The encounter

The night air was cool against my skin as I stepped out of the ballroom for a breath of fresh air. Inside, the event was in full swing—a lavish corporate celebration for one of her father's latest acquisitions. Waiters in crisp uniforms moved fluidly between the glittering guests, serving champagne and canapés. It was everything I had grown up with, yet tonight, I felt more out of place than ever. Maybe it's because my brother wasn't here to keep me company like he usually would.

.

.

.

My heels clicked softly against the pavement as I walked into the quiet garden adjacent to the event hall. The tension that had built up over the course of the night was becoming unbearable. The pressure from My father, the constant expectations, and the suffocating environment of wealth all weighed heavily on her. I couldn't even remember the last time I had a genuine conversation, one that wasn't about business or appearances.

My mind wandered as I took a deep breath, the scent of fresh flowers mixing with the distant hum of the city. Lost in thought, I didn't hear the approaching sound of a car speeding around the corner.

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On the Other Side of the Event

Joon-Ho leaned against the wall just outside the rear entrance of the event hall, taking in the cool night air. The black waiter's vest felt too tight, and the long night of serving rich, arrogant guests had worn him out. It wasn't the first time he'd worked an event like this—fancy parties where he served people who probably never even noticed him. But tonight felt different. Maybe it was the ache in his feet or the fact that his sister had been texting him about how late he was going to be again, but something had him on edge.

He exhaled slowly, trying to push away the fatigue. The event had been more chaotic than usual, and he had somehow ended up in the wrong spot due to a last-minute mix-up, spending the evening filling glasses for people who barely glanced in his direction. Still, he was used to it. Working jobs like this was just part of his life—money for his sister's tuition, their rent, and a bit extra for their grandmother's medicine. He'd do anything for them, even if it meant enduring these long nights.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Joon-Ho noticed movement. A young woman, elegantly dressed in a stunning gown, was walking absentmindedly toward the street. Her head was down, clearly lost in her thoughts.

Then he saw it—a glint of headlights rounding the corner, the driver distracted, moving far too fast for this area.

Without thinking, he reacted.

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.

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Ji-Won's heart was heavy with thoughts of her father's expectations when she felt something shift in the air. She looked up just in time to see the flash of headlights rapidly approaching her. Her breath caught in her throat as her body froze, panic rushing through her veins. In the split second before she could move, a firm hand grabbed her arm and yanked her back with startling strength.

She stumbled, almost falling backward, but was held upright by her savior. The car roared past, narrowly missing her by inches, the driver not even bothering to slow down as it sped into the night.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she tried to catch her breath, the shock of what had just happened sinking in. She turned to look at the man who had pulled her to safety. A waiter, judging by his uniform, with dark hair slightly ruffled from the wind. He was panting, his eyes wide with concern.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice rough from the adrenaline.

Ji-Won blinked, trying to gather her thoughts. She nodded slowly, still shaken, before finally finding her voice. "I... I didn't see the car. I don't know what I was thinking."

"You weren't," he said, not unkindly but with a touch of exasperation. "You could've been hit."

There was a pause as she took in the reality of what had just happened. This man, this waiter, had just saved her life. She glanced at him again, taking in his appearance—a bit rugged, with a tiredness in his eyes that spoke of long hours and hard work. Not the kind of man she usually encountered at events like these.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, feeling embarrassed. "I didn't mean to—"

"It's fine," he interrupted. "Just... be more careful."

He started to turn away, but something made her stop him. Maybe it was the way he had jumped into action without a second thought, or maybe it was how out of place she felt in this moment of vulnerability, but she couldn't let him leave just yet.

"Wait," she said, taking a step toward him. "Thank you."

He hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. "It's nothing. I just... didn't want to see you get hurt."

She offered a small, awkward smile. "Still, thank you. I'm Soo-Jin."

He gave a short nod. "Joon-Ho," he replied, his eyes glancing back at the event hall, clearly eager to get back to work. "I'm... just a waiter."

Ji-Won frowned at his choice of words. "You saved me, Joon-Ho. That's more than 'just a waiter.'"

Joon-Ho shrugged, clearly not used to being acknowledged, especially by someone like her. "I really need to get back," he said, avoiding her gaze.

Ji-Won watched him for a moment, unsure of what else to say. She knew the kind of man her father would want her to be with, the kind of polished, successful man who'd charm investors and fit in with high society. Joon-Ho was none of those things. Yet there was something about him—something real, something genuine, in a world where everything always felt so false.

Before she could say anything else, Joon-Ho turned and headed back toward the service entrance, leaving her standing alone in the garden, still reeling from both the near-accident and the unexpected encounter.

Back in the Ballroom

Inside, the event continued without a hitch. I re-entered the ballroom, the lively music and the clinking of glasses creating a stark contrast to the quiet intensity of the garden. My father was deep in conversation with a group of investors, flashing his signature smile that seemed to win people over so effortlessly.

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But my thoughts were elsewhere—on Joon-Ho, the man who had saved my life, and the way he had vanished as quickly as he had appeared. I felt a strange tug in my chest, a sense that something important had just happened, even if I didn't fully understand it yet.

As I made my way back to my table, I glanced toward the back of the room where the waitstaff moved efficiently among the guests. My eyes searched for Joon-Ho, but he was gone, blended back into the background, as though the brief moment we had shared had never happened at all.

But Ji-Won couldn't shake the feeling that their paths would cross again.

The noise of the event hit Joo Hoon like a wave—clinking glasses, polite laughter, and the hum of conversation. It was jarring after the quiet intensity of what had just happened. He ducked into the service area, grabbing a tray of champagne flutes and slipping seamlessly back into his role.

But as he moved through the room, serving guests with his usual efficiency, he couldn't help but glance toward the corner where Soo-Jin stood, now back among the elite. Her gaze swept over the room, but for a brief moment, their eyes met.

Joo-Hoon quickly looked away, his heart inexplicably racing again.

This night was supposed to be like any other—just another event, another shift, another paycheck. But something about that moment outside had shifted something in him. He couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter with Ji-Won, no matter how brief, had set something in motion.

Something that would change his life.

WORD COUNT: ****1377

*Yayyyy finally done with chapter 2 hope you enjoy*✨

*Ps: I would love to watch this in real time not just read it, what do you guys think 🤔?*

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