Forget the bygones and move on... forget the past and focus on the future.

We've all heard these motivational quotes, haven't we?

But... has anyone ever told you what to do when the past doesn't stay in the past, when it comes right up to you? When the past stands before you... smiling?

This morning, your to-do list was crystal clear:

Crush the first hearing. Then, sleep peacefully all day. Simple, right?

But life, it seems, has an obsession with complicating things.

Your straightforward to-do list was suddenly thrown out the window when you walked into the courtroom and saw the one person you despise with every fiber of your being—Kim Namjoon.

The man you've tried so hard to forget, but never could.

His face had changed over the years—his features more mature, sharper—but still, it brought back the flood of painful memories you thought you'd buried.

And just like you, Namjoon had a simple plan for today: win the first hearing, then move on and secure the victory without breaking a sweat.

When Namjoon stepped into the courtroom, his face showed nothing but disinterest. He looked like he'd rather be anywhere but here.

But something shifted the moment he saw you.

The cold confidence in his expression wavered for a second, his eyes scanning your face, clearly not expecting to see you. His posture straightened, his focus sharper. Whatever disinterest he had before evaporated, replaced by something more intense.

As the past came rushing back to both of you, it became clear—this hearing was no longer just about the case.

It was personal

Namjoon stood at the courtroom entrance, his gaze locked on a woman in a crisp white business suit, her back to him as she chatted with someone ahead.

A strange sense of curiosity stirred in him, a feeling he hadn't expected. He found himself waiting, oddly compelled to see her face.

And then, she turned.

He froze.

Min Y/N.

The girl who, years ago, had confessed her feelings to him under the night sky. The girl he had cruelly rejected with words sharper than he had ever intended.

The guilt of that night—the memory of how he had looked into her eyes and dismissed her so coldly—had stayed with him, buried but alive, gnawing at the edges of his consciousness for years.

Now, here she was. The girl he had once viewed as his fiercest competition, standing before him again.

But she wasn't the same girl. Gone was the shy, nerdy figure he had often ridiculed. In her place was a confident, formidable woman, carrying herself with the quiet authority of someone who knew her worth. 

The nerdy girl he once knew was long gone. In her place stood Min Y/N, a woman whose confidence and self-assurance radiated like armor. Her polished demeanor and commanding presence were undeniable, leaving no trace of the person he used to ridicule. The woman before him was not just someone from his past—she was a force to be reckoned with, a skilled lawyer who had clearly earned her reputation.

His mind reeled as the memories of those days hit him like a tidal wave. Back then, he had thought little of her, treating her as nothing more than an easy target for his biting insults. He had dismissed her talents, mocked her seriousness, belittled her ambitions.

Yet now, she was here, standing tall—just as capable, maybe more so, than he had ever been.

Namjoon could feel the weight of his past mistakes settling heavy on his shoulders. The woman in front of him wasn't just a face from the past. She was a reminder of everything he had done wrong.

Namjoon's gaze lingered on her face, noting how time had only refined her features, the maturity in her expressions sharpening his own regret. He hadn't expected to feel this way—panicked, almost cornered—when her eyes met his. There was no warmth, no recognition of who they once were, only cold rage and unspoken resentment.

Still, something pushed him forward.

Before he could think better of it, he approached her. Stopping a few feet away, he extended his hand, trying to suppress the unease in his chest.

"Long time no see, Y/N..." His deep voice carried an awkwardness, as though he was grasping at a connection that had long since frayed.

Your gaze flicked from his hand to his face, a storm brewing behind your eyes. After a tense pause, you finally placed your hand in his, but the gesture was far from friendly.

"Namjoon..." You acknowledged him with an icy tone, bitterness lacing your voice. The handshake was brief, your fingers barely curling around his before pulling away as if even that touch was too much to bear.

The hatred you held was palpable, and Namjoon felt it in the sharp edge of your words. This was not a reunion—it was a reckoning.

"H-how...? I-I mean, why are you h-here?" Namjoon stammered, clearly caught off guard by your presence.

You didn't bother hiding your irritation. "I think lawyers are supposed to be in court, Mr. Kim," you replied, your voice flat and emotionless.

That was when the realization hit him—he wasn't just seeing an old acquaintance; he was facing his opponent. Clearing his throat, Namjoon shifted uncomfortably.

"You're the top lawyer from Daegu?" His words came out more like a question than a statement.

You didn't even flinch. "So, you're Kim Ja-Kyung's lawyer," you responded, ignoring the small talk, keeping it strictly business.

Namjoon nodded, trying to keep his composure. But then, as if he hadn't just reopened old wounds, he had the audacity to ask, "Y/N, why so salty...?"

A flash of disbelief crossed your face. Seriously, he has the nerve to say this?! you thought.

Your gaze hardened, and with a sharp breath, you locked eyes with him. "I don't know, Namjoon. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you walked out of my life like I was nothing. Or maybe it's just business," you said icily, the weight of the years between you two pressing down on every word.

"It may be rude ,Mr. Kim, but this is my normal tone... and I don't think it's professional to mix personal matters with business," you replied, your voice calm yet firm, making it clear you weren't going to entertain any unnecessary emotions.

Namjoon's jaw tightened. He couldn't help but feel a surge of frustration. "I see. Once again, we're competing, Y/N. Last time, you got hurt pretty badly. Only God knows what'll happen this time," he said, locking eyes with you, his words carrying an unsettling weight.

You met his gaze, unfazed. "Dump the old matters, Mr. Kim. This is a new situation. Last time, I was an innocent fool." With that, you firmly yanked your hand out of his grasp, the finality of your words cutting through the tension.

"Y/N..." Namjoon started, his voice softer, almost as if he wanted to say something more.

But before he could utter another word, you had already turned and exited the courtroom, leaving him standing there, the weight of the past still lingering between you. The man who once humiliated you in front of hundreds of people was now standing before you again—this time, you were determined not to let him affect you.

This is play of destiny

As Namjoon took a step forward, intent on following you, he suddenly felt a sharp push to his chest. Stumbling back slightly, he looked up to see Jackson standing in front of him, his face a mix of anger and warning.

"Stay. Fucking. Away. From her!" Jackson's voice was low but firm, his glare piercing straight into Namjoon's eyes.

Namjoon straightened himself, locking eyes with Jackson for a moment, feeling the weight of his words. He wasn't used to being confronted like this, but something in Jackson's intensity made him pause.

He stood there, watching Jackson's protective stance, a wave of emotions surged through him—guilt, frustration, and a sense of loss he hadn't expected to feel. The weight of his past mistakes seemed heavier now, more suffocating than ever. He wasn't the same person, but would that even matter?

Jackson didn't move, his glare unwavering, sending a clear message that Namjoon had no place near you anymore. Namjoon gave him a slight nod, understanding the unspoken words between them.

Without another word, he turned and walked away, the echo of his footsteps fading into the bustling courtroom. But the silence between you all was deafening, heavy with the past that none of you could ignore.

But in Namjoon's mind, a single thought echoed: I'll mend my mistake. This is my promise to myself. Mistakes shouldn't be repeated. He knew he had already caused enough damage in the past, but this time, he wasn't going to run away from it.

____________________________

TBC

Namjoon and y/n met again...finally

Vote. 🥺

[EDITED ✔]

01.07.22