and Hakyeon. “It’s been too long.”

“Wow unnie, you go off to the states and get famous. It’s really been too long.” Seulgi smiled as well.

Yong-sun was a bit surprised by how grown the two looked. Seulgi looked like a lady and her eyes were even sharper, she gave a different appeal.

And Hakyeon, her cute oppa, was now a grown man. He even seemed much taller than she remembered, when did her oppa become so masculine?

“Yah I’m not even famous.” she said bashfully.

Hakyeon rolled his eyes “Whatever you know you’re a hit, Seulgi I think Yong-sun can pay for our dinner with all the money she’s making.”

The waiter came and took their order.

They caught up on a lot. Seulgi was going to college to be a doctor and Hakyeon was an architect. Hakyeon dated a girl shortly for about five months before they called it off. And Seulgi never dated the whole time Yong-sun was away, something about her wanting to focus on school.

It surprised Yong-sun, she remembered how boy crazy Seulgi had been her first year of highschool.

They asked Yong-sun how being in the states was, and it was very different from being in Korea. When she first got there she never would’ve thought that she would miss it as much as she did, like she wanted to go back.

As time went on there was a thought that was itching behind her head, something she always wanted to ask them. She wondered if it would make this whole meeting weird so she reconsidered asking.

“Unnie is there something you want ask?” Seulgi asked after looking at Yong-sun’s inner conflict.

“Ah it’s nothing.” she decided not to mention it, they were all having a great time so she decided not ruin it.

“Come on unnie you know you can tell us.” Seulgi said oblivious of what was going through Yong-sun’s head.

Yong-sun’s final thought ended with, it didn’t matter. They were all grown and over it. She was over it, over Byul-yi. With a smile on her “I’m telling you it nothing.” she sounded sure so Seulgi believed her.

They finished their food, she did ended up paying for them. Yong-sun didn’t mind at all, they were precious friends to her, she felt the need to pay them back.  

As she was paying she saw at the corner of her eye Seulgi and Hakyeon were talking seriously, Hakyeon took a quick glance at her before looking back at Seulgi.

It was like they were hiding something from her. It felt so familiar, like this had happened before. Yong-sun realized the reason it felt so familiar, it was like when they were hiding her from Byul-yi.

<>

Yong-sun gave a grateful smile “Thank you for coming today.” she handed them her book.

She was at the Busan book signing, Yong-sun was happy to be here.

Being in Busan gave her a nostalgic feeling, she was always here with Seulgi and Hakyeon during her breaks.

But Busan was her fifth book signing which meant she only had four more to go.

She looked to the side to see her sister at the corner bored, she had took Naeun’s place. She promised her sister if she would accompany her today then she would take her out to eat.

Her sister at first still didn’t want to go but with much begging she finally gave in.

She looked at her wristwatch and gave a sigh, only one more hour to go.

“Hi, how are you?” Yong-sun said to a young man who walked up with an ear to ear smile.

“Hi noona, I’m doing fine. I really loved your book.” he said excitedly.

She thanked him and even made a promise with him saying if he studied hard then she would personally make a letter for him.

They ended the meeting with a pinky promise. Time went on and it went faster than she thought it, her signings usually drag on.

Yong-sun grabbed the mic “Thank you all for coming, this has been an experience of a lifetime. My book wouldn’t have made it this far if it wasn’t for the support from all of you.” she gave a bow.

Yong-sun made her way to her sister “Okay I know you were bored out of your mind so let me treat you to whatever you want.” she nudged at her sister.

“About time, I thought I was going to rot there if it didn’t end soon.” she yawned.

Yong-sun gave a laugh “So where do you want to eat?”

Her sister shrugged her shoulders “I don’t know I’m actually not really that hungry anymore, you can pick.” So they went to eat burgers.

“So how is the celebrity life doing for you?”

Yong-sun scoffed “I’m not even close to being a celebrity.” and looked at the menu.

Her sister gave a teasing smile “Wow look at you being so humbled.” she then looked at how tense Yong-sun always seemed to be, she didn’t know why her sister looked stressed all the time.

Yong-sun was fine when she first got back home, what changed?

“So how have you been. I feel like we really never got to talk even when we had that whole dinner for you.” her sister put her arm on the table.

“I’m doing the same.” Yong-sun looked up from the menu.

“ So not okay?”

Yong-sun looked back at the menu “No, I’m doing good.” it was like her sister didn’t believe her, or maybe her sister was just seeing through her.

In all honesty she thought she was doing fine on her own, she had a nice job and nice friends and family what more could she want.

Byul-yi.

Yong-sun didn’t understand why ever since seeing her again just messed with her head.

