"Are you leaving too?" he asked.
"I think so. So, rain CHECKED?" I confirmed.
"Rain checked?"
"The chat? I had a bit too much to drink, I don't want to pass out in front of these respectable people." I smiled. There are places that one can go all out and people who can see me totally drunk, these people and this place is not it. "I'll see you, Friday"
"Can't I see you before that?"
"For?"
"Should I have a reason to ask you out? Let's just say I want to repay your kindness, from that metro ticket. Dinner?"
"You don't need to"
"I want to..."
"Ok. I am free Thursday night after the seminar."
"It's a date then…" he smirked.
"Date??"
"Ok dining out, if you don't want to call it a date."
"Thanks for tonight, I had fun. I'm glad, we cleared out that awkwardness on our first meeting." I stated. He has this smile which seems like he is hesitating to say something.
I have to acknowledge the fact that he is a good company. But I really wanted to leave because if I stay a bit longer, I might not control myself into becoming all dreamy towards him. I found a new admiration towards him, not just how he looks but how he handles himself and his outlook in life. He seems like the type of person who don't act rashly. He seems to be a man of character and a person of logic. Somehow, I wished for him happiness. It might have been traumatic to see your best friend with your wife. Two of your most trusted people in the world betraying you, I can't even begin to fathom. I thought I had it bad, but he had it way worst.
"Goodnight, Ara Rivera, it's always a pleasure to meet you."
Out of habit, I reach out to him for a hug and a peck on the cheeks to say goodnight. It's late when I realize how awkward and inappropriate it was.
"Sorry. I'm sorry. It's out of habit. I didn't think about where we are." I blushed and felt warm gush of blood all over my body.
"Why, am I the luckiest man tonight" he just teased and waited for the elevator for me. "See you, Thursday. I will call you?"
"Just page me at the lobby. We can eat at the restaurant here…"
We never expected that someone had been following us the whole time. And that innocent goodbye peck will become a spark that will create a flame for both of us.
The next morning is an ordinary day. I attended the seminar, finished it, and went to enjoy dinner with the Kims'. I just found out through them how famous Nam Jae-woo is. He became a household name when he married Korea's sweetheart, Lee Seo-hyun, which made people curious about his life. Myeong also shared that she had known Jae-woo's father when he was a prosecutor. There are a lot of information that keeps coming in about him that are too overwhelming to take in. I reminded myself not to be caught up with him.
I have formulated a research proposal from the seminars I have attended so far. I was considering not to attend the last day of seminar. If it will be a subject regarding IT, I think it won't really affect the flow of my research. So, I have asked Soo-ah to make a schedule for us to tour around the city instead. I'm probably just subconsciously trying to avoid him. The thought of him with his annoying smile contained most of my time. I know he looks like a player, but I cannot help falling into his charm.
I got about 5 missed calls from Professor Kim and another 10 from Soo-ah, when I finished the last seminar Thursday. I called back Soo-ah. She answered after the first call and she got direct to the point.
"Miss Ara, I am at the hotel lobby I needed to talk to you about something. I'll come to your room…" I sense an urgency and worry on her voice. Knowing her, until now, I know she is a no-bullshit type of person. So, I headed immediately on my room, and dialed Professor Kim's number as well.
"Ara, you made the news..." he informed immediately.
"News on what?"
"I guess you need someone to understand what's happening, but you have pictures with Jae-woo all over the entertainment news, there was a picture of you and Nam Jae-woo, in front of the elevator seemingly kissing? Has he reached out to you yet?"
I looked at my phone for local news. Lo and behold, that peck on the cheek from the elevator seems like we are really kissing, it should not have been bad if I really kissed him by then. If a mere peck on the cheek will make this headline, how will hand holding or kissing will affect? I was alarmed by the ring on the door. It's Soo-ah, I felt relieved when I saw her face.
"There were reporters on the lobby, but the security took them all out now. I already asked the reception and management not to give any information about you. But shouldn't we contact Mr. Jae-woo?"
She explained about the content of the news to me. They are saying that the divorce between Jae woo and Lee Seo Hyun, his actress wife has been finalized thanks to the woman who captured Jae-woo's heart; that there's finally a closure about the break-up and separation since Mr. Nam Jae-woo is already parading his new woman around. The news is painting an image of me as the one who finalized the broke up of the two love birds.
Having Soo-ah as my assistant on this trip is proving now to be the best thing that Martin have done so far.
"What's the extent of this type of news? Nobody will recognize me on the street, right?"
"It's not a big deal. But we should probably be cautious if we are still planning to go out tomorrow."