ENDURED AND FORGOTTEN
Ki Woong stood up after emptying his cup of coffee, "Now I have to take my leave and let you enjoy your afternoon in peace. Thank you so much for a scrumptious meal," he said smiling to Min-hee.
"You're welcome," she answered with her usual expressionless face.
Turning to Reverend Dae-hyun, "As well as you know, home-cooking is currently not an option for me, I was wondering if you could be of a little assistance to me by recommending a good restaurant," the Dark Lord pleaded.
"I barely eat out, but I'm very sure Min-hee could suggest somewhere good." Reverend Dae-hyun turned to her. "What do you think? That emmm . . . you call it Bar Pida, right?"
Min-hee had had enough of whatever her father was doing. How could he suggest the place she and Geun always meet up? It wasn't that he was ignorant of the fact, but he knew quite well that Bar Pida was where they met.
There was a rushed calculation in Min-hee's head which made her suggest the village tavern because she wasn't going to be sending her newest enemy to the place she always meets with her lover. "They really do have good food," she said candidly.
"I agree, but it's just too plain," her father objected. "You must know lots of better places."
Reluctantly, she turned to Ki Woong. " In that case, you could try Grand Signeil. It's a hotel in town a little distance from here. It's a five star hotel and their dining room is fantastic," she said with false enthusiasm.
" It sounds perfect!" He announced. Then he smiled at Min-hee before turning to her father," Since I've ruined your supper plans, you should please join me for dinner tonight." And his eyes traveled back to Min-hee, "it would be a delight to have you, honestly."
Min-hee couldn't believe what she had just heard. The use of the word 'delight' and he practically hinted that he wanted her in bed right in front of her father.
She looked at his face that was plastered with the familiar smirk and his eyes peering into her soul like he could read her inner thoughts. No wonder he was called the 'Dark Lord'.
"Oh Woong, that's very kind of you," Her father said. "But I really do have some work to do tonight. And of course the kimchi and shredded chicken is seated somewhere for me to enjoy tonight. However, I'm sure my jagiya would be glad to join you for dinner," He looked at her softly. "Wouldn't you, daughter?"
Min-hee knew her father would decline the dinner as he had much work to do tonight but the words that came out of his mouth were unexpected. Because, she would rather be skinned alive with a blunt knife than to be alone with their 'uninvited' guest.
But it was too late to go back or make any excuses which she couldn't think of any. Her only option was a straight refusal which would come off as discourteous and therefore, upset her father. She also watched how entertained Ki Woong was by the way her father threw the task of accompanying him to dinner.
"Of course Papa," She answered. Turning to Ki Woong, she muttered grudgingly, "I will be ready by 8:00pm."
Her agreement to the dinner was indirectly extorted from her mouth because her mind wasn't in alliance with her words . She wished that she could go to the village's train station and lay on the rail waiting for an incoming train to crush her. Leaving nothing but bones. At least before dinner time just to avoid being in the presence of the dark lord.
As she stood at the portico with her father, wearing a fake broad smile and waving at their departing guest like she actually relished his time with them, she couldn't help but appraise the probability of a lot of things that could go south within a given amount of time.
Her racing mind was a product of her choosing Grand Signeil which was an excessively expensive hotel and the location was very far from her village, practically in the next province after the nearby town. Everything had boomeranged right before her eyes.
Immediately they got into the safety of their home, Min-hee meekly confronted her father. "Papa, why? You cheerfully offered me to him, a complete stranger on a bouquet table!"
"Ahh, jagiya. I didn't and you know that. He only invited me out of politeness." He said, patting Min-hee's back as he did when she threw tantrums as a toddler. "He had said in the garden that you dislike him for some reasons and he would like to clear it up." He added coolly, "And I must be honest, Jagiya, I did sense something like an off energy from you."
"Hmmm. Really?" She said, feigning ignorance. "I have no idea."
Min-hee stayed silent for some time then stood to leave but the realization came running back in, she rushed to her father, "Oh papa! please. I don't want to have dinner with him. He's completely out of our world perhaps in a different solar system, and . . . It . . . scares me, papa," she wailed.
But that wasn't the real reason for her outburst. It was an embarrassment — she would be sitting face to face with the man who she trespassed on his property, saw her nakedness and called it an 'unexpected delight'. A pot of delicate details she couldn't relay to her father because she knew he would be disappointed in her for being so dense and careless.
Seeing her father wasn't given in to her plea, she swallowed. "Why was he here then?"
"To disclose himself as the new occupant of the Manor, and of course my parishioner," he answered proudly.
"Oh papa, you think it's that easy?" She shook her head. "I can gamble with my life savings that you won't be seeing him in the congregation much often. Also, have you forgotten that I have a date with Geun?"
"No. But you said it yourself that he canceled, right? Have a little bit of empathy for Woong. He is, after all, a new person in a foreign place. Will it be of much trouble to show him that he is welcomed? As wealthy and famous as he is, he might be lonely."
The word 'lonely' rang a bell in Min-hee's memory as she recalled that it was the same thing Ki Woong had said about her father.
"I can't believe it at all," she said with a frown.
"Believe what?"
"That he is lonely. I'm very sure he has a black book the size of a telephone directory," she pointed out. " The wealthy always have company, Papa."
"Jagiya?"
"Papa."
" He is new here. It will be difficult for him to find his way around. And for the black book, what if he hasn't unpacked it yet?"
At this point, Min-hee knew she had to drop her final bomb. One that her father would succumb to and then let her be. "I have nothing good to wear. To fit in a place like that."
Reverend Dae-hyun chuckled. "My dear child. If that's the problem, give me a few minutes . . ."
Reverend Dae-hyun disappears from the living room into his study, leaving a confused Min-hee wondering what her old man was up to.
A few minutes later, her father emerged holding rolls of bills, which he shoved into her hand. "You told me about the new boutique that opened at Jungbu market behind Han-bin the shoe maker. I think it's time to get yourself a one or two."
"Papa," Min-hee gaped at the bills in her hand, thunderstruck. " There's thirty thousand won here or more. I can't take all of this."
"You can, my daughter," he said firmly. "I am very much aware of how little you are paid for all the hours you put in at that school." He patted her hand sympathetically and continued, " You are worth more and I have this urge that you'll soon be needing a new dress for a special occasion."
Min-hee smiled at her father and rushed to grab the car keys from the key holder. Well, a special occasion would be an engagement party she convinced herself. Something worth dressing for.
As she put the key into ignition and started her father's old car, the engine coughed to life.
Min-hee steadied her hand on the steering wheel and stared into space. " Tonight will be endured and then forgotten . . ."