November 6, 2013

Ilana groaned when her alarm went off at five thirty. She had resolved to get up and brave the gym but after staying up late and having four very busy days, getting back to her routine this morning was not going to happen. Not to mention the two A.M. phone call from HyungJun telling her they had arrived at Los Angeles International. They kept sending her funny selfies in touristy poses. She set the alarm for six and hoped the gym wasn't crowded when she got home.

Her knee was feeling much better that morning but if she didn't continue the care regiment KyuJong and Suzy had outlined for her, she'd be in big trouble if they found out. Taking that extra snooze, not factoring in that she'd have to ice her knee and she couldn't move as fast as she usually did, put her behind schedule. She was still trying to inhale her breakfast when the doorbell rang.

Ilana hopped over to the door. It was Dr. Jihoo, punctual as usual.

 - "I'm sorry, Dr. Jihoo, give me a few minutes," she called out to him.

 - "Arraseo, take your time, you don't want to fall again."

 - "Omo, is this guy making fun of me?" She questioned, silently. Putting her dish in the sink, she threw on her coat, gloves, and scarf before slinging her purse across her body. Shoes came next, then lunch. By this time she was breathing as if she'd run a marathon. Not wanting to deal with the crutches, she limped out the door, hoping he wouldn't say anything. She exhaled.  "I'm so sorry; I did not want to get up this morning. You could have just gone on without me; if you needed to." She was over five minutes late getting out the door and felt guilty knowing exactly how busy he was.

 - "Anieyo, I checked emails from home this morning hajiman aren't you forgetting something?" Jihoo stood with his hands in his pockets and a bemused smile on his face.

 - "I don't believe I am?" Jihoo had a notable grin on his face.

 - "I suppose I'm carrying you to the car?"

Ilana sighed, "I'll go get my crutches."

 - "I'll take your lunch bag," Jihoo was already taking the bag from his dejected admin.

Arriving at the hospital, Jihoo insisted on walking Ilana all the way to her desk; much to her discomfort. The nurses fussed over her as she walked. Some were grabbing her hand in sympathy or so she thought. They were really checking for a ring on her finger.

They arrived at her desk and Abigaíl jumped up from her seat.  "Chica, what did you do?" Abigaíl eyed her up and down, also looking for a ring.

 - "Pabo fell," Dr. Jihoo said, earning him an indignant look from Ilana.

 - "Ilana-ssi? Dr. Jihoo just called you a dork." Shi Yoon came into the conversation, surprised by Dr. Jihoo's more casual speech.

 - "Those were her words, not mine," Jihoo chuckled and walked away.

 - "Dr. Jihoo forgets I do his coding and could possibly forget to schedule a follow-up," Ilana spoke loud enough for him to hear.  The subject of her complaint ignored her and continued walking.

 - "Ilana, dear," SungRyung came from her office. "I was on the phone. What happened? I heard Dr. Jihoo say you fell," she took Ilana's hand and patted it gently.

 - "Yes, Unnie, I was running and fell." Ilana couldn't help but smile remembering why she was running and SungRyung couldn't help but wonder what the smile was all about. She didn't see a ring on her finger and it looked as if Dr. Jihoo brought her to work. She had been praying for God's will to be done in Ilana and Jihoo's lives. Well, actually, she really prayed that God's will be her will.

 - "How was your weekend? Did you and your friends do anything special?"

 - "Deh, Ilana, you need to tell us all about your weekend," Uee said.

 - "We just hung out; one of my friends birthday was Sunday. Everything just kind of revolved around him, shopping, lunch, harbor cruise, Empire State Building and picnic in Central Park. Then...I sprained my knee."

 - "It sounds like you had a wonderful weekend," her boss said.

 - "Did your friends have a good time at the restaurant?" Abigaíl asked.

 - "They had a great time. KyuJong Oppa said you and your family were very genuine."

 - "Aww, that was nice of him, considering he'd just met me. I know Isabel couldn't stop talking about them. I don't know when or how, but she knew everyone's name and something about them."

 - "That's because she's smart like her Umma," Ilana's tongue slipped twice and she didn't realize it.

Uee caught her.  "Ilana, did you know you just said Oppa and Umma?  I think your friends rubbed off on you."

- "They tend to do that," she smiled and hoped there would be no more questions.

The day went buy in a blur. Abigaíl and SungRyung had done all the urgent requests but now there was everything else to tend to. Ilana only stopped for lunch because Abigaíl made her. The afternoon flew by just as quickly as got lost again in the world of codes and forbidden to get up from her seat unless absolutely necessary.

 - "Mianhae it's a little late," Jihoo spoke, startling Ilana.

 - "Sneaking up on a person is not very nice, Dr. Jihoo."

 - "Mianhae," he smiled at her. "Is Ilana-ssi ready to go home now?"

Ilana glanced at Abigaíl’s desk and vaguely remembered her saying she was leaving but Ilana did not want to go home yet.  "It's still early; don't you still have work to do?"

 - "Anieyo, anything else I can do from home."

