Chapter 8: Inho's New Opportunity
My imagination is all fired up and I can't wait to tell you what happens next!
Inho opened his groggy eyes and saw the sun's morning rays scattered throughout an unfamiliar building hallway. Where was he? He looked around and found himself sitting in front of Dajeong's door. Omo, had he been there all night? Luckily it was seven o'clock on a Saturday morning and he didn't need to be anywhere else. He got up and stretched his stiff joints.
"Dajeong-ssi," he called out as he knocked. After knocking three times, he took her key out of his pocket and unlocked the door.
He went in and ventured cautiously toward her bedroom, where the sound of a light snore made him grin.
I'm glad you're still alive, Dajeong-ssi. The sound reminded him of the first time she had slept on Kwon Yul's office couch. With that thought in mind, Inho went back into her living room and promptly fell into a dreamless sleep as soon as he sat upon Dajeong's loveseat.
It was noon before Dajeong stirred and awoke in a tranquil apartment.
"Aigoo…" she moaned as she nursed her throbbing head and stumbled out of bed. As she headed for the kitchen, she caught sight of a stranger lying on her loveseat with his arm over his face.
"Ahhh!" she screamed as she checked herself to make sure she was dressed. "Who are you?!"
An exhausted Inho uncovered his face and slowly sat up as he stared back at her.
"Oh, Kang Gwajang-nim! Why are you here? Were you…" she glanced at his clothes. "Were you here all night?"
"Not exactly."
"Ah…." she let out a slow cry as she put her hand to her temple. "Did I drink soju last night? Why does it feel like I did?"
"I stopped you… but you might as well have," he said dully.
She smoothed her hair, embarrassed for him to see her unkempt like this, but he didn't bat an eye.
"You can go home now. Thanks for… helping me. You didn't have to do that."
She looked down and didn't see Inho frowning as he rose from the couch and marched right up to her.
"What did he say to you?" he demanded to know.
"It doesn't matter. We're through."
Instantly his eyes became rounder and his jaw dropped a bit.
"You were right about not expecting much," she continued. "How naïve I was when I thought…"
She blinked away the salt drops in her eyes.
"What?" asked Inho.
I thought I would have a happy home, with an older but respected husband and three stepchildren... and we would laugh and make music together… God, how am I going to bear it when the holidays come around again?
"I should go," he said as he put her key down on the coffee table. "Hyung is probably wondering where I am."
"Will you greet him for me? I'm sorry I can't visit him today."
He nodded and made his way to the front door.
"Thanks for being my friend, Kang Gwajang-nim…"
Inho took a deep breath and went out, hoping she did not see the pained expression on his face.
#
At Yul's residence, Hyejoo was making another one of her increasingly regular visits. As she sat with him in his office, sipping coffee, she could tell that he was still not quite himself.
"Candidate-nim, I never thought I would say this in a million years, but I think you should…"
As if he already knew what she was going to say, he held up his hand.
"Don't say anymore. I am going through with my campaign."
He had expected her to be surprised, so he continued.
"I thought about our discussion earlier and came to the conclusion that it is better that I take my mind off my grief by serving the people. The children have promised to help me during this time, even if we are a long shot."
"Are you sure?"
He smiled and nodded.
"Thank you, Hyejoo, for helping me and the children."
"No need to thank me," said Hyejoo, a little embarrassed.
"Of course I do. You've had a hectic schedule yourself, so I appreciate the extra time and effort you've made."
Hyejoo smiled a little and nodded.
I tried to forget you, Sunbae, but I just couldn't… Even when I go out on dates, you haunt me…
#
Inho brought a cup of water up to his hyung's lips. Sooho took a sip and declined the rest.
"I'm sorry, Hyung, I…" Inho began.
But Sooho interrupted his younger brother with a loud grunt.
"I… worried… your… future…"
Inho shook his head.
"Don't worry about that, Hyung. Just focus on getting well."
"Nam… Dajeong…?"
Inho tried to answer as cheerfully as he could.
"She couldn't be here today. But she thinks of you often."
Sooho said nothing as he watched Inho's face become sad again.
"She… loves you?" asked Sooho.
Inho was surprised to hear Hyung ask this question. He sighed a little and changed the subject.
"Hyung, I was thinking of going overseas to study, but I can't just leave you here by yourself."
