Page 103 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
Haneul and Mina had grown up together. Their families became close after Baek Jinha helped Chairman Ri out of a pickle. The chaebol heir whose family the whole nation envied and revered, and the dodgybyeonhosa’s son whose father made millions by helping shady clients get away with the nastiest crimes. Nobody wanted to get close to Haneul. Except Mina.
She had been Haneul’s loyal friend and companion through adolescence. It wasn’t until their late teens, though, that they discovered the true nature of their fathers’ association—Chairman Ri was going to fund Baek Jinha’s political career.
When the idea of her engagement to Haneul arose, she knew it was one of convenience. Yet, she drew solace from the fact that they were friends and that, unbeknownst to him, she had loved him a long time.
He will grow to love me… she had thought, hoped and sometimes even dared to believe. Yet, the reality couldn’t be further from it. When Haneul travelled to Paris for higher studies, Mina followed him. On birthdays away from his family, she made seaweed soup for him. She cut short her thrivingcareer in Paris as a model and brand influencer and followed Haneul back to Seoul when he decided to start his own company at home. She took every step to get closer to him. And yet, every step only drove him away a little farther every time.
Haneul might have been an inattentive fiancé, but he was dutiful nonetheless. Expensive gifts, social appearances, extravagant vacations—he had done everything expected of a chaebol-heir fiancé. But since the engagement, he had grown aloof and distant. Having felt betrayed by his only friend for being strong-armed into the arrangement, Haneul had lost even the platonic love he had once shared with Mina.
Mina knows how livid Haneul will be if and when he finds out she is behind Timira’s identity being made public.
Perhaps I should’ve thought about it harder and not rushed into it. Geundae, what was I supposed to do? I HAD to get Appa off my back! And I don’t understand how that man is always a step ahead of me. How on earth is he able to find out everything that goes on inside SecondSkin before I do? Despite the fact that I even have a friend on the inside! Does he have someone spying for him?!
Mina is waiting at a café for Stephanie. Unable to contain it any longer, she had called her a little while back and confessed to her about having ratted Timira out to Yoojin. She was almost hysterical on the telephone and Stephanie suggested they meet so she could calm down.
She’s now gulping copious amounts of dairy-free cortado and fiddling with her phone.
Should I tell Appa? I’m sure he’ll be proud of me for having saved him from fire, right?
Almost instantaneously, she dials his number.
‘Appa, jigeum bappeuseyo[Father, are you busy right now]?’
‘No,’ he says.
‘I just wanted to check on you. Oh, and yeah, I met with Kang Yoojin gija.’
‘I know,’ her father says, almost proudly.
How does he know?She wants to know but doesn’t ask.
‘Oh, okay. He won’t write any further about Rodrigo’s Japan incident, he has promised.’
‘Well done, uri Mina-ya! Good job with leading him on to a different trail.’
You no longer have to worry about some random girl stealing your man. Well done, my girl. Finally showing some enterprise and cunning like uri tal ought to!
What is happening? How does he know what I spoke with Yoojin gija about? Has Yoojin told him? No, can’t be. If they were in touch, my father wouldn’t have let this go on for this long! The only person aside from the two us that knows about this is … Seolma!
‘Gomawoyo,Appa. Geunde, how do you know about this? No one knows!’
‘Your Appa has influence, don’t forget. And though he might be a busy man, his precious daughter is always on his mind. I’m always looking out for you!’
He’s been keeping tabs on me! Does he have me followed? Is this what Yoojin-ssi meant when he mentioned ‘eyes’ on us?
Mina looks around to see if she can spot any suspicious-looking person following her movements. Feeling seen and like her privacy has been violated, she wants to get out of the café right away.
‘Appa, I just remembered I’m late for a meeting. Sorry, but can we talk later? I’m late for a meeting.’
‘Eo, geurae.Aren’t you meeting Stephanie today? Have fun, you both! Don’t let me keep you! Carry on!’
HOW DOES HE KNOW I AM SEEING STEPHANIE TODAY?
She keeps the phone on the table with a loud thud and knocks back the remaining coffee in the mug in one shot. Just then, Stephanie rushes into the café, wisps of her stylishly messy hair flying all over her soft face. She speaks in an apologetic but loud voice.
‘HIIIII,chingu!Miyan miyan, there was insane traffic—’
Mina cuts her off mid-sentence.
