Chapter Eight #11
She slaps her wobbly knees, chiding them to behave, and is preparing to slowly awaken her feet that have been long asleep so she can stand back upright. But sans any warning, her phone rings loudly. Startled, she loses her balance and her legs promptly give way.
‘Seonbae!’ Hanee shrieks as she runs towards Timira who has taken a tumble and revealed herself from behind her sniper spot.
Catching hold of Timira just before her head can hit the ground, Hanee grabs her neck and cradles it. With panic writ large on her face, she stares deep into Timira’s eyes and asks, ‘Seonbae, gwenchana [Senior, are you all right]? Are you hurt?’
Pointing at the pocket of her coat, Timira gestures at Hanee to answer her phone that is still ringing. As though jolted from a dream, the look in Hanee’s eyes goes from alarm to embarrassment.
‘Er, Seonbae, um, sorry. That’s me. I was calling you to see where you were since you were gone for a good while …’
Timira cuts in before she can finish.
‘Get me up. Get me upppppppp! Now!’ she hisses.
Looking sheepish, Hanee, kneeling on the ground, puts an arm around Timira and helps her up.
‘Slowly, Seonbae, slowly.’
Timira wriggles out of Hanee’s arms the minute she’s up. ‘Does your head feel okay?’ Hanee asks, concerned.
‘It does, but what about your head? Does it feel okay? Why on earth would you call me when I’m in the middle of something so important?’
‘You hadn’t returned even after thirty minutes had passed. You’re new in the country, you don’t know the language, this is your first time outside of Gangnam, I was worried!’
‘Why? Why? Why were you worried? Am I a child?’ Timira wails.
Is she really upset because I was worried about her? Did she hit her head? I know she can be erratic … and what was she even doing when I called?
Hanee recalls the image of Timira crouching behind a neatly trimmed shrub and staring intently at something, she doesn’t know what.
Am I visible to Haneul? Can he see me? Or is it too dark? Timira wonders as she massages her knees that feel like Jell-O.
Interrupting the awkwardness, the stadium erupts and crackers go off to announce Seoul Stealers FC’s win.
Finally! I can finally go home. Away from all this madness!
Timira think to herself as she tries to stand up.
‘Here, Seonbae,’ says Hanee, extending her hand. Timira grumbles, but takes it.
Why am I upset with this child? What’s wrong with me? She’s the only person who cares about me. Shame on me! I’m such an ingrate.
Feeling awful for her angry outburst at Hanee, Timira pulls her in for a hug.
Ruffling the top of Hanee’s head and ruining her hair, she coos softly, ‘ Mian , uri Honey-ya ’, before adding a ‘ saranghae ’ along with cheek heart signs.
Hanee, crushing hard and unable to resist her crazy senior’s aegyo charm, gives in promptly and laughs heartily.
‘Yay, thank you for accepting my apology, my darling Honey. What would I do without you? You know, there’s this very famous song back home about lifelong friendship. Would you like me to sing it for you?’
They are now walking back towards the stadium.
Timira’s arm is still around Hanee, who isn’t particularly thrilled about the idea of being just lifelong friends with the object of her affection.
She is about to voice her objection but stops herself in the nick of time.
As though on cue, Timira opens her mouth to spout some gem about friendship.
‘You know, there’s also this other really famous film—do you watch Hindi films?
Bollywood?—that had this really famous line about how friendship is love and love is friendship.
So, yeah, this song is also about love, you see.
I’ll sing it now, okay? Don’t laugh, okay? ’
Hanee’s heart is racing hard like a baby’s that’s still inside its mother’s womb.
Friendship is love and love is friendship. I like this. Geurae, I could live with this!
She had wanted to hear Timira sing since having looked her up on the Internet and stumbling upon karaoke reels on her socials.
They continue to walk to the beat of ‘ Yeh Dosti Hum Nahin Todenge ’ that Timira sings enthusiastically in an open voice.
Hanee, mesmerized, finds that her steps are magically matching the rhythm of the song.
Timira continues to sing even as they walk up the stairs leading to the stands, still hugging Hanee, oblivious of people and their stares.
