Long Way to Meet You

Chapter 3

It is a big gallery full of art pieces, from paintings to sculptures and today it seems bigger than usual due to the fact that there are not many people visiting. It is workday after all.

They have expected it thus the number of staffs positioned are kept low and so on the contrary to the empty gallery, the staff room is packed by the remaining staffs who are waiting for their next shift.

One of them, a girl with jet black long hair which is tied into a bun is sitting around the corner with her hands busy massaging her foot. She has been positioned since the earliest shift and has just got the chance to rest now.

"Seulgi-ah, are you okay?" another girl approaches her and gives her an ice pack for her aching foot.

"I'm sorry that you had to fill in for Yerim. It's very unusual that she doesn't show up without notice," she continues before she takes a seat beside Seulgi.

"Thanks Taeyeon-unnie. No worries, I have no other plan anyway," Seulgi answers and lets the ice pack rest on top of her aching foot.

"Once again, thank you for filling in. By the way do you know where Yerim is? She didn't answer all of my calls."

"Hmm yesterday night she did say something about her class, but I don't really remember."

"That's right! She told me she has to take a supplementary class, and.... that's today. Stupid me, she even asked me to fill in for her," Taeyeon says as she finally remembers.

"Well that made it my fault. Please forgive me Seulgi-ah," she says while pouting her mouth and sending finger hearts, trying to appease her which successfully earns a hearty laugh from Seulgi. Seulgi knows there is no way she could be angry with this unnie.

"Stop it unnie, I'm not mad at you," she says.

"But still.. How about this, my shift will be over in another 30 minutes. How about we grab some drinks? My treat," Taeyeon says.

"Sure, thanks unnie."

After Taeyeon left to return to her position Seulgi continues to massage her feet for another 5 minutes before she decides to take a tour around the gallery.

She walks rather aimlessly, only spending less than 10 seconds on each art piece before she comes accross a particular drawing. It is a picture of a man playing piano with flame ablaze in front of him. She stops in front of it and stares for a long time as she tries to capture all details of the picture.

"Does it remind you of him?"

Seulgi turns her head towards the source of the voice and finds a man looking at her.

"Jaebum-ah. Why are you here?" she asks.

She was surprised because her boyfriend is not supposed to be here as yesterday he told her that he was going to Seoul and won't be back until next weekend to finish up a deal.

"How about your meeting?" she asks. Instead of answering Jaebum grabs her hand and leads her towards the exit.

"It's okay. I managed to push it back," he answers.

They go out of the gallery and grab a seat at a nearby bench.

"So what's you plan for tonight? Do you want to watch a movie, there is a new one coming out," Jaebum asks.

"Sorry, I already had a plan with Taeyeon unnie. She wants to treat me for a drink," Seulgi answers. She hasn't looked into his eyes even once and is still trying to avoid his gaze. Jaebum notices this and he is considering if he should just grab her face before she stands up suddenly.

"Ah I think Taeyeon unnie's shift should be done now. I have to go back," she says before letting out a slight smile towards him and walks back towards the gallery.

"Seulgi-ah, wait. You don't have any plans for tomorrow right?" Jaebum yells.

"Not yet," Seulgi answers back from afar. Jaebum nods her way and waves his hand and Seulgi waves back before finally going back to the gallery.

It is wrong for Jaebum to bring up that person and he knows it, but he still went and did it anyway. He wants to know if she is still affected in some way and judging by her reaction, it seems that he still has a long way.

Once she is back inside, Seulgi hurries her way towards the staff room passing the same drawing but this time she doesn't spare a glance.

As if knowing Seulgi needs her, Taeyeon goes out of the staff room and runs towards the other girl. "Sorry, it took more time than I expected," she says and she is still panting from all the running she had earlier.

"It's okay unnie. Are you ready?" Seulgi cheerfully grabs her arm and the older girl become confused from the sudden change of mood, but she decides not to ask anything.

They have been drinking for a while, Seulgi is already on her 5th shot but on the other hand Taeyeon is taking it easy by downing on cocktail instead of shots and Taeyeon knows Seulgi is already drunk when she can't stop laughing.

"I think that's enough for today, you're so drunk. Let's go home," she says while grabbing Seulgi's forearm trying to prevent her from falling.

"Noooo, I want another drink. I'm thirsty, please give me another one of this," Seulgi makes another order to the bartender but Taeyeon gives him a sign to just ignore it.

It's very rare for Seulgi to let loose, Taeyeon can count how many occasions she has witnessed the younger one being this drunk and she knows there must be something bothering her.

"I'm sorry," at that time Seulgi starts to sob heavily.

"Why are you crying Seulgi? What's wrong?" Taeyeon grabs her face and wipes the tears from her cheeks.

"I didn't mean to hurt him, but I can't help thinking of that person."

Just as Taeyeon has expected, that person always comes out of her mouth whenever she's drunk. She doesn't know his real name and Yerim who is closer to Seulgi also doesn't know it and only calls him by an alias, piano guy.

"I love Jaebum, I was so sure that I love him, but it's just different. And at times I remember that person, it's just like Jaebum just went out of my mind, gone, phoosh," she continues.

"Isn't that normal though? I'm married but sometimes I still remember my exes too," Taeyeon says and Seulgi who is hanging her head low suddenly turns her head towards Taeyeon.

"Really?" she asks.

"Yeah, it's normal Seulgi dear. You have your memories with him, and it's called memories because it's already in the past and we can only remember them," Taeyeon asnwers while wiping another strike of tears from Seulgi's face.

"You know what, you're right! I shouldn't feel sorry just because I remembered him, that's unfair to my brain," Seulgi says and after that she's back to her cheerful self.

"But Seulgi-ah, I think you feel something more than just remembering and that's what really makes you guilty" Taeyeon doesn't want to sound her mind because she knows it will make this night more longer than what it already is.

After Taeyeon finishes her last glass, she calls her husband to help her carry Seulgi home. It isn't supposed to be a hard task considering Seulgi's small built, but they still take some time because drunk Seulgi is a lot more active than her sober self.

"Unniee let's go to that store, look that dress is very pretty, it must suits you well," Seulgi yells in front of a store. She could still peek inside even when all of the lamps are off as she sticks her face into the window.

"Urgh you know that this particular friend is very embarrassing when she's drunk," Jiyong, Taeyeon's husband is supporting Seulgi's back. Being embarrassed is one thing but he doesn't want an accident happens to his wife's friend.

"Sorry dear, I should have known she was planning to get drunk from the beginning. It's unusual for her to be excited on drinks," Taeyeon could only sigh at her friend.

They finally manage to get Seulgi's home after another 30 minutes of walking before they could finally go back to their own home.