Page 80 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
‘Jagiya, I hope we are not late for lunch?’
Haneul groans.
‘Um, I don’t think so. We should be able to make it back in plenty of time.’
‘We are done here.Geureom, galkkayo[Then, shall we go]?’
To the planner, she smiles sweetly and says, ‘Annyeonghi gyesaeyo,Aejeong-ssi!Najunge cheonha halkeyo[Goodbye, Ms Aejeong. I’ll call you later]!’
Mina grabs Haneul’s arm and holds it like they are about to walk together down a red carpet. Haneul doesn’t stop her but does absolutely nothing to hide the pained expression on his face.
Rodrigo and Chairman Ri are already seated at the table when they arrive at lunch. It’s a low table, the kind to be found at traditional Korean eateries housed insidehanoks, around which everybody has to sit on the floor cross-legged. Haneul grimaces a little seeing Rodrigo’s face but sits down promptly, unbuttoning his jacket, while Mina keeps standing. Until Rodrigo offers his jacket to her. She smiles in a way of thanks, and sits not cross-legged but with her knees folded and both her legs to a side, the only way she can sit in her short, fitted skirt. She uses Rodrigo’s jacket to cover her legs. Haneul doesn’t notice any of this and continues to scowl.
‘Here, let me pour you a drink,’ says Mr Ri, holding the traditional kettle full of heady makgeolli. ‘Uri tal, you too!’
Haneul and Mina obediently hold their tumblers out for Mr Ri to pour, and after he has, they politely turn sideways and gulp it down.
‘We nearly finished an entire kettle waiting for you both. Tell me, did you like the venue?’
‘Ye,abeoji. It’s small but quite exquisitely designed. Very tastefully done up, as well.Neomu yeppeo,abeoji!’
‘Choha, choha[Good, good]. I’m glad you like it. What about you, Baekseobang?’
‘Whatever Mina likes,’ Haneul replies uninterestedly.
Rodrigo has been waiting for an opportunity. Word has reached him about Timira being taken to the hospital by Haneul. He still hasn’t forgotten what had happened between him and Haneul at the showcase game. He jumps in before anybody can speak.
‘You are a smart man, Baek Daepyo! The woman is always right. Listen to her, and life will be a bed of roses!’ He thinks himself to be smart and smiles cheekily.
‘Then pray tell, why your life has been anything but?’
Two can play this game, you jerk!
‘It’s not my problem if you and the world choose to see only the thorns. From my vantage point, I see only roses!’
Mina giggles a little and looks up at Rodrigo. This time with admiration in her eyes. She recalls their short and surprisingly pleasant interaction from the previous day following Timira’s near-drowning, and smiles.
Mr Ri senses tension between the two men and tries to douse the fire.
‘So, Rod, tell us. Who is this woman who has made your life a bed of roses! Is this the same woman you spoke of at the press conference?’
Rumours have swirled for weeks now, both at the SecondSkin office as well as at the Seoul Stealers FC. What went down at the party after the game and later inside Timira’s office cabin was no secret. The news had taken no time in spreading like wildfire. A sort of frenzy had set in after Timira’s near-drowning. Tongues were wagging relentlessly. There was no denying that some game was definitely afoot. Despite this, there had been noconfirmation from any of the involved parties. And absolutely no word from the horse’s mouth. That Rodrigo and Timira shared history was evident to all. But of what nature and to which extent, everybody was curious to know. And what was even more curious was the much-engaged Baek Haneul’s involvement in what seemed like a lovers’ tiff.
Only Haneul knows for a fact that Rodrigo is Timira’s cheating ex-boyfriend. Mina can guess, like the others, but has been waiting for Rodrigo to confirm the same. Sniffing an opportunity, she jumps right in.
‘Yes, Rodrigo-ssi. Please tell us. Sure, we can all guess …’, she winks, ‘… but we’d like to hear from you. Of course, your secret’s going to be safe with us.’ She turns and adds, ‘Right, Haneul?’
Rodrigo knows he doesn’t have much time to waste. He knows he has to act fast if he wants Timira back in his life.
‘Yes, Hoejangnim. It is the same woman. The one I might’ve been destined to love. I’m not sure if she would like it if she knows I’ve revealed her identity since she’s a non-celebrity, but I know I’m in safe company.’ With a wink in Mina’s direction, he adds, ‘I am, am I not?’
‘Of course, Rodrigo-ssi!’
‘You said you can guess. May I know what, or rather who, your guess is?’
‘Well, it’s obvious, is it not?’ she teases. ‘It’s Ms Marak, obviously!’
‘Is it? You tell me!’ Rodrigo is now blushing.