"Study… come back."
"But, Hyung…"
"Brother-in-law… help."
Inho bit his lip and did not reply.
#
At his apartment, Inho tossed his keys on his desk and turned on his laptop. A web page for the Universitat autonoma de Barcelona appeared on the screen. He stared at it and thought of Dajeong's last words to him.
Thanks for being my friend…
With his face set in stone, Inho pushed his chair aside, sat down at his desk, and started typing.
#
Dajeong sighed as she glanced at her watch, and then at the courtyard door.
"Aish, what a long meeting."
"Good, that means more time for you to tell me what happened next," said Appa. "When did you and Kang son-in-law become a couple?"
Dajeong couldn't help but laugh a little.
"I think Samonim had something to do with it happening so quickly. It was like the long winter extended through spring, and then summer suddenly came and there was no in between."
"Summer, huh?"
"It all started in August, exactly two years after the strange coincidences that brought me and Kwon Yul together. To be honest, sometimes I think what happened next was even more bizarre…"
#
Dajeong and Inho walked through the market looking for fresh noodles, cabbage, chicken and kochukaru to make spicy noodle soup. She looked through the produce and picked out the ones she wanted, even as Inho dutifully carried her grocery bags.
Dajeong bought some tofu and grinned as she handed him the sack.
"Thanks for grocery shopping with me, Kang Gwajang-nim."
"It's always a pleasure," he replied. He wished she knew just how much he looked forward to spending time doing even the most mundane things with her.
Just then Dajeong caught sight of a young man with curly reddish-brown hair. With his baby face, he was probably a college student, but she could tell that he was wealthy and dressed in the most expensive designer duds.
"Omo!" she gasped.
Inho looked around, trying to see what she saw.
"What is it?"
Dajeong pointed out the guy.
"He looks just like my ideal date when I was in high school!" she gushed.
Inho studied the young man, confused as to what made him attractive.
"You were into that type?" he asked as he crinkled up his nose.
Dajeong nodded.
"Cute, neh?"
"Pshh! Look at that ridiculous hair!" Inho smirked.
"Yah! Don't you mock what I liked, Kang Gwajang-nim! In those days, I would've died to have someone like him ask me out!"
"Really?" asked Inho skeptically, before a devilish grin appeared on his face. He leaned toward her and softly asked, "So… if I looked like that, you would go out with me, too?"
She gave him the "weirdo" look and said blithely, "Pfft, don't be silly. We're grown-ups now. Besides, you have a serious job."
Inho sniffed and straightened up to his full height.
"You're right. I'm just a government man. How could I possibly look as cute as that? No one would take me seriously."
"Exactly!" she sneered as she walked off, hoping he would drop the subject. "Pssh!"
But later that night, as she sat in bed writing her diary, she couldn't help but giggle as she tried to imagine what Kang Gwajang-nim might look like if he had strawberry blonde hair. She covered her mouth as she burst out in a guffaw.
"Imagine him going to the office looking like that! Hahahaha!"
But her smile vanished when she was reminded of something else that had been lurking in her heart. He was just a friend, wasn't he?
"Of course, Nam Dajeong. Don't think of him any differently," she shrugged as she tried to put that wisp of a thought out of her head. Then she slid under her bed sheets and turned off her lamp, but she lay awake for the rest of the night.
#
In between campaign trips, Inho made extra visits to the nursing home to see his hyung. On one of those visits, he was turning the corner of a hallway when he nearly bumped into a pretty young woman and her grandfather.
"Ah! Be careful, Grandfather!" said the young woman as she held him back, but the old man toppled forward and Inho had to help her get him back on his feet. She smiled and bowed in gratitude.
"Thank you."
"Anieyo. Is your grandfather a patient here?"
"No. He's visiting a friend. Right, Grandpa?"
But the old man hadn't paid attention to what she had said at all. Instead, he stood and gawked at Inho.
"Hyunchul?" he asked as if he were addressing a missing longtime friend.
"Ah, Kang Inho imnida," Inho introduced himself with a bow.
The old man stared at Inho, perplexed.
"Kang… Inho?"
"Please don't mind my grandfather," said his granddaughter with a smile. "Sometimes he gets a little confused."
"Are you from the town of Jeonju?" asked the old man.
