[Twenty years later]
Inside a spacious, decorated nicely with pieces of lavish furniture, someone lay asleep, completely cocooned under a white blanket. Only a few strands of hair peeked out. The figure was sleeping soundly. He put his head out of the blanket as the tranquillity interrupted by someone's foot step. Within a minute, the footsteps became faster and louder. The person groaned, retreating further under the blanket, already suspecting who was coming and what was the reason.
Moments later, his mother burst into the room. She was surprised to find her son still in bed as she thought her son would be dressed by now. Her temper flared up and she stormed over, yelling his name.
"HEY! AHN JIMAN! WHY'RE YOU STILL SLEEPING? GET YOUR ASS UP RIGHT THIS INSTANT!" She yanked the blanket with all her might.
"Ugh!" he groaned just like a puppy, blinking against the light. Although he was over thirty, anyone would think he just got rid of his teenage line. He saw his mother standing there, elegantly dressed, her hair perfectly styled with flawless makeup.
"Get up! Get up! Go and wash up! The guests are already here!" she demanded, clutching the blanket in her arms as if she feared he might dive back under. When she was satisfied that she had woken him up, she moved away.
Jiang sat up, his hair was a mess, face was puffed as he pouted, eyes were still half closed. He raised his hand up and stretched, yawning.
"I expect you downstairs in five minutes, GET IT?" Mrs. Ahn went towards him, folding the blanket neatly.
"Mmmmm," Jiang mumbled, still stretching.
"Good!" She left quickly, preoccupied with the guests and didn't have any time to waste.
Jiang, now fully awake, was about to leave his bed. But suddenly he remembered about the papers he needed to check. He remembered falling asleep while working the previous night. He gasped, grabbing his laptop. Leaning back against the pillows, he opened it and started looking through the files.
"Hm... definitely needs some changes," he muttered, editing the files with the speed of a seasoned professional. Time slipped away unnoticed as he worked, the rhythmic tapping of keys the only sound in the peaceful room.
But the quiet was soon shattered by heavy footsteps though he was so focused on his laptop that he didn't notice it. His mother came back, her furious voice followed.
Ahn. Jiang. Seok! Do. You. Perhaps. Have. A. Death. Wish?" she hissed, glaring daggers at him.
Startled, Jiang gulped, snapping his laptop shut and dashed into the bathroom before his mother's temper could explode any further.
When he returned, freshly washed, he saw his mother still standing in his room, crossing her arms, watching him coldly.
"Uh! Hahaha! Why're you still here, mom? You can go! I'll be down in a minute!" Jiang flashed his signature grin.
He has a very unique and sweet look when he smiles and nobody can be mad at him anymore after he throws the smile at someone, though he rarely does that.
Mrs. Ahn wasn't immune, though she tried to hide it. "Hurry up! Put that suit on! I'm not going alone. Do you know how many important guests there are?" She replied with a poker face although she tried her best not to smile.
"Fine, fine!" Jiang replied, grabbing his light gray suit and heading back into the bathroom to change.
When he returned, Mrs. Ahn took a look as she wanted to check if everything was fine. She fixed the handkerchief and brushed it as it seemed a little wrinkled to her.
"How much longer do I have to do this?" she sighed, fixing his tie. "If you have someone in mind, just tell me! I'd even beg Tylr Sw*ft to marry you if that's what it takes." She solicited.
"Mom, for the last time—I don't have anyone! And I definitely don't want to meet those girls from the pictures you keep showing me! Can we drop this for now?" Jiang pleaded, clearly exasperated by the recurring conversation. Since he returned to the country about a couple of months ago, he kept arguing with his mother as she kept showing different girls' pictures and even tried to set blind dates with them.
"What's wrong with you? Are you impotent or something? Why won't you like anyone?" Mrs. Ahn raised her voice, visibly frustrated.
"F*CK! That's not it!" Jiang blurted, flustered. "Besides, I... aren't we running late?" He averted her gaze, knowing might have found someone new and was trying to force him to go on another blind date.
