The restaurant had a cozy warmth to it, the low hum of conversations blending with the soft clinking of glasses. Seol Yoon-ah leaned back in her seat, watching as Shin Min-ah took full control of the conversation, as expected.
"So anyway," Min-ah began, swirling her drink with dramatic flair, "being a prosecutor is basically being a glorified babysitter for criminals. One day, I'm locking up conmen, and the next, I have some chaebol heir flashing his Rolex at me, thinking it's a 'Get Out of Jail Free' card. I mean, I get it, I'm gorgeous and intimidating, but really?"
Lee Tae-mo, ever the composed one, raised an eyebrow. "You intimidate criminals?"
Min-ah gasped, placing a hand over her heart. "Excuse you? Detective Lee? I'll have you know, men tremble in my presence. I'm a prosecutor by day, heartbreaker by night y'know?"
"You make it sound like you're some kind of crime fighting superhero,"Yoon-ah chuckled. "But I don't doubt it. You've been like this since high school." She added, sipping her drink.
Min-ah flipped her hair dramatically. "Thank you for recognizing my consistency. Honestly it's a bit exhausting being as amazing as I am. Now, let's talk about you." She turned to Yoon-ah with a sly grin. "Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce Seol Yoon-ah—multi-millionaire, Oxford graduate, and, oh, basically married to a chaebol without the marriage certificate!"
Yoon-ah choked on her drink. "What?!"
Tae-mo, who had been quietly sipping his tea, actually paused.
Min-ah smirked. "I mean, let's be real. You work directly under Kim Tan. You see him every day. He probably makes you coffee. And you make millions—why are you even working again? She's was already born with a golden spoon already but you're already a winner career-wise."
Yoon-ah sighed, setting her glass down. "I like my independence. I didn't want my entire life to be handed to me on a silver platter. In London, I had my own place, my own job even as a student, friends who didn't see me as just a rich kid and my own life."
Min-ah hummed knowingly. "And yet, you're back."
Tae-Mo raised an elegant brow, "You're working just for experience?"
Yoon-ah smiled slightly. "Yeah. Home is home. I'll admit I wasn't looking for something as hardcore as what I'm doing now but..well...Yeah."
Min-ah wiggled her eyebrows. "Or maybe a certain chaebol CEO made it more interesting?"
Yoon-ah shot her a warning look, and Min-ah laughed, nudging Tae-mo who had an unreadable expression on his face."By the way, do you know how ridiculous it is that Yoon-ah was bullied in high school? Look at her! She was always beautiful, but now? A literal goddess! I should be charging people just to stand next to her."
Tae-mo, who had been listening quietly, nodded. "You do look different. Prettier than before."
Min-ah choked on her drink. "Lee Tae-mo, did you just—was that a compliment? Wait, wait, let me record this moment—"
Yoon-ah, amused despite herself, waved a hand. "Thank you, Tae-mo."
Min-ah, still dramatic, sighed. "I'm telling you, I am Yoon-ah's number one fan. Always have been, always will be. In fact, I should be knighted for my unwavering loyalty."
Tae-mo shook his head, and Yoon-ah laughed.
"London must've been a good experience." Min-ah added.
Yoon-ah nodded. "It was. I studied, I worked, I had a life there and I was able to work on myself and my thinking more thanks to it. The change of environment helped I guess but.. I always felt like I had unfinished business back here."
Min-ah clutched her chest and heaved dramatically, "aw, you're gonna make me cry~" she leaned in, her eyes burning with sheer curiosity. "So? What about your love life? Anyone special in London?
"Well, None that lasted." Yoon-ah smirked.
"Tch! What a waste of beauty, but then again no one deserves my goddess Seol Yoon-ah ssi" she loudly clicked her tongue but then dramatically and shamelessly added. Lee Tae Mo stared at Yoon-ah, his expression stonier than usual.
"What about you Shin Min-ah?" He halfheartedly added playing with his food seemingly lost in thought, not that Min-ah cared about that.
"Me? I'll have you know that I'm married to my job. The criminals and clients keeps me company, you won't see anything better than that." She sighed dramatically, looking forlorn and despondent.
Yoon-ah shooked her head in amusement at her predicament.
"What about you Tae-mo? Last I saw you, you barely spoke to anyone but now you're a detective?" Yoon-ah smiled at him, amazed at the thought.
Tae Mo adjusted his glasses slightly. "Well.. I've always liked that kind of stuff; solving things, puzzles, patterns, logic.. the idea of pursuing a career like that appealed to me and I just went for it."
Min-ah nodded. "Makes sense, you were always the smartest one in class. No offense, Yoon-ah"
Yoon-ah waved her off. "None taken. He was like a machine back then."
Tae-Mo shooked his head but didn't deny it. In a class filled with smart people–the merit class – he was something of a monster then.
Then, after a moment of comfortable silence, Tae-mo asked quietly, "Do you ever think about the accident?"
Yoon-ah's fingers tensed slightly around her glass. The question brought back memories she wanted to forget.
She swallowed.
I suppose therapy won't take away the feelings that linger from back then.
Min-ah's playful expression softened.
Yoon-ah exhaled. Eyes drifting down, she said, "I try not to. But it's not something you just forget." She hesitated, then met their eyes. "Back then, I didn't trust anyone. Everyone either bullied me or pretended I didn't exist. Even you two... I knew you weren't like them, but I still pulled away. I regret that." She swallowed. "And I'm sorry for not telling you when I left. I should have."
Min-ah frowned. "Yoon-ah, you don't have to apologize. We should've done more. I should've done more."
Tae-mo, always awkward with emotions, cleared his throat. "You're here now. That's what matters."
Yoon-ah smiled softly. "Yeah."
