I Always Come Back for You

Chapter 9.Meeting the Devil: Object of My Desire

Today was the first day of fieldwork. I met the new translator and mediator Son Hwa. She is nice and chatty and I like that about her. We took the train to the town nearby and she managed the meeting well. It all went smooth and the tiredness from yesterday gradually vanished. My boss didn't pressure me much about the police ordeal and I feel grateful for that. When I arrive at home I check my messages to see Hyung's text asking me to call him ASAP. I call him back 

"Dara! Good thing you called. I was about to drop by. Listen! Mr. Lee, that asshole's lawyer called and asked for a settlement. We are gonna meet him tomorrow after your work is done." 

Hyung never asked me about those notes again or why I was at the company. 

"That means we have to pay? Well. That's fine. I have some savings. I can afford that much. Is that ok?" 

He scoffs "It will be ok. Just show up and we can solve this." 

"Where are we meeting?" 

"Since he insists on confidentiality of the matter, he wants things to be discrete. There is this personal gallery of a friend I know from college. I'll text you the exact time and address." 

I'm familiar with the secrecy and paranoia in the entrainment world but I believe Dae Sung's precautions are exaggerated since Mr. Lee is just a mere lawyer and his presence in a place shouldn't raise suspicion since he is not known. Whatever is fine as long as I can skip prison and court. 

"Ok. Thanks."

*

The little art gallery is truly a diamond in the rough. It's this little piece of heaven in downtown hidden behind all the bustling city noises in a forgotten alley. It would be a perfect hiding spot since it's far from the intruding eyes of bystanders, nestled in the shadow of a tall building with a small rusty door leading to a wooden staircase. I climb up the stairs to a space that could hardly be called a lobby with nothing close to a piece of furniture, just a hollow frame is hung on one of the walls capturing the yellow brick of the wall. On the far end, there is a door and no sign of Hyung. I knock on the door unsure and my stomach twists uncomfortably. Then the door opens and Hyung takes me in 

"Dara. You are on time. Come we were having a tea with Mr. Lee." 

Beside three armchairs and an old coffee table, the room is filled with paintings, pallets, a small stool, and discarded frames in the corner. I greet Mr. Lee respectfully and sit. They continue the conversation they had as I listen cluelessly 

"You were supposed to catch the culprit! How lazy of you" 

Hyung says mockingly. Mr. Lee seems offended 

"Oy! I'm a lawyer, not an officer. Besides, she was fast as an eagle. My running days are over." 

"As if you ever ran in your life" 

Hyung laughs sipping his tea. They seem on friendly terms now and dropped the honorific as they joke around like they have known each other for so long. Hyung who sees my confused expression says 

"God. I almost forgot that the boy is here. It seems the new series that Mr. Jin plays the main role in it, has gained huge success and also lots of stalkers. He was just telling me about this girl who pulled a crazy stunt and told everyone she was Mr. Jin's fiancé!" 

The word fiancé catches my heart in a spider web and brings grief to me that I didn't know existed within me; the loss and fear of losing Dae Sung to another person. 

"Are there so many stalkers?" I ask Mr. Lee involuntarily. 

He smiles sheepishly 

"Quite a lot. We can't take them all to the court since it's useless. He receives all kinds of messages. And not all of them worry about his future and wellbeing in this industry"