At 1 p.m, Daehyun and I sat facing each other at a fancy restaurant in the middle of the city. The location was quite far from the company, and it seemed like Daehyun didn't mind at all.
At first, I thought that he asked me to come into his office for something important, and apparently, he just wanted to make sure that I was Park Chunghee he knew. So, after talking for a while, and because of works, I left his office. Actually, I left with an annoying feeling as he had asked me to come to his office for no reason, but I just didn't want to say anything and got back to work.
During this break, Daehyun asked me to have lunch together, with the reason for celebrating our meeting after all these years.
I grabbed the menu and looked at the fantastic price lines on the menu, and thought that he was taking me to a five-star restaurant in this city.
"Chunghee, your face hasn't changed at all. It's still as cute as before," while saying, Kim Daehyun looked at me with sensual eyes that usually drove the opposite sex crazy.
I smiled stiffly. Those words were like flattery for his annoying joke. It sounded redundant. How could it not change? Now I was thirty-two years old, whereas our last meeting since I was eight years old.
This meeting made me feel so uncomfortable. Daehyun who was different than before made me feel like talking to another person.
"Chunghee, you look pale, are you sick?" Daehyun asked with worry.
I looked at him in surprise, "Hmm? I'm okay."
"But you look pale though." There was worry in his eyes when he looked at me. He told, "I watched you since in my office earlier. Are you sure you're okay? Don't let yourself pass out in this place because I will give you a breath. I won't hesitate to do it, you know."
Daehyun purposely made his face more serious, and I could see how he was doing that pretense just to make his jokes sounded serious. But, it sucked.
"What are you saying? Do you really want me to get sick? It's heartless."
Hearing those words, Kim Daehyun chuckled, "I don't mean it. I'm just kidding."
I just smiled. Actually, after what I had been through for the past few years, it made my taste of humor even worse. All of the lies I got allowed me to hide my feelings as well as how Donghwa hid his badness.
After our big fight about three years ago, where he completely lost his mind at that time, I tried to be obedient once again until now. But, he even took advantage of my generosity, even always doing it. I was just like an idiot who kept hoping that he could go back to be someone I loved for the first time back in college.
But, what should I do? If I left him, I would have no family anymore and would rot alone.
"Chunghee, as I thought, you do look unwell today."
Kim Daehyun's words brought me from the gloom. I also tried to focus and tried to think about it.
After a few seconds of thinking about it, now I understood. I didn't get enough sleep because of many things that made it hard to close my eyes in the previous days.
Not long after, our food was delivered. I grabbed the fork and spoon immediately and tasted it. The taste was quite good, according to the price listed.
In the middle of our lunch, I thought of Lee Donghwa. From the bottom of my heart, I hope that Donghwa was the one who was currently with me. I wanted us to be what we were before he was as busy as now and changed.
However, because I was currently with someone else, I was trying to divert my mind by talking about what I should be complaining about.
"Daehyun, about assistant ...."
"I don't care! You have to be my assistant." Kim Daehyun said firmly.
"But ...." I was just about to make a complaint, but Daehyun immediately cut in before I could say anything, "Chunghee, please ...."
The hope in his eyes seemed to force me. That was sneaky. I was faced with only one choice, so I had to agree with it. If not that because I knew him, I might have resigned for now.
He smiled. Joy appeared on his face at once and the gleam shone joy in his eyes.
I sighed heavily and changed the topic immediately.
"Daehyun, where did you move at that time? You know, I cried when I knew that you left town."
Daehyun laughed at those words instantly. He said that what I took to be serious was exaggerated. He kept laughing before starting to tell so expressively about the time when he and his family left Sokcho. And I, I gladly became a good listener for him.
After lunch, Daehyun asked me to attend a meeting with him. However, I declined, for the reason that I still had a lot of works to do.
"Chunghee, come on. Leave those works ...." Daehyun spoke with a little compassion.
"I told you I wasn't ready today." Paused for a moment, I started to think then went back to talking, "Next week. I promise."
"Huh?! I can wait, but the works can't do that." Thinking for a second, He decided, "Heh, okay, tomorrow. I don't want to hear any reason from you. Got it?"
Hearing that decision, I could only nod. Even though it was still too quick, the decision had tolerated my refusal.
Then, he drove me to work before going to a meeting this afternoon. I rushed to my office and continued my work.
Until late afternoon, I hadn't finished my work.
I reached for my cell phone and looked at the screen. As I thought, Donghwa hadn't given me any news yet. I intended to contact him but changed my mind immediately as I was afraid that it would interfere with his works, so I decided to text him.