We were in the restaurant. 

It was peaceful. 
Strangely empty. 
There was just a couple of people here and there, but huge number of tables were empty. 

It was as if they could feel the tension between us and left in response. 

” Excuse me, is Chef Joon inside? ” you asked a passing waiter. 

That waiter eyed at you suspiciously. 

” Well.. he is.. Do you want me to call him over ? “ 
You nodded. 

He left. 
You awkwardly went back to face Daehyun who was staring at you. 

He keeps doing that. 

"Who’s ..that Chef...Joon? "he asked cautiously.

He..can’t be jealous can he?

You smirked, “My favourite oppa!”

You waited for the change of his face, but all he did was nod thoughtfully.
Sometimes you wonder why are you teasing him like you used when nothing now is like it used to.
Perhaps,.. 
You still desire everything to be like the past.. 
Perhaps-

"JiYeon?" a familiar husky voice called out.

"Oppa! " You dramatically stood up and hugged him.

He chuckled, “Aigoo.. What’s with you?” 

You broke off the hug.

"Oppa, urms.. "you fiddled with your fingers, "Do you remember..two years back, "you soften your voice, " that request I made? "

He raised his eyebrows, he made a slight eye contact to the person, Daehyun, behind you.

"Is.. He..?" 
You nodded hiding from your Oppa's eye contact.

He his lips nervously.
"I..will try my best. You made a sudden appearance and .. I didn't have time to prepare. " 

You chewed your lips,.. Yes. It was a silly request. 
You're being silly.

Honestly, you didn't know why you decided to come here too..

You just, .. followed your heart.

 

"I understand Oppa.. " you lowered your head. 
"Can you prepare two steaks for us, and.. and..this time,...  "

You soften your voice and leaned closer to his ears, "I'm not leaving him anymore. " 
He smiled and helped you, "I'll do what I can for you lil' sis! "

 

He ruffled your hair and made his way back into the kitchen.

You caught Daehyun glaring at that man.
You giggled, he heard you and immediately change his glare when he saw you staring.
 

You sat down,

"So.. " 
he didn't know how to finish the sentence. Or rather, he don't know how to start the conversation.
 

Here's the real deal. The moment you've been dreading. 
Should you wait for him to ask or you tell him?


 

Your mouth spoke on your own. 
"I'm.. " you hesitated a little. 
Be brave Baek Ji Yeon, "happy to see you too. "
 

His eyes widen, "Sorry what?" 
Then as if something hit him, he immediately nodded awkwardly and acknowledged your conversation starter.
 

You were replying to his greeting during the interview.

He bit his lips, almost as if wanting to say something.

How are you, should you say it?


 

"How are you? " he asked. 
The awkward usual conversation starter. 

"Fine, " you gave a faint smile, what a lie it was. 
"You? "

He nodded.

Conversation ended.


 

"I've... " he looked up, and you instantly forgot what you want to say.

He tilted his head slightly as if probing you to continue, "I've arrived yesterday. Korea I mean, I reached Korea yesterday. " your sentence had became so weird.

He nodded. It was almost as if he knows.

Conversation ended. 


 

"Urms.. B.A.P is promoting a new song." he..tried. 
You grinned, "Yeah, I've heard it. It's good." 

Conversation ended. 




Both of you took turns to take a sip of water, as if forming your own couple dance, alternating with each other's sipping of water. 



THANKGOODNESS. 



The same waiter has arrived. 
He has set up the utensils on both tables. 

He left. 

Both heads busy with thoughts to start conversations. 

He came back. 
He set down two plates of salads. 

Both of you chewed on the greens, as if savouring the goodness within,
When in reality, both of you were realising the awkward tension and hoping chewing slowly would ease it. 




"So..you're a journalist now? " Daehyun asked with his mouth full. 

You chuckled at the sight of it, and nodded. 


"I.. pursued it.. and urms, managed to ... " you didn't know how to phrase it. 

You didn't want to make it seem like without him, you achieved success that could not be achieved with him. 
Even if that's the fact, you hope he would view it ... like a friend. 
Like a friend updating each other's lives. 
That's the least you expect, since he has moved on. 

"to land in this job.. " that's the best you could come up with. 



Sometimes, the power of words, is greatly underestimated by many. 

It's better to keep it minimal, so both parties won't be hurt.. eventually. 




He nodded. 

He looked at your eyes, for a rather long time. 
It seems he has difficulty forming his sentences too. 


"I'm happy for you. " 
You felt at loss, and almost blushing. You don't know why. 
Why are you blushing at his words? 