"My family is from Seoul," replied Inho very politely.
The old man looked so disappointed that Inho felt pity for him.
"I've… heard that we may have relatives in Jeonju… However, I don't really know them…"
"Grandfather…" began the young lady. "Don't harass him."
Inho chuckled. "It's quite all right."
"I'm Choi Yinna," said the girl, "and this is my grandfather, Choi Duseon."
"Very nice to meet you both. I will see you again, I hope?"
"Yes, as long as Grandfather's friend is staying here. Do you come here often?"
"I visit my hyung here almost every week."
"Ah, then we will meet him next time."
"Wonderful. Goodbye, Choi Yinna-ssi, Choi Duseon-ssi."
They bowed and Inho took a few steps away before he heard Mr. Choi cry out, "Kang Hyunchul-ssi!"
Startled, Inho stopped and wondered why that name seemed familiar to him.
"Grandpa, he's not that person. Come on, let's go," said Yinna as she tried to escort Mr. Choi away.
"Kang Hyunchul?" Inho murmured. He turned around and stared at Mr. Choi and Yinna. "Who is he?"
With tears in his eyes, Mr. Choi took a few faltering steps and reached out his trembling hand to touch Inho's face.
"Hyunchul, I've finally found you."
Troubled, Inho could only stand there as he desperately tried to recall that name.
#
"Kwon Yul continued his tireless campaign to be elected as the chaebol reformer, and he gained traction. His speeches were so sincere, and he seemed so idealistic, that he quickly won nearly 40 percent approval in the polls. Sometimes he was out there shaking hands 12 hours a day."
"Aigoo, it would have been better if you were beside him," Appa remarked ruefully.
"It always pained me when I saw his campaign photos. The lines around his eyes deepened and he smiled through his exhaustion. I worried about him so much that I'm sure I annoyed poor Kang Gwajang-nim with all my questions."
"He looks thin. Is he eating well? Does he take his vitamins every day? Why is he wearing only a thin coat on a chilly day like that? How are the children doing with all that travel?"
"You were being human, Dajeong-ee. I always said that you had a soft heart that could be taken advantage of. I can see now that if your husbands hadn't been honorable men, you would have been in dire straits, indeed."
Dajeong laughed.
"I would have defended myself well, Appa. After all, I was the nation's newsmaker for awhile."
"Hmm… But why do I get the feeling that you ended up being in the news again?"
"Uh, that… you'll see, Appa…" she said.
#
With a cup of tea in hand, Yinna approached her grandfather's bedroom door.
"Harabeoji, I brought you something to drink," she announced as she knocked.
When she heard no reply, she cautiously opened the door.
"Grandfather?"
She found him stooped by his dresser, staring at a photo in his hand.
"What are you looking at?" she asked as she put the tea down on his end table. She went over and leaned in to stare at the worn black and white photo, and her eyes widened.
"Isn't that you when you were young? But how did you end up taking a picture with the man we met at the nursing home the other day?"
"I told you he was Hyunchul," replied Mr. Choi. "You must go find him for me."
"We'll see him at the nursing home again, Grandfather, I promise," Yinna reassured him. "Now come, Harabeoji should lie down."
The old man patted his granddaughter's arm and went with her to his bed. Now Yinna wondered whether to tell her father about Harabeoji's photo.
#
Joonki put two invitations on Yul's desk and grinned.
"From Chairman Choi of the CK Group," he said. "He asked me to do him this favor."
Yul picked up the invitations and gave them a glance.
"Of course I'll attend. It will be a good opportunity for me to network with the other chaebol. But… why are there two here?"
"Ah, the other invitation is for Kang Gwajang."
"Kang Gwajang?" said Yul, surprised.
"Chairman Choi is on the lookout for a future son-in-law. He asked me to give extra invitations to possible candidates."
"I see …." said Yul. "I'll ask Kang Gwajang to attend."
Inho entered at that moment with a report in hand. When he saw Joonki, he bowed.
"Minister Park," Inho greeted him.
"Kang Gwajang," replied Joonki cheerily before he turned back to Yul. "I'll see you both there."
Joonki went out as Inho wondered where "there" was.
#
At Scandal News headquarters, Dalpyo handed Dajeong a sheet of paper and rubbed his hands with glee. As Heechul looked on, Dajeong scanned her assignment.
