Til Death Do Us Part

Chapter 38

“Why couldn’t we just meet them at the apartment?” Greta moans at me as I drag her through the crowd inside the food hall we arranged to meet.

“I think Bryant’s scared of you and figured you’re less likely to murder him in a public place.” I jest and spot a server to our left.

“Excuse me. We have reservations under the name Park. Party of four.”

It’s crazy busy in this place, given it’s not even seven pm yet, but it’s a bar and restaurant in a trendy part of the city, so I guess it’s to be expected even if it’s a weekday night.

The girl motions for us to follow her to a desk by the corner, where she checks her computer screen and then points us in the direction of the hall leading to private rooms at the back.

“Room fifteen. Two are already here.” She smiles sweetly, and we move off to head down the dim mood-lit hallway with fewer people milling around. Holding hands and dressed for formal dining tonight. Greta, for once, is in a black jersey dress over heeled boots, while I opted for a navy cotton shirt dress over sandals. We even went for a bit of glam and did our annual Christmas makeup for this. Tired of being locked up in hiding the last few days while the worst of the press wave happened. We are so over sitting on the couch watching daytime television and movies while the world had itself some drama over my existence.

I couldn’t turn on the TV or scroll my cell phone without seeing reports about my life, tragic accident, and so many pointless, repeated blogs on my return. Everyone has an opinion and a theory, which gave me an excuse to stay inside and dodge life for a while. Jyeon hated that I wouldn’t go anywhere with him and showed up almost every night to check in after work. Jyeon was right that they found something new to dramatize after only a few days, and my story is fast falling by the wayside. I didn’t even have to endure an interview or pushy reporters.

We find the room and open the sliding paper doors of this Asian fusion bar to see our companions already sitting on the floor at the low Japanese-style table. Leaning heads together, immersed, as they read through or watch something intriguing on Jyeon’s phone. Looking very much like two teen boys from my past who were always glued at the hip and up to no good ninety percent of the time. I pause to enjoy the familiar sight for a second, and it warms my heart to see them this way. Like we were back a decade ago, nothing has changed how we once were.

“We’re here,” Greta announces bluntly, eyeing up Bryant as though he’s the devil incarnate, and then chooses to sit precisely opposite him after taking her shoes off. I know she will try and intimidate him all night, and I giggle at her as I follow and slide down beside her. I know she has this weird bee in her bonnet about Bryant that I don’t quite understand, given he’s been nothing but pleasant to her. I think he left a lasting impression the first time he challenged her in the Tarry shack. She is one to hold a grudge. That’s evident because no matter how much she sees Jyeon, she still gives him the ice queen act.

“Evening, ladies. You look stunning.” Bryant smiles warmly, casting eyes over both of us before lifting the digital menu and handing it to me. “We already ordered a few minutes ago. So dive in.” It’s an iPad service where you press what you want, and they bring it to you. Convenient for places like this with closed dining rooms.

“This place seems pricey,” Greta observes, eyeing up the tablet in my hand and then shrugs when I offer her a choice on the screen. She usually shies away from technology and trusts my food judgment. I click on a few things I know we’ll eat and lay it back down when I’m done.

“It’s not like any of us here are poor,” Bryant adds matter-of-factly and then feels the death ray of Greta on his downturned face and shifts uncomfortably, avoiding her eyes.

“Speak for yourself.” She snorts.

“So, what’s the occasion? You were mysterious on the phone. Dress up for dinner, and here’s an address. Why are we here?” I cut to the chase, pulling Jyeon’s attention to me. Moving my cutlery aside to prop my elbows on the table, Jyeon finally puts his phone down. Sitting up and smiling at me properly as his eyes scan my outfit with appreciation.

“Socialising. I wanted to hang out with you now things are calmer, and you said it annoys you that I always leave Greta behind. So, we have a double date. You two look gorgeous, by the way.” He winks at Greta with a smug playboy smirk and get’s a scowl in return. She’s not swayed by his charm, even if we no longer suspect him.

“I would rather eat my shoes than date this dodgy asshole. Lawyers are the spawn of Satan.” Greta huffs and goes to focus on placing her napkin on her lap.

“Hey. I’m a very upright and moral lawyer. I happen to have a code I stick by.” Bryant protests shifting the center water jug out of Greta’s reach with a subtle move, and I find it amusing how much she does put the fear of god into this boy. Bryant isn’t exactly small and feeble. He’s a very tall and buff guy who works out religiously, and she did think he was hot before she knew who he was. Tall stupid-looking one in a white t-shirt, I think she called him.

