CHAPTER 1
No Breathing
Cha Eun Sang finally takes a deep breath; one that does not require a pause. She's finally done with school. Hopefully, she wouldn't be forced to pursue a doctorate. At the rate she was attending school, Kim Tan would have to serve his conscription and they would never be together.
Donning on her sunglasses, she steps out of the cab that pulls over to the hotel's doors. Her flight from La Guardia arrived an hour ago. Kim Tan will be arriving in another twelve hours if his flight isn't delayed. A sigh escapes her lips. It won't be too long before she sees him again. She, Tan, and Choi Young Do were supposed to meet tomorrow tonight for drinks and fly back to Seoul the next day as a group.
Tomorrow's festivities is their night to celebrate. Cha Eun Sang's life as a student is over. Finishing her Masters Degree in Eastern Asian Studies, she is ready to tackle the job as the International Relations Officer for Jeguk Group. She and Tan can finally announce their engagement. As for Choi Young Do, he finally gets back to working full-time in Zeus Hotel. He got back from performing his military duties a month ago, and now he is performing his duty as the heir-to-the-throne. He is attending a seminar on hotel management, much to his chagrin.
Cha Eun Sang checks in and takes the card key from the front desk clerk. Humming a tune to herself, she waits for the elevator doors to open. Her exile from Korea is finally over. She'll be able to speak her native tongue for more than three weeks. She will see Kim Tan as many times as she could without the aid of Skype and her computer screen.
Finally.
The elevator zips her up to the penthouse, bypassing the numerous floors before her. She steps out onto the carpeted hallway, mentally chiding Kim Tan for making such lavish accommodations. She would just have to tell him to be more thrifty the next time she sees him.
She was about to pull her key card out of her pocket when her phone rings. It was a melody she pre-assigned to Kim Won.
Swiping the green phone icon to the right, she answers the phone in a sing-song voice.
"Oppa?" she responds.
A pause fills the air. It was then she realizes something is wrong.
"Eun Sang-a, Tan... He got into a car accident,"Won's shaky voice reverberates through the line.
"What?" she asks, dropping her bag on the floor. "Is he okay? Are you at the hospital?"
A guttural sound escapes Won's lips. "My dongsaeng... My Tan-a... He's dead, Eun Sang."
Breathing suddenly became harder. How could Kim Won say something so awful?
"Mianhamnida, Cha Eun Sang-ssi," Won sobs on the other end of the line. "He was getting in the car when he got hit. There was blood everywhere..."
Her ears start ringing from her blood pounding against her skin.
Sorry? That's all he can say? Sorry is what someone says when a minor accident happens. Hearing about a loved one's death is not remedied by such an empty word.
"I - I don't understand," Eun Sang stutters, her voice caught between a whisper and a sob. How could Kim Tan be gone? How could he leave her? Numbness overcomes her, and she couldn't fathom how she was supposed to live without him.
Eight years, they've been together. They laughed. They cried. They fought and made up. They promised each other they would get married before the year's first snow fall. Tan was her knight in shining armor, and now, he's gone.
It was a freak accident, Won Oppa says. After the the SBS Telekom and Jeguk Group alliance was signed, Won and Tan went out with the board members for a celebratory meal. If Tan declined the invitation and left for the airport, the accident wouldn't have happened. He would've been with her in the hotel right now, arguing how and where they would celebrate their engagement and imminent wedding. Kim Tan was supposed to take her home and present her as a new asset in Jeguk Group's arsenal.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Won sobs over the phone.
She knows Kim Won is hurting but her selfishness consumes her. She hangs up on him, shortly after muttering she'll be home on the next flight back to Seoul.
She doesn't know how she will function knowing full well she's going back to nothing.
With shaky hands, she grabs her mobile. Chances that her phone call will be received willingly are slim. However, she needs someone to lean to, even if it was someone she promised she won't rely on anymore.
In a zombie -like fashion, her thumb hovers over his name.
He told her a long while ago to remember his number other than Tan's.
She just never thought she would actually need it.
The green phone icon opens a new window. Dialing... . She just hopes her message goes to voice mail.
Choi Young Do yanks on his bow tie the moment he gets into his hotel room.
"Would it kill you to stick around and mingle?" Secretary Park Ji Hoo asks, irritated at Young Do's indifference.
