Chapter 71 - Airport

After check-in, Jun Hyeon had some free time before boarding, so he wandered around the airport shops without haste or purpose. As he passed the newsstand, he saw the cover of the latest issue of Vogue magazine… And that immediately brought to mind a certain copper-haired singer who had a lot of fans.

'Ok, this is not a problem. She have fans. Who give her away. What's the matter anyway? She is an artist,' he tried to repeat mentally, but it bothered him. She looked so happy to be gifted with that expensive coat... It was clear that a snap of her fingers would be enough for that foolish ajuhssi to kneel and even bark, if she asked to.

But was that really a problem? That she liked expensive things? Or had he been more annoyed that she accepted the flattery of this ajuhssi who was old enough to be her father, just because... a furred coat? Besides, what bothered Jun Hyeon the most was how strange everything had been that day: first Ye Rim had come to his office to return his shirt; and he'd booked the night for a second date with her. But then she cunningly dragged him to an audition, orchestrated by her friend Dae Won… Why? And then she took him to that horrible place where she sings… for what?

Was it just a cheap strategy to pretend to be proud, when in fact there was none of it?

Jun Hyeon was divided and certainly had doubts about who Ye Rim really was.

The fact that his hyung Dae Won seemed so keen to get her career back also made him worried. She seemed to be some kind of mischievous mermaid capable of getting everything from a man_ even that he went out of his way for her.

When she texted him a favor, it only reinforced that Miss Nam thought of all the men around her as sources of assorted benefits. Jun Hyeon could even have the strange fantasy of her being a siren in her rock, while CEO Baek and his Grandfather would bring her presents; and him and Dae Won at her tail_ just adoring her while she laughed at them all… 'Oh shit!' That was an odd fantasy and he dismissed it with a frowning.

Surely Dr. Kim had been very surprised to receive Dae Won's visit at the Ji Hyeon Foundation days ago. And much more surprised that the subject was Ye Rim.

Her first thought when Dae Won broached the subject was 'He's still trying to know if he's interrupting anything between me and Nam Ye Rim. What would be more typical of hyung than not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings?'

And Jun Hyeon had said for the third time that there was nothing going on between them.

So Dae Won had started talking about the contacts he had made in the entertainment industry, and how the people who worked or met Ye Rim showed sympathy for her bad luck. Yes, they said, she was one of the most talented and charismatic promises they had ever met. But she had a difficult temper and had even caused a minor scandal shortly after the debut of a girl group…

Jun Hyeon, knowing Ye Rim, could say that it suited her very much.

"Jun Hyeon, the people I spoke to… No one wants to risk giving her a chance. They are not interested, "the hyung had said, his tone downcast.

"Well, that's it, hyung. You did what you could," he had said in turn. In a way, with secret selfish satisfaction.

"You could call her to sing at the annual Ji Hyeon Foundation's event," Dae Won suggested, and Kim Jun Hyeon knew that the event_ where hundreds of important people from across the country would be at_ could be a good opportunity for the singer to make her phoenix trick.

"I don't know. Maybe she won't accept it. She may think it's one of those charities she repeatedly says she doesn't accept. '

His old school friend got frustrated as Jun Hyeon somehow savored having the power to alter Miss Nam's fate with a simple invitation.

But he would not.

He would no longer be one of the men in Nam Ye Rim's network of drooling admirers, rushing to her aid as she ruined everything with her bad temper and 'misunderstood diva' complex.

"FLIGHT 2035: FROM SEOUL TO FRANKFURT - LAST CALL"

The monotonous voice warned on the speakers. His trip to this Medical Congress was an important event, as he would lecture on his method for healing scar tissue, his specialty in the field of cosmetic surgery. Normally he would be happy with this trip, but last week he found himself uncomfortable and unwilling to leave town. He had a strange feeling in his chest that he couldn't identify.

Glancing at the airport clock, and checking with his own, Jun Hyeon ran a hand through his hair in disgust. Time had flown and the main subject of his mind was that annoying siren with golden scaled tail.

The surgeon jerked his wallet out and searched for the golden sequin he'd stored there. He looked at the cheap piece of plastic with disdain, and went to a trash bin.

Okay, it was symbolic, but he wanted to end it. He made to throw the spangle away. The small shiny object clung to the point of his index finger, to his surprise. "Aish, how annoying! Just like your owner!" he shook his hand harder, irritated. The object finally came loose and fell into the trash bin papers.

Jun Hyeon gave a relieved sigh. It was over. No more Nam Ye Rim.

"Wow!" he exclaimed aloud, catching the attention of the passing people. 'What a relief! I could even dance right here. Was it some kind of spell or what?!' He found himself thinking.

Now, heading toward the gate, he felt light and serene.

For a very brief moment.

Somehow, it seemed, he had actually thrown that woman to a place she definitely didn't deserve to be.

Delivering his ticket and ID to conference, Jun Hyeon turned his gaze back to the trash bin.

"Oh damn…" apologizing to the agent, he rushed back to the trash bin, and reached for the small object,

'I can't believe I'm doing this…'

He realized that his eccentric act was getting people's attention. With his free hand he reached for the phone in his pocket and dialed Ye Rim's number.

The gatekeeper signaled the strange passenger, his papers in hand, asking if he would board:

"I'll be right out!" He shouted back until he felt his finger had found the spangle between the papers.

He could hear the ringing call on the phone as he fished the small object with his fingers as tweezers.

Looking at the golden glow between his fingers again, he felt definitely pathetic, but strangely proud of himself. He didn't really need to get her out of his life, did he?

"Hello?"

"Ye Rim ah?"

"Dr. Kim? "

He straightened and headed back to the boarding gate, bowing in thanks and apologizing to the airline staff as he spoke to her.

…

Ye Rim was preparing Sunday dinner when the cell phone rang. Eun Ha, who usually cooked for them, had a migraine and was locked in her room.

By the morning Ye Rim had received the strange call from Kim Jun Hyeon oppa_ and all day the memory of the conversation had disturbed her mind.

'What the hell is going on with Dr. Kim?' she wondered every fifteen minutes.

First, he called to say he would be out of town for 10 days in Europe.

Then, he asked if she wanted anything from Europe…

'What the hell?!'

His tone was absolutely gallant and gentle — but not the same gentle tone as when they were on that fateful Friday meeting. In fact, she knew that tone very well. It was the tone of a man trying to call the seductive Christian Grey card.

She snorted in indignation. 'Like the old saying, a wolf dies on its skin!'

As if summoned by her thoughts, her phone rang again, and Ye Rim's intuition told her it was him. Dr. Kim had reported almost in detail his itinerary. At this point, if she remembered well, he had already arrived at Frankfurt, where he would spend the night at; then continue his trip to Zurich by the next morning.

She wiped her hand on her apron before picking up her phone.

"Hello?"

"Ye Rim? Check the messages," he hung up.

"Uh?"

There was more than one message from Dr. Kim in the chat app. All images. Ye Rim zapped them all with incredulity,

"What the hell is this man doing ?! What is he thinking?!"