"We would like to call upon the stage, the CEO and the brain behind the world's no. one company, Miss Kang Na-Ra" The host welcomed.
I entered from the door. I waved my hand to the audience with a fake smile. I forgot to smile a long ago. I don't remember when was the last time I truly smiled.
"Thanks, James for calling me here." I shook hands with the host named James.
"thank you, Miss Kang, for accepting our interview. We know how busy you are."
"haha.. you're welcome."
"Then please be seated." He showed me the seat.
"So, Miss Kang, First of all, I would like to congratulate you for being the world's most powerful women and for making your company no. 1" He said.
"Thanks, James. I only got this news today morning, when we hit our revenue 1 Trillion dollars. News does spread fast." I said half smiling.
"So, Miss Kang, what the secret of your success?" He asked enthusiastically.
I stopped smiling.
"Do you really think for me hitting 1 trillion revenue is success?" I asked with a serious face.
"Yes, after all, you have everything, right? You have money, power, support, plus now your company have become no. 1. You are successful in the eyes of everyone, now."
I smiled when I heard his answer.
"You know what James, there was a time when I thought if I get money, power, I will be successful. Everybody will recognise me, acknowledge me. But later in my life, I realised, the achievement is only called a true success when there is someone to celebrate with you. Your loved ones. Otherwise, instead of feeling happy, it will haunt you down, kill you." I spoke with sadness in my eyes.
"So, you don't consider yourself a successful person?" He asked curiously.
"I never said, I am not. I am successful in term of money, as a CEO." I said jokingly.
"So, do you celebrate your success with your loved ones?"
"I didn't have one, to begin with, the only person I had was now no more in this world," I said sadly.
"I am sorry for your loss."
"So, now let's move to another question. Miss Kang Na-Ra, what motivated you to work so hard?" he asked changing topic.
"My promise to certain someone," I answered.
"So, a promise can make you so motivated. That's impressive"
"Yes, especially when it's the last wish" I added.
"...." Everyone in the studio remained silence.
"That's great, amazing" James clapped awkwardly. I didn't say anything, just smiled.
"So, let's move to another question, Miss Kang Na-Ra, you are already 40 this year, unmarried, any plans to marry or do you have anyone you love?" He asked.
Everyone silenced again in anticipation.
....
Meanwhile, in the background, "What the hell are these questions? I told you, you can't ask her personal questions?" Mrs Lee, my secretory shouted at the director of the show.
"We're sorry, Mrs Lee. There was some mistake, our scriptwriter didn't got the warning." He bowed down again and again.
'Oh, god. Miss Kang, Please control your emotions please.' She prayed.
....
Here, When I heard this question, I remembered that person, the person who gave this mission, the person whose memories are still fresh in my mind.
"I.." I stopped, a lump got stuck in my throat.
'Take deep breadth, Na-Ra' I felt someone patting on my shoulder.
I looked beside me, I saw he was patting me. I smiled, then I took a deep breath.
"Yes, I have someone I love." I smiled.
"Ohhh, then when do you plan to marry?" He asked curiously.
"First, I have to go where he is now, then propose to him, and marry him"
"That's great, that means we are going to get good news soon." He clapped his ends.
"I don't think so ..hahaha" I joked.
"So another question,..." James continued to ask questions related to my career and more.
.....
After 1 hour,
Inside the car,
I was sitting inside the car, leaned back and closed eyes.
"Miss, I am sorry." Suddenly, Mrs Lee apologised to me.
I opened my eyes, asked, "for what?"
"I didn't go through the script. I didn't realise that they would asked you personal questions even after I warned them" She said.
I looked out through the window. My eyes looked at the passing sceneries. I didn't realise so much has changed in this past 10 years after he has gone.
"It's okay. It's not that I can run away from my past." I said without looking away from the window.
"But still, I am sorry, Miss" She again apologised.
"Umm," I said.
half an hour later,
"Miss, we arrived," She said.
I opened the car and came out. As I was about to walk towards the apartment, I turned around, asked "Mrs Lee, How long have you been working for me?"
It took her a few seconds to react. She got surprised by my sudden question,
"Miss, 20 years. I guess." She answered.
"Ohh, it's been long. Right." I smiled.
"Yes, Miss. But why did you suddenly asked?" She asked curiously.
"No reasons, just take care of yourself while driving. Have a good night" I smiled and went on to my apartment.
'That's odd' She thought.
...
I entered the elevator, pressed 28th-floor button.
A few seconds later I arrived on the 28th floor.
I then entered the password of my apartment and entered.
It's the same as it was 10 years ago. Nothing has changed. I didn't even try to move his things. There are still his slippers here, his clothes are still hanging on the wardrobe. His favourite video games are still in its place.
Yes, I live in his apartment with our memories.
I didn't move in when he was alive. But after he died, I moved in the very next day.
Somebody said the truth that we start to know the value of that person only after he/she leaves us. I realised in a very harsh way.
I regret telling him not to take pictures whenever we went on a date cause I hated it. But now I am thankful for those secret pictures of us that he took.
Now, whenever I accomplished something, instead of going to celebrate with someone I don't know, I come here and drink alone.
But tonight I feel lonely, very lonely, even when I did what he wish for me, I feel empty inside. Maybe because he is not here. He is not here to pat me, hug me and celebrate with me.
I took out one bottle of wine from Min Jun's exclusive wine collections. He loved to collect these wines, even though he rarely drank it.
"See, Min Jun. I did what you told me. Are you happy now?" I talked to him while sipping my wine.
"Are you happy? cause I am not happy. It hurts here." I pointed towards my heart.
"Here, you know. I want to feel you, touch you, embrace you. But you are not here. It really hurts, Min Jun" I pressed my chest with hands.
"At a time like this, I want you. I want to tell you that I was wrong. I want to tell you just how much I love you. That you were, are and will always my one and only." I was intoxicated.
"If god me another chance, I would surely tell you how much I love you. I would tell you I love you every day. I will give you gifts in our every anniversary. I will never forget our dates. I will never tell you to wait, instead, I will wait for you. I will bring you flowers every time we meet. I will crack jokes even if it is lame." I said.
"I just miss you, Min Jun. I did what you told me to do. Now, I am free right. Now, I can to you right." I smiled.
Then, I took the fruit knife present on the table. I cut my wrist with it. I didn't feel pain.
"See, I am coming to you. Min Jun. Wait for me" I smiled and finished my wine.
Got up, went upstairs to our bedroom slowly. Blood ran down my wrist on the floor making trails.
I entered our bedroom and went to lay on our bed. I laid in the fetus position while my hand still bleeding.
Slowly, I drifted in my sleep. "Min Jun" was the last word I said in my last breadth.
Finally, I found peace as if I am in his embrace. At last, I will meet him after a long time.