I was now waiting in the main entrance of the hotel for the valet to bring my car and I couldn’t help but nervously tap my foot on the floor as I was running of time…

- Yah Givenchy…Trying to be scouted for modeling? …Is Amore pacific doing bad? GOD… I had no idea… Oppa will find you a job little girl, your grandfather won’t tolerate seeing his princess’s body in coated paper, would he? …Provoked me a male voice faking concern, I froze as I recognized who the voice belonged to…

-  Ji-hoon Oppa, annyeonghaseyo…here we meet again…I wonder if South Korea have gotten even smaller while I was absent? I said putting on my best hypocrite smile; thank god I was wearing my Illesteva cat eye mirrored glasses that were blocking the fire my eyes were sending right now. – Thanks for your concern but the business is doing really good…and even if I’m glad to know that Ji-hoon Oppa is looking after me I was raised to be an independent woman so you really don’t need to worry…I finished with a high pitch cute voice still smiling to not give him the pleasure to see me affected by his words.

- Independent??? Yah don’t make me laugh …he said scoffing at me and I swear I was about to commit a murder when a girl (who wasn’t Chae-Ha eonni) suddenly appeared from nowhere clinging on him like a gum would do to your shoe. – What the hell are you doing? Behave we’re in public here…he said pulling apart and fixing his tie…

- What’s wrong babe? You liked it when I was misbehaving earlier…she said with a flirty voice putting her hands all over his chest only to be pushed aside again.

- As you said…that was ‘earlier’…I believe I’m done with you, so get lost…he said waving his hand in front of her. ‘Please slap him! Please…you can do it girl’ I was mentally trying to communicate with her when his black Ferrari 458 was brought by the valet. ‘Where the hell is my car?’ I suddenly thought, I mean I was there right before him…

- At least you can drop me? She added suddenly annoyed and blocking him from going anywhere. ‘Wrong move girl’.

- Yah…do I look that free to you? He was laughing now, and my mood lighten up as I finally saw my car coming but only to be broke seconds later when I heard the girl pester a last time but about me this time:

- Is it because of that ? Yah…you take a cab…or call your rich dad to pick you up or whatever…I hope you don’t mind but I kind of have the priority here…she said with her brainless-high voice looking at me right now. Calling me a was a thing, mentioning my father was something else.

- I said get the lost… He said very pissed grabbing her arm as she was walking toward me.

- Joseong-hamnida Agasshi…we promise to provide a better service next time you visit our hotel and be faster as possible…told me the valet heading me my keys bowing for an apology. I could feel his sincerity and how tensed he was.

- Gwechan-imnida…as long as you took a good care of my baby it’s all right…I teased ignoring the other protagonists.

- Neh? He said raising his head surprised not to hear the scolding spoiled rich kids usually gives him. And after seeing me genuinely smiling he added: - Yes, I did Agasshi. And please let me add that It was an honor to drive your car, It’s actually my first time seeing one like yours…I looked at my black Bentley EXP 9 and knowing that both the man and his were watching me I have to admit that for the first time ever I felt glad because of my grandmother’s showy gift. I gave a generous tip to the valet: - I’ll make sure to come back soon then! – Please do he insisted before heading to another customer. I was about to put back my wallet when I suddenly had an idea, I took another wad of bills and turned to Ji-hoon who was still fixing my car and I took the pleasure to admire his shocked expression, yeah men usually react that way seeing a girl driving this kind of car.

- Oppa, please accept this little treat for your noisy dog’s cab fare… and you know judging by the fact that she’s been ‘entertaining you’ today…BUT just between you and me I think you should work a bit more on the ‘dog training’ part, she doesn’t seem domesticated enough…I said sounding very polite and putting the bills on his pocket before heading to my baby. I got a flying as soon as I started the engine but made sure to give them a last look just to check how still in awe both of them were and I waved my hand saying bye but actually meaning ‘ BOTH OF YOU’…

***

I don’t know how I exactly did but I managed to be on time, even a bit in advanced since the flight was announced to land in the next 15 minutes, I sat in the closest coffee shop and ordered an espresso as I came without my grandmother’s driver and I’ll have to drive back to the city. I checked my light make-up and hair to make sure that I looked presentable. I was now dressed in a white CHLOÉ loose fit crepe dress: white being my Grandmother’s favorite color, which played an important role in the choice of my outfit. Plus this dress showed what my grandmother judges being a ‘reasonable amount’ of my legs. I wore it with JIMMY CHOO patent-leather point-toe flats to look young and my CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN sweet charity studded patent-leather shoulder bag to look a bit fun…the whole concept was trying to look ‘well-behaved’.

