PROMPTS

Economics and Mr. Ri (3)

A/N: Hi! Short update for today. I'm trying to write another one which will hopefully be up tomorrow. Thank you for your patience in waiting for this and the other book!

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Ri Jeong Hyeok placed his comment on the last paper he was reviewing for the day.  Though he did not want to admit it, the confrontation with Yoon Seri was stuck in his head and he started to put more detailed feedback for his students.

Placing the last sheet back on the stack of his completed reviews, he sat back and stared out the window to the now dark sky. 

Yoon Seri.

Her clothes were much fancier now and her body had more womanly curves than when they were younger, but she was still as beautiful as the first time he met her. She had always been the most beautiful in any room she was in and everyone would be drawn to her light. That still had not changed. Once she walked into his classroom, angry because of the comment she overheard, he could almost see the flames flare up from her head but it still drew him in.

The only reason his legs stopped from moving closer to her was her eyes.

Her crescent shaped eyes when she smiled were his favorite things in the world, but even when she was unsmiling, she still had the most expressive eyes he liked getting lost in. However, now, her eyes held an emptiness he was unfamiliar with.

They had been together for a long time and Ri Jeong Hyeok had seen happy, sad, thrill, amazement, excitement, loneliness, bliss, lust and satisfaction in those windows to her soul. But, this was a first.

Could that emptiness be the same reason he was familiar with?

No, he shook his head. He no longer knew who Yoon Seri was and what she had been up to all these years. He spent ten years breaking their connection and purposely blocking any information that would link to her. He was not going to disrupt his plans now just because of that five minute interaction earlier.

No, he would not allow her to break his heart again.

As he stood up to pack his things and call it a night, his eyes fell on the unfinished coffee cup he had on this desk.

Inevitably, his mind wandered to their first off campus date. He wondered, does she still like the same coffee?

He had liked her for her beauty from the onset and was glad that she seemed to like his company enough that they stayed seat mates for the same classes they took. Eventually, he realized that on top of being beautiful, she was also quite funny and they enjoyed talking to each other. Still, it took him weeks to think and grab an opportunity for them to share a meal at the cafeteria on campus but he remained to shy to ask her out officially on a date. Luckily, he saw her walking on that day, headed out of school...

*

Yoon Seri walked to the nearby coffee shop for a little break from school activities.

University life was everything she thought it would be — busy, interesting and demanding. Though she enjoyed learning, it was getting overwhelming. Thus, she decided to head out one Friday night. Most of her friends were off to a party or to drink alcohol, but she wasn't in the mood for it, so she decided to take one of her favorite books and hangout at a coffee shop.

"Seri!"

A familiar voice called. Turning, she saw Jeong Hyeok jogging toward her. "Hi," she greeted shyly.

"Where are you headed?" Jeong Hyeok asked.

"To the coffee shop," she replied. "I need a break from school."