Page 118 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
‘Yeah, I was home all day. Quiet like a mouse. It was only after they left that I stepped …’
‘Don’t say “out”!’ Minhyun’s eyes look like they’re about to pop out.
‘Er,mian. Yeah, I did go out for a couple of hours to grab some dinner.’
‘HYUNG!’
‘No big deal, nobody noticed. I was in disguise!’ Rodrigo sounds almost triumphant.
‘Were you alone? Or was someone with you? Did you take public transport? Of course you did. You sent me and Taewoo-ssi home!’
‘How does it matter? Like I said, nobody knew it was me. I was absolutely inconspicuous!’
Minhyun isn’t listening anymore. He’s on his phone, frown lines decorating his small forehead, a new one getting added every second.
‘Hyungnim, you were with a woman last night!’
‘How do you know?’
‘There are photos!’ He holds the phone up.
Timira’s face is blurred, thank God!Rodrigo sighs in relief.
‘Bro, there were no cameras, no flashbulbs, I swear!’
‘Clearly, you were mistaken!’
Minhyun’s phone dings. A new news report has come up. This time it’s a rumour about Rodrigo quitting Seoul Stealers FC.
How did they find out about this?Rodrigo is perplexed.
‘Hyungnim, who else have you discussed this with?’
Only Timira, but she wouldn’t disclose this to the media. What is happening?
‘With no one. Only you!’
‘Hwagsilhabnayo[Are you sure]? Are you absolutely sure you’ve not shared this with anyone else? Because clearly, word has got out. Somebody somehow found out about this and let it out.’
‘Okay, okay, I did mention this to someone but only in passing. I trust this person more than I trust myself.’
‘Is this the same, er, “person” in the photos with you?’
Rodrigo nods.
‘Tell me exactly what happened, hyungnim. Where did you guys go?’
‘Nothing happened. We went to a pojangmacha, had pajeon and bindaetteok …’
Rodrigo trails off. And when he recalls in detail what had happened, he facepalms himself.
Timira had ordered soju that Rodrigo had asked to share because he knew she had always been a cheap drunk.
‘You are on medication. Of course you cannot be drinking, certainly not on my watch. Your fans won’t forgive me!’
A few shots later, she had loudly admonished him for trying to run away and lectured him on how he should not leave the club but stay and atone for his mistakes.
The small tent was packed with people. Anybody could’ve overheard their conversation. Not that Timira’s words needed overhearing. She was loud enough to be heard by everyone even fifty metres away.
