Hyun-ji's POV.
Fair enough, I admit it. Moving to Busan for over a year and barely talking to her at all, was a little extreme...too extreme. But what was I to do? Had I listened to her and not insisted on enrolling in a highschool, none of that would have happened to me. I could not bear to face her again. Why did i move to Busan you ask? Well for now, let us just say—it is complicated.
Freezing all my accounts and paying someone to keep an eye on me, however, was just too much. I worked so hard on my modeling jobs to earn that money, and I did not even use my family name to get them. I was a minor when she opened up the accounts for me, as my legal guardian. I thought of changing that when I turned eighteen, but it seemed too much of a hassle, so i did not bother to. I regret that now.
But for once, I just wanted to experience what it was like to have an ordinary life. A life in which I could stay in my pajamas all weekend long, while binge watching my favorite K-drama—for the third time. Or finally know what it was like to spend money, which I worked hard to earn. Father always said, there was no greater fulfilment in life, than that. And he was right; I had no one to share my first paycheck with, but it was just as fulfilling none the less.
Was that too much to ask for? In all honesty I would not mind if I was born the daughter of a salary man somewhere on Jeju Island. I know it is selfish of me to think that way, because some people would kill to be in my place; but I never asked to be born a Kim. I lived my life as everyone expected me to, not as I saw fit. I knew my stay in Busan would come to an end sooner rather than later. But I wished it would have lasted for much longer.
My grandmother, Kim Song-yee, retained her position as Chair of The Kim Group soon after her only son, my father Kim Jae-yong died five years ago. The board members were planning a hostile takeover, but she managed to elude that by regaining absolute majority of the company's shares.
As one would expect, she was getting old, and would soon need me to take over. She resorted to playing these little tricks on me; claiming she suddenly fell ill, or threatening to disown me, if i did not go back to Seoul. And knowing her, I didn't fall for it at all. Until then, i knew i was just riding a wave and prolonging the inevitable. And as much as i hated to admit it, soon, I would have to grow up, and face my responsibilities.
Five years ago, I lost everything I cared about in Seoul. A car accident took away my parents and brother from me. I sometimes wonder why I, alone, survived. It was an accident that could have been avoided, had we not gone to visit my grandmother that day.
It was my parents' fifteenth anniversary, a day my brother and I had been looking forward to with glee and eagerness. Their anniversaries, were like a second birthday to him and I. Our parents never left us out, and they would let us accompany them whenever they travelled out to celebrate.
My father was a hopeless romantic. He would do all sorts of things just to make Mother happy. For their last anniversary, we went to New York, and he made arrangements for mother's name and images to appear at the Times Square. No one but us knew who she was, but it was the most beautiful and romantic thing I had ever seen. I wished someday, someone would do something like that for me.
So for their fifteenth anniversary, Min-ho and I wondered what he had in store for her. It was supposed to be even better than the last, but it never happened.
Grandmother suddenly fell ill, and father cancelled our plans midway. And immediately made arrangements to fly back to Seoul. He disliked the hustle and bustle of the city, prompting us to move to Gyeongju when a new branch of the company was launched there. Ironically, a Typhoon had made landfall near the coast that day, and all domestic and international flights to and from Gyeongju were cancelled.
Father seemed anxious, and I could tell from the look on his face, that he was not willing to wait for twenty-four hours just to see grandmother, when she was all alone and ailing. He kept pacing around the room, until he finally broke the silence;
"Get ready. We will go by car!" He exclaimed.
Mother looked at him in disbelief. The journey from Gyeongju to Seoul was a fairly lengthy one, of more than 300 kilometers. However, that was not the problem, in fact, father was quite a reasonably adept driver. What seemed to bother mother the most, was the impending storm that was brewing.
Most of the major highways were shut, due the storm. And forecasters claimed it would be one of the most devastating storms in recent times.
"Jae-yong! You must reconsider your decision for the children's safety!" Mother exclaimed.
She only ever addressed father by his first name, when she was either really exultant or appalled. And I could instinctively tell it was the latter that elicited her to do so.
"Seo-hyun!" Father exclaimed as he continued; "You know my mother needs me right now. It has only been a few months since we lost father. His loss must be taking quite a toll on her!"
Grandfather lived a long indulgent life. He had achieved many great things during his lifetime. And for the entirety of his reign as Chairman of the Kim Group, not once did the company's stock value ever recede. He made the Kim Group what it is today.
"I know dear, but is the children's safety not of utmost importance to you? Forgive me, if I have offended you." Mother replied, seemingly conceding defeat.
I sometimes wish she was less submissive, and more defiant at that one moment. Had she stood her ground and not conceded under the pressure of father's dominance, I wonder, would the accident ever have come to pass at all?
"Listen dear, you know I care about you and our children's well-being more than anything. However mother's health and well-being, are also equally as important to me, please bear with my selfishness this one time." Father replied.
Father was caught between a rock and a hard place, literally. And because he could not be rational under such a dire situation, he ended up making the wrong choice. However I do not blame him for what happened. At that moment, he was simply a child, worrying for his parent.
Soon after, we boarded the car, on that fateful day. Despite the urgency in his voice and actions, father stuck to the speed limit throughout most of the journey. However, I am not sure if that is entirely true. I fell asleep midway, and was awoken by the sound of heated voices.
It seemed my parents had gotten into another argument. I felt drowsy, and could not quite make out what the argument was about. I distinctly remember the feeling of the car accelerating faster on the Highway though. And then, I heard my brother shout at the top of his voice;
"Father Look out!"
A deafening loud honk echoed through my ears, soon a blinding light sent pain to my eyes as they adjusted to it. I shut my eyes desperately, as I felt my brother's arms tightly around me, his breathing was heavy and ragged, and I could hear his heart beating vigorously. I could tell he was scared, as he whispered in my ear;
"Do not be afraid Hyun-ji, I will protect you!"
That is the last thing I remember hearing…
***
"Ms. Hyun-ji! Are you alright? I could not help but notice your ragged breathing. Did you have a nightmare?"
My eyes still blurry as I opened them, I could feel a cold chill run down my spine, as I desperately tried to control my breathing.
"Never mind that. Tell me are we there yet?" I asked him.
"Yes Ms. Hyun-ji, we just touched down in Seoul. Would you like to proceed to your grandmother's residence?" He asked, his face beaming with excitement for some reason.
"Yes. Immediately please."
I was finally back in Seoul. It was about time I faced grandmother.