I mostly stayed home and helped mom out. It was a bit refreshing to just simply do things we both used to do. Too soon, it was time for me to go to the restaurant. I picked out a dark blue dress with sunflower prints. To complete the look, I took a peach colored coat.

I decided to take a cab, this time. The restaurant was a Korean restaurant and was leaning towards the high end class. I was about half an hour early but I was more than okay with it. Gives me more time to gather my thoughts and my courage as well.

Walking inside the restaurant, I recognized a familiar face. At one of the tables facing the sea was Eric and opposite him on the table was a short haired, blonde girl whose frame was rather slim and has a fair complexion. Eric was looking at the girl with a smile and the adoration was simply palpable. I couldn’t help but be happy for him and at the same time curious. All thoughts of my real goal for being in the restaurant fled and I was soon walking towards their table. Others may see it as an intrusion but my curiosity was getting the best of me.

I was just a few feet away from Eric’s and his date’s table when he probably felt my presence and looked up to see me. He immediately smiled and said something to his date. When the girl turned around with a really sweet sincere smile on her face, I felt at ease and increased the speed of my steps to approach them.

Once at their table, Eric stood up, helped me to my seat, all while introducing me to his date.

“Choa, this is my best friend, Seungyeon. Seungyeon-a, this is Choa, my fiancée.”

Wow! I know I looked utterly surprised but this was good news. I turned and extended my hand to the petite and pretty girl in the table.

“Hi! It’s my real pleasure to know you.”

Smiling ear to ear and instead of reaching for my hand, she stood up and hugged and said, “Gosh, I finally get to know you. I’ve heard so many things about you. I was so excited to meet you and to have you here…” She ended it with a giggle. “Gosh, I’m rambling. I’m just so excited.”

“Wow! I haven’t been in contact a lot and I am super happy to see him with you.”

We had a nice quick chat and they told me about how both of them met. Choa was one of the doctors in the rehabilitation center that Eric went to in the first few months he was here. They were able to create a good relationship then and eventually decided to date. After a few years of dating, they both decided to tie the knot. There were lots of laughing and giggling while Choa and I exchanged stories about Eric and it was all good and fun.

Choa’s phone rang and she excused herself as the call was about a patient in the hospital she was working at. With just Eric and I on the table, I turned to tell him how happy I was to find out about his engagement.

“I’m happy you finally found her.”

“I’m really ecstatic as well. Her taking a leap of faith on me, a guy can’t just be too lucky.” He said with such a silly grin on his face I couldn’t help but get jealous.

“You’re happy ending may just be around the corner, you know.” He added and winked at me. I was about to respond but a bit of a commotion near the entrance caught my attention.

I turned my head to see what was happening and it was like a bucket of cold ice was dumped on top of my head. There, on the entrance of the restaurant, was Jonghyun and Yoona, followed by a few media personnel.

I again felt like I had no control over my body and immediately felt my eyes tear up. I gulped a few times to get hold of myself and somewhere in between the seconds that I was calming myself, I felt Eric hold my hand to send me his reassurance. He still knows how to calm me down.

I looked straight at the couple. My own feelings at debate. I wanted Jonghyun to look at me but at the same I don’t want him to. If he looks at me now, he’ll see the hurt in my eyes and right now, I don’t think I can handle the pain and a cut to my pride. But if he doesn’t look at me, I may never find out why they were together and how he can explain it to me. There was also the media people that may complicate things.

A few seconds after, the situation resolved itself when I finally saw Jonghyun looked my way and I saw the recognition in his eyes. But a few seconds after, he looked at someone on my back and I could see his face turned a bit grim. Shouldn’t I be the one looking grim? Was he not the one with the woman by his side while the paparazzi follow them?

“She can’t hurt you now.” I heard Eric said and I slowly turned my head. Realization dawning on me. Jonghyun saw me and Eric but Choa was not around. So it would seem that like him, I was also alone with a man, the same man he saw yesterday.

“Are you okay? She shouldn’t be able to affect you like that.” I again heard Eric and realized he was worried about me because of Yoona. I started to get puzzled. I was really worried since yesterday and the whole of today because of the meeting I had with her. But the moment I saw Jonghyun with another woman, all thoughts left my mind. Geez, what is happening with me? Get a grip on yourself.

