The office felt hollow and cold when Y/N stepped inside, wondering if Jay was there. She didn't understand what he was doing there or why he decided to work in the same company she worked at, but when she heard her coworkers whisper about him, she couldn't help but eavesdrop on their hushed conversations.
"Park Jay? He's the new project manager," One of her coworkers whispered and she paused, her heart skipping a beat as the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. But what she still didn't understand was the fact that he left his bar in Busan and chose to work in the same city as her, in the same company no less. "I heard he owns a bar in Busan. I wonder how rich he is."
Y/N stopped listening and silently made her way to the desk before they noticed her presence. "Good morning." She greeted her coworkers with a forced smile because if not, they'd only start asking if she was okay and she really didn't need more attention drawn to her personal life.
"Oh, Y/N, did you hear? We have a new project manager starting today," one of her coworkers exclaimed, clearly excited about the news. "You'll have to introduce yourself since you'll be working closely with him."
Y/N's heart sank even further at the realization that she would indeed have to face Jay every day at work. It seemed like fate had a cruel sense of humor, bringing him back into her life just when she thought she had lost him forever.
"Yes, I should." She nodded with a smile and looked back at her screen while her mind raced with thoughts of Jay. Now that he was the new project manager, it was impossible for their paths not to cross. The two of them were supposed to collaborate closely since she was the programming team's manager, and the thought of avoiding him indefinitely was no longer an option.
Hours passed when the president stepped into the office along with the man she couldn't stop thinking about. "Good morning, everyone. It's getting colder these days, isn't it?" The president greeted the team as they stood up and bowed politely. "Our project manager, Mr. Park, has joined our team, and I trust that you'll all extend a warm welcome to him."
The president's words were met with a round of polite applause and welcoming smiles from the team. Y/N couldn't help but glance at Jay, who acknowledged the greetings with a nod and a faint smile. It was an odd feeling, watching him being introduced as part of the team when he was once the man who knew her so well and managed to turn her darkest days into rays of sunshine.
"Lee Y/N," The president walked to her and she forced a polite smile when he patted her back. "She will let you know the details of your first project here. Y/N, please make sure Mr. Park is well-oriented and feels at home in our company."
"I will." She nodded and glanced at Jay who looked away the moment their eyes met. He looked as handsome as ever, but he looked different. He no longer wore the casual, comfortable attire he preferred when they were in Busan. Instead, he was dressed in a well-tailored suit that made it seem like he had shed his old self and turned into a more professional version of the man she once knew, with a life that didn't include her.
They were expected to have their project briefing in about ten minutes and Y/N struggled to focus on her work. She couldn't just brush aside what was going on between them and pretend like the two of them didn't love each other, like they didn't cry in each other's arms and kissed each other's scars. But when it was time for the meeting, she somehow managed to step into the meeting room where Jay was already there, sitting at the head of the table, reviewing some documents.
"Mr. Park," She spoke, the name bitter and unfamiliar on her tongue while he acknowledged her with a polite nod. Hesitantly taking the seat opposite him, she stole a glance at him while his attention remained on the documents. She took a deep breath and looked at her notes. "I've gathered the team's feedback on the new project's initial outline, and I believe we can make some adjustments to streamline the development process."
Jay nodded, his gaze finally lifting to meet hers. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, it felt like time had stopped. "That sounds reasonable. I will go through your notes in detail after the meeting, you don't have to sit there and pretend like this is easy for you, Miss Y/N."
"Why are you here?" The question had been haunting Y/N ever since she saw Jay in the office and she knew it wasn't fair because she was the one who pushed him away, but it hurt her how he could act so calm and distant in this situation.
He leaned back in his chair, folding his hands on the table in front of him while refusing to break eye contact. He was a far cry from the man who used to gaze at her with so much love and affection, who knew her favorite coffee order by heart, and who had memorized the little things that made her smile. "Do you perhaps think I'm here for you?"
Y/N felt a pang in her chest at Jay's words, the bitterness in his tone cutting through her like a knife. "I didn't mean it like that. I just... I don't understand why you chose to work here, of all places."
"This company offered a good opportunity for career growth, and I needed a change. You ruined Busan for me." The way he spoke those words stung like a harsh truth. He tightened his jaw and sighed, pressing his tongue against the inside of his cheek. "You're not even wearing the necklace. It's enough to tell me everything I need to know."
"Did I really?" She asked quietly, looking down at her fidgeting fingers.
"Yes." Jay's response was simple, yet it was enough to make her heart sink further. "You left, and nothing in Busan was the same. You could easily block my number and move on but I was stuck with the memories of you. I could see you in every corner of that city, hear your laughter in the wind, in every song that played, and in every sunset over the ocean. Even my own home felt foreign without you in it, so yes, Y/N, you did ruin Busan for me."