 - "Oh, okay." Ilana stood, forgetting her injured knee and winced in pain.

Jihoo quickly grabbed her arm to steady her.  "Here," he handed her the crutches. "Your knee might feel better than it did a few days ago but it doesn't mean it's healed."

 - "I forgot," Ilana grumbled. They walked out of the hospital to Jihoo's car; he had already moved it to the hospital's entrance. Ilana was surprised that he had thought to move his car but was embarrassed enough at his consideration not to comment.

 - "Would...Ilana-ssi like to get something to eat?" Jihoo asked once they were in his car. He actually didn't feel like going home just yet. Ilana was tempted, she didn't want to go home and she didn't want to go to a crowded gym. Jihoo took a glance at her face and smiled; her thought process was visible on her face.

 - "That's very kind of you to ask but I need to make sure I start my knee exercises. I don't want to get home late and have the gym be crowded."

 - "Oh, well...Ilana-ssi can use the physical therapy room at the hospital. I can call and see if there's an opening?"

 - "Really?" Ilana received this news with excitement. It meant she wouldn't have to face a room full of strangers. Then her smile faded a bit. you, but I have to go home and change anyway."

 - "I'll call and see if there's an opening later on and I'll take you."

 - "No! Really, that's quite alright! I couldn't ask you to take me back; you’re already taking me to and from work." She felt uneasy about using Dr. Jihoo in this way. She didn't want to abuse his kindness.

 - "Ilana-ssi didn't ask," he smiled. "But since I'm your personal driver, it's my responsibility." Not waiting for her response, as usual, he immediately used the car's blue tooth to call the physical therapy department. He scheduled her in for seven P.M.

Ilana did not want to accept his kindness, but what could she do? Whatever her sins, she was raised with proper etiquette and manners. Nana would be appalled if she found out Ilana was being ungracious. "Thank you, for your help, Dr. Jihoo."

 - "Anieyo kwenchanayo," he dismissed her thanks. "Why don't we run home so Ilana-ssi can change and then we can get something to eat? Arraso?"

Ilana nodded her head in acknowledgment, suddenly a little embarrassed.

Arriving at Ilana's door, she wondered if the Doctor ate at home much. Being a bachelor and fairly successful, he probably ate out more than in. She had a lot of the galbitang left. Nana would certainly make her invite him in as repayment for everything he did for her.

 - "You're more than welcome to wait in the living room while I change, if you'd like."

 - "Arraseo," Jihoo said in his usual non-committal way.

Jihoo looked around the apartment. Again, no one was home, nor did it appear as if anyone had been home. He was beginning to think she lived alone, but how? Certainly, her salary couldn't cover the rent and living expenses, no matter how frugal she lived. Jihoo was interrupted when Ilana came back into the living room. She hadn't taken long at all.

 - "What does Ilana-ssi feel like eating?" He asked when she re-entered the living room.

 - "Actually," she hesitated. He waited patiently for her to continue. "Would you...be interested in galbitang? My friends made it the day they left. Even after we all ate, there's plenty."

- "Chuah, if Ilana-ssi doesn’t mind.”

 - “Not at all, it’s the least I can do for giving me a ride back and forth.”

Jihoo inclined his head in acknowledgment of her gratitude.  “If Ilana-ssi gets off her injured knee, I'll make rice."

 - "Oh, it's alright. I can do it."

 - "Ilana-ssi needs to sit and ice her knee before we go." He was already hauling her to the table in that exasperating Korean-guy way.

In about ten minutes, the rice was made and the soup heated through. Jihoo decided he would use this opportunity to get to know his admin better.

 - "Ilana-ssi has only known her friends for a year and is very close to them."

 - "Mmm."

 - "Where did you meet?"

 - "Back home;" technically that was true. "I did some volunteer work for Dr. KyuJong." The volunteer part was on her resume, Unnie could have told him that much. Jihoo could tell she was being deliberately vague. There were times when her face was open and readable but at the moment she was closed up. Since he usually closed himself off from others, he knew how to read people well.  At times, even his friends couldn't read him if he didn't want them to.

 - "Dr. Jaejoong and you are close?" She changed the subject to him.

 - "Mmm, we know each other well. He's a good Doctor, listener, and clown; he's also a pain, obnoxious, and annoying."

 - "I'll pretend I didn't hear that last part," she smiled. Jihoo was glad to see the mask come down.

- "Anieyo, I tell him that every day." Jihoo checked the time. "I'll rinse our dishes, and then we should go."

 - "Dr. Jihoo, I'm more than capable of doing dishes."

 - "Ilana-ssi made dinner."

 - "Tch, my friend, Suzy, made dinner and you reheated it."

 - "Next time Ilana-ssi invites me over for dinner I'll let you do dishes," he’d spoken without thinking.

 - "Confident there's going to be a next time, aren't we?" She too immediately spoke without thinking as if he were one her Oppa’s.

 - "Oh, deh," he said with his usual monotone and blank expression.

