An Ex From the Past

"Oh Ha-na? Is that really you?" The guy, Man-sik, finally released her arm, giving her a surprised once-over.

He was a few inches shorter than Ha-na, garbed in a leather jacket, denim pants, and ankle boots. His hair was styled in a shaggy, tousled manner, lending him an air of ruggedness and laid-back charm.

Hwang Man-sik.

Her ex-boyfriend of two weeks whom she had met on a blind date which Soo-ah had coaxed her into attending. They had met at a coffee shop that fateful evening, and it was an instantaneous click.

He was the first guy in years – since Soo-ah had been dragging her to her blind dates – who had made her laugh, feel at ease, and genuinely enjoy herself at their brief, evening interlude.

After that, they had kept in touch, often making out time to meet and talk. But slowly, Ha-na had come to realize that Man-sik was clingy and impatient – and quite frankly possessive – refusing to understand that she had priorities other than him.

Their breakup wasn't very amicable, and she was aware that Man-sik still held some grudges against her because of that. Seeing him here so suddenly, she felt awkward.

The two exes stood a few inches apart in the relatively quiet corridor, gawkishly regarding each other and saying nothing for a long moment.

"Uh… yes," Ha-na finally replied, trying her best to dispel the awkward air between them. "It's been a while, Man-sik."

"Likewise." He replied limply, fitting his veined, rugged palms within the enclave of his jean pocket. "How have you been?"

"Fine. What about you?"

"I'm good. You still running that matchmaking agency?"

Ha-na wondered if Man-sik still carried out his 'rock-climbing dares' for his YouTube channel.

"Yeah…" She was going to speak further when Ji-hoon's baritone voice suddenly cut in.

"Ha-na, what are you still doing out here? I've grown impatient waiting for you at our table." Ji-hoon approached the two folks, coming to a stop beside Ha-na.

He regarded Man-sik with an almost territorial gaze, subtly accessing him.

Man-sik's eyes flittered between the two, taking note of the similitude of their outfits. He gazed at Ha-na in question. "Who's the guy? Your new boyfriend?"

Boyfriend?

The thought shocked Ha-na, introducing a sudden warmth to her cheeks. She shook her head vigorously, waving her hands dismissively in the air and laughing nervously.

"No, he's not –"

"And if I am, what's it to you?" Ji-hoon asked acidly, stepping closer to Man-sik while half-shielding Ha-na with his body.

He stared directly into Man-sik's eyes – threatening. "Who are you and why are you interrupting my date?"

"Hwang Man-sik. Her ex-boyfriend." Man-sik replied, sticking out his hand for a handshake. He didn't seem the least bit intimidated by Ji-hoon.

Ha-na felt a bead of sweat slide down her forehead. The tension between the two men was so palpable, it was like the countdown of a ticking time bomb! She was certain if she didn't do something, they'd resolve into some unsightly spectacle!

Ji-hoon stared at his extended palm like it was no better than the dirt underneath his shoe. "I don't think I have any business mingling with my girlfriend's exes. You're better off taking to your heels and scramming out of here."

Man-sik retracted his hand, sliding it back into his pocket. A large vein pulsed conspicuously on his temple, and Ha-na could see the resentment in his eyes – something akin to when she had told him she wanted nothing more to do with him.

"So, this is how it is now, Ha-na, huh? You ghost me for months only to get yourself a new, fancy boyfriend."

A wave of indignation flooded Ha-na's chest, and her forehead wrinkled in a frown. "I told you we were over, but you wouldn't stop blowing up my phone with calls or texts. You have refused to accept that we are done. Why can't you just take a hint and stop harassing me?!"

Ji-hoon tilted his head at an angle, wrinkling his nose at Man-sik. "So, you're not just a crappy ex, but you're also a crazy stalker."

Man-sik seemed to have taken offense to Ji-hoon's words. "You think you'll be any better?" He scoffed, smearing his thumb across his lips.

He looked at Ji-hoon, his eyes gleaming with scorn. "I'll tell you what you don't know, man. The last thing you'll need is a heartless, ice-cold bitch like her who'll treat you no better than a damn afterthought."

"She'll chew you up and spit you out – and leave you in the dust – just like she did to me. So, don't waste your time going after a soulless workaholic who's already married to her job."

Before Ha-na could fully register the weight of Man-sik's words, Ji-hoon's fists connected with his jaw, landing a fatal jab that sent him staggering backward. The impact caused his lip to split, and blood dribbled down his mouth and stained his teeth.

