[Geoff POV]
'Hyung, are you sure this is the place? You might be wrong,' I said when I called him over the phone as I got off my motorbike, parked in the space next to the building.
'Why would I be? Sure this is the place, and from the sound of it I bet you are here?' he asked, quite sure that I have arrived.
I smirked at his response. 'Well, if you say so hyung,' I replied and he told me to be at that one part of the premises he told me about early on. I started to walk and while doing so, it brought me to a lot of things. A myriad of emotions stirred up through me while I took that trip down memory lane.
I took a trip back to the place where I found the very woman I fell in love with, ages ago.
And probably, still in love with.
Still, I moved forward, and approached the retreat house. I stopped for a moment, took in all that my eyes could see, taking and breathing in the surroundings that were laid in front of me. It truly brought me back the the heyday of being a famous sportsman, and being in love.
I took the courage to get in, and surely a lot of things had changed. There was one thing that was left though, it was the old plant box where I took the first, and only, flower I gave the woman I love.
Hannah Lee. I wonder how she is doing now. And if I ever see her, what would I say? What would I think? What would I even feel?
'Excuse me?' an old voice from behind, which I recognized, came. Turning around, I smiled at the owner of the voice, ready to introduce myself but then he beat me to it.
'You look familiar. Were you that boy who asked me for a flower so many years ago?' he asked. I smiled and took a bow.
'Hyung, how can you still remember it's me?' I asked as I approached him.
He smiled. 'Because there was only you who had the courage to ask me about it,' he replied. I came near him and gave him a hug. 'How are you?'
We talked for a few minutes, before I said goodbye since I needed to be somewhere. I slowly walked my way, and the memories just flooded as I did. A place where I came to know what love was, what sacrifice was.
What leaving someone behind truly meant. I don't think I could even begin to justify why I did what I did.
I smiled the sadness away, and took out my trusty camera. I began to shoot from where I was, since it was the perfect vantage point. The golden hour has started, and it only added to the beauty of what my eyes can see. Notwithstanding the feeling that came when the sun set. And being here didn't help at all. I could only smile more.
'When would I see you again, Hannah?'
A few minutes later, I found myself in the real retreat house that was restored. I could remember the dilapidated state when I first came here, asking for the single white peony I gave Hannah when we became lovers. Who would have thought I would be here? Arriving at the door, I knocked three times, as was the custom of this school when we were studying here. I got lost in the moment as I was looking at the place that I didn't notice the time for the meeting.
The door then opened, and it revealed a thin bearded man, around mid-forties. I smiled at him, and apologized for being late.
'Hyung, I'm really sorry I am late,' I said to the man whom I have not seen physically for quite some time. He gave me a nod then invited me in before he closed the door. I headed over to the seat beside the lady, but as I was standing there, I couldn't quite place the emotions my heart was giving away.
'Holy cow!' I thought, as I saw who it was.
'Hannah, Geoff,' hyung addressed the both of us. My gaze was stuck on her - someone whom I have so much to say but too afraid to do so.
'I called you both because I know you are two well-rounded beings who would take your work to heart,' he began in his smooth, booming voice as he took a chair and sat in front of us. His voice made me look at him, he might have caught me in a trance looking at Hannah.
'Oppa,' she said, voice straining. I never knew if it was pent up emotions or if her voice was just like that. Hyung looked at her, seemingly confident at what she was about to say.
'I don't think this is a good idea,' she said. I took my seat, head hung low.
'No, this is the best idea,' he replied. I wanted to leave the room and save her from further getting hurt.
'Hyung, I would agree with her,' I found my voice in the midst of conflicting feelings within myself. I wanted to look at her, but I halted.
'Listen,' hyung said, his voice a bit louder than he always does. 'You are both professionals in your field, and I recommended you both to my friends. Since I want to give him the best there is in the metro, I thought of the two of you. And here we are,' he spoke as if he had this all planned out.
I sighed. How can I work with her?
How can I work with the very person whom I know I have a lot of explaining to do?
'We are not young anymore, Hannah, Geoff. Of all people, both of you should know how to be professionals. Now, I trust that you can do this, so please let me.'