Chapter Fourteen #2
‘I did not bring up a son who will go back on his promise. I am a man of my word and that is what I have taught my son. So don’t you dare let me down!’
‘You sold me, Abbeoji! You sold your only child to the Ris. And, for what? For politics? Why has politics and your party always meant more to you than your family?’
Haneul’s father is in contention to be the party’s candidate in the next presidential elections and Mina’s father is the party’s largest financier. Mr Choi feels bad for the son who seems to have no real friends or family to lean on. Which is when he remembers how happy he is around Timira.
‘Adeul, calm down. Please try to understand. In families like ours, compromises have to be made for the greater good. No matter how you think, Ri Hoejangnim i s one of the biggest financiers of the party and elections are due soon. This is not the time for your Abbeoji to be making enemies out of his biggest supporter. Oh, jaebal, uri adeul ! It’s only a matter of a couple of months.
You were anyway getting married this summer!
’ Haneul’s mother has now taken over the reins from his father.
‘I never wanted to get married. And I still don’t! Why must I be forced into a marriage so that Appa can become the country’s President? Do you have any idea how crazy it sounds?’
‘It might sound crazy to regular folks, to the common people. But not to those who belong to our world. We are not common, we are not regular. We have to be better, do better, show regular people the way. We decide the country’s future.
So your marriage is not just about you. It affects more people than you can count! ’ Haneul’s mother is adamant.
‘ Eomma , do you hear yourself? You sound straight out of a sageuk ! What is this, eighteenth-century Joseon? It’s 2025 in Korea, Eomma!
We are a progressive society, a first-world country.
I can’t believe you, a woman leading one of Korea’s biggest multinational businesses, would harbour such regressive thoughts! ’
‘Oh, now we are regressive, are we? Not modern enough for you?’
‘Well, regressive AND hypocritical. Where did Abbeoji come from? He did not come from money! But he loved you and you loved him. Do you regret marrying beneath your status?’
Haneul’s father makes disapproving noises while his mother relentlessly battles on.
‘That was a different time. There wasn’t much competition, there was no media, so many eyes did not watch our every move, our personal life did not affect business much.
Times have changed and we must keep up. If that means having to sacrifice our personal greed, we must!
How else is the business and the family name going to endure?
And your father had a lot of promise. Look at him, he’s going to be the country’s next President! ’
‘Wow! So, you married Abbeoji because you could see the future and knew that he would become the President? And did you say greed? Personal greed? EOMMA! You’ve got to be kidding! It’s impossible to have a conversation with you guys. Entirely impossible!’
‘We feel the same way. You no longer sound like our son. Who are you? What have you done to him?’
Haneul’s father, who has been quiet for the most part after his initial outburst, tries to calm his wife down, but she’s in no mood to listen. And neither is Haneul.
Haneul guffaws. Shaking his head, he walks out of the room muttering ‘crazy, loonies, greedy’, while his parents keep asking him to stay and not leave the conversation midway.
Haneul steps out to find Mr Choi. Relieved to finally see a friendly face, his eyes light up and he greets him with the warmest smile.
‘How much of that,’ pointing back at the living room, ‘did you hear, Bujangnim?’
‘Didn’t hear a thing, if you’d like.’
Smiling, Haneul gives Mr Choi’s shoulder a friendly squeeze.
‘Say, Bujangnim, shall we go hit the cages?’
Haneul needs to release his anger and frustration. And he cannot think of a better way than to hit a few balls around.
At the batting cages, they just take shots silently for the first quarter of an hour. Haneul is the first to break the silence.
‘You know Timira has named you Nick Carter?’
Mr Choi is nonplussed.
‘Oh, c’mon, Bujangnim. You aren’t much older than us. I bet you are familiar with the Backstreet Boys?’
Haneul proceeds to sing the chorus lines from the Backstreet Boys’ iconic song ‘I Want It That Way’, even imitating the dance moves.
‘Ye yes, geureomyo! Who doesn’t know of them? Which one of them is Carter, though?’
Haneul grabs his phone and looks up images of Nick Carter. Upon finding a satisfactory image, he holds it out for Mr Choi to see.
‘Ah!’ Mr Choi blushes while running his fingers through his hair and brushing his bangs back.
‘How is she holding up, Bujangnim?’
