Page 128 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
Mina wasn’t sure if her texts to Haneul were going to get delivered but, to her relief, he had switched his phone on. She is now at Haneul’s parents’ house, having texted him to come there. He arrives looking exhausted, unshaven and angry.
She apologizes to everyone and informs them of her decision to break off the engagement. Haneul is taken aback, but keeps quiet. He knows his parents would be more affected than he by this decision. Shocked and visibly panicking, they immediately start apologizing.
‘Has something upset the chairman? Shall I visit him so he’ll change his mind?’
‘Abeonim, this is my decision entirely. It has nothing to do with him.’
‘Is it Haneul? Has he not been attentive towards you? You know it’s been difficult for him with that whole, er, Rodrigo episode … give him a little time, please, maybe?’ Haneul’s mother, an extremely well-preserved lady in her late fifties, pleads in a soft voice.
‘Haneul has done no wrong,Eomonim. He’s been, well, geunyang, the way he is. It’s me, I’ve changed. If there’s anyone to blame here, it’s me alone.’
Haneul is quietly listening and trying to process everything as his parents glare at him, curse him silently, mentally count their losses and lick their wounds.
Sensing the same, Mina attempts to allay their fears. Turning towards Haneul’s father, she says, ‘Abeonim, don’t be angry at Haneul. And I promise you that nothing between you andmy father will change because of this. His support for your candidacy has nothing to do with my heart and what it wants. Please have faith in him,buttakhaeyo! You and he go back a long way. Please have trust in your friendship. And please respect my decision. That’s all I humbly ask of you.’
Bowing lower than he’d ever seen her and paying her respects, Mina takes her leave with a friendly smile at Haneul who is more perplexed than ever at what had just unfolded.
‘Ya! Stop!’
Mina is about to get inside her car. She wheels around to see Haneul has followed her out.
‘You and I.Jamkkan iyagi jom haja[Let’s talk for a bit]! We need to talk.’
‘Ah, finally.Nowyou want to talk! Now that we are no longer engaged, you finally need your friend, I see.’
Ignoring the jibe, he walks out. ‘Ttarawa[Follow me]!’
They’re at the convenience store around the corner, sipping on banana milk. Well, Haneul is gnawing at the straw, really.
‘I thought you wanted to talk. Why are you quiet? Bring on the questions already!’
‘What brought this on? All that you just said, was it all for real? Or were you putting on a show?’
‘Whom would I put on a show for? You? Oh, you give yourself way too much importance, Haneul!’
‘What am I supposed to think? First, your father talks to my family about bringing the wedding forward, and then you do a U-turn. Wouldn’t you be confused if you were in my place?’
‘So it’s the timing of it that you have a problem with? Would you rather I did thisafterwe were married? I didn’t realize you wanted to marry me!’
‘Mina-ya, you know how I have felt about this arrangement since the very beginning.’
‘I know, I know. I don’t need any reminding of how pathetic of me it was to have my father buy me a fiancé!’
‘That’s a little harsh, Mina.’
‘I deserve it. It’s the truth. You tried to show me on many occasions but I was too blind to see it.’
‘Are you sure about what you are doing?’
‘About what? Letting you go? Of course. You were never mine to begin with.’
Haneul shifts a little uncomfortably in his seat.
‘Mina-ya …’
Mina doesn’t let Haneul finish.
‘Why didn’t you try to break up with me? Why were you dragging this on?Jaemiss-eoss eo[Was it fun]? Were you enjoying it?’