- Yah Bentley … I heard a masculine voice that my brain refused to acknowledge calling me. I slightly closed my Iope cushion foundation that was showing my own reflection to look at the person who was calling me… ‘You must be ing kidding me’ I thought. I looked at him and mentally asked ‘are you followi- …’

- Are you following me? He actually asked me before I could. I looked around looking for something that would prove me that all of this is some prank played by a super non funny person, I seriously believed that there was a camera hidden somewhere because running into the man three times in less than 24 hours is just against all the rules.

- Yah …he shouts another time from his seat that happened to be the closest table to mine drawing some attention from other customers.

- I came to pick up my Grandmother. Sorry to disappoint you but I’m not following you…I said trying to sound polite since I couldn’t gather any force to fake a smile.

- Oh I see… I should’ve guessed from the sudden change of clothes…he said eying me from head to toe. - You actually relieved me rather than disappoint me, last thing I need is a crazy obsessed high-school girl following me around, these kids are the worst you see…he said talking from experience. Ok now he got me mad.

- I know…I said faking concern, I mean your life must be so hard…all those girls following you around must be extremely exhausting…I really don’t understand how people have the guts to talk behind your back saying that you’re nothing but a useless well born lazy heir who’s probably going to ruin everything your ancestors build up… they obviously don’t know a thing about what you’re going through everyday…I said faking sincerity. 

If a stare could kill I probably died a thousand times by now. I took a sip of my coffee to hide the victorious grin I had on my face when he suddenly burst into a big laugh. I looked at him with rounded eyes. That wasn’t the reaction I was hoping for. He was genuinely laughing. He caught me off guard when he stood up and sat in the chair right in front of me throwing the Financial times he was probably pretending to read on the small round table drastically reducing the distance between us.

-  Why don’t you just admit it…you really hate me don’t you? He said with an amused voice. I looked at him and I was trying to see what was happening. ‘Are we having a conversation here? An honest conversation?’ I looked away thinking of my next move when I sighed and decided to play along:

- I don’t think so. We must be a minimum close to hate each other and we’re obviously not. We’re only acquaintance, ok… you’re far from being my favorite acquaintance I’ll give you that one but I shouldn’t go as far as to say that I hate you. I paused. On the other hand it seems more to me that you’re the one hating here, am I wrong?

- You’re not. I do hate you. I don’t need to be ‘close’ to you to despite everything about you. He said waving his hand. I raised an eyebrow. Seeing you from afar is enough already. I hate the way you act around like the perfect flawless well-brought up princess that every parents dreams about. Always smiling and controlling your acts, your words, just to make sure that you leave a good impression. It’s freaking annoying. I mean I do understand that your father abandoning you right after your mother died must have left a deep trauma but do you really think that making the rest of the world love you will compensate that? Get over it, it won’t…

 I felt my heart stop. My blood froze in my veins. My legs turned into something like gum and I had the impression that the whole airport and its activity stopped to focus on me. I thought he was trying to be provocative when he said he hated me but he wasn’t. Nobody ever mentions my father except if they want me to loose it. -You see I find people like you scary, no actually I find them dangerous. They keep all these negative emotions, sadness, hatred, rage inside and one day they end up shooting at people on a public place…and not meaning to hurt you but the cold I met earlier seriously freaked me out…how can you smile when you’re obviously mad? I mean normal people, human do get angry, she insulted you should’ve insult her back. You are a freaking psycho…

He calmly finished still staring at me eager to see how I would react. I swallowed the big gulp I had on my throat and looked down as I felt like dying under his gaze.

