@โงห s. jia Song Kang walked beside Jia, his stride steady despite the storm of emotions swirling beneath his composed exterior. The soft teasing in her tone reached inside him and touched an old chord, bringing a ghost of a smile to his lips. It was a crack in the wall he had built around himself since the teenager. She was trying to keep the mood light, and he appreciated it, even as the weight of their shared history pressed on his chest.
He stole a look at her. The chandelier light danced across her features, highlighting the softness of her expression. There was still that same grace, quiet strength he remembered, though now tempered by the passage of time. Her teasing words echoed in his mind.
/A CEO charm, huh?/
He couldn't help but chuckle softly at that. "CEO charm," he repeated, the humor dancing in his voice, the self-awareness. "That does sound like something out of a bad romance novel. I hope I'm not coming on too cliche." Jia's smile grew just slightly, and he noticed how the tension in her shoulders seemed to ease. He exhaled, feeling a little more grounded by the moment. As they reached the bar, he signaled to the bartender and turned his attention back to her.
"But since you asked," he continued, leaning slightly against the bar, "it's not as glamorous as it looks. Above Modeling Agency is my first big venture. I took a risk, burned a few bridges, and somehow managed to get it off the ground. Now, I'm here, trying to play the part of someone who knows what they're doing."
There was a silence as he watched her reaction, his eyes searching hers for any trace of the girl he once knew. "And what about you, Jia?" he asked softly. "I'd love to hear what's been keeping you busy all these years." He said it as though the years had stop counting itself.
As Kang studied Jia's face, memories surged like waves, powerful and unrelenting. He saw her laugh under the cherry blossoms near their school, her head tilted back in carefree joy. He remembered the way her eyes lit up when she spoke of their shared dreams, her passion igniting his own. There were late-night calls, whispered secrets, and promises made with the innocence of youth. He recollected the way they used to talk about the future, how they imagined conquering the world together. Now here they were, years later, both having taken different paths but somehow crossing again in this room.
@โงห s. kang Hearing Kang say her name in that familiar, cherished tone sent a ripple of emotions through Jia's chest. She froze for a moment, her breath catching as her heart quickened. Dear God, how long has it been since she heard him speak to her? The sound carried warmth but also a weight that pressed on her ribcage, stirring both nostalgia and unease.
Unable to meet his gaze, Jia glanced down, her fingers instinctively tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She felt the corners of her lips tug upward in a small, bashful smile, and a quiet chuckle escaped her. "I didn't expect to see you here either..." she murmured, her voice softer than she intended. What were the chances? Perhaps it was fate, a sign nudging them toward something unresolved. Or maybe, just maybe, it was a cruel trick to test her heart, one she wasn't sure she was ready for.
Memories of their high school puppy love began to swirl unbidden like delicate threads weaving through her thoughts. She could almost see the younger versions of themselves; laughing as they exchange notes in class, sharing dreams over late night talk as they sleepover at one of their house and stealing moments of tenderness that felt like the world belonged only to them. But then, as quickly as the sweetness came, the bitterness followed.
The memory of their argument resurfaced like a storm cloud, dark and heavy. She could still hear the sharpness of their words throwing against each other, feel the sting of the silence that followed and remember the ache of crying alone at night. For weeks after their breakup, she clung to the love notes he'd written, rereading them as if they held the answers to the questions she couldn't bring herself to ask. Her chest tightened now at the thought, a pang of longing mingling with the faintest trace of anger she hadn't fully let go of.
As Kang spoke to Ari, Jia allowed his voice to wash over her, grounding her in the present. She let him lead the conversation, partly because she has no said in their conversation and partly because she needed the moment to collect herself completely before she look crazy. Her gaze flickered to him, studying his face— the same one she had memorized all those years ago, yet somehow changed. There was a new confidence about him, a quiet self assuredness that hadn't been there before. His smile was still as charming as ever and Jia found herself wondering if it was her imagination or if he had truly become even more disarmingly charismatic.
A wave of pride swelled in her chest. He's doing so well for himself. She remembered how fiercely he had pursued his dreams and how much she had wanted to support him as his companion, even when things got tough. Seeing him now, thriving in this room filled with influential people made her heart ache with admiration— and something else she couldn't quite put a finger on it.
When their eyes met, the intensity of his gaze made her stomach flip. Jia quickly looked away, her lips pressing into a thin line as a flush of heat crept up her neck. *Lord, I'm definitely not ready for this* she thought, feeling exposed, vulnerable as if he could see straight into her soul that was shaking.
