Today marked the end of an era. My favorite officemate, my work buddy, my partner-in-crime through countless deadlines and coffee breaks, had her last day at the office. The reality didn't fully sink in until we found ourselves walking through the familiar streets of IT Park, heading to our usual samgyupsal place for what would be our final meal together as colleagues.
This little Korean BBQ joint has been our sanctuary for months. Every celebration, every rough day, every random Tuesday when we needed comfort food – this was our spot. The staff knew our usual orders, our preferred table by the window, and how we liked our banchan arranged. Tonight felt different though. The air was thick with nostalgia and the weight of goodbye.
As we settled into our booth, the familiar sizzle of the grill couldn't mask the quiet melancholy between us. We ordered our usual spread, but everything felt more significant – each bite a memory we were trying to preserve. The beef was particularly exceptional tonight, as if the universe wanted to give us one perfect last meal. The marbled cuts melted like butter on our tongues, tender and rich with that smoky char we'd grown to love. Each piece was perfectly seasoned, the meat so succulent it practically fell apart at first bite, leaving us savoring every morsel in comfortable silence.
We talked about everything and nothing – office gossip, her upcoming move to Manila, promises to stay in touch, inside jokes that made us laugh until our cheeks hurt. But underneath it all was the unspoken truth: things would never be quite the same again.
As we wrapped the last pieces of beef in lettuce, adding just the right amount of ssamjang, I couldn't help but feel grateful. Grateful for the friendship, for all the shared meals, for having someone who made the workday brighter just by being there.
Monday feels impossibly far away and yet too close. She'll be starting her new adventure in Manila while I'll be navigating the office without my favorite person. But tonight, surrounded by the warmth of our favorite restaurant and the comfort of perfectly grilled beef, we're exactly where we need to be – together, one last time.
That's it for today's blog. See you in my next one!
Sending some love and light
With love, Jane