Landing in Your Inbox

50 - dry ice

"I'm happy you think so..."

"By the way, where are you having Christmas eve dinner? You should join us." Myeong-eun invited her with a beckoning gesture.

Seri did not know how much the woman knew about her strained family ties but the constant invitations to join their own family gatherings was a telling sign. Was Seo Dan telling her stories?

Seo Dan dropped her gaze to the wooden flooring then.

"I already have someplace to be that night, thank you for the invitation." Seri politely refused. Even if that 'someplace' was just her own dining room.

"Of course, no worries." Myeong-eun shook her head. "Thank you for the wine basket you have sent by the way."

"It's my pleasure."

"I've interrupted you at your meeting. I'll leave you to it..." The chairman nodded at the designer and architect present, "Merry Christmas, Seri!"

After returning the greeting with another bow, Seri turned away to resume her meeting.

"Seri, can we talk?"

Seri's steps stilled, Seo Dan remained where she was.

December 23, 2020 12:19 PM
Cafe Dior, KMEX Malls 

Seri watched Seo Dan across the table, the woman had on an impeccable white suit, the gold hairpin she wore reminded Seri of that one hair barrette that remained at home, handed by Kwang-beom before they received the ominous phone call about the plane emergency. If Seri would be honest, she did not know where she stood in the rage scale. Last Friday the feeling of betrayal had been so fresh and intense, enhanced with the shame of having to keep calm and composed while being crushed by her brother's boot. 

It would have been avoided if Seo Dan had only said something about her own discovery. Seri imagined she would have been more prepared to face her brother's onslaught. Instead she only had her mother's warning to go by, of all people.

"Alberto has admitted who he was two weeks ago but he asked for some time." Seo Dan began.

It was not the opening statement Seri expected. "Dani, do you know I'm being accused of fraternizing with the enemy? They actually think I'm conniving with him against my family."

"You must know I'm as upset as you about being lied to." Seo Dan pointed out, "I didn't know he planned everything."

"Then, shouldn't we have confided in each other...?" Seri asked, "Why did you wait this long?"

"It's not as though I was the only one unavailable." Seo Dan argued, "I tried to reach you that same Friday, remember? Then you were busy and out of town."

Of course Seo Dan was right, Seri was in Incheon then. But there was something in Seo Dan's defensive and even abrasive tone that Seri didn't like. "I did return the calls. Then you postponed them."

"Seri, this wasn't the only thing I had to deal with. It was a hectic week, you had no idea..." 

"So you didn't think this was that important enough to tell me?" Seri's eyes narrowed, her arms tight against her chest.

"I didn't say that, he also asked me to hold out around that time." Seo Dan reasoned, "He said he wanted to do right by you."

"You meant Alberto? Dani..." Seri fell back to her chair, wanting to laugh but too struck by disbelief, "There is no room for negotiation here. He lied to us. All his actions are questionable from there on out."

"I know that, I told him." Seo Dan insisted, "But he said he wants to help you too."

"Unbelievable." Seri said incredulously. "Are you playing spokesperson for him now?"

"I think he's telling the truth." Seo Dan maintained.

"So you're siding with him?" Seri stared in astonishment, leaning forward. "Why would you believe a con man?"

"You won't understand." Seo Dan shook her head, "It was wrong to keep you in the dark, but he's working on something."

Seri clicked her tongue, looking away like Seo Dan is a lost cause. "I have no idea what sob story he told you for you to defend him like this. I won't even begin by sympathizing even if my family are downright bastards...But that's not why we're talking here."

If there was anything in common with the women, it's that they held onto their pride and would never concede defeat. Seo Dan eyed her evenly, "If you've only known what they did to his family..."

Of course, Seri knew. She was kept blissfully unaware about the whole nasty affair owing to childhood innocence but growing up and understanding the family business, she knew the extreme lengths her father went just to pull the company to where it was. Her father would attest he played by the book, even though the ethics behind are questionable given Alberto's father was an old friend. But Seri didn't accept Seo Dan's invitation to be lectured like this. She didn't see the need of prolonging that conversation if Seo Dan was so smitten with the con man enough to apologize. Then Seri realized she was at a disadvantage too, they were in KMEX.

"Know what, this conversation is going nowhere." Seri stood up. 

Seo Dan's mouth fell open, "Where are you going?"

"I'm leaving out of the respect I have for you and Mrs. Ko." Seri said, picking up her coat. "Anyway what's done is done. Merry Christmas." She went on her way.

"Respect? Did I hear that correctly?" Seo Dan laughed and stood up, "Were you planning to tell us that you visited Jeong-hyeok in Incheon?"

Seri froze on her steps.

"You were there right?" Seo Dan crossed her arms walking towards her, "My uncle thought he saw you leaving the hospital."

Seri closed her eyes. This was quickly turning out to be a nightmare. She turned around to meet her, "Yes. I did. I heard about the accident. I didn't think I should have to tell you."

She could see the admission took Seo Dan by surprise. Her eyebrows furrowed. "Is there something going on with you and Jeong-hyeok? Are you two seeing each other?"

"The man saved my life, twice." Thrice, if counting his piano piece, but that was ambiguous, "I owe him this much."

"You didn't answer my question."

If Seri has to describe Seo Dan's face then it was probably the effect of touching dry ice, deceptive and pretty in its wispy appearance but could actually burn.

But Seri hated to dilly dally. "You know I keep turning that idea in my head," She responded, "I keep thinking how I should go about telling you if it should get to that point when I can't help myself anymore...But now, after all this mess with Alberto, I find myself asking why I've spent all that time agonizing and holding off my true feelings for him. Do I still owe you that discretion?"

Seri could almost hear the drilling being done at Seri's Choice with the way Seo Dan glowered at her. "What do you..." 

Seri started walking off again, stopping only to say, "Please leave Jeong-hyeok out of this. He has done nothing wrong. It's all one-sided."