Capítulo 28: Chapter Fifteen - Where Is She? (Part 2)
"Shut your mouth." I warn silently, palming her fist. "Don't make a scene, Cho Nari. Think of what this means to your lounge's reputation."
"This lounge doesn't mean more than my best friend's life we're talking about here." Chest heaving, she stands toe to toe with me. An admirable friend, indeed. I'm starting to believe Aera adopted her fieriness from this lady.
"Listen. I need to set things right. I truly don't know what you're talking about." Restoring my composure, I release her slowly. "When did it start?" She clams up. I grit my teeth, putting down my pride for once. "Please. I need to know." I never understood the phrase 'please is the magic word'. Apparently, now I do.
The flaming hatred in her eyes cools down considerably, wariness creeping in. Her hands drop to her sides. "Saturday — we were at Wang Jeong Hoon's engagement party." Then, her hands flew to her mouth. "She saw you didn't she? I thought it was weird how she was fine until you arrived, and…," Her face turns ugly once more. "You son of a bitch! Aera doesn't know that you're married!"
Guilt and understanding wars inside me. I never intended to hide my marriage but, I'd rather Aera heard the truth from me. For her to find out in a public setting must have been a blow. I can't imagine what she must have thought of us. Now, it's even more crucial for me to speak to her. I won't let this misunderstanding get out of hand. "I need to fix this." I mumble to myself, faltering a step back.
"Why do you care?" Cho Nari casts me a suspicious glance, still awfully pissed. "Your reputation precedes you, President Kang. I'm sure a woman like Aera is beneath your notice. Why fixate on one woman when we're all interchangeable?"
"Aera is different!" My befuddlement is rapidly crushed by outrage. I'm furious she's lumping Aera with those other women. "She's my exception! So, please tell me. Where – is – she?"
"If and when Aera wants to speak to you, she'll contact you, President Kang." Lee Chang-Min appears from behind Cho Nari. He pushes her protectively behind his large frame, bending down to ask her if she's alright.
She nods, seemingly surprised to see him here. "Yes, I'm fine."
"Go home, President Kang. We have nothing to say to you." Lee Chang Min's stance tells me he won't budge and now that he's here, Cho Nari won't be easy to persuade. "I warned you didn't I? That this will blow up in your face sooner or later. I guess it's time for reckoning." The bastard's enjoying my misery, a sardonic glint in his eye. "Please leave or we'll be forced to call security."
Knowing when to fight and when to back down, this is the latter for me. Clenching my jaw, I walk out the lounge without a backward glance.
Back home, my son waits for me. Seeing his rounded face and innocent eyes light up, I feel a touch better. His presence is a healing balm on my soul.
"Dad!" He runs straight into my arms.
"Our little Ji-Hoon is growing bigger every day!" I pick him up and toss him into the air, walking into the living room. His laughter ricochets throughout the apartment, making me realize how empty my life has been for many years. My marriage is broken before it began. My wife is as loving as a piranha, my siblings and I don't get along well, and the company I work for doesn't truly care if I'm dead or alive. My parents are a whole other set of lifelong issues. Listing them out is enough to make a healthy, grown man rethink about his meaningless life – maybe even contemplate suicide if I didn't have a son.
Ji-Hoon's the only pure being in my life, and then there's Aera. But I might have blown my chance with her. Another man on that list is Secretary Park, whom I met when we were serving in the army. I offered him the job, and he didn't hesitate to take it.
I sigh long and loud, rubbing the spot between my eyes. I'm being stretched to my limit. Ji-Hoon lays his head on my shoulder, hugging me. "Dad, are you alright? You look sad."
"I am sad, Ji-Hoon." I confess wearily.
"But Grandpa says that a man must always be tough and never show his weakness."
I refrain from snorting, trying to set a good example to my son. "What did I say about listening to Grandpa?"
"To not listen to him."
"Good boy. Don't you ever forget that." I kiss the top of his unruly head. "You know I love you, right? Besides your uncle Kang Chul, you're the one I live and breathe for."
"You're acting strange, Dad." He lifts his head, showing me a toothy grin. "I'm hungry. Can we order pizza?"
"Sure." I attempt a smile. The last time I had pizza...Aera was in my arms.
Excited, he bounces off the sofa and dashes for the house phone to ring up the pizza delivery service. Tired, I lay there, thinking of a way to contact Aera. There are four days left on our contract, and I know she won't stay. I can't chance her leaving. As selfish as it sounds, I want her in my life — scandal and all.
But are you prepared to face the consequences? My conscience slithers around. I stare at the photos on the wall — elite society's concept of family. All I see are smiling faces without a soul.
Before, I was content but now I'm not certain. Wealth, I have aplenty. I have an abundant of properties scattered over the country and overseas. The day I got married, I moved out and purchased this town apartment to be with my son. He must find it weird for his parents to live apart but, I will never set foot onto the family estate again. As for the house skirting the city where I spend my time with Aera...that's reserved for us. And now, it'll probably be sitting empty.
My son races back to the living room, jumping on me. "Oof!"
"The pizza's coming in thirty minutes." He reports animatedly, grabbing the television remote.
I mess his hair, getting up. "Alright. I'm going to take a quick shower. When the pizza delivery guy arrives, call for me. Do not open up the door on your own, is that clear?"
He nods obediently. My son's a good kid. I wonder what I ever did to deserve him. "Good. You can watch some cartoons and after dinner, we're going to review your homework."
"Oh man!" He groans, face scrunching in misery. "Do we have to?"
I bite back a smile. "Yes. Now, go on."
After dinner and homework, my son falls asleep while we watch Disney's 'The Good Dinosaur'. Switching off the television, I scoop him up and tuck him into bed. Switching off the lights, I pad to the master bedroom across the hallway, ready to retire for the night when a text message lights up my phone. Picking it up, I read only three words.
Aera : Neighborhood park. Now.
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