Old Flames

Time flew by quickly as the ex-schoolmates dined and drank together. Glasses clinked together in merry cheers, silver utensils scraped against white porcelain plates, and beer and soju* bottles popped as they were opened and their contents emptied.

But to Ha-na, every second that passed felt like excruciating, unending torment. She certainly wasn't enjoying the soiree or her food – it tasted like sawdust in her mouth. Compared to herself, everyone else were laughing, merry, and some drunk.

And it was all because of one person who swooped in like some dark lord to gloom her evening.

President Cha – or Su-ho – whichever he was. 

For the hundredth time, her eyes flew several feet down – opposite – to where he was seated. His face, no longer the cold, severe expression he usually wore, relaxed into an easy, casual smile. He seemed to be genuinely enjoying the evening, unlike her.

Maybe, he is here to taunt me – intimidate me into cancelling the contract. Maybe, this is all a bad dream that I will soon wake up from.

Convincing herself that must be the reason why, she wasn't prepared when he turned his head and his dark eyes slipped into hers.

It felt like time stopped, and they were back as high school students on that rainy night when she rejected his feelings. His full lips parted slightly, and she could feel him studying her just as she did him.

Like he was memorizing her face, recommitting it to memory after such a long time. She couldn't read the expression on his face, couldn't guess what he was thinking – she supposed years of being in the business world had taught him how to mask his emotions effortlessly.

He was certainly different from the Su-ho or Ji-hoon she knew ten years ago – the one who had looked like his heart was about to break – whose anguished eyes haunted her for a long time.

Their little staring spell was interrupted by a loud and boisterous Dong-ha. He dumped his now-empty glass of beer and soju with a loud thud on the table, sighing satisfactorily.

"You sure are full of surprises, Su-ho – or should I call you Ji-hoon now?"

"President Cha, you dolt," Another guy – equally drunk beside Dong-ha – nudged him, chiding him. "He's a chaebol heir, have some respect, will you?"

"He's not complaining, so why are you?" Dong-ha shot back, his words slurring. "People like you deserved to be basic and wretched like me. If you were rich, you'd trample on everyone you meet!"

"Eh, what did you say?!" Ji-hoon and some others had to hold the guy and Dong-ha apart from starting a brawl in the room. When everything calmed down, Ji-hoon and Dong-ha resumed their seat.

"Tall, handsome, rich, humble – wow Su-ho, you're too much!" Don-ha leaned closer to Ji-hoon, lowering his voice. "Tell me, how does it feel to be a chaebol heir, huh? Do you have the ladies throwing themselves at your feet?"

Ji-hoon merely grinned, a small, noble one, which caused Dong-ha to roar rambunctiously in laughter. "You sure are a rare one! You had us fooled the whole time in high school!"

Dong-ha and some of the others around burst into an excited chatter about their suspicions of Ji-hoon's persona in high school, and how they could have easily guessed his true status had they been paying enough attention.

Fed up with the whole conversation, Ha-na decided she'd get the bathroom break that Ji-hoon had interrupted. She crossed the room and made her way to the ladies' restroom, slipping into one of the vacant stalls.

The moment she entered, she overheard gossip, one which she speculated came from Ae-cha and her entourage who had just trooped into the restroom.

"Su-ho is a chaebol heir? This world is full of surprises!" Eun-sol began.

"I should have dated him back then! No wonder he was so different from all the other boys." Mi-cha spoke next, her voice a mix of wistfulness and wonder. "Being wealthy sure gives someone a different air."

"Su-ho is a total hottie! Do you think he has a girlfriend yet?" Ae-cha asked dreamily. "Sure, he was popular for his looks in school, but he's a total heartthrob now!"

"Hey, let's ask Ha-na to hook one of us on a date with Su-ho! She's a pro in this sort of thing!" Eun-sol exclaimed, smacking someone urgently on the arm.

"Already ahead of you!" Ae-cha replied confidently. Ha-na could feel the smugness in her voice. "Ha-na already has my contact. I'll stop by her office sometime and get that date in!"

"But don't you think it's strange?" The third voice in the room, Mi-cha, asked. Her voice was laced with suspicion. "Ha-na and Su-ho suddenly show up after years of not attending our reunions. Do you think they're back together?"

"No way!" Ae-cha vehemently replied. "They haven't even spoken to each other since they arrived."

"Yeah, but what was that look that passed between them when Su-ho first arrived…" Eun-sol's voice trailed off, along with the footsteps and loud chatter of the trio. As soon as Ha-na was sure they were out of earshot, she emerged out of the stall.

"He sure is popular tonight." She rinsed her hands under the strong current of water from the tap. She wasn't sure which was worse: the fact that Su-ho and President Cha turned out to be the same person or the fact that the President of G & L was her first love!

The dawning truth irked her. Why had he answered another name back then? Had he recognized her the time they had met at his home? If he did, then why hadn't he said anything? He didn't seem to have acted like he knew who she was.

But then, even if he had, what difference could that have made? She never particularly liked to have any personal entanglements with her clients beyond professionalism, knowing fully well how conglomerate families treated people whom they perceived to be below their social standing.

She was certain the Cha family wouldn't be all too pleased to know of her history with their son. So, she was determined to pretend like they never knew each other until now – after all, the past was where it always remained: the past.

She gathered herself and left the restroom. The moment she crossed the threshold back to the dining area, her head connected with something solid. The scent of rum spice and bergamot enveloped her lovingly, and a pair of strong hands held her in place.

Ha-na's heart skipped a beat the moment she saw the cotton, navy-blue lapel of his blazer. She looked up into Ji-hoon's silky, dusky eyes to find him watching her, studying her.

Warmth shot into her cheeks, turning them an incriminating pink hue. Instinctively, she stepped back. 

"What are you doing here?" She asked coldly, grasping for any excuse to quell her frayed nerves – to turn his attention away from the blush spreading through her cheeks. "You shouldn't be here at all."

Unlike her, he was calm and composed. He slipped a hand into the pocket of his suit pants. "Actually, I wanted to speak with you."

"About what?" she retorted. "As far as I'm concerned, we have nothing to talk about here. Last I recall, you threatened me in my office if I didn't terminate the contract your parents signed on your behalf."

A shadow of regret seemed to pass over his face. "About that… I've had a change of heart," he admitted, his tone hesitant yet sincere. "I want you to find me a bride."