Page 87 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
She hasn’t.I can’t bear to look at his face for another minute. This is too painful!
Haneul doesn’t press because he can tell from Timira’s face how nonplussed and confused she is. He doesn’t wish to confuse her any further until he is able to untangle the knots he has tied himself into.
Timira insists on paying the bill—‘I’m the one who suggested we meet.’ Her pride dictates this action.
‘Goodnight, Haneul-ssi. Thanks again for making time tonight.’ Bowing slightly, she quickly turns around and in hurried steps, starts to walk away.
She stops a few paces away from him, hesitates for a second or so and turns around.
‘Drive safe, Daepyonim. See you at work!’
Haneul just stares at her and tries to decipher her always lively but currently expressionless eyes as she bids him goodbye.
Turning around for the last time, Timira starts to walk away without as much as waiting for Haneul to respond. He watches her back almost disappear into the dark of the night. His eyes trail her as she stops at the curb and hails a taxi while his heart races. And then his feet follow.
Opening the door of the taxi, she is about to get inside when he pulls her back, spins her around and kisses her passionately.
Meanwhile, his phone that he has forgotten at the café vibrates noisily. Calls from Mina go unanswered.
Chapter Twelve
‘Shall we walk for a bit?’
Haneul had wanted to drive Timira home. But she insists on walking. Haneul is all too glad to oblige the object of his affection, adoration and addiction.
Gaadi ke andar, just he and I? Haaye, what if I’m unable to control myself? What if dimaag mein I have gande gande thoughts like Sonam Kapoor did about Fawad Khan inKhoobsurat? Brain is a bloody gutter only! Ashleel hoon main. Ashleela ashleela ki jawani …she tries to hide the chortle that’s starting to form inside her throat and ends up snorting.
‘That wasn’t me. I didn’t snort!’ she offers, alarmed, almost immediately.
Haneul smiles, amused.
‘But what about your car?’ Timira asks in a small voice, trying to change the topic and sound serious.
‘Oh, don’t worry about it,’ he brushes off Timira’s concern. ‘I’ll have it picked up by my driver in the morning. No sweat at all!’
Wah! Vadde log, vaddi baatein, hehehehe. Mazze kar le, Timmy.She giggles absent-mindedly.
Timira and Haneul have been walking in silence for a few minutes now. Side by side, their hands tantalizingly close, threatening to brush against the other’s skin. Haneul has been tempted to take her hand in his, but hesitates every time he is about to.
They are now walking along the stone wall around the perimeter of the Deokseogung. One of the five palaces in Seoul, the Deokseo is the only palace that sits alongside a series of Western-style buildings, the contrast adding to its unique charm.
‘Timira, where are you lost?’
Timira isn’t lost in thought. And she has heard Haneul. But she finds herself unable to break free from the shy awkwardness that has gripped her since Haneul’s mouth had met hers earlier.
‘Oh! I know this. I know this place! I’ve seen it before.’
On recognizing the stone wall, Timira is unable to hold back her excitement. She has seen it on multiple TV shows. A smile starts to form on her face, but is almost immediately replaced by a frown. Haneul is about to ask Timira how she is familiar with the Deokseogung, but stops on seeing her expression.
Oh, God! It’s THAT pretty palace wall. Where Gong Yoo saw Lee Dongwook in his tea room in Goblin! The one Im Siwan ran along wearing tingu chaddis inRun On. Uff, so pretty! But Alice said it’s jinxed. Sh**, why are we here? Why, why, why? Why am I here with Haneul?
Haneul doesn’t understand why Timira is looking so worried. He wants to know. ‘What’s wrong, Timira? Are you feeling unwell? What is the matter?’
Timira hesitates a little before speaking.
‘Er, well, my friend Alice—she’s Korean … well, American-Korean, really … anyway, yeah so, Alice had once told me about a myth surrounding this wall.’
‘A myth?’ Haneul cocks up an eyebrow in surprise. He is a man of science and has never quite understood why people still believe in omens, legends, myths and superstitions.
