Chapter Thirteen
Haneul and Mina had grown up together. Their families became close after Baek Jinha helped Chairman Ri out of a pickle.
The chaebol heir whose family the whole nation envied and revered, and the dodgy byeonhosa ’s son whose father made millions by helping shady clients get away with the nastiest crimes.
Nobody wanted to get close to Haneul. Except Mina.
She had been Haneul’s loyal friend and companion through adolescence. It wasn’t until their late teens, though, that they discovered the true nature of their fathers’ association—Chairman Ri was going to fund Baek Jinha’s political career.
When the idea of her engagement to Haneul arose, she knew it was one of convenience. Yet, she drew solace from the fact that they were friends and that, unbeknownst to him, she had loved him a long time.
He will grow to love me … she had thought, hoped and sometimes even dared to believe.
Yet, the reality couldn’t be further from it.
When Haneul travelled to Paris for higher studies, Mina followed him.
On birthdays away from his family, she made seaweed soup for him.
She cut short her thriving career in Paris as a model and brand influencer and followed Haneul back to Seoul when he decided to start his own company at home.
She took every step to get closer to him.
And yet, every step only drove him away a little farther every time.
Haneul might have been an inattentive fiancé, but he was dutiful nonetheless.
Expensive gifts, social appearances, extravagant vacations—he had done everything expected of a chaebol-heir fiancé.
But since the engagement, he had grown aloof and distant.
Having felt betrayed by his only friend for being strong-armed into the arrangement, Haneul had lost even the platonic love he had once shared with Mina.
Mina knows how livid Haneul will be if and when he finds out she is behind Timira’s identity being made public.
Perhaps I should’ve thought about it harder and not rushed into it.
Geundae, what was I supposed to do? I HAD to get Appa off my back!
And I don’t understand how that man is always a step ahead of me.
How on earth is he able to find out everything that goes on inside SecondSkin before I do?
Despite the fact that I even have a friend on the inside! Does he have someone spying for him?!
Mina is waiting at a café for Stephanie. Unable to contain it any longer, she had called her a little while back and confessed to her about having ratted Timira out to Yoojin. She was almost hysterical on the telephone and Stephanie suggested they meet so she could calm down.
She’s now gulping copious amounts of dairy-free cortado and fiddling with her phone.
Should I tell Appa? I’m sure he’ll be proud of me for having saved him from fire, right?
Almost instantaneously, she dials his number.
‘ Appa, jigeum bappeuseyo [Father, are you busy right now]? ’
‘ No,’ he says.
‘I just wanted to check on you. Oh, and yeah, I met with Kang Yoojin gija.’
‘I know,’ her father says, almost proudly.
How does he know? She wants to know but doesn’t ask.
‘Oh, okay. He won’t write any further about Rodrigo’s Japan incident, he has promised.’
‘Well done, uri Mina-ya! Good job with leading him on to a different trail.’
You no longer have to worry about some random girl stealing your man. Well done, my girl. Finally showing some enterprise and cunning like uri tal ought to!
What is happening? How does he know what I spoke with Yoojin gija about? Has Yoojin told him? No, can’t be. If they were in touch, my father wouldn’t have let this go on for this long! The only person aside from the two us that knows about this is … Seolma!
‘ Gomawoyo, Appa . Geunde, how do you know about this? No one knows!’
‘Your Appa has influence, don’t forget. And though he might be a busy man, his precious daughter is always on his mind. I’m always looking out for you!’
He’s been keeping tabs on me! Does he have me followed? Is this what Yoojin-ssi meant when he mentioned ‘eyes’ on us?
Mina looks around to see if she can spot any suspicious-looking person following her movements. Feeling seen and like her privacy has been violated, she wants to get out of the café right away.
‘Appa, I just remembered I’m late for a meeting. Sorry, but can we talk later? I’m late for a meeting.’
‘ Eo, geurae. Aren’t you meeting Stephanie today? Have fun, you both! Don’t let me keep you! Carry on!’
HOW DOES HE KNOW I AM SEEING STEPHANIE TODAY?
She keeps the phone on the table with a loud thud and knocks back the remaining coffee in the mug in one shot. Just then, Stephanie rushes into the café, wisps of her stylishly messy hair flying all over her soft face. She speaks in an apologetic but loud voice.
‘HIIIII, chingu ! Miyan miyan , there was insane traffic—’
Mina cuts her off mid-sentence.
‘Where’s your phone? Are you not going to call my father and tell him you have reached? Isn’t that part of the job? Telling on me?’
