PLAYLIST:- (LISTEN AT YOUR OWN RISK)

MAMAMOO – I MISS YOU (OST); MORNING

10CM – LEAN ON ME;

WHEEIN – GOODBYE

Two nights before the wedding, Eric was giving a treat to the entire company in gratitude, for everyone in the company would be helping him out on his wedding day. Everyone became a part-timer, instead of being invited to his wedding as guests.

It was the first time ­Yongsun was meeting Eric’s future wife, Stephanie. She was fair, definitely beautiful with defined features on her face. What was most attractive to Yongsun was her eyes, when she smiled Yongsun could see a smile forming on both of her eyes. Her voice was particularly sweet, definitely ear-appealing. Whenever she called out Eric’s name, it felt like honey was forming on top of the words. Eric was definitely enjoying how his future wife stuck close to him, despite trying to act like he doesn’t want so much affection from her.

Yongsun was truly happy for Eric, she was also happy to be around her colleagues whom treated her like a family. It wasn’t everyday where they get to gather together like now, so she drank quite a bit. She drank till her face was fully flushed red. It was something worth celebrating after all.

For Eric’s happiness, for their achievements together in work. Many things had happened, things weren’t the same as before. Their company grew bigger, their workload increased, their monthly salary increased too.

Yongsun was just checking on Wheein beside her, whom is already almost in another world before she felt a tap on her shoulders. Yongsun turned and looked up to see Stephanie smiling at her.

“Yongsun-ssi! We’ve not greeted each other, have we?” Stephanie’s smile was one of happiness growing, much as a spring flower opens. Yongsun couldn’t help but to smile back brightly too. “Yes that is true, I’ve only heard about your name through Eric.”

Stephanie squealed getting a little all excited, “Me too! But I feel like I’ve already known you because I’ve heard so much about you!”

“The good ones, I hope.” Yongsun chuckled.

“Of course, there wasn’t a single thing that Eric said you were bad about. It’s a loss for him that you didn’t like him! You’re one of Eric’s closest friend and colleague, please do continue to take care of him in the future!” Stephanie gave her a toast, Yongsun was definitely starting to like her. She seemed genuine and demure, just the kind that Eric needs. She might not be as naïve as what Yongsun thought her to be.

Yongsun stood up with her glass, giving a toast. “Take care of him? It’s actually the other way around, he’s been taking care of me ever since I could remember knowing him. In the future I would hope he could still continue to take care of me!” Yongsun gave a one-shot down.

“Such a grand occasion! The past and the present lover, together in the same place!” Eric abruptly came in out of nowhere with his glass.

It was the first time Yongsun saw Stephanie gave a hawk’s eye over towards at Eric. “You? You’re nowhere to be of deserving to Yongsun-ssi.”

Eric squinted his eyes, pouted his lips together. He then silently gave a bow and exited himself. Yongsun found it funny that she laughed out loud, together with Stephanie whom was giggling beside her.

***

“Thank unnie, do you want me to give you a lift?” Hyejin asked as she buckled the seatbelt across Wheein. She closed the passenger’s door and turned to look at Yongsun.

Yongsun shook her head and gave her a smile. “I’m fine, I’ll flag a cab. You should quickly bring Wheein home, she drank a lot.”

Hyejin sighed as she looked through the window at Wheein. “She needs to control herself, seriously. I can’t always be here to pick her up.”

“At least you’d try to be whenever she needs you.” Hyejin felt bitterness in Yongsun’s reply. She put a hand over Yongsun’s shoulder and gripped it softly.

“Are you sure about your decision? It’s not too late to change anything. You’re aware of that, right?” Hyejin was actually quite sure Yongsun wouldn’t change her mind, at least not now. But she couldn’t help but to get a confirmation, for Byulyi at least.

Yongsun knew nothing would ever be too late for Byulyi when it comes to her. She knew that if she called Byulyi now to reconcile, Byulyi would agree to it immediately in a heartbeat without questioning. Because she knew Byulyi so well, she couldn’t help but to let the sadness flowed through her veins and deadened her mind.

They didn’t break up because there wasn’t any love between them. They broke up simply because Yongsun wanted to end things, it wasn’t because Byulyi stopped loving her.

