Chapter 7: For A Moment

10 minutes later, I walked into Lee sonbae’s office with my files and laptop.

“Sierra,” he smiled. “Pull up a chair.”

I nodded and did as I was told.

“Lynn, can you please bring in lunch,” he said to his secretary as he held down the intercom button.

“I really don’t want to take up your time, sonbae,” I said apologetically.

“You won’t. The main reason I wanted to help you was because I wanted to know more about the project myself.”

“In that case, let’s get to work,” I smiled.

Lunch consisted of sandwiches and coffee, and after that, we buried ourselves in the project. Working with Lee sonbae turned out to be a really enjoyable experience. He wasn’t stuffy and narrow-minded like some of the other editors, who always wanted things their way. He was open to my ideas and he gave me lots of constructive criticism. I also realized that his communication skills were excellent. I have yet to receive a critique from him that I did not agree with.

We were so absorbed in our work that we’d lost track of time. It wasn’t until Lynn came to inform Lee sonbae that she was going home that we realized the time.

“Are we done?” he asked me.

“Not quite,” I replied as I continued typing.

“Then I’ll stay until we finish,” he said.

“You don’t have to, sonbae. You should go home.”

“I’ll stay,” he said firmly, and I decided not to argue.

We continued to work and out of the blue, he called my name.

“Yes,” I said, as I looked up.

“Why do you keep calling me sonbae?” he asked.

“Isn’t that what I’m supposed to call you?” I asked him.

“You know what? From now on, call me Min Woo,” he said.

“Why?”

“I think we’ve worked closely enough to be on a first name basis.”

“The other seniors will frown upon it.”

“This is an order from me,” he said in mock seriousness. “You will call me Min Woo, or you will cease to be an employee with this magazine.”

“In that case,” I said. “Min Woo it is.”

“Good… now get back to work,” he smiled.

“Yes, Min Woo,” I laughed.

My phone rang at about 8pm. It was Jeong Hoon.

“Where are you?” he asked me as soon as I picked up.

“At work,” I replied.

“Didn’t you get my message?” he asked me. I moved the phone away from my ear to look at the screen. Sure enough, there was the indicator that I had a new message.

“Sorry,” I said. “I was so busy, I didn’t hear my phone.”

“We’ve been waiting for you for the past hour. Are you coming?” he said impatiently.

“I’m still working. I’ll meet up with you guys for drinks later?”

“Whatever,” he said, and he hung up.

“Boyfriend?” Min Woo asked as I flipped my phone shut.

“Yep… and he ain’t happy,” I drawled.

“If you need to leave, just go. I’ll finish up here,” he said.

“Twaeso…” I smiled. “Is that how you say it?”

“Yep,” he laughed.

“Yea… whatever. I’m meeting him later. So let’s just try to get this finished. I don’t want to face Karyn tomorrow, unprepared.”

It was 10pm when we finally shut down our laptops and packed up.

“You need a ride?” he asked me.

“I’m fine. I’ll take a taxi home.”

“You haven’t had dinner,” he reminded me.

“Oh, right! I’m supposed to meet my annoyed boyfriend,” I giggled.

“I’ll take you to him. I insist,” he said.

“Alright. Can I just zip to the loo for a moment?” I asked.

“Go ahead. I’ll wait at the reception area for you.”

After freshening up and reapplying my lipstick, I picked up my stuff from my desk and met up with Min Woo. We walked down to the car park and stopped in front of a black BMW M6 convertible. Min Woo unlocked the doors with his remote control, and opened the passenger door for me.

“Ma’am,” he bowed a litte, and I laughed at his exaggerated act of chivalry.

He got in on the other side and started the car. As he did, the top of the convertible opened up.

“Nice car,” I said.

“This old thing?” he laughed as we pulled out of the parking lot.

As we stopped at the first traffic light, I turned toward him to ask him a question.

“Min Woo… there’s something I’ve always wanted to ask a convertible car owner,” I said.

“What is it?”

“Have you ever been pooped on by birds flying past?” I said with a dead serious look.

He burst into laughter as I tried to control mine. In the end I gave in and laughed with him.

“That’s the first time I’ve had that question. All the girls who ride in my car would usually ask questions about my paycheck, the size of my apartment, stuff like that.”

“That’s so sad,” I smiled. “They’ll probably go through life with all such little niggling trivia unanswered.”

“Yes,” he agreed.

“So… have you ever been pooped on?” I asked.

“Well… it happened once, but I wasn’t in the car. And when I’m driving, the probability of this happening would be less, since I drive real fast.”

“How fast can this thing go?” I asked him.

“You want me to show you?”

“Sure,” I said.

“Ok, hang on. I’m just gonna put the top up. Or our faces might get rearranged by the force of the wind,” he laughed.

He turned out of the main street, onto the highway, and as soon as the top was up, he started accelerating the speed of the car. The scenery by the road started to speed by, faster and faster.

“Is this fast enough?” he asked me.

“Erm… I guess…” I said. I was a little nervous now. The speed was starting to get a little too scary for me.

“I think that’s enough,” he said. “I can see you’re a little freaked out.”

“I am…” I laughed nervously.

“Alright,” he said and he slowed the car down to a cruise. He brought the top back down, then he turned on the radio. Fly to the Sky’s Namjadapgeh was playing, and he sang along.

“I like this song,” I said.

“You do?”

“I have the album at home.”

“Mine’s playing right now,” he smiled. “We have the same tastes in music.”

“What a coincidence,” I replied.

“Actually, I guess not. FTTS are pretty popular. Many people listen to them.”

“In Korea, you mean. Not in Singapore.”

“Right…”

We finally arrived at the cafe where Jeong Hoon and his cousin were waiting for me. I actually felt a little dizzy as I stepped out of the car. Too much wind in my head I suppose.

“Thanks, Min Woo,” I said.

“No problem. You’re becoming a natural at saying my name.”

“I have an innate ability with languages. So names are a piece of cake,” I said.

“Right,” he smiled. “See you tomorrow,” he said and he drove off.

As I turned around, I saw Jeong Hoon standing on the sidewalk, glaring at me. He did not look ecstatic to see me.