"What are our sales this past week on the new line?"
Hong Chang-sik scrambled to pull the sales numbers from his file in order for him to show them to Yoon Seri.
"Just a second, Chairman Yoon, my presentation is taking a little too long to load," Mr. Hong responded, nervously.
Seri turned her attention from the papers she was holding to the screen in front of her. "Is there something wrong with the file, Mr. Hong?"
Hong Chang-sik, familiar with the outbursts of his Boss, worried that the lag in opening the file would cause her to go on a tirade. "I'm sorry, Ma'am. The presentation function here seems to be problematic."
Yoon Seri sighed since she hoped to see the numbers at the soonest. However, she knew the challenges of remote communication. "Fine, have IT check on that and email me the file first so I can have a look. Other than this, all communication will be done via email from here on out, understood?"
Hong Chang-sik nodded. "Yes, Ms. Yoon. Is the conference in Busan so top secret that you cannot tell me what it's about? And we can only call you for emergencies?"
Seri dipped her head. "Yes, like I said. This is very important to me, so while I will respond to emails, I will not be on call 24/7."
After a few more reminders, Seri checked her watch and decided that it was time to end the call. Changing out of her work clothes, she decided to order dinner and set it up while she waited.
Project 2R was underway and she was going to do her best not to fail on it this time.
*
"Is it still possible to begin again?"
Yoon Seri felt nervousness like she never felt before when she uttered those words to Ri Jeong Hyeok. For years, she was always very calculating, never to show all her tricks because she wanted to make sure she secured the best deal for her.
However, this situation was different. This was Ri Jeong Hyeok, the one she had loved for a long time, the only man she wanted to marry and the man who still mattered to her even after years of being separated.
She didn't expect them to be together again so quickly. She wasn't naive.
Jeong Hyeok was understandably hesistant. After all, he was the one left in the rain, bawling his eyes out, confused as to why the love of his life suddenly broke up with him without a clear explanation.
Someone just doesn't erase ten years of hurt.
"Seri, I... I don't know," he responded, ruffling his hair. "A decade. I didn't know your reason for a decade and now... I just don't know how to process everything."
Seri nodded. "I understand. I know that things won't change overnight. All I'm asking is for us to be friends again. You were my best friend and I really want that back."
"Just the friendship?" He clarified.
Seri pursed her lips, hesitating but eventually deciding to be honest. "For now." Pushing her luck further, she continued, "We started our story by having coffee, so what do you say we restart this by meeting for a morning cup to start our day?"
"Seri —"
"I left you here years ago. This time, I'll be the one who'll wait for you," she said sincerely. "I'm here often but for the next week, I'll be here at 6am with two cups of hot coffee. No pressure. Just show up when you feel comfortable."
And so she waited.
Day 1 - She stayed for an hour but he didn't show up. Tears came to her eyes and she desperately tried to stop them from falling, but she failed. She expected this but it still hurt.
Day 2 - Seri came prepared with a book. Before she knew it, the hour passed and it was time to head to the office or else she would get stuck in traffic. She was nursing a broken heart but the world did not stop. There was still work to do. Like the previous day, she left the extra cup of coffee she brought, hoping it ends up with someone who needed it.
Day 3 - The rejection was starting to feel more familiar and she was some what numb. It wasn't a great feeling but at least she wasn't crying.
As she got up from her seat, a message came in her phone.
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"Please stop waiting for me. I know how it feels, it's not great. Please stop coming to the bench while waiting for me to show up."
Pressing the call button, she asked as soon as his voice came in, "Where are you?"
"Seri —"
"There you are!" She declared, catching sight of him in the slot where they always used to park. "Don't you want to come down?"
"Seri, don't do this. In spite of everything, I never wanted for you to feel the same hurt," he explained.
"Okay," was all she said. Then, raising the extra cup, she asked, "Do you want this coffee?"
"You won't give up on this, will you?"
"Nope," she replied, seeing a ghost of a smile on his face. Finally, he agreed for her to approach and hand him the cup. "It's a bit cold already."
"Thank you," he said. "How will you get to work?" When she pointed to her car, he nodded. "Would you mind not bringing your car tomorrow? I'd like to take you to work."
"Okay, but then I won't have a ride home," she said, coyly.
"Then... we'd have to make arrangements, won't we?"
*
RIIIIINNNNNGGGGG!
Yoon Seri's musings were interrupted by the hotel phone ringing. Quickly rushing to it, she heard the concierge provide the report she requested, "Ms. Yoon, the hotel transport has picked up your companion. There was just a slight delay at the airport that's why they're not here yet."
"Alright," Seri replied. "Please hand him the Economics journals I requested when we reserved this room."
"We will. Any other requests?"
"Oh! Don't forget to bring up his dinner once he arrives here. I don't want him hungry," she added. Soon, she replaced the receiver on the phone and headed to the floor-to-ceiling windows of their suite.
"Sorry for the deception, Mr. Hong," she whispered. "But I'm going to enjoy my private time in Jeju."