Min-ah sniffled dramatically before suddenly perking up. "Oh! Speaking of miserable people—guess who I ran into recently?"
Yoon-ah raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
Min-ah smirked. "Cha Woo-in. He works at a convenience store."
Yoon-ah blinked, eyes filled with mirth. "You're serious?"
Min-ah nodded eagerly. "Oh, and he looks rough. I mean, he was never that great-looking to begin with, but now? Pfft. Uglier. He's broke, miserable, and stuck in a dead-end job. Serves him right!" Min-ah was a bit biased about that, Cha Woo-in had a face that was quite pleasant too look at and was very handsome. But still there's no telling how he looks like now. She would never acknowledge that he was handsome.
"He... really works at a convenience store?" Yoon-ah blinked, the information sinking in.
"Yup! Couldn't have happened to a better person. I'm guessing he never tried going to another school after he was expelled. Then again, if he was expelled from our school, which other school would willingly accept him?" She nodded, her eyes blazing with anger. "I hope he lives a long, miserable life. Alone."
Tae-mo finally spoke, his voice calm but laced with something unreadable. "He was cruel back then."
Yoon-ah exhaled. "Yeah. He was."
Min-ah scoffed. "Cruel is an understatement. He was a piece of—"
"He enjoyed it," Tae-mo cut in, his voice quieter now, but sharper. "That's what made him worse than the others. The way he looked at You that day… like he wanted to break You " He set his chopsticks down, fingers pressing together. "I saw it. I knew he was no good, that's why I warned you not to get close to him." He looked down. "People like him don't deserve second chances."
Min-ah raised an eyebrow. "Oho, Detective Lee, you're sounding almost vengeful."
Tae-mo didn't look up. "Just stating a fact." He picked up his tea, taking a slow sip, as if closing the topic. "Some people deserve exactly what they get."
Yoon-ah observed him for a moment. He had always been reserved, a man of logic rather than emotion. But in that brief moment, something raw had surfaced—controlled, but there.
They sat with that thought for a moment before Min-ah, never one to let the mood stay dark for too long, clapped her hands together. "Anyway! We should do this more often. Reconnecting with old friends, eating great food—this is the life!"
They laughed, talked, and for the first time in a while, Yoon-ah felt like she had regained something precious.
By the time they left the restaurant, it was late.
Tae-mo, ever independent, went home in his own car, while Yoon-ah drove Min-ah home.
The deep purr of the Bentley's engine was a stark contrast to the easy conversation between them. The car's plush leather seats, the custom interior, and the smooth, almost effortless glide over the road made it feel less like a vehicle and more like a private lounge on wheels. The city lights reflected off the sleek, polished exterior, catching the occasional glance from pedestrians who recognized the prestige of the car.
Min-ah stretched her arms above her head, sinking into the comfort of the passenger seat. "God, this car is ridiculous. How are you not spoiled rotten by all this luxury?"
Yoon-ah smirked. "Because I grew up with it. It's just a car. Although a bit excessive but still just a car."
Min-ah gasped dramatically. "Just a car? A bit?? Yoon-ah, this thing costs more than my entire life's savings. It drives smoother than my thoughts." She reached out and stroked the dashboard. "Hello, beautiful. If your owner ever mistreats you, call me."
Yoon-ah rolled her eyes but smiled.
For a moment, they just drove in silence, the city stretching endlessly before them. The soft glow of the dashboard lights bathed the car in a gentle ambiance.
Then, Min-ah spoke, her voice quieter. "You know… I really missed you, Yoon-ah."
Yoon-ah tightened her grip on the steering wheel. "I missed you too."
Min-ah turned her head toward her. "Then why did you disappear on me?"
Yoon-ah let out a slow breath, eyes fixed on the road. "I didn't mean to. I just… couldn't handle it back then. Everything felt so heavy. The bullying, the stares, the way people whispered about me. And after that day on the rooftop, I felt like I didn't belong anywhere."
Min-ah frowned, her playful demeanor gone. "You belonged with me, idiot."
Yoon-ah gave a small, sad smile. "I know that now. But back then, I didn't trust anyone. I thought if I let you get too close, maybe you'd leave too. Maybe you'd realize I wasn't worth the effort."
Min-ah scoffed. "You, not worth the effort? Do you even know who I am? I am Seol Yoon-ah's number one fan. The founder, the president, the CEO of your fan club. I don't abandon my favorites."
Yoon-ah laughed, a genuine, warm sound.
Min-ah crossed her arms. "I should be mad at you for ghosting me, but I guess I'll forgive you."
Yoon-ah raised a brow. "Oh? Just like that?"
Min-ah grinned. "Well, yeah. Because now I have my best friend back, and you drive me around in a Bentley. It's a win-win."
Yoon-ah snorted. "Unbelievable."
As they pulled up to Min-ah's apartment, the lights from the building illuminated the car's pristine paint job. Min-ah unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to Yoon-ah with a teasing but genuine smile.
"For the record, you're stuck with me now. No more disappearing acts, okay?"
Yoon-ah met her gaze, feeling a warmth settle in her chest.
"Okay."
Min-ah turned to her as she held the car handle."Why haven't you moved out of your parents' house yet? I've always wanted to know."
Yoon-ah sighed. "My dad says I can only move out when I'm getting married. And besides, my mom would be devastated."
Min-ah groaned. "Rich people problems."
Yoon-ah laughed. "You love me anyway."
Min-ah rolled her eyes but grinned. "yes I do. With all my heart too." She opened the door, waved at Yoon-ah and made her way to her apartment.
Seol Yoon-ah felt lighter as she watched Shin Min-ah walk away.
She thought she would be bored in Korea without Nelly and the gang but she can see now that she's not alone.
I better call Nelly when I get home.