Page 55 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
Satisfied, she doesn’t ask for more proof of Haneul’s love for her.
‘Let me fetch some more pa-kimchi for you!’
* * *
‘Why is your phone switched off, Haneul? What’s wrong with you?’ The female voice barges into the room, demanding an answer.
Haneul has been reading to his grandmother after lunch. As a child, she would read to him on weekends and holidays, and the roles had been reversed since Haneul turned adult.
‘Oh. Is that you, Mina-ya? What a surprise! Come in, come in!’ Haneul’s grandmother speaks cheerfully upon recognizing the voice whose owner has just walked in unannounced. ‘Annyeonghaseyo, Halmeoni!Jjaljinhaesseoyo? [Hello, grandmother! Trust you are well?]’
Mina bends low to greet her fiancé’s grandmother, who has quickly gotten up from the couch and in short but quick steps walked up to Mina. Smiling warmly, she stretches her arms out for a hug. Mina, smiling broadly, obliges. Haneul doesn’t move, doesn’t make a sound either.
‘Annyeonghaseyo, Hoejangnim!’ A second female voice chimes in. Haneul groans silently.
Great. So I’m being ambushed. How did they even find out? Argh, Choi Bujangnim! When will that ahjussi learn to keep secrets?
‘Oh, Stephanie! Welcome, welcome.’ Haneul’s grandmother seems happy to have company.
Turning towards Haneul, she adds, ‘Why are you just sitting there? Get up! Your fiancée is here. Take her bag!’
Haneul doesn’t budge and can almost hear himself barking when he speaks to Mina. ‘Why are you here?’
‘What sort of a question is that, Haneul? You should be grateful that you have such a loving fiancée!’ his grandmother is quick to reprimand. But Haneul isn’t about to relent.
‘What brings you here, Mina?’ he demands to know.
Mina has always known Haneul to be a respectful, soft-spoken gentleman. From the time they were friends, and even after he reluctantly got engaged to her. He didn’t love her, but he had never made her feel small. Until now.
That girl has done a number on him. What has happened to him? Does he hear himself speak? He doesn’t even care that we have company. Insulting me in front of Halmeoni, Stephanie … geurae, I can be a bitch too!
Taking a deep breath, Mina speaks in a cloyingly sweet voice.
‘I heard you were in Namhae and was worried that you might be unwell. Your phone was switched off; your parents didn’t even know you had left Seoul! What was I supposed to do?’ Mina’s words are earnest and her voice is dripping with concern. But she knows nothing is wrong with Haneul and he is here to only get away from the clusterfuck of Seoul that he, she, Timira and even Rodrigo are now part of.
‘Whom did you bribe to discover my whereabouts? How much did it set you back by?’ Haneul’s taunt unsettles Mina and she’s taken aback.
‘I’m sorry, Daepyonim. This is my doing. I told Mina you are here. She isn’t to blame!’ Stephanie is quick to come to her friend’s rescue.
‘Wait, what?Aga, you are not well? Isthatwhy you are here? Not to see me? Are you in pain again?’
Her words are panic-stricken. She has seen Haneul suffer for years.
Muttering curses at the two girls under his breath for having caused the old lady worry, Haneul wraps his arm around his gran and reassuringly squeezes her arm.
‘No, Halmeoni. I came here to see you and that’s the only truth. Come, sit down. Should I get you some water? Nothing is wrong, okay? I’m healthy as a horse!’
Thankfully, at that very moment, her grandmother’s assistant walks in.
‘Hoejangnim, it’s time for your physiotherapy.’
‘Cancel today’s session. I want to spend time with my grandkids!’ she pouts like a child.
‘Halmeoni, I’m here. I’ll be here when you come back from your session. Please don’t skip it. Don’t you want to live longer and stay fit so you can play with your great-grandkids?’ Haneul shamelessly blackmails her.
Falling for it, she beams widely and squeezes his hand. Smiling warmly at Mina, she lets her assistant lead her away.
‘Haneul, be a good host and look after the ladies, all right? And tell the cooks we’ll have guests at dinner. Oh, and have the guest rooms set up as well!’
