The plane descended through the clouds, and Seoul slowly came into view beneath me. Buildings of every size stretched across the city under the pale sky. My fingers rested lightly on the armrest as I stared out the window. Four years. It felt strange seeing the city again after so long, like returning to a place that had never truly left me.
When the wheels touched the runway, the plane shuddered gently before slowing to a stop. I reached for my carry-on and stepped into the aisle as soon as the seatbelt sign clicked off. A slow-moving line of passengers stretched ahead, and a quick glance behind showed it was no different there.
A quiet breath escaped me.
Buzz. Buzz.
My hand slipped into my purse, pulling out my phone just as the vibration stopped. The screen lit up to reveal ten missed calls. All from Amy.
A soft chuckle left me as I unlocked my device and called her back. Amy Yang, my best friend since high school. My ride or die. She answered before the first ring even finished.
"Sophie!"
I pulled the phone slightly away from my ear with a small wince. "Hello to you too," I said, a smile pulling at my lips. "We just landed. I'll be there soon."
"Hurry up! I've been waiting for four years, I can't wait another second."
"Amy, the plane literally just touched down."
"I don't care."
"You are impossible."
"And yet you love me."
I shook my head softly as the line of passengers in front of me finally started moving again. "I'll see you soon," I said.
"You better," she replied before hanging up.
By the time I collected my luggage and made my way down to the main floor, the airport had grown incredibly busy. Travelers rushed past in every direction, their overlapping voices blending with the clatter of rolling suitcases and echoing overhead announcements. My eyes scanned the crowd until I spotted Amy near the railing, her head swiveling left and right as she searched for me.
"Amy!" I called out, lifting my free hand into the air.
Her head snapped toward me instantly. "Sophie!" Her face lit up like a child opening a long-awaited Christmas gift. She rushed forward, nearly knocking into a businessman as she ran toward me.
"I'm back," I laughed just as Amy threw her arms around me. The hug was so tight I stumbled back a step.
"I can't believe you're actually here!" she squealed, squeezing me one last time before finally pulling away. Curious glances from people passing by made me smile sheepishly, and I gently patted her shoulder.
"I am so happy you are back for good," she said cheerfully, placing her hands on my shoulders to examine me closely.
"Me too," I replied quietly.
Amy studied my face for a moment before grinning. "You still look exactly the same."
I raised an eyebrow. "Should I be offended?"
"No," she laughed. "It just feels like you never left. Come on, let's get out of here." She grabbed my suitcase handle and began pulling it toward the exit.
Outside, the cool air brushed gently against my skin as we walked toward her black Toyota Corolla parked along the curb. Amy hoisted my luggage into the trunk, closing it with a satisfied thud.
"Still coming to my place for the night, right?" she asked as we climbed into the car.
I nodded, rummaging through my purse in search of my lip gloss. "Of course." Receipts and a pen tumbled into my lap as I dug through the small mess.
"Looking for something?" Amy asked, starting the engine.
"My lip gloss."
Without looking away from the road, she reached into the cup holder and handed me hers.
"You're a lifesaver," I smiled gratefully.
"I know," she said proudly. As she pulled onto the road, the radio began playing a familiar pop anthem. Amy immediately cranked the volume up. "Oh my god, I love this song."
I groaned and leaned back in my seat. "Please don't sing."
She ignored me completely. Moments later, her voice filled the car—completely off-key but fiercely enthusiastic.
I covered my face with one hand. "Amy, people at the stoplight can hear you."
"Good," she declared. "They should appreciate my talent."
"That's not talent."
The ride to her apartment passed in a blur of laughter, broken occasionally by her dramatic singing and my futile attempts to stop her. Later that evening, she pulled into the parking lot of her building. I gathered my things and followed her up to the fifth floor.
"You have a nice place," I said as I stepped inside. The apartment was simple but cozy, with soft lighting and neatly arranged furniture that reminded me of my college days in England.
Amy dropped her keys onto a small catch-all tray near the door. "It took a while to get it like this."
"It suits you."
