‘I’m nervous. What if you won’t recognise me?’

Noelle saw the message and smiled. She was glad she had reached that point.

The previous day, after witnessing Ye-Jun’s hot-and-cold behaviour, she decided that she had to meet Andrew. On one hand, she started a rumor that she was seeing someone. The only logical thing to do was to actually meet that someone. On the other hand, Andrew seemed nice. Maybe being around a man who was caring and kind would be her cure.

They exchanged hundreds of messages that evening. She finally shared a proper, full-body picture.

Andrew just sent back an emoji with flushed cheeks.

She hated that it pleased her that much.

They quickly set up a date to visit that beer place the following day. It was the only day off for Andrew that week and it was now or never for Noelle.

As for Yeong Ye-Jun? He could just roll in his misery and anxiety all by himself.

“Is that him?” Mi-Suk asked.

Noelle cleared her throat. “Yeah…”

Mi-Suk's face beamed with a huge smile. “I can't wait for us to go on a double date!”

Oh no! Ye-Jun gave her the virus of irrationality!

“Mi-Suk, you're cringey,” Dan-Bi said while applying some blush on Noelle's cheeks.

“Make her beautiful, so he can't resist anymore!” Mi-Suk continued.

“She doesn't need much help,” Dan-Bi said, with a friendly smile.

Within hours the news that Noelle was seeing a hot chef were spread all over the company. She wouldn't forget Sang-Jun’s reaction; he just raised his eyes from his mobile, looked expressionless at Noelle blinking once, like wondering ‘how did she get a date’. Then he continued his scrolling or whatever.

In thirty minutes Andrew would pick her up, and Dan-Bi was trying to convince her to put on a dress.

“No, Dan-Bi. Thank you, but it's a casual place”, she tried to explain.

“It's a date nonetheless”, Dan-Bi insisted.

Suddenly an uninvited voice was heard.

“It doesn't matter what you wear unless you know how to wear it.”

Noelle petrified.

That voice shouldn't have been heard, and shouldn't be addressing her. He had a habit of showing up uninvited lately.

I can't believe this can be a coincidence. What does he want from me? Especially now of all moments! When I am preparing to meet another… man.

“Ye-Jun, Noelle can support anything, believe me!” Dan-Bi said.

“What is wrong with you Dan-Bi? Do you enjoy playing fairy godmother? She's not Cinderella,” Ye-Jun said.

Wait. I’m confused. Not being Cinderella — was that a compliment or an insult?

Noelle was not a victim. So she wasn’t a Disney princess for sure. But knowing him... what had he meant? That she didn’t need saving — or that she wasn’t worth the effort?

“Thank God she's not Cinderella! I can't stand girls that expect to be saved from Prince Charming! So, what can I do for you, Ye-Jun?” Dan-Bi asked.

“I just dropped by to try on the tux.  I didn't know you had company… And so much free time that you would also deal with Christmas’ dating stuff,” Ye-Jun said, his expression souring.

Noelle’s blood began boiling.

Mi-Suk it's all on you! Now Yeong Ye-Jun knows much more than he should.

“I was expecting you later. Wait, we'll be over soon.”

Noelle was staring at the floor, but her leg was tapping uncontrollably. Mi-Suk was standing defensively next to her. He must have noticed the tension.

“I see I'm not welcome. What? Should I also be celebrating the event?”

“Ye-Jun, give it a rest,” Mi-Suk suggested.

“Well it seems important. Should I be giving advice to the young lady?”

Her mouth moved faster than her brain.

“I don't think I need advice from someone who is fake dating!”

Noelle had now three people staring at her with eyes popping out and gaping mouths.

Mi-Suk and Dan-Bi didn't know she knew.

And Ye-Jun was… offended.

He raised his eyebrows.

“Touche. But trust me, I know what a man wants.”

“Yeah, you have played many leading roles in romance drama.” It was too late to stop talking.

Ye-Jun smiled wickedly and pinned her with his eyes. Then, he just turned around and walked away.

Shit! That was hard… He did deserve a good answer, but he is so stressed…

Mi-Suk stood in front of her. “What - do - you - know?” she said.

And now I have to spill everything out…

____________________

“So, did I make a good choice?”

Andrew was looking at her with a warm smile on his face.

“Sure! It's a lovely place. The tea tastes wonderful!”

“Glad you like it! What if we order one more dessert?” 

He was a chef. He knew a lot about tea and pastry - and how you combine everything. And he ordered more things to try, discussing what each other had found out living in Seoul.

