“Wow, looks like someone is really making a name for herself.”

            Jinli looked up to see a figure hidden behind a large bouquet of flowers. The familiar voice made her smile and she stood. “Taewoon!”

            The man held away the flowers and smiled. “Surprise!” While she had been setting up the new office in Gangnam, he had stayed in Busan to finish up her clients for her. It has been a good five months since they’ve seen each other, despite constant phone calls and emails daily. Jinli couldn’t help but smile when she saw the man standing in front of her. He held out his arms for a hug she willingly gave.

            “Are you here to stay?”

            “Wherever you are, there I will be too,” he murmured into her hair and she felt only the tiniest drop of guilt and unease in her heart. Quickly, she stepped away and gave him a small smile.

            “I can’t wait to see you with your own office, and not just an assistant. You have great ideas and deserve to have clients who are rightfully yours.”

            Taewoon shrugged. “I don’t mind learning under you until I’m ready.”

            Once she was back at her desk, Jinli couldn’t help but steal glances at the handsome man sitting just a few yards away. It was no secret that he liked her. They got along well and she would be lying if she said she wasn’t even a little attracted to him. But just the thought of getting into a relationship made her feel as if she was betraying someone. Not that there was anyone to betray anymore.

            In the last half year, she had been pretty successful at putting Daehyun aside. She had erased all traces of her marriage, and even can’t remember where she put her ring. It was better this way. With a shake of her head, she focused once more on finishing the report. Her eyes strayed to the name of the client and saw that it was a Kim Jongup. A sweetheart and his shy smile flashed across her eyes and she sighed. It has been half a year since any of them have last contacted her. Not that she blamed them but sometimes she missed the friends her hus- no, he surrounded himself with.

            “Hey, let’s call it a day, why don’t we?” It was easier to find a distraction.

            Taewoon looked up and gave her a circled okay sign. “Where do you want to go?”

            “I don’t know. Surprise me.”

            He took her for dinner and then brought her to a cat café. It was all so simple and by the end of the night, Jinli felt her heart was warmed. “Thank you,” she smiled up at him. “You really don’t need to walk me home. I’m right around the corner.”

            Taewoon grinned. “As if walking my favorite person home is a chore to me. Be quiet and just let me enjoy your company.”

            When he stood in the lobby of her apartment building, she held out her arms for a hug. He seemed to hesitate. “Jinli, can I talk to you?” There was a slight tremble in his voice but a steely look in his eyes.

            Her heart immediately started to beat erratically. Call it intuition, but she had a feeling she knew exactly what he wanted to say. She took a deep breath and pointed at the elevator. “Might as well come up then.”

            He settled awkwardly on her couch. She rummaged in her cupboard for a mug. It has been a while since a man came over and she couldn’t help but give a cursory glance around the house to make sure there wasn’t anything embarrassing lingering about.

            “You really don’t need to go through all this trouble.” He came to stand behind her. Taewoon picked up her hands and took a deep breath before speaking again. “I’m sure this isn’t a secret, but I like you. Hell, I think I liked you ever since I saw you on your honeymoon. And I don’t know when the “right” time would be to confess to you, but I figured now might as well be as good a time as any. I don’t want to keep wasting time anymore. Jinli, I really, really like you and I was wondering if you would do me the honor of dating you, officially?”

            Her first instinct was to pull away and decline. But something kept her there. Maybe it was the gentle look he was giving her. Or maybe it was the breath of fresh air that was running through her veins. The smile widened across her face and she looked at him. “Yes. Yes,” she whispered. Taewoon’s face broke into the widest grin she has ever seen, but he still shuffled nervously, almost in disbelief. “Now kiss me already.”  

            Taewoon’s lips were thin and he had to bend down to kiss her. His large hands cupped her cheek and she inhaled his sweet scent. She tiptoed and wrapped her arms around his neck. The room was spinning. When they broke apart, both of them had shy smiles but flushed cheeks. It was everything that was innocent and sweet and delicate. His eyes went to her lips and he leaned in again, and after, Jinli couldn’t help but let out a giggle that burst through her chest like sunshine.

***

            Daehyun studied the exam paper in front of him. In just two more months, he would graduate with his Master’s in business and head back to Korea. He furiously wrote down formulas and then proceeded to explain the theory with his words. The last six months had been a different pace for him. He was able to bring his expertise into the classroom and also meet new people with different perspectives.

            After the exam was over, he threw his bag over his shoulder and got ready to take the subway downtown to his apartment when someone stopped him. “Hey, Daehyun, now that midterms are over, do you want to go grab lunch or something?”