"A formal invitation at last! Scandal News has been invited to a charity gala sponsored by the chaebol, so we don't have to sneak in!" cried an ecstatic Dalpyo.
"Oh? Kwon Yul is going to be there?" exclaimed Dajeong as she read the guest list.
"Not just Kwon Yul, but the other presidential candidates, and powerful company executives and celebrities as well! So much work, ah!"
"Mugunghwa Heritage Foundation... Wa, I thought some of these guys hated each other! Are they all attending? How did this charity get them to participate?" asked Heechul as he read the list over Dajeong's shoulder.
"Ah, that is all due to the skillful maneuverings of the charity's biggest sponsor, CK Group Chairman Choi Hansong!" declared Dalpyo as he pointed out the man's photo to them.
"I've heard about him. He seems to be a good guy of sorts, even though you can never be sure about those chaebol types nowadays," replied Heechul with a dubious smirk.
"He hasn't had any scandals, if that's what you mean," said Dajeong, "which is more than we can ask for from most of them."
"Chairman Choi keeps a low profile, except for this one time of the year when he comes out of hiding," remarked Dalpyo. "Heechul, make sure you get some good pictures of him!"
"I will, Editor-nim," Heechul grinned.
"Wait a minute… how did we get this invitation to the gala?" asked a puzzled Dajeong. "Was it Kwon Yul?"
"Maybe, who knows? As long as you and Heechul get in there! Make sure you interview all of the guests that you can!"
"But they might balk if I tell them I'm from Scandal News…"
"Hmmm…" said Dalpyo as he put a finger against his jaw. "I've been thinking of creating a new division to my company… one that will report more serious news!"
"Really? That would be a 'serious' change for you, Editor-nim," said Heechul. "Tee hee."
But Dalpyo ignored Heechul's attempt at a joke.
"Let's call it… 'Reveal News'. What do you think, Reporter Nam?"
Dajeong thought about the name and agreed.
"Reveal News… It's a much more respectable name. I can go in there and confidently say that I am from Reveal News!"
"Good!" Dalpyo clapped his hands together. "Let's get ready to do our biggest story this year!"
"Fighting!" yelled Dajeong with a fist pump. Heechul just laughed and shook his head as he gathered his equipment.
#
Dajeong and Heechul arrived at the Grand Mansion of the Epoch Hotel on a warm summer evening wearing their professional best; she in her royal blue dress suit, and he in his best black suit.
"Wow, Noona! Look at the guests! All that wealth on display!" exclaimed Heechul as he looked out across the beautiful garden of the Beaux-Arts-style building.
Dajeong grinned as she brushed Heechul's black coat and examined his tie.
"You look just fine, Heechul-ssi. Ready?"
"I think I see Candidate Kwon Yul!" said Heechul as he pointed out Yul to Dajeong. "And… wait a minute, isn't that Kang Inho?"
"Oh? He didn't tell me he would be here," said Dajeong, who was not surprised at all that her friend looked impeccable from head to toe.
"Nam Dajeong-ssi, is that you?" cried a familiar voice.
Dajeong whirled around and saw Ruri, who looked super elegant in her formal red column gown.
"Well, fancy seeing Scandal News here," said Ruri with a grin.
"That's Reveal News for you," replied Dajeong proudly.
"So you've moved up now, congratulations."
Ruri put her hands on her hips and posed for Heechul, whose jaw dropped.
"Well, aren't you going to take a picture of me?" she demanded.
"Ah, yes, yes," said Heechul as he hurriedly snapped a few photos of her.
Heechul looked around and saw Chairman Choi standing by the mansion entrance, talking with the other guests.
"Noona, I've spotted Chairman Choi. I'm going to go take some snapshots of him and then I'll be right back, okay?"
"Go," Dajeong signaled him. She turned back to chat with Ruri, who had just snagged a glass of red wine from a passing waiter's tray.
Dajeong took her reporter's notebook out of her purse and started writing.
"How much did you donate to the cause tonight?" she asked her celebrity pal.
"Over one hundred million Won," replied Ruri. "The event just started, but already I've met so many rich and powerful people who I've never known before!"
Just then, Choi Yinna stepped out of the mansion in a silver and white ball gown and joined her father's side.
