Chapter 3

I stood by the door of Jin Hyuk’s room and watched as he quietly searched through papers on his desk and typed a few things onto his laptop in front of him. He’s been gone all day with my dad and the first thing he does is goes to his room to work. I didn’t want to bother him, but we didn’t come here for him to just work and stay in the room; we were supposed to be talking about our wedding plans, which would only be in a few months. I walked into the room and wrapped my arms around him from behind, making him look over his shoulders at me.

“Soo Jin~” He sang a little before he turned around so he could face me.

“I feel like I haven’t seen you all day.” I sighed before backing up to give him some space. “I just missed you.”

Jin Hyuk got up from his chair and picked me up with his arms before setting me down onto his bed behind us. “I’ve missed you too.” He leaned in and kissed my lips lightly. “Sorry about not seeing you all day because of business.”

“No, it’s okay.” I leaned back onto the bed and looked over at him with a smile. “What are you doing tomorrow?”

“I got a call from a company about a negotiation and my boss wants me to go check it out.” Jin Hyuk laid right beside me and brushed my hair from my face. “But I don’t want to go.”

I pressed my lips together in disappointment. I honestly didn’t want him to go either because it was only the second day and yet, we still haven’t done one single thing in Korea yet.

“I just want to spend time with you.” He continued before he pulled me roughly towards him and kissed me.

Jin Hyuk looked innocent, but whenever he wanted to kiss me, he would make sure to show that he really wanted to. He slowly wrapped one arm around my body while the other arm was near my neckline, holding me up to kiss him. His lips were warm and it felt like I haven’t kissed them in so long even though we kissed yesterday. His body pressed against mine, making me feel his warmth.

“I love you so much, Ahn Soo Jin.” Jin Hyuk said as he pecked my lips with his once more before he lifted himself from me and smiled. “It’s crazy how you’ll be mine in just a few months.”

I pulled him down for one more kiss. “I can’t wait.”

**

I stared at myself in front of my mirror, checking if my outfit would be nice enough for mine and Jung Ah’s lunch date. I wore a plain navy dress up shirt that went down to my knees and wrapped a thin tan belt around my waist under a grey colored blazer. For my shoes, I wore simple cheetah strapped heels, which made me look a little fancy, but I wasn’t in high school anymore. I had to look my age someday.

As I made my way into the kitchen, I found my mother pouring tea for herself and my father, who was sitting in the living room with Jin Hyuk, who was tying his tie around his neck to fit his suit. I walked over to my mother and set my purse onto the counter top and leaned forward to take a whiff of the tea that my mother had just brewed.

“You look lovely this afternoon, Soo Jin.” My mother commented as she eyed me up and down. “I didn’t know that you and Jung Ah were going to look good just for a lunch date.”

“I would’ve gone in a plain t-shirt and maybe a pair of ripped jeans, but it’d be nice to look a little more formal now that I’m turning twenty-five, right?” I grabbed my mother’s cup of tea and took a sip out of it. “Wah, this is good.”

“Pomegranate with a squeeze of lemon…” She winked.

“Homemade?” I asked.

She nodded. “Of course.”

“Wow, Soo Jin.” Jin Hyuk walked over and smiled at me cutely. “My fiancé is quite beautiful.”

“And you look very handsome.” I pulled Jin Hyuk’s tie and pulled him towards me with a playful smile. I would have kissed him, but my mother and father were all too close by. “Will you be gone all day?”

He nodded his head with a frown. “I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay.” I shook my head and patted his chest lightly as I sighed. “Work’s important, right?”

“If you say it like that, you make me feel even more apologetic.”

“It’s okay, really. I’ll be gone mostly all day anyway with Jung Ah.” I pressed my lips together and grabbed my bag on the counter. “I’ll see you later tonight.”

“Okay. Have fun.” Jin Hyuk pinched my cheek before I walked out the door, making sure to say my goodbyes to my parents.

**

I got to the restaurant before Jung Ah did, so I got us a table nearby the windows where we could look down at the city below us. I was actually kind of nervous to see Jung Ah again. It’s been so long and I didn’t know how to react if I saw her this very moment. I leaned back in my chair and touched the cool glass water with the tips of my finger, debating on whether I wanted to take a sip of water or not because I knew I’d probably have to use the bathroom right after.

As I looked out the window and watched people walk down the streets, I heard the chair across from me move. I looked over quickly only to see a Jung Ah sitting across from me with a pretty smile on her face. Jung Ah had lost weight ever since we had gotten out of high school. Remember when I said that she wasn’t too skinny, but she wasn’t fat either? Well, she was skinny now and she looked very pretty.

“I’m going to cry.” Jung Ah lowered her head and started to laugh.

“What? Why?” I reached over and grabbed her hand. “Why are you going to cry? We just got here? What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“I just missed you.” She looked up at me with tears filled in her eyes. “Oh god, this is how we’re going to meet again?”

“Oh shut up.” I slapped her hand and laughed. “I’ve missed you too.”

We quickly ordered food since we were super hungry and because we wanted to be able to talk without having anyone interrupt us. Jung Ah told me how she got into the medical field, how she learned to like what she was doing with her life, how she lost weight and how many guys started to hit on her making her feel like she was in my shoes because I used to get hit on a lot, and she also talked about how she technically found someone she liked, but they had broken up.

“So what about you then? How was life in Canada?” Jung Ah asked me as our food came out. “We didn’t talk often once you finally settled there.”

I nodded my head. “I know, and I’m sorry. I’ve been busy juggling with my studies and Jin Hyuk.”

“Oh right, Soo Jin.” She grabbed her fork and picked at one of her asparagus. “Tell me about this fiancé of yours that I haven’t even met yet.”

