Page 49 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
TOKYO, JAPAN
Seventeen-year-old Kenji has just been tackled by prodigious thirteen-year-old Korean defender Sky. Unusually built and skilled for his age, Sky has blocked all his attempts so far. Kenji, used to scoring in every game, is starting to get frustrated and committing one foul after another. He kicks Sky in the shin and is promptly booked by the referee. Sky is on the ground receiving medical attention when an angry Kenji goes up to him and yells, ‘Stop wasting time, youkimchi yaro Chon!’ It is a Japanese insult for Koreans.
Unable to hold it in any longer, Sky gets up and headbutts him. The referee sends him off. And Kenji is substituted by his coach within five minutes of Sky being sent off. Angry beyond reason, Kenji picks up a spare goalpost and attacks Sky from behind, landing a blow on the back of his head.
There is a small news item in Korean newspapers the following day: ‘Promising Korean Footballer with Prodigious Talent Injured during a Game in Attack with Racist Overtones.’
It goes on: ‘Attacker being a minor cannot be named. Is currently in juvenile custody and undergoing interrogation. Victim has successfully undergone emergency operation in Kyoto. Is now being flown back to Seoul for further treatment. We condemn such dastardly behaviour and urge the government to protect our citizens from racist hate crimes in foreign lands.’
Chapter Nine
Seoul, Korea
Timira assumes it’s Hanee when she hears a knock on the door.
‘Come on in, uri Honey!’ she shouts out warmly without bothering to look up as she rummages through the top drawer of her desk, frantically looking for something.
So when an unfamiliar honeyed voice that sounds nothing like Hanee’s greets her, she hurriedly slams the drawer shut and in the process squashes her fingers.
‘Ow!’ she yelps in pain and promptly stuffs her index and middle fingers inside her mouth. The unfamiliar voice rushes towards Timira to check how badly she is hurt. To answer, Timira finally looks up and takes a long, hard look at the owner of the strange voice. Scenes from the parking lot flash before her eyes and sting her. Reeling a little from the surprise, she tries hard to gather her wits and respond appropriately but is unable to find her voice and keeps sucking on her fingers.
‘Ms Marak, are you in a lot of pain? Shall I get some first aid?’
Dude, open your mouth and say something …Timira’s inner voice is shouting.Say what? I don’t wish to speak to my …
‘Dushman!’
‘I beg your pardon?’
Oh, shit! Did I say that out loud? Good going, Timira!
‘Never mind, I was only mumbling to myself. Um, hi, Ms Ri! I wasn’t expecting to see you. May I ask what brings you here?’
Timira looks visibly uncomfortable. She remembers how Mina had her arms around Haneul and feels a stab inside her chest. Mina doesn’t fail to notice how ill at ease Timira looks and can’t help but smile a little.
‘I was here to meet Stephanie, so I thought I’d pop in and say hi.’
Say hi? What the hell? How does she even know me?
‘Uh, that’s very sweet of you,’ Timira lies effortlessly. ‘Would you like me to show you to her cabin?’ Timira is finally able to gain access to her stores of courage and sarcasm.
‘Why, thank you! You must think I’m lost, how cute. This isn’t my first visit to SecondSkin, you know. You see, Stephanie is one of my best friends, my father has invested in this company, and my fiancé is the owner. But I like how naïve you are. Very cute!’ All guns blazing, Mina makes her intentions known and displays with pride her rather well-stocked arsenal, but does so behind a veil of saccharine sweetness which immediately enamours Timira.
Wow, her English is perfect. No hint of an accent. And what are those teeth? How can they be so white?Timira quickly observes as Mina wastes no time in baring her fangs.
‘Sure, good for you. But I’m not sure how that explains your presence in my cabin, Ms Ri!’
‘Please call me Mina. You needn’t be formal with me.’
Unable to bring herself to feel comfortable, Tim continues to speak formally. ‘That’s very kind of you, but I still don’t understand what it is that you’ve actually come to say. Come to think of it, I don’t recall us being introduced …’
‘Precisely! I’m here to formally introduce my—’
Mina is unable to finish with Timira rudely cutting in. She has decided to repay the rudeness with some of her own. ‘In any case, I don’t see much need for an introduction either. Certainly not yet!’
Dang! That came out really nasty. Am I being too obvious? Ugh, what a chudail I am. Why am I being rude to her? This is no fault of hers. This is ALL on me. And that Korean Adonis fiancé of hers with his dancing eyes and bewitching smile. Stupid Adonis, stupid me!
Taken aback by Timira’s brusqueness, Mina recoils and takes a moment to plan her next course of action. She has no idea that Timira is trying hard to be her usual affable self but failing miserably.
