The flashbulbs were nonstop. Sun, already irritated by the unwanted attention, rubbed her eyes to help get the glare out of her eyes. She sat at a table next to her attorney. The conference was held in an reserved ballroom at a nearby hotel. She really did not want to do this. All she really wanted to do is get her dog and go home. But what she wanted more was THIS to be over. Her privacy was violated because of the scandal and her brother now loomed as key player in her discomfort.
She was also a little miffed at the fact that they put him away before she was able to get her hands on him. She had every intention for keeping her promise to him that he was going to pay; he was just going to pay her way. That was the only way to satisfy her. Her attorney, sitting at her right, leaned over to her.
"This will be starting in a few minutes," he was saying to her. "It may start fast and furious with questions but I will request an orderly, one at a time, so they can all be answered."
Sun nodded in response. She so did not want to do this. How was she to answer these questions? What kind of questions will they ask? Will they be intrusive, will they set her off? She knew she should be grateful for it being over for her, but was it really over? Now she was getting nervous. She looked out to the reporters now occupying the seats. They were filling up quickly and after they all were filled, the remaining stood in the back with the cameras that were filming. The introvert in her overcame her and and sense of nervousness doubled. She felt a nudge on her left. When she turned to see who touched her, her eyes beheld the face of Lito.
"I got you," he told her. He gave her a smile.
"Shall we begin with the first question please?" announced her attorney. "Please raise your hand and where I point, a microphone will be handed to you." He looked around quickly. "Yes, to the woman in the creme blouse,"
"Now that you are exonerated," the interviewer started to ask, "will you be able to start where you left off when you were sentenced?" Sun's attorney turned his head to look at Sun.
Lito, now in Sun's body answered, "I can never pick up where I left off. But what I want, is to do right by my father and mother. I have to live my life the best I can."
Her attorney pointed at another.
"I don't think it was common knowledge Bak Kang-Dae had a daughter. What was your role in the family business as an invisible employee?"
"It was a lot of behind the scenes stuff. Nothing worth mentioning now, except that I did work for my father, in my father's company."
Her attorney pointed at another reporter. " Yes? You in the blazer."
"Are you to be the new face in the company?" She started to ask. "And what is going to happen there now that Bak Joon-Ki is to be prosecuted for the crime you were convicted of?"
"I did that for family honor and to do my father's wishes." Lito answered. He could feel Sun's rage at the mention of her brothers name. He gave a faint smile. "I am not at liberty to discuss that case. It is very separate of mine. I will leave that issue to the courts. Please do not ask any more questions regarding him."
Sun's attorney turned to look at her. He was clearly impressed.
"I must repeat my clients request that you refrain from questions regarding Bak Joon-Ki. Let me be clear that all cases pending are not to be openly discussed by both sides. Now, next question."
Sun looked over at Lito. He was unphased by the camera flashes and attention. She knew how she would have reacted if she was to have answered the question regarding her brother and it would not have been good. Still furious at him, and ashamed of the coward he grew to be, she was grateful that Lito was willing to make sure she appeared she had a clear head by doing the press conference for her. She really could not afford being in trouble. What she needed is to work out and get it out of her system if she could, but she doubted it possible. She would never forgive her brother, and for dishonoring the family, a disowning was also in order. But she had to deal with the right now and the right now was this stupid press conference. Her attorney pointed at another interviewer.
"So now that this is all over," asked the reporter, "what now?"
"I go back to work," Lito answered. Sun leaned over and whispered to him. "And get my dog back," he added. The room roared with laughter.
As the questions continued, Lito answered each with the confidence of a professional that he was, careful to stay away from questions and refusing to answer those in reference to her brother. Sun made sure to be close to whisper answers in his ear. He felt her innate drive to punish her brother and her single mindedness concerning him. He tried to calm her with a look or a smile, each time, met with stubbornness. Occupying her body gave Lito complete access to her every thought and every feeling. He understood her want of revenge but expressing it here, now, in a room full of reporters was not the place to do it.
"With all that has happened, all that came to light, how will this change the public image of your company and will this change your relationship with your brother?"
Sun turned her head and gave her a cold glare, well aware that she was unable to see it. She then leaned over to Lito, verbalizing expletives, still raw with anger. He knew what she really wanted to say. He answered more politely.
"There will be much work to be done to separate my father's company with my brother. As far as my relationship with him, I cannot say. He will always be my brother no matter what."
Another twenty-five minutes went by. Question after question. Lito answered them all with ease. Then there was a quick break. It was the perfect time for Lito to remove himself from her body for a moment to speak to her.
"You are so angry," he observed, "I can feel it. You should let that energy go somewhere else." he went on and advised her
Sun's answer was a cold stare.
"Yes, yes, I know you want some sort of closure," he went on. "But I suggest you lay low for a while. Go back to work, go competing, work off all that energy. Channel it somewhere else. When it is time to deal with your brother you will know."
Sun smiled. She did a quick sweep of the room to be sure there was no one there seeing her 'talk to herself. She wanted to talk to Lito freely. When she made sure there was no one around she turned to look at him.
"I miss fighting. I want to go back to training as soon as possible. But I am not looking forward to cleaning up the mess he made. There is so much shit he fucked up."
"You need to pull it together,"
Sun looked directly in his eyes. She knew he was right. She sighed.
A few minutes of silence passed between them. As reporters were turning back to their seats, Lito went back into Sun's body and finished off the press conference. It was over in the next fifteen minutes.
"Thank you for your time," her attorney closed
And with that, the room quickly emptied.
Once the room was completely cleared her attorney turned to her.
"You did well," he started to tell her, "I'm sorry it was a little longer than the usual, but I was told to expect it. You are the biggest story around here . You seemed so unsure before and I was concerned, but you handled the press like a pro."
Sun turned to Lito now standing next to her.
"Thank you," she said. It was meant for Lito but was received by her lawyer. Lito, who understood, gave her a tip with his hand and disappeared.
"No thanks necessary," he responded
"So what happens now?"
"You get to go back to your life as usual," he started to tell her, "and I will contact the defense attorney to see what else needs to be done."
Now out of the hotel the two walked to the car. As her attorney made a move to open the passenger door for her she placed her hand on his wrist.
"No, thank you," she told him now. "I think I will walk."
"Are you sure?" he asked her. After she nodded a yes, he continued. "We will be in touch."
He walked around the car to the driver's side and opened the door.
Sun waved as he he drove off.
Now alone for the first time in a long time Sun started to walk.