Chapter 4: The reunion
2009 Words
“Is he coming?” asked Esther, irritating Alya so many times she had lost count.
“Here I was thinking Esther was married. What will her husband say? When he finds out his wife is eagerly waiting for another man?” asked Alya, trying to look serious as she looked at Fareeha standing next to Esther. They were both trying to hold in their laughter.
“Oh come on! You want me to curse out loud,” threatened Esther.
Fareeha and Alya finally burst into laughter and high fived each other when they were satisfied with Esther’s reaction.
Out of the Amalgas, only Alya and Asahi were the unmarried ones.
As Fareeha saw Asahi getting out of a van, she pushed Alya who had her back towards Asahi causing her to stumble and almost fall. But Asahi was there to catch her.
As Alya tried to compose herself after her fall, she looked behind to see who her saviour was.
“We’re going in,” said Fareeha and both she and Esther quickly went inside her aunty’s cafe, leaving behind Asahi and Alya.
Alya sulked as she realised why Fareeeha had pushed her.
“That b***h,” she thought.
As she was about to turn to face Asahi, she saw through the glass windows Fareeha and Esther waving their hands rapidly at her as if telling her to take all the time she needed.
She heaved a sigh but as she faced Asahi, she felt her heart do somersaults and her instincts started to kick in as she became more alert. She saw that Asahi was barefaced, no mask or no cap. He was smiling brightly also.
“Was he mad?” thought Alya as she said nothing but grabbed Asahi’s left arm and dragged him to a shop nearby.
She bought a black cap and black mask which she forced Asahi to wear. Then she pulled him and shoved him into his seat once they were inside of the cafe.
Fareeha and Esther who were looking at the commotion happening pretended to be interested in the menus.
“Can you believe this guy?” asked Alya, pointing in the direction of Asahi.
Asahi just sat quietly because he did like this side of Alya. When she had grabbed him suddenly he didn’t complain. He liked the fact that Alya cared for him. A lot. Even if she didn’t show it, her actions said otherwise.
Esther and Fareeha just nodded their heads because they didn’t know whether to agree or disagree with a furious Alya.
“Anyways, let’s order and then we can chat,” said Alya, composing and calming herself down.
“You!” said Alya, pointing again at Asahi.
“Better behave yourself,” Asahi simply nodded and raised his hands in surrender.
Alya did a good job worrying because when a group of girls who were passing by noticed Asahi, they did a double take. Maybe they thought he was Byun Hyuk from SOL5 but then they thought it was their minds playing games with them and walked past the cafe.
Alya thought she should worry more now that Asahi was seated with them in the cafe. She pulled the curtains and asked her aunt to put on the lights. Asahi felt a little guilty knowing that they could not hang out freely. At least him. He was the only person who had to wear a mask. He removed it when Alya drew the curtains and finally spoke up.
“Couldn’t the others make it?”
“Sadly no. The rest of us have been planning for months. Caleb’s wife is pregnant with their first child. Alia is getting married but all of us are busy. Fareeha and I decided to come to Seoul to meet Alya. Alia wanted all of us at her wedding but we wanted to meet Alya so bad.The three of us keep meeting each other in California. Except you, Caleb and Alya,” said Esther.
“Oh come on!” said Alya as she slammed the menu on the table.
“You two came here to attend the BTS concert, isn’t it?”
Esther and Fareeha both blushed but quickly reiterated.
“Yes and no,” said Fareeha.
“We came to meet you guys as well as attend the BTS concert.”
The food they had ordered arrived and they started to eat. Alya heard the doors being opened from the sound of the bells ringing and just as she looked up, her heart beat increased and sank a few minutes later.
Asahi looked up to see who Alya was looking at and saw a couple sit on a table near them.
Alya quickly looked away and mindlessly started to eat.
“Alya?” called somebody from behind them.
All the others looked up to see the stranger who had called Alya.
“Oh hi Dr. Kim Dongwoo,” said Alya, pretending she hadn’t seen him walk through the door.
“It’s Kim Dongwoo only. Now we’re not in the hospital. I’d like to introduce you to someone.”
“Meet my fiance, Park Daeun.”
Alya’s heart sank a little upon hearing that the girl who stood next to Dr. Kim Dongwoo was his fiancee but she forced a smile.
“Congratulations. I’m a little confused because everyone at the hospital thought you were unmarried,” said Alya.
“Can I tell the nurses who have a crush on you?” said Alya, trying to lighten up the atmosphere with a little humour.
Dr. Kim Dongwoo scratched the back of his head nervously and said, “How about I announce it tomorrow at the hospital?”
“That would be great. I wonder how many nurses’s hearts will break upon hearing that you are getting married?”
“Well,” said Dr. Kim Dongwoo until he was lightly pushed by his fiancee.
“Don’t get cocky. He thinks he’s too handsome. But there’s a lot of guys out there more handsome than you,” said his fiancee.
