Future Me and My Love

The air inside Wang Hotels was thick with unspoken words. Gen sat in the executive lounge, her fingers idly tracing the rim of a coffee cup. She wasn't supposed to be here, at least not in this setting. If it were up to her, she would've left the contract behind and never looked back. But legal bindings were stronger than emotions, and so she remained, fulfilling the terms of her agreement.

She had buried herself in work, taking charge of the hotel's culinary division, pushing herself harder than ever. It was a way to drown out the pain, the heartache of Lee's words still fresh in her mind.

"I'm going to marry the man my mother chose for me."

Gen scoffed under her breath, stirring her coffee with unnecessary force. Why did Lee's choice still bother her? It wasn't like she hadn't been rejected before, but something about Lee's denial of her own feelings—because Gen was sure Lee was lying—was making her restless.

The doors to the lounge swung open, and a familiar figure stepped in. Gen knew who it was before even looking up.

Lee.

Her heels clicked sharply against the marble floor as she walked in with her usual grace, but there was something different. A stiffness in her shoulders, a hesitation in her step.

Gen smirked, leaning back in her chair, her casual stance a sharp contrast to the unease in Lee's posture. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Miss Soon-to-be-Married?"

Lee's lips pressed into a thin line. "We need to talk."

Gen feigned indifference, waving a hand. "Talk? About what? Your wedding invitations? Because I'd rather not waste my time."

Lee exhaled sharply, frustrated. "Can you stop acting like a child for once?"

That made Gen sit up, her dark eyes narrowing. "Excuse me?"

Lee took a deep breath as if preparing herself for a difficult conversation. "I—" she hesitated, her fingers curling into a fist before she unclenched them. "I saw you with Nam the other day."

Gen blinked. Then laughed. "Oh? And? Since when do I owe you an explanation about who I spend time with?"

Lee's jaw tightened. "You were hugging her."

"And?" Gen tilted her head, intrigued. "Why does that matter to you?"

Lee faltered, looking away.

Gen stood up, stepping closer, her height making Lee look up slightly. "Lee, if you're going to act like my ex, at least admit you have feelings for me first."

Lee's eyes flashed with something unreadable before she scoffed. "You're ridiculous."

Gen smirked. "You slapped me because you thought I was with Nam. That's not exactly the reaction of someone who doesn't care."

Lee's cheeks turned slightly pink, but she masked it with a glare. "You're delusional."

Gen sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "You're impossible, you know that?"

A moment of silence stretched between them, charged with emotions neither of them were willing to acknowledge.

Finally, Lee straightened. "I just wanted to say—don't cause trouble in the hotel. My mother—" She paused. "She won't tolerate it."

Gen's smirk disappeared. "Ah. So you're here to warn me, not because you actually care?"

Lee hesitated before turning away. "I have responsibilities, Gen. I don't have time for this."

Gen watched her leave, something twisting inside her. Why did it feel like Lee was running away—not from her, but from herself?

Later That Night

Lee sat in her car outside her family's estate, her fingers gripping the steering wheel. Her mother's words echoed in her head.

"Your wedding is set, Lee. It's time to stop thinking about things that don't matter."

She closed her eyes, exhaling shakily. Then why did Gen still matter so much?