PROMPTS

Economics and Mr. Ri (9)

"Houston, we have a problem. Meet me at the coffee shop tonight."

Yoon Jisoo fidgeted with her bracelets as she waited for Song Hae In that night. He was coming off from his shift at the restaurant so he would arrive a little later than her. Of course, she understood. She knew that Hae In had the restaurant job on top of his teaching aid duties with Mr. Ri AND had time to indulge her in trying to get her sister and Mr. Ri back together.

For the past two weeks, Jisoo felt that they had some progress. She slowly dropped hints to Seri that she was interested in someone. "Would it be weird if the person is a teacher's aide? That's not against the school rules, is it?"

Seri frowned, "Well, I don't know but it's best to check so that you won't face any trouble."

"But Mr. Ri is giving us such a difficult time. Loading him with so much work," Jisoo whine on a pretend slight.

Seri frowned. "The guy is Jeong Hyeok's aide?"

Jisoo shrugged. "I don't know," she deflected.

Narrowing her eyes, Seri let it go at that time. "Alright. Well, let me know if you want me to talk to Mr. Ri." After that, Seri shared, "You know, I've been thinking about my dating life as well."

"Oh? How so?"

Seri closed the magazine she was reading and turned to Jisoo who was seated on one of her wing chairs. "Well, I'm no longer young and I do want to fall in love and get married. Maybe... maybe I should start dating again."

"But, I thought you'd never love someone again like you loved Mr. Ri before?" Jisoo asked.

"Yes. However, maybe I should make peace with that past and move on," Seri mused. "He's doing great and achieved all his dreams, why shouldn't I reach for mine?"

"Why not do that with Mr. Ri?" Jisoo pressed.

Seri narrowed her eyes at her sister. "Why do you keep bringing up your professor?"

"Nothing," Jisoo immediately deflected. "Have you... considered dating Mr. Ri again?"

Seri remained silent but had a sad look on her face. "I..." Whatever she was going to say was interrupted by Jisoo's phone going off, her lock screen showing the photo with Song Hae In. "Hey! That's the guy from the restaurant!"

"He... I... uhm gotta go, sis!" Jisoo jumped up and did not allow Seri to catch up with her. However, since that day, Jisoo found out from Seri's assistant that she had a few nights blocked to meet a special person. 

"I think it's a date," Hong Chang-sik, the executive assistant, told Jisoo in confidence. "But they're so secretive, we cannot even find out where Ms. Yoon goes. She just disappears for that night and then we see her with a nice smile the next day."

"Do you think she had a boyfriend now?!" Jisoo asked. 

"Oh, well, I don't know but she's certainly going out now and has much more personal time than she used to have on her calendar. Previously, her only personal time off was with you," Hong Chang-sik said. "Now she has these hours blocked off which she marked only with "2R."

Jisoo nodded. "You have to get more information, Mr. Hong. I need to make sure this man is good for my sister. If not, I have the perfect candidate for her. We have to make sure she ends up with my candidate."

At present, while Jisoo waited for Hae In, she thought about Seri. If she were truly dating and was happy with whoever she chose, Jisoo would accept that. Her sister deserved to be happy. However, until she was sure that Seri would end up with a good man, she was going to push for her Seri and Mr. Ri reunion agenda.