When I appeared before her, she smiled. The emptiness inside me was melted. The airiness I felt almost brought me to my knees. I...wanted to hug her but I didn't.
I smiled back.
"Jaeha-ya."
My name held the familiarity that only old friends could hold.
"It's been a while."
"It has."
We were sitting at her regular cafe.
"So what brings you here?"
"This is quite a few miles from Korea."
Her face resting on her hand.
"I-I'm here for a job."
I lied.
"What do you do now?"
"I'm working as a freelancer. I do what I can do. Gathering information, trailing people, but nothing too illegal."
"Jobs with medium risks and high rewards." I shrug.
"Jaeha-ya, what are you doing here."
"Fate, maybe." I say lightly jokingly looking down at my lap.
"How long are you going to be here?"
"I took a longer contract, it might take a few years. It's a big job." The lies flowed so much easier now.
"Is Anna here with you then?"
I look straight into her eyes.
"I am dead to her."
A crack in her perfect facade. She rearranged her face. Pretending not to care.
"What do you mean?"
"We got bored of eachother." I look out the window.
"You know how young love is. It's volatile; passionate at first but soon it burns out." I say nonchalantly.
"How did Anna take it?"
"Do you see yourself in her?"
My question came out more bitter than I wanted it to.
Her cup clashed against the saucer.
I continued.
"Like I said, I am dead to her. She'll find someone new. She's a nice girl."
Unlike you, you villian. I wanted to add but thought otherwise.
She took another sip.
"Right." She agreed.
"At a better time, at a better place, had we met, we might be friends."
"Do you remember those words."
She smiled. A genuine one this time.
"It is a better time, a better place."
"It is." she agreed
She took another sip; both of us looking out the window, faint smiles on our faces; something squeezing at my heart.
"I love you."
The cup on the floor. A waiter rushes to clean up.
"Jaeha-ya don't joke with me, I could be your mother."
I hold her shaking hand.
"But you're not."
"Jaeha-ya." She pleads, her eyes weak.
"I lost you once, not again."
"Is this why you're not with Anna?"
"You're mistaking survivor's guilt for something it's not."
I left some money on the table, including the price of the broken cup and some.
I took her with me to her house. The entire walk she kept quiet.
I open the door with the key I made. Looking at this, she tried to say something.
Before she could say anything, I trapped her between the door and me, my lips on her's.
_____
Please vote, comment and share.