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“Hello.”
Unfortunately, Hyun-soo was a step too late. Choi Cheol-ho had already approached and stood directly in front of her.
With a friendly smile, he greeted her warmly, prompting Hyun-soo to reflexively respond in kind.
“We’ve met before, right?”
“I’m not sure.”
“I think so. You look strangely familiar. Where could it be from?”
“I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else. I’ll be going now...”
“Ah, wait a moment.”
As Hyun-soo tried to leave, Choi blocked her path.
“What’s worrying you so much?”
Smiling, Choi casually grabbed her wrist. Startled, Hyun-soo flinched and pulled back.
“Why are you doing this?”
“I’m certain I know your face.”
“Let go, please...”
“Aha!”
Their brief tussle came to an abrupt halt as Choi finally snapped his fingers, recognition dawning on his face.
“You! We were in the same class, weren’t we? Your name was... uh... what was it again?”
“...”
“I can’t recall your name, but hey, long time no see!”
Long time no see? This wasn’t exactly the kind of reunion she wanted.
Hyun-soo, desperate to free herself, twisted her wrist. But Choi’s grip was unyielding, leaving no room for escape.
“Let go of me, will you?”
“I was young and reckless back then—I made some mistakes. Can’t you forgive me?”
Choi couldn’t remember her name, yet he seemed well aware of the harm he’d caused her. His audacity was infuriating.
“I’ve long forgotten about it. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“Really?”
“Yes. So let me go already.”
She didn’t want to engage any further. The more she looked at him, the more memories flooded back—humiliating conversations forced upon her while she sat at her desk, head down.
When Hyun-soo tried to pull away forcefully, Choi tightened his grip, causing her wrist to throb painfully. She bit her lip.
“Do I need to scream for help? Will you let go then?”
“Why are you being so difficult? My acquaintances are watching. Smile and play nice, alright?”
Choi glanced over his shoulder. Sure enough, the group that had been eyeing her earlier was still staring.
“I’m not in the mood to smile. Just let go.”
“You’ve heard enough explanation by now. Aren’t you being a bit unreasonable?”
Despite his outwardly friendly demeanor, Choi’s low-grade temper began to show through.
Then, suddenly, he released her wrist with unexpected force, causing Hyun-soo to stumble backward.
“There, I let go. What now?”
It seemed she was destined to endure embarrassment rather than slip away quietly. As her vision blurred from the fall, all Hyun-soo could think about was how humiliating this moment was. But—
“Ah!”
Instead of hitting the ground, she was caught and steadied by someone.
A firm body pressed against her back, enveloping her in a crisp, masculine scent.
What just happened? Blinking rapidly to process the situation, Hyun-soo’s heart began pounding wildly.
Meanwhile, Choi stood frozen, unable to speak.
“Uh, you...”
His gaze shifted past her.
With every breath, the man’s scent filled her senses. Still feeling her racing heartbeat, Hyun-soo slowly turned around.
“...Yoon Guk.”
“Meeting an old friend, I see.”
“...”
“So, was it a pleasant reunion?”
There was no way. Shaking her head silently, Hyun-soo conveyed her thoughts. He responded with a knowing smirk.
“Choi Cheol-ho.”
“Ah, Yoon Guk. Long time no see. How have you been?”
“As you can see.”
Releasing Hyun-soo, Guk slipped his hands into his pockets. Though his eyes remained fixed ahead, there was something subtly dismissive in his gaze.
Choi, who had moments ago treated Hyun-soo so rudely, transformed into a docile puppy wagging its tail before a lion.
“Are you alright?”
Snapped out of her daze, Hyun-soo turned to see a woman observing her with concern. It was the same woman in the red dress she’d noticed earlier—the one who had been by Guk’s side all along.
“Yes, I’m fine. Just a little startled...”
“Would you like some water?”
“No, I’m okay.”
The woman nodded after Hyun-soo declined, then simply stood nearby without imposing further. Clearly, she was waiting for Guk.
“You’re quite famous, so everyone knows how you’ve been.”
“...”
“Still, it’d be nice if you showed up once in a while...”
“...”
“Oh, we’re having a reunion soon. It’s just a small gathering of a few close friends, but you should come. Everyone would love to see you.”
“Me?”
