the past days, i was a mess.

i didn't know how to feel and it made me upset. right when jake became important to me again, he cuts me off of his life and throws me away like i am garbage.

luckily, heeseung came by every now and then to check up on my current state, he even started to go grocery shopping for me. a true sweetheart if you asked me.

jungwon and sunoo also texted me sometimes, saying the company has turned upside down as well.

more paperwork, suddenly working overtime. since jake has been entering and exiting the company as he pleased, he let his anger out on his workers.

tsk, i thought, that's definitely not how you run a business.

"hyewon, are you up?", heeseung called from the kitchen.

i lazily got up and joined him: "didn't you say you wanted to finish that one song?"

"don't remind me of work." he rolled his eyes at me, "i'm not feeling well when you're alone. why don't you invite your friends over?"

"unfortunately, that short-tempered jerk is letting them overwork. it's been ages since the three of us met, jungwon and sunoo are simply very busy."

"mhm, i see. sorry for that."

i just nodded and drank my water.

"by the way, did you know he is coming?" and with that, i spat it out immediately: "what?"

———

someone special i was able to meet when i was overseas. and of course, i stayed in japan. it's still funny to me how no reporter or media could find out my location when my father had hid me for good.

i was heartbroken when jake broke up with me, my parents were busy with work and couldn't stand me being a living mess. sending me to my aunt for relaxation and to heal the wounds was their only option.

it took me months to get over jake and in the first weeks i was there, he stepped into my life and helped me get through it.

shortly, we started dating. a wonderful experience, he showed me the sides of relationship i never knew were existing. he treated me like a princess, made sure i could see every single bit of japan. my aunt even said she'd approve of him and laughed when he playfully asked for my hand in marriage.

of course my parents chose the most unsatisfying time to get me back to korea. they knew i was standing on my own feet stably again and tore him and me apart.

i haven't heard from him since.

———

"don't joke around, heeseung. stop trying to fool me, i'm serious."

obviously, heeseung knew him, i told him everything he wanted to know at some point.

my cousin shook his head with a grin on his face:

"this was supposed to be a surprise. but i thought it'd brighten up your mood a bit."

"when, where and how?" my eyes were literally sparkling in that moment.

heeseung only laughed over my behaviour.

———

"i like how messy you look.", sunghoon snarled once he entered his best friend's apartment.

"am i not allowed to look like this?", the other one backfired annoyedly. his actions didn't leave him unharmed either. jake already regretted his decision and he knew how frustrated hyewon must feel now. it's not like he doesn't know her at all.

"i mean.. you're the one who started all this. now look at both of you, probably crying over each other. guess nothing has changed, huh?"

"why are you here anyway, sunghoon?", jake asked, exhaustion filling his voice.

"i know something you don't, jake."

"i am not in the mood for this, seriously."

"i found out what happened to hyewon during the time she disappeared." sunghoon was playing around and of course he couldn't hold back his mischievous grin.

"stop kidding me." jake was desperate to know.

how could he not be? one of the most important people to him vanished without any prove, he was worried to death and couldn't even reach out to her back then. he felt like it was his fault she left in the first place.

"i am not. but i think it's better if you ask her yourself." sunghoon loved teasing his friends, but jake didn't have any of his stupid behaviour.

"hoon, i swear to god."

"i just feel like i am not in the right position to interfere or something. man up, jake."

jake rolled his eyes; great.

"i guess you're right. i really need to be more mature."
"i broke up with her, cried when she left, met her again and pushed her away right after. i deserve the 'stupidest person on the world' award."

"aye, you're just confused with your feelings... i guess. what do you say? should we spend the day together? you're sulking a lot, i can't stand it anymore."

"should we go on a shopping spree?"

———

"riki!", i exclaimed out of happiness. i couldn't believe this was really happening.

he got a lot taller and obviously more handsome since last time. my heart started to pound like crazy once we were able to make eye contact.

a smile was forming on his face as he waved at me.

"heeseung, you're behind all this, aren't you?"

"maybe, maybe not.", my cousin grinned, "it was partly me. he reached out to me. i think mom helped him find you."

by the time he finished his sentence, riki already approached us and hugged me tightly, as if i will leave any minute again.

"i missed you a lot.", was the first thing he said to me. guess his voice has gotten deeper, too.

i couldn't even answer because i was crying on his shoulder like a complete fool.

"hyewon, you're such a crybaby.", heeseung shook his head embarrassedly. "shut up!", i sobbed and intended to hit him when riki quickly grabbed my arm and put my hand on his cheek.

"this is a happy reunion, we are not using violence today.", he chuckled, "sorry to interrupt, but i am quite hungry. where are the good restaurants?"

"i understand, no need to be sorry. i suggest we pay a visit to hyewon's all time favourite restaurant and catch up a little, should we?"

i looked up to riki who had his arm over my shoulder and hugged me from aside: "i would love to."

"welcome to 'Catch 204', how may i help you?", the waitress greeted the two of us once we entered.

heeseung said he wanted to look around in the mall, so he left me and riki alone.

"we'd like a table for two, please. unfortunately, we don't have a reservation.", riki smiled, causing me to grin as well. the waitress simply nodded and waved at us to follow her.

"this whole building is giving me such rich vibes.", riki whined, "i feel like i'm not worth it yet."

"stop talking nonsense, you look like a young businessman with his own start-up. the black turtleneck fits you very well.", i flashed him a smile.

"wait, what was this mall called again? is it something like lotte world?"

"Park's Seoul Center.", i answered, "it's just a huge shopping center, don't think much about it."

"it's like a luxurious mall for rich people."

if only you knew.

"the usual table for mr. park and me, please.", a voice suddenly exclaimed, which made me gulp.

jake was standing at the reception, some bags already in his hand.

"riki, look! the view is breathtaking, don't you think so?"

the two of us looked out of the window while hoon and jake passed by, walking towards the VIP lounge.

i could say i'm quite lucky to have riki by my side for now, but very unlucky for always bumping into that jerk of ex-boyfriend.