High School Reunion

Ha-na stared at her reflection for the tenth time in her vanity mirror. She felt her belly flutter at the thought of sitting among her high schoolmates once again after such a long time.

Although she had had ample opportunity to attend her high school reunions, she had always avoided it for reasons she'd rather not dwell on.

She slipped on a matching set of earrings and a necklace when her doorbell rang. Her grandmother's voice rang out. "Someone's at the door, Ha-na, will you go and check?"

"Yeah, I'm going!" Ha-na made her way to the door. She was certain it would be Soo-ah, and her suspicions were confirmed when she looked at her video intercom system and saw Soo-ah waving merrily.

As soon as she opened the door, Soo-ah's cheery face went from gleeful to amazement. "Woah!" she sized Ha-na up with astonishment. "You're all dolled up!"

Ha-na's lips twitched in a grin, noting Soo-ah's well-permed hair, matte makeup, and black bodycon dress. "You don't look so bad yourself."

She stepped aside to allow Soo-ah deeper into the house. Soo-ah's brow arched up in a suspicious query. Ha-na was not liking the impish glint in her eyes.

"You didn't happen to dress up this nicely because a certain someone is coming to the reunion, did you?"

"Ahh, who is this certain someone? Is there something I'm missing out here?" Min-seo wheeled her wheelchair over to Soo-ah. There was a big smile on her curious face. Soo-ah exchanged greetings with her cheerfully, then she carried on naughtily.

"Ha-na's high school boyfriend, Su-ho, is coming to the reunion tonight!"

Both ladies turned their taunting gazes towards Ha-na. Ha-na wasn't liking the sudden scrutinization. "You both are making me feel like I should sit this reunion out too!"

"No, not at all!" Soo-ah threw up her hands in the air in a protestation of innocence. "It's just that you never willingly go anywhere except work – not dates or reunions. I didn't even have to grovel before you agreed to this one!"

Ha-na knew Soo-ah was right. She initially hadn't intended to attend the reunion, planning to cast it aside just as she did the others – as she'd always been embarrassed to let her mates know that she didn't attend college or have a college degree. 

But when she heard that Su-ho was coming, she was curious about him. But most of all, she wanted to clear all her doubts about Ji-hoon bearing an excessive semblance to Su-ho as it bothered her a great deal. She needed to prove a point to herself and regain her peace of mind.

"Ha-na, we're running late! Everyone is present at the reunion already except us!"

"I'm coming, just a sec!" Ha-na made finishing touches to her appearance and hurriedly grabbed her purse. The moment she was out of her room, Soo-ah hauled her out the door.

"Let's call a cab!"

***

They arrived at the reunion venue, a tall, hotel building soaring to the apex of the urban skyline. Under the allure of the velvety night and vibrant street lights, it sparkled golden like a jewel.

Ha-na felt the coolness of the night caress the naked skin of her back. She felt her senses tingle with apprehension of the impending get-together. So far, she had managed to avoid it and now that she was here, she suddenly felt she had made a grave mistake coming.

But before she could change her mind, Soo-ah grabbed her hand, enthusiastically pulling her towards the building. "Let's head in, the others are waiting!"

They stepped into an elegant dining area. Situated towards a glass-panelled wall that offered a tantalizing view of the radiant night outside, was a large banquet table.

It was crowded with half-drunk glasses, beer bottles, ceramic plates, and more than a dozen people laughing, chattering, and drinking. The moment Ha-na and Soo-ah approached, they got a boisterous welcome.

"Ahhh, finally! Soo-ah is here!" A burly guy in a black t-shirt raised a glass containing an amber liquid in salutation of Soo-ah's presence. "Let the party begin! Waiter, more drinks over here!"

His declaration was met with shouts of enthusiasm and spirit. Soo-ah went around greeting the people present, while Ha-na stood awkwardly aside, watching the scene.

Her eyes scanned the persons seated around the table as if seeking something, but her silent quest was broken when Soo-ah tugged her forward. 

"Guys, Ha-na is joining us today!"

