Chapter 12: Two Flies in a Jar
"Ahh, I'm just kidding, Dr. Kim..." She shrugged coquettishly, with a beaming smile. "I know you wanted to apologize, you just are bad at doing it."
"But what's wrong with this woman?!" He shifted in his seat, and looking away, asked aloud to no one in particular, not hiding his outrage. Ye Rim had a condescending smile on her face, despite the rigid posture of the body on the chair, legs and arms crossed.
"Miss Nam, please help my grandson to be a gentleman," Mr. Go intervened, seizing the cue to put his convoluted plan into practice.
"Who said I'm not a gentleman, when I want to be one?"
"I thought you wanted to apologize ... to Ms. Nam and to me. You owe me double apologies as far as I remember." The ominous tone of the old man got a suspicious look from his grandson. 'But what is this nightmare? When did it start to get this way?'
"What…?"
Ye Rim grew uneased, as her moment of triumph was quickly escaping from her hands, and she sensed things would soon awkwardly scale. She was not really into witnessing Dr. Kim being scolded by his grandfather, or something like this, in front of her.
"Aigoo, gentlemen, I must go back to..." She started to get up, but Mr. Go's hand gesture, asking her to sit down again, prevented her from leaving the table. She held the air, waiting for what would come next. Mr. Go took some time to get himself back on his seat and pompously retrieve something out of his coat, which he placed on the center of the table. She had to lean forward, as did Kim Jun Hyeon, to see what it was about.
It was a couple of tickets to a famous musical whose starring cast and rave reviews kept the house full and tickets sold out for months. Ye Rim's eyes widened in astonishment.
"What are you doing with these tickets, Mr. Go?"
"I would go on Friday to watch a show with my grandson, if he could make free time in the schedule. His secretary suggested this date a while ago, so I took my chances."
Jun Hyeon was surprised and moved that his grandfather wanted to go with him to see the musical, and he knew why. He quickly checked his schedule by the cell phone app, and smiled.
"It's going to be great to go with you to see this musical on Friday, Hal-abeoji. I'm free for you. How lucky to have these tickets! I heard the waiting line for tickets to this show is pretty big."
"I know how much you like musicals, son. I did my best so we'd have fun together this time."
Jun Hyeon grinned, accustomed to his grandfather's sentimental temper, and made a pair of finger hearts directed at him, who smiled back.
"Oh, that sounds good! I'm jealous!" Ye Rim exclaimed sincerely, suddenly enjoying the cute aegyo gesture the doctor made to his grandfather. In that table the events changed course so quickly that she did not even know if she was acting like a fool between them. 'Weren't we almost fighting moments ago? How come?'
"Unfortunately, I will be at the funeral of my friend Byung Chul on Friday night. Forced change of plans, I dare to say." Mr. Go barely concealed a smile, before turning deadly serious and letting the plot twist revelation drop in the table.
Ye Rim and Jun Hyeon blinked in unison, startled.
"So I guess I should do like Ms. Nam and the roses," Mr Go continued, stroking the tickets as treasured items," and keep the memory of what it would have been. But Ms. Nam can take my place in it, so I'm glad I can share love too! My grandson will be my envoy and entertain you and take you to dinner and to the show after it, like a gentleman who knows how to apologize."
Kim kicked his grandfather's foot under the table. Ye Rim swallowed hard:
"Ahhhh, well, I'd like to, but you see, Dr. Kim doesn't have to strain himself to apologize to me. The flowers were enough. Seriously! Really!"
"I think you're embarrassing Ms. Nam, grandfather..."
"Ye Rim-ssi!" Mr. Go got up, flustered. "What happened yesterday was an accident caused by me. I also have responsibility for that. And my grandson is a polite and kind man, just seemingly rusty and rude the past couple of days for no reason. I wish you two to have a fair chance to undo whatever bad impression you may have on each other."
The man and the woman looked at each other, trying to conceal the mutual mistrust. Dr. Kim however realized that he couldn't let her refuse without a good fight. It would be offensive and un gentlemanly:
"Miss Nam, my grandfather may have put things differently than I would put them, but in fact I feel that I still owe you an apology, after the card going with the flowers... Please don't turn it down, if you don't have other plans for Friday night. Besides, my friends who have already watched the show don't stop talking about this musical."
Ye Rim didn't want to be offensive either, but frankly, how could she go to the musical with that man?
"Oh, Dr. Kim, it's just... in fact..." Out of the corner of her eye she saw Mrs. Song motioning for her return to the stage, then she stood up. "Yes I have…"
"Got an appointment already? Really?"Just as Dr. Kim spoke, he regretted the eager tone, as hoping a dismissive response from the singer. He watched the Ms. Nam's face to turn purple.