- Ok I hope you’re not crying…crying brats is really not my cup of tea…he added before sipping on his coffee with the same victorious grin I had earlier. Believe me or not I actually thanked him for that last comment as I realized what this was all about…

- Don’t worry I’m not. I said after composing myself. He frowned. - I was actually trying to see if your words did affect me but I was right, Oppa you’re not important enough that your opinion would matter to me. As for your hatred I actually understand it. I usually have that effect on people; they can’t help but see their lack while looking at me…there is nothing I can do about it. I confidently said pausing a few seconds before adding: - Well it was ‘interesting’ having this conversation but I should go my grandmother hates waiting.

I calmly walked away and I’m pretty sure to have heard him calling me ‘freaking ’. I waited to be out of his sight to rush to the toilet to cry my eyes out beating hard my chest between sobs, as my hands would be able somehow to restrain the pain I was feeling. I hated myself for listening to him, being actually affected by his words and worst: agreeing to it.

I was looking at the gate anxiously biting on my nails wishing that she would be the very first one to come out. I really needed to see her, to hug her, inhale her scent and remember how much I was loved. Usually people around me including Subin and Sun-hee hates being called spoiled children only because they come from rich families and didn’t lack of anything while growing up but I didn’t mind. I like being called spoiled because beside the material allusion it means someone loving you too much and expressing it in a clumsy way by pouring you with unnecessary things which would eventually lead you later to have misconceptions about the world surrounding you, and that for me that someone was my grandmother. I didn’t mind being watched, followed and flicked by the whole gang she put for me to check all my moves. If that was on the name of the love she has for me, I didn’t mind.

Ok don’t tell me your grand’ is flying in from Singapore? Asked me Ji-hoon who I was probably cursed to keep on running to from now on …

Yes she is… why? I said eying back the door.

… he swore in front of me grabbing his phone and dialing a number with a serious look. I couldn’t ignore him since he was standing right at my side but I could at least pretend.

Dad…I’m telling you we’re so screwed…you better be home when we get there…she lied to us she wasn’t with her sister…she was with Amore Queen sly fox… First I was shocked by the familiarity he used with his father. I knew he was a ‘cool dad’ but what I just heard was beyond cool and very surprising knowing his father’s position. Second, I was able to hear his father’s scream of horror despite the very noisy atmosphere of the airport when he mentioned ‘Amore queen sly fox’ and third ‘DID HE JUST CALLED MY GRAND’ A SLY FOX???’ I looked at him my arms still crossed waiting for him to explain.

- What? He genuinely asked. I scoffed at his question before adding:

- So I believe the hating towards my family is something that passes down from generation to generation? I asked my eyes back on the doors.

- Not towards your family…only the females of your family…he nonchalantly rectified. – There is something else we actually hate as well is being in debt to anyone, here’s your money I can handle my dogs alone…he said putting the money on my clutch. I couldn’t imagine how he dared to open my clutch. I snatched his arm away only to see my wrist grabbed by his hand while he was trying to catch my other hand to put the money back. I kept debating with him and gave up when I realized that people were awkwardly looking at us. I took the money and gave it straight away to some sisters who happened to be passing by. They were so happy about my donation that they insisted that I’d make a wish that they would hand to God during their pilgrimage in Italy. I grew up in a protestant family so I didn’t really see Vatican as holy a land but of course saying that to the nice smiling sisters was out of option. I thought of saying something like health and prosperity for the ones I loved but changed my mind when I saw the man enjoying the situation where I stuck myself and giving me that ‘being a smartass huh’ look:

- Actually there is someone in particular I’d like to pray for…I started giving him an evil look.

- Please daughter let me know…answered me the sister

- Well today I was really shocked because this person confessed me that he hated me since forever and I felt really sorry for him.

- Dear lord! How can someone hate such a beautiful, innocent and pure girl like you? Almost screamed the sister and I could clearly hear Ji-hoon scoffing hard and swearing between his teeth. I smiled widely.

