The man sitting across the table, which upon arrival greeted me as if we knew of a lifetime, had exquisite manners. He spoke sparingly, responding when ought to do and the eye contact was measured. My father looked delighted, it was obvious because at every opportunity asks him questions

"It must have been interesting study abroad" he made some stress upon the last word, which reminded me the small bribe he made to change career, offering me studying business in United States

"Yes, I was very young and I've only lived in Seoul a few months a year"

I saw how his long fingers slid the knife along the middle of the steak on his plate. Caught my attention the symmetrical cut, it was like watching a surgeon with a scalpel making a careful cut in the body of a person

In an instant I found myself trapped by his glance when he introduced the meat into his mouth, but almost immediately he looked away

"Jin Ah" said Mr. Baek helping to distract my attention from his son "You study at the Seoul University?"

"Yes, Mr. Baek" I replied taking the cup of wine to drink, as a kind of shield to protect me from his questioning

"Mir will have someone which may help when he begins his PhD"

Out of the blue I had to swallow all the wine I had in my mouth. There I had the answer to the question I was going to ask at my father when we were alone

"It's a nice coincidence" said my father grinning to Mr. Baek

"My father thinks that I'm stupid, if he brought me was for this. Now I'll be the guide of this man" I couldn't help it and turned to look at him. Mir was absent from the conversation, giving all his attention to his sister who apparently was showing him one of the stones of her bracelet

"What about is your PhD, Mir?" asked my father

"Politics" he answered "A few days ago I visited the university" then for some strange reason his gaze nailed in my hand that rested near the silver spoon. I saw him frown as if some of the items on the table were not in the position he expected

"You will follow the footsteps of your father" said mine

"Not exactly" he replied and took his glass to sip "There are reasons that have made me choose it"

I was sure that my father will bring this in a future conversation. I started to feel animosity for Mir Baek, for that image of perfect son that my father wanted I had but I refused to represent

Fate would had me given up of being a dancer, I wasn't going to give up my desire to be an architect to avoid conflicts with him

"Jin Ah" I shook my head when I heard the melodious voice of Yuri Baek saying my name

"Yes"

"I still have the books your grandmother signed me years ago"

Everyone at the table fell silent, I saw that his father looked down at his plate and his brother seemed that didn't want to talk about it. But given the situation (and also my inquisitiveness), I couldn't help but comment about the photo in the album I saw in the morning

"In my grandmother's photo album, there's a picture of you and your brother"

He turned to me and I was trapped by his gaze, this time he didn't detour. He seems someone older by his way of speaking and behave. I felt grief imagining the rigidity which he had been subjected, but not enough to get along with him if it was what my father had in mind

"My grandmother ..." I was interrupted by him who stood up and put his hands on his sister's chair

"I ask you to excuse me, I must make a call and ..." saw his wristwatch "has to be at this hour"

"Don't worry son" said Mr. Baek that made a sign to one of the maids "Bring us the coffee, please"

I saw Mir walking out from the same door he entered

"Father" said Yuri who apparently wanted to go after his brother, as it seemed restless

"Go" said this, and she almost ran out of the dining room "Since my son came back, his sister wants to spend the most time with him"

Apparently Mr. B