Regrets

"You what?!" Ha-na exploded, her eyes as wide as two dark marbles.

She was settled at a table across from Soo-ah in a small noodle soup shop. Her sudden outburst had caused some of the customers to abandon their conversations and look at them.

Soo-ah hushed Ha-na down, slapping her fingers desperately. "Shh, keep your voice down! I don't need anyone to know about my embarrassment!"

She flicked her dishevelled hair out of her eyes and swallowed a spoonful of ox bone soup. She winced at the scorching temperature of it, while Ha-na continued to regard her in surprise.

"It's just so unlike you. You don't do one-night stands. You've always said you'd meet your soulmate in a natural, romantic setting and not on some garishly, ostentatious, tryst…"

"Ah! It's that darned brandy I indulged in yesterday!" Soo-ah stabbed her spoon into her bowl of soup, causing some of its content to spill onto the table.

"That's it. No more alcohol for me, No more getting drunk! As soon as I get home, I'm emptying all the beer in my refrigerator down my kitchen sink!"

Ha-na's eyes sparkled with mirth. She pressed her lips together, struggling to stifle the laughter threatening to spill from her throat. Soo-ah glared daggers at her.

"Are you laughing at me?"

"No, I'm not." Ha-na's clamped her lips tighter, forcing herself to swallow her amusement. "Were you at least able to ask the hotel staff for his name?"

Soo-ah whimpered like a disgruntled puppy. "No, I was too embarrassed! I'm sure I heard some of the staff gossiping about 'the lady' who checked in drunk with a gentleman and was all over him. Ahhh!"

Soo-ah put her hands over her face, while Ha-na finally let the peal of giggle burst from her lips.

"Relax. I'm sure it's not all that bad."

"Easy for you to say! How do you know I didn't end up with some psycho or pervert?!"

Ha-na gently removed her friend's hands from over her face. "Do you remember him to be like that?"

Soo-ah sighed in resignation. "No… I even woke up to my clothes neatly folded and breakfast ordered for me…"

"See? That means he's not all that bad!"

Soo-ah took up her spoon and wielded it as a weapon, pointing it towards Ha-na.

"This is all your fault! If only you had just followed me to the blind date after I arranged someone for you to meet! I wouldn't have had to drink on my own and make this stupid mistake!"

"Hey, are you blaming me?" Ha-na chortled. "Even if you weren't drunk, you still cannot resist hot men!"

"I never said he was hot!"

"You did! I heard you clearly. You even had that dreamy sparkle in your eyes!"

"Did not!"

Both friends continued to bicker jovially while the sun rose high and golden on the blue horizon~

-----

Kang Si-woo was seated on the cushion of a large and bright bay window, surrounded by plump pillows and an abundance of sunlight. But his countenance was a stark contrast to his surroundings.

He held a framed picture of a young woman in a long, chiffon dress. She was smiling happily and had the kindest smile – her long hair framed her face lovingly. He stared at the picture for a long time without blinking.

He felt so infuriated and bitter. How could he have done such a thing? How could he have slept with another woman – and on the day of his wife's death anniversary?!

For years since she had died, he had made sure to honour that day with the memories they had once shared. But yesterday, he had desecrated it with one reckless act!

He didn't know what had gotten over him – why he had gone to drink all alone in that bar. He had been crushed – devastated beyond reason – as he had always been since the woman he loved so dearly left him to the cold hands of death.

He had promised he would love only one woman – the woman who once filled his day with happiness, whose presence could never be erased from his heart. So why, oh why had he gotten himself involved with another woman? How could he have betrayed his wife's memory like that?!

Si-woo squeezed the frame in his hands till his knuckles turned white. He felt a deep sob rack his throat – choking him, threatening to erupt – but he bit his lips till it bled to hold back the pain.

He felt the emotions within him roil and churn like the tempest of an approaching storm. For some reason, he couldn't seem to forget the passionate night he had spent with the mysterious woman and he hated himself more for it. It left him unsteady and breathless.

He hated to admit it – cursed himself for it – but something about that woman had awoken something within him. A desire that had laid dormant within him for seven years…

"Daddy!" A shrill voice cried out, suddenly interrupting his sombre introspection.

Si-woo blinked to see his little daughter run towards him, her cute pigtails dancing with every joyous leap. Her cherubic face was lighted up with a beam that could melt the toughest of hearts.

