Oh my God, should I just leave?
And Samonim knows. Will she despise me because of this?
Maybe not. She had given her a chance to relieve her emotions by sending her here. Maybe she understood and had forgiven her.
Her tears and sobs had died down and she checked her watch. She had been crying here for six minutes. She got up to find Kim Ae Mi's handbag and took her cellphone. Afterwards, she opened the door and peeked around, before walking to the bathroom at the corner of the corridor.
She washed her face, dried it, and combed her hair, arranging it back to the usual neat bun on her head. When she faced the mirror again, she looked like the usual composed Kim Ga Eun, Head of The of Lee Family Housekeepers.
She retraced her steps back to the dining hall and gave Kim Ae Mi her cellphone.
"Thank you, Ga Eun-ah."
She bowed very low to her, before standing back at her usual position.
From then on, she survived the day without any more (visible) break downs.
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The result of the introduction was : The Lee Family would hold a party to welcome Myung Hwan's arrival, announcing that he's going to take his position as the new President Director of Sang Kyu Hotel and The Lee Corporation, and also to announce his engagement with Crystal.
Kim Ga Eun would be the one to prepare and supervise the party.
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When Myung Hwan called the pantry for his usual coffee that night, Ga Eun considered to send someone else to bring it to him. But she pulled herself together and scolded herself.
No. Do your job.
So she mixed his coffee and put it on a tray with Oreo on a plate. The latter was his favorite since childhood. It took a lot of willpower to climb the stairs, but on the other hand, he's at the end of the journey. It's her own strange mix of pleasure and pain.
He was replying to his emails when she came in, but he stopped what he was doing when he saw her.
She hoped with all her heart that he was not in the mood to talk.
"Ga Eun?"
Her hope was unanswered, it seemed.
"Ne, Doryeonnim?"
"So what do you think?"
She played for more time.
"Of what, Doryeonnim?"
He started to eat his Oreo. "You know what I'm talking about."
"Is it my place to give an opinion?"
"Tsk! I mean it, what do you think of her?"
She was reluctant to say anything, and found an alibi by tidying the stack of documents on his desk.
"Kim Ga Eun, I want to hear what you think about Crystal."
She formed words in her head, something decent to say.
"You could never have chosen a better girl than her, I think, Doryeonnim."
He considered what she said while sipping his coffee.
"Do you think we match?"
"Well....her background matches you well."
"I'm not with her because of her background."
"Then....why her, Doryeonnim?"
"Because I like talking with her. We met at a party in NY and she was telling a very funny joke to her friend. I only found out that she's the daughter of the biggest outsourcing company owner and models, plus she owns Clover cosmetics a week after we started going out."
She took the liberty to sit down.
"Crystal Agassi is...very pretty. So stylish. And seems so intelligent."
"Hm....true. But she has another good thing that drew me in, the first time I came to her place."
Just poison me right now. Please. Shoot me. Anything rather than I have to hear you praise your Crystal.
"She makes good coffee."
"Ne?" Ga Eun asked loudly.
"She makes good coffee," he repeated. "She doesn't use instant coffee. She blends raw coffee, and mixes it with liquid milk and sugar. And she makes just the right taste."
She stared at him.
But I make good coffee too!!!
Myung Hwan grinned. "Her coffee made me feel at home in New York. It tasted almost exactly like yours."
She didn't know what to respond to that. Except a "Jongmalyo, Doryeonnim?"
"Ne."
"Well. You made a great choice. And I'm sure your parents like Crystal Agassi too. Do you plan on marrying her soon?"
"Hm? No. She's not ready yet. Maybe in one or two years."
Ga Eun nodded.
The silence made him start replying to his emails again.
"May I go now, Doryeonnim?"
"What, are you sleepy already?"
"No. But I see you could use some privacy."
"I don't need privacy from you. You haven't told me about yourself lately, Ga Eun-ah," he requested, closing the tabs in his laptop and turning to her from his seat.
"There's nothing interesting going on with me."
"On the contrary, I think you have a very interesting life."
"Me? It's you, Doryeonnim, who have a very interesting life."
Myung Hwan chuckled and dipped his oreo in his coffee.
"Ga Eun?" he called.
"Ne?"
"Come here," he signaled with his hand.
I'd rather not, I have no strength to be that close to you.
"Yah! Palli!"
She complied and walked to him. He pulled a chair beside him and asked her to sit down, giving her the chocolate biscuit after dipping it in his coffee. She unintentionally smiled and sat down, biting the sweet mix of vanilla, chocolate, and coffee.
"Talk to me. It's been awhile."
"What do you want to hear, Doryeonnim?"
"Tell me, what's been going on with you recently? With my parents too. They don't tell me a lot about themselves."
She started to talk. She told him about her school. Her thesis exam, her sadness that she would then separate with her college friends, and the upcoming graduation day. She told him about the new maid, Mi Hee, who's clumsy yet so hard working. That one of the best chefs in the house was having rheumatics. The bet the stewards had about soccer....
When that part of her narration was over, he continued with, "What about Park Jin Yang? You're still with him?"
Ga Eun smiled at the mention of his name.
"Ne."
"Is he taking care of you well?"
"Yes. He is."
"Good."
She thought he was going to ask what she and Jin Yang have been doing recently. She was actually starting to form sentences inside her head when he asked, "How's Seo Ki Joon?"
"He's doing great," she said, smiling the widest for that day.
"Jjinjja? He's doing good in design school?"
"Very. Everybody said he's very creative. He's also going to do this joint runway show for the position in Poise."
"Poise?" Myung Hwan frowned, as if trying to remember, "Kim Hee Seong label?"
"Exactly, Doryeonnim. Kim Hee Seong-ssi is the most popular designer among teenagers lately. It is highly cool if anyone wears something from Poise. He's currently looking for new designers, and he will come to the runway show."
"I know Kim Hee Seong I often meet him at parties. I think he studied fashion in France?"
"He's been back these last two years and established his own label. Ki Joon is a big fan of the designs."
"So if Kim Hee Seong likes his design...."
"He will work part time at Poise!" she finished excitedly.
Myung Hwan nodded. "I have a feeling he'll succeed."
"Jjinjja, Doryeonnim? Me too!"
He laughed. "I wish the best for Seo Ki Joon."
They were silent for a while before he looked at the time on his cellphone.
"I think this is your bedtime, right?"
It was almost 11 PM, and she stood up to take his cup and plate.
"Will you be alright if I go to your graduation?"
She turned to him, her face a pure surprise.
"Go to my graduation?"
"Ommoni told me to. They both will have to go to Hong Kong that day."
She didn't say anything for too long that he thought she minded. "Well, if you really want my parents to come, I guess they could reschedule—"
"Andwae!!!" she denied loudly, and it was his turn to look at her with complete surprise.
Of course I would be happy if you'd come. It'll be my happiest day of the year!
"I don't want to intrude on Samonim and Sajangnim's schedule..."
"We think one of us should come, and represent your family."
"That's very generous, Doryeonnim."
He nodded. "Ahrasseo. I'll come then. Next Saturday, right?"
"Ne."
"Okay. I'll make sure I have no other appointments before lunch."
With that, she bowed and left his room. Her heart healed a little from all the pain she experienced that day.
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