After Ari excused herself, leaving them alone, Jia felt a subtle shift in the air. The weight of their shared history hung between them, unspoken yet palpable. She hesitated, fingers lightly brushing against the silkiness of her dress as she tried to calm the nervous energy buzzing through her. Finally, she lifted her gaze to him, forcing a small, polite smile. His offer to buy her a drink made her chest tighten slightly and not because of the gesture itself but because it reminded her of how effortlessly kind he had always been.
"Yes, I would love that," she replied softly, her voice steadier now. She fell into step beside him, their proximity sending a flicker of warmth through her. As they moved through the space, Jia glanced around at the elegantly dressed crowd, a sea of power and prestige. The room gleamed with opulence, every detail meticulously curated to impress. She straightened her posture instinctively, determined to carry herself with the same grace and poise.
"So... a CEO charm hm?" Jia mused, her tone light and teasing as she stole a sidelong glance at him. Her lips curved into a faint smile, though her pulse quickened as she spoke. "Want to tell me what that's all about first before I go on detail about our worklife?"
@โงห k. myungsoo today was one of her friend's wedding day, and inhye couldn't be happier to see them getting married. as their wedding planner, she made sure all the preparations went smoothly and everything was perfect before the events started. she was mostly working behind the scenes, so she didn't come out often. while checking the food, her friend, hana, suddenly came up to her. "inhye-ah, you're here! i've been looking everywhere for you. please, don't be surprised, but do you know who we saw at the front?" inhye turned around and chuckled. "why are you being so nosy? let whoever come, then." hana shook her head. "no, you gotta come with me and let your staff handle the food! yuri is looking for you right now too." hana quickly dragged inhye out of the area and toward the crowd, leading her right to where dongwoo and myungsoo were standing.
"hello, guys! inhye is here!" hana announced. inhye's eyes widened at the sight of him—someone from her past. she froze, taken aback. "m-myungsoo." hana smiled and took inhye's hand, pulling her closer to face the man. "myungsoo-ah, inhye. she's getting prettier, right?" she teased, nudging inhye's side. inhye bit her lip, avoiding his gaze. "i—hey. it's been a while. but i'm sorry, i have some work to do. if you’ll please excuse me." inhye couldn’t stay there any longer and quickly excused herself. how—after all these years—how could she possibly face him again? tears blurred her vision as she walked away.
@โงห s. jia Song Kang stood near the edge of the room, looking out with poise over the sea of nameless faces. Chandelier golden light danced across his tailored suit, bringing out broad shoulders and a great commanding presence. The minute the introduction was made, he felt at the edges of his mind that all-too-familiar tug of a well-hidden past.
The mere mention of her name could have stoked something inside him, but the sight of her, just standing there in that gown, sent his heart into its familiar turmoil. His gaze collided with Jia's courtesy smile, and for a fraction of a second, the world shrunk to just the two of them. Snatches of high school days cropped up in his mind-midnight conversations, shared dreams, and the warmth of her presence that once racingly went to his heart. The whispered promises, stolen glances, and everything else that happened afterward formed a part of that fairytale.
But, like so many teenager dreams, it had crumbled. He had moved on since then, was building a successful career, and had distanced himself from the vulnerabilities of his youth. But she was different now, seeing her again stirred feelings he had kept buried for so long. They had allow the silence grow a wedge between them as they went their separate ways.
"Jia," he said, his voice level but laced, no matter how he tried to conceal it, with a quiver of vulnerability. Her smile was courteous, remote even; he could not miss the almost imperceptible shake of her hand as she reached for her shoulder bag. Maybe he was not the only one who had moved on from that chapter. "I would never have thought of seeing you here," he said, mainly for the sake of a trailing pause between them, rather than because this might somehow serve as any sort of surprise. He remembered the way she laughed-light, airy, musical. He remembered the sparkle in her eyes as they talked about the future. It felt so long ago. He stood there, gazing at Jia and how she commanded the attention of all, including his. Ari's voice snapped him out of it.
"You both know each other?" Ari smiled warmly beside him. "Yeah, from a long time ago." he responded breaking from the trance.
"I see, though glad you're finally out of the office," Ari continued, the smile curling at her lips. "I see you're still making the rounds, Mr. Song. Are you here for business or pleasure tonight?"
Song Kang burst out laughing and shook his head, amused. "Always business, Ari," he said with a smirk. "But I do try to mix in a little pleasure now and then." His gaze darted back down to Jia for a split second, his heart skipping erratically before quickly recovering.
Ari raised an eyebrow at the response, her eyes tracing his subtle shift toward Jia. Being one of the older models of Song Kang's agency, she had known him long enough to tell when he was preoccupied or thrown off. "I see," she said, her tone mildly playful as she inclined her head a fraction. "It's been a while, right? Running into old flames and all that."