" I'm happy that you've achieved your dream. " He said the next line, with emotions. 
You.. really could feel his happiness. 



Daehyun, are you for real? 

Aren't you hurt that I left you to achieve my dreams? 

Please don't make me confused Daehyun. 
Please don't let me fall in love with you again. 


Your mouth was slightly opened for sometime. 
You realised. 
Your brain froze, suddenly the simplest syllable could not be uttered. 



"T-Thankyou. " 

Even though we have seven years ..well,  nine years of knowing each other. 
The simplest greeting sounds so formal. 


Your heart ached. 
Was this your causing? 
If you had never left, would both of you be living the "Happily Ever After" in movies? 

They are afterall, just movies. 

You went back to chew on the last carrot on your plate. 

You heard some clanking, he probably followed you. 

The waiter appeared again. 
Two plates of steak. 

The way he likes it. 
How it was nicely grilled. 
And the sauce coated.. 
The tender meat. 
He loves it. 

You had requested it two years ago.
It meant to be a meal to remember. 

It meant to be at the eighth time when both of you arrived at this restaurant, it meant to be the last part, last part of your mission. 
To have one last meal, together. 
A meal to remember. 

You giggled at his eyes sparkling at the sight of his favourite food. 
He loves it, he always has. 

You're kind of happy things are the way it is now. 
At least, just at least, after this meal, you won't be saying goodbye like you had planned to two years back. 


"Whooa.. I missed this steak! " 

You grinned. 

He devoured that steak. 
And the awkward tension previously seems to have disappeared. 

You stared at him eating.. 
Daehyun-ah, why are you so cute when you're eating? 

He slowly looked up, almost as if knowing you were staring. 
He held a smirk. 
" Why? " 
He used his hands to support his chin as he smirked at you. 

" You.. can't eat, because I'm too.. handsome? " 
He had a flash a concern, but it immediately disappear. 

You grinned. 
You bit your lips and kept silent for a while. 

" Yes. " 

You hurriedly lowered your head at the feeling of your cheeks being flushed. 

You could hear him chuckling. 

You forcefully and hurriedly tried to cut the steak to ease the awkward tension. 

You saw a hand approaching. 

He was smiling at you, and bringing the plate to himself. 

He, was ever so gently, basically so gentleman-ly cutting your steak into bite-size. 

He had a smile on his face.

You couldn't help but smile. 
For once it seemed that.. 
Both of you never had that scar in your hearts. 

Both of you were still, as one, even after nine years. 

It felt like it. 

He returned back a smirk, and brought the plate to your side and continued eating his steak. 



" We'll only end promotions in three weeks time. "

You saw his effort to make the situation comfortable. 

You nodded, " Yeah.. " 

It seemed, he only can talk about his work. 
And you can only talk about yours. 

No longer about the dreams of the future, the moments of the present and the celebrations of the past. 

But just work. 


You tried, " I like your new song. " 
He beamed,
"I happened to read up on you guys, " trying hard to maintain eye contact

"I saw some of the variety shows you've went. The interviews you've been to .. " 

His eyes widen. 

And yours did too. 
You suddenly remembered the video you've watched. 

Ji Yeon, be professional now. Be Professional. 

" I-I.. was researching on questions to ask you guys.. " 
You said firmly. 

He seems to have something in his mind. 

"You guys are so popular, many questions have been taken away,.. I had such a hard time crafting questions. " you tried to joke, possibly hiding that flash of fear in you, that he knows you've seen that video. 


He seems restless. 

If we're thinking the same thing, Daehyun. I'm fine. It's fine. 
I know its a show. 
Just a show. 
You understood. He can't possibly say he don't care, he has million of fans looking up to him. 
He can't possibly say much. 
He can only say he will get back together. 
It may be a concept his company forces him to. 

It..may be a white lie. 

Stay strong Ji Yeon. 


"Did you happen to.. see .." he asked cautiously.. 

He stopped. 

He hesistated, " I mean.. urm you're a Baby right? I mean.. our fan.
Yes, our fan name, Baby. You're still one ya? " 

He looks nervous. 
Almost as if hiding something. 

You nodded, 

The truth is you've not checked up on them for two years. 

But a white lie, just like what he had done. 
You gave a smile. 


He nodded. 
His steak was almost finished. 

This dinner is getting no where. 
Maybe it was a idea. 



" I'm... " he said suddenly and stopped moving his utensils. 

He looked up, " JiYeon's fan. " 

Your eyes widen. What?

He smiled, his killer smile. 
"I'm your fan. "