Monday morning came too soon. Jihyo put on her long coat over her clothes and looked at herself in the mirror. She checked her attire, then combed her fingers through her hair to get rid of any tangled strands. When she was satisfied with how she looks, she went to find Gary who was waiting for her at the front door with her luggage.
It was 1.30am in the morning. The air was cold, given that it was the start of fall and that, they were out in the street early in the morning. Gary loaded the luggage into the car boot, then climbed into the driver's seat.
"You sure you have everything with you? Passport? Documents?" He asked.
"Ne." She replied, "all in here." She pointed to her backpack and looked at him.
***
They arrived at the airport with plenty of time before the plane was scheduled to take off. After Jihyo checked in her luggage, they sat down at a table of a coffee place and ordered two cups of warm latte. Just when they thought they could spend a few more hours together, someone just had to come and disrupt their precious quality time.
"You sure know where to find us." Gary narrowed his eyes.
"I ought to know the whereabouts of my business partner, isn't it?" Gwon answered, pulling out a chair and sat down.
"Do you know that there's something called 'personal space'?" Gary replied. The order pager light up and buzzed against the table, signalling that his order is ready for collection. He grabbed the pager but remain seated.
Gwon let out a soft scoff. "Ah.. I forgot. You won't get to spend the next five days with her. Sorry for intruding. I should head out." He said, gesturing with his thumb over his shoulder to the door of the cafe.
"It's fine." Gary stood up, holding onto Jihyo's hand, "you can stay. We have to go and get our coffee." He pushed the chair aside and pull Jihyo along with him to the counter. They grabbed their drinks and headed out of the place.
With nowhere else to go, they search for an empty bench near the departure gate and sat down. Jihyo took a sip of her coffee, then rested her head against his shoulder. "You know, I still have to see him later." She said to him.
He turned his head to look at her. "Am I making things difficult for you?" He asked quietly.
She pulled away from his shoulder and looked him in the eyes. She hesitated for a moment before finally telling him, "I would be lying if I said you weren't." She saw a change in his expression. The frown between his brows showing the look of disappointment and confusion.
"I know you're worried. I know you're trying to protect me but this shouldn't be the way. The both of you are always exchanging barbed words whenever you meet each other, and it isn't making it easier for me to work with him." She continued.
"Is he giving you trouble?"
"No. That's not the reason to why I'm telling you this." She sighed, "I think I just had enough. I'm hoping that you will be able to communicate with him properly and stop treating him like your enemy."
"After all that he did to me, to us, you're telling me to treat him nicely? Stop. I don't want to get into a fight with you over this, especially not now when we're supposed to be enjoying each other's company." He looked away from her and drink his latte.
"I think Gwon is still at the cafe. Should I go and find him?" Jihyo glanced at the cup in her hands then at him.
He let out a snort of disbelief. "Do you really have to do this?" He turned to her. His eyes catching sight of the cheeky grin on her face.
He never expected her to use this method of using his 'insecurity' to make him give in. Right now, he knew clearly that she wasn't going to forget about this topic until he gave her the answer that she wants.
"If you choose to be stubborn." She replied.
Gary snapped his eyes shut, let out a frustrated groan, then opened his eyes.
"For your sake," he muttered. "I'll refrain from punching him."
"And?"
"I'll treat him nicely with care and concern like how a servant should treat a prince."
"Sincered?" She teased. She leaned in and looked at him in the eyes.
"You're seriously having fun, aren't you?" Jihyo chuckled, and patted the top of his head lightly.
Soon, it was time for them to bid goodbyes and take in the fact that they won't be able to see each other for close to a week. They have never been separated from each other and though it's only for five days, the thought of it felt like eternity. Gary embraced her in a tight hug, ignoring how Gwon was just standing right beside them, and watching them with a slightly disgusted look.
"Message me when you reach." Gary tucked one side of her hair behind her ear and said.
Jihyo nodded. "I have to go." She gave him a quick kiss on his lips then grabbed her backpack from him and head towards the departure gate.
