#Promise

Secrets

                     I nervously sat across the table from Sejin at a small coffee shop near my apartment as we both took awkward sips from the cup of iced Americano that we ordered. He had called me early in the morning asking if it would be possible to meet up later that day. I wasn't really sure what the purpose of the meeting was. I was just scared to find out if I had unknowingly broken any part of the agreement I had with the big Boss.
"I'm glad you are adapting to your new life here. I'm so sorry that it has to be this way for you" Sejin said with an emphatic sincerity that you rarely get from a celebrity's manager.
                      "I can't really complain about anything. I am more than grateful that the company has helped me this much" I replied, hoping that he could feel my sincere appreciation too.
                      "How's work? Are they being good to you? If someone gives you a hard time, let me know. I personally know the hospital director there." He jokingly said.
                       " I'm not having a hard time at work at all. Everyone has been nothing but very welcoming and nice." I honestly said.
                        " That is good to hear. That was really the reason why I wanted to meet with you today. I just wanted to know that you are okay. Even if the boys don't know that you are here, I want to be able to tell them someday, when the right time comes, that I looked after you on their behalf."
                         I smiled a sad smile and I knew he understood what it meant.
                         " Aren't you going to ask how they are doing these days?" He asked.
                         Hearing this question made me chuckle.
                          " It's really harder not to know what they are up to. Everywhere I go and look, all I see is them. It's.... It's just so hard sometimes." I said as I try to keep myself from getting emotional.
                           An awkward silence followed, until It was broken by a familiar voice coming from behind me. I saw the color left Sejin's astonished face. His jaw dropped in disbelief and his hand started to shake in panic.
                           " Manager! what are you doing here? Are you out on a date in the middle of the day?" He asked teasingly as he approached our table. It was so unexpected that it was just too late to keep Tae away. Sejin and I stood up too quickly at the same time as Tae faced us. The bright smile on his face disappeared and was replaced with an expression that is a mixture of shock, disbelief and some degree of relief.
I quickly put my hoodie on to cover my face and attempted to run away but he was quicker to grab my arm and stop me from doing so.
"What is the meaning of this, manager? " he asked with his voice slightly raised and louder.
"Please lower your voice and don't create a scene here. Have a seat and I'll explain everything." Sejin told him with an authoritative tone that somehow got him back to his senses.
                             "So you mean to say that Jimin doesn't even know that you are here all this time?" Tae asked in disbelief after Sejin told him about the whole situation about my agreement with their company.
                             "This is just too mean" Tae continued. He said it so softly, more to himself than to Sejin.
                             " I know that you may think that the situation is not favorable for you nor Kate but it has to be this way for now, for everyone's safety and so that you all can concentrate on your work, which should be your priority in the first place." Sejin said calmly.
                             "So, you really have no intention of letting Jimin know?" Tae asked as he turned his gaze on me.
                             " Please, Tae, don't make it harder for everyone. I had an agreement with your boss and I have no intention of breaking it. You, finding out about me shouldn't have happened. So please, don't say a word to anyone else and please just forget that you saw me today." I told him firmly without looking at him. I just couldn't bear seeing him and not burst into tears. He was a good friend to me and I know that he was genuinely worried about me.
                              I got up quickly and left without looking back. I know that it was the right thing to do at that moment but in the depths of my heart, as my feet took steps to get away, I was wishing that he would somehow find me again even if I had clearly sent him the message to stay away.