Jihyo filed the last stack of documents into the folder, and flipped it close. She looked at it longingly. A deep satisfaction washed over her as she thought about how the past three months flew by just like that. From finding out that she would be working with him, to the countless disagreements that they had and then to finally the end of the project. It was hard to believe that the project was finally over.
After handing the folder over to Syun, they had dinner together at a barbeque restaurant. Syun had invited Gwon and the other designers who were involved in the project to join them. It was a celebratory dinner afterall.
The table was filled with bottles of soju, except for a cup of hot tea which belongs to Jihyo. At three months, her belly showed only a tiny bump. Though she was still worried about the possible bad scenarios that could happen during the pregnancy, she felt slightly more at ease now that she was one-third through the pregnancy, and that her recent appointment with the gynae showed that the baby was growing well.
They continue eating at the restaurant until a few minutes past nine o'clock. Their clothes were reeking of the smoke of grilled meats as they exit the place and went off in separate ways.
"I guess this is the last time that we will be seeing each other." Jihyo said as she sat down on one of the bench under the taxi stand.
"You must be feeling happy about it." Gwon replied. He sat down on the bench, making sure to leave an empty space between them.
Jihyo smiled and looked at her hands in her lap. "It was nice getting to know you again."
"Again? What do you mean?" He frowned.
"People always say you only truly get to know someone when you interact with them," she looked at him and continued, "I wouldn't say I enjoyed working with you for the past three months but it certainly did helped to change my opinion of you. In a good way."
He wasn't sure if he should be frowning at her answer or smiling at it. It sounded like a compliment but yet at the same time, it doesn't.
"That's nice to hear." He said.
Then they sat in silence. A few cabs went by, stopping each time at the taxi stand to see if any of them wanted a ride. Jihyo thought Gwon was going to board one as soon as he sees one but he declined every single cab that passed by. That's when she assumed that he was perhaps waiting for his friend to pick him up.
She checked her phone occasionally to see when Gary was coming. The last message that he sent was to tell her that he would be reaching in ten minutes. She kept her phone back in her handbag when Gwon spoke again. This time it was something that she least expected to hear.
"Back in university, everyone thought that I was picking on Gary because of his appearance. But that wasn't the case." He paused, taking in the puzzled look on her face.
"It's true that I lied about him hooking up with one of the cheerleader." He noticed the slight frown on her face but continued on anyway, "he wasn't rich or anything, yet he was always surrounded by people whom were interested to be friends with him, mainly girls."
"That was why you bullied him? You were jealous of him."
"No, I'm not."
"You were."
"Fine, I was." He admited. "Then when you appeared.. I don't understand why did you choose him when clearly there are better people out there. Like me."
She blinked, and then stared at him. Was that a confession? After four years?
"Yes, I liked you. But that was in the past. I have a girlfriend now." A smirk pulled at his lips.
He pointed to a black car driving towards them, "I think your husband is here."
She looked to where his finger led. The car stopped just before it reaches the taxi stand. Gary got out from the car and walked towards them.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." He held her with one arm around her waist and pecked her cheek.
"It's fine," she smiled at him but his eyes were on Gwon. She could feel tension building up. The way Gary had his grip tightened around her waist was, to her, a sign that they should leave.
"Yeobo, let's go. I'm tired." She said. To her relief, he broke his gaze away from Gwon to her and responded with a nod.
Just as they were about to head back to the car, Gwon stepped forward and gave Gary a tap on his shoulder, prompting him to turn around.
"What do you want?" Gary glared at him.
"I just wanted to apologise for the things that I did to you back then. I'm not expecting you to forgive me. Just hoping that you will accept my apology." He pulled his hands out of his pockets and extended one hand towards him.
Gary glanced at his hand. "Apology?" He scoffed. If it wasn't for Jihyo grabbing his arm so tightly, he would have punched him the moment those words came out of his mouth. "Apologising when the damage has been done. I'll be a real fool if I accept it."
"Fine then." He retract his hand and showed a wry smile. "Jihyo ssi is a good person. Treat her well." He added.
Though it was nice hearing a compliment from him, she just wanted this conversation to end so that they can leave the place.
"I don't need you to tell me that." Gary muttered.
"Let's go, alright?" Jihyo tugged him hard. He made sure to give Gwon one last glare before walking back to the car.
***
"What were the both of you talking about? You seemed to be enjoying it."
"A casual chat." She replied as she placed the keys on the table.
He closed the door behind him and looked at her. "I saw you smiling at him."
She let out a sigh and faced him. "Are you really going to go on about it? It's the last day of our collaboration. We probably won't be seeing each other ever again. I know you don't like to see us talk but for once, can you look at him from the positive side?"
"That will never happen. You know it." He walked up to her and said.
She sighed again, then wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her head against his chest. "I'm really tired. There's no point in having this conversation. Let's stop here alright?" She mumbled.
He could feel the warmth of her breath against his chest, even through his shirt. "I'm sorry." He apologised, wrapping his arms around her. "Let's go to bed."
"Hmm." She closed her eyes for a brief second while still being in his embrace. The conversation between Gwon and her will be kept as a secret between them.
