Summer In Seoul Chapter 2 Part1

Translator: arisaaris.h.i.+ma27

TWO Part 1/2

“‘YOUR songs are good'?”

Sandy who sat cross-legged on the bed with a blanket wrapped around her body staring at Kang Young-Mi with a confused look. Her friend who had a small eyes and long straight hair returned staring at Sandy with both hands folded on her chest.

“I don't know how you can only say something like that. Why not ask for an autograph?” Young-Mi continued in an accusing tone.

Sandy groaned. “Maybe because yesterday I was upset and tired … and had a paralyzed brain.” She held her pale cheeks and shook her head. “Right, looks like my brain has really been paralyzed last night. How can I get into a car with two men I don't even know? And it was almost midnight. Gosh, what have I done? I'm not someone like that. No, no. I'm crazy. Thank G.o.d I'm still lucky. What if something happens yesterday?”

Kang Young-Mi clicked her tongue. “Hey, you're not with a stranger. You're with Jung Tae-Woo. Why don't you ask for an autograph?” She asked once again, a thick tone of regret can be heard.

“Jung Tae-Woo is a stranger to me,” Sandy said firmly. “Besides, you know that I'm not his fan, why should I ask for an autograph?”

“Even though you're not his fan, you know that your friend here is a big fan,” Young-Mi scolded as pressing her palm to her chest. “I've been waiting so patient for his appearance again for four years. At least, you can ask an autograph for me… It's not easy to meet Jung Tae-Woo directly, you know? And yesterday, with what magic, you met him, talked to him, and he even drove you with his car. “

“His friend's car,” interrupted Sandy. “His friend was also there.”

Young-Mi ignored Sandy. “You ride the car with him. Haah, if I were you, I would— “

“Hey, Kang Young-Mi!”

Young-Mi's att.i.tude softened. “I know, I know. But if next time you meet him, don't forget to ask an autograph for me.”

Sandy lay down on the bed. “If I see him again,” she murmured softly. Her gaze wandered. “If I see him again.”

Young-Mi fiddled with one end of Sandy's blanket and suddenly speak, “Oh yeah, I heard that Jung Tae-Woo is actually gay. I don't know the gossip is true or not, even though I could die because disappointment if he was really gay. Yesterday you met him in person. What do you think? What was his att.i.tude? Did he look normal? Or not? Has his appearance changed after years of disappearing? “

Sandy frowned and thought. “I don't know, I don't feel anything strange about him. And I already told you that my brain was paralyzed yesterday. I don't even remember what clothes he wore. “

Young-Mi looked at her friend with concern. “You really are useless. Only you that can have a fever in the summer like this. Does your head still hurt?"

Sandy didn't answer the question. She was thinking about something else. Then she bit her lip and asked, “Young-Mi, what do you really like about Jung Tae-Woo? Why are you so crazy about him? “

Kang Young-Mi's smile expanded. “Because he's handsome, funny, good at singing — oh, his voice is great too— and because he writes songs that are so romantic and touching. Oh yes, the new alb.u.m will be launched soon. Ah, I become impatient. “

“So?”

Young-Mi screamed suddenly, making Sandy startled.

“What? What's up?” Sandy asked as soon as she saw Young-Mi grab her bag that was lying on the floor roughly and began to look for something inside.

“I'm stupid, I'm stupid,” Young-Mi muttered repeatedly. “I should know right away as soon as you tell me.”

“What?” Sandy asked in surprise.

Young-Mi took out a tabloid and flipped through the pages. “Well, try to see this.”

Sandy saw an article t.i.tled “Midnight Meeting” that Young-Mi showed and suddenly she s.h.i.+vered. The article featured two photos of Jung Tae-Woo with a woman. The woman's face wasn't clearly visible, but Sandy could certainly recognize herself. The woman with Jung Tae-Woo in the photo was herself. G.o.d! What was this?

The first photo showed Sandy and Jung Tae-Woo coming out of his house. Sandy's head bowed when the photo taken so that her face wasn't visible. Sandy remembered that his friend was still inside the house so that the person couldn't seen in the pictures.

The second photo was taken when Jung Tae-Woo was opening the car door for her. Her figure wasn't clear because blocked by his body. Sandy felt grateful that her face wasn't visible.

“I had forgotten this tabloid when I heard you were sick,” Young-Mi explained. “I should have guessed when you told me what you experienced last night, but strangely today my brain works very slowly. The woman in the photo was you, wasn't it?”

“Oh my G.o.d,” murmured Sandy in disbelief. “Who took these photos?”

