The Seven Dates

The First Date: Familiar Stranger

"Hi, so sorry for being late. Jenny, right? I'm Yohan." He introduced himself, his light American accent noticeable just above his native Korean tongue as he moved a chair back and sat down. Yohan's appearance was a clear reflection of his life in the US - he wore a casual, well-fitted t-shirt hugging his toned frame paired with dark jeans, pretty casual for a format arranged marriage meet in Korea. His hair was styled in a simple, yet trendy way, and there was an easy confidence in the way he carried himself, a blend of American ease and urban chic.

Before Jenny could gather her thoughts, Yohan leaned forward, his arms resting casually on the table. The faint scent of his cologne drifted across, a subtle yet intoxicating blend that reminded Jenny of crisp, autumn evenings. "So, just to be clear, I'm not really into this whole arranged marriage thing. I've been living abroad for over ten years. I'm only here on a short vacation to visit my grandma, and now she's insisting I find a girl before I go back. Can you believe it? Choosing a life partner in just a week?" His hands gestured expressively as he spoke, emphasizing his disbelief and the slight absurdity of the situation.

The words pierced through Jenny, who had been bubbling with excitement all day at the thought of meeting Yohan, her childhood friend. She had blossomed into a beautiful young woman, her features refined yet still reminiscent of the playful child Yohan had once known. Her eyes, large and expressive, sparkled with the lively spirit. Her hair, long and lustrous, cascaded over her shoulders, framing her face perfectly. The memories of their childhood bond were vivid and dear to her, each moment still clear and deeply etched in her mind. The boy she remembered had transformed into this captivating man, his every movement stirring something within her, but with him being seemingly oblivious to their shared past, she couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Jenny ventured, "Okay, you remember me, right? We were in the same school?" She hoped to see a flicker of recognition in his eyes.

Yohan paused, then a hint of a smile appeared. "Oh yeah, of course, we used to hang out all the time, right? It was fun." He scrutinized her for a moment, his gaze lingering. "You look so amazing now. How come you don't have a boyfriend and are wasting time like me here in an arranged meet?" His question, casual and slightly teasing, masked any deeper memories he might have had of their time together.

"Well, I haven't been so lucky yet to find what I'm looking for," Jenny responded, her voice tinged with a mix of disappointment and hope. In her heart, she knew that what she yearned for was something as special as the bond she and Yohan had shared as children – a connection that seemed to have faded from his memory.

"You could have just messaged me; we could have canceled. You didn't have to come all the way here just to meet," she added, her smile a gentle attempt to mask the disappointment she felt inside.

Yohan chuckled lightly, an easygoing shrug accompanying his words. "My grandma would kill me if I didn't show up. I have to meet the girl, give Grandma detailed feedback, and then maybe come up with a reason not to marry her. She's got one girl lined up for each day of the week. Luckily, the first one is you. I knew it would be more comfortable to start with someone familiar rather than a total stranger." His giggle was infectious, yet it carried a hint of resignation to his familial obligations.

Jenny maintained her smile, though it was a struggle to keep her true feelings hidden. "Do you want to order something?" she asked, signaling for a waiter. Her heart ached with the realization that Yohan saw their meeting as nothing more than a familial duty, a stark contrast to the reunion she had long imagined.

The waiter arrived to take their order, and Jenny suggested they try the traditional Korean noodles. Yohan, glancing at the chopsticks, hesitated for a moment before sheepishly asking for a fork. Jenny couldn't help but giggle at his request.

"So, who are you meeting tomorrow?" Jenny inquired, a subtle edge of jealousy lacing her words as she took a sip of her cold drink. Despite her efforts to maintain a composed front, the question betrayed a flicker of vulnerability.

Yohan paused, his gaze momentarily drifting off. "Um, I'm not sure about her name. Grandma's handling all of that," he replied with a nonchalant shrug, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrent of Jenny's emotions.

Her curiosity piqued, Jenny ventured further, her voice tinged with a mix of humor and wistfulness. "And what reason would you give your Grandma to reject me?" She tried to keep the conversation light, but her heart hung on his answer, seeking some hint of the connection they once shared.

Yohan met her gaze, his expression a mix of playfulness and thoughtfulness. "Reject you? That's tough. Maybe I'll tell her you're too good for me," he said, chuckling, trying to keep the conversation light. Then, a spark of excitement lit up his eyes. Leaning in closer, he gently held Jenny's hand. "You know what? I have an idea. I won't reject you. What if.."

Yohan's touch sparked a shiver in Jenny, surprising her with its intensity. The warmth of his fingers against hers felt like a bridge across the years they had spent apart, a connection reignited in an instant. For a few seconds, the world around her seemed to fade into silence, her heart skipping a beat, she couldn't hear anything that Yohan spoke after that, her focus entirely on the sight of his hand over hers. She finally snapped back after a few seconds, "What?...Sorry what were you saying?"

Yohan, a bit confused, repeated himself. "I was saying, what if, instead of meeting all those other girls, I just meet you every day? Only if you're free, of course." He leaned in closer, his proposal hanging in the air between them like an unspoken promise. "I can tell Grandma, we liked each other but we'll need to meet again to know each other better. This way, I don't need to meet new girls every day, and I only need to tell one lie to my Grandma in the end."

Jenny's mind raced with the possibilities. This was far from the romantic reunion she had once dreamed of, yet it was an opportunity—a chance to spend time with Yohan, to perhaps rekindle a flicker of their past. Her initial disappointment began to dissolve into a cautious optimism.

"Sure," she replied, trying to mask the excitement in her voice. "I think I can manage that." A smile tugged at the corners of her lips, betraying her growing anticipation for the days ahead. It wasn't the perfect scenario, but it was a start—a journey to rediscover what once was, and maybe, just maybe, what could be again.

"Show me the town; it's been a long time, and it seems to have changed a lot," Yohan said with a hint of excitement. "Where should we go? I have 6 more days in town."

"Fine, I can do that for an old friend," Jenny replied, a slight buzz of excitement in her voice. "Let me think. Give me some time to plan. Planning 6 dates isn't so simple, but I have a question." She smiled playfully, "But what if you fall in love with me during these 6 dates?"

A weird awkwardness swept over the table broken when Yohan let out a light chuckle, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Hmm, it's possible. I mean, I'm already liking you after our first date. But don't worry, it won't happen. We'll just run around the town like we did as kids. And maybe by the end of the week, you'll be so irritated with me that you'll be the one kicking me out of the country."

Jenny's heart fluttered with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty as Yohan's words lingered in the air. She managed a light laugh in response, the playful banter masking her deeper thoughts. "Alright, Yohan, I'll show you the town. But be prepared, it's not the town you remember from your childhood."

As they stood up to leave, Jenny felt a whirlwind of emotions. There was excitement at the prospect of spending the next six days with Yohan, mixed with a tinge of apprehension about the unforeseen outcomes of their time together.

As the city lights began to twinkle in the early evening sky, Jenny felt a sense of optimism. The next six days were a blank canvas, and she was ready to paint a story that perhaps, just perhaps, could lead to something more. Could she really rekindle the connection they once had? Or was she setting herself up for a bigger heartbreak?

----

"In my heart, the memories stay bright,
Vivid colors in the warmth of light.
Laughter echoes, clear and true,
In my world, it's me and you.

In your eyes, time's soft haze,
Memories blur in a forgotten maze.
Echoes faint, unclear, untrue,
In your world, is it just you?"