"Omo, if it isn't little miss princess herself," remarked Ruri as she watched a group of young men flock to Yinna's side.
Dajeong watched the spectacle with amusement and made a few notes.
"Who is that? She's so pretty!"
"Choi Yinna, CK Group Chairman Choi Hansong's daughter, and the apple of his eye. What a lucky girl… all those socialites vying for her attention."
"Some of them look pretty desperate though, don't you think?"
"Don't you know that Chairman Choi is looking for a son-in-law? He is actively scouting all of the eligible bachelors in this place tonight," said Ruri as she took another sip of wine. "I wish I had a chaebol daddy to find someone for me, too."
"Oh…" replied Dajeong as she watched the breathtakingly beautiful young lady float through the crowd of young men as if she were queen of the world.
"Is Chairman Choi really that rich?"
"Ha!" Ruri laughed at her friend. "He's even wealthier than Chairman Na! However, I heard that he started out as an entrepreneur, so he doesn't act like a typical chaebol chairman who inherited his money."
But by now Dajeong was only half listening. She had spotted Inho across the garden, looking very dapper as he conversed with foreign guests.
Ruri poked Dajeong in the ribs with her elbow.
"Hey, you should be saying, 'Thank you, Ruri. Now you've given me an idea to scout out eligible bachelors and write a story about them.' Like," she paused. "You know, your friend over there," she said as she pointed at Inho.
"Kang Gwajang-nim?" replied Dajeong as her heart beat faster.
"He's a little too… stiff... for me, but he and Miss Choi might be good together, don't you think?"
Dajeong didn't know which shocked her more, the fact that Ruri had thought about dating Inho, or that she thought he might make a good husband for Miss Choi. As Dajeong glanced back and forth between Yinna and Inho, she noticed that with the crowd between them, Yinna hadn't spotted Inho yet, but soon she would bump into him.
"I have to go," said Dajeong as she tried to stay calm.
Ruri looked at her friend strangely, but Heechul stopped his noona from leaving.
"Noona, hurry! Pink Boi just showed up and we need to get an interview with him if we can!"
But Dajeong looked back at Yinna, who was now standing only a few feet away from Inho with her back to him. Likewise, Inho's back faced her as well.
"Come on, Noona!" cried Heechul as he yanked Dajeong away.
Yinna and Inho finished their respective chats and turned around to face each other. Their stunned expressions quickly gave way to incredulous recognition.
"Choi… Yinna-ssi?" asked Inho.
"You're that ajusshi from the hospital, aren't you?" cried Yinna, who could barely disguise her excitement.
A few feet away, Chairman Choi, having perceived the delighted expression on his daughter's face, quickly stepped in to meet Inho.
"There you are, Yinna-ee. Is this one of your friends?"
Yinna smiled as she introduced Inho to her father.
"Abeoji, he's the one who helped Harabeoji when we were at the nursing home last week," she explained. "But how did you end up being here?" she asked Inho.
Inho bowed to the Chairman and said, "Kang Inho imnida. I am Candidate Kwon Yul's Chief of Staff."
Father and daughter looked at each other as if they had just hit the jackpot.
"Kwon Yul's Chief of Staff, you say? That is a very important position, indeed," remarked the Chairman.
"Great!" said Yinna. "This is my father, Choi Hansong, Chairman of the CK Group."
It was Inho's turn to be surprised.
"You are from the CK Group?" he asked Yinna, to which she happily nodded.
Chairman Choi offered his hand to Inho.
"Yinna told me about how you helped my father," he said.
Inho shook Chairman Choi's hand, a little stunned that the girl he had met at the nursing home was actually a wealthy socialite.
"It was nothing, Choi Chairman-nim," he replied. He couldn't help but feel that he was being evaluated by Yinna and her tycoon father. By their simultaneous grins, he guessed that they had judged him favorably for something. But what?
In the meantime, after missing her opportunity to speak with Pink Boi, (even though Heechul did manage to snap some photos of him), Dajeong ran into Yul and Hyejoo, who were sipping drinks as they discussed their political alliance. For a moment Dajeong's mind went blank and she could not find anything to say to them. Luckily, Heechul came to her rescue.
"Candidate Kwon and Assemblywoman Seo, can I take a picture of you two together?" asked Heechul.
"Of course," said Hyejoo.
