A breath of fresh air

"Nice meeting you again," a man's voice distracted Amy from her thoughts.

When Amy looked around to see who it was, she was so stunned that she lost her balance and almost tripped.

"Woah, Woah, Woah," the man's extended arm caught Amy from what could have been her most significant humiliation.

"S-sorry. I m-mean, thank you" Amy gathered herself. She can feel her cheeks burning and her ears producing smoke. "You're such a lifesaver."

"Do you recognize me?" The man in front of him asked excitedly.

"Um, how do I say this?" Amy blushed once more. "I'm a fan!" She said it loudly, making other people on the balcony stare at them to see what was happening.

"Of course, I know you. Your Jim of Axis21. I've been to your concerts back in country Q and listened to all your songs. The last four years were particularly hard for me, but listening to your songs gave me the strength to push through and achieve my goals." Amy mumbled, totally fangirling.

Jim rubbed the back of his hair, blushing in front of the girl who was beet red from her own confession. "Well, that's nice to know. That's why we do what we do," Jim said softly.

There was silence between them. Amy doesn't know what to say or do. She has never been this close to any of her favorite KPOP groups, especially AXIS21. Since their last concert in country Q, Axis21 released 2 full-length albums and did a world tour. They also have won awards worldwide and recently won "best duo/group" from the prestigious Gamma Award.

"So…" Jim spoke, breaking the tension between them. "Why were you frowning? I couldn't help but notice you out here because you were sighing so much" Jim then swiftly bent his body to match the height of the railings and looked at the night view from the city.

Amy grabbed another champagne from the waiter and followed Jim's gaze towards the city lights. "I've been offered a job that I would really love to do, but if I accept it, then I might have to stay away from my family again and," she paused to drink her champagne, "and might not have the chance to date and potentially find the man for me" Amy whispered as her voice cracked.

"You know, sometimes, it only takes one bizarre interaction. You might not know it, but it could be destiny handing out the man of your dreams for you" Jim smiled, his gaze still fixated on the city lights. "You might even have met your dream lover before; you just don't know it."

"That would be nice unless your job requires you to stay in the hospital for 72 hours and read case files after case files until your head explodes. There's no way I will find him at work." Amy said as she pouted.

"Who said it has to be in the hospital?" Jim turned his back now, looking at the people inside the ball.

"Here? Very unlikely *hic* Amy said. "Half of the men here are my superiors that are mostly half my age, mind you" *hic* or and the other half could be the chaebols* who are likely too young or are engaged to another rich, beautiful woman."

Amy raised her glass as if making a toast and drank the last bit of her champagne. "That's my destiny for you," gulping the last bit of her champagne.

"I didn't think that through, did I?" Jim chuckled as if teasing Amy about her misfortunate love life.

Amy looked at Jim, her red cheeks flushed from alcohol, her eyes glistening. "I think it would have been nice to have someone celebrate your success with and mourn your failures with."

Jim met Amy's eyes and felt the sadness within. Has she been struggling all this time? Jim can't help but wonder.

Amy blushed when she realized that he was looking at her. 'How can someone be this handsome' she thought. Jim had his hair parted sideways; he looked like a prince every damsel in distress dreamed of. He was wearing a 4-piece tuxedo complementing his broad shoulder and long legs. As Amy studied his face, she thought Jim's lips were unfamiliar; plump, smooth, strawberry red. 'His lips are so sexy,' Amy thought, alcohol filling her brain. It's as if she'd seen them before.

"Dr. Amy?" Jen said, interrupting Amy's not-so-friendly thoughts.

"Some of the directors and private sponsors are leaving. It's best we say our farewell and leave as well".

Amy looked at Jim, who was still staring at her. Amy blushed and was overwhelmed with a sense of familiarity. "It was nice meeting you. I hope we see each other soon" Amy smiled and waved goodbye to Jim.

Jim stood there frozen. Who would have expected that he would see her here? "Dr. Amy," Jim scoffed. He didn't expect her soft voice and sweet smile to shake his heart uncontrollably. 'She still has that loneliness in her eyes, but man, she's gorgeous.' Jim blushed.

'I need to get close to you,' he prayed. 'I need a good excuse to see you again since you don't remember me.'