The door of Choibun restaurant opened, ringing the doorbell.
"Hello, guys" Anna greeted, her face beaming with joy, and everyone's eyes turned to her.
"Anna!!" they exclaimed, immediately enveloping her in a tight hug from all corners. She found it difficult to breathe.
"Guys... I... I can't breathe" she managed to say, and immediately they disengaged from the hug , and she took in a heavy breath.
"We miss you Anna. Thought you wouldn't swing by anymore"
"I miss you guys too, that's why I'm here"
"All of you, move aside. It's time for my own special hug" Jia said from behind them.
Anna's eyes moved to her, she took slow steps towards Jia. "Are you really here?" the question just slipped out of her mouth. Even though she knew it wasn't Jia's ghost standing there.
"Yes, it's me" Jia opened her arms for a hug "Come here" Arianna rushed immediately to the open arms, she hugged her tightly. Tears brewed in her eyes and they streamed down her face.
"You really didn't die... You're still here with me" she cried, couldn't contain the joy.
"Anna, I thought we talked about this?"
"I don't know what I would have done if you had died" she cried even more and Jia got annoyed, she pulled away.
"Why are you being so dramatic?! I'm okay" she snapped. Arianna sniffed, trying to stop her cries. It was just so overwhelming that she didn't lose Jia to the hands of death. Seeing she survived without a scratch, was just too surreal. Jia wiped her tears away. Seeing Anna crying like this for her made her smile.
"Oh my... Jia is alive but she wouldn't stop crying. What would Anna do if Jia really died? I'm pretty sure she'll kill herself to reunite with her friend"
"Stop saying nonsense!'
Ryan stood there quite, his presence ignored as he listened to those who gave comments. Seeing how Ari cried, he was glad he got to save Jia that day. Or else...only God knows the state Ari would be in now. He wouldn't be able to see her in such state. He wouldn't be able to bare it.
"Hi.." while in his own thoughts, he heard someone's voice. He looked at his side and saw Ju Kyeong standing there, with a wide grin. "Ryan, right?"
Ryan blinked, totally lost at why she is here. Is she trying to get attention from him. "Yes" he replied.
"Wow, I really like your name" his teeth clenched, his eyes were already turning cold as the glaciers. The air around him became dark and heavy, but she failed to notice. "I'm Ju Kyeong" she said, with her hand stretched for a shake. Ryan looked at her outstretched hand, then her. She shuddered at the eyes she met. Are those the real colour of his eyes, or it's an illusion. Why does it seems like his pupils are cylindrical and his iris gold? She blinked, and his eyes were back to its normal colour. Like it never changed. He walked away, and she just watched him with furrowed brows. That can't be the colour of his eyes, she was definitely hallucinating. But did he just ignore her? Like seriously? Her face burned red from embarrassment and anger, she was a bit glad no one saw that.
Jia walked Anna to a table and made her sit. She ordered them to serve her a dish, which they obeyed.
"Where's auntie?" Anna asked.
"She's out for a while. She should be back soon" she answered.
"And Hayden?" she asked again. When she would see see that friend of hers. It's like he doesn't exist anymore.
"Well, he's quite rare " she replied, while they served the dish. Arianna's gaze caught Ryan and she motioned for him to come sit with her. He's just standing there acting like a real bodyguard. With a small smile, he took steps towards the table, but Jia blocked his way.
"A word, please" she said, without any expression, and then walked passed him. Ryan turned and followed her outside, wondering what she has to say. With his hands in his pockets, he exhaled deeply. Jia turned and looked at him, then she went around him in circles. He wondered, but kept calm. She leaned forward with a hand on her chin, scrutinizing his face.
"What is it?" Ryan asked, and she leaned back. She still stared at him with scrutiny. And then she placed her hand over his mouth and nose, making only his eyes visible. Ryan's heart slowly thumped. What if she realises it was him who saved her? She would get suspicious, and then tell Ari, and she too would be suspicious. That day, Jia had seen the gold shades in his eyes, and she remembered Anna saying she thought he had golden eyes. She was so suspicious of him right now.
"Is something wrong? Why are you staring at me like that?" Ryan asked again
"If you hadn't said you're Anna's bodyguard, I would have you're Mr Han. And if I didn't know better, I would have said you were at Taesan corp the time it got assassinated, and had saved me from dying that day" she said, confident of her words and Ryan just stared. He was already caught, but he kept an unfazed look. The look that says 'what are you saying?'
"I don't understand you" he spoke, though his heart was scared that she found out.
"Who are you?" she threw the question at him., her eyes demanding. Ryan was taken aback by the sudden questions, but he still kept that look of his.
He sighed "I'm just her bodyguard" he simply said and she scoffed.
"I don't believe you. You're really Mr Han, aren't you?"
"What makes you think I'm him, and he's me?" he asked.
"Because no employee would call his boss' mistress the way he does. And..."
"That's not enough reason" he cut her off "I already told you, i am not him"
"I see. Then aren't you the same person at Taesan corp that day?'
"No" his tone flat, as he stared back at her.
Jia sensed no truth would come out of him, so she decided to go through another way. "Fine. I guess I've been too judgemental. Anyways, what's Mr Han's full name?'
"Why do you ask? he questioned
"Well, I just want to?"
He hesitated for a while, contemplating whether or not to tell her. And with that gaze of hers, if he doesn't say anything, she would be still be suspicious.
"Han Yun Shin" he said, and she nodded.
"You know you don't have to waste to much time before answering" she shrugged and walked away. Ryan jaws clenched. What should he do? Maybe, compell her to forget? But how would he do that? More suspicions would arise when she loses that part of her memory. He walked back to the restaurant, finding Ari stuffing her mouth with food. All thoughts in his head were thrown away, and a smiled crawled to his face. He walked to the table and sat beside her.
"Where were you?" she questioned with pursed lips.
"I was out for a while." he replied and started the eating the food left for him.