Old Flame

It had been a while since I last saw Johyun. I don’t think I could properly describe the feeling I got upon seeing her again. Her dark eyes and long, silky black hair took me back to our passionate days together. We were young, wild, and in love. The memories of our fiery encounters filled my mind as I stood beside her at the altar, fulfilling my duties as the groom’s best man, waiting for the newly wed couple to march towards the altar.

Damn! This was supposed to be Jun’s day as a married man. He’s been my best friend for as long as I could remember. He was pretty much the brother that I never had, considering that I don’t have male siblings. I was obviously going to be his best man, yet I didn’t think one bit that my counterpart as the maid of honor was going to be none other than Johyun, my very first girlfriend.

She looked stunning just as I remembered her. Dressed in a simple yet elegant fit, a fitting long-sleeve top paired with a short gray skirt, showcasing her long shiny legs and thick thighs, her curves accentuated, and her laughter was like music to my ears. It turns out that she was the bride’s closest cousin. Although we hadn’t seen each other in years, it felt like no time had passed between us. Our eyes met, and for a moment, we were lost in each other’s gaze.

“Feelip,” she whispered, her voice low and sultry. “I can’t believe we’re both here, standing side by side like this.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “I know, right? Life’s funny sometimes.”

As the ceremony went on, I couldn’t help but reminisce about our time together. I was doing my utter best in my duties as the best man, but how could I when I was with this bombshell of a woman by my side who happened to be my first love?

“Here they come… I suggest you behave while we’re at it…” She uttered suddenly, her voice had a hint of mischief in them, a small glimpse of what our relationship was like back then.

“I can say the same thing about you, Johyun…” I responded back as well, with my own hint of mischief.

“Touché… The reception area will have an open bar later on… I’ll talk to you there…” She declared, as if she already had read my mind.

“Sure thing…”

***

“Hello there, beautiful…” I uttered as I approached Johyun sitting by the bar. She smirked.

“Oh, shut up…” She muttered.

“Shall I take a seat?”

“Yes, yes you may…” She responded as I made myself comfortable.

“I’ll have what she’s having…” I told the barkeep as he served me a fresh glass of whiskey.

For a while, we just sat there, contemplating what to say as we took in a shot of whiskey, and another, and a couple more before we ordered ourselves another glass. And then we spoke…

“I’m sorry things didn’t work out between you and Mijoo Unnie…” She breaks the ice. A strange way to start a conversation, but I decided to play along.

“Yeah, life has a way of screwing things over, I guess…” I responded.

I guess it couldn’t be helped that this was the topic she had in mind. Everyone knows by now that I recently got divorced with Mijoo. It was going to happen eventually. It was one thing to slowly drift apart, but it was a whole different ball game when I caught them in the act under my own roof.

We signed the divorce papers after that. Not before giving the bloke a beatdown he was never going to forget. I know I wasn’t the best husband for Noona, but at least I had the moral decency to find someone else after the papers were signed. I nearly broke my hand punching his lights out. Noona can have him for all she wants, but I was going to leave a permanent mark on his face for everyone to see on their wedding, whenever that may be.

“What about you, Johyun?” I uttered suddenly in a bid to change the topic.

“I know you inherited your family’s business after your old man passed away. And you had a divorce with Finn as well…” I continued.

“Hpmh… I guess I don’t need to explain everything then…” She replied, as she took another sip of her whiskey.

“I’m doing well… Business is good… I’ve never felt so relieved in my life these last few years…” She uttered.

I guess that shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. We were living very different lives after all. She was living well off while I was sweating my ass as a fighter. It was one of the reasons why her dad didn’t want me with her. Johyun was an heiress while I was a struggling fighter. Yet despite all of that, we somehow made it work, for 5 years at least.

We were young, we were wild and so full of energy. Even in those days, Johyun had such an angelic face with a devilishly sexy body. It was one of the reasons why I was attracted to her back in college. Sure, the two of us had different circles of friends. But when it came to the club, it only took a few drinks and a nice song from the DJ for me to approach the fine woman. She was quite easy to talk to, despite her wealthy background. We hit it off and had sex in the back alley.

Somehow, we managed to hit it off throughout college, despite her dad’s disdain. His security personnel could never intimidate me no matter who he brought. It didn’t matter whether they had proper training or not, but I always got the upper hand. Life with her was all I could ever ask for. The sex was wild and constant, the dates were simple yet memorable. But as I said, life really does have its way of ending good things.

It was 5 years ago. I had to go back to the Philippines to renew my papers. I was supposed to be there for just a month, but the folks at immigration have a dumb habit of delaying documents due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’. And when I got back, I received word that she was getting engaged to that guy John Park.

I tried to challenge them, the same way I used to. But there were too many. I couldn’t handle them on my own. I barely escaped with my life if it weren’t for my crew saving my skin. Johyun signed a contract that she could not escape from. The security around John Park’s company at that time were too powerful and well trained.

I had no choice but to let her go. Funny enough, later that year, I would meet my now ex-wife, Mijoo.

God, I will never know where I went wrong with her. I met her pretty much in a similar setting that I did with Johyun. We were crazy, we were wild, we were constantly having sex just like I used to do with Johyun. I felt the exact same thrill and excitement when I was with her, the same way I did with Johyun. Only difference was that I married her only to sign the divorce papers later on, another five years of my life just flushed down the drain.

“But I have to admit… It has been pretty boring recently…” She uttered suddenly, waking me up from my thoughts

“How so?” I asked.

“Well, I’m so relieved that I barely have anything to do these days…” She uttered.

“I’m all alone in that penthouse up top… I may be glad John is out of my life… But you know how I hate sleeping all by myself, in that king sized-bed…” She continued, her face turning towards me, her eyes, emulating a familiar vibe coming from them, one that could contain some sort of mischief.

“What are you trying to say?” I uttered, trying to play it dumb a little bit.

“Nothing…” She held back.

“I just had a thought about the old days, you know… about us…” She uttered silently.

I couldn’t help but feel my heart skip a beat. I had no reason and no restraints to hold myself back to be with her again. I already knew that look in her eyes. I knew it all too well and I knew exactly where this was going next. The writing was already on the wall.

But before each of us could make their move, we were suddenly interrupted by a very familiar tune from the DJ. I could never mistake those piano keys from a mile away. I already know too well the significance of this song for us. It was the very same song that convinced me to dance with her when we met all those years ago…

And all my life

I prayed for someone like you

And I thank god

That I

That I finally found you

‘Cause all my life, I prayed for someone like you

And I hope that you feel the same way too

And I hope that you do love me too…