"Fine! Let's go," Mrs. Ahn huffed, dragging him downstairs. "There are plenty of girls and they're full of charms. I hope you'll like someone this time. Unless you want to become a wizard so much!"
Downstairs, the party was in full swing. High society guests mingled, sipping champagne. As soon as Jiang and his mother appeared, all eyes turned to them. After all, he was the guest of honor.
Jiang bowed politely as they made their way through the crowd. His mother quickly spotted an old friend and hurried off.
"Hola!" A young man, taller than Jiang, sauntered over with a champagne glass in hand. He threw an arm around Jiang's shoulder.
"What are you doing here, Mr. Nam?" Jiang asked with a cold tone.
"Wow, is this how you treat your guests? Of course I need to come! It's your welcome party AFTER ALL!" the guy replied, leaning in to whisper the last part teasingly.
Jiang moved his face and pushed him, shrugged him off annoyingly. Just then, a young woman approached.
"Excuse me! May I have the honor of being your partner? Dance partner I mean." She asked the man's arm coyly, and when they looked at her, she bowed to them. Looking at Jiang's friend, she smiled sweetly and extended her hand towards him.
The man instantly brightened. "Hahaha! Of course! Of course! How could I refuse a lady as lovely as you?" He fixed his hair and straightened his blue colored suit before taking her hand. But before leaving, he looked back at Jiang, smirked and winked at him as if he won the lottery even if Jiang had a chance.
"Tsk, how annoying," Jiang muttered, brushing off his suit where the man had touched him. He grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and scanned the room, observing the guests.
"Jiman! Come here for a moment!" His mother's sudden call startled him.
"Huh?" Before he could respond, she grabbed his arm and led him over to a woman. She looked familiar to him though he couldn't recognize her fully. He tried to remember her face; who she was, where he saw her. But he failed and threw his business smile on her.
"Hello!" He bowed gently.
"Hello! How're you? Look how much you've grown up! I remember when I used to look down at you, and now I have to look up!" she chuckled.
Jiang nodded politely, but he had no memory of her.
"This is Mrs. Han," Mrs. Ahn prompted. "Her daughter was with you that night you were kidnapped. Do you remember now?" As a mother, Mrs. Ahn realized her son couldn't recognize her, so she reminded him in the best way.
Jiang's eyes widened in recognition. She looked totally different from the other day he met her although it's been twenty years.
"Ah, I'm sorry I didn't recognize you sooner! How are you, ma'am?"
The woman smiled. "Oh, I'm well, thank you."
"By the way, where is Ma Ri? Why didn't she attend?" Mrs. Ahn asked her politely.
"Ah! I told her to come with me, but she said she couldn't make it. She just got a new job so she's been really busy these days. This is why she's the main reason for my tension nowadays." She sighed while looking downward.
"Why? Your daughter is so sweet and hardworking! Why are you worried?" Mrs. Ahn looked concerned.
Mrs. Han sighed. "What should I say…she's been working tirelessly to support her father's company. All she's earning by working so hard, she gives everything to his dad. At this rate, I fear she'll die before us." Her face became gloomy while talking about her daughter.
"Ah! What a pity! I wish I could help you guys! I'll talk about it to his dad." She assured Mrs. Han that she'd help them.
"I'll be grateful to you forever." She bowed to her, making Mrs. Ahn uncomfortable as she was older than her.
"Ah! Don't! Please! You should've come to us sooner! We'll help however we can." Mrs. Ahn patted her hand gently.
As Jiang listened to the conversation, memories of Ma Ri flashed in his mind. He vividly recalled the little girl in a short dress from twenty years ago. She was really cute. How ugly she looked when she cried! He smirked to himself. She must've grown up by now, right? Of course! She's now at least twenty eight years old so why wouldn't she? Does she look pretty? Or she's still that ugly girl he remembered? Jiang wondered.