"Ah well, understand, it's not that I don't want to, it's..." Mrs. Song gesturing in the background didn't help Ye Rim to think of a polite refusal either. The singer turned to Mr. Go, apologetic.
"Mr. Go, are you sure your friend died? Erm… I mean, are you sure you can't go with your grandson? I'd love to, but is that…"
"Uhn, yes I'm sure he died. At least that's what it I was officially told. It would have been nice if it wasn't so, wouldn't it?"
"Of course, aigoo... Listen, I have to get back on stage…" She turned to Kim Jun Hyeon, who blinked at the singer's sudden movement so close to him, as a whiff of her perfume reached his nostrils. "Dr. Kim, thank you very much for the flowers. Really. None of that was needed, and…"
"Well then what should I do? Too bad you can't. I feel like I should buy you a dinner, at anytime." He smiled, this time for the first time sincerely, looking up at her.
Ye Rim couldn't help but feel her heart skip a beat. 'Even idiots can have a wonderful smile...' "Er, well, see you. Enjoy the show. Thank you very much for coming."
She turned, heading for the stage. Behind her back, she still overheard Mr. Go muttering harshly to Dr. Kim: "Were you even trying?"
'He considers himself too superior for such things, Mr. Go. I'm sorry, your grandson is just an idiot.' She thought, walking away.
Suddenly Ye Rim felt a grasp on her wrist from behind and reflexively turned in astonishment. Kim Jun Hyeon loosened his grip on her. Feeling that he was losing control of his situation, and his face as well, the doctor desperately decided that he should use a bit of masculine charm to win this game. He leaned toward her, still holding the fragile pulse between his fingers, which was racing, by the way, so much so that he thought he should start counting the beats. But her gaze was not moved, but outraged. He realized that it was better not to try to be gallant or whatever, risking to have his heart eaten raw in front of everyone.
Taking a deep breath, Kim Jun Hyeon leaned closer so that only she could hear, and spoke next to her ear.
"Listen, Ye Rim-ssi. Let's settle this for my grandfather. He just doesn't want to feel responsible for this… incident. Let's go to the musical together, and he'll be fairly appeased. Let's do it for him, all right? "
Ye Rim sighed, and said:
"Drop my wrist, Dr. Kim."
Jun Hyeon obeyed immediately, but showed no regrets about it. By the way, the best way to deal with this fox was to be straight and cold:
"Made up your mind already? We can take selfies as proof. Everything will be settled in a few hours."
"Aishh… So annoying… Okay." Ye Rim agreed, in a fake casual tone. "We can do it like this, if it will end this matter once for all."
Jun Hyeon walked away, and she made it to the stage, trying to decide if she was angry or anxious. 'What just did I do? Am I really going out with this guy?'
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
MizA
MizA Please comment, rate and Review! Drop me a line! Don't let this author starving!
Chapter 13: Meeting an Old Friend
Jun Hyeon followed the sports club assistant and walked across the hall that led to the glazed squash courts, looking around with curiosity. He was taken to the Squash court they rented for a session, and left alone in the small private lounge.
He expected to find Dae Won already waiting for him, but only saw his gym bag on top of the locker room bench that was in front of the court, and a set of lockers complemented the utilitary lobby. It was the first time he was at this club. Kim Jun Hyeon liked anything that could make him move, but he didn't play squash for a while.
The squash court could be observed through a thick glass wall, but his high school friend wasn't inside either. Kim sat on the bench, wondering where Dae Won was, and checked his watch.
He had already changed into comfortable sportswear in the men's locker room, so he just started to warm up, doing some stretching while he waited.
He sat again. He got up. He wasn't used to wait, and got bored and a bit annoyed in just four minutes of doing so, then he began to remove his accessories from his own gym bag, checking the tension of his racket strings, and walking around the bench, testing his shots with the racket in the air.
He was also thinking of the "no-date" he would have this evening with Ms. Nam.
Dr. Kim felt a chill in the back of his neck, feeling watched, but looked over his shoulder, and was still perfectly alone in the waiting area in front of the rented court. Despite being allegedly soundproofed, the space allowed some sound from the adjoining rooms to reach him, muffled as it was, but it only added to that strange feeling of not being all alone.
He took a deep breath, wondering if it was not just his slight discomfort from reuniting with Lee Dae Won, a person he felt he owed a great deal without ever being able to repay, and whose presence disturbed him for no plausible reason. Wasn't this person who had done everything in his power to save his noona? Kim Jun Hyeon was increasingly convinced that he was an obnoxious human specimen who could not have the gratitude nor respect a person like his hyung deserved.
