"What do you mean? More than a year?" I yell and get up suddenly feeling pain spark through my legs and arms. "What exactly happened?"
"Son..." I look at my father in fear of what he is going to say next. "You fainted from a cut on your hand"
"A deep cut at that...I can't believe you did that after our first meeting," Grandpa stands up.
"I-" I feel guilty for what I did. That is what I want to say. My grandpa gets up from his chair.
"Do you have no conscience?" I have never seen Grandpa this angry. Father looks surprised too. I decide to stay quiet.
"Father, Calm down," My father tells Grandpa, helping him sit back on his chair. A memory of seeing Gwen before I fainte- The memory disappears. "You need to build your reputation again. I made you disappear so no one thinks I am weak."
"I took over for you while you were asleep," Grandpa says.
"You are awake from the coma which is good news," My father says causing me to smile realizing that I am fully recovered now. "I am second in place at Park Group after you leave here or actually I already have a better plan to save the company and earn more money"
"What is that plan?" I ask.
"That can't be revealed to you yet," The doctor comes in.
"Hello, President Park," The doctor bows to my father as he enters the room.
"So, we did a test and we found something that was hidden in his records about his mem-" My memory? The flashback, when my stepmom and father were talking about this in Australia.
"Uh, we can talk outside Doctor Im," My grandpa stays and move his chair closer to my hospital bed.
"Alejandro...why did you exactly do to yourself...you lost so much blood. This caused you to be in a coma for so long. It was so difficult for us"
"I don't know," Grandpa gives me a 'you know' face. "It's just this girl...woman...but she has nothing to do with this...I did that to myself," I look down at my arm in bandages.
"Oh, that woman..." Does he know Gwen? "I feel if she caused this to happen to you still. If that's the case and I know it is. You shouldn't be associated with her." But- "Alejandro," Grandpa grabs my hand that is not wrapped in a bandage, "Please don't meet with her anymore...for our family's sake and my sake...I lost your grandma and I don't want to lose you," I lose my words.
"Promise me." I can't-
"I promise," My grandpa smiles, a tear falling down his pale face. My father enters the room. The nurse starts to take the wires off my body.
"Now we brought clothes for you," He hands me a black suit. A black suit walking out of the hospital? I look up and realize that they are in suits too. Grandpa helps me out of bed. I begin to walk, for the first time in over a year, to the bathroom. My feet feel numb as if they had no function. I need a shower.
"Alejandro, we don't have time," My dad bangs on the door softly. I guess the shower will have to wait for later.
I change into the suit. I wash my face. I have grown a little bit of a beard, I say to myself as I look in the mirror. Now, I look grown. I reflect on my life for a little while as I continue to look in the mirror. I can no longer see Gwen...Nuna...I hope living life without me is okay with you. I know it is.
"You're ready, Alejandro?" My grandma barges in.
"You startled me!" I jump up. What if I didn't have clothes on? He could have knocked. I look over at the sunflowers on the desk and remember that those were my mom's favorite flower. I grab them. I walk out. "Where are we going?"
"What are you doing with those sunflowers in your hand?" My father says snatching them out of my hands.
"They are jus-" Before I could finish my sentence, he throws them in the trashcan inside the room I was in.
"A conference, a conference is what we have now. There is no time to look at pretty flowers," Father responds pulling me in front of him. "The one where you finally become the official Chairman," My father says as he turns around, "Dad!" He yells as Grandpa leaves the room I was in.
"Sorry, let's go," He says hiding one of his arms behind him.
"You had to look good for the reporters," Father adds while we walk down the hall. My grandpa taps my shoulder. I turn around and find one of the sunflowers that my father threw in the garbage. I grabbed the sunflower and tuck it inside my coat. I thank him with my eyes and get on the elevator. Once we reach the entrance of the hospital, a limousine waiting in the front. We get inside and the limousine starts moving. We pull up to a huge amount of reporters at the entrance of Park Group.
"President Park, Is your son taking over?"
"Alejandro Park Jr are you going to be the boss of your father and grandfather?"
