Page 121 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
‘Don’t think I haven’t noticed the signs. I may not say it, but I sure see it. The long sighs, the absent-minded twirling of your hair, the lost-in-thought smiles, the heart stickers on your notepad, the red hearts on the calendar on the days, I assume, you’ve been seeing your crush? Did you think I wouldn’t notice?’
Timira is teasing, but Hanee is nervous.
‘So have you told them yet?’
‘Ajig anim[Not yet],’ Hanee mutters under her breath and turns her head away.
‘Why is that? Hasn’t love made you brave, feel free? Still using your brain to think, and not your heart?’
Curling her fists in frustration, Hanee grinds her teeth and rolls her eyes.
Seonbae, you know nothing!
‘Oh, little Honey is upset. See! It’s easier said than done. I’m sure Rod’s intentions were noble, but it’s irresponsible to be idiotic when it concerns others. And this isn’t the first time I’ve suffered because of his idiocy …’
‘Seonbae, johahaeyo[I like] …’
‘I can’t believe my luck. How much more rotten could it have been? Gah, there’s no escaping it. Bad luck sure does follow me around like a loyal pup. It’s like I attract all these bad vibes like a bloody magnet!’
‘Seonbae, dangshin johahaeyo[I like you]!’
Hanee shouts this time, loudly enough to interrupt Timira.
‘Huh? I know you do. I like you, too, darling,’ patting her head with a smile before opening her mouth to continue her tirade against Rod. But Hanee doesn’t let her.
‘Seonbae, stop! I said I like you. You asked if I’ve confessed to my crush. Well, I just did. You. It’s you. I’ve had a crush on you since your first day at work. Please don’t widen your eyes anymore, and maybe don’t stare at me while I let my heart takeover the brain. Or I’ll never be able to get allllllll of this off my chest.’
Timira pretends to look sideways out of the window but from the corner of her eye can see Hanee breathing hard and shaking a little.
‘I’m sorry to dump this on you when you obviously already have heaps on your plate. But now that the cat’s out of the bag, I’m going to let it knock the tumbler over and spill all the milk, too.’
Timira laughs in her head but manages to keep a straight face.
Look at her, making jokes even when she’s nervous. What a cutie! Haaye, how I wish I liked women, too. Women really are the coolest!
‘I know you like someone else, and it’s cool. Trust me, it is. And, you know the best part? He knows too!’
‘Haneul knows I like him?’ Timira is trying to keep up.
‘No, Seonbae. I mean, yes. Isn’t that obvious? Isn’t that partly why you are here? But, that’s not what I meant.’
‘Then what did you mean? Oho, please be more precise, my dear Honey. I’m old, I’m sleep deprived, and I’m being chased by the ghosts of my recent past.’ Timira sounds tired and her voice pleading.
‘Daepyonim knows I like you.’ Hanee speaks matter-of-factly.
Haneul knows?!
‘That youlike melike me?’ Tim asks, amazed.
‘It was our secret until it wasn’t. Until now, I mean. Well, yeah, like I was saying, I like you. So I think I know how Rodrigo-ssi must be feeling. And then there’s your history with him. If for nothing else, give him a chance just for your time together, for the sake of all the happy memories you made together!’
As though right on cue, Rod’s name flashes on Timira’s phone.
‘Answer it, eonni. Just do it!’
Timira picks up her phone, meaning to answer. But she doesn’t. She puts it aside instead.
‘Seonbae, what are you doing?’
