Bab 15: Past
The soft hum of the capital around contrasted with the cool, calm atmosphere of Woo Hyun's workplace. He seated behind his large mahogany desk, glancing at a report with little enthusiasm. His thoughts were straying from the figures and plans in front of him. Instead, it lingered in the past, on a lady he thought he had left behind—Yura.
Yura was beyond just a girlfriend. She had been a part of his life, and he had once imagined having a future with her. Their romance had been passionate, thrilling and turbulent. Yura, with her dazzling looks and bright mind, challenged Woo Hyun like no one else. However, as with numerous events in Woo Hyun's life, the relationship had finally fell apart, a result of his cold, distant demeanor and her need for emotional connectedness.
The separation was unavoidable, yet it left lasting scars. Woo Hyun remembered the day Yura left his life, her eyes welling up with tears and her words shaking with bitterness and grief. He stayed there, seeing her leave, his look as impenetrable as ever. He hadn't stopped her or reached out to console her. Instead, he had let her leave, confident that their paths were unlikely to cross again.
However, it seems that fate had other intentions.
A faint knock on the door jolted Woo Hyun from his reverie. Jae Won entered, his face as professional as ever, yet there was a tinge of discomfort in his gaze.
"Chairman Woo," Jae Won said. "I've obtained the final data regarding the merger with the Park Corporation."
Woo Hyun nodded and motioned for him to continue.
"There's one more thing," Jae Won said, pausing for a while before continuing. "Miss Yura Park is scheduled to arrive in Seoul tomorrow. "The board has scheduled a meal together to discuss the engagement."
The words hung in the air, loaded with possibilities. Woo Hyun slumped back in his chair, his countenance unreadable but for a flicker of something—possibly displeasure, perhaps something deeper—in his eyes.
Woo Hyun repeated the word "engagement," which tasted harsh on his mouth. "It's purely for business, nothing more."
Jae Won nodded, knowing better than to enquire further. He could hear the tightness in Woo Hyun's voice, an undertone of emotion that the chairman rarely let to emerge.
"Shall I make the necessary arrangements?" Jae Won inquired.
"Do it," Woo Hyun responded curtly, dismissing him with a wave of his hand.
Woo Hyun's thoughts shifted back to Yura as Jae Won departed the room. They hadn't seen each other in years. He was curious how she had transformed, if she had moved on from the anguish he had caused her. But, no matter how hard he tried to tell himself that this was an additional business arrangement, he couldn't shake the feeling of discomfort deep within him.
Yura reminded him of the guy he once was and of the feelings he'd buried beneath layers of ice. And now she was ready to return to his life, not as a lover, but as a pawn in a financial deal.
He was aware of the irony.
But, as usual, Woo Hyun was determined to keep his thoughts in check. He had built his life on power and control, and he was not going to allow a ghost from his past undo all that he had worked for.
The following day, as Woo Hyun dressed for the dinner meeting, he couldn't shake the notion that this engagement would result in more than just a commercial connection. It would bring memories, challenges, and perhaps even a test of his determination, which he had spent years developing.
Woo Hyun prepared for the encounter as he adjusted his tie and stared in the mirror. Yura was a part of his past, a chapter he had closed years ago. But now she was about to become a part of his present—and perhaps his future.
And that was a truth he had to accept, regardless of how much he hoped he didn't.
The spacious dining hall was alive with the buzz of elites from all businesses. Woo Hyun, as usual, was the focus of attention at the significant event, which brought together prominent business leaders. He stood with his typical stern expression, having polite conversation but maintaining a cold, aloof demeanor that kept people at arm's length.
As the evening advanced, the huge doors at the entrance opened, catching the attention of many. Yura strode in, her presence drawing immediate attention. She was dressed in a beautiful floor-length gown of deep emerald, which highlighted her pale skin. Her long, black hair flowed down her back in beautiful waves, and her eyes, a gorgeous shade of hazel, glowed beneath the chandelier lights.
Yura was always lovely, but now she exuded an appeal that was difficult to ignore. Her grin was poised as she glided effortlessly through the crowd, but her eyes were full of passion, betraying the anguish within. She attempted to move on from Woo Hyun, assuring herself that their split was for the best. But when she saw him tonight, standing straight and composed, the feelings she had suppressed emerged with a force that took her by surprise.
Her heart skipped a beat when their gazes met across the room. Woo Hyun's expression was incomprehensible, a mix of apathy and another emotion that she couldn't place. He gave her a modest nod, a sign that reminded her of the harsh walls he had built around himself.
Yura's mind was in turmoil, despite her calm demeanor. She recalled the times they were together, when she saw flashes of vulnerability in Woo Hyun, which made her fall even more for him. But those days had passed. He appeared even more closed off and inscrutable than before.
As she approached him, Yura could not help but feel regret. She had gone away because Woo Hyun could not provide her with the devotion she required, but now, facing him, she knew that no one else had ever matched up. No one ever managed to make her feel the way Woo Hyun had.
Yura met him with a warm smile, disguising the feelings she was experiencing. "Woo Hyun, it's been a while."
Woo Hyun nodded, his demeanor enigmatic as always. "Yura."
The interaction that followed was quick and somewhat mechanical. They exchanged pleasantries and discussed the subject at hand, but there was a greater tension between them, one that neither could ignore. Yura felt older scars reopen, the anguish of unrequited love lying beneath the surface.
As the evening progressed, Yura couldn't shake the sense of desire that had settled in her chest. She persuaded herself that she had moved on. But seeing Woo Hyun again, so close but so far away, she understood her heart had never completely let go.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone