"I'd like to apologize for the trouble you've had in the media, Ms. Song. You know, about the gossip of the two of us," Jun said in a slightly formal tone but he couldn't hide his nervousness. He felt ridiculous because he had been acting casually but now he was starting to show his true attitude. He was not used to hanging out with someone as elegant as Mi-Rae.
Mi-Rae drank her cold espresso before responding.
"That's common in the entertainment world. Why bother?"
"Well but—"
"Also, there's no need to be so formal. You can call me Mi-Rae,"
"Miss Mi-Rae, I don't know much about the life of Korean celebrities. In America usually my name only goes to the web and sports accounts. My name is called almost as much as Christiano Ronaldo or other athletes but hardly ever gets in the gossip media. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but is this ok for you? Well, I read some of the narratives and comments in the media. I don't like the way they guess that we might do inappropriate things in the dressing room," Hyeon Jun scratched his head nervously with his eyes occasionally looking the other way.
"You shouldn't read comments on social media, Mr. Hyeon Jun..ah can I call you like that?"
"You can call me, Jun."
"But I've seen it and I feel it's unfair to you. They are not polite, because you are not that kind of woman,"
"How did you know that, Mr Jun?" Mi-Rae rested her chin while looking at him.
"I only know, because you are different from the women I used to know," said Hyeon Jun. He talked about the women who were in the gangster's circle. Bar workers, hostesses and criminals in provocative dress.
"Unlike the girls you used to date?" Mi-Rae smiled.
"Y—yes, something like that," said Jun while slightly turning his face away.
"This isn't fair, isn't it? Why can a handsome guy like you be free to date anyone without being afraid of being called a bitch, but girls can't be like that. After all, this is the modern era, why do people still think that old-fashioned way? You're not a believer in sex after marriage right?" Mi-Rae asked. Jun started to get nervous because their conversation started to talk about something a little mature.
"No, I'm not like that," said Jun even though he still showed doubt. He never swore to protect his virginity or anything. Jun just had never found the right situation or partner.
"I'm not really, I'm quite romantic and married before doing it for the first time," said Mi-Rae again.
"Ah, you must think I am too old fashioned, don't you?" Mi-Rae complained in a joking tone.
"No, I think that's impressive. Womens nowadays give up their body too easily," Jun said, criticizing as if he was an old ahjumma complaining about morality.
"Ahahaha, you're not fit to talk like that, Mr Jun," Mi-Rae looked amused.
He felt uncomfortable with the experience of being chased by women his whole life. Not only because he was handsome, they were attracted by his status as the heir to the clan leader. The girls around him were also mostly tough and persistent from hanging out with gangsters. They were shameless and would not give up just because they were rejected by words. Sometimes, Jun had to send his men to teach them a lesson.
Jun was always worried. If he carelessly touched women— those sly women could frame him, claim to be pregnant and such. Like his own father, who knows how many illegitimate children from his mistresses. But, all those children could not truly inherit the wealth and power of the Serpent Fang clan. Therefore they resented Jun who had recently been non-serious about inheriting the clan head title.
Goosebumps suddenly ran down the back of his neck. He remembered someone who often gave terror in his life. But, Jun managed to reconcile his thoughts. He was calmer. Maybe because he was now with Mi-Rae—a beautiful woman who somehow gave off an aura of grace and peace that seemed to contrast with him.
Mi-Rae was always elegant, she never looks nervous as if she knows what the future holds. She didn't look awkward even though he accidentally met Hyeon Jun and drank coffee together. However, Jun could sense that the woman was hiding something.
"Since the rumors about us spread, I've been studying about you," Jun confessed.
Mi-Rae took another sip of her coffee and put the glass down gracefully. She then looked at Hyeon Jun with interest.
"Oh, that's a little awkward. I know not all the news about me sounds good,"
"No, I think as an actress, your image is quite neutral. I'm only interested in the fact that you were married and had a son," Jun said again.
"What do you think about that? Women who have had children and have been married don't sound sexy, don't they?" Mi-Rae laughed.
"Why did you judge yourself like that? I don't think you're not sexy just because of your status. Ah! I didn't mean to say that, so—" Jun felt a little embarrassed about it. Was he indirectly calling her sexy?
"It's okay Mr. Hyeon Jun, why have you been so serious earlier? We're just two friends who accidentally met and were drinking coffee together. Or, Are you perhaps worried that the paparazzi are stalking us?" Mirae asked.
"Why should we care? Like you said, we only drank coffee together instead of drinking soju. If we are really dating then why? Ah but I heard celebrity agencies like to ban their stars from dating, am I right?"
"That's true, but they didn't forbid me," said Mi-Rae with her eyes looking the other way. The agency did not blame who Mi-Rae was dating. But still she was not free. Because the Park family is still trying to control her life.
"I will still be in Korea for a long time, I think I should get used to this," replied Hyeon Jun.
"Mr. Hyeon Jun, you are a Korean citizen. So, one day you will definitely return to this country. Since you're a celebrity now, I'd like to make a suggestion. Be careful with your love relationship. Don't just date girls. He could just accuse you of something bad and everyone would hate you. Often, actresses or celebrities are affected by 'cancel culture' and are forced to bury their careers forever. I know you're an athlete. But, you also started starring in commercials. You can get lawsuits and such if people boycott the products you star in," Mi-Rae advised.
"Thank you for reminding me," Hyeon Jun said. Actually he wasn't too worried. His mafia group could easily fight bad news about him. He would feel sorry for those who tried to oppose him. Because Serpent Fang's group always had a way of mentally shutting one down.
Hyeon Jun felt his phone vibrate. Someone sent him a message. It turned out to be His underlings who were curious about the results. They also remind him to ask her to be his girlfriend as if Hyeon Jun would forget his main purpose of greeting Mi-Rae tonight.
"Ah, that's Miyamiya," Mi-Rae said softly while pointing at Hyeon Jun's smartphone.
"Who?"
"Your cell phone hanger, he is Miyamiya, my son Hyun-Ki's favorite anime character,"
"This fat yellow cat?" Hyeon Jun swung his hanger in front of Mi-Rae.
"Yeah, Hyun-Ki likes being a different kid. When his peers like a character, he chooses to like another character. He said he didn't want to be a mediocre person. According to him, being the same as other people is not cool. He likes that mafia cat character, Miyamiya. But he's not very popular so I'm having a hard time finding his merchandise," Mi-Rae said while making a sad face.
"Aha, are you going to seduce me to give this to you?"
Mi-Rae nodded enthusiastically like a little girl wanting candy.
"Hmm, I don't know i quite like this charm," Hyeon Jun teased her a little.
"Oh come on, you're too old for that aren't you?" Mi-Rae complained slightly sullenly.
"Hey, when you like something, there's no such thing as too old or too young. And I love this character. But, I could just give it to you if— you want to drink soju with me while eating tteokbokki around Gangnam— how about it?" Hyeon Jun said. He didn't think he'd be able to ask her out so smoothly. Maybe Jun has a knack for this.
"Ahaha, you're asking me out on a date? Seriously? Are you interested in me Mr Hyeon Jun?"
"Why can't I be attracted to you? That's a strange question. You are Song Mi-Rae, maybe all the men secretly like you but not many of them dare to say it like me."
"You're a lovely person, Mr Jun. But, I think it's better that you never think about dating me," Mi-Rae said with a gloomy aura even though her face was smiling.
Hyeon Jun panicked a little, but tried to calm down. Why? He thought the atmosphere was right and Mi-Rae seemed comfortable with him. Was it because he hinted that he was dating another woman?
"Is it because I met someone earlier? Err, I think there was a bit of a misunderstanding. Actually I—"
"No, you have no problem at all. Anyone would be happy to date you. The problem is me. I—" Mi-Rae didn't have time to explain because her phone rang.
"Young-Ran? It's already late," Mi-Rae said, annoyed.
Then, Mi-Rae's calm face turned pale. She was shaking.
"W—what do you mean Hyun-Ki disappeared? No. He's not with me," Mi-Rae said in a stuttered voice.