Yul and Hyejoo put down their drinks and posed together.
Dajeong remained tongue-tied, even after Heechul took the obligatory photos. Hyejoo took her drink back up again and said, "You look well, Reporter Nam. Did you have any questions for us?"
"Ah, yes," said Dajeong as she took out her notebook and scribbled in it furiously. "Candidate Kwon Yul, how do you feel about your popularity at the polls? You are only eight percent behind the front runner, Kim Jeongtae."
Her question made Yul almost miss those days when Dajeong used to ask him about his cologne and the type of underwear he wore. Now the woman standing in front of him was much too serious. He cleared his throat.
"I'm… very happy to have the support of so many citizens. I will work hard to make their voices heard."
Dajeong didn't look up as she continued scribbling. "Seo Uiwon-nim, should Kwon Yul be elected president, will your newly formed Forward Vision Party, or FVP, be aligned with his policies?"
Hyejoo gave Yul a sidelong glance and replied, "We may. Candidate Kwon has yet to clarify his stances on several major policies. We will carefully consider them and make a decision when he does so."
Dajeong nodded anxiously as she tried to get through her questions as quickly as possible.
"What is your relationship with the Mugunghwa Heritage Foundation? Have you always supported them in the past?"
Yul and Hyejoo looked at each other to see who would reply first.
"To be honest, this is my first time here, but I think this organization has done some fine work for the senior citizens of our country, and I plan on supporting them in the future," said Yul.
"I've seen the lives of elderly citizens improve directly as a result of all of the donations and volunteer work done by MHF, and I encourage women everywhere to take up the cause of preserving our heritage by caring for our elders," replied Hyejoo.
Dajeong gave them a wan smile and bowed. She was grateful for the small crowd of reporters that had now gathered behind her, waiting for their turn.
"Thank you both, and… fighting…" she said as she closed her notebook.
Yul opened his mouth to say something to her, but Reporter Byun took her place as soon as she stepped away.
Heechul followed her as he admired his photographic handiwork.
"Editor-nim will be so pleased with our coverage!" he laughed. "Hey Noona, Kwon Yul and Seo Hyejoo gave you some good sound bites tonight. You'll be able to write a great article, right?"
Dajeong nodded as she opened her notebook.
"Of course," she replied, even as she looked at her writing under the lamplight. To her consternation, it was all nothing but scribbles.
"Wow, can you read that, Noona?" asked Heechul, who tried to decipher her writing.
Dajeong slammed her notebook shut, nearly trapping his nose in the process.
"It's my secret shorthand," she said as she walked off with her nose in the air. But she stopped again when, through the crowd, she spotted Inho still chatting with Yinna and Chairman Choi. That same group of adoring young men that had encircled her earlier were now gathered not too far from them. With their drinks in hand, they pretended not to be interested in the Chairman's conversation with Inho, but every man was eavesdropping.
"In either case, I must invite you to lunch," said Chairman Choi to Inho. "Next Saturday – come to my house next Saturday, Kang Gwajang."
Inho tried to keep his bewilderment under wraps as he avoided the adoring gaze of Yinna-ssi.
"I am grateful, Chairman Choi, but it really isn't necessary..."
"Come now, Kang Gwajang. No bachelor that I know of has ever turned down a hot meal with me. Come at noon for lunch. It's an order," the Chairman grinned at Inho. "Let's go, my daughter. It's time for us to prepare for the prize drawings."
"Thank you, Chairman-nim," Inho replied with an obligatory bow.
Yinna gave him a sweet smile before waltzing to the stage with her father. Meanwhile, Inho overheard the other young men grumbling as they left to follow her.
"Lucky guy. How do we get an invitation to the Chairman's house for lunch?" whispered one.
"Ha! Don't you get it? You have to look like a future son-in-law to be invited. Dream on!" said another, who slapped his friend's head.
With an open-mouthed frown, Inho wondered how he would ever get out of his predicament.
"Hyung!" Heechul called out as he ran to him.
"Heechul-ssi," Inho forced himself to smile. "I didn't think I would see you here."
"Dajeong noona is here, too!"
"She is?" Surprised, Inho looked around and spotted Dajeong dashing to the exit. "But is she leaving?"
Heechul spotted her and rang her on his phone.
"Noona, where are you going?"
