monrchaes:
the same on her face was a natural reaction upon seeing him, unable to control it. was it normal to feel this way? warm and fuzzy inside whenever you laid eyes on your ex boyfriend? she doubt it was but why did she suddenly get this reaction? her heart raced a million miles per hour inside her chest, thumping so hard that she can hear it through her ears, watching woojin take the seat in front of her. she’s been sipping on her coffee for the past ten minutes but her mouth instantly felt dry, like a sand storm come over inside it.
how cliche it was, the situation. ex lovers meeting in their once favorite spot that held great significance to their past relationship. for a moment, it felt like she was being transported back to when they were both high school students, incredibly head over heels for each other and nothing else in the world mattered. they spent everything at this cafe, at this very spot. dates, birthdays, anniversaries, celebrations. but as they grew older, life somehow caught up to them and made the realize that they were no longer each other’s priority. as sad as it was, it was much needed in order for them to grow. it did them well, soohyang thought. well kinda. but from time to time, she wondered what life would have been like had they not parted ways. woojin held a great significance in her life that forgetting him was not an option.
“you look well,” she teased, chuckling as she set her half empty drink to the side. was it funny that despite the time that had passed between them, he still looked the same to her. the same boy she pined over way back when, the same boy who held her hand and heart. well, he no longer was a boy but a man now— but still. “i have been good.” was all soohyang could say. “oh wow, how long has it been?” she smiled. how long has it been since they broke up? “you’re here for sohee and hyeok’s wedding too?” it would make sense if he did. how could he miss their friends wedding. “i remember a drunk hyeok gushing about sohee a year ago. it was hilarious.” you should have been there. “now they’re getting married.” it could have been us. “— but how about you? what’s new with you?”
“you, too.” it was polite to admit so, but in truth, soohyang looked the same as she was years ago, back when she had captured his heart and held it in between the palms of her hand. still breathtakingly beautiful, but older and matured. he would have fallen for her now just as he had years ago. how long has it been? too long, the words were already at the tip of his tongue, but then he remembered there was a reason why they had drifted apart, their time in high school and college nothing but faded memories. sitting in front of her, however, seemed to bring back all the memories as if it was just yesterday when they had spilled i love you’s over homework and half-eaten pastries. the nostalgia still have yet to leave him. he cleared his throat, pushing the thoughts to the back of his mind, the words remain unsaid.
“yeah, i’m here for them.” woojin chuckled at the mention of his- no, their friends. he wasn’t surprised that she would be here too, considering they shared the same mutual group of friends during their school years but he wasn’t at all prepared to meet her before the wedding. maybe it was for the best they get the awkwardness out of the way so they could properly enjoy their friends’ ceremony instead of tiptoeing around each other the whole evening. yes, he told himself as he stared at her blinding smile, ignoring the rapid beating of his heart, it’s definitely for the best. “i was completely blindsided by their announcement actually. i never thought they would get married-” he was suddenly reminded of his younger self (and everyone else around them) who had believed he would marry soohyang first, their love story one for the books if it hadn’t ended in such a pitiful state. for a moment, he wondered if the regrets from their relationship haunted her just as it did for him. “but i’m glad they found happiness in each other.” he answered, a small smile on his lips. at least someone — or two — in their friend group would get their happy ending.
her last question made him nervous for some reason, bora’s face instantly coming into mind. “i’m good, i’m a lawyer now actually. and uh-” he regretted not buying a drink first, perhaps then he would have something to cool down his dry throat. “i’m engaged.” he lets the silence linger in the air for a second before he continued, somewhat reluctant to see her reaction but couldn’t find it in himself to look away, still captivated by her. “what about you? do you have someone?” his curiosity letting the best of him before he could think twice.