Chapter Nine #4
Haneul has been reading to his grandmother after lunch. As a child, she would read to him on weekends and holidays, and the roles had been reversed since Haneul turned adult.
‘Oh. Is that you, Mina-ya? What a surprise! Come in, come in!’ Haneul’s grandmother speaks cheerfully upon recognizing the voice whose owner has just walked in unannounced. ‘Annyeonghaseyo, Halmeoni! Jjaljinhaesseoyo ? [Hello, grandmother! Trust you are well?]’
Mina bends low to greet her fiancé’s grandmother, who has quickly gotten up from the couch and in short but quick steps walked up to Mina. Smiling warmly, she stretches her arms out for a hug. Mina, smiling broadly, obliges. Haneul doesn’t move, doesn’t make a sound either.
‘Annyeonghaseyo, Hoejangnim!’ A second female voice chimes in. Haneul groans silently.
Great. So I’m being ambushed. How did they even find out? Argh, Choi Bujangnim! When will that ahjussi learn to keep secrets?
‘Oh, Stephanie! Welcome, welcome.’ Haneul’s grandmother seems happy to have company.
Turning towards Haneul, she adds, ‘Why are you just sitting there? Get up! Your fiancée is here. Take her bag!’
Haneul doesn’t budge and can almost hear himself barking when he speaks to Mina. ‘Why are you here?’
‘What sort of a question is that, Haneul? You should be grateful that you have such a loving fiancée!’ his grandmother is quick to reprimand. But Haneul isn’t about to relent.
‘What brings you here, Mina?’ he demands to know.
Mina has always known Haneul to be a respectful, soft-spoken gentleman. From the time they were friends, and even after he reluctantly got engaged to her. He didn’t love her, but he had never made her feel small. Until now.
That girl has done a number on him. What has happened to him? Does he hear himself speak? He doesn’t even care that we have company. Insulting me in front of Halmeoni, Stephanie … geurae, I can be a bitch too!
Taking a deep breath, Mina speaks in a cloyingly sweet voice.
‘I heard you were in Namhae and was worried that you might be unwell. Your phone was switched off; your parents didn’t even know you had left Seoul!
What was I supposed to do?’ Mina’s words are earnest and her voice is dripping with concern.
But she knows nothing is wrong with Haneul and he is here to only get away from the clusterfuck of Seoul that he, she, Timira and even Rodrigo are now part of.
‘Whom did you bribe to discover my whereabouts? How much did it set you back by?’ Haneul’s taunt unsettles Mina and she’s taken aback.
‘I’m sorry, Daepyonim. This is my doing. I told Mina you are here. She isn’t to blame!’ Stephanie is quick to come to her friend’s rescue.
‘Wait, what? Aga , you are not well? Is that why you are here? Not to see me? Are you in pain again?’
Her words are panic-stricken. She has seen Haneul suffer for years.
Muttering curses at the two girls under his breath for having caused the old lady worry, Haneul wraps his arm around his gran and reassuringly squeezes her arm.
‘No, Halmeoni. I came here to see you and that’s the only truth. Come, sit down. Should I get you some water? Nothing is wrong, okay? I’m healthy as a horse!’
Thankfully, at that very moment, her grandmother’s assistant walks in.
‘Hoejangnim, it’s time for your physiotherapy.’
‘Cancel today’s session. I want to spend time with my grandkids!’ she pouts like a child.
‘Halmeoni, I’m here. I’ll be here when you come back from your session. Please don’t skip it. Don’t you want to live longer and stay fit so you can play with your great-grandkids?’ Haneul shamelessly blackmails her.
Falling for it, she beams widely and squeezes his hand. Smiling warmly at Mina, she lets her assistant lead her away.
‘Haneul, be a good host and look after the ladies, all right? And tell the cooks we’ll have guests at dinner. Oh, and have the guest rooms set up as well!’
With a small wave, she disappears beyond the living room doorway, leaving Haneul, Mina, Stephanie and a giant elephant in the room.
* * *
Stephanie has excused herself on the pretext of taking a phone call. Haneul and Mina are now sitting in silence with a palpable tension hanging in the air. Mina is the first to break it.
‘I’m sorry, I did not mean to startle you. I thought Halmeoni knew why you are visiting …’
Mina can barely hide a smirk as she speaks.
‘What exactly is it you are trying to say? Can’t I visit my grandmother? Or do I have to report to you my every step?’ Haneul is angry at his plan for peace being thwarted by Mina.
‘You ran away, Haneul! You think that’s making anybody’s life easier? Least of all Timira’s?’
Smarting from Mina’s attack, Haneul takes a minute to ponder his next step.
