Love Next Door

18

Coward

Ryujin stood outside the building, feeling the cool morning air brushing against her skin, trying to shake off the heavy thoughts from last night. She'd spent hours with Winter, talking, laughing, and drinking, but now that she was back in the cold reality of work, it all felt so distant. She stepped into her apartment, feeling drained, as if the weight of the day had crept into her bones.

The moment she entered her room, Ryujin wasted no time. She yanked off her tie, tossing it carelessly onto the chair, and unbuttoned her shirt, letting it slip off her shoulders. With a heavy sigh, she pulled on her pajamas, the soft fabric offering some comfort against her skin. She collapsed onto her bed, staring at the dim glow of her phone—3 a.m. She could still feel Winter's presence in her mind, the way they had talked like old friends rediscovering each other. It unsettled her.

But it wasn't Winter who dominated her thoughts. It was Yeji. Those feelings she thought were long buried... they weren't. Ever since that letter, ever since she read her own words from the past, the old feelings had started to resurface, creeping back into her mind in ways that made her feel uncomfortable. It's Yeji, she told herself repeatedly, It's Yeji—this can't happen. It's weird. It's just... impossible.

Despite her efforts to shut down the thoughts, her mind kept spiraling deeper into overthinking. How could she even begin to explain this to herself? Her heart raced, her chest tight with confusion, but eventually, exhaustion won over, and Ryujin drifted into a restless sleep.

The next morning, Ryujin entered her office, the sunlight streaming through the windows offering a contrast to her internal chaos. Chan was already there, grinning at her as she walked in. "Morning," he greeted casually, his voice light. "You won't believe what happened last night at the store."

Ryujin raised an eyebrow as she set down her bag. "What now ?"

He chuckled, recounting the ridiculous battle over the last can of soda with Lia, making Ryujin laugh despite herself. "Those two are something," she muttered, shaking her head.

They headed into the meeting room where the rest of the team was already gathered. Karina and Yeji sat next to each other, reviewing the translation notes. Today was the big day—the meeting with Greip. Ryujin straightened her posture, determined to focus on her work. She couldn't afford distractions, not now. Not with everything at stake.

As the meeting began, Ryujin took the lead alongside Chan, the two of them walking into the spacious building where Greip's team waited. The sleek, modern design of the place didn't go unnoticed—glass walls, sharp architecture, a reflection of the professionalism the Greip team seemed to carry.

There they stood: three people in immaculate suits, a man and a woman standing side by side, their faces unreadable. The third man, standing slightly behind them, wore a slight smirk, his hands folded neatly in front of him. Ryujin's eyes flickered between them, feeling a surge of determination. She stepped forward confidently, extending her hand to shake theirs, greeting them in her best English.

"Hello, thank you for meeting with us. We're very excited to present our project today."

Chan followed her lead, and they exchanged pleasantries. Ryujin felt the professionalism in the air, the weight of the moment settling in. But behind her, Yeji was still, her face pale as if she'd seen a ghost. She stood there, frozen in place, staring at the man in front of her—the man in the suit. Ryujin didn't notice at first, but Yeji's hand trembled as she reached out to shake his hand.