When the door finally opened, and Dae Won arrived with a smile, Kim also smiled in response, going over to the newcomer and patting his back, friendly as expected. It was just expected within their relationship.
"Hyung, how's this flower-boy doing?"
The newcomer returned Kim Jun Hyeon's greeting in kind and with an embarrassed smile."What nonsense is this, Jun Hyeon? That's not even trending anymore."
"Well, if guys like you went out of style, that means guys like me might be in fashion."
The joke between them about Lee Dae Won being a flower-boy had been since high school, when the two met at the same elite school.
Lee Dae Won was still looking good, maybe even better than in boyhood. He was only about a foot shorter than the doctor, but his facial features were on the boyish side, which gave him the nickname flower-boy in high school. That and his artistic skills.
Interestingly, Kim Jun Hyeon had only one nickname at school: "the twin Kim", in an odd grammar just to mock of his poor education when the siblings come at that rich people's school, he recalled with a sudden aching heart. His noona suffered some bullying in the beginning, as well. Why it was so, he'd never had a grasp of. Then, Dae Won teamed up with the newcomer twins, and things got better.
Of course any nickname can be troublesome, and sometimes guys in the locker room teased him calling him Twinkie. But Jun Hyeon was known to be hot tempered in his teens, so it was never a good idea. His hyung, the ever gentle Dae Won, on other hand, was always the peacemaker and good boy. He was only one year older than the Kim twins, but one couldn't tell now they were adults.
"I've heard that actresses like your type more than mine. That's why I say I'm out of style." Lee also went to his gym bag to pick up his racket, but kept teasing the other man by bringing up the fact that the doctor had briefly dated a famous actress. Kim Jun Hyeon just laughed heartily, not commenting on that. Then they went beyond the glass door, now on the squash court itself.
"But I liked your hair, hyung. What color is that?"
"You liked it? Not kidding?"
"No. Not kiddin'. It's cool."
"Yeah, me too. At first I was reticent, but in the end, I liked it too. I don't know the name of it, though. "Jun Hyeon's friend shrugged. "The network's hairdresser said a shade color number, ...8-something. Speaking of color, what will it be? Yellow?"
"Wow!"Jun Hyeon exclaimed. "Are you feeling ambitious or what? I don't know if I'm ready for that, but you decide. "They were talking about squash ball colors, which were ranked by color according to the difficulty of play. Kim picked up his ball set and held it out for Lee to decide for them how difficult the game would be.
Something bothered him there, couldn't get rid of the strange feeling as if exposed. Was this sensation caused by the big wall of glass?
Lee actually caught the yellow ball, throwing it at the opponent. Kim hit the ball with his racket, laughing, but the game had not even begun. Dae Won began to stretch and warm up. His tone changed a little, but he kept his friendly smile:
"I am glad we could see each other today. You have even less time than me in the HTN's music department."
'In addition to regular patients, surgeries and congresses, the Foundation takes up a lot of my time, but I think you already know that."
"The Ji Hyeon Foundation has grown a lot in recent years."
"We're always looking for donors, so far people have helped, they understand and support the cause. But we can do more as more support we get." Kim sighed, catching himself getting into the subject he wanted to avoid the most today. He prepared himself in the service area, without even asking his game partner if they should decide their first serve by chance.
"When the time comes for the annual event, let me know, I want to help this year too." Lee Dae Won positioned himself on the court, but seemed to sense his friend's feelings and changed the subject:
"Your grandfather called me one of these days. He was looking for tickets to that musical that is trending right now. I got him a person who would have them. He said he would go with you. I was amazed at the news."
Now they were fully engaged in the game, and doing a lot of effort. No doubt picking a slow ball occupied them during the match, and Kim didn't have much time to ponder the comment, but he understood what Lee was amazed at. But his reply avoided that theme:
"My grandfather is always one step ahead of everyone. He forced me to take a woman out into this show. Tonight, by the way."
"Forced you? Taking a woman out? Are they trying to marry you, by any chance?"
"I don't think so, but it's a… long story!" He saw an opportunity in Dae Won's guard and explored it, lobing and forcing his opponent to the ground. He made a point and celebrated his good shot briefly. It wasn't as bad as he thought before the game started.
Lee rolled to the floor and laughed, getting up quickly to continue. He noticed that Kim Jun Hyeon seemed to be looking all the way around as if searching for someone. It made him worried.
"What's bothering you, Kim?"
"No, it's nothing." The other man shook his head and resumed the game, but the sensation of having something fixedly watching him lingered. But Kim Jun Hyeon smiled and made another serve.
And the hidden eyes that followed each of his movements and words continued to do so, from the secret place behind him.
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