"Honey, have you gotten ready for work?"

"Yeah, mom. I have. Um, I am kinda in a hurry so will call you back later."

"Okay."

Working in a reputed company really is a headache....

After getting dressed and having a light breakfast including a bowl of fruit salad and some mango juice, I headed out for work.

It had taken me around 5 years to finally land a job that was kinda similar to my interests. The company that I was working on played a crucial role in the field of infrastructure.

Seira Corporation or simply S. Corp. was among the most reputed companies where people from different walks of life were desperate to get a job in. And I, who was practically a newbie in the corporate sector was kinda lucky, to be honest. At first, I had gone to the interview only as a way to gain experience and also to avoid my mom from arranging a job for me in her company (That would definitely mean that I could end up as a nepo baby...). But when the call letter came for me to start working there, it was like a dream come true.

But if someone asked about how I got there, inspite of not knowing the Korean culture much, the answer would definitely be, because S. Corp. was made up of about 80% foreign employee. The CEO was indeed a Japanese but this Corporation welcomed outsourced employees with open hands.

However, one thing to be noted was that, yes, I definitely still struggle with the Korean culture but after doing my university studies in Korea itself, particularly in Seoul, I kinda addressed myself as a Korean but yeah, of course, my hair and eye colour, along with my name gave those impressions away. I mean my name being Finn was totally not Korean. But anyways, back to the present.

So, after getting dressed, I took my car keys, locked the apartment door where I had recently moved in, and then headed for the parking lot. I was already late by around 10 minutes and the team leader had talked about a new manager being assigned to our team. So, practically I was late for a meeting with my so-called direct supervisor, in other words, my boss.

Haa... Why the hell did I drink so much yesterday... I mean I could have waited for the weekend to come... Damn it...

As I kept on cussing myself while driving the car, after around 15 minutes or so, I finally reached the office building. I didn't have time to park my car, so I just threw my car keys at one of my co-workers, who understood my signal, and thereby I ran at full-speed towards the lift.

I greeted everyone along the way, as I fixed my attire a bit, along with my hair and when the lift finally reached the fourth floor, which was the floor where the Department for on-spot inspections was situated, I took a deep breath and went out of the lift.

I tried to think about an excuse while making up a greeting to greet the new manager. I even prepared my heartfelt apology in my head. So, basically I was prepared for anything but, this thought itself was a naive one, only after meeting him did I realise.

As I headed for the meeting room where I could make out the silhouette of the team leader and standing besides him, another person, and along with the other board of team leaders.

Shit... I guess I am really late for the meeting... He even introduced the manager to the others already... Haa... Today is definitely gonna be another long day...

Being called the rookie ace of the department, many people had high expectations from me, including the team leader and now, it seemed those high expectations would get shattered.

As soon as I reached the meeting room, I held the door knob and took a deep breath and then at the count of three, I finally pushed open the door.

As soon as I entered the room, everyone kept staring at me and when I looked at the team leader, his face was expressionless. I wanted to apologize but even before I could do that, he shook his hand and gestured me to dismiss. I tried to apologize once again, but seeing the people surrounding us, I just nodded and decided to abide by the instruction of the team leader.

With a dejected mood, I went outside the room. And I couldn't even see the face of the new manager, who would be my supervisor.

Haa... Today's really not my day...

As I went and sat down on my assigned seat or rather the office room that I was bestowed upon for being the best-rookie of the year, I just kept on waiting for the team leader to call for me.

However, it had already been half and hour or so, but there was no sign for that to happen any sooner. So, giving up, I just thought of doing the work that I had been assigned the day before.

As I went on typing the data on the excel sheet, one of my colleagues came and knocked on my office door. I asked him what was wrong and then he told me that the team leader was calling for me.

Finally, the time has come...

As I calmed my emotions and prepared for whatever was coming, I knocked on the office door of the team leader and after getting his permission, I slowly entered the room.

At first, I thought that it would only be me and the team leader. But there was another person. I kinda guessed who it was, but before that I began with my apology, "Um.. Sir.. I know I disappointed you today but there was really a valid reason for that. So, please let me ex-----"

But before I could finish delivering my apology, the team leader spoke up, "Whatever reason it may have been, I don't blame you so don't worry."

Phew... I was safe...

However, before I could bow and leave the room, the team leader spoke up, "But now come here. I would like to introduce you to someone. You remember right, I talked to you about a new manager of our team, a couple of weeks ago?" I nodded.

And then he pulled the other person close towards him and then again spoke up, "So, this is Kim Jaehwan. He used to live in Florida like you and he came back to Seoul only a few months ago, after being recommended by the team leaders from our Headquarters in Florida."

While hearing all this, I thought I had heard something wrong, but as soon as I looked up to see face-to-face with the new manager, my jaw dropped.

No.... N-no... This is not happening... No it can't be...

As I wanted to deny reality, while telling myself in my head it was just a coincidence, I heard it. His voice. Of course, it was bolder and it was no more a cheerful voice but rather a manly one, but I could definitely make it out. It was definitely him.

He is Kim Jason.

Yeah, the same Kim Jason who was a transfer student back when I was in high school. The same Kim Jason who became my first ever friend. The same Kim Jason, who hated me to the core. And finally, the same Kim Jason.... who was, my first crush.

Reality was too cruel. And after the brutal ending of our friendship. It was hard... It was definitely hard for me to recover. I even changed the location of my residence. Began my higher education in a completely unfamiliar cultural set-up. Even tried desperately to fit in. But everything had now resulted in the current situation.

Inspite of my desperate attempts to forget and move on, fate had once again put me in a position where I had to encounter an age-old crush whom I now hated quite a bit and didn't even wanna think about.

But the point was, being a professional employee, I couldn't exactly act immaturely and also, he definitely had forgotten me completely by now. That was for sure. So, while trying to calm myself mentally, the team leader asked me to introduce myself to him and so I did as I was told.

"Um... Anyeong, my name is Park Finn. And I am a sophomore employee in the Dept. of on-spot inspection."

The introduction was as awkward as it could be. And when the team leader told us to shake hands, I just thought that yeah, he didn't recognise me.

But that was not the case, it seemed. Because as soon as we shook our hands, he smiled and spoke up, "Long time no see.... Finn."

Holy crap... He recognised me... What the--

It had been a whole 10 freaking years and I had finally forgotten about this guy but again here he was, standing in front of me smiling and greeting me in a familiar tone.

Ugh.... I freaking hate you, Kim Jason.