It is still 3pm so I still have a lot of time to burn before going back to SNU. So, I dialled Soo-ah.
"Hi sweety, are you busy?" I greeted cheerfully hoping she could pick up on my enthusiasm.
"Miss Ara, I have to go somewhere later", she's apologetic.
I am disappointed. But what can I expect, it's not like I am going to force her to waste time.
"Ok, I will see you Sunday, right?"
"Of course."
I informed her about getting my car Sunday. She felt bad that she was not able to help me with arranging it. That's just how she is, she always felt responsible to everything I need, sometimes I ended up at CoEx mall and laze away my time, until I went back at SNU.
"Miss Ara?" I met Soo-ah by the hallway of the defense room when I arrived. She looked like she was caught in the middle of committing a crime.
"Hey, I thought you have something to do?" I smiled at her.
"What are you doing here?" She is still in shock.
"I should ask you the same thing…"
Then suddenly, someone from the room came out. He is wearing a formal suit. He is probably in his early 30s, I have the feeling that I met him before. Although, I can't figure out where.
"You came…" he acknowledges Soo-ah in an embrace. I can see Soo-ah's face in total confusion or more of an embarrassment.
"Ahem…" I wanted to be acknowledged. My smile reached all the way to my ears, and Soo-ah probably know now what's coming for her.
"Miss Ara, this is Roo-ni, you've met him in Copenhagen?"
"Hi, Miss, it's been long time…" Roo-ni offered his hand. I reached out for a handshake.
That's why he's familiar. So, they met in Copenhagen. Although, I can't remember the exact meeting, I know I have met him before. I'm still smiling, and I can't wait to grill Soo-ah for this.
"So, what are we doing here, exactly?" I asked.
"It's his thesis defense…" she notified.
"Oh, a very supportive girlfriend huh?" I started to tease.
"But what are you doing here?" she inquired.
"I was invited to be in the thesis committee…" Both of them were surprised.
"Wow, it's nice to have at least one friendly face in the committee", Roo-ni exclaimed.
"Only a friendly face…I hope I am still your friend after though…" I warned. I have read his thesis, there are lots of problematic concepts that needed clarification. I felt a little reserved now that I have known the face behind the author.
I went in to meet with Prof Kim, he is the supervisor of Roo-ni. I also wanted to meet the other members of the committee. Prof Kim greeted me when he saw me by the door.
"We are still waiting for the deputy director and one other panelist." Prof Kim is inside with the Department Head and one from the Department of Engineering, he's actually from ITU. The other committee member is from one of the companies that Roo-ni did a project with.
"Ara?! Is it you?"
Someone greeted me in Danish. He is really familiar but I'm trying to remember how I know him. I smiled just to let him know I recognized him...
"How are you doing? It's been a long time." He continued, still talking in Danish. I looked at Prof. Kim and smile at him first and he nodded seemingly giving me permission to talk with this acquaintance." How's Marcus and Paolo?" He continued.
Now, I finally recognize how I knew him. He's my ex-husband's classmate and friend from the university, and hearing how he is asking about him, he seemed not to know about the divorce.
"Oh, Mads it's you. Wow, small world eh. Paolo and I had been divorced 5 years ago," I replied in Danish. I can see, how he shifted his mood from a happy welcoming one to a more somber tone.
I heard the opening and closing of the main door and saw Prof Kim's reaction, I thought he's just signaling to be ready.
"Later," I said, and give him a hug before going up a step to take my designated seat. So, he's here because he was Roo-ni's contact in ITU when he went there for his research.
Wow. Today is full of coincidences. Who could have thought that I have to meet him here to the thesis defense of Soo-ah's boyfriend? And as if this coincidence is not surprising enough, I recognize the person coming through the door, with the deputy director if I'm not mistaken. Prof Kim also looked at me when he saw him.
We all looked shocked, probably, Soo-ah had seen him already. Are we some kind of marionette right now, that our strings are being pulled into this moment? Exactly how many coincidences can one event accommodate? The Professor introduce the committee amongst us. When he approached me, he has that smile that I can never forget.