Page 95 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
‘He has every reason to! Doesn’t the whole thing seem creepy? He’s been watching you from afar and has now lured you into his lair …’ Bhaskar is only half-serious and he’s enjoying watching Timira’s face lose colour every second. But, he also cannot rule out the possibility, however slight, of this being true. He doesn’t want to see his best friend get hurt again.
‘Yeobo, stop! Stop freaking her out. Tim, hang on. Don’t listen to what he’s saying. He’s just decided to not like him because according to him, his teeth are too white!’
‘How do you guys know what his teeth are like?’
‘Well, what do you think, Timmy? We looked him up, obviously. We need to know who this guy is that our friend is falling for!’
‘Do you also think he’s a s … st … stalker?’ Timira speaks haltingly, her voice small, her heart sinking a little every minute.
‘No, silly! I think he’s a good guy. I think he’s just embarrassed to tell you he fell for you at first sight and then sought you out!’
‘Or, he genuinely forgot about you after Bali because of your immensely forgettable face!’ Bhaskar guffaws, bringing his face close to the phone.
‘F*** off, Bhaskar!’ Timira and Alice cry in unison.
‘Tim, I think he’s a good one. Ryan says so, too. He’s known him for a while. And, in Korea, if a chaebol has skeletons in its closet, they are all over the internet for public consumption. There’s no dirt on him. No news is good news, okay? So, relax. Maybe he’s forgotten. But, my guess is he’s just feeling shy right now to admit to his intense crush and he eventually will. Give him time.’
Timira feels like a load has been lifted off her shoulders. She can feel her breathing return to normal. Haneul’s smiling countenance is back in her brain and sending her heart racing.
‘So, you plan to tell your mum?’ Alice keeps up the questioning.
‘Certainly not! What am I going to tell her? I’ve been going around kissing someone else’s fiancé? WTH?’
‘Ah, yes. That minor detail.’
‘Yeah, “minor” indeed.’
‘I’m sorry, what? The boss is engaged? Alice, you knew about this?’
Alice ignores him.
‘Oh, don’t fret about it, Timmy darling. This boss of yours definitely likes you. Like,reallylikes you! And to be honest, he doesn’t seem like a bad guy.’
‘Excuse me? The guy is engaged. And, possibly a stalker, too. First of all, you two liars have hidden it from me, and now one doofus is advising another to do doofus-like things. What’s wrong with you? He’s just stringing you along, Tim. Aren’t you guys supposed to be feminists? Huh? This is bullshit! He’s just a player. Tim, I’m going to tell you again, STAY AWAY!’ Bhaskar sounds annoyed with Haneul and frustrated with Alice and Timira.
‘Oh, shut up, Bhaskar! You don’t know this guy enough to …’
‘Enough to what?’ Bhaskar cuts in impatiently. ‘Go on! He practically denies having met Tim, he somehow found a common connection and hired her, leads her on, all while being engaged?! Seriously?’
Alice says nothing to him and just takes a deep breath.
‘Timmy, look, watch out for yourself. You have trusted all the wrong men. This time, don’t mistrust the right guy is all I’ll say. Be careful. If you need us, we are just a call away. But, explore this. I’m getting this feeling. Like my butt is telling me this is your guy! And you know my butt knows more than my gut!’
Timira giggles while Bhaskar groans.
‘You mean, we just might be Seoulmates?’ Timira’s giggle has now turned into a full-blown chortle. Alice is relieved to see her mood restored.
‘Tell you what, if he doesn’t clean his shit up and do right by you, then I’ll fly down and beat him up!’ Alice offers magnanimously.
‘Yeah, like you beat Rodrigo up!’ Timira slips in a snide remark.
‘Shall I? Say the word, and I will do it. Your mum will be happy to join, too!’
‘Aloo, do not breathe a word of this to her, okay? Not until it is something. Anything, if at all.’
‘Of course, darling. My lips are sealed.’
‘Yeah, like they were when Tim’s mum magically had an epiphany about her and Rod. Sure!’ Bhaskar chimes in in the background. Alice lets loose a few choice epithets at him and threatens to break his face if he doesn’t buzz off.