“But you chose me,” said Dr. Kim Dongwoo.
Alya came to realise that Dr. Kim Dongwoo tended to be cocky at times. But she would also choose him. Just like Park Daeun had.
Asahi as he watched from his side, he could clearly see the visible signs of how unhappy Alya was. But he could see she was trying to conceal her sadness by smiling brightly every now and then.
“Jokes aside, the reason why we had to keep our marriage a secret is because we have another secret,” said Park Daeun, clapping her hands in excitement.
“I’m pregnant too!” blurted out Park Daeun and Alya smiled truly this time. A baby was on the way too.
“I understand,” said Alya, sincerely.
“I will have to try my best to conceal my bump at the wedding,” said Park Daeun, rubbing her belly in circular motions.
“Now we’re ready to announce to everyone.”
Alya genuinely smiled with her. Yes, although she was sad that the person she liked was going to get married, she knew she had to rejoice in their happiness of love, marriage and children. Even though she wasn’t a part of it. She could at least show her support and share their happiness.
“I hope we didn’t disturb you by coming here to talk about our-”
Dr. Kim Dongwoo was interrupted by Alya who responded, “Not at all. No worries. I’m glad I got to know of such good news sooner than the others at the hospital.”
Alya looked back at her friends she had left unattended a few minutes ago and saw that the three of them were watching her.
“We should get going,” said Park Daeun, as she gently tugged her fiance.
“You’re invited to the wedding. You can’t say no,” said Dr. Kim Dongwoo, pointing at Alya who chuckled.
“Sure. Better invite everyone at the hospital,” said Alya.
“Will do,” said Dr. Kim Dongwoo as he left to occupy their empty seats.
Alya returned to her seat and watched as Esther was giving her a sad look.
“What?” asked Alya, confused as she picked a slice of pizza.
“Nothing,” said Esther immediately but she knew her friend was breaking and hurting from the inside.
Even though they went their separate ways, the Amalgas always kept in touch. Especially the girls. Esther couldn’t attend Caleb’s wedding but she had heard all about the wedding from Alia. Alia had also mentioned how happy Alya was at Caleb’s wedding. Poor Alya, always trying to be strong and happy for other people. All of the Amalgas except Caleb was aware that Alya used to like Caleb a lot back in high school.
Even though Alya would never show it, she was a little hurt at that wedding. Seeing someone she used to love marrying someone else. And the same thing was happening again. With Dr. Kim Dongwoo. Esther could see from their conversations that Alya and Dr. Kim were close. And Alya probably had feelings for him. But she never did confess her feelings. She couldn’t because she was always late in letting the other person know about her feelings.
And as she looked at Asahi who was sitting quietly next to Alya, this person too was going to regret not having told his feelings sooner.
Esther carefully picked up a slice of pizza, careful not to break Asahi’s stare.
It was like old times. When they were back in high school. Esther used to watch Asahi stare at Alya. Asahi thought that nobody knew about his feelings for Alya. But Esther used to catch him staring at Alya, see him get angry when Alya got close to another boy or how Asahi always sat behind Alya in class.
The same scene was being recreated and she silently ate her pizza saying nothing, as Fareeha kept on talking.
“Is he one of your colleagues at the hospital?” asked Fareeha, pointing at Dr. Kim Dongwoo who was seated a few tables away from them.
“Don’t point. It’s bad manners,” hissed Alya as she slapped away Fareeha’s hand.
“He’s one of the members of our surgery team,” said Alya, wanting to change the topic.
Esther came to her rescue but asked her another dreadful question, “When are you thinking of getting married? You’re turning 27 this year.”
Alya threw daggers at her friend with her eyes and said, “Probably never. Also you’re not the first person to pressure me on marriage. My mother is far better than you.”
“And I always have the same answer,” said Alya, as she wiped her hands with a napkin.
“I want to marry someone I fall in love with. Isn’t marriage all about love? But right now it’s not possible because I haven’t found it yet.”
“Found what yet?” asked Esther teasingly.
“Love,” said Alya with a dead serious face.
Esther looked at Asahi when Alya mentioned “love” and she could see him squirming and blushing a little.
Esther knew about Asahi’s one-sided crush on Alya but she couldn’t help but notice how it was like Esther and Fareeha didn’t exist for him. Both of them were seated with Alya and Asahi, but it felt like Asahi couldn’t stop but give his attention to Alya mostly. And Alya was as always unaware about it. Esther couldn’t blame Alya for not noticing the subtle looks Asahi threw at her because she herself was dealing with a broken heart.
“Let’s go. Are you guys done?” asked Alya.
“Yeah,” said everyone as they got up to leave.
Asahi was the only one to notice the handwave Dr. Kim gave to Alya as they were leaving the cafe.
And just like that, their reunion after a decade ended.
- Writer
