There seems to be more students for my consultation and lectures Wednesday. My suspicion was right, most of them came to see me to sign the magazine and book. Lisa reported last night about the rise of sales for my books after the magazine interview came out, and pre-orders for the newest book is soaring as well. I guess there's a good side about coming-out after all. Although, I think they are just curious now. The admiration and reviews felt more authentic before when they can't put a face to the author. They review the book base on the story and the way it was written.
I arrived at the loft exactly 10 minutes before 7pm and most of them are already gathered in at the meeting hall. I went to sit beside Laura, the first resident I've known in the building. I was expecting a hostile atmosphere, but they all seem too friendly. I notice the lack of reporters by the entrance, so maybe, the situation has already subsided. Mrs. Ahn presided the meeting and I was very anxious.
The meeting ended smoothly as opposed to how I have been expecting. Mrs. Ahn suggested to resume with our monthly residents' get together in order to know more about our neighbors. My situation had opened up the idea of helping out each other, since we are all foreigners in this city. Instead of turning against each other we should be more sympathetic towards each other. Although some of them are bothered with the reporters, we have agreed to a stricter security protocol. Only listed guests can enter the lobby and if we are expecting people to visit, we have to tell the reception in advance. I'm finally home at the loft when I received his call.
"Are you getting evicted?" he addressed,
"Unfortunately, no…" I teased.
"What will I do to cause a disturbance in there?" he taunted back.
"Come unannounced and act as a stalker…"
"Have you had dinner?" he asked.
"I'm about to fix something up… have you gone to grocery yet?"
"I just finish with my meeting…"
"I'll fix a dinner for two then…?" I invited him.
"I'll be there in half an hour…"
Little by little. One step a time, we'll just need to get this through together. It's simple and easy if only we can just get through this unscathed. This is the most comfortable we've been ever since we started our relationship together. It felt so natural. I prepared boiled potatoes, roasted baby beets and carrots and pan grilled salmon steak. He arrived by the loft with a bouquet of my favorite wildflower arrangement. He still makes sure to make my heart flutter.
We went to work separately that morning. I attended my 2 morning lectures with my usual casual school outfits but have to change at the hotel for my press conference and book signing. Lisa prepared a royal blue Ralph Lauren sherry pencil cut midi dress and a Brian Atwood black stiletto, she called in for a make-up artist to do my hair and make-up as well, although there's not really much to do, since she just straightened my hair and put a simple make-up. We should make it simple and sophisticated. To introduce a woman behind the girl…that's what she said.
The press conference at the Four Season's was scheduled at 1 pm. I have moved my consultation hours at the University for tomorrow Friday, since I don't really have to show up to work at Namdo because of the anniversary party in the evening. Of everything that's going on, I almost forgot the event at Namdo's tomorrow and I haven't seen the package of my gowns yet.
The press conference questions are mostly what we've been expecting. They didn't come here about the book, they come here to ask personal queries.
"Are you the woman from 3 years ago?"
"Does Nam Jae-woo know about you as the author?"
"Are you aware of the different women he dated for 3 years?"
"Are your books your personal experiences?"
"How long have you been dating Nam Jae-woo?"
These are the questions that came up, and we have anticipated about it. So, my team and I have a generated answer to them already. Then someone took the stand that ask a surprising question…
"How is the relationship of your son to Mr. Nam Jae-woo?" My team and I looked at each other. If I will tell them they have not met yet, they will ask questions about the credibility of our relationship, then this question will lead to another.
"My son is a very understanding boy. He sure, understand about us…" that's a vague answer. And Chris and Simon sure catch up to it. They took the microphone and suggested to focus on the book.
"Why now? Why sacrifice your anonymity now?" Someone asked.
"If you read on my interview, I'm sure you already know the answer…"
"You just said in here that you feel like it's finally time to come out, so your readers will relate to your book better if they will know the person you are… is it really because of this or is it the pressure of dating a chaebol CEO?" Whoa. She is straightforward. I looked at her. I know she's familiar. Ku Yeo-jin. Simon took the mic when I hesitate to answer the question.
"I guess Miss Ara's personal reason is her prerogative, but the idea of coming out to make her readers understand better about the inception of the book is a more plausible reason, don't we think?"
"I think Miss Ara Rivera can answer for her personal reason then?" she insists.
"Wow. I might have been so gullible to think that I could persuade everyone to just focus about my book, but it seems that my personal life is much more interesting. Either way, this scene right now, would definitely be in the pages of my next book." I started. Which garnered some laughs. But Yeo-jin is still standing there, waiting to satisfy her curiosity.
"Were you pressured when you dated him?" did she ever think I am a pushover? I looked at Lisa, to ask for permission, she knows how I can be when I charged. She just smiled. Let's do this then. The crowd are quiet now. I looked at her and she seemed like she wanted to go back to her seat. "I just want to ask maybe I could relate. Were you?"
"Not really, because our dates were cut short…" she seemed to be blaming me for it?
"I am not pressured. It's more like annoyed. I was annoyed to be put out there as someone I'm not, to be judged by people who have never heard my name up until now, it's annoying. And to make it clear, I am not the kind of person that does things just because I am pressured. If everyone came here because they are too curious of my personal life, I won't hold it against you, but haven't you just lost a great opportunity as a journalist to ask more relevant questions?"
"Probably everyone here already knew, I'm a PhD fellow at SNU, the subject of my thesis research is about Korean media and pop culture, from 3 years ago up until now…base on my observation and personal experience there have not been any development with the entertainment news, it still resorts into this type of baseless reporting and speculations, well whatever keeps people entertained, right? To hell with morality and ethics."