Page 99 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
Mina rolls her eyes.
‘Give me a sec!’
It’s a series of photos from Stephanie, whose name in her contact list she has recently changed to ‘Traitor’. Photos of a man and a woman. The woman is dressed in an Indian outfit. They are both wearing big smiles, holding beer pints and looking lovingly into each other’s eyes.
‘All right. Let’s go get that coffee!’
They are walking down the hallway that leads into the Parkview when they come face-to-face with the two people in the photos Mina has just seen. A man and a woman. Faces she and Rodrigo are both familiar with.
Haneul and Timira.
* * *
Timira and Haneul.
Rodrigo and Mina.
They stare at one another for a few awkward seconds. Rodrigo is the first to break the silence.
Why are you guys together?Why is Tim wearing a saree?She wears these only on special occasions, she said. Why is she wearing one tonight?
There are a million things he wishes to ask but instead, to his own and everybody else’s surprise, he starts off with a clarification of sorts.
‘Ms Mina and I just bumped into each other, hehehe. I’m actually here to see a friend from São Paolo.’ He laughs nervously.
He is the only one laughing. Mina is glaring at him, Haneul is scowling at no one in particular, and Timira looks like she’s about to bite someone’s head off.
What sort of a moron is he? And how besotted is he with Timira still? Even now, he’s worried about what she’s going to think of him!
Mina continues to glare at Rodrigo, who turns towards her with pleading eyes.
Please, help me out here… his eyes seem to say.
‘Er, yeah. I was working out and Rodrigo-ssi happened to be here. We met each other by chance.’
Why must I explain to anyone why I’m doing what I’m doing? Least of all to my fiancé, who is here with another girl! Dressed to the nines, drinking, partying.
Her fiancé, in the meantime, is silently cursing his luck.
I finally decide to take charge, and this is how life bitchslapsme. Geurae, this is what I deserve for not being man enough to end things with Mina.
Haneul has, since the shoot in Jeju, actively been looking for an opportunity to discuss with his family first, and then with Mina, his wish to end their engagement. He knows how delicate the situation is, and how strongly his father is going to oppose his wish. Not to mention the fact that Mina’s father is still SecondSkin’s second-largest shareholder and primary investor. He has discussed with a couple of board members whom he trusts about buying back Mr Ri’s shares. And has also spoken with the bank about taking out a loan in order to return hisinvestment. He has not felt for anyone how he feels about Timira. Having realized that, he is a man on a mission. In order to do right by her, he is willing to pay any price, no matter how steep. But he still hasn’t had a chance to speak with his parents. With elections approaching, it’s an exceptionally busy time for Haneul’s father.
Timira, meanwhile, is strategizing mentally.
Bhagwan, yeh kya ajab khichdi hai, bhai? Triangle tak phir bhi theek tha, but Rod had to ruin the geometry, too! Bro has to be part of this, as well, and complicate things even further. Poor Haneul, why is he not saying anything? Maybe I only should!
Timira’s mouth has a brain of its own and it has decided to go ahead and take things into its own hands even before her other brain, the real deal, is able to greenlight it.
‘Daepyonim and I are here for a press interview. But looks like we’ll have to reschedule it. The journalist met with a minor accident on her way to the interview. Very unfortunate.’
Hain? I accompanied my boss to an interview wearing a saree? A blingy saree? In this cold? An interview at 10 p.m.? Oh, God, Timmy! At least come up with a believable story, dhakkan!
She’s cursing herself but doing her best to not let it show.
Haneul doesn’t add a word to Timira’s preposterous story and continues to scowl. Rodrigo looks like he’s in pain and Mina, well aware that Timira is lying, just smirks.
The hostess outside the restaurant has been patiently waiting for them to either move away or inside. Unable to let them crowd around the entrance, she walks towards them.