“Why did we have to come somewhere so public and upmarket?” Greta is too used to small island living, and I know she’s complaining because this is far from her comfort zone. She feels exposed and self-conscious especially given the price of the food I showed her.

“I was going to suggest my place and pizza, but then I wasn’t sure how you would take that.” Jyeon locks eyes on me, hinting he would have liked it better if it was his place, and it rekindles a question that I keep putting off asking.

“Where is that exactly? You don’t live at home anymore, so where do you live? I have been curious since you took me to see your mother.”

After the little scene with Claire a few days ago, I know he definitely does not live with her and knowing he and his mother are at a weird cold war over my disappearance, I guess he found himself somewhere else to live. It’s not that important, I guess, but I still wonder.

“I bought a penthouse apartment about ten minutes from OLO. It’s convenient and nice to have my own space after living my whole life under my parent's thumb. I can take you there and show you when you’re ready. Give you a tour.”

“Yet you wanted her to go back and live with your mom?” Greta cuts in snarkily, saving me from responding to the offer of seeing his man pad, and Jyeon smiles and flexes his brow. He’s repeatedly pointed out that he finds Greta’s protective instinct over me as something cute. He likes her even if she doesn’t like him and appreciates how she looks after me. He admitted just the other evening, when she left the room, that it makes him relax, knowing I always have her by my side. That knowing she’s been the one who loved me these past two years and helped me heal was a gift.

“Maybe not my best idea. I didn’t think it through. Yeah… I get it. I’m not the clearest of thinkers when it comes to Sohla. I never have been. It was a dumb idea, and I apologize.” Jyeon looks down at the phone on the table, somewhat sheepish and awkward for a second, yet it gives me weird butterflies. The more I see him lately, the worse my stupid inner reactions to him are getting. And him admitting to being wrong. I should film it for prosperity as Jyeon of the past was never wrong.

I kept expecting him to revert to the cold and heartless Jyeon of the past the longer we’re here, but instead, it feels like we are growing closer, and he’s warming up with every encounter. Losing his awkwardness around me and relaxing. Maybe I am too, and I never imagined I would freely accept an invitation like tonight from him without questioning it first. The truth is I wanted to see him. I’m getting used to his presence daily again, and I miss him when I don’t hear from him.

He’s casually dressed tonight, looking hot in black and denim, and his hair isn’t as perfectly styled as usual. Flopping onto his face slightly, it’s devastatingly sexy. It’s a dangerous look on someone blessed with a great bone structure and flawless features.

Both men have half-drunk beers by their side, and it’s clear their mood is way more relaxed than anytime we’ve seen them before. Bryant is usually so formal. Bryant is similarly attired and keeps glancing at Greta like he’s sure her second head might pop up at any second and devour him whole. He’s not as chilled as his best friend and keeps picking at his bottle label, but it’s obvious his entire attention is on my moody best friend, who is ignoring his existence.

I find it funny that it’s a complete role reversal to how I knew him growing up and wonder when he hit maturity. He wasn’t like this two years ago, and maybe it came from being Jyeon’s rock in my absence. They were always close and inseparable, but Jyeon was the less emotional and stable one back, while Bryant was the playboy of the century. Thinking of it, I haven’t seen anything of his antics since we got here and wonder if he’s finally settled down. He’s missing his flirty and shameless side in picking up girls when it comes to Greta, and she seems to make him visibly nervous. It’s kind of cute to watch.

The waitress walks in with two cokes for Greta and me and our cold starters of sushi, which she places swiftly with expertise and leaves quickly. All four of us pull the plates and start to dig in. I’m not that hungry, but it looks and smells divine.

“Let your hair down. Have a drink, and enjoy a normal evening. There’s no point tonight other than kicking back and having fun. We’ll take care of you if you get drunk.” Jyeon lifts his bottle towards me in such a bro manner it catches me off guard, and I laugh at him before raising my glass and clinking them together. Amused by this carefree side of him lately. Something he missed out on after the age of sixteen. If I’m being honest, and I like seeing him like this, it's infectious. So far removed from office Jyeon, or husband Jyeon, I saw daily for four cold years. I guess because now he chooses to be in my presence, and no one expects anything of it. In a way, the accident freed us both from the pressure hanging over us to be a single unit.

“Neither of us are big drinkers, so if you plan to get us drunk, it’s not going to happen.” I point out and sip my drink, catching a weird, silent staring competition going on between Bryant and Greta to my left. Neither is saying anything, but there seem to be many subliminal things going on, and her expression is frosty.

