Her eyes drifted on me as if on cue. This is the very first time I saw her again, after all the years of spending my independent days on my home country, trying to live up the life the way my parents wanted me to. I have no regrets of leaving Seoul then, but seeing her now, made me feel otherwise. Or was it always like that.

I feel like there's a huge invisible wall separating us two now. Unlike before when we were still younger, when we were still... together? It was a brief moment of introduction between the friends and the couple. And I couldn't help but notice how the atmosphere grew awkward when I greeted her.

"Nice to see you again," I stopped to clear my throat before saying her name. "Jennie."

It's been so long since I've said that name. But the feeling was all the same like from the past. My breathing hitched when I felt her hand meet mine. That soft and tender handshake reminded me so much of yesterday. It was that same touch that sent me off. And the woman in front of me is the reason.

"I'm glad that you were able to come," she said in a monotone. I couldn't contain the happiness that crept within me, knowing how she didn't change after all the years. Amusement sketched on her face when I looked at her and I can't help but laugh a bit at that cute antic.

"I miss you," I casually said out of nowhere, even, I, was surprised to hear that myself. That was unexpected. Too unexpected that she quickly withdrew her hand from me before walking out to greet the other guests. What she did was what I was expecting. Always the Jennie I know. Always the one running away. Always the one breaking my heart.

All were busy with their conversations when I decided to have some fresh air. I stepped out on the balcony and was welcomed by the cold breeze of an autumn night. Somehow this reminded of her. Cold as night. But beautiful as the twinkling stars. I smiled at the thought.

I was spacing out when I heard the loud cheers from the people inside and the ting-sound of the glasses. From where I was, I saw her. On the arms of a man I'll never be.

°°°

This is an AU fanfiction meaning that the characters used are not representations of their real counterparts and the events that happened in this story are pure fiction. Some names of characters and places mentioned in this story have no relation whatsoever outside the imagination of the author.

No portion of this book may be produced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without prior permission of the author.