The reporters say closing upon us with cameras. We walk inside the building. Walking by people, them bowing respectfully, which is the custom here in South Korea. I felt superior, something I never liked. We get into the elevator in the center of the building going to the highest floor level, level 100. That floor is the one with the main conference room of the whole building from what I remember years ago when my father brought me here. We reach floor 100 and exit the elevator to the conference room. More reporters taking pictures. When we walk in, I see so many familiar faces, directors and shareholders, from the last time I was at dinner in Sokcho at the Ramada hotel. I sit down at the tip of the conference room where my grandpa directed me to sit. Everyone starts talking nonsense. I start getting annoyed quickly which is not like me. It's probably because of how much I hate attention to myself. All I do is play with the pen in my hand.
"Shut up," I yell in Korean. Everyone stares at me. Wait, what did I just say? I find a way to compromise, "I just want to sign papers that I have been brought here to sign," I place my hand over the contracts next to me, "I want to take care of everyone's family but with all of this talking," I shake my head as I pick up the contracts and skim through them, "How am I supposed to get it done?" I throw the papers on the table causing them to slide out of the folders. Why did it have to be papers? Can't it be electronic ones? "So, you," I stand up and point at a random person in the corner, "Transfer all these papers into electronic copies," The random guy picks up the papers from the table and rushes out the room. I sit back in my chair. Have I taken the place of my cold father? I sign the papers agreeing to take over the company and leave the building without looking back, I need to blow off some steam. I need a quiet place. I take a taxi to the Salgoji bridge. I sit down at the edge of the bridge watching the water. I dig inside my hand inside my coat for the sunflower. I look at it closely. I notice a cut on the stem. It must have happened when my father threw it in the garbage can. The flashback of when Gwen held the sunflower I gave her with both of her hands and smelled it. I do the same exact action without knowing. I get a call from Ci-Xi. Why now? I want to decline the call but instead, I answer the call.
"Ugh, what?"
"Grumpy much"
"Very," I roll my eyes.
"I would be too if I was told I was going to be in an arranged marriage with you," I stand up suddenly, almost falling into the water.
"What?"
"Stop joking around"
"When did you hear this?"
"Not too long ago." A silence flows into the conversation. "Wait, you really didn't know?"
"I woke up from a coma today; therefore, I woke up today from a coma"
"I thought that was just a rumor," She doesn't ask if I am okay. I start to find out who I matter too.
"Ok, but what do you want to tell me? Just that?"
"Well no...it's me and Akio kind of started dating a while back before you went to South Korea. I know it was a little too quick," She begins speaking quickly like she always did, "My parents found out and forbade us to see each other...but we still do see each other with our friends...you know the story, a rich person can't be with a not-so-rich person"
'What do you want me to do about it?" I scoff.
"Help us"
"Nope, I am not lying for you two"
"Not lie to them but at least distract them. Tell your parents you don't want to marry someone ugly like me"
"You are"
"Hey"
"But, it won't work with our prestigious families and you know that. I guess I can help you," The call starts to turn into a facetime call and I see Ci-Xi. Then Akio appears on the camera.
"Thank you, Alejandro. You don't know how much I like this girl. You're my best friend now"
"I still have TJ"
"Oh yeah, he was asking about you the other day. I couldn't say because my parents didn't let me"
"Just call him when you get the chance. He misses his best friend," Akio says. I give a half-smile.
"Oh yeah. There is also a Masquerade ball this year mainly for you and me. We have to avoid that too"
"We do," We say goodbye to each other and hang up. I get up and when I do, I see a strange young man stand in front of me.
"Hello, Chairman Alejandro Jr"
"Chairman Alejandro not Jr. And who are you?"
"I am your Secretary, Secretary Kim. Nice to meet you"
"I wish I could say the same," I get suspicious "Why were you sent here? To keep an eye on me?"
"No. I am your secretary," I shouldn't trust this person. After Gwen, I don't think I can trust anyone at that except Grandpa.
"He's with me, Alejandro"
"Grandpa"
"Hi, Alejandro. I recruited him for you. You need a secretary in this profession," Grandpa says out of breath.
"Oh ok," If he trusts him then I can too.
"Where am I going to live now?"
