Page 108 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
Why is she asking me? Why can’t she ask him? Are they not speaking? What’s going on between them? Have they brok—no, no, I will not speculate. I will wait for Haneul to clarify and explain.
‘Ten o’clock is what I know. He’s already on his way. Why do you a—’
Mina doesn’t let her finish.
‘Then there’s absolutely no time to waste. Ms Marak, please get to the location.Ppalliyo!’
‘Wait, what? Slow down, Ms Ri! Why are you asking me to go there? For wh—’
Mina interrupts again.
‘Just rush to the interview. I’d give you details, but that’d take too much time. Just trust me and go!’ Mina’s voice is shaking and is laced with panic.
Trust you? Sure!
Timira can’t seem to understand the urgency.
What’s going on? Why does she sound so distressed? And why must I go? What if I end up only causing trouble? Is that what she wants? What is she even playing at? And where on earth is she?!
‘Er, Mina-ssi, Choi Bujangnim is handling the interview from the team’s end. So you have no need to worry!’
‘You have no idea. This is not in Mr Choi’s control. I’ve tried to reach both him and Haneul, but they are both unavailable. You’re the only person who can handle this now.’
‘Why me?’Why on earth does she want me between Rodrigo and Haneul? What is she scheming now? Is she hatching some evil plan?
‘Well, because Rodrigo might be in danger. Well, no, not mortal danger, that’s not what I meant. Haneul and Rodrigo cannot be in the same room. Just please go. I’ll explain later. I’m begging you. Do this for Haneul, please!’
Timira wants to ask where Mina is and why she cannot go but doesn’t.
I’m sure she must either be physically entirely unable to be there or the situation is indeed out of her hands. Else why would she ask her jaani dushman aka me to go? Wait a minute, could she have created this bhasad? Is she all the fasaad ki jad? Why else would she ask me to go? I mean, I’m sure she hatesme, for crying out loud! Good grief, I just hope I don’t end up making it worse!
‘Okay, okay, I’m going. Relax!’
‘And please, please, keep me posted!’ she pleads.
Braving work-hour traffic, Timira manages to reach the venue, the Hyatt, a few minutes past nine-thirty. Cameras have been set up in the beautifully designed Grand Salon. The interview is going to be streamed live on the website of the news publication Kang Yoojin works for,Datpatch. She looks around the room to spot a familiar face but ends up meeting the curious gaze of Yoojin locked square on Timira’s face. Startled, she misses a step, trips on the tripod stand in front of her and is about to descend on to the floor when someone holds her arm and breaks her fall.
‘Oh, Bujangnim, it’s you! I was looking for you. Annyeong!’ Timira smiles brightly.
‘What are you doing here, Timira-ssi?’ he demands to know.
‘Bujangnim, you won’t believe what happened …’
She informs him about the panicked call she received from Mina.
Mr Choi listens patiently, takes a deep breath, and then speaks.
‘Timira-ssi, relax. It’s all under control. The thing is …’
He proceeds to bring her up to speed about what Yoojin has been up to and about how Timira’s identity and history with Rodrigo were about to be made public.
‘Daepyonim stepped up and decided to do this interview so your privacy wouldn’t be invaded. It was either this or an exposé on your and Rodrigo-ssi’s past.’
I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe. Wait, he did WHAT? Why didn’t he tell me? We spoke last night …
‘Timira-ssi, don’t stress. Daepyonim is going to handle this like a boss!’
Timira’s heart is awash with renewed affection and love for Haneul, but something still seems to be bothering her.
