'Hannah, is everything okay?' Dad called from the outside. I froze for a moment before I answered him.
'Yes, Dad. I'm fine,' I replied, even though it was a white lie. It clearly was.
'Can you open the door for me?' I took a deep breath before I did. He and mom then came in, and seeing my puffy eyes he smiled and asked me to sit down. They both did likewise.
'You know we heard a motorcycle engine earlier,' he began. 'Right before you came in.'
It was apparent, as the environment remained the same as it was twenty years ago. What changed were the people who were behind those exterior walls of the edifice which we call our house.
'Would you care to tell us if the one on that bike caused all of this?' Mom asked, gently caressing my face. Her gentle touch sent another fresh bout of tears, as I leaned towards her.
'Aigoo, you're still our baby,' she said. I could hear Dad sigh deeply, before he joined in.
'Hannah, you know we are right behind you. Whenever you feel like telling us why, we can wait.'
'Jamie, we might have a rush project this week,' I called my assistant as she came in to give me my morning coffee. Caffeine has been a part of my life since I started to work so it's kinda hard for me to function without it.
'Rush?' she said, wondering why I gave in to such. I looked at her and nodded.
From the moment I created my company, I never adhered to such cases. I carefully lay out the plans at least two or three months ahead of schedule. But this was something else.
Whether it's about Christian oppa asking me to do this or I myself wanted to end it right away, I'm not sure. All I know is that I said yes, and I have to stand by that decision.
It was something that my father taught me when I was younger.
'Stand by your decision. If you truly want to be with him, I won't stop you. I know you're young, but I want you to enjoy it as well. Likewise, I believe that you know what is right.'
'A friend asked me to do this and I can't say no to him,' I replied, sipping my favorite Americano blend. 'In fact this afternoon, I will have another meeting with him.'
'Is this connected to yesterday?' she asked, checking my schedule.
'Yes,' I replied promptly. She then left me after I gave a few instructions on clients we work on, along with my team. I trust that I could leave the office with her, and I know that they can go as planned even if I take a vacation.
Vacation? When was the last time I ever had that?
My day then went by like a jiffy, juggling paper and phone works from clients and suppliers alike. Meeting different kinds of people, brides to be exact, honed my resilience and adaptability. There are mellow brides, there are monsters too. Apparently, the ones who seem to be monsters turn out to be the best clients I ever worked with.
I understood what they wanted –perfection. And that is something I want to deliver to the clients I will soon be working on.
I am a celebrity wedding planner for a reason.
Looking back at the journey I took right after one of my friends got married, I couldn't help but take a deep breath. Remembering the time that I thought I saw a figment of my imagination, which I obviously still believe so until now, I fearlessly jumped out of my comfort zone and started creating a dream that I know every bride-to-be would have. A lot of people praised me for my career and being the woman that I am now, but deep inside there are things that I know I should be facing head-on soon.
I just didn't expect it to be this way.
Geoff himself became a famous wedding photographer, but I never got the chance to work with him. He hid his identity until yesterday, and last night after that crying session with my parents Dad told me that he saw him at a wedding he attended.
I was in awe and realized last night that even when my staff continually contacted his company, they could never get a hold of him. It was like he didn't want to reveal himself. But now his cover is blown, and I must admit that I admire him for making a name for himself. I don't know what he went through, but right now I have no interest in it.
Are you sure, Hannah? Are you sure you don't want to know?
I shook my head and checked on my watch. It was 1:30pm. Getting my phone to check on how bad the traffic is going to the school, I noticed a message from an unknown number.
Hi, Hannah. This is Geoff. I'm sorry but I asked hyung for your number. See you later.
I froze and looked at his message. It felt like forever looking at that, seemingly the same way I looked at what was inside that cardboard box I have kept all these years. Just that, the message was different this time.
'Ms. Lee, it's almost time,' Jamie called out to me as she walked into my office. It was just then that I came back to my senses. Taking my purse and key to the car, I went straight to the parking lot and got in my car. To my surprise, it wouldn't start, no matter how many times I tried. I cursed! It was late and I didn't understand what happened. Running out of time, I decided to do something I never thought I would.
Setting my pride aside, I took my phone and dialed a number. The other line picked up.
'Hi. Does your offer still stand?'