CHAPTER 2
Breaking Down Walls and Building Bridges
The elevator doors chime and open to the penthouse floor. Choi Young Do stops on his tracks when he finds Eun Sang crumpled on the floor; her suitcase is partially blocking the hallway. Her shoulders sag as she sobs. As he approaches her, he finds her card key next to her mobile.
"Cha Eun Sang," he calls her name softly. He never thought he'd utter her name out loud ever again.
He's unsure if she hears him. Her lifeless form remains immobile. He hovers over her before taking command of the scene. He picks up her card and her mobile and opens the door to her room. He removes his jacket and drapes it on the table closest to the door. He lays her phone right next to the charging dock. He steps out to get the suitcase and rolls it in the foyer.
Despite all the commotion around her, she remains in the same pitiful position.
"Eun Sang-a, tarawa," he urges her to get up from the hotel floor.
She whimpers, unwilling to move.
Young Do sighs. He scoops her off the ground and cradles her against him. Her arms lace around his neck and her head rests against the crook of his neck.
"Eottoke, Young Do-ah?" she snivels, as he carries her to the couch. Slowly, he lowers himself on the couch, carefully draping her on top of his lap. An onset of tears starts flowing again, instinctively tightening her grip around his neck.
Her tears pool down his collarbone, soaking up his crisp white shirt. He strokes her head and the length of her back, chanting, "Quenchanna."
He knows the words are empty. He knows she wasn't okay.
For an hour, they just held on to each other. No words can soothe the pain. Neither of them can leave for Seoul. Neither can they bring Tan back from the dead. In silence they sit, hoping the company alone is enough to comfort them.
Slowly, her sobs subside to hiccups. Then her grip loosens. He knows she's fallen asleep from exhaustion.
He lowers her to the couch slowly, positioning a pillow under her head. She mutters something unintelligible before falling back asleep. He takes her shoes off and drapes a throw blanket over her before putting some space between them. Crouched, he backs away from her until he was a safe distance away from her. Once he reaches the kitchen area, he stretches to his full frame. He fishes out his phone to respond to the incessant vibrating rings he ignored while taking care of Eun Sang.
Five missed calls.
He looks down the list. Lee Bo Na. Yoon Chan Young. Jo Myung Soo. Yoo Rachel. Kim Won. More than likely, they all want to let him know something horrible happened to Kim Tan.
He dials Myung Soo's number, knowing he would be awake at this time of the day and would be able to give him details.
"Have you heard?" Myung Soo asks.
"Oh," Young Do replies. Words elude him.
"No one can seem to be able to get in touch with Cha Eun Sang," Myung Soo says worriedly. "Eottoke? We were supposed to celebrate their engagement in the next two weeks!"
"She's in shock right now. I'm with her," he replies, glancing toward her direction.
"Dahaeng ida," Myung Soo says, relieved. "How did you..."
"I was supposed to join them for drinks tomorrow tonight," Young Do says, rubbing his jaw. "Ah, Kim Tan. He really knows how to make things all about him."
"Yah! That's no way to speak of the dead," Myung Soo chides his friend. "What did Cha Eun Sang say?"
"She didn't say much," he replies. "I had to peel her off the floor and take her to her room."
"Poor girl," Myung Soo sympathizes.
"What happened?" Young Do finally asks as he walks toward the bar.
"The news said it's an accident. A car side swiped the vehicle door and Kim Tan with it. It's a hit-and-run. Yoon Chan Young is in charge of the crime scene, from what I heard," Myung Soo states.
Young Do purses his lips. Knowing Chan Young is in charge of the investigation gives him some sense of comfort that Tan's death would be resolved quickly.
"I'm going to make sure Eun Sang gets back as soon as she can," Young Do responds. "Can you pick her up from the airport?"
"If I can't, I'll make sure Bo Na or Chan Young does," Myung Soo promises.
Eun Sang wakes up slowly. Her eyes feel like sandbags sealed them shut. As she struggles to regain consciousness, she realizes she is not alone.
"It's just me, Cha Eun Sang," he reassures her softly.
His voice startled her. It has been a while since she heard him speak. To her, his voice sounds foreign but comforting.
Choi Young Do. She forgot she called him. She barely remembers him comforting her before she drifted to sleep.
This was not the way she intended to meet someone she desperately avoided for years to keep the peace. But because of her dissertation, her mind was in chaos. She forgot she had been up over thirty hours, packing and going over her notes. Right now, she is too tired to deal with her own life, let alone Tan's passing.
"How long have I been asleep?" she asks as she pulls herself up to a sitting position.
"About two hours, maybe?" he says, straightening himself up from the wall he was propped against as he waited for her to wake up.
"Mianada, Young Do-ah," Eun Sang apologizes. "Kumapsamnida."
"What are you apologizing for? Let alone, thanking me?" he asks softly as he pours water into a glass.
"For breaking our pact," she says. "But I didn't know who to call. This cannot be easy…"
He stares at the floor, tapping the toe of his shoe against the plush carpet. "Quenchanna."
