Juri Kim

I groaned at the sound of my alarm and turned it off with my eyes still closed. Just then, Nari, my best friend, knocked on my door and entered my room when I didn't reply. We shared an apartment because we were inseparable. After eight years of friendship, she feels like a sister to me.

"I made breakfast," she said, a warm smile lighting up her face as she pushed back her light brown hair, her doe eyes sparkling with optimism. I returned her smile and rubbed my eyes.

"I'll be in the kitchen," she said, and I nodded as I got out of bed and freshened up. When I walked into the kitchen, my eyes brightened at the sight of the food she had prepared.

"You didn't have to go all out," I said, and she smiled warmly.

"Well, it's been a week since your interview for a management position at that prestigious brand, and I thought I'd help you relieve some stress. You've been a bit on edge," she replied.

I sighed, "You're right. I am nervous, but I believe I deserve this position. I've worked hard for it," I said, clenching my fist in determination.

Nari placed another bowl of food on the table and took her seat. "It's good to have faith in yourself," she responded, and I nodded in agreement.

Sensing my anxiety, she picked up her chopsticks and placed some eggs on my plate. "Hey, don't stress about it. You'll get the job. And if not, there are other opportunities out there for you. I don't want to see you back in a toxic workplace like your last one," she urged.

She was right. I had left my previous job in sales due to the toxicity. Working at a well-known clothing brand taught me that ambition can often turn people cruel. They thrived on competition at the expense of each other's well-being, and I found that unbearable. After resigning, I learned Elyvion had an opening for a management position within a reasonable distance. Despite my limited management experience, I took a leap and applied.

I was genuinely surprised to have made it to the interview stage.

Elyvion is a luxury fashion brand that stands for Elite Vision. It is known for its Modern Hanbok attire.

Just then, my phone rang. I glanced at Nari, who gestured for me to answer it. Pressing the phone to my ear, my eyes widened in disbelief, and I shot up, completely shocked. Nari looked up at me, mouthing, "What's wrong?" with concern etched on her face as the caller continued talking.

Once the call ended, I put my phone down and gasped.

Nari rose to her feet, worry written all over her face. "What's wrong, Juri?" she asked, and I took a deep breath.

"I got the job," I announced. Hearing it out loud intensified my excitement, and I began to hop up and down, unable to contain myself.

"What?" Nari's smile vanished, and her expression turned serious, making me uneasy.

"Nari," I called, "Are you okay?" She came back to reality and glanced at me, a huge smile emerging as she leaped forward to hug me tightly.

"That's fantastic news, Juri! When do you start?"

"I start on Monday! And today is Friday." I took her hand and jumped, but I couldn't shake the feeling that she wasn't as thrilled as I was. I frowned, sensing something was off.

Suddenly, it hit me-I didn't have clothes for my new job. The HR department had mentioned they'd send an email about what I needed to prepare before Monday, including my attire.

"Will you come with me to buy some clothes tomorrow? We can go to celebrate at a restaurant afterward. I'll invite Juwon too," I suggested.

She took a step back and avoided my gaze. "Um, I'm sorry, but I made plans with some friends... I promised them we'd go out tomorrow," she said.

My brows furrowed in confusion. I wished she had told me sooner.

She picked up her phone, glancing at me. "Sorry, I need to text someone. I'll try to excuse myself from tomorrow, though I doubt it'll work," she said, walking away and disappearing into her room.

I stared at her closed door, puzzled. This wasn't how I had envisioned her reacting. But then again, she had always been a bit like this whenever I achieved something significant. Perhaps that was just her way of coping.

I picked up my phone and called Juwon, only to find out he was on another call. He must have been busy since he was a lawyer. After a few minutes, I tried again. When he answered, I shared my exciting news and insisted we needed to celebrate.

"Oh, you got the job? Congratulations! I'm really proud of you," he said on the other end, and I couldn't help but smile widely.

"However, I don't think I can go out with you tomorrow. I have some paperwork to finish. Can we plan for another time?" he added, and my heart sank a little.

"But I start on Monday," I reminded him, and he sighed. "How about Sunday instead?" he suggested, and although I hesitated, I agreed.

After chatting a bit longer, we hung up, and I felt a wave of disappointment wash over me. Both my boyfriend and my best friend had prior commitments.