“Jung Tae-Woo is a famous celebrity,” Young-Mi said with a tone of I-know-everything-so-believe-me. “Of course, many journalists are busy looking for news about him. And this one is really great news. Here you are even written as Jung Tae-Woo's lover.”

Sandy shook her head and returned the tabloid to Young-Mi. She still s.h.i.+vered, “I wasn't alone with Jung Tae-Woo. The uncle with gla.s.ses, Jung Tae-Woo's friend, was also with us. Anyone who took this photo should know about it, but why is it like this?”

Kang Young-Mi took a deep breath. “I already told you, Jung Tae-Woo is a famous celebrity. Tabloids must look for news that can attract people's attention. If all three of you are in the photo, there will be no news. “

Sandy felt her body s.h.i.+ver. “Fortunately my face wasn't visible. Young-Mi, I hope you won't tell anyone about my meeting with Jung Tae-Woo. “

Young-Mi's eyebrows rose. “Why?”

Sandy frowned and scratched her head. “How can they make a gossip carelessly. His lover? Me? I don't want to get involved with matters like celebrities gossip…”

“Your head still hurts?” Asked Young-Mi when she saw Sandy was silent as holding her forehead.

Sandy shook her head and smiled. “No, I'm already fine. It seems that because of exhaustion plus stress, finally a fever. But now I'm fine Young-Mi, just go home and help your mother. Now it's lunch time. Your mom's restaurant must be busy.”

“My mom also worried about you, so I was allowed to stay longer. Oh yes, my mother has cooked porridge for you. I put it in the kitchen earlier. You have to eat, understand?” Young-Mi said, taking the bag on the floor. She put her hand on Sandy's forehead and murmured, “It's already not hot, but you still have to take medicine. This afternoon I will see you again. If there's anything, call me.”

“You're very kind, Young-Mi,” Sandy said with a smile. “Say thank you to your mom for porridge. Ah, no need. I'd better call her by myself to say thank you. Oh yeah, you have to remember, about my meeting with Jung Tae-Woo last night, don't tell anyone. “

“Yes, yes, I know. Rest a.s.sured and get plenty of rest. See you later,” Young-Mi said before coming out of Sandy's room.

Jung Tae-Woo stood near the large window of his manager's office on the 20th floor of a skysc.r.a.per. He looked out the window with his hands in his pants pocket. He wasn't enjoying the sights of Seoul as he often does on ordinary days. This morning a tabloid again posted an article commenting on his gay gossip. The gossip spread at high speed. Soon he will definitely be asked for an explanation. Journalists will pursue him … ask him … demand his response. That's the risk of becoming a celebrity. The bad memories of the past appeared again. When reporters put forward thousands of questions endlessly, when he felt so frustrated and had to hide to calm down. Now, with the new gossip, the days of struggle will begin again … or has it actually begun?

“Oh, Tae-Woo, so you've already came.”

Tae-Woo was so busy with his own thoughts that he didn't realize his manager had entered the office.

Park Hyun-s.h.i.+k walked to his desk and put a blue folder on the table. “It's been a long time?”

Tae-Woo shook his head and approached the chair in front of the table. “Just arrived. What's the matter of telling me to come here early?”

Park Hyun-s.h.i.+k draped his coat over the back of the chair and opened the folder he had placed on the table. He took the tabloid out of it and handed it to Tae-Woo.

Tae-Woo accepted the tabloid that was offered in confusion, but as soon as he saw the article there, his expression changed. “What is this? How can they … This—”

Tae-Woo looked at his manager and the one who stared noded his head. “That's right. This is the photo that was taken last night when we escorted that girl.”

Feeling annoyed, Tae-Woo threw the tabloid to the table. “Good, one gossip is still not enough.” He sat down and leaned back in the chair. “How can they got these photos? Does Hyong think that the girl yesterday has something to do with this problem? “

The manager shook his head slowly. “No, I don't think so. Even though such possibilities still exist, no matter how small, but I don't think so.”

Tae-Woo rubbed his chin while pondering. He had to admit that the girl yesterday couldn't have anything to do with this rumor, but ..

“That girl yesterday, Han Soon-Hee … I have investigated it,” Park Hyun-s.h.i.+k said as he handed Tae-Woo a piece of paper. He then continued, “Being in her third year of college and working part time in a fas.h.i.+on designer's boutique. Her mother is Indonesian and her father is Korean. Her father was the head of a car company branch and her mother was a housewife. She was an only child, born in Jakarta and lived there until she was ten years old. Then, because her father's employment contract had been completed, their family moved to Seoul. Five years ago her parents moved back to Jakarta because her father was a.s.signed there again, while she remained in Seoul. The background is clean and simple.”

