Page 70 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
And she doesn’t.
‘Wait, what? Is something the matter? Are you unhappy? Are you being bullied? Is everyone giving you a tough time? Why haven’t you told us? Come back! Come right back. You don’t need the money. Baba and I can feed you!’
‘Good grief, Ma. Will you relax? I’m fine, everything’s okay. I’m just really busy and trying to do my best, that’s all. I need to focus on the job right now and would really appreciate it if you understood!’
‘When have I been a distraction? Have I ever caused any sort of disruption in your work? No, tell me! Why are you speaking with me in that tone?Ettoh boro hoye gechish je Ma er mookhey mookhey kotha bolchish[Have you grown up so much that you are going to now talk back to your mum]?’
Timira doesn’t have the patience to deal with this any longer. The lunch break will be over soon. She just wants to eat her sandwich and go back in before any sort of f*** up happens.
‘Ma, look, can we please talk about this when I’m back in Seoul? I’ve really got to go now …’
‘You are not in Seoul? You said you are at work. Where are you? Who are you with? Why don’t you tell me anything?’
Timira has forgotten to tell her parents she would be in Jeju for work. In the midst of the drama that she’s found herself in since coming to Korea, she doesn’t blame herself, though, for forgetting this minor detail. Well, minor for her, but major for her mother.
‘Ma, I am at work. And, I must go back now. I will call you soon. Take care, okay? Bye, bye, bye!’
Timira hangs up before her mother can say more.
She has been walking and talking all this while. She’s near the swimming pool by now and, in classic Timira fashion, has conveniently ignored the wet floor and the cleaning-in-progress warning signage that is staring at her right at the mouth of the pathway heading to the pool.
Trying to balance the phone and plate while attempting to unbox the sarnie, she misses a step, slips and before she knows it has made a giant and loud splash in the pool. Hanee, who has come back out looking for her, runs in the direction of the pool on hearing the splash. But she can only stand there rooted, frozen in absolute shock. There’s a flurry of activity in the next few seconds, and a crowd starts to form near the pool. She feels a gust of wind brush past her as a hazy figure passes her by, yelling, ‘She can’t swim’, and there’s a second splash.
‘Timira has fallen into the pool,’ somebody yells on set.
Alarmed, Haneul dashes out. By the time he reaches the pool area, a doctor with a first-aid kit has already arrived on the scene. As has nearly the entire shoot crew. He inches closer to the pool and is about to jump in when he feels a pair of hands holding him back, holding on to his arm so tight that he can feel sharp nails digging into his bicep.
‘Where do you think you are going? Stop! Look, Rodrigo is already in the water. You will only be in his way. Not to mention you’ll end up looking like a fool!’
Haneul is stunned by her words and sudden appearance. He knew Mina was arriving today, but he hadn’t expected her to reach this early. He is seething—whether it’s because of the harsh truth in Mina’s words or at the sight of the drenched, bare-bodied Rodrigo holding Timira in his arms and bringing her out of the water, he can’t quite decide. But he knows for a fact thathe has never been this angry before. That he can be this jealous is new information for him.
As everybody rushes towards Timira and Rodrigo with blankets and towels, Haneul remains frozen. Mina relaxes her grip on his arm, eventually letting go.
‘Haneul, recall I told you this wasn’t going to be easy? Are you sure you even stand a chance? To my eyes, it doesn’t look like you do. See what happens when you slip? I know what it’s like to get burned by love, and it’s not fun at all.’
Haneul, consumed with concern for Timira, jealousy for Rodrigo, and rage for Mina, doesn’t say a word and only breathes rapidly to try and calm his mind and heart.
Timira silently curses herself for being a klutz and sheepishly looks around the room for Haneul. On spotting Mina next to him, she immediately cowers.
When did she get here? Argh, why didn’t I just drown? And why of all people did Rod have to jump in to save me? Uff, this is so embarrassing! Dhabba hoon main on the sisterhood. Single-handedly botching up the feminist movement. Always needing men to save me like I’m some abla bechari nari. Tch, shame on me!
Rodrigo, covered in towels, is enjoying all the attention being lavished on him and feeling like a hero. All the while stealing glances at Timira who’s hiding her face behind her hand.
Mina walks up to Rodrigo, wearing a beatific smile and compliments him profusely. Introducing herself, she says, ‘You really are a hero, aren’t you? On the field or off of it. We are really lucky that you signed with our club!’
‘I remember you. You were at the stadium the other day, weren’t you? When we met Timira’s team.’
Timira’s team, is it?Mina hisses under her breath but manages to retain her composure.
‘Hang on, you’re Chairman Ri’s daughter, aren’t you? I don’t easily forget faces like yours!’
And yet, you thought I was ‘Timira’s team’.But Mina, starved of compliments from Haneul, can’t help but blush hard.
‘I wonder why your father keeps you hidden away …’
Mina is taken aback by Rodrigo’s easy and effortless flirtation. It’s refreshing to her and she cannot help but smile coyly.
‘Or, is it your fiancé?’ he winks.
