Lake House Love

Chapter 3

I felt like I had a bad case of temporary lockjaw. I can hardly breathe because my heart couldn’t seem to function very well, and my brain is awfully giving me a hard time to register the right words to say. Wait a minute! I think I know this guy from before, I just can’t remember. For a long time we just stared at each other, I felt a sudden spark out of nowhere.

Seeing him was like déjà vu or perhaps serendipity…or fate…what else, destiny???

HyunJae curved the side of his lips. He wanted to laugh at this woman’s reaction. Perhaps she might gain back her concentration if he’ll act more civilized.

”What is it that you wanted to speak about?” he sighed and folded his arms as if he was about to lose his patience.

“Uhm, t-the v-volcano t-truffle…i-it’s d-delicious,” I stuttered so bad I wanted to just vanish right away. Oh crap! I sound like a total idiot! MinJi, what’s wrong with you?

“Pardon?” raising his left eyebrow, he looked so intensely angry.

“Yes, the volcano truffle. It’s superbly delicious.” I said with such confidence for the second time. Uh-oh, what did I ever do to you to make you act like that?

“You mean the l-a-v-a truffle ma’am?” HyunJae said in a slow calm voice and smiled politely.

For a moment there, I felt so small. This man humiliated me for the second time today. Who does he think he is? He’s just a damn chef in this damn restaurant! His reactions totally ticked me off and I've had enough, I just can’t let this man belittle me. I’m going to show him who’s the boss here. I grabbed my bag, took a small card and gave it to him.

“Look, I’m a food critic and that is my business card. As you can see I’m doing you a favor when I said earlier that this fat-containing sugar-induced junk food is totally super. Do you want me to change my opinion for my commentaries?”

I raised my chin, challenging him. I heard him gasp and I noticed he was a bit surprised.

Well, serves him right! Now let’s see what you got. Cat got your tongue?

HyunJae stared at the card in his hand, controlling his urge to tear it in half.

No…make it into shreds. Wait a minute; this isn’t a business card, but her own personal calling card! She must’ve got it by mistake.

Now he can remember who this woman is. Minzy Go a.k.a. Go Min Ji, I still can’t believe it’s you. For the longest time I haven’t seen you, it’s like I don’t know you anymore. A lot has changed about you. But deep inside your heart, do you still have those same old feelings for me? She doesn’t seem to remember me anymore. How time flies so fast? She used to be so crazy inlove about me. Whatever happened in time for your change of heart really hurts to see you now like this so near to me yet you seem so far. Don’t you even remember this face? Can’t you ever recall who I’am? Maybe you tried so hard to forget me from your past that even though now we meet again in the future, there isn’t anything more left for me.

“Yes I know who you are. I’ve read your senseless critic articles from your unimpressive magazine.” HyunJae said huskily and slid MinJi’s business card into his pocket instead of tearing it into shreds – who knows, someday it might come in handy.

“I see you have enjoyed your orders, your plates are empty and you know you’d be very unprofessional if you’ll write lies in your commentaries. You don’t want your reputation to become tainted just because of a small misunderstanding, do you Miss Go MinJi?” he added and looked at her with those cold dark eyes. I don’t know why you are acting like this but you won’t outsmart me.