《+1 347-***-**** calling》

I received it rather instinctively without overthinking.

*Over the phone*

ME : Hello?

??? : Is this Kim Jae Ra's number?

ME : Yes, that's me. Who am I talking to?

??? : (-sounding happy-) Finally, found you Jae Ra-ya! Don't you remember me? It's me, Seo-In.

ME : (-bright smile-) Seo-Inie?! Where were you and how did you get my number?

SEO-IN : I was trying to reach you since 1 year. I even went to Korea few days back, but your house was locked and the neighborhood said that Uncle settled in NewYork. I contacted him later but couldn't reach him so instead his PA gave me your number.

ME : Oh my god! That's hell of an explanation but I am so glad you reached out to me.

SEO-IN : Trust me, I feel so relieved to hear your voice. There were weird answers when I asked the neighborhood about you. And it had me extremely flustered.

ME : Is that so? I have not been there since three years now.

SEO-IN : Omo, Really? (-briefly after-) Anyways, can we meet?

ME : What? Don't tell me you are in NewYork?

SEO-IN : YES! I am in Queens currently.

ME : What! That's where I live.

SEO-IN : Cool! I am here for special reasons by the way. I'll tell everything once we meet. Are you free?

ME : Yes, I am having a day off. How about we meet at my favorite coffee shop? I will text you the address.

SEO-IN : Onh, okay. I'll see you then. (-hungs up-)

I quickly sent her the address and went out to my car skipping on my breakfast, excitement already filling my tummy.

I drove off to the coffee shop with a smile on my face.
It was quite long for me to be this happy. I squealed at the thought to meet a friend from Korea let alone, it was Seo-In.

I, in my late 20s, fortunately had everything in my life– a house, a car, money just enough and a promising job– all that human works for.
However, I was still missing out on something– a home of warmth, a family to live for, memories to cherish and a love to grow old on–all that the mortal longs for.

Uncle started a business in New York and was quite successful with the help of his Korean friend, he mentioned with special care.

He had always averted the conversation which led to the potential revelation of his "friend's" identity. This being the reason I wasn't acquainted with the latter.

Despite Uncle suggesting me to remarry, I just wanted to live the way it is. I felt like something, somewhere, someone is there waiting for me. Or maybe I was the one waiting for them.

My thoughts were interrupted as the coffee shop came in my view and I parked my car in a corner after.

While I waited through, I ordered a coffee for myself as I settled down along an empty table by the glass window.

"I wonder, how does she look like now. Will I recognize her? She was so chubby before." I chuckled reminiscing our young memories.

I was busy imaging her present look with her childhood features and attributes that I could recall, while carefully sipping on my hot coffee.

A squeaky familiar voice invaded my imaginations as she walked to me with a big smile.

SEO-IN : JAE RA-YA! (-initiates a hug-)

I stood up with a bright smile–my stomach squeezing weirdly at the foreign yet familiar touch as we hugged each other.

SEO-IN : I missed you so much! (-releasing the hug-)

ME : Me too! How have you been? (-smiles-)

We continued our formal talks to ease into each other, as we settled down and ordered her round of hot beverage.

SEO-IN : (-smiles-) I was doing good but, there wasn't a day that I didn't miss you or think about you.

ME : (-cringing at her cheesy line-) Aigoo~ Are we lovers?

SEO-IN : (-flicks hair-) I already have a fiancè, if you will. So, you are late.

ME : Ouch! My bad. (-fakes a broken heart-)

We both chuckled as we recalled the silly cat fights we used to pull on each other all the time, teasing and laughing till our stomachs ached.

They say, memories have their own soundtrack. I wish I could hear my lost ones—a sudden thought crawled up my mind.

Sometimes, the blank pages of my memory sneaked out through my eyes and I could do nothing but to stare at them with a blurred vision.

Seo-In spoke seeing me quiet and upset.

SEO-IN : (-smile fading-) What happened? Why are you sad?

ME : (-sweet smile-) It's nothing.

SEO-IN : Oh, right. When I went to Korea and asked about you... this is so weird. (-sighs-) They said that you passed away three years ago in an accident. I was so shocked, I cried the whole flight back to here.

ME : What! Awh... (-holding her hand-) But, why would they think like that? Did they really say I passed away?

SEO-IN : Onh. Was there any accidents?

ME : (-nodding-) Yeah, I had one.

SEO-IN : Goodness gracious! (-worried-) What happened?

I gave her a quick ride to the nine yards of the horrendous years of my life. And also about my husband who had abandoned me for absolutely vague reasons.

SEO-IN : (-upset-) I'm sorry, Jae Ra-ya for arriving so late.

ME : (-sudden bright smile-) Thanks for your arrival, missy. (-chuckles-)

SEO-IN : (-slight smile and tries to change the topic-) By the way, Uncle Jang had a son too, right? Where is he now?

ME : Ah! Sung Yeol-ie? He said that he would be coming to New York by today.

SEO-IN : (-a foreign unreadable smile-) Ah... Jae Ra-ya! I have something to tell you.

ME : (-casually sipping my coffee-) Yeah? Oh and who is your fiancè? When are you getting married?

SEO-IN : (-blushes-) You will know that soon. We are going to the Wedding boutique for our formal clothes tomorrow. And I want you to come. (-excited-)

ME : (-nervous smile-) Uh-... Seo In-ah, I have work.

SEO-IN : (-doing aegyo-) Please~!

ME : Stop it. (-irritated-)

SEO-IN : Ah, it doesn't work on you. But, just for one day please~ Oh? 

She continued to plead showing her index finger in a cute way, to make one day look shorter than its usual duration.

ME : (-chuckles-) Okay!

I couldn't help smile, to see her almost squealing at my resonance.

She clapped her hands cheerfully, like a toddler. For a moment, I doubted if she was mature enough to get married with all her inane actions.

We spent the whole day together, compensating for all the times we were apart. And eventually diverted our paths in the late evening.

Reaching home, I found Sung Yeol had already arrived and freshened up.

ME : (-smiling to him-) Welcome back SungYeol-ah!

SUNG YEOL : Yah! I am one year older than you. Call me Oppa already.

ME : (-humming in denial while shaking head-) Not a complete one year though. Only three-sixty four days.

SUNG YEOL : WOAH! Does that even make any difference? It wasn't even a leap year. So, it's just one day.

ME : It's ONE day!

I sticked out my tongue to tease him and started to run for my life as he chased me around the entire hall. Lacking in memories, I desperately wanted to make as many as I could in a hope to fill the empty pages.

It couldn't be more ecstatic to have both of my best friends back in my life.

SUNG YEOL : Yah, stop! (-chasing me-) Are you really twenty seven? Atleast act like one!

ME : (-turning to him and running backwards-) Look who's getting old, catch me if you can!

SUNG YEOL : You! Stop right there!

I turned again and ran faster as I knew, calling him old would not get me out easy. He sped up to match my pace while I laughed running forward and squizzed back at him every now and then.

Around one of the times I was glancing at him, I bumped into someone. My eyes dilated as I looked up at the tough figure.

___________

Sorry for this boring chapter.

Btw, who do you think is the person she dashed with?

Good contents are coming in future.
STAY TUNED!