Oblivious of even Haneul who has just walked past them, mystery girl in tow.
It is the first time he’s heard her sing since Bali.
If she’s singing, she must be okay. Why is she always falling and getting hurt, though? And why can’t I be around every time to catch her when she falls?
* * *
‘Argh, why are we here?’
‘Because we are supposed to be?’
‘Aren’t we going home?’ Timira groans.
‘After meeting Rodrigo. Er, sorry, Seonbaenim. You’ll be okay, right?’
‘What other choice do I have? Yeah, sure, I’ll be okay!’
The hell I will be! How can I be okay? I’ve just seen the man I think I like (a lot) cozy up to a goddess. And now I must present myself to my ex who cheated on me and cost me my job. The hell I am okay!
The entire SecondSkin team has congregated at the wedding hall in the stadium premises that has been converted into the venue for a sort of informal welcome party for Rodrigo at the invitation of Chairman Ri, beyond thrilled to finally get to meet Rodrigo.
The design team girls who had been giddy with excitement since Rodrigo’s name was first mentioned as a possible option for the ambassador’s role can barely keep calm.
They have gone to extra lengths for the evening, perfecting their hair, brows, nails and clothes, and their efforts are later rewarded as Rodrigo wastes absolutely no time in making a beeline for and lavishing his attention on them.
A round of hooting and thunderous applause lets Timira know that Rodrigo is in the house.
Leaving Hanee—who seems keen to meet Rodrigo but is afraid to show it around Timira—in the company of Mr Choi, Timira has quietly slipped to the back, trying to camouflage with the thick curtains on the French windows, and hoping nobody will miss her or notice her.
Introductions are underway. A short profile of Rodrigo’s— effusive in shallow praise , thinks Timira—is read out by Stephanie. Timira is careful to not laugh out loud and sniggers silently. Stephanie has just passed the mic to Chairman Ri after thanking him for bringing Rodrigo to Korea.
Timira is used to tuning out when most club officials speak. They talk too much for folks that have mostly never struck a ball or set foot on the pitch, she has always complained. She is about to do the same this evening, but Chairman Ri ruins her plan.
Speaking in English, for Rodrigo’s benefit, he keeps his speech short and succinct.
‘We have a lot to do this season and next. Last year was tough with many injuries and unfair refereeing. But all that is in the past. We move ahead with conviction!’
Thunderous applause across the room.
‘We now have one of the best in the world with us. Rodrigo. What a stellar time he had in India, and he has promised to bring his A-game here!’
Turning towards Rodrigo, he adds in a serious voice, ‘Son, you have promised to win us the league. And I believe that promises must always be kept! So, fighting !’
Loud cheers from every corner.
Rodrigo beams with confidence and holds up both hands curled into fists. ‘ Fighting , President Ri!’
All drama! Phatt rahi hogi isski andar. Timira rolls her eyes.
‘Of course, now that he is also the brand ambassador for Baek Seobang ’s brand. Well, to-be Seobang …’
Wait, what? Timira’s heart has stopped. This is another Korean word that Timira knows the meaning of. It means ‘husband’ but in common Korean parlance refers to ‘son-in-law’.
Timira has tuned out of the rest of his speech. She breaks out of her daze only when people noisily request Chairman Ri for a group photo.
‘Come, Rod and Haneul. I hope this will be the start of a great partnership! Mina- ya , come join us!
Mina? Who is Mina? That must be the daughter! Timira’s heart is now racing. She can feel giant tidal waves rising and falling inside her chest as she watches the girl named Mina gleefully skip towards Haneul.
Have I got this right? This Ri uncleji wants to win the league and has hired Rodrigo for the job. And he wants him to pose and preen for Haneul, who is engaged to his daughter Mina, the gorgeous mystery girl who touched his hair and fixed his lapel, Timira thinks in disbelief .
Stung by the revelation, for a few minutes, Timira is unable to fathom how she feels.
She has a maddening urge to laugh out maniacally at the sheer ridiculousness of it all.
She feels as though the ground beneath her feet is shifting and she’s unable to breathe.
The mic has been turned off and the sound of Chairman Ri’s voice has been replaced by the din of excited low chatter.
