Broken promises

Memories

Oh Yoon-hee laughed as she made a funny face after drinking her second shot of tequila. She hit the table with the little glass and looked at her co-workers for approval. Louis, Sarah, Rachel, and Martin nodded. Louis poured them another shot of tequila and passed them the salt and lemon. The last time she had gotten drunk, had been five years ago, in the night Min Soel-ah had died. She shook her head and took a deep breath. She needed to move on and focus on the present.

"To life!" Martin said, interrupting her thoughts and raising his glass to the sky. The other four joined him and they licked the salt from their hands, drank the white liquid, and bit the slice of lemon. The liquid burned their throats in its way down, but it was a welcomed feeling. Once they had all swallowed, they burst into laughter. "I'm so glad you finally decided to join us!" Martin exclaimed, looking at Yoon-hee. She smiled at him.

"I couldn't turn an invitation like this down, could I?" she replied, feeling a little dizzy. The tequila was doing its magic. Her co-workers laughed. "Let's go dancing!" she suggested, feeling confident.

"I'd love that!" Sarah replied, standing up so fast that she nearly knocked the chair over. All five of them laughed. They stood up, paid the bill, and left the bar the best they could. It was a cold night, but the alcohol running through their bloodstream kept them warm. They kept on making jokes and laughing at everything, even the traffic lights seemed funny.

"Oh, shit! I need to pee," Rachel complained after they had crossed the pedestrian crossing. They looked around and saw some restaurants and pubs. "That one is emptier. Come with me, Lea," she said, taking Oh Yoon-hee's hand. At first, she hadn't realized that she was talking to her because of the fake ID she had received. Ro-na told her that changing their names was the only way in which they could make sure Doo Jan-tae wouldn't find them. Rachel and Yoon-hee hurried to one of the restaurants and acted as sober as possible when they got in. It was a fancy restaurant and people seemed to be celebrating something.

"I can't find the restroom!" Rachel said, pouting. Yoon-hee laughed and tried to focus on the labels hanging on each door. It didn't take her long to find the ladies' bathroom.

"You're so blind. Here, follow me," Yoon-hee said, taking her hand. They entered the big white room and they had to close their eyes because the light was too much for them. Rachel covered her eyes with her purse and made her way to one of the toilet cubicles. Yoon-hee supported her weight against the countertop as she waited. "Where's Sarah?" she asked her, realizing that it was the two of them only.

"Probably making out with Louis," Rachel commented from the small cubicle. "I wouldn't be surprised if you end up in Martin's bed, though," the woman said, chuckling. Oh Yoon-hee laughed hard. "I mean it. He wants to bone you." Oh Yoon-hee shook her head to each side and from the corner of her eyes, she realized that they weren't alone anymore. She saw a tall woman dressed in a white dress and a familiar scent surrounded her. Yoon-hee didn't need to turn around to know who it was, but she did it anyway. It was the one and only, Shim Su-ryeon. If she hadn't been that drunk, she would have frozen at the sight of the older woman.

"Oh Yoon-hee," Su-ryeon greeted her, confused by her presence there. Yoon-hee straighten up and cleared her throat before smiling at her.

"Hey," Yoon-hee replied, trying to sound serious. She couldn't believe she was face to face with her. Maybe she was hallucinating, she thought.

"Who are you talking to? Is it Martin? If so, Lea wants you get her laidddd," Rachel said, laughing at her own joke. Yoon-hee covered her mouth to try and stop laughing, but she failed miserably. Su-ryeon frowned and crossed her arms across her chest.

"Are you drunk?" the older woman asked her, astonished. She had missed Oh Yoon-hee, but she couldn't forget why she had asked her to leave. Every time the younger woman was the protagonist of her decisions, she had an inner fight between her common sense and her feelings. She couldn't forgive her for all the pain she had caused her, but at the same time she didn't want to be without her.