I shook my head slightly. "No, they're just busy people. I know they're happy for me. We're adults; we won't always have time for each other," I told myself to stay grounded.

After finishing my meal, I cleaned the table since Nari still hadn't come out of her room, and then headed to my own space to read the email and make my preparations.

***********

The next morning, I was up early because I knew the mall would be crowded, and I didn't want to deal with the chaos. Nari wasn't around, and I assumed she had already gone out with her friends.

I found everything on my list, and feeling a surge of excitement about my new job at Elyvion, I carried all my purchases with a smile.

After a while, I realized I hadn't eaten breakfast and was feeling quite hungry. "I should grab something to eat," I decided, plopping down on a bench to rest my arms. I took out my phone, and since nobody was available to celebrate with me, I resolved to treat myself. I searched for expensive restaurants and stumbled upon L'Amour de la Cuisine, which looked perfect for what I had in mind. With my new job's generous salary, I wasn't worried about the cost at all.

I found a cab to take me there and texted Juwon and Nari to ask how their day was going. They both replied simultaneously, which I found impressive.

After about thirty minutes, the cab stopped in front of the restaurant, and I paid the fare. But as I reached for the door handle, my heart sank. I looked out the window and saw Juwon walking hand in hand with none other than my best friend, heading to that restaurant as well. They gazed at each other, and Juwon kissed her on the cheek.

A wave of nausea hit me as the realization struck: they had both lied to me. I instinctively covered my mouth, feeling the urge to vomit. The truth about my fiancé's and friend's betrayal washed over me, and I felt tears threatening to spill.

I should've known. How stupid have I been all this time. The way her smile dropped whenever I brought him up, the way they were both always busy at the same time, the simultaneous message replies. It was all in my face and I...didn't know.

Gosh, I felt so stupid!

The cab driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror, clearly concerned. "Are you okay, ma'am? Should I take you to the hospital?" he asked. My mind snapped back to reality, and suddenly, anger surged through me. My best friend of a decade and my boyfriend had betrayed me.

Fueled by a boiling rage, I grabbed my belongings and stepped out of the cab, making my way to the restaurant with fierce determination. I had no plan for what I would say or do, but I was not going to let this slide without confronting them.

Sunjae Lee

I folded my arms and leaned back in my seat as Taeho, my secretary and best friend, laid out my schedule for the day while driving.

"Your grandfather wants you to attend the family dinner tomorrow evening––"

"Not happening," I interrupted firmly. He shot me a puzzled look, "Why not? You haven't seen him in a while."

I sighed, rolling my eyes. "Just tell him I'm busy."

Taeho's expression grew more serious. "Chairman Lee personally called me and it sounded like he wasn't going to take no for an answer, Sunjae. I don't want to have to answer to him again."

I clicked my tongue in annoyance, "Fine. I'll take care of it."

"Also," he continued, "after work, you have a blind date lined up. She was personally chosen by Chairman Lee. You already know her very well, it's Choi Chaewon. She just got back from England after getting her master's degree from Oxford--"

"Cancel it. I'm not in the mood to go on any more blind dates," I cut him off again, and he inhaled deeply to steady himself.

"Sunjae, this is the third date you've canceled this week! You're going to face serious consequences with your grandfather when he finds out. He expects you to get married if you want to be the heir. Otherwise, your stepmother will do everything in her power to elevate your half-siblings."

I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration. After my mother left, my father remarried, resulting in younger half-siblings. It was clear that my stepmother was determined to win Grandfather's favor for her children over me.

"Anyway, we're here," Taeho said as he parked the car in front of my favorite restaurant. We stepped out and headed toward the entrance. As we walked, I accidentally bumped into a woman, causing her to stumble.

She closed her eyes as she braced for impact, and out of reflex, I immediately wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her towards me to break her fall.

As I stood there holding her, her eyes slowly opened, and at that point, I found myself staring at her. She had full lips that held a natural pout, complementing her deep brown eyes framed by thick lashes. Softly arched brows and high cheekbones enhanced her radiant caramel skin, while her delicate nose balanced her striking features. Her curly hair framed her face beautifully, making her effortlessly captivating.

Suddenly, I was curious about her. In an instant and with no explanation, I felt drawn towards her.