Page 86 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
Timira can’t tell if he really doesn’t remember or is only pretending. His face is a little dark, true, but that could be because of the lighting.
Timira then proceeds to narrate all that she has managed to recall since Jeju. About the frisbee attack, about polishing off Haneul’s crate of beers, about nearly passing out, about hurting herself in Haneul’s car. She thanks him for driving her to the hospital.
Haneul doesn’t acknowledge her thanks. He then proceeds to feign ignorance of most of the details Tim has just shared.
‘I do recall having driven an injured young lady to the hospital. That was you?’
He tries to sound incredulous but to his ears he sounds mostly shocked. Shocked that after seemingly having forgotten all of it, she now appears to remember all the little details. He knows acting is not one of his strongest suits and prays Timira isn’t able to call his bluff.
‘That was me, indeed. Yes! Can you believe it? What a coincidence! Who would’ve thought we’d meet again!?’
Haneul smiles nervously and feels sweat starting to form little beads across his temples.
‘I can never thank you enough for what you did for me back then. Especially after all the torture I put you through.’
‘I only did what any half-decent human would have done. I mean, how could I let an unescorted lady pass out in a public space?’
I wasn’t unescorted. I was WITH YOU, HANEUL!
Timira is a little pained to hear Haneul speak about the evening with such little emotion. Timira has accorded it a place of utmost significance amid her treasured memories. But when she speaks, she does well to hide her disappointment.
‘Well, I am embarrassed about the way I behaved at the beach …’
‘Yeah, about that, weirdly, I can’t seem to remember much at all.’
Why am I lying? I remember every detail down to the minutest bit!
This time, Timira is unable to mask her disappointment.
‘You really can’t recall us meeting on the beach? We listened to your playlist, I yapped about myself, we drank beers, I, um, I, I mean, we …’
… kissed. We kissed, Haneul!She wants to say this out loud but restrains herself.
‘Wow, all this happened? I only seem to vaguely recall seeing a girl about to pass out on the beach, and then I tried to drive her home. She, I mean you—wow, I still can’t believe it was you—got hurt in the car. Else the hospital trip wouldn’t even have been necessary!’
What am I even doing? I’m burying myself under this heap of lies just so she doesn’t think of me as a creepy stalker. When she finds out I’ve lied about not remembering anything, she’ll thinkof me as a stalker AND liar both! What a mess! I’m digging myself a deep grave.
Timira has been stung into silence by Haneul’s cool denial of all that had transpired between them.
‘In fact, it is my fault that you got injured. I should be the one apologizing. I couldn’t even hang around at the hospital. I am so sorry, Timira!’
Does he really not remember any of it? Am I really that unremarkable? Did it not mean anything to him? Have I imagined everything up until now—all the glances, all the smiles, all his words … in Bali, at the office, in Jeju—has all of this really been my imagination?!
‘Timira, Timira-ssi, are you okay?’
Timira has been lost in thought.
‘Yes, I’m sorry. Yes, I’m okay. I’m great, Haneul-ssi!’
I shouldn’t drag this any further. What is he going to think? What if he thinks I’ve made all this up just to appear to be closer to him? Koi na, he wants to act like it didn’t happen, toh main bhi wohi karungi! Two can play this game!
‘It’s almost closing time here, shall we call for the bill?’
Haneul is slightly taken aback by Timira’s sudden change of track.
‘Yes, of course. It’s late, can I drive you home?’
‘Don’t worry about it, Haneul-ssi. I’ve already called a cab.’
