Story of a Big Player from Gangnam

Gun-Ho was reading an economic newspaper in his office when he received a call from Jae-Sik Moon.

“What’s up?”

“I have something I want to talk to you about.”

“Why are you calling? You could just come to my office to see me.”

“I didn’t want others to see me—a security guard—to enter the president’s office. That could look inappropriate to other workers. So, I decided to give you a call instead.”

“You don’t have to worry about that kind of thing. So, what’s up?”

“The high school alumni directory book is almost completed. I’ve already done proofreading and editing. The design for the cover is finished as well. It’s ready to be printed out.”

“Okay, that’s good.”

“I want to show it before I print it out.”

“Haha. I don’t have to see it. Just have a printing service company print it out. I am busy with my own work.”

“I received the fund for the alumni directory book, which you sent to me. I will give you a report on the expenses’ details later. I also received the amount of 30 million won that you sent me for me to pay off my debt. I did pay off all of my debt with that money.”

“That’s good.”

“I will set aside 500,000 won from my monthly salary and send it to your bank account that you gave me the other, every month.”

“Sounds good.”

“I am no longer a person with a bad credit score. I can freely get a service from a bank, and I don’t have to worry about my salary being seized anymore.”

“That’s good, but will you be okay with your current salary? You won’t have much left once you send me 500,000 won from your monthly salary.”

“I am planning to look for an editing work that I can do during the day. Oh, maybe I shouldn’t say that to my current employer. You might not like the idea that I have another work that I have to commit to.”

“Haha. I don’t mind at all as long as that doesn’t affect your work with the company.”

“Thank you. As to the alumni directory book, I will send one to you as soon as the printing work is completed.”

“Sounds good.”

Gun-Ho was thinking of Jae-Sik; the security guard position that he was currently working in didn’t seem to fit his talent or interest.

“He can do better than a security guard work, but he is not an employee type either.”

Gun-Ho couldn’t yet figure out the perfect work position for Jae-Sik that could fully utilize and develop his natural talent.

Gun-Ho flew to Japan to pay for the remaining condo price for Mori Aikko’s condo. He didn’t visit Amiel’s office in Nihonbashi this time. Once he fully paid off the condo price, the real estate sales agent handed the condo’s key to Gun-Ho. Gun-Ho then gave the key and the condo registration document to Mama-san Segawa Joonkko.

“Mori Aikko is coming back in town the day after tomorrow; she is still in a province for her dance performance. Since this is a newly constructed condo, we don’t have to do the wall; I guess I will buy some basic household stuff for her.”

“I can pay for furniture.”

Mama-san laughed.

“We can’t ask the sponsor to pay for furniture. You purchased this expensive condo for her after all. Mori Aikko saved up some money by working at the bar; she can get the furniture on her own. She will be able to buy a refrigerator, a washer, and other things with her money that she saved up so far.”

Gun-Ho stayed two more nights at New Otani Hotel and went to Chiba Prefecture to see the auto parts exhibition held in Makuhari Messe—a convention center outside of Tokyo. It took him two full days to see them all thoroughly. On the second day in the convention center, when he was collecting some useful pamphlets, he received a text message in English.

“This is Mori Aikko. I just returned to Tokyo. Please come to the condo in Daikanyama, Shibuya at 6 pm today.”

Gun-Ho arrived at the condo that he purchased for Mori Aikko. He was carrying a fruit basket. The condo had a keyless entry-lock system and Gun-Ho knew the access code, but he rang the doorbell, instead of entering the condo on his own.

Mori Aikko ran to the door and opened it. She was wearing a pink apron. Gun-Ho could smell the food; it seemed that Mori Aikko was in the middle of cooking for him.

“Oppa*!”

Gun-Ho was wondering where she learned the Korean word, “Oppa.” Mori Aikko jumped into Gun-Ho holding his neck and kissed his cheek several times.

“Haha. Let me take off my tie first before us doing this.”

Gun-Ho put the fruit basket down on the floor and hugged Mori Aikko.

Gun-Ho then looked around.

Mama-san Segawa Joonkko seemed to have an excellent taste. The furniture in the condo looked sophisticated and very well placed in an organized way even though they were not expensive. The sofa, the dining table, the bed, and other furniture, they all looked cozy. There was a huge picture hanging on the wall in the living room; it was Mori Aikko wearing a Kimono, and she was smiling broadly in the picture.

“That’s the poster from the Gion Matsuri in Kyoto!”

Gun-Ho was enjoying looking at Mori Aikko on the poster when Mori Aikko called for him.

“Yushoku no junbi ga dekimashita (dinner is ready).”

“I think she is saying the dinner is ready. Nice. Idesu (good).”

Gun-Ho went to the dining table while smiling.

On the table, there was warm cooked rice, a piece of fish, Kimchi, dried seaweed, Miso soup, etc. It seemed that Mori Aikko cooked them all by herself. She also didn’t forget to prepare sake.

“O meshiagari Kudasai (Please eat.)”

Gun-Ho felt happy. Mori Aikko seemed to feel the same way; she often looked at Gun-Ho and smiled.

After dinner, Gun-Ho and Mori Aikko watched TV in the living room while having some fruit. They talked a lot using the mixed languages of English, Japanese and Korean for a while before they both fell asleep on the sofa. Gun-Ho woke up a moment later and looked at Mori Aikko who was sleeping next to him; she looked happy. When Gun-Ho kissed her cheek, Mori Aikko opened her eyes.

“Come here.”

Gun-Ho pulled her close to him and Mori Aikko completely came into Gun-Ho’s arms. Gun-Ho could feel her warm body temperature.

“I don’t want to go back to Korea. I want to stay here with her forever.”

Gun-Ho turned off the light and hugged her tight.

When Gun-Ho returned to Korea, Mr. Sakata Ikuzo who used to be the best engineer in Dyeon already entered the second phase of the product development. He was kneeling in front of the extruding machine; he already took a bath and shaved neatly, and he pulled his hair back in a ponytail. He surely looked resolute and determined.

“What the he*l is he doing?”

Mr. Sakata Ikuzo looked certainly strange to Jong-Suk.

“What the fu*k is he doing while kneeling in front of a machine? I just don’t understand many Japanese people who act really strange.”

However, Jong-Suk didn’t laugh at Mr. Sakata Ikuzo’s behavior. His eyes looked so serious and determined.

Note*

Oppa – the word is used by a female to a male who is older than her. It is often used between people in a romantic relationship as well.