Episode 2 I Just Want to See You

Today has been an exhausting day for Kunjaesol. The five-star hotel where she worked was hosting three major events simultaneously—a seminar and two weddings. As the Marketing & Events Manager, it was her responsibility to ensure that everything ran smoothly, leaving no room for errors that could disrupt the guests' experience.

If everything went well and the clients were happy, it would build trust and enhance the hotel's reputation. Satisfied guests would spread the word, bringing in more business without the need for excessive advertising.

On days like this, all she wanted was something simple—a quiet dinner with someone who made her feel at ease, casual conversation, and a cold glass of beer. That was enough to satisfy her.

Her exhaustion started to fade the moment her heart received a boost of energy—Linda had agreed to have dinner with her tonight. Just the thought of seeing her would be enough to wash away all the fatigue.

However, her excitement was short-lived as she found herself trapped in the city's relentless traffic.

"Damn it. The traffic is awful… Ugh."

The sea of vehicles stretched endlessly before her. There was no way she'd arrive on time. A quick glance at the car's audio screen showed the time—6:30 PM. That meant Linda had already been out of class for about an hour.

She must be getting bored by now, right?

Not wanting to keep Linda waiting in silence, Kunjaesol decided it was best to call and let her know. Small things like this, if left unaddressed, could easily pile up and create distance between them. And she wouldn't let that happen.

["Hello?"]

"Lin, I might be a little late. The traffic is terrible right now."

["Mmm. No rush. I can wait."]

"Where are you? Are you hungry?"

["I'm sitting outside the building, playing with my friend's dog. A little hungry, I guess."]

"Why don't you grab something to eat with your friend first?"

["If I eat first, then you don't have to come all the way here, do you?"]

"…Alright then, just wait for me. I'll be there in about thirty minutes."

["I told you, no rush. Drive safely."]

See? My quiet, expressionless girl is actually the sweetest. She's hungry but still willing to wait for me. She could've just gone to eat with her friend, but she chose not to. And to top it off, she even reminded me to drive safely. Just that little gesture was enough to make me smile from ear to ear.

This is exactly why having someone special in your heart is worth it. Work is exhausting. Dealing with difficult clients, negotiating with stubborn suppliers, solving a hundred different problems every day—it all drains the life out of me. 

But at the end of it all, just knowing that someone like her is waiting makes everything feel a little lighter.

The moment I heard Linda's voice, the exhaustion seemed to vanish into thin air. It was as if some unseen energy had filled my heart, giving me the strength to keep going. I wanted to see her as soon as possible. I wanted to hold her tight and melt away the longing that had built up inside me.

Linda had a way of dispelling all my dark emotions. Just hearing her voice through the phone while driving, watching her puff up her cheeks as she chewed her food, making lame jokes just to see her crack a tiny smile, or sneaking in little touches that made her playfully scold me—it all made my day infinitely better.

And what made it even more special was the way she noticed when something was off with me. People can't always hide their emotions well when they're stressed, and she was perceptive enough to catch on. Instead of asking outright, she simply changed the mood, subtly letting me know she cared. Like tonight—out of the blue, she said, "My friend told me this beer is really smooth. Wanna try a glass together?"

Others might not see the meaning behind it, but I did. It was her way of looking out for me, without saying the words directly. I was sure she had noticed my usual habit of ordering a beer at the end of our dinner. She paid attention to the little things.

After making it through the horrendous traffic, the road leading to Linda's university wasn't so bad. I was able to speed up a little and arrived five minutes earlier than I had initially estimated. Luckily, a car was pulling out just as I arrived, leaving the perfect spot for me to park.

"Hello? I'm here. Where are you?"

["I'm at the grassy field where you waited for me last time. Where are you? I'll come find you."]

"I'll come to you instead. See you soon."

It only took three minutes to walk from the parking lot to the field. But as soon as I got there, my heart clenched.

Linda was sitting on the grass, smiling and laughing with a girl who had soft, delicate features and a cute round face. The two of them seemed close—close enough that the girl casually touched her arm without hesitation.

Was Linda laughing at the dog, or… at the girl?

"Lin…"

The laughter and chatter stopped the moment I called her name.

"Oh, you're here already?"

Of course, I was! I was standing right in front of her. Forgive me for being annoyed, but I couldn't help it—especially after seeing her looking so unbothered while sitting with this cute girl.

"Hello sawasdee ka! You must be Lin's sister, right? I'm Minnie. I've been her close friend since the first day of the semester."

The round-faced girl smiled so brightly that her eyes nearly disappeared. I nodded and returned the smile, but—sorry, sweetheart—I wasn't just Lin's 'older sister.' I was the one she had chosen to open her heart to.

"Hey, Minnie, this is P'Kunjaesol. You can just call her P'Sol like I do."

And there it was—the reason why Minnie assumed I was just her older sister. I mean, just listen to that introduction!

"Shall we head to the restaurant now? Lin, you must be starving."

"Minnie, why don't you join us? You waited here with me, after all."

"Maybe next time. It's my dog's dinnertime."

"Okay, alright. P'Sol and I will walk you back to your dorm. We have to pass by it anyway."

And so, I quietly followed along as my 'tall recruit' chatted away with her adorable friend. I felt like an outsider while they talked about things I couldn't join in on—classes, programming languages, gaming terminology, university activities, and gossip about flirty seniors in their faculty.

It felt like I was being kept out of their little world, as if there was an invisible boundary that separated me from this younger generation. I never knew Lin had a friend this close—she never once mentioned Minnie to me. Or maybe... I just wasn't important enough? I used to think I knew Lin well, but now, I wasn't so sure anymore.