“Of course. If you attend, it’d be an honor, hahaha.”
Choi squirmed uncomfortably in front of Guk, a far cry from the man who had moments ago twisted Hyun-soo’s wrist mercilessly.
Watching this bizarre scene unfold, Hyun-soo was stunned when Guk suddenly pulled her into a casual arm-around-the-shoulder gesture. The unexpected physical contact left her rigid, while Choi’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.
“She’s also our classmate.”
“Ah, I know her.”
“You do?”
“Of course. I remember clearly...”
“Invite her.”
“Huh?”
“Invite Kim Hyun-soo to the reunion.”
It was an absurd request. Hyun-soo struggled to break free, wanting nothing to do with this situation. But Guk’s grip on her shoulder was firm and unyielding.
“Why? Is there a reason Kim Hyun-soo can’t attend?”
“No, not really...”
“Then invite her.”
Though called a “reunion,” it was essentially an exclusive club of like-minded individuals. Inviting someone like her felt akin to throwing a minnow into shark-infested waters. Choi’s anxiety spiked.
After gnawing on his lip in frustration, Choi reluctantly turned to Hyun-soo, his expression sour.
“You too, come to the reunion.”
Caught off guard, Hyun-soo hesitated, glancing up at Guk. He nodded encouragingly, as if urging her not to hesitate. But she had no desire to attend such a gathering—she knew she’d only be compared and ostracized.
“Sorry, but I don’t think I’ll go...”
“You’ll both attend.”
Guk cut her off mid-sentence. At his declaration, Choi’s expression grew strange. Perhaps he saw this as a calculated move—inviting a big fish while tossing in a small fry.
“Then I’ll take my leave. I’ll contact you later with details.”
Choi backed away nervously. Just as he did, Guk spoke again.
“Hold on.”
Choi’s eyes widened as he turned back.
“You haven’t said everything yet.”
“What do you mean...”
“If someone almost got hurt because of you, shouldn’t you apologize, Cheol-ho?”
“Huh?”
At first, Choi didn’t understand. But when he realized Guk was referring to how he’d mishandled Hyun-soo, nearly causing her to fall, his face paled. Was he seriously asking him to apologize to her?
Guk checked his watch.
“The event starts soon.”
It was clear: wrap up the apology before the event began.
Choi felt like he was dying inside. A torrent of curses bubbled up in his throat. Why the hell should I apologize to that worthless girl, damn it!
“Not doing it?”
“Sorry. I’m sorry.”
“Your apology is pathetically short.”
Guk’s dry remark made Choi glance nervously at him. Clearing his throat, he tried again.
“It wasn’t intentional, um... I accidentally let go of her hand, and that’s how it happened. I’m sorry. Please understand.”
By now, Hyun-soo felt awkward. Her ears reddened as she avoided eye contact, nodding vaguely. She thought, If only I’d received this apology 10 years ago in the classroom, it might have meant something.
Perhaps Guk had known how she felt. Maybe that’s why he forced Choi to apologize—to give her the closure she never received back then. Wishful thinking, perhaps, but she wanted to believe it.
“Resend the invitation.”
“Huh?”
“Is making people repeat themselves your hobby? Resend the invitation.”
“But I already did it earlier...”
“Do it the way you did for me.”
“Ah...”
Choi clenched his fists tightly. Watching him, Guk sneered.
“Kim Hyun-soo, you should come to the reunion too.”
“...”
“They’ll be glad to see you.”
“...”
“It’d be an honor, truly.”
“That’s enough.”
Hyun-soo finally interjected. Guk looked at her with a composed expression, seemingly unfazed by the awkwardness she felt.
“Hyung.”
At that moment, Han returned, his tie loosened and dangling from his hand.
“What are you doing here?”
“Just meeting someone.”
“Who?”
“Where were you?”
“Ah, Father kept asking where you were. Go see him.”
Nodding knowingly, Guk turned and left without another word. The woman in the red dress naturally followed him, disappearing into the crowd.
Left behind, Choi stared intently at Guk’s retreating figure before turning back to Hyun-soo and returning to his group. Han, approaching curiously, asked:
“Who was that?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure what to call him.”
“Huh?”
Rubbing her temples, Hyun-soo’s gaze followed Guk and the woman, who had already joined Chairman Yoon’s table.
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