Soo-ah's enthusiastic announcement was met with many surprised stares. The guy that hailed Soo-ah earlier – whom someone had referred to as Dong-ha – stood up from his seat among a group of guys and came towards Ha-na.

"Is it you, Oh Ha-na?" He blinked, regarding Ha-na as if he were meeting some celebrity for the first time. "Is it really you?"

He leaned back to get a full picture of her. "Wow! You look great, Ha-na! I'd given up hope you'd ever visit us since you became a big boss!"

Placing his hands around his hips, he glanced briefly at the others crowded around the table, gesticulating. "Hey guys, make room for Ha-na to sit down! We've got ourselves a high-level company CEO tonight!"

A couple of shuffling later, and Ha-na is nestled comfortably in a seat by the centre of the banquet table. She plastered a big smile on her face, uncomfortable by the sudden attention from everyone at the table.

"Ha-na, we heard you run a big matchmaking agency here in Seoul," a girl with dark, wavy tresses, whom Ha-na recognized as Eun-sol, asked her tentatively, her eyes as round as saucers. She was seated beside two other girls Ha-na also recalled as the most popular girls in her high school back then.

"We hear you matchmake for chaebol* families."

"I've been looking for a rich boyfriend, maybe you can hook me up with one of your clients?" The leader of the popular girls – a tall girl with long hair and bangs chipped in, regarding Ha-na earnestly.

She took out a small, rectangular card and patted it on a table space next to Ha-na. "Here is my business card. I'm willing to go on as many dates as long as it's with rich guys." She smiled expectantly at Ha-na. "Rich, hot guys are totally my type!"

"Hook me up too, Ha-na! I'm tired of this single life!" Another girl among the 'popular troupe', Mi-cha, piped up. "I could use a rich boyfriend too!"

Dong-ha snorted. "Rich boyfriend my foot," he took a sip of the beer in his glass. "If you girls are all after rich guys, then what are the rest of us average guys, huh? Garbage?"

"No, you're hot garbage." The tall girl with bangs – Ae-cha – answered, wrinkling her nose. Her response elicited a series of hot exchanges between the girls and guys at the table. 

Ha-na exchanged a brief, curious glance with Soo-ah, who was seated beside her. She had dreaded coming to the reunion because she had been embarrassed by having no college degree to her name, but now, it was even worse. Everyone expected her to matchmake them to someone!

"Ha-na, I need your help," a portly guy that Ha-na recognized as 'Kimbap Kong' – a nickname given to him in high school because he always smelled of kimbap* – sat gingerly next to her.

He rubbed his two hands together in a plea. "You're my last hope. Please, I need a date! A fake fiancée for my family dinner next week. My mother won't stop nagging me about marriage. She'd chew me alive if I came home alone!"

His face crumbled into a sobbing mess. "Please, Ha-na, help me. I haven't been able to get a date with a girl in years!"

Ha-na watched him with uncertainty, chuckling nervously. The situation was even crazier than she imagined! How could she have gotten herself into this tangled mess?

Gently promising him she'd help him out with his situation, Ha-na decided she had had enough. She stood up from her seat, intending to visit the restroom when she saw something that shook her to the very bones.

President Cha.

He walked into the room, looking every bit as majestic and regal as an emperor. Ha-na felt her blood run cold.

What was he doing here? Was he here to humiliate her in front of her high schoolmates – to demand again that she cancel the contract, or worse, that he was shutting down her agency since the three days ultimatum he had given was up?

His midnight eyes on hers, Ha-na gulped. She felt her palm grow damp and clammy with sweat. The night was turning out to be far worse than she had originally anticipated! Oh why, oh why had she come to this cursed reunion?

To her surprise, he stopped and exchanged handshakes with Dong-ha, as if they had known each other for a long time.

"Guys, meet Su-ho," Dong-ha announced proudly, patting Ji-hoon casually on the back. "I mentioned he was coming, didn't I? Meet the President of G & L Group."

Ha-na's eyes widened in bewilderment. Did she hear him clearly? What was Don-ha talking about? What did Su-ho and President Cha have to do with one another?!