Haneul hasn’t spoken with Timira since the incident with Rodrigo. It’s been over two days. He has kept his phone switched off in order to avoid calls from journalists and gossipmongers. He knows she must be worrying but is too ashamed of himself.
I should’ve told her, at least her, about my history with Rodrigo. Why, JUST WHY, did I have to keep it hidden? And of all people from her? I wish she were here, next to me, right now. God, why did I have to mess this up so bad!
Mr Choi informs him of her well-being. That he met her at work and she had seemed her usual, affable, slightly clumsy self.
‘Hah, clumsy. You’ve got that right, Bujangnim! Funny how she has managed to get by all this time without any major damage! That little creature is like a magnet for all sorts of accidents!’
He speaks of her so adoringly , Mr Choi cannot help but observe.
Haneul keeps talking.
‘You know I had to drive her to the hospital the first time we met?’
So I was right. He has indeed known her since before she came to work at SecondSkin!
‘How did you two meet, Daepyonim?’
‘Recall our shoot in Bali? I had escaped from the party, remember? I was at the beach when I bumped into her. Well, to be honest …’
… that wasn’t the first time I saw her , he thinks to himself, but doesn’t say anything.
‘Why did you stop, Daepyonim?’
‘Nah, I must sound like I’m obsessed with her!’
‘Is that such a bad thing?’
‘It’s not?’
‘It isn’t really my place to say anything much, but sometimes we are but mere puppets in the hands of destiny …’
‘Are you saying this is fate? Unmyeongcheoleom ?’
‘Well, if you ask me, I’d be inclined to believe so.’
‘Wow, Bujangnim. I hadn’t taken you for a romantic!’
‘I met my wife in college. We were married the day after we graduated. Twenty-five years since. Not a day goes by when that woman doesn’t get on my nerves. Not a day goes by when I don’t thank the universe for sending her to me. If this makes me a romantic then, yes, I suppose I am!’
‘Ah, Bujangnim! I had no idea. Good for you. I’m so happy for you. And slightly envious, if I may say so. You were free to live your life as you wished to! If only I were that lucky.’ Haneul sighs.
‘If anybody hears you say you are not lucky, they’ll think you’ve lost your mind. Few people in this country, heck, in this world, are as lucky as you are. But there’s only so much luck can do for you. Beyond a point, it’s you who has to do all the heavy lifting.’
‘What do you suggest I do?’
‘Choose. Choose what really matters to you.’
‘You know, Timira could’ve chosen to not take up our job offer. I have no idea what I would’ve done then. I did not even have a backup plan. Just prayed to the cosmos that she’ll come here, to me.’
Mr Choi smiles at Timira’s mention. He cannot help but observe how Haneul brings her name up in nearly every second sentence coming out of his mouth.
He must really miss her! What a pitiful boy …
an accident that robbed him of his passion, parents that don’t understand him and only want to use him …
Ah, what can I do to make it a little easier on him? I really must come up with something!
‘Daepyonim, let me help you choose!’
Intrigued and amused, Haneul smiles.
‘How?’
‘Pick a hand.’
‘W … what? Are you serious? You think I’m going to choose the direction of my life by playing a game? No way!’
‘C’mon, Daepyonim. Time is precious. Ppalliyo. Choose!’
‘Aaah, what is this craziness … okay, FIIIIINE! Here goes nothing.’
Haneul lightly slaps Mr Choi’s left hand. Looking up, he stares into his eyes expectantly.
‘Well?’
‘Firstly, you must “Quit Playing Games” and man up!’ he exclaims excitedly, flicking his Carter bangs back and feeling proud of this meta reference. It’s one of three Backstreet Boys songs he has ever heard and is mighty chuffed at it, having served him well on this occasion.
Haneul can’t stop himself from chuckling. ‘And then?’
‘For starters, switch your phone on and call Timira-ssi. I’m sure she’s been trying to reach you, waiting for you to call her!’
‘Okay. Then what?’
‘Then you choose her every day! Because falling in love is not up to us, but staying in love is. It is a choice we must make every single day!’
* * *
Timira has tried reaching Haneul but all calls to his number have gone to voicemail for almost two days. She had heard from Mr Choi about what happened between Haneul and Rodrigo in their teens, and later read about it in the papers and seen it on TV and online.