Ha-na could feel the cold rage emanating from Ji-hoon and it made her tremble. Before Man-sik could retaliate, a couple of the restaurant staff had already come around. They prevented him – enraged as he was – from freeing himself from their restraints and pouncing on Ji-hoon.

Ji-hoon turned to the six-membered-staff present with incandescent eyes. "Who let this scum in here?"

One of the staff, a short, wispy fellow, answered with chattering teeth. "I'm so sorry, sir. I'm in charge of checking in the customers who enter the restaurant today." He bowed repeatedly in apology, terrified.

Man-sik, still ablaze with fury, glanced confusingly between Ji-hoon and the staff. "Why are you begging the bastard? Who the hell is he? You should let me go so I can teach him a rough lesson!" He spat some blood onto the floor.

The entire staff hushed Man-sik, tightening their grip on him and imploring him to keep shut. The short fella whispered to him: "Keep quiet or the boss won't let you go so easily!"

Boss?

Ha-na stared at Ji-hoon in puzzlement, who glowered down at Man-sik.

"You still have the guts to talk after what you did?" He shifted his attention to the staff.

"Get him out of my restaurant. And make sure he is never admitted into any other restaurant or property under the Cha family name. I'll make sure he gets sued for assault and sexual harassment."

Man-sik looked like he was in a daze upon catching wind of Ji-hoon's position, but quickly returned his attention to Ha-na.

"Is this your idea of payback against me, Ha-na, huh? Getting a damned rich boy to play your fiddle?" He wrestled against the staff dragging him away with all his might, shrieking at the top of his lungs. "I'm not scared, do you hear me? Don't think this is the last of me…"

Ha-na was still befuddled when Ji-hoon took her by the arm, pulling her away from the corridor. "Come on, let's leave this place. My appetite's been ruined."

-----

Ha-na stood against Ji-hoon's car in the crisp night, staring contemplatively at the cloudy, near-starless sky above. The air felt fresh, cool, and invigorating due to the just concluded rain, and she felt grateful for the cozy hoodie she wore which protected her from the chill that occasionally enveloped her.

Ji-hoon stood beside her, also leaning against the car. He said nothing for a long moment – staring into space – his hands buried deep within his pockets. 

Ha-na stared blankly into the warm, paper cup of instant coffee that she held in her hand, sighing. "I'm sorry you had to see that. And at your restaurant no less."

"It's not your fault," Ji-hoon unfolded his arms from across his chest, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "It's that scum's fault."

"Still…" she coughed, embarrassed that he – her client – had caught wind of her personal life. "I apologize."

She turned her neck to look at him. "Thank you for defending me."

Ji-hoon gazed down at her with narrowed eyes. "I still don't get it, though. You're a professional matchmaker. How did you get tangled up with vermin like that? Does this mean I can't trust you with the matches you'll be recommending to me?"

Ha-na felt abashed by Ji-hoon's probing. His question tickled the itch that she didn't want to dwell on yet. "In my defense, I only dated him for two weeks."

"You shouldn't have dated him at all."

"Still, that doesn't speak of my abilities as a matchmaker."

"Don't you think I should be the judge of that?"

She gazed at Ji-hoon for a long moment, annoyance etched on her face.

"Fine," she replied with a finality in her voice, dropping her half-drunk coffee on the bonnet of the car. "If that is what you really want… I'll proceed with the termination of the contract. No need to rely on an incompetent folk like me."

She began to walk off, but Ji-hoon held her back. "Those are not the words of appreciation I hoped to hear."

Ha-na strained her neck to look up at him, her eyes blazing with challenge. "I already thanked you for that. What more do you want?"

"I'm not satisfied yet," he replied, his eyes fluttering from her cute button nose to her rounded cherry lips just above the graceful curve of her ivory neck.

They beckoned to him powerfully, and Ji-hoon wasn't sure how much longer he could stall the strange impulse of desire that suddenly hummed within him.

"Until I get what is duly mine. You owe me one."

Ha-na was suddenly aware of how close their faces were, and her heart pounded in the base of her throat. "I assure you; I'll pay you back what I owe. I'm not in the habit of being indebted to anyone."

"But you see, the thing is…" He moved his face closer to hers until their lips were only a hair's breadth apart. Ha-na could feel Ji-hoon's warm breath on her face, and it made her shiver.

"I want my payment now."