Chapter Fifteen
‘Seonbae, gwenchanayo? How did you manage to get in unnoticed?’
News personnel have been camped outside the SecondSkin office and the reception desk has been inundated with calls.
Hanee, on her way in, spotted at least a dozen vehicles in the car park and a swarm of reporters buzzing in the main lobby.
She had to run inside the lift when a couple of them chased after her.
Since Rodrigo’s very public declaration of his love for Timira, it hadn’t taken the media much time to unearth her identity.
Timira, who has been sitting facedown on the table, gets up to reveal dark glasses sitting on the bridge of her nose.
‘This is how.’ She proceeds to take the sunnies off and perches them atop her crown. Dark circles sit under her big eyes, like half-moons.
‘I was unable to sleep last night so I came in early. Before the jingbang arrived.’
Rodrigo’s ‘proposal’ had thrown her off and she imagined Haneul wouldn’t be exactly thrilled about it either.
She had contemplated calling Haneul last night to clear the air, but had been unable to bring herself to do it.
She had hoped to bump into him at work and talk in person.
But Haneul is nowhere to be seen. They haven’t spoken since the interview fiasco involving Rodrigo, and Timira is now starting to worry about what could possibly be on his mind.
‘Good call, Seonbae. But it’s only going to get tougher hereon. Now that they know you, it’s only a matter of time until they find your home address. You will be followed wherever you go. They’ll camp outside your home.’
Timira groans.
‘I’m nobody. Why are they interested in me?’
‘They are interested in Rodrigo-ssi, and he is interested in you. Ergo, they are interested in you!’
‘Uff, my head hurts!’ Timira is unable to mask her annoyance.
‘Seonbae, I have a suggestion. Why don’t you come stay with me?’
‘And ruin your peace? And your family’s! Certainly not!’
‘Only until this blows over.’
‘If they can find my address, I’m sure they can find yours, too!’
‘We’ll find a way. I’ll ask Choi Bujangnim for help. I’m sure he will find a way to sneak you out!’
Mr Choi does, and, after work, Timira is smuggled out of the SecondSkin building in a truck full of boxes headed to their workshop.
Once at Hanee’s, Timira keeps trying to reach Haneul but to no avail. His phone has continued to be switched off for over seventy-two hours. And when she isn’t dialling his number, she’s having to dodge calls from Rodrigo. He has been calling her incessantly and tirelessly.
‘Seonbae, you can’t force someone to talk when they are not willing to. The same way you can’t make someone love you just because you love them.’
Timira, surprised by Hanee’s unusually cryptic remark, sits up. Hanee is, of course, speaking from first-hand experience, but Timira is yet to figure that out. Like a lot of other things, including her own heart and life.
‘Keep talking, Honey. I’m listening.’
‘I don’t mean to sermonize, Seonbae. Perhaps Daepyonim just needs a little time. Allow him that. Meanwhile, there’s someone trying to reach out, give him the chance to explain himself.’
‘Wow, Honey. Look at you! When did you grow up so much?’
Hanee smiles a little and, looking straight into Tim’s eyes, says,
‘I know how it feels to not be loved back. Rodrigo knows you don’t love him anymore. This isn’t easy for him, Seonbae. Cut him some slack maybe? He knows he’s dug his own grave and maybe he just wants a decent burial so he can peacefully sleep in there!’
Timira cannot hide her amusement at Hanee’s choice of words. She purses her lips in an attempt at hiding a laugh but her eyes are laughing, Hanee can tell.
‘I’m serious, Seonbae!’
‘Well, none of this would’ve happened had he kept his mouth shut and not spouted such nonsense on live TV!’ Timira retorts.
‘What he did was anything but cool, Seonbae, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying you should forgive him. But he loves you, Seonbae!’
‘We aren’t in office, Honey. Drop the Seonbae. Jigeum !’
‘Yeah, okay, fine, Timira eonni . Rodrigo loves you, and he’s an idiot for proclaiming it on national television. But that is how love is. It makes you brave and free, and an utter idiot!’
‘Really? Is that why you have yet to confess to your crush?’
Um, what? Hanee is a little alarmed. How does she know?
Hanee doesn’t know what has just hit her. She keeps gaping.
‘Don’t think I haven’t noticed the signs.
I may not say it, but I sure see it. The long sighs, the absent-minded twirling of your hair, the lost-in-thought smiles, the heart stickers on your notepad, the red hearts on the calendar on the days, I assume, you’ve been seeing your crush? Did you think I wouldn’t notice?’
Timira is teasing, but Hanee is nervous.
‘So have you told them yet?’
‘ Ajig anim [Not yet],’ Hanee mutters under her breath and turns her head away.
‘Why is that? Hasn’t love made you brave, feel free? Still using your brain to think, and not your heart?’
