Flashback of the previous chapter...
Inside her boutique, Kim Ha-Na assisted customers with a bright smile.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and Ha-Na's eyes widened.
Lee Min-So, Ji-Yoon's long-awaited boyfriend, walked in, hand-in-hand with a stunning fair-skinned woman, Choi Yoon-Ah.
Ha-Na's jaw dropped as she watched Min-Soo and Yoon-Ah browse through the racks.
"Welcome to Myeong-dong Mode!" Ha-Na managed to say, trying to compose herself.
Meanwhile, in the cab, Ji-Yoon was still reeling from her missed encounter.
"Maybe I missed him," Ji-Yoon thought, staring out the window.
Her phone call with Ha-Na had lifted her spirits, but the uncertainty lingered.
As the cab stopped at a red light, Ji-Yoon's thoughts drifted back to Min-Soo.
Little did she know, her world was about to shatter.
Back at the boutique, Ha-Na struggled to maintain her professionalism.
"Can I help you find anything?" Ha-Na asked Min-Soo and Yoon-Ah.
Min-Soo smiled warmly. "We're just browsing."
Ha-Na's eyes locked onto their intertwined hands.
"What is going on? Does he not recognize me or is he pretending that he doesn't know me?" Ha-Na wondered.
Ji-Yoon paid the cab driver and stepped out of the vehicle, her earlier excitement now replaced with disappointment. She trudged into her apartment, the silence echoing through the empty rooms.
"Guess I'll just have to eat alone tonight," Ji-Yoon sighed.
She microwaved the dishes she had prepared for Min-Soo: Bibimbap, Bulgogi, Japchae. The aroma filled the kitchen, reminding her of the evening's failed expectations.
Just as she finished warming the food, the door swung open.
"Ta-da!" Kim Ha-Na exclaimed, lifting up a nylon bag filled with cans of Cass and Hite beer.
"Hey, you are home earlier," Ji-Yoon replied, her tone flat.
Ha-Na noticed Ji-Yoon's somber mood.
"What happened? Was it because Oppa (Min-Soo) didn't show up?" Ha-Na asked, not wanting her friend to be do sad, she hid the fact that she saw Min Soo earlier.
Ji-Yoon shook her head.
"Let's just eat and forget today, okay?" Ji-Yoon suggested.
Ha-Na nodded sympathetically.
As they sat down to eat, Ji-Yoon's thoughts drifted to tomorrow.
"Maybe I'll get called for an interview at Starlight Entertainment... Maybe I'll finally see Min-Soo," Ji-Yoon hoped.
Over beer and food, Ji-Yoon's sadness gradually lifted.
"Cheers to new beginnings!" Ha-Na toasted.
"Geonbae!" (,)
The friends clinked glasses, savoring the bitter taste of beer.
As the night wore on, Ji-Yoon's laughter returned.
But as the alcohol took hold, Ji-Yoon's thoughts returned to Min-Soo.
"Why didn't he call? Is he okay?" Ji-Yoon wondered.
Ha-Na reassured her.
"He'll come home, Yoon-ah. Don't worry."
Drunk and stumbling, Ji-Yoon walked to her room.
"Tomorrow... Maybe tomorrow," Ji-Yoon mumbled, jumping into bed.
As she drifted off to sleep, Ji-Yoon's mind filled with hopeful thoughts.
"Maybe his flight was delayed... Maybe he'll surprise me tomorrow," Ji-Yoon thought.
Yawning, Ji-Yoon turned onto her side, a gentle smile on her lips.
" Saranghae, Min-Soo... (I love you, Min-Soo...)"
Ji-Yoon's eyelids closed, her dreams filled with visions of Min-Soo's return.
The next morning, Ji Yoon started painting the portrait of Lee Min Soo.
Ji-Yoon's small studio was a testament to her artistic passion. Canvases filled with vibrant colors and delicate brushstrokes lined the walls, each piece telling a story. Among them, one painting stood out - a portrait of Lee Min-Soo, the man she loved.
She finished the final touches, stepping back to admire her work. Humming a gentle tune, Ji-Yoon headed to the shower, her heart racing with excitement.
"Today's the day," she whispered, her voice echoing off the bathroom tiles. "I'll finally see Min-Soo."
Ha-Na had left for work earlier, leaving Ji-Yoon to prepare for her airport rendezvous.
"Min-soo, my Min-soo," Ji-Yoon sang, twirling under the shower's warm stream.
As she dressed, Ji-Yoon's anticipation grew. She checked her phone for what felt like the hundredth time.
No messages.
No calls.
Undeterred, Ji-Yoon grabbed her bag and headed out the door.
The airport's bustling atmosphere only fueled Ji-Yoon's excitement. She arrived early, scanning the arrivals gate for Min-Soo's familiar face.
Time ticked by.
2 PM.
3 PM.
4 PM.
The crowds thinned, and the gate emptied.
Ji-Yoon's smile began to falter.
Where was he?
Had something gone wrong?
As the minutes turned into hours, Ji-Yoon's hope deflated.
No Min-Soo.
No explanation.
Just silence.
Ji-Yoon's eyes stung, tears threatening to spill.
"Why, Min-Soo?" she whispered, her voice cracking.
Disappointment washed over her like a wave.
She had waited three years.
Three long years.
And now, nothing.
The airport's bright lights blurred as Ji-Yoon's vision distorted.
She felt lost, alone, and forgotten.
With heavy steps, Ji-Yoon turned away from the gate.
"Maybe tomorrow," she whispered.
But deep down, Ji-Yoon wondered:
"Will tomorrow be different?"
Ji-Yoon trudged home, her heart heavy with disappointment. She flopped onto the sofa, soliloquizing.
"Three years... Three long years... Was it all for nothing?"
But as she gazed around her small studio, Ji-Yoon's determination reignited.
"No more part-time jobs. I need a real career."
At 22, Ji-Yoon had spent years juggling odd jobs.
"That's enough," she declared.
Just then, her phone buzzed.
"Daehan Corporation?" Ji-Yoon wondered.
The message read:
"Greetings, Miss Yoon Ji Hyun. We require your portrait services. Payment: $10,000. You'll draw the subject at our office. Directions: [attached]."
Ji-Yoon's eyes widened.
"$10,000? For one day's work?"
She envisioned the possibilities.
"Pay off debts... Invest in my art... support Jị Hoon's medical expenses..."
With renewed energy, Ji-Yoon gathered her tools.
"I'm in," she texted back. "I'll arrive as soon as possible."
Daehan Corporation's sleek building loomed before her.
"Here goes nothing," Ji-Yoon whispered.
As she stepped into the lobby, a receptionist greeted her.
"How can I help you?" the receptionist asked
"I'm here for a portrait commission," Ji Yoon said bringing out her phone to show the text message.
"Hello ma'am," one of the staff approached them, "are you miss Yoon Ji Yoon?"
"Yeah, yeah," Ji Yoon excitedly replied, putting her phone in her handbag.
"Welcome, Miss Yoon. You're here for the portrait commission?" The staff asked
Ji-Yoon nodded.
"Please follow me." She said directing Ji Yoon to the elevator.