"I have to get an article out…"
"But I thought Editor-nim said tomorrow morning was fine."
"Uh… I'm not feeling well," Dajeong excused herself. "Please continue your reporting here for as long as you want. Don't worry, I'll make sure you get full credit on the article when it is published. Bye!"
Inho started, but then stopped when he saw that she had already gone into the hotel.
"Not feeling well? You've never used that excuse before…" Heechul murmured in full hearing of Inho, who was now worried. Inho spotted Yinna, who could not break away from her fan club.
"Have you taken pictures of Choi Yinna-ssi yet? Better go get them while you can," suggested Inho.
"Yes, you're right as usual, Hyung. I'll go," said Heechul. "Thanks!"
Heechul ran toward the stage, but he was blocked by too many suitors to get a good shot of Yinna. After much jostling, he was able to get through, but not without angering some of the young chaebols.
"Look at that guy," said one of them to his friend. "How dare he come here?"
The other one smirked and whispered something back to his buddy.
Just when Heechul had set up the perfect shot of Yinna and was getting ready to press his camera button, he felt a great force from behind that sent him and his equipment flying forward.
Splat! He landed at Yinna's feet and caught his camera just in time. She screamed and lifted her long skirt to sidestep him, but his tripod hit a punch bowl on a nearby table, causing it to topple over and spill red punch all over the floor and against her silvery skirt.
"Oh no!" he cried.
Mortified, Heechul scrambled to grab a wet washcloth and wipe her dress, but she screamed and backed away from him even more. Feeling terrible, he tried to apologize as the other young men gathered around, ready to punch him.
"I'm so sorry, Choi Yinna-ssi. I don't know what happened… It was an accident!"
Yinna looked down at her silk gown, which was now ruined, despite the fact that the splash of red didn't look so bad. Its pattern made her skirt look like a work of abstract art.
"My dress!"
"I'm really sorry!"
"You have to pay me back me for this!"
Heechul groaned. How could he possibly pay for her hundred million Won dress?
"Miss, I told you I'm sorry. I'm just a photographer. I can't pay for your dress…"
"Of course not, because you are just a lowlife paparazzo. Now get away from her!" yelled a socialite.
Heechul turned around, furious.
"Yah! What do you mean by insulting journalists, huh? I make an honest living taking pictures of beautiful people like you!" Heechul yelled back.
One of the socialites grabbed Heechul's press badge and read it.
"Haha, he's from that trash news outlet, Scandal News!"
"You mean that tabloid? Then he's not even a real journalist!"
"No wonder he has no manners!"
Heechul's jaw dropped. He stood, speechless, until Chairman Choi walked up and grabbed him by the arm.
"You're coming with me, young man."
The socialites all snickered.
"I was pushed from behind! It really was an accident, I swear!" protested Heechul, who now wished more than anything that Noona had stayed.
As they entered the hotel, Heechul saw Dajeong looking very down, surrounded by a group of mean government madames who had shunned her at last year's charity auction.
"So you're back to working your day job, eh?" taunted one madame.
"I knew she wouldn't last as the prime minister's wife!" sneered another.
"Please, I am leaving now," said Dajeong as she tried to get through their blockade.
"About time you said that," the first one sniffed.
"Yah! Stop it!" cried Yoonhee as she came to Dajeong's rescue.
"What! I thought you hated her?!" asked one of Yoonhee's friends.
"Not anymore. She has had just as hard of a time as my family, okay? Leave her alone."
Yoonhee nodded in the direction of the hotel exit. Dajeong, taking the hint, bowed and left with her head down.
Meanwhile, inside a small conference room, Heechul stared into space as Yinna sat in her soiled ball gown with her arms folded, as the Chairman paced in front of them.
"It really was an accident, Chairman-nim. May I leave now, please?" asked Heechul who was desperate to get out of there.
"Humph! Definitely a no," said Yinna.
"What is your name?" asked Chairman Choi.
"Park Heechul, photographer for the Scand… Reveal News and other outlets," Heechul gave him a nervous grin.
"How long have you been doing this work?"
"Ever since I got out of college."
"Which was at…?"
"Seoul Institute of the Arts, Chairman-nim. And this really was an accident, I am not lying. I am very sorry for what happened."
With his hands behind his back, Chairman Choi mused upon Heechul's words.