She zoomed into him with full force, and he had to grab her with his arms before she fell over. Undaunted, she lifted a smudgy paper drawing of a woman in a long dress holding a long sword – into Si-woo's eyes.

"Daddy, Daddy, see what I drew! A warrior princess! What do you think?!"

Si-woo had to draw his head back – adjusting his glasses – to get a proper look at her drawing. "Oh, yeah… it's great." He forced a smile, still trying to gather his emotions after the shock of her appearance.

The little girl's face instantly scrunched up in disappointment. "No, it's not great! You don't like it."

"I do!" He insisted, forcing the smile on his face to grow wider. "I really do!"

"No, you don't!" The little girl protested, stamping her foot on the ground.

"Da-hee…"

Their little exchange was suddenly interrupted by the beep-beep-beep sound of someone punching the passcode into the electronic lock at the door. 

The long, unmistakable frame of Ji-hoon shuffled into the living room. Seeing him, Da-hee screamed in delight and rushed towards him.

"Uncle Ji-hoon! You're here!"

Ji-hoon bent down to lift Da-hee, twirling her in his arms. There was genuine warmth and delight on his face in seeing the little girl.

"How have you been, Da-hee?"

"Fine! Look at what I drew, do you like it?"

Ji-hoon examined the piece of paper offered to him for a moment before he broke into another smile. "Of course! It's gorgeous! Is it a warrior princess again?"

"Uh-huh! I'm gonna grow up to become Wonder Woman or Mulan and protect my two princes – you and Dad!"

A peal of merry laughter burst from Ji-hoon's lips as he placed her back on her feet. "Sure, Da-hee. I would like that very much. And I'm sure your father does too."

The little girl scowled, pointing her slender, little fingers in the direction of her father who was watching them. "But Daddy doesn't like my drawing this time. He's too busy crying over Mom's picture!"

Si-woo hastily stashed the photo under a velvet pillow. He scrunched his eyes in embarrassment at having been caught sulking over his wife. He knew his daughter was quick-witted and sensitive, but he seemed to have estimated the level of her cleverness.

-----

Ji-hoon regarded Si-woo silently as they stood outside the door to his apartment. There was a shadow of understanding over his face as he watched his friend.

"It was yesterday, wasn't it? Her death anniversary."

Si-woo nodded silently, glancing at the floor. He never particularly liked talking about his wife's death, as it reminded him of the unbearable pain he had to live with every day.

Ji-hoon took a hand out of his pocket, stabbing it through his hair and sighing. "I'm sorry I forgot. I was too carried away with work. You went to see her in the Columbarium*, didn't you?"

Si-woo finally raised his eyes to meet with Ji-hoon's. A stubborn smirk lifted the corners of his lips slightly. "You didn't come here to make me sob now, did you?"

Ji-hoon clicked his tongue disapprovingly. "Harsh. And no, I didn't," he admitted honestly. "I actually came so you could accompany me to an afternoon golf with one of our major shareholders. I want to convince her to sell part of her shares."

"Right, I can come with you. Just give me a few minutes to prepare and drop off Da-hee..." Si-woo began shuffling back to the door but was held back by Ji-hoon.

"Don't worry about it; I'll go alone. Just take today to recover." Patting him on the back, Ji-hoon strode off.

Si-woo watched him silently as he left. If he was honest with himself, he really needed time to sort out his feelings and get himself back to equilibrium. He wanted last night out of his mind – and out of his life forever.

The last thing he wanted was to get involved with some other woman. He had a precious little daughter to look after, and she was all that mattered.

-----

Several minutes later, Ha-na and Soo-ah stepped out of the noodle shop and into the busy street. Soo-ah raised her hands in the air, her mouth widening in a lazy yawn.

"Ahhh, finally! I can feel my hangover lifting! I think I'm gonna head home now and take a long nap."

Ha-na glanced at her, grinning brightly. "Sure, go and take that long nap. You deserve it. I'll head over to the library in the meanwhile to get some books before going home."

"Ciao*." Soo-ah hailed a cab and it pulled over to where they stood. As Ha-na watched Soo-ah proceed into the vehicle, she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She picked it up. 

Soo-ah regarded her with curious eyes after the short call ended. "Who was that?"

"A new client. She's asking to meet up at a golf course for a brief chat."