Chapter 3 3. The past distrubs the mind.

Between two bookshelves of children's books, Choi Ji Eun was silent as she touched a book, more precisely, daydreaming - even though a trolley filled with dozens of books that had not yet filled the shelves was still full beside her.

From a different part of the shelf, Kim Hyo Ri watches her co-worker. She even frowns when she realizes Choi Ji Eun is daydreaming because this is not the first time today, in some situations, Choi Ji Eun is daydreaming.

Will that woman continue to do so throughout the day?

"What's on that woman's mind that she keeps daydreaming? Isn't there an expensive ring on her ring finger?" Kim Hyo Ri muttered. She decided to approach Choi Ji Eun. "Omona, Ji Eun-ssi. What happened?"

Kim Hyo Ri tapped her coworker on the shoulder, and the woman was surprised enough that the book she was touching was nudged and fell to the floor.

"Omo!" Choi Ji Eun bent down to pick it up, and she gave Kim Hyo Ri a confused look. "What?"

"What?" She blinked, her expression showing annoyance. "You're daydreaming again, didn't you notice? Jinjja? Ottoke?" Kim Hyo Ri chuckled. "If Ms. Kyo sees you like this, will she tell you to go home, Ji Eun-ssi?"

Choi Ji Eun shook her head. She grabbed the books from the trolley and placed them on the empty rows of shelves. In addition, she had to replace textbooks with torn covers or contents, and everything had to be neat from this place, one of the largest libraries in Seoul.

"I'm the only one who often sees you daydreaming. Do you want to talk to me about it?" Kim Hyo Ri offered herself as a good listener, but Choi Ji Eun did not react. The woman continued to work as if deliberately avoiding her friend's words. "Hey, Ji Eun-ssi. I've placed a cup of coffee on your desk, don't forget to drink it."

Choi Ji Eun turned her head. "Thank you."

"Please don't daydream anymore, and I have to go to the warehouse." She stepped aside.

While Choi Ji Eun's condition was like melted ice cream from being limp in the sun for a long time, she sat on the floor with both hands supporting her body.

"I can't work under these circumstances, and everything is difficult." The woman complained. "I've been thinking about it all night until I couldn't sleep."

Choi Ji Eun was quite frustrated, and she couldn't tell anyone, including her fiancé. The woman quickly finished her work on this part to return to the workroom promptly, or should she go to the toilet and continue her daydream there?

***

Lim Woo Jin's car came, and the man always picked up his beloved, which impressed Choi Ji Eun that her favorite man would always spare time for simple situations.

Choi Ji Eun managed to end today's work without destroying it, and she could control her mind until the library closed.

Tiredness graced Choi Ji Eun's face, but Lim Woo Jin's warm smile was a welcome change to any worries today.

"What would you like to eat tonight, Miss Choi Ji Eun?" asked Lim Woo Jin, acting like a waiter. He embraced his fiancée without hesitation, even though some of Choi Ji Eun's coworkers were there.

"Shh." The woman pushed him away slowly, and she looked around. "You can make me the talk of the town tomorrow."

"Really? You'll get famous quickly, Ji Eun-ssi."

"Come on, Woo Jin-ssi."

Lim Woo Jin smiled teasingly. He opened the door for his girlfriend, touching the top of Choi Ji Eun's head for fear of bumping into something while trying to sit on her chair.

"I'm fine," she said as she fastened her seatbelt.

"It should always be like that." She stepped aside and sat back down behind the wheel. "So, what should we eat tonight?"

"I'll think about it first."

The car began to move away from the library's location. The spring temperature in April was noticeably warmer, so no humans wouldn't be in their coats or fur coats along the way.

Lim Woo Jin let his girlfriend daydream, he thought she was trying to find a suitable place to eat tonight, but Lim Woo Jin didn't know that it wasn't a place to eat that occupied Choi Ji Eun's mind.

No, no. I clearly remember that she said she would never return to Korea and live in this country so that little girl isn't someone I should be worried about. Choi Ji Eun thought to herself, and she was busy connecting her argument with some memories of past events.

"Did you find her, Ji Eun-ssi?" asked Lim Woo Jin.

However, the woman didn't answer, and she didn't even see her fiancé.

"If you're thinking too hard about it, let me."

Still, Choi Ji Eun was silent, lost in her reverie.

At the last opportunity, Lim Woo Jin touched her cheek, causing her to wake up and be startled.

"Woo, Jin-ssi." Choi Ji Eun's expression confirmed that the woman was uncomfortable.

"Sorry, I've asked twice, but you haven't answered yet."

"This afternoon, my coworker's mom came over. She brought a few boxes of mochi because she just returned from Japan, and I got a share. I finished it, so-"

"Are you still full?" guessed Lim Woo Jin.

Choi Ji Eun nodded. "Right, I don't intend to eat anything tonight, or maybe I'll just have a glass of milk. I apologize if I can't join you for dinner."

Lim Woo Jin smiled slightly. "It's not a big deal. I can eat dinner at home, but I have to answer my mom's question-the reason why I eat dinner at home is because I'm used to eating dinner with you."

"Right." The woman exhaled, looking regretful. "I shouldn't have finished that box of mochi."

"Hey, calm down. I told you that it's no big deal, Ji Eun-ssi. Everything will be fine."

I was starving, but thinking of such a situation made me lose my appetite for doing things, and now I disappointed my fiancé. How could you do that to this man, Choi Ji Eun?

She thought back.

"I apologize for letting you down," Choi Ji Eun said.

The man smiled warmly, always melting. While focusing on driving, he touched Choi Ji Eun's hand and rubbed it gently.

"If you have a reason, I'm never ready to be disappointed in you, it would just be a waste of time and energy. I just want to see you always fine and cheerful."

"Thank you very much, tomorrow I will only eat a small portion so that I can have dinner with you. You can keep that promise tomorrow night, trust me." She held up her pinky, making Lim Woo Jin laugh softly, the promise of children occasionally gracing their relationship.

"Alright, I'll remember this and collect tomorrow night."

***