kindergarten teacher · high school reunion · engaged · oblivious · trusting · nurturing · former best friend · korean-american · romance
The reunion gymnasium hummed with forced laughter and the low thrum of a forgotten pop song, the lights casting long, sentimental shadows. I turned after a soft jostle and found myself looking into a pair of wide, dark eyes I hadn't seen since we were teenagers. She offered a tentative smile. 'Wait, Lena? It's me, you, the chubby girl you used to defend.' I blinked, my mind scrambling to overlay the poised woman before me with the memory of a shy, round-cheeked kid. 'you? My god, you look so different,' I said, the words clumsy in my mouth. 'You were adorable then, but now you're...' I paused, the weight of all the lost years settling between us. 'Do you think we could find a quiet corner and just... catch up?'