With a newfound resolve, I turned and walked back towards Mr. Kim's office.
Instead of reaching out to hand in the resignation letter, I reach out my hand to Mr. Kim and say, "Lighter."
A loud silence fills the room, Mr. Kim who had a confused look on his face looks in my direction, meeting eyes with mine. "Uh…" He replies to my statement.
"Do I have to state myself again? Give me the lighter!" I say, my sharp voice echoing throughout the silent room.
Mr. Kim nods in agreement, still rather confused but reaches out to the second drawer attached to his desk and hands over the lighter with trembling hands.
"H-Here…" Unsure of what I was gonna do with the lighter, Mr. Kim's stutter can be heard throughout the entire hallway, his face isn't looking any better either. Drops of sweat fall down his face leaving a damp and shiny look on his greasy face.
I grab the lighter from him as soon as he reaches it out to me and burn my letter of resignation as soon as I got my hands on it. Mr. Kim sighs in happiness as he believed I was going to set the building on fire by the look of my face, suddenly his face changed.
"Wait, wait, Ms. Kang. Were you going to resign." Mr. Kim asks with intrigue, that's when I remembered that no one knew about my resignation.
"It's nothing." I shortly reply before heading out, on my way, I bump into someone in the hallway, a tall figure, a bit larger than me. I look up and see that familiar face.
Lee Dohwa, thought I didn't get to see his face fully, as soon as I saw the mole under his eye, I knew it was him, though I didn't want to admit it and it felt a bit too early to, I missed him.
Suddenly, his lips curl into a smile and he looks at me. "Kang Haera."
I felt myself get red, I probably looked like a cherry tomato, but the way he called my name. It felt so much different from anyone else calling it, as if my name was made solely for him. I couldn't help but feel a bit conscious of myself. How did I look? I asked myself that.
"H-Hi." I replied, trying to look away from his eyes that shined like crystals.
"Hey… Kang Haera." He said, in that way again, the way he said my name. "Why don't you look at me while I speak?" He reached out his hand and cupped my chin pulling it so that I would look towards him.
At that moment, it felt like there was no one else in the world but us. I tried to look away but his grip on my chin made it hard to do so.
"I- I." I try to explain myself, but no words come out of my mouth, as I try to say something again, he pulls my chin close and kisses me. I close my eyes and forget explaining myself. I didn't want to. All I wanted was to get lost in this moment.
He breaks from the kiss and holds me close and says, "Now will you look me in the eyes?"
I blush deeply and reply with a nod.