Third's the Charm

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Alone at the kitchen table after clearing dishes, he couldn't stop comparing the tiny smiles from Yeona to the brilliantly smiling Yeona in the pictures he'd seen. What kind of spell had taken that brilliance from her? What made Yeona want to build that distance between them? It seemed he was the only one who couldn't get close to her.

Mina had said something yesterday that caught his attention. That he wasn't whom?

Sian thought about the lost and confused Yeona that had looked at him the previous night, as if he were someone else. The more he knew her the more curious he was.

The following morning, he waited for Yeona in the parking lot. Today she didn't walk around him but right up to him.

"Do you have time today?" Yeona got right to the point.

"Depends when." He tried to be coy.

"Lunch?"

"Sure."

"Then…lunch it is," she held his eyes. As they separated for work, he wondered if her mood today had turned around from yesterday's. Whatever it was, they were having lunch and he had some things he wanted to ask.

At twelve he went to Yeona's office and waited around her empty office hoping she was being held up somewhere. When she didn't turn up, he went downstairs thinking she'd gone before him. The cafeteria was densely populated with smells of food that caused his stomach to turn and grumble. From where he stood at a pole adjacent to the open room, he searched for Yeona in case they missed each other. The company was big in size after all and there were plenty of people always walking back and forth. Sometimes articles of clothing even looked identical.

He frowned when he caught an arm in the air moving to and fro. Squinting his eyes some more he recognized a head full of faded red hair. Yeona was a natural brown and didn't seem like someone interested in changing hair colors. Curious, Sian stepped forth soon to recognize the young woman from Yeona's apartment.

"Hi," Mina greeted.

Confused, he looked around wondering if perhaps Yeona was also here. "What are you doing here?"

She tapped the table where a tray of food was. "I got you lunch since I already had a sandwich on the way."

Sian eyed the food before slowly lowering himself, "But where's Yeona?"

"I don't know," she shrugged.

Something was off but Sian couldn't quite figure it out yet.

"I hope you like what's on the menu," she said, "there's not much of a variety here which sucks. Considering how big the company is the food should be better quality wise. Don't you think?"

"It's not that bad," he said digging in.

Mina grinned, "As expected, a man with an appetite is attractive."

He stopped chewing and glanced up at her from the tray. "Are you here to meet Yeona?"

"No."

Settling his arms onto the table he straightened his back, "Is there a reason why you're here?"

"Yeona said I could come at lunch," Mina innocently said. "Oh, and, I want to apologize for how I acted toward you. I know it was rude, but it was in the spur of the moment and you surprised me."

"No, it's all right."

"Yeona's never invited anyone but family over, so I was shocked," Mina explained. "You won't hold anything against me?"

"I don't have a reason to."

She grinned wider, relieved. "Then that's good. By the way, Yeona said you two aren't friends so why were you drinking with her?" quickly catching herself she added, "I mean, I am just curious. Yeona says you two aren't friends, so it's natural I'd want to know."

"We're friends," he stated.

"You are?" she questioned.

"We're getting there," he corrected, "so we will be."

"Then...do you have a girlfriend?" Mina asked, eyes inching somewhat wider. Noticing his expression, she said, "You don't have to be so surprised. I don't like jumping around. I'd rather know right away to see whether it's worth my time or not. In our age, isn't it silly to still be shy? It's just a yes or no."

She was tenacious. More than he'd expected.

"No," he answered.

Firmly smiling she said, "Then that's good. So, what do you do here?"

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"Have you eaten?" Yeona spoke into the phone. Behind her, the noise of a cart wheeling away ceramic plates and utensils disappeared into the distance. Chattering a backdrop music to the radio that couldn't be heard overhead.

"Yes, the kind nurse bought me something," Yeol's mother replied, her voice full of exhaustion and the overwhelming stress that egged her on day after day.

"How is father?"

"The doctor is making sure he's taking his medicine," Yeol's mother replied. "The nurses are looking after him. He'll be discharged soon." She paused and hesitated then asked, "But Yeona, how much harder will it be at home? It's just going to be this old woman. What should I do?"

Yeona stared at the plate going cold in front of her. "I'll think of something. Maybe I can pull together some money and hire a part time caretaker to help."

She heard Yeol's mother sniff on the other line, crying again. "We can do that. I can go into my savings, see how much is left."

"Mother, if we need to, Yeol's money is still in the bank," Yeona said.

"No," the woman strongly opposed the suggestion. "No, we…I can't do that. That…that money is yours. We shouldn't waste it so casually. Your father would regret it so much. Oh, the doctor is here. I should go. Don't skip your meals. Are you eating?"

"I am. Please take care, mother." Yeona hung up and finally set her phone down. She had less than the half hour to eat now. She'd come hungry as a bull but now she wasn't feeling it anymore. The things moods could do.

"How are Yeol's parents?" Haneul wondered.

"Not too well," Yeona sighed, "but they're hanging in there."

"It must be so hard," her friend sympathized. "They're getting old after all. Can I do something to help? You don't look so well these days."

"I'll figure it out," Yeona tried smiling. "They have no one else to rely on. I should do what I can."

"What about your parents? Do they know?"

"I'm just glad they're still healthy and able. They have the store to look after, so I don't want them closing business to come up. It's baseless," Yeona said.

"I can help you if you need it," Haneul offered. "Yeol was a good friend of mine, too."

"I know," Yeona grinned, "like I said, it's nothing I can't handle right now."

Heaving a sigh Haneul muttered, "If that kid Mina could act rationally for once, you'd have less of a headache."

At that, Yeona thought about the lunch date she'd set up for Mina and Sian. They were probably eating together right now.

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It was painfully obvious that for the second time Yeona had tried setting him up. Why? Because she thought he needed help getting a girl? Or because she felt sorry for him? Perhaps, to get him off her tail?

There were at least a hundred reasons he could come up with and they all offended him in one way or another. Sian stared at the time, couldn't wait for his client to shut up so he could shake hands and bid the forty-year-old farewell. More paper filling, pens flowing across lines, and then it was over.

People were slowly flowing out of the company like bees returning home to deposit honey. Sian wasn't heading that way. Instead, he was going over in his head the previous locations Yoon Haneul had shown him during their date-slash-tour.

A few vehicles were leftover in the underground parking lot. Searching around he discovered that Yeona hadn't left yet. Sian waited in his car. Minutes later orange lights blinked and he turned to see Yeona striding across the empty lot toward her car. Pushing his door open he stepped out.

"Oh, geez, you scared me," Yeona halted and pressed a hand to her chest.

"You surprised me, too."

She looked confused. "What?"

"You heading home?"

"Well, yeah." She spoke the obvious.

"Don't go yet because you owe me a date," Sian said. "You set me up today."

She blinked. "Lunch wasn't a date."

"You're not going to apologize at least?"

Flustered, Yeona said, "Sorry about lying."

"Good, you admit it, so you owe me a date for lying. You said we were going to have lunch, but we didn't." Sian explained.

Yeona opened her mouth to retort, but he gestured his head toward the car for her to get in.

"Look, I really can't," Yeona started with her excuses.

"Why? You're worried about your dog?" Sian asked. "Have the fierce girl look after him. She's staying with you, right?"

"Hey, I get it if you're upset I lied about lunch…"

Ignoring her he walked over to the passenger's side, pulled the door open. He heard Yeona sigh. "I have my car."

"We can come back for it."

"I don't think I want to leave it here in the parking lot."

"Then I'll follow you home and we can carpool," Sian suggested. He noticed the twitch in Yeona's face. "We can save the environment with the little effort, don't you think?"

"Before nine, we come back for my car," Yeona bargained.

Firmly smiling victorious he nodded. Yeona's car beeped again as she locked it and strode toward his car. Didn't even glance at him as she got inside. Closing the door, he circled the car and got into his chair just as Yeona zipped the seatbelt across her body.

"So, where'd you go for lunch?" Sian wondered when they entered the traffic busy roads.

"I met Haneul," Yeona answered, her eyes out the window studying the skyscrapers.

"Did you tell Mina about me?"

"She's a nice girl," Yeona told. "A little rebellious, but she's a good person."

"I believe you," Sian said which made her turn. He shot her a smile that made her turn away.

The sun was still young in the sky and he doubted it would fall by the time it struck nine. Sian still wanted to visit the 63 Building anyway. It was the one of the last stops he hadn't been to yet. He would explore it with Yeona.

He pulled into the heavily populated parking lot and spent several minutes searching for an empty pot. They came across three tourist buses parked across empty spaces and finally snatched one about seven minutes later. The height of one of the tallest buildings in the city did not match the number of people inside. All booths and tables at restaurants were filled in. Lines at counters extended so far out the doors it lost its formation outside. From every which angle a child either cried or whined. Chatter was unanimous. The doors to the elevator opened and closed simultaneously.

"Whoa…" he muttered surprised.

"It's less crowded by the aquarium," Yeona said, "unless you want to eat first."