A nervous giggle escapes her lips. "What a reunion, huh? I haven't talked to you in eight years and this is how we say hello to each other."
"Yeah, Kim Tan surely knows how to make an impact," he sarcastically states.
Cha Eun Sang stares at her fingers playing with the pillow's fringes. "I… I just wanted you to know that I am grateful and I'm not going to abuse your generosity."
He stares at her intently and knits his eyebrows. "Do you think of me as an ogre?"
"I don't!" she quickly reassures him. "It's just… the last time, before we said our goodbyes… it seems like you just keep rescuing me."
"Don't worry," he says, folding his arms across his chest. "You've got a running tab going right now. Don't be surprised at how much this is costing you."
"Fine. You know how I hate feeling indebted," she says, a blush tinting her neck.
"You know, after all these years, you still haven't learned to take a joke," he grumbles before handing her a glass of water. "Here, take this. I think you've cried your water weight."
She takes the water from him and takes a drink. "Kamsamhnida. Have you eaten? I could order us some room service. I've not eaten since breakfast."
"Aish!" he swears at her. "You need to take care of yourself, Eun Sang-a. Who'll take care of you when you're alone?"
She lowers her eyes after his scolding.
"I've ordered us something already," he assures her. "Why don't you go freshen up? You'll feel better after a shower."
All of a sudden, she becomes very aware of her appearance. She probably looks haggard. Her mascara would've smeared and her lip tint would've been wiped off. The only tint on her skin is her embarrassment.
"Do you mind?" she asks.
"We've much to talk about," he responds. "Go get showered."
She nods, grateful he's taking control of the situation. Although she is the kind of person who always gets herself out of any dilemma, she is glad she didn't have to go through this alone.
She swiftly undresses as she waits for the shower to come to a desirable temperature. When she steps under the rain shower, she welcomes the hot water on her tired body. The massaging effect temporarily dispersed some of the tension on her back and neck. She finally steps out and towels off. After putting on a fresh outfit from her suitcase, she felt better. She completes her transition with a light layer of make-up. To her, this is the least she could do to look less like the dead.
"Just in time," he says as she emerges from the bathroom.
The wait staff sets the meal on the table. Young Do tips the staff and thanks them before sending them on their way.
"Meogda," he orders her to eat.
She sits across from Young Do and proceeds to concentrate on her meal. She finds it ironic that the last time they were together, it was over a meal all too similar to this.
She peers at him through the fringe of her lashes. Although she has seen his photos in the news, he was still the same, yet different, from the Young Do she knew at eighteen. If it were possible, he grew a bit taller. His slim frame got more muscular. His long, supple fingers are more calloused than what she remembers. His hair, still short from the military, makes him look more dangerous and unapproachable.
"Stop looking at me like that. You know how uncomfortable it makes me feel," he says as he plays with the food on his plate.
Eun Sang is embarrassed that he caught her staring at him. She makes a concerted effort to keep her eyes on her food.
"I got in touch with Myung Soo while you were sleeping," Young Do says. "He said Yoon Chan Young is in charge of the investigation. There's no news on Kim Tan's funeral yet."
"Thank you for letting me know," she says, taking a sip of water. "I haven't talked to Chan Young yet. I've not felt up to asking what really happened."
"There's really no news right now so it's not like you're missing out," he says.
"Won Oppa said he'll call me as soon as he has more information about funeral arrangements. I'm planning on leaving New York the moment I can get a flight back to Seoul," Eun Sang confesses.
"I figured," he replies. "Do you want me to make the arrangements for you?"
She looks at him with tired eyes. "I think I can handle it."
"I want to do it," he says, gripping his fork excessively tight. "Please, let me handle it. Otherwise, I'll feel like I'm abandoning you. I want to fly out with you but I still have to finish the conference tomorrow."
"Yah, Choi Young Do, you of all people shouldn't feel that way," Eun Sang admonishes Young Do. "You've helped me this far."
He shoots her a look of disbelief.
"Tan-a pre-booked our flights anyway. I'll just give the airline a call and see what arrangements I can come up with," she says, shrugging her shoulders.
When Young Do conceded, Eun Sang let out a sigh of relief.
"Promise me you'd send me a copy of your itinerary?" he prompts her after a while.
"Oh," she says, capitulating to him.
Another beat passes.
"Do you want me to stay with you tonight?" he asks guardedly.
The word yes danced on Eun Sang's tongue. She wants to admit she is afraid to be alone. She was tired of all her burdens weighing her down.
"I'll be alright on my own," she reluctantly answers. "Kumapseubnida."
He looks at hear wearily. He isn't convinced she will be fine. The eighteen- year old Young Do would've called her on her bluff. At twenty-four, he knows better to let it slide.
"You know you can always call my number if you need me," he says unnecessarily.
She nods her head.
He wipes his mouth on the napkin before placing it next to his plate. He gets up slowly; his moves, calculated. He circles around the table until he reaches her.
Eun Sang closes her eyes, anticipating Young Do's next step. Then, she feels his warmth. His lips touches the crown of her head ever so slightly before whispering, "You'll be alright."