Tae-Woo read the writing on the paper he was holding and chuckled. “Where did Hyong get all this information? What's more the height and weight are there too.”

Park Hyun-s.h.i.+k just smiled and took out another piece of paper from the map and began to read, “According to people who know her well, Han Soon-Hee is a kind and trustworthy woman. Don't smoke, never get drunk, don't take drugs, and don't have any criminal records. So I dare to conclude she has nothing to do with the photos on the tabloid.” Then he handed Tae-Woo the paper.

Tae-Woo accepted the paper offered by his manager. Park Hyun-s.h.i.+k sighed. “Though we must admit it … indirectly, this rumor has helped us,” he said.

Tae-Woo raised his face from the paper in his hand and looked at Park Hyun-s.h.i.+k, waiting for the manager to explain the meaning of his words.

“Doesn't this gossip by itself break your gay gossip? The photos show you with a woman in front of your private house at a very suspicious time,” Park Hyun-s.h.i.+k said with a big smile.

“I know you have asked permission not to come to work today because you aren't feeling well, but I really need you now, Miss Han. Right now. We are very busy here, especially me, until I have almost no time to catch my breath. I was forced to ask you to come, Miss Han. Please come now. Please… You mustn't be seriously ill. If not, right now you must have been hospitalized instead of resting at home. Okay, Miss Han?”

Sandy lay in bed with her cellphone on her ear. She listened to her boss's words flowing like a flood at the other end with her eyes closed. She shouldn't activate her cellphone today. Her boss shouldn't contact her. Her boss shouldn't act this way. Where are a sick person told to work? Besides, it's Sat.u.r.day. Dictator!

“Miss Han? Miss Han? h.e.l.looo? Do you listen to me, Miss Han? I can't talk for long, Miss Han. Very very busy. You will come, right?”

“Yes, yes, Mister Kim. I see. I will get there in one hour,” Sandy said lazily.

“You have half an hour to get to my studio, Miss Han,” the boss said before hanging up.

Sandy looked at her cellphone with resentful heart. “Just look, you will receive my resignation letter on Monday. Dracula! Blood sucker! Hhh, I can go crazy!”

Cursing, Sandy forced herself to get up and walked to the wardrobe.

Forty-three minutes later, Sandy was already standing in Mister Kim's studio, one of the most popular fas.h.i.+on designers in Korea. The boss's so-called studio is a messy works.p.a.ce full of cloth with various patterns, both useless patchwork and new fabrics. The studio was located on the top floor of a three-story building. Mister Kim's boutique itself consists of two floors: the first floor is for general guests while the second floor is for VIP guests.

Sandy came in and saw a middle-aged, elegant-looking, red-painted her, and teary-looking man looking at the thin model with an unsatisfied look. Then with a single jolt of his hand, he told the model to go and tell his men to call another model.

Just when another model entered the room, Mister Kim noticed Sandy and immediately squealed, “Miss Han! You're late. Why — wait a moment …” He turned towards the new model and said curtly, “No, no! Not you. What should I do so they can understand what kind of model I need? G.o.d! Call Mister Cha here.”

Sandy felt sorry to see the female model's shocked expression. It must be admitted that Mister Kim isn't an easy person. Sometimes, geniuses are hard to make them happy.

Mister Kim focused on Sandy again. “You see, Miss Han, we are very busy for a fas.h.i.+on show. Please, deliver the clothes to try.”

What? Who to try? Which clothes? Mister Kim always hoped that other people could immediately understand his words that were not always clear.

“Delivered for who and what is it for, Mister Kim?” Sandy asked.

Mister Kim looked at her with his eyes wide open, at least as wide as the eyes that were basically small might do. “Gosh, Miss Han. You certainly remember that I told you about Jung Tae-Woo, right? He had agreed to wear my design clothes in every appearance. So you, quickly go there and make sure the clothes match the size and taste.”

Then, before Sandy had a time to asked again, he had pointed at the wheeled clothes rack near the door, “That! Those clothes on the shelf!”

No, you have never mentioned this matter to me, Sandy muttered to herself, but what came out of her mouth was, “Who did you say?”

“Jung Tae-Woo. The singer. You don't know? Never mind, know or not isn't important. Get away quickly! He has been waiting in the boutique. Go there. Go! Hurry up!” He said, pus.h.i.+ng Sandy back towards the exit of his studio.