Yongsun had to bite her lip to stop the tears rolling out, Hyejin was standing infront of her, she didn’t want to look weak to someone younger than her. But Hyejin’s soft smile and gaze gestured to her that it’s okay to cry, it’s okay to be sad when you need to. That’s when she broke down once again.

Sorrow is the new smile in her eye. Tears replace the sunshine.

Hyejin remained silent as she witnessed Yongsun’s breakdown, she walked a step forward and engulfed Yongsun in a hug. Hyejin already knew the answer to her question. She wrapped an arm around Yongsun’s shoulders and pulled her close, caressing her back gently in a circular motion. Yongsun sunk into the warmth of her side, appreciative of the simple gesture.

A minute passed, and maybe another few more minutes. Hyejin doesn’t know, Yongsun didn’t make an initiative to move away from her thus she didn’t move either. They can’t possibly keep standing in the middle of nowhere at this hour, Hyejin figured she could maybe suggest to send Yongsun home once again.

“Unnie? You sure you can go home alone in this state?” Hyejin gently pushed Yongsun off her. She bent down slightly and look at Yongsun’s face, her thumb softly wiping away the tears on her face.

Yongsun shook her head once again, using her palm to wipe off the remaining tears on her face. “Don’t worry, it’s just that I drank too much. The alcohol’s getting into me now.”

Hyejin was still worried, she then saw Eric walking out from the restaurant from behind Yongsun. “Eric-ssi!”

Eric waved and quickly came towards them. “What can I do for the two beautiful ladies?”

“Are you drunk?” Hyejin spat out, suddenly regretted calling him over.

“Of course not! I only had a couple glass of wine, because I know I need to drive myself home.”

“Where’s your future wife?” Yongsun asked as she didn’t see the other around.

“Her friends came to get her, they’re having another party somewhere else. Second last night as a single lady, getting drunk somewhere else I guess.” Eric shrugged.

“Great,” Hyejin smiled widely. “You can send Yongsun unnie back then.”

“Definitely an honor to me, this way milady.” Eric bowed deeply and gestured out both hands to the direction his car was parked at, before he waved goodbye to Hyejin and walked off.

“Go on unnie, this way I’ll feel better knowing you’re with him instead of some random stranger.” Hyejin gently nudged Yongsun forward in the direction which Eric headed.

Starting to feel some fatigue within her, Yongsun agreed. She gave a final hug to Hyejin and trotted after Eric.

***

“How’s my future wife?” Eric spoke when his car moved onto the highway, lights on full beam. He then fiddled with the music player to fill the silence in the car, a light jazz instrumental tune played.

Yongsun was leaning her head sideways, choosing to fix her eyes outside the window. “Not bad, seems like she’s from a wealthy family?” It was slightly drizzling, Yongsun watched how the yellowed yet bright lights on the highway played in the droplets. As the lights passed through her eyes, she started to zone off like they were hypnotizing her.

“Nah not really. Her father is a retired managing director.”

“She likes you a lot.”

“Hmm, that’s true. Other than you, other women really like me.”

“What am I?” Yongsun woke up from her daze, self-mocking herself.

“You’re a pretty good partner, independent, smart, have your own ideas, and pretty too.” Eric responded enthusiastically, slightly steering the steering wheel left and right.

Yongsun scoffed, she leaned her head against the window.

Eric noticed the mood in Yongsun, he slightly turned his head to look at her and twisted his lips slightly. “You’ve drank a tad much tonight?”

“Happy for you, I guess. Once you’re married we can’t go drinking whenever we feel like it.” Her response lacked the sincerity, but Yongsun couldn’t care less.

“Yongsun, does my marriage… make you unhappy?” Eric actually thought that she was upset because of him, what was Yongsun even expecting from him?

Yongsun laughed bitterly. “Yeah. The last person who really wants me got married, looks like I’m hopeless.”

“Yongsun! I’m serious. Did you finally realised how good I am?” Eric raised his voice, she doesn’t know where he got the courage from, but he went ahead to hold one of her hands, much to Yongsun’s dismay.

Yongsun shook his hand away harshly and punched him hard on his arms. “Stop being so full of yourself, just get married quietly. And drive quietly.”

Eric pouted, he drove through the remaining journey quietly back to Yongsun’s house.

***

Yongsun got off the car, her legs made her felt like she’s floating. She swayed her way back home. She toppled a few steps onto the path, the buildings infront of her swayed like they were part of a funhouse mirror illusion. Another few more staggering steps, the nausea clawed at and the alcoholic liquid mixed with acid came splashing onto the small flower bed next to her.