"I didn't ask you to leave the festivities," he growls, pouring himself a brandy from the decanter. "Brown-nosing isn't one of my hobbies. What difference does it make if I talk to them now or at tomorrow's symposium?"
"Don't be naive," Secretary Parks says impatiently. "You're not just another body in the company. You're its face!"
"And a handsome one at that!" Young Do sarcastically reminds him.
"Sajangniym!" Secretary Park exclaims, exasperated with Young Do. "Your father tasked me to ensure your first trip to the States is successful and that you would come home with at least a modicum of respect for the business."
"I did that by getting through university at a breakneck speed," Young Do argues as he pours himself another drink. "Jinjja, any faster and I would've put a hole in the time-space continuum."
"Aish!" Secretary Park swears. "Your book smarts are no good if you have poor public relations with the other people in our business."
Young Do leans against the granite counter top. He stares at the elder gentleman, lazily swirling the brandy- filled glass in his hand.
"How much of your bonus is tied to this trip?" Young Do asks.
"Ne?" the Secretary responds, surprised at the question.
"Abeoji passed on his right hand man to accompany me on this business trip not because he thinks you're an asset," he says. "He sent you so that you can rat me out and let him know whether or not I'm the good little soldier he hoped I'd become."
"Your father won't do such a thing," the older man huffs, tugging at his collar. "He wants to see you succeed."
Choi Young Do and Secretary Park knew that statement was a lie.
If Young Do were to be deemed successful at this international gathering, he would have made acquaintances with at least five hoteliers, project managers, architects, and engineers in countries where Zeus Hotel was not present. It would be considered a bonus if in any of those groups mentioned, the men and women with power would have daughters of marrying age who would consider him good husband material for a mergers and acquisitions deal.
"If you come back without much less of an alliance to...," Secretary Park was cut -off mid-sentence.
"Araseo," Young Do says, shooting the older gentleman a lazy stare. "I know what the consequences are."
"You're going to lose the Jeju Island Zeus Hotel and be ousted from the board," he warns.
Young Do downs the amber liquid. He allows the burn to travel down his neck, contemplating the words Secretary Park said.
"And if you cancel on Kim Joon Ta's daughter one more time, your father will let you pay dearly," he adds.
Young Do barks a laugh. He was about to respond to the Secretary's preposterous threat when his mobile rang. Without glancing at the screen, he responds coldly.
"Yabuseo?" His voice is low and guarded.
"Choi Young Do?" The meek voice on the other end replies. "It's Cha Eun Sang... Kim Tan..."
The hair on his nape prickles. Her name... Her voice... He straightens up slightly and becomes overtly aware of his surroundings.
"Kim Tan," she sobs."... is dead."
His heart pounces against his chest. "What? When?"
"Seoul. It just happened a few hours ago. He... Won Oppa said the car..." Eun Sang cannot finish her statement.
"Calm down, " he orders, his eyes quickly darts to the Secretary. "Where are you?"
"I just flew in," she rambles, trying to control her sobs. "The Four Seasons Penthouse..."
Young Do remembers the deal. He and Tan planned to have their accommodations in the same hotel so they can spend some down time while outside of the country and away from prying eyes.
"Which penthouse?" he questions, grabbing his dinner coat off of the chair.
"Terrace Park View suite...," her voice barely whispers.
"Stay there," he orders her before disconnecting. He shoves his mobile in his pant pockets before donning the coat.
"Where are you going? We are not done with this conversation!" Secretary Park yells.
"It was fun arguing with you, Secretary. But right by now, I have an emergency to attend. You know where the door is."
Without preamble, Young Do leaves without looking back.
"Yah! Choi Young Do!" the Secretary calls out to Young Do as he runs toward the elevator doors. "Remember, I'll have to take matters in my own hands if you can't come up with a wife to present to your father!"
The threat fell on deaf ears. Getting married is the least of his worries at this point. Kim Tan… dead?
He paced the hotel hallway in quick, long steps. No... No! Not Tan.
He swears under his breath as he waits for the elevator doors to open. Conflicting feelings courses through him. Tan meant more to him than almost anything. Despite their feud years ago, Tan was the brother he never had.
Young Do tries to hold back the taste of bile rising up his throat. He wishes he didn't hold a grudge against him for so long. If he knew he would lose him so soon, he would have apologized sooner; begged Kim Won to bring Tan back to Korea. He would've told him how much his friendship meant to him. But now, they're just words; words Tan wouldn't hear now that he's gone.