Future Me and My Love

The warm evening breeze carried the scent of freshly brewed coffee as Lee sat in her car, parked outside the hotel. It had taken her a while to decide, but she knew she had to do this.

She walked inside, her heart beating faster than she'd like. The moment she spotted Gen, her resolve almost wavered.

Gen was standing near the bar counter, dressed in her usual effortless style—black blazer, round-neck T-shirt, and a sharp look in her eyes. Despite everything, she still exuded confidence.

"Dr. Lee," Gen greeted, her voice light but unreadable. "Surprise visit?"

Lee inhaled deeply. "We need to talk."

Gen arched an eyebrow but nodded, leading Lee to a private lounge.

Once inside, silence settled between them before Lee finally spoke.

"Move on, Gen."

Gen blinked, her smirk faltering. "What?"

"I'm not into women," Lee said, keeping her voice steady. "And I'm getting married next month. My mother arranged it. I'll be leaving for the U.S. after that."

Gen let out a short laugh, shaking her head. "Lee, we both know that's not true."

Lee's jaw tightened. "It is."

Gen stepped closer, searching Lee's face. "You like me, but you won't admit it."

"I don't," Lee said firmly, though her fingers curled into fists.

Gen exhaled, frustration creeping into her voice. "You're lying to yourself, Lee."

Lee shook her head. "Even if I was, it doesn't matter. This is my decision."

Silence.

Gen looked away, her playful mask slipping. When she turned back, the usual teasing smile was gone.

"Fine," she said, her voice quieter. "I'm happy for you."

Lee hesitated. "Gen—"

"I said I'm happy for you," Gen cut in, forcing a smirk. "Congratulations, Dr. Lee. Hope your husband can handle you."

The words stung, but Lee said nothing.

Gen turned away, signaling the conversation was over.

Lee left without another word.

Stuck in the Contract

Despite everything, Gen couldn't leave.

Wang Yan had made sure of that.

The contract Gen signed for the hotel was airtight—she had to serve as the executive chef for at least a year, or face legal consequences.

So, despite wanting to distance herself from Lee, she remained in the business, handling the new hotel's menu and operations.

She worked tirelessly, focusing on recipes, customer experiences, and avoiding Lee at all costs.

It worked—for the most part.

Until Nam showed up.

A Friend's Visit

One evening, while Gen was finalizing a new dish, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Still working yourself to death, huh?"

Gen looked up to see Nam standing in the doorway, arms crossed, a knowing smile on her lips.

"Nam?" Gen blinked, surprised. "When did you get back?"

"Just visited my parents. Thought I'd check in on my best friend, who's clearly not doing okay."

Gen rolled her eyes. "I'm fine."

Nam raised an eyebrow. "Sure. That's why you look like a zombie."

Gen chuckled, shaking her head. "I'm serious. I'm moving on."

Nam hummed, stepping closer. "You know, our parents always wanted us to get married. I could do it, you know. Save you from all this heartbreak."

Gen laughed, a genuine one this time. "Oh please. You'd get bored of me in a week."

Nam smirked. "You underestimate my tolerance for disaster."

Gen shook her head, appreciating Nam's attempt to lighten the mood.

But deep down, she knew—Lee had changed her. And she couldn't go back to how things were before.

Still, she couldn't let this affect her family. She had to move on.

Lee's Doubts

Meanwhile, Lee was anything but fine.

She had agreed to marry Joon, her childhood friend. He was kind, successful, and everything her mother wanted for her.

And yet, she felt nothing.

Every time she looked at him, she wondered why she wasn't happy.

Why she kept thinking about Gen.

Why she felt like she was making a mistake.

And then, she made a decision.

She needed to see Gen one last time.

A Misunderstood Moment

Lee arrived at the hotel, her heart pounding.

She wasn't sure what she was expecting—closure, maybe.

But as she stepped into the lobby, her entire world tilted.

There, in the garden, stood Gen and Nam.

Gen had her arms wrapped around Nam, smiling softly. Nam was laughing, her hands resting on Gen's waist.

It was intimate. Too intimate.

A sharp, unfamiliar feeling twisted in Lee's chest.

Before she knew it, her feet were moving.

She marched straight toward them.

Gen barely had time to react before—SLAP!

The sound echoed in the garden, the sting on Gen's cheek burning.

Nam took a step back in shock.

Gen slowly turned her head, eyes blazing as she met Lee's furious gaze.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Gen snapped, touching her cheek.

Lee was breathing heavily, her hands trembling.

"I—" Lee started but stopped.

She didn't know why she was acting like this.

Why she felt like she was suffocating.

Why the sight of Gen with someone else made her furious.

Gen's eyes narrowed. "You're getting married, right? So why do you care?"

Lee opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Because she finally understood.

She liked Gen.

And she was jealous.