She led me to the guest room to drop off my luggage before giving me a quick tour. Soon, we were settled on the couch with two cups of tea warming our hands. Steam curled softly from the mugs as I took a sip, letting the warmth spread through my chest.
The rest of the night was spent catching up on the four years we'd missed. I learned that Amy and Nicholas were finally together—feelings that had existed from the start but had taken years to finally surface.
"You confessed first?" I asked, genuinely surprised.
Amy shrugged, a small, triumphant smile forming. "Someone had to."
"I'm proud of you."
She laughed softly. "It was terrifying." After shifting slightly on the couch, her expression turned serious. "So... what are your plans with Harley?"
A heavy silence settled between us. I stared down at the amber liquid in my cup.
"Not to make things worse," she continued gently, "but he's changed, Sophie. He's cold. Distant. Maybe you should stay here a couple more days before seeing him."
I offered a weak smile, my fingers twisting together in my lap. "Auntie Huang kept me posted," I said. "When she found out I was coming back, she told me I'm moving back into my old room."
Amy blinked in disbelief. "You're moving back there?"
I nodded.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?"
Truthfully, it wasn't. But after hearing Auntie's plea, I couldn't refuse. I had never been able to say no to her or Uncle—not when they had always been so endlessly kind to me.
"I'll be fine, Amy," I said quietly. "Besides, I can't avoid Harley forever. If he finds out I've been in the city and haven't seen him, it will only make things worse. It's better to face him now."
Amy sighed softly. She finished her tea and set the empty cup on the coffee table. "Fine. But after you settle in, we're going to our favorite restaurant."
I laughed, the tension breaking slightly. "I still can't believe you haven't been there since I left."
"It's not the same without you."
"You're being dramatic again."
"And you're judging me again."
We went to bed soon after, sharing her queen-sized bed beneath a heavy white duvet. Within minutes, the exhaustion of travel pulled us both into a deep sleep.
Morning came too quickly. Sunlight filtered through the sheer white curtains, warming my face and coaxing me awake. After a quiet stretch, I slipped out of bed, leaving Amy sound asleep.
The bathroom offered a brief sanctuary of calm. I showered, brushed my teeth, and fixed my hair into a simple half-up, half-down style. Standing before the full-length mirror, I smoothed out my yellow knee-length dress. Simple. Put together. Ready.
Behind me, Amy turned over and resumed her soft snoring. I couldn't help but smile.
In the kitchen, I got to work. Soon, pancakes sizzled in the pan beside scrambled eggs and bacon, while I washed and arranged bananas and strawberries neatly in a bowl. I prepared two plates, keeping one warm in the microwave for Amy, and carried the other to the table.
Just as I lifted my fork, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Auntie: my ride would arrive in fifteen minutes.
I stared at the glowing text for a long moment before typing a quick reply. I finished my breakfast, washed my dishes, and gathered my belongings from the bedroom. After leaving a short thank-you note on the kitchen island, I took one steadying breath, stepped out of the apartment, and made my way down to the main lobby.
Mr. Lu's silver BMW was already waiting at the curb.
"Hello, Mr. Lu," I greeted.
"Welcome back, Miss Huo," he replied warmly, taking my luggage and placing it in the trunk.
I slid into the back seat. As the car pulled away from the curb, my thoughts immediately raced ahead to Harley. How was I going to explain everything?
A soft, anxious breath escaped me.
"Are you okay, Miss Huo?" Mr. Lu asked gently.
I looked up, meeting his kind eyes in the rearview mirror. "I'm fine," I said softly.
He nodded. "The young master will be happy to see you."
A weak smile formed on my lips as my heart hammered nervously against my ribs. Happy to see me? Four years ago, Harley hadn't even come to the airport to see me off. In fact, he had avoided me entirely during those final weeks. Every time I had tried to speak with him, he had brushed me aside—completely cold and distant.
The BMW rolled to a smooth stop at the wrought-iron gates of the Huang mansion. Stepping out, I stared up at the imposing house as a quiet, familiar ache settled deep in my chest.
I was back. And sooner or later... I was going to have to face him.