Chapter 37: Echoes of the Past
Jin woke up to the sight of the small flower pot Edward had given him, now sitting on the windowsill where he had placed it the night before. The delicate plant had already begun to grow, its tiny blossoms slowly unfurling in the morning light. There was something calming about it, a quiet beauty that seemed to anchor Jin's thoughts, though the unease from the previous day lingered.
Shaking off his lingering thoughts, Jin decided to head to the Star Palace. The opulent venue had become a second home to him, a place where he could both work and relax. The day was shaping up to be a typical one, or so he thought.
As Jin entered the grand hall of the Star Palace, he was greeted by the familiar buzz of activity. The staff were busy attending to the guests, and the air was filled with the soft hum of conversation and the clinking of fine china. Jin had just begun to relax when he noticed a commotion near the entrance. His eyes narrowed as he recognized the source of the disturbance—it was his ex-girlfriend, and she was causing a scene.
She was standing by the front desk, her face twisted in anger as she berated one of the staff members. Her voice, shrill and commanding, cut through the air like a knife, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
"I demand to see the manager!" she was shouting, her tone imperious. "Do you have any idea who I am?"
Jin's expression darkened as he approached. He had no patience for her theatrics, especially not in a place that he considered his own. The staff member she was harassing looked visibly distressed, her hands shaking as she tried to placate the irate woman.
"What are you doing here?" Jin's voice was cold and controlled as he stepped into the confrontation.
His ex-girlfriend turned to face him, surprise flashing in her eyes before she quickly recovered her composure. She had always been good at masking her true emotions, but Jin could see through her act.
"Jin," she began, her tone suddenly sweet and conciliatory, "I didn't know you were here. I was just—"
"Get out," Jin interrupted, his voice low but filled with authority. There was no mistaking the finality in his words.
The room fell silent, the weight of Jin's command hanging in the air. His ex-girlfriend's eyes widened in shock and then narrowed in anger as she realized there was no arguing with him. Without another word, she spun on her heel and stormed out of the Star Palace, her exit as dramatic as her entrance had been.
Jin watched her leave, his face expressionless, though inside, a storm of emotions swirled. He had once loved her, but that love had long since turned to bitterness. Now, she was just a reminder of a past he had left behind.
As the tension in the room dissipated, Jin turned to the staff member who had been the target of his ex's ire. She looked up at him with wide, grateful eyes.
"Thank you, Mr. Jin," she said, her voice trembling slightly.
Jin gave her a curt nod. "It's nothing. If she comes back, let me know."
With the situation resolved, Jin continued on his way through the Star Palace. He hadn't gone far when he was approached by another familiar face—Peter, an old friend from his days working at the bar. Peter greeted him with a wide grin, his eyes lighting up with recognition.
"Jin! It's been ages!" Peter exclaimed, clapping him on the back. "I didn't expect to run into you here."
Jin smiled, genuinely pleased to see his old friend. "Peter, it's good to see you. How have you been?"
The two found a quiet corner in the lounge and ordered coffee, slipping easily into conversation. They reminisced about the old days, sharing stories and laughing at the memories. It was a pleasant distraction from the weightier thoughts that had been occupying Jin's mind.
As they talked, one of the Star Palace employees approached Jin, addressing him as "Sir" in a tone of deep respect. She handed him a document to review, her demeanor professional and deferential.
Peter raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Sir? What's that about?"
The employee, overhearing the question, smiled and answered before Jin could. "Mr.
Jin is the major shareholder of Star Palace. He's our top executive."
Peter's jaw dropped, and then he burst out laughing. "This is straight out of a K-drama, Jin! You, the secret tycoon! I never would have guessed."
Jin chuckled, though there was a hint of melancholy in his eyes. "Life has its twists and turns, Peter. Sometimes, it takes you places you never expected to go."
Peter shook his head in amazement, still grinning. "Well, it suits you. But I have to admit, it's a bit surreal. I still remember you as the guy who could barely afford to buy me a drink."
Jin smiled, though his thoughts drifted once more to the flower pot sitting on his windowsill and the strange sense of foreboding that had settled over him since receiving it.
After a while, Jin and Peter finished their coffee and said their goodbyes. As Jin left the Star Palace, the weight of the previous day's events began to press down on him once more. The encounter with his ex had been unsettling, but it was Edward's gift and the look in the old man's eyes that truly haunted him.
That evening, Jin returned home and found himself once again drawn to the flower pot. The plant had grown a little more, its blossoms slightly fuller, its leaves a bit greener. Jin stared at it, lost in thought, trying to decipher the meaning behind Edward's words.
Why had the old man given him this gift? And why did it feel like a farewell?
The questions swirled in his mind, but there were no answers. Not yet. Jin could only wait and see what the future would bring, hoping that whatever it was, he would be ready.