"I accept your apology. When my daughter gets engaged, I want you to be the photographer at her engagement party."
"What?!" exclaimed Yinna.
Heechul was so stunned that he could only gape at Chairman Choi.
"Thank… Thank you, Chairman-nim!" he cried happily before bowing several times. "Thank you!"
"You can go now."
"Yes, Chairman-nim. Thank you! Thank you!" said Heechul before he ran out of the conference room.
Yinna was totally flabbergasted.
"Abeoji, you didn't mean that, did you?"
"A young man like him just needs an opportunity to succeed, Yinna."
"But what about my dress?!"
"Didn't you bring another one?"
"But this one's my favorite…" she pouted.
"The other one is very nice, too. Besides, I like it."
"You do?" Yinna's face brightened.
"I do," Chairman Choi grinned as he touched her cheek. "My beautiful daughter."
Yinna shook her father's arm a little, then she leaned her head against his shoulder, smiling.
#
After she returned home, Dajeong reviewed what she had seen of Miss Choi and Inho, and she felt her heart sink a thousand feet down towards an abyss that terrified her.
"Ottoke…?" she murmured as she remembered all of the warm moments she and Inho had had together, from meals at the nursing home, to that day when he had picked up the frog dolls for her in the rain and bought her that giant sub sandwich.
Her phone buzzed. It was Inho, texting to say that he was bringing her a late night snack after all her hard work covering the gala. Not long afterwards, she tried to smile when she opened the door and saw his usual half-grin. It was as if nothing had changed between them at all.
"I heard you weren't feeling well, so I brought your favorite ramen," he said as he held up his takeout bag.
"You didn't have to, Kang Gwajang-nim. Thank you," she said as she let him in.
"Somehow all that party food couldn't compare to a bowl of this stuff eaten with you, Dajeong-ssi," he said as he took off his coat. However, he noticed her face did not reflect its usual cheeriness.
"How was the party for you?" she tried to ask nonchalantly.
"Well, you saw it. I met a lot of people, for sure. It was just a big arena for the rich to display their… 'generosity'," he said as he unpacked the food. "Come, sit down and eat," he beckoned her.
They sat at her kitchen table as they usually did, but Dajeong could barely take a bite. Meanwhile, Inho ate with gusto.
"Emm…. this is good," he said as he stuffed his cheeks.
"Did you know that Chairman Choi, who hosted the gala, was looking for a son-in-law?" she asked him quietly.
Inho stopped chewing and stared at her.
"Ruri told me," she continued.
"Ah, that…" he said. "The Chairman has invited me to his house for lunch next Saturday."
"Oh… that will be a… a good chance for you then," she replied.
He put down his chopsticks and stared at her.
"What are you saying, Nam Dajeong-ssi?"
It had been so long since he had called her by her full name... She jumped a little when she heard him say it.
"It's… a great opportunity, considering your career and all…"she said as she avoided looking at him. If she hadn't, she might have seen how his eyes instantly narrowed and his mouth twisted into a smirk.
"Huh, so Dajeong-ssi thinks I should be the son-in-law of a chaebol just to get ahead?"
"Look at Minister Park. It has helped him, hasn't it? And Chairman Choi seems to have gotten his wealth by working hard, instead of just being born into it, so he doesn't put on airs. Whoever he chooses will be lucky…."
Inho got up from the table so quickly that it startled her.
"Are you serious?! How can you…"
"I said nothing wrong. The reality is that if you marry Choi Yinna-ssi, you would have an enormous advantage…"
"Enough!" he cried as he stared at her furiously.
Dajeong-ssi, don't you know me after all this time?
Her eyes grew red as her brain tried to figure out why… why things had to be so complicated?
"But… you should find a wife soon, right? You are the last… man in your family…"
Without a word, he picked up his coat and went to the door.
"I will go to Chairman Choi's house next Saturday," he declared softly as he went out.
Dajeong stared at the door long after he had shut it, until she collapsed into a puddle of tears.
"Stupid Nam Dajeong! What are you crying for?"
She dabbed at her eyes and tried to remain stoic as she ate, but she soon found herself sobbing again.
Outside her apartment, Inho kept starting and stopping, glancing at her door and wondering if he shouldn't go back in and be with her. At last, with his shoulders slumped, he left.