Curling her fists in frustration, Hanee grinds her teeth and rolls her eyes.
Seonbae, you know nothing!
‘Oh, little Honey is upset. See! It’s easier said than done. I’m sure Rod’s intentions were noble, but it’s irresponsible to be idiotic when it concerns others. And this isn’t the first time I’ve suffered because of his idiocy …’
‘Seonbae , johahaeyo [I like] …’
‘I can’t believe my luck. How much more rotten could it have been? Gah, there’s no escaping it. Bad luck sure does follow me around like a loyal pup. It’s like I attract all these bad vibes like a bloody magnet!’
‘Seonbae , dangshin johahaeyo [I like you]!’
Hanee shouts this time, loudly enough to interrupt Timira.
‘Huh? I know you do. I like you, too, darling,’ patting her head with a smile before opening her mouth to continue her tirade against Rod. But Hanee doesn’t let her.
‘Seonbae, stop! I said I like you. You asked if I’ve confessed to my crush.
Well, I just did. You. It’s you. I’ve had a crush on you since your first day at work.
Please don’t widen your eyes anymore, and maybe don’t stare at me while I let my heart take over the brain.
Or I’ll never be able to get allllllll of this off my chest.’
Timira pretends to look sideways out of the window but from the corner of her eye can see Hanee breathing hard and shaking a little.
‘I’m sorry to dump this on you when you obviously already have heaps on your plate. But now that the cat’s out of the bag, I’m going to let it knock the tumbler over and spill all the milk, too.’
Timira laughs in her head but manages to keep a straight face.
Look at her, making jokes even when she’s nervous. What a cutie! Haaye, how I wish I liked women, too. Women really are the coolest!
‘I know you like someone else, and it’s cool. Trust me, it is. And, you know the best part? He knows too!’
‘Haneul knows I like him?’ Timira is trying to keep up.
‘No, Seonbae. I mean, yes. Isn’t that obvious? Isn’t that partly why you are here? But, that’s not what I meant.’
‘Then what did you mean? Oho, please be more precise, my dear Honey. I’m old, I’m sleep deprived, and I’m being chased by the ghosts of my recent past.’ Timira sounds tired and her voice pleading.
‘Daepyonim knows I like you.’ Hanee speaks matter-of-factly.
Haneul knows?!
‘That you like me like me?’ Tim asks, amazed.
‘It was our secret until it wasn’t. Until now, I mean.
Well, yeah, like I was saying, I like you.
So I think I know how Rodrigo-ssi must be feeling.
And then there’s your history with him. If for nothing else, give him a chance just for your time together, for the sake of all the happy memories you made together! ’
As though right on cue, Rod’s name flashes on Timira’s phone.
‘Answer it, eonni. Just do it!’
Timira picks up her phone, meaning to answer. But she doesn’t. She puts it aside instead.
‘Seonbae, what are you doing?’
‘Don’t worry, he’ll call again. I know him. And if he doesn’t, I’ll call him back. Okay? There’s something more important I need to take care of before I handle him.’
Eyebrows raised, Hanee looks at Timira expectantly, waiting for an explanation. But Timira smiles and walks towards her. Wrapping her arms around Hanee, she speaks softly.
‘Uri, Honey, my angel, Honey, gomawo ! Thank you for your confession. And thank you for liking your nutcase eonni.’
Hanee, warm and comfortable inside Timira’s embrace, murmurs under her breath, but doesn’t embrace her back.
Respectful of boundaries, as always, her arms are to the side even as her heart races.
She does allow herself to inhale copious amounts of Timira’s trusty Kerastase serum and current favourite Thé Matcha by Le Labo though.
‘How is your heart, dear Honey? I’m sure it must be hurting. I am so sorry!’ Timira’s voice is as pained as her heart. If there’s even one person who has loved her selflessly, since Alice and Bhaskar, it is Hanee. No agenda, no vested interest—just pure love.
‘It’s all right, Seonbae. Sorry, I mean eonni. It’s a little sad, but it’ll be okay. Look, please don’t beat yourself up over this. I always knew you didn’t swing my way. I tried to keep my feelings platonic, but the heart wants what it wants, right?’
‘Oh, I know that feeling all too well, Honey. I’m just sad that you are sad. You know how happy you make me, don’t you? You know you are my little sister, don’t you?’
Hanee makes a puking face and giggles.
‘Stop it, Honey! I’m being serious right now. You know I love you, don’t you?’
‘ Ara , Seonb—eonni, eonni! I know. And that is why I’m not going to be sad … well, not for too long. I promise!’ Hanee grins and salutes Timira.
‘Honey, what will happen when you meet someone great and fall for them? Will you forget about me?’ Timira pouts.
‘No way! Never! Sis before miss, always!’
Timira bursts out laughing. ‘Did you just make that up?’
‘Sorry,’ Hanee admits sheepishly.