Is this what they meant when they say one truly doesn’t forget their first love?

Did she think about getting back together with her? No.

She moved on, she really did. Yong-sun never thought about the girl in two years, did the girl ever think of her?

Was Byul-yi even dating someone, even married? What was she doing with her life right now?

“Really?” her sister hummed “Because you don’t seem okay.” she hated her sister for being so observant.

Yong-sun waited for her sister to continue or maybe she didn’t know what to say so she let her sister say what was on her mind.

“You seem tense. Did something happen while visiting?”

Did she look tense? Yong-sun didn’t think so.

She tapped on the table, a habit she did when she felt nervous.

Why was she nervous? “I ran into Byul-yi.”

<>

Yong-sun heard the bell ringing in her ear as she opened the door.

She looked around the bookstore, not quite sure which genre she would look at first.

Should she check if her book was here? She laughed at that thought.

Yong-sun looked around in no particular order, her fingers trailing on the books as she walked.

Her feet eventually lead her to the poetry section, she loved to look at other writer’s books.

She grabbed a book and headed towards the reading tables, maybe she’ll buy some coffee as well.

Her feet stop once she saw a familiar figure sitting down, her heart started to beat just a tad bit faster at the sight of Byul-yi.

Yong-sun never thought she would run into Byul-yi again or anytime soon for that matter.

She stayed rooted in her place, an inner battle in her head if she should just turn back and leave.

“I see you’re still stuck sitting reading books.” she said stepping closer offering a small smile.

Byul-yi looked up as calm as ever which made Yong-sun think she was the only one nervous.

“Hey it’s great seeing you again.” Byul-yi said offering the seat in front of her.

It wasn’t a good idea and they both knew it but that didn’t seem to stop Yong-sun from taking her offer.

“Yeah it’s been a long time hasn’t it?” Yong-sun mumbled as set her book on the table.

There was a silence that was too long for Yong-sun’s comfort and it didn’t help that she couldn’t seem to pick up her head to meet Byul-yi’s eyes.

“So what have you been up too?” Byul-yi asked breaking the awkward silence. Yong-sun finally looked up and Byul-yi looked the same as she did a couple of weeks ago, she still looked good.

“I’ve just been...enjoying my time back. A couple of book signing here and there.”

“I see that you are doing well.” Byul-yi said with a small smile. Yong-sun nodded slowly “How have you been…? What are you doing now?”

“Mmm...you probably already seen this coming but I took over the school.” Byul-yi said with a bored look on her face.

“Chairman Moon Byul-yi, that has a nice ring to it.” Yong-sun gave a teasing joke, maybe to ease the mood.

She tapped her fingers on the table, an action that Byul-yi wouldn't fail to catch.

Stupid habit.

Yong-sun her lips trying trying to calm her nerves.

“I guess, not really all that amazing. Having to deal with snot rotten kids is annoying.” Byul-yi's phone then started to buzz, she checked her pocket before forwarding the call. “I read your book by the way.”

Did she know it was written for her, because of her, about her? Byul-yi wasn't dumb she had to know.

“And what did you think about it?” Dumb question. But what could she have asked?

Byul-yi's phone buzzed again and Yong-sun didn't realize how much she had missed that annoyed look Byul-yi always kept on her face.

“I liked it.” or maybe you liked me. “It was just…..so you”

Her phone kept buzzing and Byul-yi was reluctant to take it “I'll be right back.” and stood up to take her phone call elsewhere.

Yong-sun didn't realize the breath she was holding until she let out the loudest sigh ever.

She opened the book, hoping to take her mind off. Who was she kidding, and slam the book back down.

Byul-yi came back after some minutes with that same annoyed expression.

“Hey I know we didn't talk for long but I have to go. Maybe we can catch up some other time?” and then with she spoke fast “I mean you don’t have to but since we didn't really talk I-um...yeah.” with an embarrassed look on her face.

Yong-sun smiled, so she wasn't the only one who's a mess at their sudden confrontation.

“I'd like that.”

<>

Yong-sun held a smile on her face as she waited for her friend, it was weird not hanging out with her for a little over a week.

She watched Naeun walk out with her luggage in her hands, her eyes roaming around probably looking for her.

Yong-sun waved to get her attention.

“Hey I missed you.” Naeun said after seeing Yong-sun and practically running into her arms.

“I know I missed you too. If feels like it’s been forever.” They made their way to the car “So anything interesting happen while I was gone?” Naeun asked.

Yong-sun thought for a moment, did anything interesting happen? “Nope, just the same.”

I know the first chapter is a bit slow and boring but I promise it'll get better (hopefully lol)

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