--
It's been four years since he's last seen her.
But they were never really close to start with, anyway.
Still, she's back and she hasn't changed from the bubbly, effervescent girl he kne-was acquainted to back then.
Her hair's a bit longer, and her eyes sparkle a little less brighter, but she's still the same.
She's still Ha Jae Kyung.
--
The maids speak of a handsome prince in white and she knows- at least, she's pretty sure- it's him.
But they were never really close to start with, anyway.
He's wearing dorky reading glasses and a starched doctor's coat and he's still reading.
She always kne-thought he was a closet geek.
He's still Yoon Ji Hoo.
--
It's an unusual place for two friends-acquaintances-strangers to meet again.
He blinks slowly, a trademark for the white prince of F4 that still makes her snort in laughter, before a knowing chuckle slips out.
"Let me guess, Geum Jan Di dragged you back all the way from New York, just to attend her wedding"
His rich, mellow voice sends shivers down her spine, and Jae Kyung doesn't know why. She shakes it off, throwing Ji Hoo an easy (fake) smile.
"Bridesmaid, actually. You?"
"Best man"
"…Ironic, isn't it?"
"Tell me about it"
--
It's like the universe decided to play a cruel trick on them.
As if on cue, a giddy Jan Di and an equally lovesick Jun Pyo waltz into the conference room of in his mansion, practically joined at the hip. Ji Hoo and Jae Kyung ignore the burning bitterness they taste at the back of their throats as they congratulate the newly-engaged couple.
It could've(should've) been them.
But it isn't, so they watch the happy couple babble on about how great it is that they're both here, and how wonderful it is that they're both willing to be part of their wedding and Ji Hoo almost wants to throw up.
But he doesn't, because it's not their (Jan Di and Jun Pyo have become one entity) fault he can't make anyone he loves stay by his side.
It isn't his, either.
Acceptance has never been Ji Hoo's strong point.
Jae Kyung almost snorts at the irony-oh, the fucking irony- of the situation.
Wedding chapels, bridesmaid dresses and the man she loves-loved; doesn't this sound familiar?
It's like she's never left Seoul.
She's not bitter, of course. Or jealous. Or even goddamn-pissed-off. If she was, she wouldn't have come back.
Besides, it wouldn't have been fair to leave Ji Hoo to deal with all of this (this as in the overwhelming not-your-happiness) alone.
They say misery loves company.
--
They stand next to each other in front of the Goo Mansion, waiting for their respective rides. The tortur-wedding planning has finally ended.
There's only one week to go until the real thing.
Ji Hoo throws Jae Kyung a crooked smile, his dark eyes squinting as if seeing her for the first time. Jae Kyung laughs at the sight, her clear voice piercing through the heavy silence (and their heavy hearts).
"What?"
"…You look well"
"…You do too"
He snorts, the most unrefined thing she's ever seen him do.
"I look better than I feel"
"…Me too"
It's the second time in four years they've come to a mutual understanding.
But neither of them admits to remembering the moment at the Jeju Island racecourse.
--
Oh God, it's happening.
She's standing beside Jan Di as she recites her vows, her eyes shining with happiness as she stares at the man they both love.
Loved.
Jae Kyung has to keep reminding herself of that.
And yet, as the "wedding of the century" (Chairwoman Kang pulled some strings in the media department) goes on, all Jae Kyung wants to do is shoot Jan Di in the head and take her place beside Jun Pyo.
She's a horrible bridesmaid.
Her jaws aching from smiling too much, Jae Kyung sneaks a glance at the man beside Jun Pyo.
Ji Hoo looks like he could strangle his best friend.
She suddenly doesn't feel that bad anymore.
--
The reception is loud and raucous, filled with laughter and bottles of soju, just the way Jan Di wanted it. It's a little too 'commoner' for Chairwoman Kang's taste, but Jun Pyo is a pussywhipped coward when it comes to confronting Jan Di about anything, much less their wedding reception.
Ji Hoo leans coolly against a wall, a glass of white wine in his hand, away from the crowd.
He's always been the outsider.
It's over. It's finally, officially over. He's almost glad. He glances around to see if anyone notices he's the practically only one that isn't entirely happy about being here (Jun Pyo's mother doesn't count).
