THE INTERVIEW – JOOHYUN

Joohyun was uncomfortable at not telling Yonghwa about meeting Eunji. Her heart was heavy but she knew that if she wanted to know why Eunji wanted to see her she couldn’t tell Yonghwa.

“This will be my last sin of omission.” Joohyun murmured to herself as she patted her face with powder.

It was a beautiful day in March – almost spring but not quite.  The cherry blossoms were blooming and Korea was getting ready to host the World Cup. Joohyun decided to wear her baby pinky cashmere sweater set – her mother bought it for her in Japan – it had tiny cherry blossoms around the collar.  She wanted to look feminine so she opted to wear her black skirt and knee high boots.  Donning her crème coat – Joohyun fastened her bracelet and checked her image.

Her full length mirror reflected a young woman of almost 20. She had her hair down in soft waves and of course her beloved pearl headband.  She wore her pink garnet stud earrings – they were a match to Yonghwa’s blue ones.  Having things that Oppa had given her somehow made her confident and eased her nervousness.

Her day went by in a blur and not even Hyoyeon’s or Tiffany’s teasing could distract her from constantly glancing at her watch. Even Ahjusshi didn’t know who she was meeting when she quietly told him to take her to Lotte Hotel.

“Does your young man know you’re meeting someone here today” Ahjusshi asked her.

“I’m meeting Oppa’s aunt. But no Oppa doesn’t know yet.” Joohyun said.

“Why doesn’t he know?’ Ahjusshi had his disapproving face on.

“Ahjusshi – I need to know why she wants to see me.  Then I will tell Oppa – as soon as I finish I’ll call him. Promise me you won’t call him.” Joohyun requested.

Ahjusshi just grunted and Joohyun got out of the car as soon as the doorman opened the door.

She wanted to get it over it.  She took a calming breath and approached to front desk.

AT EUNJI’S OFFICE

“Noona – I’m here.” Yonghwa said as soon as he entered the office suite.

“Oh- you came.” Eunji stood up from her desk and made her way towards Yonghwa. “Key will be here in a few minutes.  I told him to stop at our favorite café to get us coffee.”

Yonghwa seated himself on the sofa.  He was really curious why Eunji called him back to Seoul on a school day.  He didn’t tell Joohyun about it because he wanted to surprise her.

“Yah – you just got here and I know you want to see your girlfriend already.” Eunji sits next to him.

Yonghwa just laughs and nods his head.

Key and Yonguk came in.  Key was carrying a box of pastries while Yonguk balanced 3 huge cups of coffee.

“Thank you Yonguk.”Eunji smiled and inclined her head towards the door. Yonguk smiles at them and bowed.  Walking toward the door he gives them one last look and closes the door.

Click.

Eunji and Key waited for Yonghwa to notice that the door was locked.  But Yonghwa was busy looking at the pastries.

“I haven’t eaten yet Noona.  Right after my 1 pm class I drove straight here.” Yonghwa said just before he pops 3 mini crème puffs one after the other into his mouth.  He took a long drink of the coffee and smiles at his aunt and her fiancé.

“Eat up, Yongie” Eunji smiles at him.  It was almost 4.

LOTTE HOTEL

Just as the elevator opens Joohyun sent a short text to Yonghwa.

HER TEXT:  Oppa – I am meeting your Eunji Noona at Lotte Hotel.  Don’t get mad that I didn’t tell you. I’m going to receive my punishment when I see you tomorrow okay? I love you.

She sent the message and sighed. She put her phone on silent mode and put it in her coat pocket. Standing in front of the door Joohyun swallowed and knocked softly.

The door was opened by a hotel staff.   The woman bowed to Joohyun and motioned her to follow her inside.

The curtains were open and Joohyun was looking at the Seoul skyline.  A woman was standing at the far end. Her back was turned to them. There were 2 more staff setting up a tea service.

“Samonim – your guest is here.” The hotel staff announced.

Joohyun felt as if someone was pouring cold water down her spine.  There was only one person she knew that was called Samonim.

Yonghwa’s mother.

Joohyun saw a woman elegantly dressed in black and red.  Her hair was carefully coiffed into a French twist.  She was smiling and her beauty shone. 

Belatedly remembering her manners Joohyun bowed.

“Annyeong hasayo Seo Joohyun imneeda.”