“His name is Kim Jin Hyuk and he works for a large corporation in Japan.” I took a sip of my water and soon regretted it; I had to go use the bathroom, but I think I can hold it for just a little while more. “He was residing in Canada to extend their business.”

“Ah, I see.” Jung Ah’s tone was sarcastic and I glared at her for it. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Why did you say it like that?” I asked.

“Say it like what?”

“Like… Like it wasn’t interesting?”

“Whatever. I just want to get to the point.” Jung Ah waved her hand as if she was blowing off the topic. “What made you want to marry this guy? Is he nice? Is it cos’ of the money? Or maybe it’s because you just couldn’t say no?”

“What makes you think that? I honestly love Jin Hyuk and I do want to marry him.” I was kind of offended from how she came off suddenly at me. “Jin Hyuk is working a good job and yes, he does make good money, but you think I want to be with him because of that? You know I’m not like that.”

“I know.” Jung Ah chuckled. “I don’t know why you’re getting so worked up. I was only joking around with you.”

“I hate you.” I rolled my eyes and took more water.

“But Soo Jin… Really…”

I looked up at her. “What?”

“Are you really ready to get married to this guy?” She asked. “I mean… Did you really get over him that quick and thought that this Jin Hyuk guy was better for you…?”

The words wouldn’t come out of my mouth no matter how much I wanted them to. I knew who she was referring to and I was positive that I was ready to get married. I mean, if I honestly didn’t, I could and would have said no.

“Soo Jin?”

“I’m sorry…” I shook my head apologetically. “I love Jin Hyuk and I know I’m ready.”

“What about –“

“Don’t say his name…” I bit my lip and looked away from her. “Just don’t say his name in front of me.”

“Did you suddenly forget about him even after all these years?” She whispered as if she was afraid to actually say this to me. “I still don’t understand why the two of you broke up…”

“Things just got complicated and we lost feelings.” I sighed. “And no, I didn’t forget him after all these years because he pops up every once in awhile, but… I j-just wish I could forget about him.”

Jung Ah stared at me sternly before sighing and chugging down her glass of water.

“Jung Ah, what are you doing?” My eyes widened at her.

“Have you talked to him at all?” She continued asking. “Like… Hi or anything?”

I shook my head. “I don’t think I need to.”

“Who would have thought this day would come.” Jung Ah looked at me and scoffed, as if this was some kind of joke suddenly.

“He was just someone who passed by.” I commented. “It’s nothing big.”

“He was a big part of your life, Ahn Soo Jin, and don’t freaking tell me that he wasn’t because every single person, including your parents and the whole school, knew he was a big part of your life!”

The corners of my lips slowly curved up to a small smile. “I wasn’t going to say that he wasn’t ever a big part of my life… Cos’ he was…”

“I… I just still can’t believe it, really. After all these years, the two of you never got back together or have talked once.” Jung Ah pulled at her hair jokingly. “It stresses me out that we were all rooting for you two and then it ended so quickly.”

“It was two years, Jung Ah.”

“Two short years, honestly.” She replied. “I mean, if anything, it felt like an eternity because of how much he loved you and showed it to you, but thinking back on it, it wasn’t that long.”

True, those two years were pretty short, but so many things happened between that time.

“But you know what’s long?”

“What?” I asked.

“The five freaking years of you being gone in Canada!”

I laughed. “Hey, hey. I am back now, aren’t I?”

“But aren’t you going back again after you get married?” She asked me. “You and Jin Hyuk are only back in Korea to get married and then are leaving again.”

“We’ve actually been talking about what we were going to do after we’d get married.”

“Wait… What are you doing for your wedding plans?”

“I don’t start figuring those things out till next week.”

“You better let me come so I can help you!”

“Of course.” I smiled.

We continued to talk more about the wedding and what we were going to be up to in the next few years of our lives. I couldn’t help but still be bothered about our conversation before that. I was ready to get married… Right…?

**

Jung Ah told me that I had to go check out a café that she’s been going to the past few years, claiming that they had the best bubble tea there and the staff there were really friendly, so that is how I ended up here. I opened the door and walked in, only to be greeted by a cute guy with monolids and a cute smile. I bowed my head to him and made my way to the counter to order.

“What can I get for you?” The guy asked smiling at me.

“Hmmm? What’s your best selling item?” I asked as I pulled my wallet out.

“It must be your first time in here.” He commented.

I nodded my head. “My friend recommended me to come here, saying that you guys had the best bubble tea.”

“Oh, we definitely do!” He exclaimed happily. “If you look up above, it shows the different flavors for bubble tea. If you don’t want bubble tea, we also have some smoothies, teas, and even coffee.”

“What do you recommend?” I asked him.

“I like coffee best.” He put a thumbs up cutely. “My coworker’s favorite bubble tea here is taro and his friends come here a lot for bubble teas too… Like choco bubble tea!”

“Choco bubble tea…?” My mouth felt dry because I knew who’s favorite that was if he were here right now.

“Would you like that?”

“No,” I shook my head. “Can I have mango bubble tea please?”

“Of course! Your total for this will be three dollars!” He said before I handed him the money.

I didn’t want to stay and sit, so I waited by the chalkboard that they had in the café and read some of the cute messages people left.

“Here’s your bubble tea, miss.” A familiar voice said.

I turned around with a smile and was just about to thank them, but I felt all the blood seep up to my cheeks.

“Soo Jin?” His eyes widened and I couldn’t help but feel the same shock as him.

“L-Lu Han…?” My voice shook.

Author's Note: Lu Han? I mean... There's still about twenty minutes left before his birthday is over here where I'm at! Happy Birthday to our Ludeer, who we all love and adore!!! Oh, and welcome him back to the story! :) Enjoy reading!