Itaewon Class / The Journey Continues

A Communication Mishap

Yiseo was upset. That's all Saeroyi could understand at that point. The day before, she had stormed out of the room in the middle of their founders meeting, giving him a look with furious eyes. Why exactly she was upset, he wasn't sure. They had done everything they could to manage the situation, and it was now time to accept there was no other way. They had to partner with the Oppotown firm. From the beginning, she seemed opposed to the partnership, but strangely, she hadn't told him why. She just said her gut told her so. But he could sense there was another reason, deep down. She was always so open and truthful with him, he wasn't sure why she wasn't with this. To be honest, he hadn't really wanted to work with the Oppotown firm either. But they had reached a point where they had no other options anymore. If they wanted to stay competitive in the market, they needed that help.
Sitting on his chair in front of his desk, he kept opening and closing his pen. What could be the reason? Of course, he had tried to talk to her. But she wasn't in her office or at home and he couldn't reach her. He called her. He sent her texts. She wasn't responding. This was very unusual.
A knock on the door made him look up. Hyun Yi.
"Hey. Oppa, I've got some intel on Yiseo."
Saeroyi jumped from his seat, took his coat and his phone and said :
"Where is she? I'll go pick her up now."
Hyun Hee sighed.
"I don't think it's gonna be possible.."
"Why?"
"Don't worry. She's in the hospital but.."
"What?"
Saeroyi's heart started beating faster and his breathing got harder. After the kidnapping six months earlier, all the tests had come back positive, the doctor had said she was fine. What was going on ?
Hyun Yi put a hand on his arm.
"She's going be fine. She fainted again while on her way home yesterday. Got in a car accident but thankfully, no one's hurt. Toni was right behind her and took her to the hospital. The doctor said it's her anemia again. The car might have to be replaced though. Her battery is out so she wasn't able to let you know."
"I'll go right now. Which hospital is she at ? I'll bring her some clothes and things she needs and her charger."
"Oppa. Oppa, the thing is.. she doesn't want to see you right now."
Saeroyi stopped and turned to face Hyun Yi.
"What?
"She is.. She's upset with you."
"Is it about the Oppotown contract ? I know she felt it wasn't right but she wouldn't...
"I don't think that's about work."
Saeroyi looked at her frowning and with an interrogative look. Hyun Hee sighed and let out a small smile.
"Oppa, let's have a quick chat. I need coffee."

Sitting at the terrace of the new Danbam Café right next to ICs offices, Saeroyi was facing Hyun Yi with that worried look on his face. Men, thought Hyun Hee. How oblivious they can be to the obvious.
"Oppa, do you remember our conversation at lunch yesterday?"
Saeroyi thought for a moment.
"Oh, ne. The business trip to Europe next month to do the tour of the subsidiaries.
"Ne. But we also talked about something else.."
Saeroyi frowned even harder.
"Oh right, we talked about Soo Ah's new brand opening trip in Bali coming up in July."
"Exactly," said Hyun Yi, "you're getting there, we talked about Soo Ah and you said that..
Saeroyi touched his scalp with his hand.
"I can't recall."
"You said that she had invited you."
"Right. She invited me."
"And what did Yiseo say?"
Saeroyi touched his hair again. Suddenly, his eyes brightened.
"She said that I hadn't told her."
That was when their conversation had ended. Saeroyi had received a call about the upcoming deal and they were back into work mode. But now that he thought about it, Yiseo had not talked to or smiled at him after that. Everything was getting clearer.
"She's upset that I didn't tell her ? I didn't think it mattered, I wasn't planning on going."
Hyun Yi shook her head in disbelief.
"Oppa, Yiseo waited for you for years, because you were engrossed in work and because you were stuck on Soo Ah being your first love. You didn't think it mattered that Soo Ah invited you to join her trip, alone?"
"I love Yiseo. I am with Yiseo. That won't change."
"I know that. But for all that she appears confident and bold and self-assured, when it comes to you, I think sometimes Yiseo needs to be reassured of your love. She kept trying to make you see it but you were so stressed about work I think you were oblivious to it.
Saeroyi's eyes were tearing up now.
"I would never... I need her everyday. Just this past day without her felt like.."
He couldn't even finish his sentence.
"I know. I am not the one you need to tell."
Saeroyi stood up from the chair and looked at her gratefully.
'Thank you. Thank you, Hyun Yi".
And he started running.