I frowned. "Sir, you shouldn't smoke here."
"Why? This is my office," he spoke while lighting a cigarette, then smoked lazily.
I didn't respond. Those words didn't need to be responded. He then returned my cigarette and lighter.
I grabbed them, and asked, "Sir, actually, why did you just ask me to come over here?"
Hearing that question, he froze for a moment. He then rubbed the tip of his cigarette on his desk, then slowly approached me until he was right in front of me with such a close distance.
But, something unexpected happened a second after he was in front of me.
He hugged me!
Surprised by that sudden action, I lost my mind and froze as his hug getting tighter.
"Chunghee, this is truly you ..." he spoke in a whisper where sadness and joy merged.
"Si - Sir?"
After a few seconds of silence in the same position, he let go of his hands. His eyes reflected a clear joy, then held my arms softly, "Chunghee, it's me, Kim Daehyun. Did you forget me?"
I frowned, staring at him closely like a postage stamp. At first, I thought that I heard the wrong name, until the second time when he said the same name, I almost screamed.
"Daehyun?!" my voice felt stuck in my throat. I was very surprised, and even more surprised than before.
Kim Daehyun smiled, exuding a comfortable atmosphere, "Chunghee, long time no see ...."
Still, in a state of disbelief, I unconsciously stepped back a little. With my eyes wide opened, I wanted to say something but all my words were swallowed up.
But, suddenly, Daehyun pulled my arm, and immediately I was in his warm embrace. However, as I wasn't used to it, I pushed his body back away.
"Chunghee, what's wrong? It's me, Kim Daehyun, the boy who used to accompany you to play when you were a kid." Daehyun spoke with disappointment in his voice. He looked at me with sincerity in his eyes, and it looked so amazing. He then continued, "Do you remember, that time I protected you from other kids who bully you, did you forget? Don't let me down."
"Daehyun ... is that really you?" I was speechless, so could only ask to confirm in a hoarse voice.
"Yes, yes, it's me."
Honestly, I didn't forget. I remembered him very clearly but didn't expect that we would meet after our years of separation. He was Kim Daehyun, my childhood friend, and a friend who always protected me from the other boys who bullied me.
I still remembered everything, even very clearly in my head.
At that time, Daehyun was the only kid that I could get along with, where others always thought that I was weird and cowardly, but Daehyun was different. He thought of me as a funny and nice person. I didn't understand what those words meant, but I couldn't fool myself that I was glad with the compliment. None of the other kids would say such cute words to me except him who was being the only one. I was pleased and appreciated it.
Every afternoon, under the gardenia, we would meet there, telling each other about the things we had passed those days. Even though he was always in a hurry to come home, I still felt glad to be able to spend my time with him.
In fact, with our closeness at that time, I once thought that we would live together in the future; grew old together as time went by where he would protect me and I would always praise him.
Yes, I used to have that kind of expectation as naive and hasty as a minor thought. However, I believed it and even enthusiastically thought, that one day we would become lovers!
Nonetheless, one day in the afternoon, I was waiting for him at the same place, but he didn't come. I came back with disappointment and returned the next afternoon, but still, I didn't see him. I came to that place for a week, but I kept getting the same disappointment, then cried.
Until in one moment, my grandmother found me crying, and asked me. I gave an honest answer, without hiding anything, then she also gave me unexpected news—that Daehyun and his family had moved to another city.
Since then, I had never had a friend like him anymore and often spent time alone. Before entering High School, I tried to open up myself a little and found some friends.
However, at this time, after suddenly leaving without me knowing at that time, Daehyun came back like a big surprise.
I spoke very awkwardly, "Um, that's ... sorry, I was just a little surprised. I had never expected that we would meet in this place."
Even though I felt a little awkward, I couldn't fool myself that I was delighted with our reunion. It was so sudden, but it was like repeating a past story that had been discontinued.
Hearing my words, Daehyun chuckled lightly. "Chunghee, I had never expected that you're working in this company either. But, isn't this a very coincidence, or is it a fate?" Daehyun spoke in jest.
There were many things that I wanted to ask him after years of leaving without a word, but since it was still working time, I couldn't stay in this office any longer and had to leave shortly.
However, before leaving this room, Kim Daehyun asked me to have lunch with him at 1 o'clock, and I agreed.
After that, I came out with a smile of joy. I was glad to meet an old friend as if all the painful things that I had experienced over the years with someone I loved had never felt at all. It's a little manipulative, but it wasn't bad to make me forget about how Donghwa cheated on me out there.
As soon as I arrived at my office, I continued my work with joy on my face. People wondered, and thought that it was because I just had been appointed as an assistant to a young boss who had recently become the president of this company.
However, I chose not to give a response and thought of our meeting as if it were a dream that came true.
Since our separation, I had not seen Daehyun since his family and he left Sokcho. However, unexpectedly, God brought us together twenty-two years later.
I couldn't hide the joy, twenty-two years were a long time as separation.
When I looked at him with a smile, I saw tremendous changes. He was handsome and became a real adult, even with his current success. I also didn't think that he could recognize me so easily.
This reunion was like repeating the past. Daehyun was the best person I was close to at a young age, and now he came with changes that I hardly recognized.