He had just seen her. Ran into her by chance, or was it fate he wondered. Actually, if she hadn't approached him first he might not have been able to recognize her. She looked lovely, he thought. He hadn't been able to stop smiling since then. He still felt the warmth of her hand in his and it sent a shiver all over his body. His steps felt lighter as he walked back to work. His team members and now workers at his own company had noticed his change and bombarded him with questions about what had put him in such a great mood. The ever quiet Park Dong Hoon had said nothing. When he had started to smile to himself, his teammates wondered if he was finally loosing it.
The team did notice however how he would just look at his phone every few seconds. He had been itching to text or call her since he saw her. He didnt want to come on too strong though so he decided to wait.
It wasn't until the end of that day that he was found out. They had been in a meeting and his cell phone pinged with a text. The screen had flashed "Ji An" and Park Dong Hoon almost tripped over himself trying to get to his phone. In the brief second that it took him to pick it up from the table both Assistant manager Kim and Chief Song had caught a glimpse.
"Ji An" Manager Kim had said outloud,
"Oh, Lee Ji An?! Are you talking to her again?"
Chief Song more perceptive than the rest just looked over his flustered boss and chuckled. He had deciphered their relationship long ago, even if he still hadn't. Trying his best to at least act cool Park Dong Hoon mentioned that he had seen her earlier. His team looked around at each other and collectible let out and "Oh" of understanding.
"It's no big deal" he had said nonchalantly but Chief Song had pointed out he was clutching his phone awfully hard. The team broke out in giggles and decided that was enough teasing for now. They got up and let their boss have some privacy.
Before closing the door Chief Song poked his head in and said that he still owed Ji An that hug. And there it was, the annoyed look on his boss's face, exactly the reaction that he was expecting. Chief Song chuckled and quickly said to let her know that they should have drinks soon.
Finally alone he read her message,
"Can I call you later tonight?" You are a CEO now and I don't want to bother you."
He surprised himself by sighing loudly. Even though he was incredibly happy that she had texted him he'd have to wait even longer to hear her voice again. He's quick to reply that "It's ok, she could call him anytime. He would wait." And adds that "she could never bother him"
Once he got home his mind replays the winter when they had first met. They had found each other when they were living the worst moments of their lives. She had given him the push to get his stalled life going again. And he had let her go, begrudgingly, to live a new life, a life she most certainly deserved. A life away from him. Going over their relationship he admitted he had always know what his feeling for her were even when he tried to bury them they would just bubble to the surface and make his heart clench painfully. Back then he just wasn't in a place were he could share them freely with her. She deserved everything and he didn't want to be in the way. He wonders if it might be too late. He tells himself to snap out of it. He would have to wait and see what their meeting had in store for them.
That night she calls him and hearing her soft voice sends a tingling feeling all over his body again. She's quiet and shy, then he realizes she had been listening to his breathing. "Ji An..." he start to say says and he can hear her take a breath.
"Ahjusshi" comes out softly, "can I buy you something delicious tomorrow?" She asks almost hesitantly.
"Yes, let do that" he replies and his cheeks start to hurt from smiling so much.
They decide to meet in a new place near her work. It's very similar in atmosphere to the neighborhood bar they always went to before. She is surprised to see him there already waiting for her. She looks at him from head to toe taking him in and stops when he spots her, their eyes lock and his face breaks out into that beaming smile from the previous day.
She's a little awkward, but his cheerfulness relaxes her. She realizes how different things are. And remembers the time when he told her he had been on the verge of dying. How true that had been for both of them. He looks good, too good she thinks and that smile on his face that hasn't left since she got there makes him look younger. She mentally scolds herself as she tries to stop her foolish heart from running wild.
"You seem happy ahjusshi" she says.
"I am happy" he says and hi eyes meet hers, "I'm happier here, right now...with you"
She's stunned silent and her heart beats wildly in her chest. She had hoped against hope for so long.
He takes a breath ready to say everything he's been holding on to for far too long. The day he let her go, he had been devastated. It was then that he realized the depth of his own feelings for her. So, he had made a choice to live his life differently. And promised himself that if they ever met again he would use his opportunity to at least let her know that every time she confessed to him his heart had wanted to reach out. That he hadn't been in a position to accept her feelings for him even if he was right there along with her.
"Ji An, I'm not married anymore" he blurts out. He takes a deep breath and says I've been living alone for quite a while now. Ji Seok's mom went to the states to live with him. He falters as he says "I know I'm and older man and you could do so much better than someone like me, but... he's stopped by her small hand on his lips. He panics a little, his eyes scanning her face. She's silently crying and takes a breath to compose herself before she says,
"I love you ahjusshi"
He covers her hand with his own and kisses her palm, overwhelmed by the intensity of her feelings for him. He let's the words wash over his heart and says
"My heart has loved you far longer that I let myself believe" "I love you too"
She smiles her eyes shining with tears and he hears her say,
"Ahjusshi" before she let's out a sob. He holds her hands in his, tears streaming down his own face.
"Ji An" he says, "let's be happy...let's be happy together" she looks up at him a radiant smile gracing her face and nods her head in agreement.