Her stomach kept contracting violently, forcing everything up and out. Her face was covered in sweat, even tears. The pungent stench invaded her nostrils, she suddenly felt bad for the flowers. But she felt good, she was feeling suffocated for the past few days. Now that everything was all out at once, she felt contented. felt sore from the stomach acid that was layering it, and tasted of sour alcohol.

Just when she felt like she needed a bottle of water, she felt someone patted her back, even delivering a bottle of water to her. Could it be…? In an instance, Yongsun was in a trance, she even had unrealistic hopes. Perhaps when she turned around, she could see Byulyi leaning down looking at her, worriedly.

Even though she was so embarrassed, if it was her at this time, Yongsun thought she would take on pretense of the alcohol’s influence and fall into Byulyi’s embrace, she wanted to raise her hands and surrender. If she knew it would be so hard to leave, maybe, she might as well continue on the wrong path. As long as she’s with Byulyi, nothing really matters, anymore.

Yet, when she turned around, disappointment filled up in her heart.

“Unnie, you’ve drank that much? Come on, drink up and let’s get you into your bed.” Yonghye pushed forward the bottle of water.

She shouldn’t have hopes in the first place.

Wheein opened her eyes to the dimly lit room, though it was daytime the thick drapes were still closed. She wrapped herself in the duvet, waves of nausea adding on to her misery. Her brain felt like it would expand beyond the capacity of her skull, and now her dehydration was too obvious to ignore. “Hye..jin,” felt like sandpaper, it hurts just by moving, not to even mention swallowing. There was no answer, or maybe she wasn’t loud enough. She raised her heavy eyelids halfway only for them to fall shut. Just exactly how much did she drink last night for her to feel like now?

Maybe she could sleep it off, maybe she could sleep until Hyejin is home to check on her. She curled under the duvet and closed her eyes. She thought she’ll fall asleep, until she heard the door opening. She felt a dip in the bed, heat coming close to her.

“Wheein, are you awake?” the baritone of Hyejin’s voice reverberating through Wheein as she slides a hand through her hair, brushing it. The touch and her voice are so comforting to Wheein, she felt better already. She smiled to herself, “I am.” She piped up.

“There’s some pills and a glass of water here for your hangover, wash up and I’ll see you at the dining table.” Wheein felt a tight kiss to her forehead, she felt like she was in heaven. Once the door closed, she turned to the bedside table. She didn’t notice it before earlier on there was already a glass of water there. “Hyejin I love you so much.” She mumbled to herself.

***

The moment Wheein slide into her chair she was served an enormous platter of food. Scrambled eggs, ham and hash browns. A basket of warm freshly baked croissants alongside together with an elegant glass of orange juice.

Hyejin was wearing an apron that Wheein bought, but it was too cute for her. She smiled fondly at Wheein, gesturing for her to start eating with her eyes. She settled herself to the chair opposite Wheein and stared at her gobbling down the food.

Wheein stuffed full, until she felt a gaze lingering. She looked up and saw Hyejin’s eyes on her. She laughed embarrassingly, she looked up at the clock. It was two o’clock in the noon. Shouldn’t Hyejin be at work?

“Aunt chu shupposed to be at work?” Wheein asked with full.

Hyejin chuckled, this side of Wheein never changes. “Finish your food before you choke on it.” She grabbed a napkin and wiped Wheein’s mouth. “I went to work in the morning, and took the rest of the day off.” 

Wheein guessed it’s because of her, she didn’t ask anymore. She accepted that this was Hyejin’s way of being affectionate to her. Hyejin never neglected her work anyway, she had good self-discipline.

Hyejin drank a sip of orange juice, she then contemplated for awhile.

“What’s up?”

Hyejin was startled. “What?”

“You have something to say, don’t you?” Wheein asked, not looking at her as she continued eating her food.

“Ha-ha. You’re so smart.” She smiled, her eyes darting left and right, looking everywhere else except Wheein. Silence continued and Hyejin took it as a cue to continue. “So… how’s Yongsun unnie?” She pursed her lips, waiting anxiously. “I saw her last night and–”

She heard Wheein dropping her fork in a clank, she slightly flinched.

“I thought we agreed on not talking about th