After the scene back at the parking lot, I told Jennie to head back to their apartment since someone might see us again. She didn't complain since she knows the risk. I told her to just spend the rest of the day with Ella since it is her birthday. I head back to my own apartment and walk straight to the couch to sit down. I pulled out my phone and texted Mingyu just to check things out. Instead of replying back to me, I saw Mingyu's name pop up as he calls me instead.
"Hey " he said when I picked up the call
"What's up? How's everything?"
"Everything's just fine, don't worry about it. I don't want to assume anything but you never texted me about work at this time and it is very random. You want to talk?" He said and I don't know why but it kinda made me breathe out heavily. It's like I'm holding my breath since we're in the parking lot. "We have our last shoot tomorrow. I actually have papers here that you need to sign and I'm planning to just give it to you tomorrow, but I guess this is the right time and can also be an excuse to go there so you can talk to someone huh?"
"Aren't I butchering your plans today?" I said making him chuckle on the other line
"You know.. surprisingly I'm in my car right now and I was about to go get some food but you know what, my boss haven't bought me a meal yet so I'm actually wondering if you still want me to be your employee" I chuckle at that and stand up from the couch to go walk towards the kitchen
"You're not even my employee, you're everyone's boss too." I said since he's basically my assistant photographer
"But you're still my boss, no?"
"Alright I'll buy you a meal. What do you want?" I ask while looking at the papers that was left by deliveries from before
"I kinda don't want anything fancy or formal cause I don't want Ms. Kim to stare at me with so much furiousness like before" I laugh at the image that flashes in my mind when Jennie saw Mingyu in front of my doorstep back then "there's a korean restaurant down town.. do you like soju or makkggeoli? Oh wait I don't think Ms Kim will also appreciate a meal with alcohol involved" he said making me shake my head
"Make up your mind Mingyu" I said walking out of the kitchen
"The safest will probably be coffee like usual. Let's go get some coffee and pastries " he said. After that call I agreed to meet up with him at the café a couple of blocks away. It's not too far so I decided to just walk. Good thing it isn't raining nor is it too cold.
For around 10 minutes, I arrived the place and Mingyu is already sitting at the corner of the café. He's looking down at his phone so he didn't know that I was approaching the table already.
"I'm sorry, we're closing in a couple of minutes" I said lowering my voice
"Oh sorry about that-" he stand up and look towards me which makes him stop and glare at me. I laugh at his face and wave my hand to let him sit back down. "Now I'm thinking if you need someone to talk to or you need someone to tease" he said making me laugh even more. A lady approached our table to get our order. We shortly gave her our order to go back to our conversation.
"Did you tell Ms. Kim that you will be here?" He ask
"I don't think it is a good idea to text her right now, especially when her husband is home too" I said
"Is that something you want to talk about?" He ask putting his phone away so we can have the talk
"I mean.. we're dealing with him already. I'm planning to go to Amsterdam as soon as possible. I'm on a search to find his ex-girlfriend to get a statement to be a concrete evidence for Jennie's case" he nod his head as he look out at the huge glass window beside us
"And there's still something that is bothering you?" He asks
"I don't know... I literally came here not expecting any of this. Jennie having a husband and also Jennie getting assaulted by her husband. It wasn't really a part of the plan as you could say. It's like traveling in a place you've been before but you're still getting lost. But most of all, the waiting process of finding your way back is extra hard."
"You're getting tired?" He asks, I shake my head slowly
"We all get tired but it doesn't mean we're stopping. For me, the process of finding my way back is full of anxiety. At this point, if people find out they will look at Jennie like she's the bad person here. She's cheating whether we want to label it like that or not. This is an affair whether we like it or not."
"It's more of dehumanizing rather than you getting tired of it huh?" he said making me look up at him as I nod my head
"It's not like I wouldn't do it for her over and over again... It's just that, we hide so much. People see us as an antagonist in this so called love story. I need to hide so we don't get caught. I need to hide so I can still get the happiness that I get when I'm with her. It just feels like we're trapped in a cage where once the blinds are off, everyone will just look at us and judge us from what they're seeing. It's not like they know the full story"
"It's ironic how you are the one she truly love but you're the one who needs to hide" he turn to look at me with sympathy in his eyes. We stayed in silence for a couple of minutes. The lady dropped off our food and we still stayed there with silence surrounding us while we take a sip of our own drink every now and then.
"What's your plan now?"
"I don't have an idea"
"Once you go to Amsterdam if it will make you feel better I will look after them while you're away" that will help but not enough to actually assure me that they will be fine
"Actually.. hold on let me call someone" I said and grab my phone from my pocket. I didn't bother getting off of the table since Mingyu can hear the conversation anyway.
I scroll through my contacts and found the name I was looking for. I don't know what time it is there but I called anyway.
"Hello?" I heard the old man's voice from the other line
"Director how are you doing?" I ask my grandfather. He's the one who owns the hospital Jennie and I used to work at in Korea.
"Dealing with old people's back pain. Are you doing younger people stuff there in LA?" I chuckle at what he said
"I'm dealing with adult difficult stuff and I want to call you for some help to release some of the baggage that I'm carrying"
"You need a therapist? We have one at the hospital" he said making me shake my head even though he can't really see me
"Do you have connections here in LA?" I asks
"Well that's new.." he said pausing for a bit "I never really heard favors from you.. you always see me as your former boss. So I'll look at it this way for your comfort.. I will pull some strings for my former doctor" we never really had the close relationship but he was nice to me
"I'm going to Amsterdam in a couple of days to search for something. I wanted to ensure someone's safety while I'm away... It's just difficult right now"
"Is the one you're trying to protect is a doctor? Was she the doctor you used to date here?"
"You're keeping up with the gossips of the hospital, I see" I said playfully making him chuckle lightly "she's your favorite doctor anyway.. I guess you can do this for her too" Jennie was one of his best doctor while we're working there
"Doctor Kim? She is indeed my favorite Doctor. Well I would love to have her back if you're planning to take her back here."
"I won't promise you anything but I'll surely tell her about that. My favor is about her husband.. I don't know if you're aware"
"I just heard about it last month. I heard they're in need of a good doctor in Tennessee for a week. Maybe I can suggest Doctor Song for the position. If I pull the strings then he won't have an option but to move out to Tennessee for a week.. is that enough time for you?" I breathe out heavily as it makes me smile
"It will be more than enough"
"Also.. since he's moving out to Tennessee for a week. I can pull a couple more strings and ask Doctor Kim to be transfered in a hospital in Amsterdam for a couple of days too"
"You'll do that?" I ask as if he won't
"Maybe.."
"I mean you don't have to... I know it'll be too much for you" I said as I heard him sigh on the other line
"Kid are you underestimating your grandfather's power?" I roll my eyes at how boastful he is... In a good way at least
"I'll make sure to pay you back in any way"
"You literally worked under my hospital for years just to pay your father's debt.. I'm not planning on keeping you in this hospital again without getting any payment. A couple of years is enough. I want you to call me whenever you need a grandfather who can do favors for you."