"I bought a house for you. I'm going to live at my house but also yours. I don't want you to live with your dad. I might have joined the company...well I know you have heard of 'things' he has done," Those things I know. "Secretary Kim get the car," Secretary Kim leaves. Secretary Kim pulls the car over. He opens the door for both Grandpa Alejandro and me. He begins to drive. The car ride is quiet. Grandpa sneaks glimpses at me like he's worried. We reach a tall stone wall. The stone wall opens sidewards. The car enters opening us to a huge house. I don't like big houses. I like small homey houses, the ones you feel warm. We exit the car and enter inside. The floor, pure white granite with a diamond chandelier at the entrance. The walls, white like snow. Everything is white except the black couches I see in the corner of my eye.
"Your room is upstairs sir," I follow Secretary Kim upstairs. He opens a black door. This is my room. I see a black and gold velvet comforter along with an embroidered couch matching the colors of the bed comforter. A flat-screen TV, a desk in the corner, a closet, and a bathroom.
"We can send people back to N.Y.C for your things," Grandpa joins us in my room.
"No, I can go back"
"That reminds me, the mansion you built for the homeless was completed. A lot of people are already living there. That was very thoughtful of you," I smile, my heart feeling warm knowing I helped people in need.
"Back to the last topic, I can go to New York in a week? After this becomes a little settled?"
"Good thinking. I will let your dad know," Grandpa pulls out his phone. I look at Secretary Kim. His head is down letting out a wincing sound. Doesn't his neck hurt?
"Hey, How old are you?"
"20"
"I knew you were young," He doesn't say anything back "Cheer up. I'm not evil. Go into one of the guest rooms and take a break. I want to sleep"
A week later
These days, it's work, eat, and sleep. I don't have time to have a peaceful breakfast with Grandpa, neither can I have a simple cup of mocha. I guess it had to do with the fact I am a Chairman now. All I had to do is build my reputation again. Once found in New York now changed into a different path. Today, I am headed back to New York. I go to the airport and board the plane.
-
"Home Sweet Home," I swing my apartment door open. It is dark because it is already night here. The cold breeze of the apartment sweeps through my hair. I turn around to shut my door. It's TJ.
"Park," TJ runs and jumps on me. He cries.
"TJ, the bum," I hug him back.
"Why did you disappear?" He smacks me. His brotherly love turned rough.
"I don't know. What happened? In simple words, I lost a lot of blood leaving me in a coma"
"Tough. You are better now. That's what counts, man. Your back for good now!"
"Actually..."
"No," He blahs to the top of his lungs, " I don't hear anything," He places his hands on his ears. When did he turn into a child?
"I'm going to go back to South Korea for some time. So, I don't know how long I am going to stay," I yell.
"Why?"
"I'm a Chairman of my father's company. Well now the company is mine"
"Park, I knew you would get there. You deserve it," Do I, though? "So...Can I crash at your place?"
"Don't you have a place?"
"I'm running on debt. Can you...somehow...help me?"
"Sure, just write your account number and I will transfer the money so you can pay. I can sell the place while I am at it and you can have all of this," I say waving my hand across the room.
"The place is mine?"
"Yeah," I smile as I hear a knock at the door. I swing the door open. A tall guy stands in front of my door. He looks Korean and Thai. He looks somewhat the same age as me.
"May I help you?"
"I'm Gwen's friend," Hearing her name turns my mood cold. He lends out a hand. I ignore the hand and stay silent. "How are you doing?"
"I'm good, extremely good but this here ruined my mood," He looks dumbfounded. "Ugh alright I don't know what you want but here is all my information for you and whoever wants it. I am moving to South Korea to take over Park Group permanently. My grandpa was the CEO for a little while while I was at the hospital," I shut the door close but he sticks his foot in stopping the door from closing.
"Can I get your number?"
"Yeah whatever," I throw a business card at him and push his foot out of the way. TJ helps me pack right after. I have to leave tomorrow for a meeting at work so I have to finish this. I think of Gwen being here in New York. I want to be able to see you. I still don't understand what or why you said what you said. I don't know what you are doing but I hope we can meet in the future again and start over. Everything is packed now. Grandpa offered to order a truck but I decided to leave my furniture because I have furniture in Seoul. TJ fell asleep. I leave him money so he can move his furniture to the guest room or he can take it to mine, doesn't matter. I leave and go back to Seoul.
