Chance Encounters

Christmas

Jin Ah ran to him. It took all the willpower she had not to jump in his arms because at that moment, she remembered that her parents were there.

Her parents chuckled at her abrupt stop in front of Ji Sung.

"I'm sorry to barge in so late," he told all of them. "My flight was delayed and it was difficult to get a car going here."

"Don't worry about it. Where are you staying?" Her mother asked.

Ji Sung replied. "I'll try to find a hotel. I just wanted to come say hi to Jin Ah first."

Jin Ah's father stepped in. "Stay here. We'll prepare the guest room before we turn in. Jin-ah, feed this boy. He looks hungry. We'll leave you two alone."

Before they disappeared, her father called out, "Hey, Ji Sung!"

"Yes, sir?"

"Merry Christmas!"

Once they were alone, Jin Ah wailed, "I've been trying to reach you!"

He chuckled. "I was obviously on a plane. Surprise!"

She smiled and allowed herself to be engulfed in his hug. "I was so worried."

"Jin-ssi?"

"Hmm?"

"Would you mind it if I ate first? I'm starving!"

Mortified, she allowed him to take off his coat then dragged him to the dining table. She busied herself with reheating the food and preparing the plates, utensils, condiments, tea, water and everything else he might need.

Too tired to move, he watched her move about. With a happy smile because he was finally home with her, he closed his eyes and found himself taking a quick nap.

That was how Jin Ah found him as she put the last bowl of food on the table. "Omo." Sitting beside him and gazing at his side profile that so many women have swooned over, she sighed happily, "You're here. You're really here."

Kissing his cheek lightly, she whispered, "Wake up, Love. Food's ready."

He slowly opened his eyes and smiled at her. "Hi."

"Hi. Eat up then you can rest. You must be exhausted."

Looking around to make sure they were alone, he sighed and took her into his arms again. "I missed you."

"Me too," she admitted. As he was taking his soup, she decided to open the conversation. "Ji Sung-ssi, about the picture."

He put down his spoon and looked at her. "What about it?"

"I wasn't hugging him."

He nodded then smiled. Taking her hand, he said, "I figured as much. Do you still wish to continue with what you were saying or do you want me to tell you what I think?"

She shook her head. Taking a deep breath to muster her courage, she spoke, "No. Please let me finish first." When he agreed, she continued and told him her side of the story — Kim Joon dropping by the office, asking to go out for coffee and her agreeing since she was on her way there anyway. "I apologize that I didn't have time to let you know at once. It slipped my mind because it wasn't important to me and I had a lot of things going on that day. On that photo, we were about to part, yes. I was headed back to work and he pulled me for a side hug. I was surprised so I wasn't able to react quickly."

He remained quiet, listening to her and stroking the back of her hand with his thumb.

"Are you terribly mad at me? Do you think I could be forgiven?"