            The woman who stopped him had been his partner for their last presentation. Daehyun smiled. “Sure, why not. Thai Market?” She nodded and together, they started to walk the three blocks to the popular restaurant.

            As they passed by the library, he glanced at the architecture and had a brief thought. Jinli would love the classical buildings. He let out a tiny sigh and his companion looked at him. “What’s wrong? The midterm surely wasn’t that bad. You’re top of our class.”

            Daehyun smiled a little. “I just thought of home, that’s all.”

            “Do you miss it? Are you going back to Korea after graduation?”

            “Yeah. I have new ideas for how I want to take the company and it’ll be exciting to implement them.”

            “Have you ever thought of staying here?” She asked this hesitantly and his heart plummeted. This was what he wanted to avoid. He didn’t need any misunderstandings.

            “Not at all. I actually came here because I went through a divorce and needed some time away. But I think I’m going to go back and see if I can try again.” He smiled kindly at his friend and saw her face drop for a few seconds.

            “Well then I can only wish you the best of luck.”

            Daehyun smiled. “Thank you.”

            Finding Jinli again wasn’t really the reason why he wanted to go back but he figured it was also one of the kindest way to let his classmate down without outright rejecting her. It’s been half a year and Daehyun was more excited to go back and implement a new branch for TS, and if all went smoothly, Jinli would be a part of the plan.

            He knew his friends have not kept in contact with her out of respect to him but a small part of him had hoped that Youngjae or Junhong or someone would have tried. He had been good about not looking her up but once in a while, he would and see that she’s done even better since going back to Seoul. She was able to work with the celebrities in Gangnam on their multi-million dollar apartments and was planning on opening a gallery. His eyes would skim the gossip column for news of a boyfriend or significant other but always came up empty.

            If she did have one, it was probably better that he didn’t know. And if no news was good news, well that only meant he still perhaps had whatever a chance he was going to take. That night, when he spoke to Youngjae, the question had danced at the tip of his tongue but he hid his curiosity away. It would be better to wait until he went back.

            But Youngjae, as always, saw right through him, even when it was over the phone. “Spill. What do you want to tell me?”

            “It’s nothing.”

            “Please. I’ve heard you hesitate all night. There must be something you want to say.”

            “It’s not necessarily something I wanted to tell you. I’s more of a question.”

            There was a long pause. “Daehyun, you know we don’t keep in touch with her.”

            “I know. I was just wondering. Good night, Jae. It’s midnight here and you should get to work.”

            As he was about to hang up, he heard Youngjae over the speakers. “But I can ask if you’re interested. I’m sure I can find out.”

            Daehyun smiled. “Thanks. It’s fine. I’ll be back in a few months. I should take some more time.”

            “Are you planning on coming back and finding her?”

            “I don’t know. I’ll leave that up to the circumstances. It’s been a great six months and I still have a lot more to do. I’ll be back in two more months. Time will fly by like it’s nothing.”

***

            Jinli smiled at the man across from her. In their two months together, he has taken her to places she’s never been before, and made her laugh harder than she had in a long while. He paused mid-bite and gave an almost embarrassed chuckle.

            “What?” He placed his fork down. "Is there something on my face?”

            “Yeah, handsomeness.”

            His nose scrunched and his eyes closed as he tried to control his laughter. “God, you can really come after my heart at the most sudden of times.” His shoulders were still shaking and Jinli giggled as she took a sip of her wine.

            “Happy two months, Taewoon.”

            Having recovered and regained his composure, he lifted his glass. “Happy two months, my love.”

***

            Daehyun watched as the sea of light blue gowns stood in unison and tossed his hat into the air. For a moment, the silhouette was captured against the sun and then it came spiraling back down into his hands.

            His classmates hugged him and he breathed a sigh of content. He couldn’t wait to go back home and start anew at the company. Over the past nine months, Yongguk had worked the business back and from reports, their stocks were soaring with new movie premiers. With his new idea of branching out, TS would be restored to its glory, better than ever.

            His friends were lined up outside the gates as he finally fought his way through the crowd. They had giant bouquet of flowers and Daehyun laughed. “It’s good to see you again.”

            Yongguk came forward to clasp him into a hug that the other four joined. “I’m proud of you, Daehyunnie.”

Yes, made Daehyun go to my alma mater because how great would it be to have him go to my college haha

Oh next chapter is going to be interesting and I wonder if any of you can guess what would happen hehe