Chapter 3:
Myeong-Ju let out a joyous hoop as she tore down the street with her bunny cycle. The air was dry with tolerable heat. Spring time in Morocco is something worth enjoying. She paddled as sceneries on the sides of the road kept changing. Somewhere it was lush green with grass and trees and somewhere pale golden fields of sand and bare earth. She passed few stores and food stalls on her way down. Rich aroma of cooked beef and couscous hung in the air. As the wind whipped and framed around her and played with her short deep burgundy hair, her mind went back to her childhood when her mother was still alive. She was the one who taught Myeong-Ju riding cycle along with many other things. If she closes her eyes, she still can see her mother in front of her with same dazzling smile and deep brown sparkling happy eyes. Her lavender like smell still envelopes her with warmth she craves. She was a free bird with spirit high as the vast sky. She was the butterfly with colorful dreams painted on her little wings. As her mother died, all her dreams and happy world crumbled around her showing her the true extent of the cruel world. How old was she when her mother died? Eight. The very time she met Yoo Shi-jin aka the Devil's Spawn who became her sworn enemy at the very first meeting.
Now come to think of it, she never hated Shi-Jin. But she hated the appreciation she found in her father's eyes each time his eyes landed on him. She hated the fact that Shi-Jin was the perfect son her father always craved. To a motherless child Shi-Jin became the biggest threat on the way of gaining her father's attention and it used to put her of the edge. Their enmity kept up until the day when Myeong-Ju's well build wall around her aches finally broke.
It was the biggest day for her. She got admission in the Military Medical School. She was only few steps away from fulfilling her father's dream. It was raining so hard that she couldn't see a thing even at her arm's length. It was already late and her car broke down. She was waiting for a taxi when another car pulled around her. Four men got down from the car. At first she ignored them. But the street was empty. When the men came too close for her comfort, she became forced to take them on account. When their intention became too clear she ran. Oh she tried to run! But they caught her easily.
When they were finished with her, they left her on the side of the road and zoomed away with their car. She remember searing pain on her nether region and humiliation. She remember Shi-Jin finding her and taking her to a hospital and admitting her under the false name so no one will recognize her as the Senior Colonel's daughter. She remember clutching his hand as the doctors patched her up. And she remember anger seething in his coal like eyes. Anger so raw and vicious, the world had an old name for that type of anger. Ire.
That night she stayed at the hospital and Shi-jin stayed with her. That night she cried holding Shi-Jin who cradled her like she was made of glass. That night she cried for the first and the last time. She cried for the father she always loved but who never gave much thought on her existence. She cried for the mother who left her too early. She cried on the humiliation she felt. She cried on anger. When the dawn broke she wiped out her tears and vowed revenge. When she looked at his eyes she found something else alongside with anger. Admiration.
Loud honking noise brought her out of her thought. She has stopped her cycle in midst of the road and was about to get hit by a car which was getting driven by an old man. The man slammed his breaks and rolled the window down. He pulled out his head and yelled.
Old Man: Hal 'ant aemaa (are you blind)? Hal targhab fi almawt (do you wish to die)?
He had courage it seems. Most of the time people avoid them like plague being an army and all. But this old man seemed a head away from blasting her. She smiled and gestured him to carry on with his journey. Muttering under his breath, he started his car and went forward.
She is still searching for those men. It was night time that too with heavy rain pouring from the side, so she couldn't see their face. But she remember their voice. She will not rest until she settle her scores with them. Until then, the day is too bright to not to enjoy. She locked those memories in the darkest corner of her heart for now and let the warm sensation wash over her.
Kang Mo-Yeon straightened her already ironed skirt and stood still. One week ago an urgent notice came regarding changing in hospital authority. Their Chairman Suk-Won got sacked due to some internal problem and at his place a new chairman has been appointed who is supposed to join today. He is flying from Australia and the board members has decided that it will best if Kang Mo-Yeon receives the Chairman. According to the rumor he is a dashing young cardiologist with enough intelligence to run the post efficiently. She looked at the placard she is holding. It says "Welcome Kim Jin-Woo". She wondered if it's a bit too much. While musing she missed when the plane landed and when someone seeing the name written in the placard stood in front of her. She noticed only when a deep husky voice rang in her ear.
Voice: Well if it's not the TV doctor!
She hates it when someone call her TV doctor. She assessed the man standing in front of him and recognized almost immediately as their current Chairman. He was tall. Taller than average, almost 6'2". Well build body with a boyish face and a secret grin as if he just heard a joke and trying not to smile. But the best feature was his eyes. Strong arrogant sets of eye that held mirth and stubbornness. Since he gave away his likeness towards Kang Mo-Yeon with the very first line, she wondered if she was better with the previous Chairman Suk-Won.