I gave a weak smile and told Eric I was fine. Before I could add more, I felt Jonghyun’s presence beside. Don’t ask me how I know it was him. I just knew.

“Seunyeon-a, Eric-ssi, what a surprise.” I could hear the sarcasm dripping at every word he uttered. At that very moment, I didn’t know how to react. I could barely manage my expression of pain, control the tears from my eyes and to add to that, I feel a certain pain at how he looked and talk to him as if I betrayed him Me, betray him? Wasn’t it the other way around?

“Fancy meeting you both here.” Yoona said as she was still standing right beside Jonghyun. My only consolation that time was that she was only standing beside him and not linked with him. Also, he looked as flustered as I am.

Yoona’s and Jonghyun’s manager called them both to move to their table but Jonghyun said that they could just join Eric and I. I and their manager was about to protest when Eric interjected and agreed to it. A waiter was immediately right next to us, to clear and fix the tables and chairs.

Once everyone was seated, there was the awkward silence. Yoona’s manager, a guy I knew from the entertainment company started the conversation by congratulating me and Jonghyun about our relationship which I accepted and thanked him for.

From the same viperous lips came the remark, “I wonder where you gut the guts. You sure made yourself known.”

The whole table went absolutely dead still. I looked straight into her eyes and I saw the condescending look from her. How can she even look at me like that when I was the wronged one? But you cannot always claim to be the victim, at some point, you’ll have to make a stand.

Before I could retaliate, I heard Eric say, “As they all say, nothing gained, nothing ventured. What have you gained, dear old friend, a few fake feathers? ”

I was surprised when Eric said that. To anyone, it may not really mean a lot but to the three of us, it was a remark of pure hatred. When we were young, other kids would and Yoona about birds of the same feather flocking together since they both did not have their parents with them. We’d shout back that at least we were birds and not snakes. This made them a tad bit happier but whenever they would feel down, I’d tell them that it didn’t matter whether we all have the same feather, so long as we were all birds that’ll soar high above the sky. Unlike snakes who won’t be able to fly and can only slither their way around others.

The managers both cleared their throats. Knowing full well that the tension was too palpable. But like any other Korean drama, which makes me think what my life has suddenly become, a new person arrived. He, according to the introduction is supposed to be the producer of Yoona’s next drama. With this next project, they were hoping to get Jonghyun as the other actor.

As they proceeded to talk, I would play with my food or sometimes look at the others. Making sure to avert my eyes from Jonghyun. I don’t know why but I was scared to see what his reactions were.

“So, Seungyon-ssi, I was just wondering why you were with Eric today?” From out of nowhere, Yoona asked me.

“Can’t a person have dinner with her friends?” Eric immediately jumped to my rescue.

“I’m pretty sure that’s alright. But from what I can see, Jonghyun was rather surprised to see Eric with you today.”

I could see that she sensed the tension between Jonghyun and I and that she wanted to make it even worse. I kept quiet but this time, turned to look at Jonghyun who was sitting beside me at the round table to see what his reaction was. His face was still grim but I could see that he was now frowning and staring holes at Yoona. I also saw him quickly brush Yoona’s attempt to hold his arms.

Then I heard him say, “There is no need to ask this questions. I let her, my girlfriend, go if she met her friend. Because I trust her. Whatever she does, I like her and I believe she likes me, I don’t need to say ‘Don’t go.” Placing emphasis on the words girlfriend and trust.

After saying that, he turned to look at me but did not say anything. I do not know if I should be glad or be mad. It was all quite confusing for me.

“Oh, sorry to interrupt. I didn’t expect for our group of three to become this big.” There was an obvious surprise and amusement in Choa’s face when she finally came back.

Eric laughed and replied, “Looks like everyone wanted to celebrate on our engagement, dear.”

“I’d love to stay for the party but it seems like I’ll need to go. There is a rather large emergency at the hospital and my expertise is required.”

Eric then stood up and both he and Choa bid their goodbyes and left.

I felt like a rabbit in a rabbit hole. I needed saving and at right at that moment, I felt the universe conspired. Jonghyun, grabbed my hand and held it in his. I looked up to him and his grim features now looks wistful. He seemed deep in thought while he looked at his plate, rubbing my hands with his thumb. It was a very small gesture but tantamount to a mountain of trust. At that very moment, I knew, we were able to get over one of the many hurdles ahead.