Page 134 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
‘Well, you didn’t even tell her about Rodrigo!’
‘She would’ve rejected him, too!’
‘Wouldn’t that have been good? In hindsight, hasn’t she been right about all the boys?’
Timira knows Alice is right but she isn’t about to accept it yet. So she keeps quiet.
‘Give her a chance, Timsy! Your folks had even planned a trip to Seoul along with us to surprise you on your birthday!’
Um, what?
‘Why didn’t you tell me? They didn’t mention it either, humph!’
‘It was supposed to be a surprise, silly!’
Laundry done, Alice has left after making Timira promise that she will stop hiding from her mother. Timira is in the living room now, aimlessly flipping through TV channels when her mother walks in and sits down next to her on the settee.
‘TimTim, is there anything you want to tell me?’
‘Like what, Ma?’ Timira answers dryly.
‘Do you miss him?’
‘Yes,’ Timira answers perfunctorily.
‘And what will you do first when you see him?’
‘Beat him!’ This she says with a sudden burst of passion.
Her mother laughs out loud.
‘Well, then, do it! Catch hold of him and beat him up!’
‘Ma, how? I don’t think there’s anything I’ve not tried.’
‘Look, I’m no expert on love. I mean, my love language is to nag and scold and annoy and worry, like I do you and your apa. You know that. Also, I’m a Boomer. I’m told you lot make memes about our generation. So, what do I know? But, I know you!’
Timira laughs throatily.
‘Who has been telling you about Boomer memes, Ma?’
Bet Bhaskar has been making fun of Ma in my absence! Dutiful stand-in child that he is.
‘But don’t forget that our generation has seen war, loss, hopelessness and then hope. We are the post-Independence generation of romantics. Of course it’s not romance how you young people see it, but don’t dismiss our opinions. Maybe I could add some perspective, for all you know!’
Timira narrates to her mother mostly what Alice has already told her. But to see her daughter’s eyes light up talking about Haneul warms her heart.
My child has grown up well, she thinks to herself.And she believes in love just like I did when I met her father. I’ll teach her all my tricks should this Korean boy turn out to be anything like him!
‘So he hasn’t contacted you in two weeks, and you’ve heard no mention of him during your chats with your common friends.’
‘Pretty much.’
I’m sure they see him but they don’t tell me. I mean, there’s no way Choi Bujangnim doesn’t see him, but he hasn’t mentioned him even once during the calls he’s made since I’ve moved back.
‘But you haven’t called him either!’
‘Why should I? He stopped talking to me even before I left, to be honest. And, now? Now he knows you are sick and still hasn’t called. Everyone knows you are sick. They’ve all checked on you. All except him. He obviously couldn’t care less!’
