Page 76 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
Bhaskar is reeling. There are too many dots for him to join and he’s struggling to do the math.
‘Okay, so let me see if I’ve got it right. You are saying the CEO met her in Bali, then somehow—magically—her CV found its way to him, and he hired her. Hold up, no, not magically. Via pigeon courier Ryan who, in fact, magically popped up at the right place at the right time—god bless him! Now, this boss likes her, she likes him—according to your E.T antennae—but then suddenly her ex has also landed up there and is threatening to ruin this developing story … have I got it right?’
‘Yes, yes!’ a proud Alice says excitedly.
‘What “yes”?! Are you nuts? Timira doesn’t remember a thing about that evening in Bali. Wouldn’t she have told you, us, if she did?’
‘Maybe she doesn’t, but he does!’
‘If we are to assume it’s the same guy from Bali. Ally, please. No. Just NO. Stop.’
‘But don’t you get it? This could be her destiny. Maybe they are fated to fall in love?’
Bhaskar groans.
‘Alice, do NOT share this with Tim. And the sooner you drop this investigation, the better for your sanity. And mine!’
‘But it fits together just right, can’t you see? How can you be so blind?! The math is mathing and how!’
Bhaskar opens his mouth, partly to reply and partly in exasperation, but isn’t able to either speak or sigh. Alice’s phone is ringing loudly.
‘It’s Timira. She’s video-calling!’ Alice exclaims loudly and excitedly.
‘Timmy, hi! We were just talki—’
‘Alice! Alice, oh my god! I’m so screwed! You have no idea how effed I am!’ Timira is speaking breathlessly.
‘What’s wrong, Timmy? Are you okay?’
‘Ally, the man back in Bali … the one who took me to the hospital … Alice, it’s him. It’s my boss. The CEO of the company I work for!’
Bhaskar looks incredulously at the phone screen with eyes so big they look like they’ll pop any minute.
Alice glances sideways at him with a hint of a triumphant smile, but doesn’t shift her focus from Timira.
‘Alice, it’s Sky. I mean, it’s Haneul. The mystery man from Bali. The man I kissed in Bali. Sky. It’s Haneul! Sky is Haneul and Haneul is Sky!’
* * *
JEJU, KOREA
Timira had not needed to stay at the hospital for long. She had mistaken sleeping pills for antacids, which had made her drowsy. She had passed out by the time she was taken to the ER, coming around only past midnight.
She spots a couple of pairs of eyes watching over her nervously as she regains consciousness. They belong to Hanee and Mr Choi.
‘Seonbae, Seonbae, hi!’
‘Uhm, hi. Hi, Honey!’
She nods politely at Mr Choi who looks visibly worried.
‘I’m sorry to bother you guys. What time is it? Must be quite late … I’m so sorry!’
Why are they here? Where’s Haneul? Should I ask them? Will it be weird if I do? But he’s the one who brought me here. Why should it be weird? Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no. It’ll be VERY weird. Not for them, for me. How am I ever going to show him my face now?
‘Aniyeyo, Seonbae! I should’ve taken better care of you. I am the one who should be apologizing!’
Hanee looks like she’s on the verge of tears, and Timira feels guilty.
