New Beginnings: Stories from Beauville

5. Hae-in

5

HAE-IN

I f****d up. I kissed her. I f*****g kissed her and I shouldn’t have. But what else was I going to do? She was crying and doing it so beautifully. Kai asked me for a favor, but that favor didn’t include kissing his patient. s**t. I’ve done my fair share of kissing. Hell, I’d just finished a romantic drama and maybe it was the leftover emotions still lingering. I’m lying to myself, because it isn’t that either. I saw her at the airport. We’d made eye contact, I’m sure of it. My phone rings and I already know who it is.

“Yeah.”

“When are you going to have the meeting with the family?

“Not anytime soon. I’m doing something with my brother now, and last time I checked, I had some free time before we are supposed to start planning next steps.”

“People are getting restless. You’re also expected to sit for a reading next week.”

One did not have anything to do with the other but for the sake of appearances, it was the only thing that would ensure things stayed in order.

“Go ahead and schedule the reading, I’ll deal with the family,” I tell my longtime friend and manager. I look at the elevator doors, slide my phone inside my pocket, and bring my hand up to my lips. The scent of her still lingers in the air around me, and I swear I can still feel the soft press of her mouth. Damn. This is what it means to trip and fall.

Two days later.

India

I’ve not seen or heard from Hae-in since the night in the cab. His kiss is still burned into my brain. This feeling should not linger, but it does. He didn’t ask for my number and I have no clue if he is staying here at the hotel. Things are weird and leave me feeling unsettled. The twins are busy with their security job, and I’m left to wander around town. Kai hasn’t made an appearance either. I don’t expect him to, but I kind of want to hear his side of the story. But earlier in the day, Kim Mi-Su showed up at the hotel to invite me out for a day of shopping. I don’t know why I agree to go, but when I’d checked in with Anna earlier, she said it would be more of a benefit than a hinderance.