- Anieyo …you’re flattering me too much …I said bowing slightly and my hair behind my ear something I usually do when I get shy. I just hope that this person get rid of these dark feelings, I don’t know because I’ve never felt this way but hatred must be something so heavy to carry on your heart? Don’t you think sister? I said faking concern. He was now giving me his ‘seriously? / WTF’ look’

- Oh my dear you’re such an angel to still worry about your hater, I wasn’t wrong about you, you’re truly beautiful both inside and outside. I’ll make sure to pray for that lost soul to get rid of its blindness and see the light of love…thank you again for your donation, your family must be really proud of you, I’ll pray for them as well…finished the sister smiling at me and fading away. I didn’t have time to admire that priceless annoyed face of Ji-hoon as I heard the voice that I was longing for to make me feel better.

- I am indeed proud of my little princess; I guess there is no place you’d go without shining?

- Halmeoni …I mumbled rushing to her and hugging her tight. She was very touchy with me, and it contrasted a lot with her cold image. She wasn’t a very tactile person but I suppose she learned after I lost my mother probably feeling sorry for the little girl who was left by her father when she needed him the most.

- Are you okay? She frowned at me seeing right away that I actually wasn’t.

- Just missed you …I said with a voice almost cracking.

- Omo Omo Omo eonni… you didn’t tell me that your little princess grew up to this wonderful young woman…I heard Ji-hoon’s mother talking. I slightly bowed to her and paid my respect when I realized that I haven’t seen her since the party my grandmother threw after high school graduation.

- I wish I could say the same about your son…said my grandmother eying JJ who hasn’t said anything yet. – What is it Ji hoon-a? I know as a matter of fact that you are not really famous for being shy around women, or maybe I’m not good enough to deserve a proper salutation? God I love that woman. I understand now why he hates her so much; she’s probably the one person who can dash him in public without anybody backing him up including his own mother who gave him a deadly stare before looking away in embarrassment.

- Of course not Mrs. Lee, I only backed off afraid to disturb your lovely reunion with your grand daughter. Chal-jinesseoyeo? He said bowing to her.

- Oh my son why being so formal, you used to call her ‘Omeoni’ when you were younger, you know how Eonni is important to me …she’s family insisted his mother looking at me like she was meaning something but I didn’t see what. After the usual formal hypocrite talk that four of us had we slowly headed towards our cars. His mother was very surprised to see that I came alone when his son came with two drivers. Of course my grandmother didn’t miss that opportunity to do what she does the best: bragging about me.

- I’m really impressed, I have to admit Eonni I couldn’t help but see her as an overprotected little girl…

- Well I do overprotect her but my husband and I made sure to raise her as an independent woman. I looked at my grandmother and seriously asked myself if by any chance her and I were tied by some telepathy link. I felt odd under Ji-hoon’s mother stare as she looked like seeing me for the first time. We bid our farewells and I finally had my grandmother for myself. I was driving back home and I was really surprised how smooth went the discussion we had when I asked her if I could meet the girls tonight due to Hana’s situation. Not like she usually stops me from seeing them she knows how important we are to each other but I’d thought she’d make it harder since she just came home and that we haven’t met in almost a month. She seemed in a good mood…

- What’s with the mysterious trip? Are you two up with something? I said looking at the road while my grandmother was checking her…Facebook profile on her tablet. (I don’t even have a Facebook profile).

- There was nothing mysterious about it, what makes you think that?

- Well she apparently lied to her husband saying that she would be with her sister…

- Well yeah she doesn’t tell her husband when she’s with me because he’ll freak out and will try to stop her from meeting me…and she didn’t really lie because she does see me as her big sister since I tend to help her more than the one she shares blood with, how did you know that anyway?

- Heard it from her son…

- He told you? You mean you two were having a ‘conversation’?  She asked now looking at me and closing her tablet.

- No I just heard him talking on the phone…

- Good, I don’t want him around you. I don’t trust him at all.

- Don’t worry about that you won’t need to say it twice…so why does her husband freak out if she’s with you?

- Because I’m the one who taught her how to tame him, there was a time he was even worst than his son…probably something on their DNA I guess, she had to change her attitude if she wanted to keep her throne.

- Really? I wouldn’t tell, president Jun seems to be such a loving and caring person, I mean he’s more the family type rather than the playboy type…

- Yeah I know but that’s only because I took some actions, never underestimate your grandmother’s skills …

- That’s good to know… you’ll have to make sure to give me all your tips when I get married…

- Oh honey you won’t need it; you have my blood that’s enough already…

***