Late summer night in South Korea
I finish looking over and submitting work and head home. Today, was an exhausting day. I had to come to work at 2 in the morning to work because of a meeting with the Western part of the companies. Therefore over there would be 4 p.m. I wanted to go home and just sleep. Instead, when I unlock the door, I see Ci-Xi and her parents. My first thought is what are these people doing in my house? Like Ci-Xi mentioned, there is going to be an arranged marriage. Ci-Xi looks uncomfortable and worried. While I was gone in a coma for a long time; I could tell from the facetime call that those two have true feelings for each other. I was determined to keep them together because it breaks me when people who deserve each other can't be together. Ci-Xi's parents get up to greet me. I greet them respectfully for now. No one except my Grandpa deserves real respect from me in the first place. I see my father walking down the hall.
"Where Grandpa?" That is my first question. Whenever there is my father, there is Grandpa. That is the only reason I tolerated my father.
"He is taking care of the company as we have this arranged marriage meeting," I fold my arms in anger letting out a huff.
"Son, that is your future wife that has been yet to be introduced to you but it seems by your exchanged looks that you know each other"
"That's what you think," I chuckle. Ci-Xi's parents look disgusted by my attitude.
"Aggressive attitude, Young boy?" Ci-Xi's father utters. He is not wrong.
"He just had a bad day," That's a lie. I had a tiring day, not a bad day. Even so, being a CEO changes you. Warm to cold. Fire to ice. I don't know what it was. Maybe the repeated schedule every day? The lack of friends? Lack of life? made my life this way.
"No," I say standing up straight, confidently, "This is because I come back from work and I want to rest but I come to this," I glance at Ci-Xi in the back, she is laughing. Her parents look disgusted by my speech.
"Haha don't mind him," My father tells them "We are going to have dinner cooked by a top cuisine chef, tonight," Ci-Xi's mood changes as my father leads them to the dining room leaving Ci-Xi and me in the living room.
"You did great," She says in English. Our parents can't overhear our conversation like this. Ci Xi's parents can only speak Chinese, Korean, and a little Japanese. My father can speak all languages well except for Spanish and English. He lost his Spanish after my mom passed and his English after my coma happened.
"Whatever," I look at the huge fish tank taking up one wall of my living room avoiding her face.
"Hey what's up with you lately?"
"What do you mean?"
"Just your attitude completely changed from being all sweet and nice to all arrogant and disrespectful" I shrug my shoulders. I give my coat to Secretary Kim and sit on the couch.
"What's your plan here? Our engagement will be announced soon to the world.
"My parents mentioned a ball which we are going to go together"
"Interesting"
"I can bring Akio bringing rumors that I am a cheater. My parents will be embarrassed and call it off"
"No, No, that plan is not useful," She looks annoyed, "Let me think of a better one"
"Ok, you are the boss"
"That I am"
"Young lovers, food is almost ready please join us," My father doesn't stop this nonsense. My blood boils. Ci-Xi and I look at one another and scoff. We stand up from the couches and walk to the dining room. We sit down and as I walk to my seat at the tip of the table, my father is sitting there.
"That's my seat," I place my hands in my pocket.
"Son, sit t the seat next to the future wife," I calm myself and flop down on the chair. I have to be a little more respectful of how I act. If I don't like this situation, it will go away soon.
"When do you think the wedding should be held Jeong Jin," Ci-Xi's dad asks in Chinese. In the past few months, I had to become fluent in many languages including Chinese. I don't recall his name though so his name is 'Ci-Xi's dad.' Either way, I don't plan to learn his name. I don't have time for that.
"Maybe after the Masquerade ball that Mrs. Nan mentioned to me the other day"
"Oh yes, honey, you mentioned that"
"Around Fall time or maybe Winter?" Ci-Xi's mom.
"Let's ask the young lovers"
"Winter," Both of us say at the same time. The farthest the better. There won't be a wedding between us two in the first place.
"The Masquerade ball can be the end of fall. We will invite everyone. The biggest ball of the year! What do you think, President Park?" Ci-Xi's dad asks me.
"Sounds like a plan" Your plan, not mine. I take a sip of the fine red wine as the waiters pour the wine for us and bring the plates of tenderloin right after.
At the end of fall, this year
The Masquerade ball has come and my plan is clearer than day.