“I think I would fear less for my life if she mellowed a bit. Maybe a drink isn’t a bad idea.” Bryant points his beer bottle at her accusingly, and I shove her in the shoulder. Wondering why she’s being so hostile.

“Relax. He’s off the clock. Think of him as a regular guy, not the slimy, corrupt legal advisor to a corporation trying to steal your best friend despite her protests.” I joke at her, grinning wildly and laughing at both men's immediate outraged unified response.

“Hey!!”

Greta snort-laughs then lifts her glass to clink with mine and nods in approval. Beaming and instantly returning to her sunny self.

“She mellows when she gets to know you a little better. Until then, you just have to put up with it. She’s my rottweiler, and she takes her role very seriously.”

“She can have the night off and let you use the stand-in guard dog for one night. Jyeon is more than willing to do it.” Bryant winks at me and then Jyeon, earning himself a bat on the back of his head from his best friend. Jyeon is frowning his way as though he just heard the cringiest thing.

“That was cheesy, dude.”

“He must have learned his lines from you.” I flutter my lashes Jyeon’s way, smirking, and get a handsome half-grin in response.

“What is this, huh? Hate on the men tonight? I’ll switch seats and keep you lassoed to my side if there’s any more of this sass.” Jyeon playfully warns me, but I shrug, unconcerned with his empty threats. It all feels flirty with him being this way, but it’s nice. The heavy tension that always seems to hang over us when we’re together is absent for once. Having Greta and Bryant help diffuse my nervousness is a plus, and there’s a relaxed ambiance going on despite Greta’s blatant hostility.

She doesn’t trust them, and I don’t blame her. She agrees with me, though, that Jyeon isn’t part of whoever tried to hurt me and that he doesn’t know anything about it either. He seems genuinely trying to make up for the past and the affair and that if I gave him a chance, he would try and start some romance between us. She’s worried that he might convince me over time to give it a go, and our life back home dissipates, where I leave her to go there herself. I understand her fears. I’m her family, and she’s scared I’ll choose Jyeon and my old life.

I can’t say it hasn’t crossed my mind more than once. The what-ifs. The thoughts of letting myself trust Jyeon a little and see what happens. I just can’t. This isn’t where my life is anymore, and I have no desire to return to what I left behind. To be controlled and pushed into the mold of who I became. To have Yoonha cling to me, my mother dependent on me, and losing myself in OLO all over again to the point Jyeon could no longer stand to be near me. This city was claustrophobic back then, and I had no life outside of work. I hated myself and my life, which crushed my sanity to almost no return.

I tasted freedom and was allowed to be myself to grow these past two years. I can’t give it up. I like the island, and yes, I miss the city, but I have so much to lose by not going back.

“Why don’t we do something other than drink when we’re done here? Maybe something fun…. like ten-pin bowling. Or an arcade… an amusement park?” It comes out of me from god knows where, as I wasn’t even really thinking about it. Mulling over my relationship with him, and boom, I’m suggesting an extended night of teen dating. Alcohol doesn’t seem like a good idea when my heart is wavering.

“I’m in.” Bryant raises his bottle and clanks it against the glass I’m holding, catching me off guard, so I slosh it over my plate.

“Dude.” Jyeon scolds him softly and leans over with a napkin to mop the worst of it up for me. “Steady on, or I’ll stop your alcohol intake.”

“I mean, it sounds better than staying here to eat overpriced seafood and watch you two get drunk and clumsy, I guess.” Greta agrees in her own passive-aggressive way, and I laugh at how hard it is for her ever to give in. She obviously likes my idea.

“If that’s what you ladies want to do, then sure. I won’t drink anymore and be the driver.”

“Uh uh… if we’re doing this, we call an OLO driver, and the four of us have to at least mellow with a couple of drinks. An amusement park is way more fun when you’re half-drunk. Be like we’re sixteen again and up to no good….. Without it, I don’t think I can handle Miss Terrifying over there.”

He does have a point. I have fond memories of getting intoxicated with stolen booze and hanging out at the park with these boys on more than one occasion. It made it a hundred times funnier.

“It’s not like we have work tomorrow, Greta. How about we have a couple to take the edge off? It’s been a rocky week.”

“Be warned. Drunk, I am a demon, so best to keep me on the happy and not inebriated.” Greta narrows her eyes at Bryant, and there’s a flicker of something between them as his face softens, and he winks at her.