From the moment they met, Andrew kept the conversation going. He naturally pulled her out of her shell and helped her shake off her awkwardness. 

Andrew was blond, tall and well-built without being too muscular. His hand when they shook hands was warm and rough. Working in a kitchen, even with gloves on, isn’t an easy job. That gave him a more real, down to earth aura.

Two hours with him and she was enjoying herself. For a while, she forgot what was the reason she went out with him, and felt like a normal girl hanging out with a good friend.

“I have a question. Why don't you tell me where you work?” Andrew asked.

You are spoiling the fun. Why are you making me remember him?

“I told you! I'm not working. I'm on a three-month internship! In September I will be unemployed again!”

“You are a student! You won't be unemployed.”

“Technically I will be.”

“Ok, I get it. So, where are you having your internship?” he asked again, smiling.

He wouldn't let her off. She thought that if she was just saying something generic they could finally go on a different subject. She would then forget about him for a while.

It hadn't been the easiest afternoon. When she explained to Dan-Bi and Mi-Suk that she knew that Ye-Jun’s public girlfriends were contractual relationships, she confirmed that they were two out of the six people in this world who knew that. Though, they both looked worried that Noelle was now aware of that secret - and that Ye-Jun knew that she knew.

She took a deep breath in. “NT2.”

Andrew whistled. “The entertainment company? With all that K-pop and drama stars? You must be really good!” 

“Yeah… You have no idea.”

“Which department are you in?”

He still has questions, doesn’t he? Let’s get this over with!

“Financial Sustainability Department.”

That must put an end to this conversation! It's so lame, right?

“Hm. Makes sense. Well, the hotel I work at, Sea Pavillion, is hosting many promotional events for Fisher Group. People from the kitchen sometimes help the waiters, so they can take a peek at Camilla Jones, Albert Rhodes, Jessica Miller…”

The name of Camilla Jones made her shudder. What would Andrew say if he knew that she'd seen her naked? Or that she was a sex-maniac who was trying to lure Ye-Jun in her bed?

She smiled awkwardly.

“Oh! I remember! It was some months ago. We held an event for the promotion of a song, I don’t remember the title. That hit of Isabella Bossi…” he said, rolling his eyes upwards, struggling to remember the title.

Isabella? Isabella Bossi? Some names had a way of ruining an evening.

“Mist falling on me,” she said. Her lips were a thin line.

“Yeah! That’s the title. Well, that Isabella is a piece of art! She asked for a fruit salad and I made for her the best fruit salad you can imagine! And she asked me to step out of the kitchen and apologize, because I didn’t put in orange! Who puts oranges in a five star hotel fruit salad?”

Andrew was fuming. So he had also suffered from Isabella. She could relate.

“That’s so like her. I’ve heard the rumours.”

He nodded. “That poor boyfriend of hers. Ye-Jun West.”

Noelle froze. Why did he have to bring him up? She grabbed the glass with both her hands, to cool down.

“No wonder he broke up with her. He was there, and he tried to bring her to her senses. Only when he intervened did she stop yelling at me.”

Not only did he have to pretend to be her boyfriend, but he was apparently many times embarrassed by her behaviour in public. How could he muster all this strength to live like this? Maybe he had chosen it; she didn’t know anymore.

She felt herself frowning.

“You look a bit down. You really don’t like to talk about work.”

How couldn’t she. Ye-Jun was back in her mind. Andrew had reminded her his pain, which most people couldn’t see.

“It’s not work,” she just said and emptied her glass.

They stayed a bit longer, but Noelle was no longer in the mood. Andrew felt it and called it a night. He drove her home. They stood beneath her building.

“I had a great time!” he said.

“So did I,” she replied smiling.

“Are you sure? In the end, you seemed…”

“Tired! I’m just tired!” she tried to justify her change of heart. 

Andrew was great. He didn’t deserve such behaviour.

He squinted. “If you say so… Well, will we try other beers or maybe eat pasta? I also know a very good Chinese restaurant.”

He wanted to meet again. What was she supposed to do? She had to rationalize an answer.

“I’ll probably go back home in October. I… To be honest, I don’t know why I downloaded that app…”

She felt her cheeks flushing.

“Hey! Don’t push yourself. I just had a good time, and I want to get to know you better. No expectations.”

Was she ok with something like that? She just nodded. “Ok! We’ll be in touch!”

As she watched him leave, she wished she had started seeing people a couple of months earlier. If she had, she probably wouldn't be in that ridiculous situation.

She had just spent two hours laughing, and still her mind slipped back to a pair of eyes that unsettled her more than they should.