If Love Had A Memory

The gentle hum of the coffee shop was known, soothing even. The smell of fresh coffee blended with the sugary smell of pastries as Jiwon gazed at the rain dripping down the window. She stirred her latte idly, distracted. It had been a long month. Losing her job at the hospital had left her scrambling to get another one. Every interview seemed like a dead end. Every rejection reminded her of the bitter reality—no matter how competent she was, office politics could ruin everything. She sighed, resting her chin on her palm. "Excuse me, can I take this seat?" A low voice shook her out of her trance. Jiwon blinked, raising her eyes. And there he was. The stranger she'd seen standing outside a few minutes ago—the dark-haired, broad-shouldered stranger with angular features and an aura that demanded notice. His hair was damp from the rain and slightly disheveled, and his black coat suited him, making him appear even more casually attractive. "Uh…" Jiwon sat up in her seat. "Sure, go ahead." He nodded graciously before taking a seat facing her, putting his coffee down on the table. Jiwon's heart racing. What was the likelihood of this? At first, she had caught him outside, and now he sat directly before her. She threw a rapid glimpse in his direction. He gave off a solemn aura about himself, like the kind of guy who did not say much but when he spoke, people tended to listen. Silence lay between them, interrupted only by clinking cups and the occasional muttering of other patrons. Jiwon wasn't accustomed to nervousness in the presence of others. She was chatty, friendly, but there was something about this man that held her back. He must have caught her looking because, several moments later, he finally broke his silence. Do you always just gaze at strangers like that?" he inquired, not raising his eyes from his phone. Jiwon's eyes opened wide. "W-what? No, I wasn't staring!" A hint of the corner of his lip curled upward into a smile. "Of course. Just looking very hard." She drew in her lip, flushing up to her cheeks. *This guy…* "Sorry for having eyes," she grumbled, sipping at her latte. He chuckled, finally looking at her. “I was joking.” Now that she could see him up close, his eyes were even more striking—a deep shade of brown, almost black, with a sharp, assessing gaze. She cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. “You didn’t even introduce yourself, and you’re already teasing me?” "Do I need to tell a stranger I will most likely never see again that I am Jiwon?" He leaned his head to the side. Jiwon snorted. "Wow. Sure of yourself?" He smiled. "Just keeping it real." There was something about the way he said that that annoyed her, but at the same time, she couldn't help being curious. "Well, just for your information, I am Jiwon." She leaned in a little closer. "And you are?" He sipped his coffee, then stared back at her with an inscrutable face. "Minjae." "Minjae," she tried the name out on her tongue. "Sounds like a responsible name." He raised a brow. "And Jiwon doesn't?" She shrugged. "Mine can be either 'wisdom' or 'support,' depending on the way it's written." Minjae hummed, nodding infinitesimally. "Mine is 'clever and talented.' Jiwon couldn't help it. "Oh, so that's the attitude." Minjae smiled. "And yours is why you stared so hard you couldn't look away." She gasped, grabbing for a napkin and playfully throwing it at him. "Unbelievable! Do you always make fun of strangers like that?" Minjae caught the napkin with ease and put it down. "Only the ones who make it too easy. Jiwon's head shook in amazement, but she couldn't help the tiny smile spreading across her face. There was something surprisingly invigorating about their conversation—like fresh air after a rainy night. They sat there for a while in quiet silence, drinking their coffee. Jiwon's eyes drifted toward Minjae, curiosity overpowering her. "So, Minjae," she started, leaning her elbow on the table. "What do you do? Let me take a guess… a businessman?" He breathed out through his nose, chuckling. "Why do you think that?" "You have that 'serious, scary CEO' face." She pointed at him. "Like the type who walks into a boardroom and everyone takes a collective breath." Minjae laughed, ruffling his hair. "Not a CEO. I have my own business, though." Jiwon's eyes widened. "Oh? So I wasn't totally off base." Minjae c****d his head. "What about you?" When he asked, the mischievous glint in her eyes softened a bit. She dropped her gaze, fingers tracing the edge of her cup. "I was a doctor," she whispered. "But I… lost my job." Minjae looked at her for a moment, his teasing tone changing to something more serious. "Why?" She sighed softly. "It's a long story. Let's just say it had nothing to do with my skills and everything to do with office politics." Minjae didn't push the issue, though he knew he got it. "So, what now?" he said. Jiwon managed to force a small smile. "Trying to get another job. But hospitals aren't so keen on hiring someone with. complications." Minjae beat his fingers on his cup. "Ever thought about opening your own clinic? She stifled a dry laugh. "Oh, sure. But unless you're proposing to invest, I don't have money for that." He smirked. "Who knows? Perhaps you'll get lucky." Jiwon raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to invest?" Minjae shrugged. "I didn't say that." She shook her head, rolling her eyes. "You're impossible." Minjae chuckled. "So I've been told." In spite of herself, Jiwon laughed. She hadn't thought she'd like this interview as much as she was starting to. Perhaps it was the way Minjae acted—confident and direct but not in an off-putting way. Perhaps it was the fact that he really listened, even when he was teasing. Whatever it was, it caused her to forget her anxieties, even if only for a moment. As Minjae glanced at his watch, he got up. "I should leave." Jiwon nodded. "Yeah, me too." Minjae took his coat, then looked at her once more. "It was… interesting, speaking with you." Jiwon grinned. "Is that your way of saying you had fun?" He did not reply immediately. Instead, he locked eyes with her for an extra second before a slight smile played on the edge of his mouth. "Maybe." And then he was gone, walking out of the coffee shop into the rain. Jiwon remained sitting there, staring at the door long after he had disappeared. She didn’t know why, but something told her this wouldn’t be the last time they met.