Chapter Fourteen #4
What is Timira doing with Rodrigo?
* * *
‘Hyungnim, you cannot be serious!’
Rodrigo is chatting to his assistant, Kang Minhyun. He has just told the latter what he had shared with Timira the previous night.
‘I’m very serious, Minhyun. I really feel I don’t have it in me to do this anymore.’
He has just shared with Minhyun that he feels he ought to leave the club and pack up from Korea.
‘But you are bound by the contract you signed with the club!’ Minhyun sounds desperate and hopes this’ll force Rodrigo to do a rethink.
‘I don’t mind paying a penalty. I just really feel like there’s no way for me to recover from this.’
Minhyun open his mouth to say something but promptly shuts it upon sensing that Rodrigo isn’t quite finished speaking yet.
I should just let him vent.
‘I’m so embarrassed. And my past. I’ve tried to run away from it all my life; I had no idea it would come back and bite me the way it did! I feel so ashamed of what I did to Mr Baek. How am I ever going to make up for it?’
It sounds like a question but Minhyun is smart enough to know it is only rhetoric.
‘Everybody is right, I really must be trouble. I am trouble.’
Minhyun’s heart breaks a little. Over the past month, he has seen a Rodrigo the rest of the world has never been privy to.
He has learnt so much about him, about his family, about his life, about the person he really is—knowledge that has made him, in his eyes, look more like a saint and less like a sinner.
Minhyun can’t help but feel partly responsible for this.
I ought to come clean about my part in this.
‘Minhyun, bro, I’m sorry they put you in charge of my affairs. Clearly, I’m a mess!’
That’s it, I must do what I have to!
‘Hyungnim, there’s something you need to know. Please hear me out patiently.’
‘Of course!’
Minhyun narrates to Rodrigo what had happened to him when he played at Seoul Stealers FC. He explains to him how he got injured and why his leg has never healed.
Rodrigo’s face wears an expression of sorrow and sorry both.
‘Brother, I had no idea, I am so sor—’
‘Hyungnim, please let me finish. Jaebalyo ,’ Minhyun cuts in, in a pleading voice.
‘I have an older brother who was more affected than I was by what happened to me. He was consumed by vengeance and took it upon himself to punish those he held responsible for it.’
Rodrigo’s eyes widen as Minhyun’s story reaches its climax.
‘My hyung ’s name is Kang Yoojin. The reporter who is at the root of all of this.’
As Rodrigo reels from the revelation, Minhyun continues to speak.
‘He only used you to exact revenge on the club and on Ri Hoejangnim. I tried to stop him, but I should’ve tried harder. This is my fault, hyungnim. Igeon nae jalmos-iya [This is my fault].’
Minhyun’s voice quivers as he speaks. Rodrigo walks over to him and pats his back.
‘Brother, none of this is your fault. And I am so sorry for everything you had to go through.’
Minhyun looks up at him with eyes that are red and full of tears, ‘Hyungnim, please don’t give up! Hajimaseyo jaebal!’
Rodrigo sighs deeply and flops down on the couch next to him.
‘You are not that kid anymore. Don’t let your past drag you down!’
‘Ah, dear Minhyun. I know you mean well, I know you do. But, frankly, I’m a little tired of trying to make up. It’s never enough. I’m still always cleaning up the messes created by my past selves and yet always falling short.’
‘Why should you live this way, hyungnim? You’re only half-living. You must forgive yourself and move on! You are such a great father! It would break ttalnim ’s heart to see you like this. Eh, hyungnim? Him naeseyo [stay strong]!’
It’s been months since he has seen his daughter, Shonda.
They talk on video nearly every night, but that’s a distant second to actually engulfing her in a hug, lifting her off the ground and listening to her break into peals of laughter—music to his ears.
His eyes start to well up, but he blinks back his tears.
Back when he was dating Timira, he had told Shonda about a cute, fairy-like woman he’d met in India.
She was the first woman her father had ever mentioned to her.
And she had been looking forward to meeting her someday.
It was she who had pushed Rodrigo into trying to set things right with Timira.
You messed up, daddy. And what have you taught me to do when you mess up?
Apologize, do better, be better. Right, she had told him when he told her he had bumped into Timira in Seoul.
‘I’m an embarrassment, brother. Don’t you see everyone is ashamed of me? I’m scared to even imagine what Shonda is going to think of me when she grows up and finds out who her dad really is.’
‘That’s not true. She is proud of you. And will always be!
I am proud of you! I’m proud to be your assistant!
Hyungnim, if you really feel sorry for me and for what happened to me, do it for me!
If you are really and truly sorry for what you did to Baek Haneul, do it for him as well.
He and I couldn’t live our dream, so you should live it!
Live it for those of us who are unable to.
Pogihajimaseyo, hyung. Jaebal jom [Don’t give up, brother. Please, please]!’
Minhyun’s heartfelt words comfort Rodrigo like a warm hug on a cold morning.
‘Hyungnim, the best apology is to forgive yourself and then live a good life striving to be a better person.’
‘ Butakheyo, hyungnim [I implore you, brother]. Don’t give up! Hang in there!’
Rodrigo is touched and speechless.
Unbelievable. How is this kid so kind and positive despite the terrible hand life has dealt him?
He recalls Timira’s words from the previous night.
‘Rod, this is none of my business. If you want to leave, leave. Go. Because it’s the easier option.
So you’re bound to pick it. But is this how you wish to keep living?
By running away? By, escaping? Eventually, one day, your past is going to catch up.