Song Kang didn't say a word then, but he shot her a keen glance, one which relayed to her that he already knew what she had been getting at. Ari was always perceptive, and she knew just how to stir the pot without overstepping with her boss. Ari was quick to pivot, though, seeming to sense the change in his mood. "Anyway," she said, her gaze flicked between him and Jia again. She wasn't blind to the history between the two of them, and neither was anyone else. The fact that they were standing so close after all these years, as he had remarked, on its own told a whole lot. Ari knew better than to pry, but she couldn't help the tension in the air.
"Well," Ari said, stepping back with a sly smile, "I'll leave you two to catch up. But just remember, if you need any help navigating this reunion, I'm always around." She gave him a wink before turning away to walk off, adding playfully, "And no more CEO charm, okay? Since she has seen you before you were one, so no point faking that."
Song Kang gave a short laugh, his eyes following her until she disappeared into the crowd. He liked her humor, but all of his interest swung back to Jia, the current between them so real, years of silence and unspoken words thick in the air between them. Ari was giving them space to breathe, but Song Kang knew he was just postponing the inevitable, things that would have to be said sooner or later. "Allow me to buy you a drink, and perhaps we can catch up?
His head turned toward the source of the voice, and he smiled when he saw his old friends, whom he hadn't seen since he left Haepung a long time ago. After giving them a hug, Myungsoo's smile was wide enough to show his dimples as he looked at his friends, seeing how different they were now. Although his eyes were still searching for someone, the one person whom he wanted to see more than anyone else in their circle of friends. Someone whom he owed an apology to. That was the main reason why he chose to come to their old friend's wedding because he knew she would be there. Unable to stop his curiosity, he turned to Dongwoo "Is... Inhye here? Yuri is her friend right? But I haven't seen her around so far." After he asked that, Dongwoo's lips curled upward in a teasing grin. "Missing your ex-girlfriend huh? You two were the school's sweetheart before." Myungsoo rolled his eyes, though he could feel his heart clenched painfully at the memory, one of the best memories he had, with her. "Just tell me if you see her or not." He said through gritted teeth.
@โงห s. kang Jia took a steady breathing as she ascended the grand staircase with her heels, the cream coloured silk of her gown flowing like liquid with each step. The dress hugged her curves elegantly, delicate straps and off shoulder drape adding a refined allure while a subtle slit revealed a hint of her smooth leg as she moved to the top. She had opted to choose this dress, knowing the evening would require a look that combined sophistication with just the right touch of allure.
At the top of the staircase, she handed her invitation to the doorman, catching his lingering gaze over her grace and beauty before she tapped his shoulder with a smirk, snapping him back to attention. He stammered out a welcome with a flushing face as she walked past him with a faint laugh finding his flustered to be amuse and step into the heart of the event.
The room was an opulent vision of luxury. High ceilings draped in ivory fabric, chandeliers casting a golden glow and tables dressed in candlelight created an atmosphere that was both timeless and intimate. Soft piano notes drifted from the corner of the room, each note weaving into the gentle hum of laughter and conversation. The scent of lilies filled the air, mingling with her own fragrance as well. A scent that blend with jasmine, amber and vanilla lingered subtly, adding a touch of warmth and mystery around her.
"Jia~! Jia~!" The familiar voice cut through the crowd, causing Jia to turn only to see Ari approaching, her friend's face lighting up with excitement. They embraced warmly, exchanging quick cheek kisses in European style and giggles. "You look absolutely stunning, Jia! How do you always pull it off?" Ari asked, voice laced with a hint of tease but her eyes gleaming with admiration. Jia chuckled at her word, giving her a playful shrug. "Only for nights to my dearest friend event like these," she teased back with a wink.
With a knowing grin, Ari took her hand and led her deeper into the crowd. They wove between guests in designer gowns and tailored suits, their jewels glinting under the warm light and the whole room abuzz with lively yet refined energy.
As they neared a table toward the back of the room, Jia's steps faltered. There just a few feet away... stood a familiar figure. His back was turned, but she'd recognize that tall, broad ahouldered frame anywhere. Her heart stilled as Ari led her closer, her pulse picking up as memories stirred, unbidden and undeniable. Finally, Ari stopped beside the man and beamed up at him happily. "Mister Song, I would like to introduce you to my dearest friend who used to work in modelling, Song Jia."
As the man finally turned, Jia felt her breath momentarily stop. There, stood right in front of her was her very own ex lover from high school— Song Kang. Her heart thudded against her chest loudly as she held her gaze, mind spinning wondering what was going on as she clutched the chain strap of her bag tighter, hoping he couldn't catch the glimpse of her tremor in her hand. For a moment, memories flooded back and she was that younger version of herself, heart racing and utterly captivated by him. But she quickly composed herself, letting a polite smile settle on her glossy pink brims and bowed her head slightly. "Hello there."
