"I didn't ask you to tell me all this."
"You didn't, but your expression said otherwise. You can ask Gary if you don't believe me but will he tell you?" Gwon shot her a smirk. Without waiting for her reply, he grabbed his laptop and walked out of her office.
Her eyes wandered from the closed door to the pot of plant sitting on the side table. The sprigs of lavender and baby breath were still growing well but the white roses that were once in full bloom have now withered.
Her phone light up and vibrated on the table. She looked at the screen. A call from Gary. It was clear that she had no intention of answering it. She continued to stare at her phone until the buzzing stopped.
Seconds later, her phone started vibrating again. This time, she picked it up and held it in her hands but still, she did not answer it. The vibration stopped then next, she heard a knock on the office door before someone pushed it open.
"Why didn't you answer my calls?" Gary stepped in, glancing at the phone in her hands and then back at her.
Jihyo stared at him without answering. There were many things running through her mind. She couldn't figure out if Gwon was telling the truth. What if he was actually making things up?
Do you think he was really that unpopular in university? Did he ever tell you the amount of girls that flock to him every other day, and the time when he hooked up with one of the girls from cheerleading?
"Yeobo?" Gary walked towards her, concern written all over his face.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't realise that Gary was standing beside her, tapping her on her shoulder and trying to get her attention.
When she finally snapped out from her thoughts and turned to face him, all that came out of her mouth was a soft utter, "hm?"
She looked slightly dazed and confused, and he noticed that.
"What's wrong?"
"Not..nothing." She answered, "I was just thinking about what to get for my parents."
He looked at her, eyebrows arched and unconvinced but he wasn't going to push it. "Ok." He said after a long silent.
"I've already bought the gift. I know your dad loves wine so I bought him one. Cabernet Sauvignon." He said while showing her the wine paper bag that he had been holding.
"I'm sure he will like it," she glanced at the wine bag and said. "Let's go. We shouldn't keep them waiting." She mustered a smile.
***
Arriving at the restaurant, Jihyo and Gary waited for her parents to arrive before entering together. With a reservation already made, they were led by the host into a private room where the table has been set up for their arrival. They took their seats and without browsing the menu, Jihyo's dad called for the waiter and told him to serve them their usual. The waiter nodded, then gathered the menus on the table, and left the room.
Jihyo's parents have been frequenting the Italian restaurant for thirty years. The restaurant holds a special place in their heart. It was the place where they first met each other, held their wedding at, and it was also the place where they celebrated every milestones of their daughter's life- from her first month party to her graduation from university.
They frequent the place so many times that they have become friends with the owner, who is also the head chef of the restaurant.