What’ll you do then? Where will you run to?
So I’d suggest you stay. And clean your s*** up! ’
Minhyun’s phone buzzes. It’s a call from the driver, Rodrigo’s driver. Minhyun speaks with him briefly.
‘Hyungnim, there’s mayhem outside. Hordes of media personnel seem to have congregated. I wonder why this renewed interest. I was hoping the attention would die down … hyung , what did you do yesterday? You were home, right?’
‘Yeah, I was home all day. Quiet like a mouse. It was only after they left that I stepped …’
‘Don’t say “out”!’ Minhyun’s eyes look like they’re about to pop out.
‘Er, mian . Yeah, I did go out for a couple of hours to grab some dinner.’
‘HYUNG!’
‘No big deal, nobody noticed. I was in disguise!’ Rodrigo sounds almost triumphant.
‘Were you alone? Or was someone with you? Did you take public transport? Of course you did. You sent me and Taewoo-ssi home!’
‘How does it matter? Like I said, nobody knew it was me. I was absolutely inconspicuous!’
Minhyun isn’t listening anymore. He’s on his phone, frown lines decorating his small forehead, a new one getting added every second.
‘Hyungnim, you were with a woman last night!’
‘How do you know?’
‘There are photos!’ He holds the phone up.
Timira’s face is blurred, thank God! Rodrigo sighs in relief.
‘Bro, there were no cameras, no flashbulbs, I swear!’
‘Clearly, you were mistaken!’
Minhyun’s phone dings. A new news report has come up. This time it’s a rumour about Rodrigo quitting Seoul Stealers FC.
How did they find out about this? Rodrigo is perplexed.
‘Hyungnim, who else have you discussed this with?’
Only Timira, but she wouldn’t disclose this to the media. What is happening?
‘With no one. Only you!’
‘ Hwagsilhabnayo [Are you sure]? Are you absolutely sure you’ve not shared this with anyone else? Because clearly, word has got out. Somebody somehow found out about this and let it out.’
‘Okay, okay, I did mention this to someone but only in passing. I trust this person more than I trust myself.’
‘Is this the same, er, “person” in the photos with you?’
Rodrigo nods.
‘Tell me exactly what happened, hyungnim. Where did you guys go?’
‘Nothing happened. We went to a pojangmacha, had pajeon and bindaetteok …’
Rodrigo trails off. And when he recalls in detail what had happened, he facepalms himself.
Timira had ordered soju that Rodrigo had asked to share because he knew she had always been a cheap drunk.
‘You are on medication. Of course you cannot be drinking, certainly not on my watch. Your fans won’t forgive me!’
A few shots later, she had loudly admonished him for trying to run away and lectured him on how he should not leave the club but stay and atone for his mistakes.
The small tent was packed with people. Anybody could’ve overheard their conversation. Not that Timira’s words needed overhearing. She was loud enough to be heard by everyone even fifty metres away.
‘Hyung, hyungnim, where are you lost?’
‘Nothing, nothing. I’m fine, I’m good. Bro, doesn’t matter how word got out, but now that it is what it is, let’s deal with it, shall we?’
‘I’m going to call the PR team and have them issue a statement.’
‘No, not yet. I don’t need them to intervene on my behalf. I am Rodrigo. International superstar Rodrigo. I am not going to hide anymore. The club will also be distressed by these reports.’
‘Hyungnim, please, let’s take a minute and calm down. Those reporters outside are like a hungry pack of wolves. They will attack you the minute you step out!’
‘Don’t worry about it, brother. I’m a superhero! I’m going to go out and first of all clear the air. Rodrigo is going nowhere!’
Minhyun knows there’s no stopping Rodrigo now. This is the attitude that has won him laurels on the field and the hearts of his fans off it. He’s a hero and he knows it.
Fixing the collar of his flannel shacket, he brushes his hair back, takes a quick look at himself in the oval-shaped gilded mirror that hangs in his living room, clears his throat, opens the door and walks out in giant, confident strides.
Downstairs, the building security is barely managing to hold the newsmongers off.
On spotting Rodrigo, they overpower the unarmed security personnel and rush in.
Cameras and microphones are thrust into his face.
He takes a deep breath and prepares himself for the questions he thinks are obvious to follow.
But to his utter surprise, nobody wants to know about his future at Seoul Stealers FC.
‘Who is the woman with you in the photos? Who is she?’
Rodrigo is gobsmacked.
‘Is this the woman you came to Korea for? Is she who you spoke of at your unveiling?’
Rodrigo’s head is starting to spin.
‘Tell us, Rodrigo-ssi. Who is this woman? Do you love her?’
‘Yes, this is the woman I love, the woman I came here for.’
His mouth has blurted out the words before his brain can catch up.
Crap! What have I done?
But he feels oddly light after saying it. There’s even a hint of a smile.
‘Are things going well for you? Looks like they are. Are you guys back together?’
Rodrigo is now enjoying it.
I have nothing to lose. Might as well go out with a bang!
Feeling wild and full of a sort of freedom he’s not felt in the longest time, he gestures at the biggest camera of the lot to come closer towards him and hold a steady shot. He then fixes his collar again, smoothens out the creases on his chest, closes his eyes and breathes very deeply.
There’s pin-drop silence all around and all pairs of eyes are on Rodrigo.
When he opens his eyes, he smiles calmly, looks straight into the camera with eyes that he imagines resemble the heart-eye emoji, and lowering his voice, he speaks earnestly.
‘Timira, I love you. Will you marry me?’