“Annyeong hasayo.” Yonghwa’s mother inclined her head. ‘Let’s sit down.”

Joohyun had to force her feet to move.  She was trembling from shock – she never thought that she would meet Yonghwa’s mother this way.

“Don’t be too scared.” Yonghwa’s mother said.

Joohyun just nodded her head and sat down on nearest chair.

“You may leave now, I will serve the tea myself.” The melodious voice told the hotel staff.

They were both silent even after the staff closed the door.

“You must be very surprised that you met me instead of Eunji.  I asked her to arrange this meeting with you without my son. Don’t get mad at her.”

“It’s not my place to get mad.” Joohyun whispered.

“I see why my son is very much in love with you.  You are more beautiful in person than your pictures. Yes, I’ve seen them – Min Sun has shown them to me.  I get all my information from her.  My son doesn’t discuss his love life with me. I guess it’s because he knows that I want Shin Hye for him.’

At the mention of Shin Hye’s name, Joohyun’s face flamed.

“I believe that it’s a parent’s duty to see that their children are established and secured in life.  I am just being a parent.  I think Shin Hye will suite him more than anyone. I also think your parents were acting in your best interest when they matched you up with the son of the senior partner in their law firm. They believe he will suit you best.”

Joohyun kept her eyes down.

“By all intents and purposes you and my son should never have met but you did. I know your relationship with him are at its early stages. Not yet 6 months am I right?”

Joohyun nodded.

“Did you know he was chaebol heir when you met him?”

“No madam I did not.” Joohyun raised her eyes and replied.

“I know you were born and grew up in America and you are just adjusting to Korean life. By now you must know what kind of person my son is.”

Joohyun nodded.

“I think you only know the surface – or what he wants you to know. I must admit to you that I have never seen him in love before. He loves you without a doubt so much so that he probably will not tell you what he really is.”

“Madam, he told me that he will tell me in time.” Joohyun responded.

“Ah- in that aspect- he and I differ.  And he will most probably be very very angry with me when he learns that I met you. But I believe in fairness. You need to know what will happen if you decide to continue to have a relationship with my son.”

Samonim pours both of them a cup of tea.  She hands a cup to Joohyun and waits until Joohyun takes a sip. She drinks her own cup quickly and pours herself another cup.

“Joohyun- may I call you Joohyun?”

“Yes madam”

“You know Yonghwa is now my only child.” Samonim’s eyes tears up when she says this.  Hastily blinking her eyes she continues.

“We received the first resumes when Yonghwa turned 14.  Girls who were suited for him. As his mother I had to study and evaluate these girls.  That time he was second son.  When he came back from America the resumes had gotten thicker. He is now heir.”

“CNB Holdings is one of the top holdings not just in Korea but in Asia.  His great grandfather started his trading business even before the 2nd world war.  The family survived thru 625 Upheaval and the separation of the North and South. Our business is composed of 12 corporations ranging from shipping to telecommunications. Each corporation has a president and who sits as member of the board.  Yonghwa’s father has been Hwejangnim since he was 35 years old.”

“Joohyun, you are probably asking yourself why I’m telling you this.  It’s because I want you to know exactly what my son is.”

“Whoever becomes my son’s wife becomes the daughter in law of not just us, his parents, but she becomes the daughter in law of CNB Holdings. To others it may look like a life of wealth and luxury.  But it is a life with a price.  It is a life of duty and responsibility.”

“I was engaged to my husband when I was 16 and he was 18.  It was matched by my grandparents and his parents since they both came from Busan.  I learned to love my husband and married him right after I finished high school.  All my life I was raised to become a chaebol wife.”

“I learned all the social skills, I learned Chinese and Japanese. Although I never went to college I kept abreast with the world news and business. I had to learn the business – Yonghwa’s grandmother made sure that I was going into my marriage with eyes wide open.  I was 27 and pregnant with Yonghwa when my mother in law died and I became Samonim.”

“Today, I chair 4 charitable organizations.  I make sure every public and social aspect that involves CNB Holdings is taken cared of – from the birthdays of all the directors’ wives to the politics of company meetings. I make sure everything is taken cared of so that my husband needs only to think of his job and do his role as Hwejangnim effectively. ”

“The woman who marries my son doesn’t only marry him she marries CNB Holdings and she will have the li