"Then let's go see the aquarium," Sian suggested. He turned to look around for the entrance to said place but Yeona was already leading the way. Sian ended up following her. A few minutes later they lined up for tickets. When he saw Yeona digging her wallet out he said, "I'll pay."

"Of course, you will," she said, "for yours."

He stared at her flabbergasted. Barely half an hour later they finally got their tickets and proceeded into the aquarium. They joined people watching manatees swim around and walked through the underwater tunnel staring at sharks. Phone cameras constantly flashed and children glued their faces to the glass curiously. He and Yeona barely talked but quietly passed through. There was only once where he pulled her back to watch one of the employees play around with the stingray.

"It's expensive here," Yeona finally spoke when they left the aquarium. "You can come back next time to see the other stuff. Do you want to eat or go up to the roof? There's also a café there." She glanced at her watch, "And it's almost nine."

"Stingy, are you?" he asked then eyed the elevator. "Let's buy tickets to go up."

It was less of a date than a friend hangout. He was making all the decisions but he was starting to see another side to Yeona. Still cold she was and distant, but the more time he spent with her he felt he'd get to know her better through it.

They waited long and finally entered the packed elevator. It seemed everyone had to try to make themselves two sizes smaller than they were in order to squeeze in. Sian's ear popped on the way up and finally breathed when the elevator stopped at the last floor. Tonight, probably wasn't the best of nights to come.

The sun had dipped into the sky casting an array of pretty blue, orange, and yellow shades mixed together. A lay of clouds stretched through the sky moving slowly over the city below. Business lights were flickering on one by one. A crowd of yellow headlights glowed between condominiums and intersecting roads. Up here, people gasped awestruck by the view. Phones were out and the perfect smell of coffee permeating the air spoke tales of late summer nights and endless dreams.

Yeona had already left him and was by the edge staring out into the beyond. Deciding she wouldn't ditch him up here he went toward the café to order them coffee. On the way, he passed couples and young teenagers on their evening dates. Young and out of school. Middle agers discovering love could bloom again. Elders still hanging on together into the end of life. Sweet images of lovers made his heart glow.

A warm wind brushed past. A scent of musk and sweat flowed by followed by joking and laughter and languages he did not know.

"Your coffee," the female behind the counter said.

"Thank you," receiving the drinks he turned around to start back toward Yeona. She was still glued in one area, staring into nothingness.

Walking up to her he held the coffee out to her, "Have it. I bought you one." When she took it, he asked, "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing." She was either lying or it was the truth. He couldn't tell.

Sian turned to admire the scenery. "It's pretty up here. And the air's fresh."

"It makes me nostalgic," Yeona quietly said. He turned to look at her. Her eyes were amiss, forlorn. She hadn't taken even a sip of her coffee. Just cupped it between her hands as if it might warm a part of her.

Suddenly, Yeona appeared lost and lonely, alone. Sian wasn't sure what to do or say. Could he hug her?

Yeona turned and said as she walked away, "Let's go."

It was 9:00. Time had passed by faster than he'd anticipated. The drive back was somewhat quieter than expected. Sian kind of wondered if she would delve into her husband with him. She could say something at least…about that guy. He'd seen her pictures, was still curious and open to hearing about him. Yeona in love was a much happier person than the Yeona alone.

Why had she stopped smiling?

"Thanks," Yeona said when they reached the underground parking lot again and she began pulling her keys out.

"For?" he asked. "I didn't buy you dinner or anything."

"Well…I mean…" Yeona wrapped her hands around her keys.

"The date?" he tried, wondering if it would bring a smile to her lips because it probably hadn't been a date.

Growing silent, Yeona didn't glance at him but pull the door open and step out. Had he gone too far with something he'd said? Pushing his door open he stepped out as well.

"Did I say something?" Sian worried when he reached her at the trunk of his car.

"It's nothing." Head lowered Yeona muttered and passed. Sian followed her.

"You can just tell me if I said something wrong."

Yeona finally turned when they reached her car. "It's nothing. I had a good time, thanks."

He stared down at her still trying to figure her out. "That's it? 'Thanks. I had a good time.'"

Her brows threatened to form a frown. "What?"

"I know I've said it before, but you don't hate me, do you?"

"I don't."

Breathing a smile on he said, "Then that's good. I had a good date, too."

"It wasn't," Yeona corrected. "I'm not going to argue it with you."

"Well, I think it was close to a date," Sian said. "Since you initiated the first two, I'll initiate the third."

Yeona looked at him without a clue to what he was saying. Without waiting a beat Sian leaned forward to give her a quick peck on the cheek.

"And dates always end this way," Sian smiled. "Good night."