Page 38 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
Meanwhile, Timira has been passionately pushing for ambassadorship options other than Rodrigo. She has mentionedan Olympic gold medallist archer and a star high-jumper. There’s also a figure skater on her list. Everybody seems surprised at her level of preparation and her obvious disapproval of Rodrigo. But not Haneul. Mesmerized by her small mouth and bewitched by her dimples, his gaze has been fixed on her and yet he hasn’t heard a word of what she has said so far.
‘… this is 2024, c’mon! Most assumptions and pre-conceived notions about women have been proven wrong. Every day we learn something new. I’m the last person to believe in clichés—I mean, as a single woman in her late thirties, I should know a thing or two about clichés and how utterly untrue most are! And, yet, there are some truths that are undeniable. So, when I say that almost everything unsavoury we hear about popular male athletes is probably true, I really do mean it.’
I REALLY don’t. There are lots of wonderful male athletes across the world, in every discipline. It was just my sodding luck that I crossed paths with a rotten specimen. And now he’s threatening to ruin whatever little peace that’s left in my life. I will not let him! If that means having to come across as a man-hating loony, I don’t care!
Timira continues to speak breathlessly and passionately. ‘It’s unfortunate that even in this day and age, one should have to fight blatant misogyny, but it is the truth. And I speak from experience. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not a man-hater. I love men! I really do!’
Yeh kya bol rahi hoon? My mouth really IS going to be the end of me!
Hanee looks away, silently questioning her boss’s sanity yet again. Mr Choi shifts uncomfortably in his seat. Stephanie looks like she’s about to burst out laughing.
And Haneul is looking at her with adoring eyes, wearing an amused smile.
What a nutter! Every time she opens her mouth, some rubbish or the other comes out. And yet, why does it sound like music to my ears?
Taking a deep breath, Timira regains her composure and continues her tirade.
‘This isn’t a bra-burning, man-hating point of view, please don’t get me wrong. But having worked with famous international athletes throughout my career, I can say this with some confidence that high levels of testosterone are, almost always, trouble. In any case, there’s nothing more clichéd than a man endorsing a menswear brand. Even from a marketing point of view, would it not be a lot more groundbreaking to have a woman be the face of the brand? Aren’t we all moving towards a world that is becoming less binary with each passing day?’
Timira looks at Hanee for support but she’s scribbling in her notepad with such concentration that it looks like she’s writing her A-levels.
‘Seems like you’ve been on the receiving end of their bad behaviour. I feel bad for you, Ms Marak. Since you said that you speak from experience, I wonder if some of it might have been your fault? Perhaps you got too involved? We all know that boundaries must be maintained at all times, even when working closely …’ Stephanie Jung is in no mood to let some newbie ruin her pet project. Aware that Timira and Rodrigo had worked together at the same club, she is now even more curious to learn what’s making Timira so desperately try to discard Rodrigo. Especially since Rodrigo had specially mentioned her when they met.
Smart and qualified, Stephanie is known to be equally ruthless in the boardroom and the bedroom. Born into a middle-class family of working parents and married into one of Korea’s richest jolbu families, it is an open secret that she had banished her husband—whom she had met during her modelling daysand later quit the industry to go to business school with and eventually married—to the guest cottage of their home since finding out that he had cheated on her and tried to blame it on her busy career and his resulting loneliness.
There were whispers everywhere.
‘Why is she continuing to live with him?’
‘Why hasn’t she moved out?’
‘Why hasn’t she divorced him?’
‘Why is she working at a start-up?’
Questions that largely remained unanswered. Unaffected by people’s curiosity, Stephanie has continued to do what she’s good at. Working hard and helping SecondSkin grow since joining the company a year back.
Timira has by now heard enough about Stephanie from Hanee and Mr Choi to know that she isn’t going to back down. Especially given the fact that she and Rodrigo are acquainted with each other. In fact, it was she who Rodrigo had come to the office to meet when he and Timira had bumped into each other.
I wonder if Rod is into witchcraft. How does he charm all these strong women? Why is she going on a limb here trying to sign him? Aisa kya jadoo has he done on her? That’s how he charmed me also, pucca!
Sensing trouble, SecondSkin’s troubleshooter Nick Carter intervenes.
‘I understand your concern, Ms Jung, but I don’t appreciate the insinuation … may I remind you this is a boardroom and not a ladies’ parlour? Might be wise to take a break here. Let’s grab some coffee, take a walk, get a little fresh air in, and come back refreshed in about an hour? Daepyonim, would that be all right? Haneul-ssi?’
Haneul, although physically present, is mentally now elsewhere. Someplace familiar next to the sea. With a familiar face wearing her hair in familiar space buns.
Timira fishes out a pack of mints from her pants’ pocket and pops one inside her mouth. The familiar fragrance of Timira’s minty breath makes Haneul smile cheerfully.
So I have to contend with a little competition. What’s the big deal there?
Everybody is ready to leave and is waiting for Haneul’s response. But he can only smile giddily and bury his face inside his hands like little girls do when theiroppacrushes catch them lurking at their baseball practice.
Sensing an opportunity, Hanee slips out quietly. Clutching her phone close to her chest, she makes a dash for the elevator as soon as she’s out of the room. The crisp autumn breeze pinches her cold face so she slaps it a few times.
‘Michhyeosseo!Michigesseo jinja!Aaishh[This is crazy! I’m about to go crazy, really! Damn!] How could I let this happen?’
She continues to slap herself, alternating between her cheeks and forehead.
