10 Years || Ryeji

3.

Gulping down the rest of the liquor inside the glass she had been holding, Ryujin placed down the glass on the table.

The liquid courage was necessary if she was going to approach the woman her eyes had laid on.

After ten years, Ryujin couldn't waste such a chance.

Last she had seen Yeji had been on the last day of high school. Afterwards, Yeji had moved away and apparently was completely off social media. Nowhere to be found over the years. And trust, Ryujin had searched.

Mostly while wasted and thinking of past regrets. Choices made and chances not taken.

Ryujin left the empty glass on the table, making way to the table where Yeji was sat with people she clearly didn't know. Looking as the others chatted with each other.

Hands in the pockets of her black leather jacket, she moved with all determination she could muster.

The other had yet to notice her presence and so surprise could easily be read when Ryujin reached the table, placing a hand on the chair next to Yeji and smiling at the people sitting there before her eyes focused on the woman she had been wanting to see.

"Sorry to interrupt." Her eyes looking around the table. "Is this seat taken?" Ryujin asked, voice deeper than it had been back as a teenager. Smirk a signature look of hers as she  finally locked gazes with Yeji's.

The eye contact making Ryujin forget about all other people around them, including those sat at the same table.

"No." Yeji answered, a soft smile on her face as she looked down at her food. Chopsticks playing with it.

Ryujin couldn't help but smile to herself, settling down on the chair next to her.

As soon as she did, Ryujin pulled something out of her pocket. Money.

Placing it next to Yeji while the woman eyed her curiously.

"What's that for?"

Ryujin smiled, shrugging while leaning back against the chair and looking right at Yeji who was now holding the money.

"I owe you."

Yeji's eyebrows furrowed. "What?"

"You don't remember?" Ryujin clicked her tongue. Sure, their bet had been ten years before but she was a woman of her word and so she would pay up. "We made a bet Junior year. At the planetarium. Remember that?"

Yeji laughed, shaking her head. "No way. Junior year at the planetarium? And you're actually following through with that?"

Ryujin hummed, smiling at the other. "I'm a woman of my word, Yeji."

"I see."

The girl was clearly amused but accepted the money, although barely enough to buy anything and placed it inside her pocket with a smile as she continued to look her way.

The tension between the two was still there after all these years. She wondered if Yeji could feel it too.

"It's nice to see you." Ryujin let out, her voice only loud enough for Yeji to hear. It was only meant for her anyway.

Yeji nodded, a small smile appearing on her face. "It is."

"I was surprised to see you come in. For a second I thought you wouldn't show."

Yeji placed a finger on her chin, "This kind of thing..." she stopped for a second before continuing, "it's kinda not my thing."

"Yeah, mine neither." Ryujin admitted. "I wasn't gonna come but the girls insisted."

Yeji hummed in understanding.

"I would have regretted if I hadn't come." It was the truth. Had she not came to the reunion, she would have been left wondering about what ifs and what could have happened. Had she sat right there, next to Yeji.

"Me too." The confession came quietly, whispered words coming out of the woman next to her. A soft smile on her lips as she looked at Ryujin who was already staring at her.

"I tried to find you once right after high school but I couldn't." Yeji admitted.

Did she know about Ryujin's career choice? After high school her name on Facebook had changed to a fake one. And that was the only account she had until her debut as a musician which only happened a year later.

"I did too." Ryujin confessed, shrugging.

"Social media was never really my thing."

"Yeah, I remember. Even back then you never had an account."

A loud greeting had broken their focus on each other, causing the both of them to redirect their attention in the direction of the voices.

Lia was greeting Eunbin and her husband. Rather loudly, awkwardness transpiring the more they spoke.

Ryujin couldn't help but cringe at the sight, Yeji doing the same from beside her.

"I'm so glad I never dated anyone from our high school. I couldn't handle that." the words surprised her but it didn't come as a shock. She had never seen Yeji show interest in dating back then.

Ryujin hummed. "No?"

Yeji shook her head.

"You dated someone our entire Junior year didn't you? I vaguely remember a loud girl that used to wait you outside our science class."

Ryujin cringed at the memory of her ex. Truth was, back then her standards weren't high. Then again, that hadn't changed much.

Although she hadn't done serious relationships in some time.

A click of her tongue. "Winter, wasn't it? Like the season?" Yeji finally let out, smiling as she spoke. So casually.

Ryujin only smiled, shrugging and raising her eyebrows in a 'you got me' manner.

"That's right."

"What happened to her?"

Ryujin shrugged again. "Last I heard she was in America and worked at some office job but that was years ago."

"Wow."

"Yeah."

"She was so... artistic."

Ryujin laughed, "She sure knew how to break the norm. But people change."

"They sure do."

Silence. Comfortable.

"You know what I think?" Yeji asked, looking back at her. "You date the people who you're supposed to in high school."

"Is that so?"

Yeji hummed. "The ones who people expect you to date. Not the ones you actually like."

Ryujin chuckled. A new glass of alcohol in her hand after a pit stop by the waiter. Taking a sip of it, she found courage to ask the next question.

"Did you like your boyfriend?"

Yeji's cheeks reddened slightly. "I-" hesitation showing for a moment. "I loved him."

"You loved him?" Her eyebrows raised immediately.

Suddenly someone interrupting their conversation as a hand was placed on her shoulder.