Stephanie smarts from the verbal slap and her face is ashen.
Mina picks up her purse and gets up from the table.
As she passes by Stephanie, she hisses under her breath, ‘Traitor!’ and walks away in furiously quick steps.
* * *
‘But, Daepyonim, I’ve already committed to it!’ Mr Choi cries.
‘Without having even discussed it with me? How could you?’
This is unusual for Mr Choi. He isn’t the sort of person to decide for others, least of all for his employer. Haneul knows this only too well. Which is why he can tell there’s more to it.
Mr Choi has just walked into Haneul’s office, and meekly, in a small voice, informed him about the interview he has offered to Kang Yoojin.
‘Daepyonim, don’t you see it’s a terrific chance to promote the brand and the new collection?’
‘Since when are you into securing interviews, Bujangnim? Isn’t this the PR department’s job? Have you told Timira?’
Of course not! What am I supposed to tell that poor girl? I’m only trying to save her. If I don’t, she and her name will be dragged through the mud.
‘Staying quiet won’t help, Bujangnim. Why did you commit to this?’
Haneul is frustrated, seeing Mr Choi is reluctant to share with him his true intentions and his real reason behind this odd idea.
But what he is even more frustrated about is his inability to share with Mr Choi his reason for sounding so unreasonable and resisting the idea of him and Rodrigo together.
Mr Choi was already working for Haneul’s grandmother when he went to Japan and came back on an emergency chopper ambulance.
He saw how stories were killed, rumours hushed up and the news covered up by the family.
Old woman Lee did not want her only grandchild to become newspaper fodder and a possible international political pawn between Korea and Japan.
She was grateful that his life had been spared and now only wanted him to lead a normal life.
As a loyal employee, he had done all that he was told to, followed all orders, but had never wanted to find out what really happened in Japan.
Since observing Haneul and his discomfort around Rodrigo, he had been a little suspicious, but had discarded it as Haneul’s disappointment upon seeing another person live the life he could’ve had.
‘Daepyonim , miyanhajiman [I’m sorry but] can’t you just let it go this one time, ye ? You know I’ve always had your best interests in mind.’
Haneul can’t disagree. Without Mr Choi, he couldn’t have possibly run the company. He has always trusted his wisdom and never shied away from seeking his counsel.
Bujangnim! Waegeuraesaeyo? Aaah [General Manager, why are you doing this]?
‘Ah, dabdabhae . Bujangnim, injeong. I agree that you’ve always looked out for me. Hajiman , you could’ve at least discussed this with me beforehand!’
‘Daepyonim, I was forced to improvise! I’m sorry, I know I was wrong to put you in this situation, but Kang Yoojin gija was threatening to, I mean, he was—’
Haneul cuts in.
‘What do you mean “threatening” you? Was he trying to blackmail you? I mean, me. Obviously.’
Haneul is familiar with Kang Yoojin and recalls reading his byline on the story about Rodrigo’s Japan incident from the Seoul Stealers FC press conference.
Mr Choi has held out for as long as he could, but cannot any longer.
‘You see, Daepyonim, he is aware of Timira-ssi’s identity.’
What about her? What about her identity?
‘I’m not sure I quite follow. What has this got to do with her?’
‘Er, he knows of her history with Rodrigo and he was snooping around the office trying to dig up dirt on her. He was about to reveal her identity to the public.’
Haneul can feel the anger rise inside of him and engulf him in its burning flames. He cracks his knuckles and balls his hands into fists.
Mr Choi continues to speak. ‘I felt it’d be rather unfair on Timira-ssi if her privacy were to be invaded. She’d be hounded by the press and public alike. She doesn’t deserve that!’
In all probability, though, he’s done this for me … Haneul muses. He knows how I feel about Timira.
Haneul smiles and puts a hand on Mr Choi’s shoulder.
‘Thank you, Bujangnim. Neomu, neomu gamsayo [Many, many thanks]. I’ll owe you one!’
It takes Mr Choi only one word to convince Haneul: Timira. Seeing Haneul calm down almost immediately, Mr Choi’s nagging suspicion is only confirmed. That Timira is indeed special to him.
Perhaps this is how it was meant to turn out. Perhaps this is my sign to let go of the ghosts of the past that I’ve held on to for all these years. Perhaps I ought to forgive Rodrigo, let bygones be bygones, and just move the hell on. Haneul breathes deeply and tries to calm his mind.
The nape of his neck that had been burning for the past few minutes starts to cool down. Haneul rubs it gently and smiles a lopsided smile.