Love Is Not Over {Editing}

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"Yes! No, of course I remember you Sunhi. I wouldn't forget! Your hair was just brown and much longer the last time I saw you. I love the cut and color though, the blue looks really pretty on you."

"Ah thank you," she beams.

I stand up and embrace her in a tight hug. She seems taken aback by the sudden affection but she kindly returns the gesture.

I pull away and hold her at arm's length. "If I had recognized you earlier then I would have talked to you! How are you?"

We sit down and I move my belongings out of the way.

"I am well. I finished my first year of college and I am on summer break right now. It.. took some time to find my rhythm but I think I have it figured out."

"I remember Freshman year, it's definitely the most difficult time because you are still trying to figure everything out. Trust me, it gets a lot easier now. What are you studying?"

"Really? Everyone has told me that so I hope it's true. I'm majoring in Biology... for now."

"Is it not what you thought it would be?"

"No, not exactly. It was fun in high school but I don't know if I want to do this for another three years. It seems kind of dull."

I chuckle at her honesty. "You can always switch majors, you don't have to stick to it if you don't want to."

"Hmm I'm not sure. My parents wanted me to choose either a Science or Business so I felt the pressure. I really want to do Art History but I don't think they will approve."

I nod in sympathy. "Maybe it will take some time but I think you can talk things over with them. They seem open-minded and, besides, you won't know how they will react unless you try!"

"You are right. Maybe I can try before the next semester starts."

"I think that's a great idea. So, are you working here until the Fall?"

"Yes. My dad actually owns this cafe. I come in a couple times a week and help out. He thinks it will help develop my leadership and management skills."

"Wow really? This is his cafe? It's so cute and charming, I had no idea."

"Yes he opened it about a year ago. It's been going great so far."

"That's fantastic. I heard about it a couple of weeks ago and some of my coworkers invited me to check it out with them today. I'm really glad I tagged along."

She furrows her eyebrows and tilts her head in contemplation.

"I'm sorry, coworkers?"

Nice, so much for keeping a low profile Jen.

"You work here?!" she questions, surprised.

"Umm yeah.. I work- well I will work for Tomorrow Translation Services. I'm completing the summer training right now. I actually did their bridge program and finished my Bachelors remotely and started the training in early June."

"Daebak! I didn't know you were so interested in Korean culture that you would actually want to work and live here. How are you liking it so far?"

"It's been great. I mean, I haven't done much exploring yet. At first I was busy finishing school and I didn't know anyone. Now I'm busy with work. But at least I have made a couple of friends and I will probably take trips with them."

She mumbles numbers to herself and stares off in concentration before responding. "Sorry.. so how long have you been living in Korea?"

"Since mid-March..so almost four months."

"My brother doesn't know, right?"

The directness of her questions slices through me like a razor.

"Umm no..not exactly. I mean.. I mentioned applying to the program. I mentioned selecting South Korea as one of my preferred locations. I just maybe uhh.. didn't explicitly say that I was accepted and already living here.."

Her mouth parts and she stares at me with a dumbstruck expression.

"Why?" she deadpans.

Now, I mirror her perplexion.

"Well.. I.." I struggle with a concise explanation, or rather, excuse.

"Is it because of him? That guy you were with?" her voice sounds strained.

My face warms into a soft salmon and I snort in awkward embarrassment.

"Jungkook? Oh no. He's uh, he's just one of my coworkers. It's strictly professional."

"Then why?"

"Are you asking why I didn't tell Jimin?"

"Yes."

"Umm..it's complicated Sunhi. I guess I can't hide it but..you obviously knew that we were in a relationship. When he left, I was devastated. I cried myself to sleep for weeks when we broke up and I was at an emotional low. I really only started to feel better during January, which is when I heard about this program. Just as I was recovering, here I have this opportunity to be in the same country, and possibly the same town, as the love of my life? It seemed too good to be true and even when I was moving into my apartment, I was in denial. But I realized that I avoided telling him because I was- I am terrified. It's been a year and many things can and probably did change. He's busy reestablishing himself and starting another chapter in his life and our time together has probably passed. What if I am holding onto the past while he has continued progressing towards his future? I am worried that he has moved on and doesn't have those romantic feelings for me anymore."

Her mouth pulls back into a tight line.

"You need to tell him," she demands.