Ji Hoo doesn't expect the newlywed couple in the middle of the ballroom slow-dancing to realise he's not participating in the festivities. He's not even surprised to see Ga Eul and Yi Jeong pressed up against each other on the dance floor, practically dry-humping.
The only thing he's slightly shocked about is Woo Bin and Yumi making out on a nearby chair.
He chuckles almost bitterly, sipping his wine. It's like F4 in high school all over again. Jun Pyo has Jan Di, Yi Jeong and Woo Bin have their many, many girls (okay, maybe not Yi Jeong anymore) and Ji Hoo has no one.
It's always been that way, and he doesn't think it'll ever change.
So Ji Hoo pretends he doesn't feel Jae Kyung's smoldering gaze on him.
Or the way his breath hitches when he realizes he's been the one staring at her.
--
It's nearly two am, and there's barely any people left at the Goo-Geum wedding reception. The main couple left hours ago, claiming they were 'tired'. Woo Bin and Yumi have disappeared with another girl (Ginger, Ji Hoo thought she looked familiar), probably back to his place for their own little party. Yi Jeong sweeps a squealing Ga Eul off her feet, bidding him a quick goodnight before racing off back to his studio.
He's alone, yet again. And to think he's already finished the bottle of white wine he stole from the kitchen.
"Still here, Ji Hoo-ah? I thought you would've been at home playing your violin or guitar or harmonica by now"
Her playful voice pierces through the Shinwha ballroom like they were the only people left in the place. Ji Hoo glances around, blinking sleepily.
Oh, wait- they were.
Jae Kyung feels a grin tug on the corner of her lips as she watches at the handsome prince in front of her. She's been watching him all day.
She watches him as he stands beside his best friend, letting him marry the woman he loves.
She watches him break into a charming smile for the crowd as he delivers his best man speech, pretending that it didn't hurt him.
She watches him as he quietly backs into a corner, closing himself off from the crowd, off from the world, like he always did when everything just got too much.
She can't stop watching him.
Ji Hoo notices her intense stare. He raises his eyebrow, almost daring her to look away in embarrassment. Jae Kyung simply laughs. She leans beside his spot on the wall, a thoughtful sigh escaping her lips.
"It's finally over. Do you feel it too, Ji Hoo-ah? That's there's no longer any hope, any chance of something ever happening ever? It's like I can finally move on, without ever having to regret letting Jun go because it just wasn't meant to be. And it wasn't. I don't have to think about what could've been or what should've been because it's over."
He's staring at her with something akin to amazement. She plows on.
"It's going to take some time, of course, but I'm sure I can pull through this. In fact, it didn't even hurt that much when Jan Di called to tell me about the engagement. It's going to be okay. I'm going to be okay"
Ji Hoo is utterly and irrevocably in awe of the girl beside him. Jae Kyung represents everything he wishes he could've been four years ago; strong and willing enough to pick up the pieces even when everything is lost.
Something inside his heart swells, like a heavy weight has just been lifted off it and he can finally feel it beating again.
Jae Kyung turns to face him, a wry smile on her porcelain face. She almost catches herself at the umpteenth sight of his blindingly perfect features.
"What about you, Ji Hoo-ah? Are you still going to be hung up on Jan Di dongsaeng, or are you going to grow a pair and take it like a man?"
Ji Hoo laughs. It's his first genuine laugh around someone that isn't Jan Di. But that doesn't mean anything, of course. Jae Kyung grins, her dark eyes sparkling.
"I think we're making progress"
Ji Hoo can't help but agree.
--
She doesn't know how it happens, why it happens or even if it really is happening at all.
All she can feel is Ji Hoo's lips pressed up against hers and their bodies pulled flush together. His hands are slipping between her every nook and cranny, and she can't help but moan and pull him even closer.
Maybe it's because they both just needed to feel something.
Maybe it's because they need just a little more time than four years and one night to get over Geum Jan Di and Goo Jun Pyo.
Or maybe it's because of inevitable fate that Yoon Ji Hoo and Ha Jae Kyung would be drawn together eventually.
Whatever it is, Jae Kyung doesn't care, because it burns wherever he touches and they just need to find a bed or a flat surface, right now.
--