After Dark (Prompts)

Personal Taste - 12

(Repost)

A/N: Sorry this update took so long! Mature content ahead.

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"How have you been, In-ah?"

Joo In-ah tried to make herself as comfortable as she could at the booth Han Jae-Kyung chose for them. "I've been very good," she shared with a smile, her thoughts going to Hoon. Focusing on her companion, she asked in return, "You?"

"It's okay. Work is the same, you know how our field is. Projects here and there and then you move on," he responded vaguely. Turning to the menu, "They have a good seafood pasta here," Jae-Kyung suggested.

"Alright, I'll try the seafood pasta," In-ah conceded. "What did you want to talk about, Jae-Kyung?"

"Nothing really," he replied after he placed their orders. "Do you want to try their white wine here?"

"Sure," In-ah said, a bit put off that he was so focused on the food orders but decided not to make an issue about it.

"I just wanted to catch up with you. It's been awhile and, even if we had a bad break up, I remember that we had a lot of good times, In-ah," Han Jae-Kyung said, his tone dropping to a seductive whisper, as if to remind her of their more intimate moments.

In-ah shifted in her seat, deciding to keep silent at the comment. It was an uncomfortable topic since she was the one who started that unconventional set up and how it ended up adversely affecting their lives. When they parted ways, she knew that no amount of apology would make up for everything that happened.

That said, In-ah was surprised at how this conversation was going especially given Han Jae-Kyung's anger with her the last time they saw each other. Additionally, she was surprised because she did not with to reminisce.

Han Jae-Kyung leaned in. "Don't you remember how good we were together, In-ah?"

Her heart beating loudly, In-ah was not only uncomfortable, she was also very nervous. "Jae-Kyung-ssi, I've moved on. There are certain things in my past I no longer want to look back on."

"Does that include me?" he pressed. Seeing that In-ah was close to leaving, he changed the topic. He pulled back and extended his regret. "Sorry. Anyway, tell me about work."

Thankful that the topic shifted to something else, In-ah smiled tentatively and answered guardedly, "Like you said there are a lot of projects and some are really good ones. I'm learning a lot from my recent assignments."

"Maybe I should re-apply at your company so we can be officemates again," Jae-Kyung said. "Maybe one day we could be assigned to the same project once more? "

In-ah knew what he was pertaining to. A common assignment was the reason they grew close enough for her to think she had fallen in love with him enough to beg her first husband to allow her to "marry" Jae-Kyung, too.

"Jae-Kyung-ssi, I told you I've moved on. I'm with someone," Joo In-ah said.

"That's never stopped us before," Han Jae-Kyung pressed.

Joo In-ah flinched. She deserved that, perhaps, but she wasn't going to take it. Standing up, In-ah pulled out some bills from her wallet and bid him goodbye. "If this is the reason why you wanted to catch up, then I'll just leave. I'm not open to these kinds of discussions. I'm with someone and I love him very much."

Han Jae-Kyung stood. "Sorry. Sorry. I'll stop. Let's finish our dinner please?"

Joo In-ah looked at him. This was a man she used to know, but his eyes no longer held warmth. "I've lost my appetite. It was nice to see you but I have to go now."