After the meeting, Mary returned to her desk. The many tasks that needed her attention made her forget her break time. Her phone in her pocket had vibrated countless times as her close friend kept calling to hurry her, but there was no way for her to arrive earlier due to both being busy and the sudden Saigon afternoon rain that held her steps. Until in the afternoon, she had just gone to the rendezvous point.
When she exited the taxi, she called Agnes – her close friend since university. Agnes stood up and waved so Mary could see her. Upon approaching, she suddenly realized this wasn’t simply a meeting of long-separated close friends.
Agnes was chatting with someone else very cheerfully, seeming like they’d known each other for a long time. When Mary arrived, Agnes quickly pulled her down to sit beside her.
It was him, the man she had met near her home a few days ago. His smile and gaze again plunged into her mind, making her ponder why they seemed so familiar even though they had only met a few times.
With his handsome face, bright eyes, and high and straight nose, there was no fault when looking at him. Today, she had the opportunity to thoroughly observe this man from every angle: mature and composed in the suit of a famous brand. She politely smiled at him, and he reciprocated the smile but did not let the third party know they had met before to avoid making her feel awkward.
Agnes swiftly introduced them to each other.
“This is Mary – my best friend, and she is working at a publishing house. Though young, my friend is a diligent girl devoted to her work and still a single lady.”
The man across the table extended a friendly smile and extended his hand toward her to indicate his intention to get acquainted. Seeing Mary’s hesitation, Agnes continued.
“This is Andrew Alexander, a friend I met while on a business trip in the US. He also works with books, and you should get to know him. You may have the chance to collaborate in the future.”
Mary politely greeted him but refused his handshake. He subtly withdrew his hand, feeling a tad embarrassed due to the woman’s refusal.
Agnes always led the talk throughout the conversation because she had proposed this unexpected meeting. After a while, Andrew received a call and excused himself to go out to answer it. Agnes leaned over to Mary as soon as he left and asked softly.
“What do you think of him? He’s an excellent boyfriend for you. I went to America to bring him back. Don’t let me down, okay?
She frowned when she saw Mary wasn’t interested in her work. Agnes continued.
“Why? Don’t you find him attractive?”
Clear and lucid, Mary glanced at her best friend, who was squinting and said coldly.
“Do you like him that much? Then keep him to yourself. Why give him to me?”
She could never have guessed that these words would inadvertently become a reality. These words would lead her down a path she dared not contemplate or remember but could only gasp in choked sobs in her heart.
Realizing her slip, Agnes hurried to smooth things over with a smile as warm and pure as the spring sun, her lips curling up in an honest admission.
“We’re best friends. I give my best to you. You’re the one who truly has my heart.”
The rosy hue of Mary’s cheeks intensified under Agnes’s teasing pinches. Mary couldn’t help but lightly pull Kim Agnes’s hand away. Their laughter echoed around them, a marker of their shared happiness. It had been more than a year since they’d last met since Agnes had graduated, started work, and earned a scholarship to a university in the US. The distance of time and space had left Mary out of touch with her friend’s life, and joyful together was inseparable. Although they stayed in touch through phone calls and social media, these joyful moments together were more precious than anything.
Andrew came back after ending a phone call, Mary whispered.
“Don’t ever arrange things like this again, okay?”
“Roger that.”
Seeing the two girls giggling, Andrew guessed from afar that his name was being mentioned. With his usual courteous manners, relaxed demeanor, and friendly smile, he took his original seat. His lips curved in a warm smile as he asked gently and charmingly.
“What were you two laughing about? Care to share with me?”
Seeing Mary remain silent, Agnes took over.
“She said if someone thinks Song Joong Ki (*) is the most attractive man, they probably haven’t met you.”
Mary glanced at Agnes, who was still happened her teasing. Mary was becoming increasingly embarrassed as if this wasn’t a meeting that should have happened. All this while, Agnes had been teasing her non-stop. Mary wondered what she had done to upset her best friend.
Andrew couldn’t help but laugh at this. Luckily, he had already finished calming. If not, he would have spat it out, making this situation even more awkward. He quickly regained his calm, looked at the girl across t, h e table and asked softly.
“Have you been working in the publishing industry for long?”
“I’ve only been working for two weeks.”
Seeing Mary’s timid demeanor, Agnes chided back her laughter. She glanced at Andrew and whispered in his ear.
“She’s always been a little shy around. We’ll have to arrange more outings for you two to get used to each other. I worry about her being isolated from men.”
While speaking, Agnes looked at Mary and laughed teasingly, making Mary even more embarrassed. Mary thought to herself, wondering when this conversation would end. You can’t just sit there and be teased endlessly. She needed to figure out a way, but unfortunately, there wasn’t a talking escape.
Mary took a sip of orange juice while discreetly listening to see if the two people were talking about her. Her clear eyes, like two, search. She felt embarrassed and took another sip, feeling Why he hadn’t mentioned meeting her increasingly self-consciousness and couldn’t understand what this man was thinking. Why hadn’t he said meeting? I wonder if he and Agnes were close. Could this be intentional?
Andrew occasionally smiled, but he didn’t want anyone to see. Deep down, he wondered why this girl acted as if it were their first meeting. Why was she so shy and afraid he could read her thoughts? However, her shyness throughout their conversation had him realize something.
Throughout the night, Mary couldn’t close her eyes. Thoughts of Andrew kept appearing in her mind, both familiar and distant. His voice seemed like one she had heard somewhere before, but she couldn’t recall exactly. However, if they had met on a special occasion, he may have recognized her when they first met on entering this project’s gate he projects she had just been assigned.
Tomorrow, writer Joy and the book coveralls will be there, and all three will collaborate on this project. This project is excellent meant with Young World Publishing House. She thought it couldn’t be a coincidence that she was chosen for such a significant project, especially considering her father’s company had many talented individuals in the publishing industry.
Perhaps the hand of some power had intervened. With a fair and transparent nature, she was determined to clarify this matter.
The scent of lavender still lingered, gentle and nostalgic. It had been a while since that sweet fragrance had existed in private space, an indispensable part of life. Whenever she thought of it, she would smile as if someone was in love, even though she had never been in a relationship with anyone.
(*) Song Joong Ki is a famous South Korean actor who played the lead role of Yoo Shi Jin in the drama “Descendants of the Sun.”