The Smile You Bring Me

Avoiding

Ji Pyeong couldn't sleep, and the scene earlier kept playing in his mind; he sat on his bed and called the only person he knew could understand him, Min Ah.

"Min Ah, are you busy?"

"No, I am not; why?"

Ji Pyeong sighed; that was her cue that he was not okay.

"What's bothering you?" her voice was full of concern.

"I saw Do-San and Dal-Mi..." Ji Pyeong couldn't finish, but despite that, Min-Ah understood him.

"Didn't you expect that already?— I mean, you knew the possibility of Dal Mi and Do San getting back together was big, especially when you practically told Do-San that Dal-Mi couldn't forget him!"

"I know that! —but I didn't think that it'll hurt these much!"

"I'm not suggesting that you be a bad guy, but if you want to steal Dal-Mi from Do-San, I might help you," Min Ah offered as she tried to lighten the mood, but he took it seriously.

"Can I steal her?"

Min Ah was startled by the boldness of Ji Pyeong, "Are you sure?" she confirmed.

Ji Pyeong smiled.

"Did I surprise you?"

"Quite a bit!"

"Do you remember when I told you: I'll do everything for her; well— I guess this is everything!"

Then, Ji Pyeong couldn't hide the pain he felt —anymore, and Min-Ah could only sympathize with him.

"Do you want to drink?" Min-Ah asked.

Ji Pyeong suddenly became excited —hopeful, to be exact, "Are you here?" he asked.

"No... but we can video call each other while we drink; it would be as if I am there too," she replied.

Ji Pyeong felt disappointed, "I see..." he said.

He knew that if Min-Ah was there, she must've comforted him— personally— however, she was half the world away from him, and a video call was the second-best thing!

Ji Pyeong was still on his bed, and he could see Min-Ah was already preparing the table.

"Where are you? — I already set up the table!" she said.

"Min-Ah, I don't feel like moving!" he whined.

"Han Ji Pyeong! —You better stand up now! —because you needed to 'at least' share your sorrow with someone. —With me!" she ordered.

Ji Pyeong obeyed Min-Ah; he knew he couldn't defy her. —And besides, he needed someone to talk to.

***********************

"I know this was because of my lies that they met each other. —But I already made up for it, didn't I? —These past three years, I have done everything I could [just] to make Dal-Mi forgets Do-San. But how could she turn everything I did for her into a waste?" Ji Pyeong said —for about a hundred times already.

To change the topic —somehow, Min Ah asked Ji Pyeong about the necklace he bought for Dal-Mi.

"Ji Pyeong, did you give your gift to her?"

Ji Pyeong shook his head, "I didn't have any chance to give it to her!" he said and gulped his [last] can of beer, but it was empty.

"It is already empty?" he asked himself as he checked inside the can.

Min Ah smiled when she saw Ji Pyeong's different side.

"Ji Pyeong, You already had enough. You should sleep now! You still have to go to work later, " Min Ah said.

Ji Pyeong struggled to look straight at Min Ah, "Min Ah, thank you for listening. You know how glad I am to have you in my life, right?" he said. 

Min Ah nodded with an assuring smile. He also smiled and pressed the end call button.

In the morning, Ji Pyeong found himself on the couch. He remembered talking to Min Ah, but he couldn't remember the exact things he said. Then, his head hurt a few seconds after he woke up. He drank a hangover medicine for the pain he felt. But despite his headache, he still felt pleased to have someone he could share his sentiment.

Before Ji Pyeong goes to Sandbox, he calls Min Ah—to thank her for last night. Unfortunately, Min Ah wasn't answering her phone.

"I guess she's sleeping now, " he told himself.

***********************

Ji Pyeong has been avoiding Dal-Mi or Do-San for a week now. — since that kissing happened.

On the way to his office, Ji Pyeong received a call from Dong Chun.

"I am here!" Ji Pyeong said.

"Ms. Seo is waiting for you here, " Dong Chun informed him.

Ji Pyeong suddenly stopped from entering his office. He looked thru the door and saw Dal Mi standing behind Dong Chun. At that moment, he knew he couldn't see Dal Mi yet. He turned around and walked away from his office.

"E-mail me the IR stuff. I want to look at it— in a quiet place!" he ordered and hung up. He knew Dong-Chun would not believe his excuse, but at least he could understand him.

Ji Pyeong found a vacant room; where he could temporarily stay while Dal-Mi was in his office.

As Ji Pyeong reviewed the files he requested from Dong-Chun, Dong-Chun called him. He informed him that Dal-Mi had left their office; and that she also knew that he was avoiding her.

"Okay! I'll be there in a minute," he said and hung up. 

Ji Pyeong stood up and decided to go to his office now, "You're such a loser, Han Ji Pyeong," he told himself.

He composed himself before he went back to his office. He leaned on the door, and he sighed with a heavy heart. Suddenly, the door opened, and Dal Mi appeared before his eyes. Even though he knew he couldn't avoid her forever, he also knew that: he was not yet ready to face her.