‘Must you have alluded to the possibility of my being unwell to Halmeoni? Wasn’t it rather unnecessary to worry an eighty-six-year-old who has literally seen her only grandchild come back from the brink of death?
Mighty thoughtful of you, Mina!’ Haneul decides it’s best to guard his Achilles’ Heel, Timira, and use offence as his best defence.
Now realizing how thoughtless her actions were indeed, Mina stays silent.
Haneul continues to speak. ‘Why are you here anyway?’
Because I was worried about you! Because I’m jealous of Timira! Because I don’t want to lose you to her!
Mina wants to tell him all this but doesn’t say anything. Her pride doesn’t allow her. Haneul has made it amply clear that he does not love her, but she doesn’t want him to lose whatever little respect he might’ve had for her by appearing to be a jealous, immature, conniving lover.
‘Are you sure you aren’t sick?’ she asks instead, unable to hide her genuine concern.
Haneul, unmoved, continues to scowl and asks again, ‘Why are you really here?’
Unable to hold back any longer, Mina speaks icily.
‘This really is about her , is it not? I swear I thought you might actually be sick which is why you came here for therapy. I thought your injuries might be acting up again. Jeez, what an idiot I am! You’ve literally just run away!
From her ? Because you can’t handle a little competition?
Because you can’t ask your parents or Halmeoni to get it for you? ’
It’s now Haneul’s turn to stay quiet. Stung by the bitter truth in Mina’s words, he recoils and licks his wounds.
Mina isn’t about to relent, though. ‘You have a company to run, don’t forget.
A company that you owe to my father. How do you think he’ll feel if he were to find out you are cheating on his daughter with your employee?
And when he takes your company away from you, how will Halmeoni feel?
The same Halmeoni who let you venture out on your own in the first place.
Have you thought of how your actions could affect all those around you? ’
Have you even thought of how you are breaking my heart?
She goes on. ‘I am no stalker. I came here as your concerned friend and fiancée. Instead of showing me a little gratitude, you are only throwing a tantrum like a child. Just because you cannot have a new toy!’
Haneul has had enough. ‘Who exactly are you calling a toy? Oh, and don’t tell me how to run my company. Why don’t you focus on your job and I’ll focus on mine?’
‘Timira! Who else? The shiny new toy that every manchild wants to play with!’
‘Watch your language, Mina!’
‘Or, what? Wae, is it hurting you? You like her so much?’ ‘Geurae , choha. Geuraeseo mweo? Eohjjeorago [Yes, I like her. So what? What do you want me to do]? Pursue her?
Will you let me? Tell me, are you willing to break off our engagement and leave?’
‘ Ani. Naega wae [No. Why should I]? And what even makes you think she will have you? I don’t think she cares how rich and powerful you are here in Korea.
You’ve always had whatever you’ve wanted.
I think I’m going to enjoy this—enjoy watching you fight on your own for the first time for something you want, something your family can’t buy you! ’
Haneul knows how privileged and fortunate he has always been. Life as a chaebol heir has had its advantages. But Mina’s words are sharp and they cut him with very little effort.
‘Don’t worry, I’ll cheer you on. But you are mistaken if you think I’m going to leave, not when I can enjoy this ringside view. Tell me if you need my help, okay? Or don’t. Because my intentions may not be entirely noble. Him ne ! Fighting!’
Mina cannot believe herself. She had no idea she had been holding back such a lot, and she has grabbed this little window to vent it all out.
Her first feeling is one of relief, but that is soon replaced by nervousness about the consequences of her tirade that are undoubtedly bound to follow.
Of course, she has no clue that she has set in motion a chain of events, starting with the clarity that Haneul had sought when he decided to make the trip to Namhae.
Having said her piece, and without waiting for Haneul to reply, Mina storms out.
* * *
SEOUL, KOREA
‘Jab, cross, left hook, right hook, knee!’ ‘Again!’
‘Jab, cross, left hook, right hook, knee!’
She has been at it for over an hour now.
Sweat dripping, hair dishevelled, punch after punch, raining lusty blows on her sparring partner’s pads as her trainer keeps egging her on.
She isn’t new to Muay Thai, but recent events have meant she has more frustrations than ever to release inside the ring.
Something that her trainer has noticed and welcomed.
He doesn’t care where his pupils are bringing the fire in their belly from so long as they’re bringing it.
She bows a little to her partner as her trainer signals for her to stop. Hands at her waist, she gulps air in copious amounts, trying to catch her breath. Stephanie flings a small bottle of water at her and applauds.
‘Wow! Look at you go, girl! Did you imagine those pads to be Haneul’s face?’
Grinning, Mina leans across the ropes and mock-punches Stephanie.
‘What brings you here, chinguya ?’
‘Oh, I was in the neighbourhood …’