She lunges at a hostess passing by with a tray full of delicate flutes filled with sparkling, bubbling champers and grabs one.
Drinking urgently, she downs the contents of the flute in a single shot, a little of which rolls down in thin streams from the corners of her small mouth which she doesn’t bother to wipe off.
Yummy water. Must be flavoured and sparkling. How is it sweet, though? Ingenious! Korea is really living in 2050!
She signals at the hostess to come over with a smile. ‘Excellent water,’ she says, beaming while picking up two flutes. She wastes absolutely no time in downing those as well.
She locks eyes with Hanee, who looks concerned and suggests that she might go over to where Timira is. But the latter puts up an okay sign and gestures at her to stay put.
Stay hydrated, even if your life is going down the drain. The body needs water to produce tears, after all. God, I’m so funny. Zindagi ki vatt lagi hai, but I’m still making jokes. Too good, Timmy, you are too good!
Feeling chuffed, Timira contemplates escape.
Nobody is going to notice. They’re all busy with Rod. I can’t take this nonsense anymore. What? Korean Adonis and that goddess are engaged? Well, good for them! Hah! This is like a classic South Bombay shaadi. Wah. Straight out of a drama! Rich weds rich. Poor weds poor. Nobody weds Timira!
Deep inside her thought bubble, Timira forgets where she is and bursts out laughing.
Except it sounds more like a snort than a laugh because her nose is blocked and there are tears in the mix, thanks to ‘hydration’.
Loud enough for people to notice. A lot of people.
People including Rodrigo, whose familiar voice booms, ‘It seems we have a piglet amidst us!’ Timira stiffens, mortified.
Oh, God. Why did I share my piglet story with him?! I really ought to learn to talk less … should I run? Will he run after me? Can I outrun him? Oh, my laces have come undone …
She bends to tie them but before she can, he has found her and is already tying her laces. She’s blinking back tears like she had the day she quit her job. But this time, they are tears of anger, not helplessness. She pushes him away with a light kick and says, ‘I can help myself, thank you.’
Everybody is staring at them with expressions of wonder and amazement.
He waits for her to tie her laces. Once done, he wraps her in his arms and lifts her off the ground.
She fights to wriggle out of his grasp. He finally relents, puts her down, taps her head lightly and says, ‘What’s up, clumsy clown? ’
She doesn’t answer and looks visibly uncomfortable, borderline annoyed. Trying desperately to not meet the eye of anyone she knows, she bows low to no one in particular and excuses herself.
Rodrigo tries to follow her but Haneul stops him.
He has put two and two together by now and figured that Rodrigo is Timira’s ex.
The one who cheated on her, the one she cried about in Bali, the one who (she thinks) has followed her to Korea.
Rodrigo twists his arm to free it, but Haneul holds on with an iron grip.
Mina looks at them and wonders how deeply both men are involved with this Indian girl.
* * *
TOKYO, JAPAN
Seventeen-year-old Kenji has just been tackled by prodigious thirteen-year-old Korean defender Sky.
Unusually built and skilled for his age, Sky has blocked all his attempts so far.
Kenji, used to scoring in every game, is starting to get frustrated and committing one foul after another.
He kicks Sky in the shin and is promptly booked by the referee.
Sky is on the ground receiving medical attention when an angry Kenji goes up to him and yells, ‘Stop wasting time, you kimchi yaro Chon !’ It is a Japanese insult for Koreans.
Unable to hold it in any longer, Sky gets up and headbutts him. The referee sends him off. And Kenji is substituted by his coach within five minutes of Sky being sent off. Angry beyond reason, Kenji picks up a spare goalpost and attacks Sky from behind, landing a blow on the back of his head.
There is a small news item in Korean newspapers the following day: ‘Promising Korean Footballer with Prodigious Talent Injured during a Game in Attack with Racist Overtones.’
It goes on: ‘Attacker being a minor cannot be named. Is currently in juvenile custody and undergoing interrogation. Victim has successfully undergone emergency operation in Kyoto. Is now being flown back to Seoul for further treatment. We condemn such dastardly behaviour and urge the government to protect our citizens from racist hate crimes in foreign lands.’