𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 || ᴠɪᴍɪɴᴋᴏᴏᴋ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ ꜰꜰ

FOUR

"Found her!" The words, sharp and unexpected, tore through the knot of anxiety in my stomach. My phone vibrated in my hand, the weight of my first meeting with foreign clients for our family business, a legacy built by my grandfather, pressing down on me. The excitement of finally finding her, decreased my anxiety for the meeting, and I did great. I got the contract signed right away, making my Dad proud, and establishing my suitability to become the heir of the company.

"I told you she's lucky for me!" I exclaimed as my secretary opened the car's door and I got in. He gave me an iPad and I started scrolling through it while he drove. There were some pictures of a shopping mall. I zoomed in from left to right, my eyes almost scanning every pixel, when my secretary said, "Right corner, down, the one with the yellow dress. It's her right?" I zoomed in a little more, and there she was. Her phone was pressed to her ear, maybe she was talking to someone. The picture wasn't that clear, but I recognized her immediately. How could I not? After all, I'd been looking for her.

Now, you might wonder why. Let me tell you our story. So, this woman, whose pictures I was looking at now, and I have a history together. Well, for me, we do, but for her... I'm not sure. I think I don't exist in her world. It all started when I was in kindergarten. a time of sticky fingers and crayon scribbles, when the world was a kaleidoscope of brightly colored plastic blocks and whispered secrets.

Back then, we had a new transfer student. I still remember the day she arrived, a whirlwind of pink and white in a dress that seemed to shimmer like spun sugar. Her long black hair, adorned with a butterfly-shaped ribbon, cascaded down her back, framing a face that was both delicate and mischievous.

She smiled at the whole class when the teacher introduced her. "This is our new student....please make her feel welcome." It was her smile that truly captivated me, though - a wide, dazzling grin that lit up the entire classroom.

As she walked hesitantly towards the empty seat beside me, I hoped, with a flutter in my stomach, that I had finally found a friend. But fate, it seemed, had other plans. Eun-Mi, the girl who sat  two seats ahead of me, quickly declared Hana her new best friend, her puppy-dog eyes pleading with Miss Park to let them sit together. Miss Park, unable to resist the siren call of those big, brown eyes, relented, and my heart sank.

Kindergarten wasn't always sunshine and rainbows. There was a group of children, led by the notorious Jae-uk, who made a habit of terrorizing the other kids, stealing their lunches, and leaving them with tear-stained cheeks. I, being the quietest and most timid kid in the class, was often a target. I dreaded recess, the time when Jae-Uk and his gang would descend upon me, their laughter echoing like thunder in my ears.

One day, Jae-Uk and his cronies approached her, their eyes gleaming with mischief. They were about to unleash their usual brand of torment, but she, instead of cowering, stood her ground. With a calmness that belied her small stature, she faced them, her voice firm and steady. "Leave me alone," she said, her words echoing with a surprising authority.

The bullies, taken aback by her unexpected defiance, hesitated before retreating, muttering insults under their breath. The new girl, had become our unlikely hero, her bravery silencing even the most formidable bullies.

We all went to the same elementary school, a sprawling brick building that seemed to hold both promise and intimidation in equal measure. I desperately wanted to talk to her, but the words always seemed to get stuck in my throat, not cause I'm shy and all. It's just that she does something to me. Whenever I tried to approach her, I would freeze, my heart thumping like a drum in my chest.

High school was a new chapter, and I hoped it would be a fresh start. But fate, it seemed, had orchestrated a reunion. I saw her again, her presence a beacon in the crowded hallways. It was then, with a surge of sudden and unexpected courage, that I decided to confess my feelings.