Ilana gave up trying to remain formal with him and laughed.  "Arr-alright," almost saying ‘arraso’, she quickly covered up her slip.  She’d already had to cover her slips several times throughout the day.  “I'll just get my other jacket;" limping to the coat closet, she fished out her short quilted blue jacket. After putting on scarf and gloves, they were ready to go.

- "Is Ilana-ssi always this cold?" Jihoo teased, also forgetting formalities.

- "I'm from Southern California, anything under seventy (21c) is cold."

He grinned, noticing she had dropped her 'Ajumma' voice for most of the evening. Jihoo decided she was like an onion, there was something new to discover under each layer and he had a feeling there were many layers yet to be discovered.

Ilana woke a little sore from the evening's exercise. She had done well and perhaps done more than she should. Jihoo had left her alone, thankfully, to check on a few patients. They rode back home in silence; not because of awkwardness but because Ilana was tired. The exercise bike was a new activity for her and although she wasn't tired during the exercise. It hit her as soon as she sat in the warm car and heated seat. Unknown to Ilana he had let his car run for about fifteen minutes before meeting her in the Physical Therapy room. He knew the cold would make her knee hurt after the exercise. It was only a five-minute ride, in traffic, to the hospital. It wasn't enough time to warm the car.

Running late, she looked at the clock; Jihoo would be knocking on the door in twenty minutes. She thought about having soup for breakfast since evidently, there weren't breakfast foods in Korea.  To a westerner, that just felt wrong; she began grabbing things out of the refrigerator.  Her phone rang and hoping it was Dr. Jihoo telling her he was running late, she answered.

 - "Hello?" She didn't check who the caller was.

 - "Buenos días Manita."

 - "Kike!" She was surprised and pleased to hear from him. "I have to put you on speaker, I'm making breakfast."

 - "Alguien quiere saludar (Someone wants to say hi).

 - "Anneyeong, Princess."

 - "Oppa?! What's going on? How are you with Kike?"

 - "I asked him to meet us for breakfast or dinner. His choice.” It was about midnight in Sydney. “We have a layover before our flight to Darwin."

 - "And you knew Kike was in Sydney."

 - "Deh."

 - "I also knew about your surprise beforehand," Kike said. "I'm going to try and come to you for Thanksgiving or that weekend. I can't commit to a day at the moment, but I'll definitely have some time to spend with you soon."

 - "Deberás (Really)? Kike, I can't wait!"

 - "KyuJong wants to talk to you."

 - "Annyeong! Did you start your therapy?" KyuJong asked.

 - "Deh Oppa, Dr. Jihoo arranged it so I can use the PT room at the hospital."

 - "And that's a relief for you."

 - "I really didn't want to use the apartment gym." Ilana still couldn't tolerate crowds; the train rides to Abigail's were uncomfortable enough.

 - "Ara, your chingu has good connections; take advantage."

 - "Oppa! He's like my boss! I can't ask for favors."

 - "Deh, hajiman don't deny friendship:  from Abigaíl, Dr. Jihoo or any of your co-workers."

 - "Arraseo, Oppa.

 - "I'll call you when we get back to the ship and I review your lab work. Suzy says she'll call you as soon as her Umma sets the wedding date. Saengie says stay out of trouble. I'll put you back to Enrique-ssi. Mianhae we took over his phone call."

 - "I thought they'd never give me the phone back. Did you enjoy your surprise?"

 - "Yes, very much; never in my dreams would I have expected to walk out of the hospital to my Oppa-duel standing there."

 - "YoungSaeng and you had a conversation?"

 - "Kike..," she didn't want to have this conversation.

He did.  "Manita..," .

Ilana's doorbell rang saving her from her brother's well-meaning lecture.  "Kike, my ride is here. I have to go. Te quiero mucho (I love you lots)!"

- "Está bien (That’s alright), cuídate y seguiremos esta conversación cuando nos veamos (take care of yourself and we’ll continue this conversation when we see each other). Quien te quiere (Who loves you)?" For some reason YoungSaeng's face came to mind, making her laugh.

Jihoo found a laughing and flushed Ilana when she opened the door. Her eyes were alight with mischief. She was on her phone and silently begged him to be patient for one minute.

- "Hóyeme, (Listen) de que Te ríes, niña (young lady, what are you laughing at). No me contestas (You aren't going to answer me)?"

- "Quien más me quiere como mi queridisisisisisimo hermano Kike (Who else loves me like my very(x6) dear brother)."

- "No me vayas a dejar por otro (Don't you leave me for another man)."

- "Celoso (jealous).  Kike, I really have to go," Ilana was limping around gathering her things. She had already wrapped breakfast to go.

- "Yah, I'll let you have Enrique-ssi in your heart first, but make sure Oppa is second and no one else." It was YoungSaeng; he had taken the phone from Enrique before he had the chance to hang up.

- "Pabo otter, your dongsaeng-deul will have something to say about that," he laughed at her response. Ilana slung her bag across her body, realizing Jihoo was probably hearing everything she said. She hoped he wouldn't pay too close attention.

- "Arraso, they can each have only a little corner." Ilana shook her head. Dr. Jihoo had her coat in hand which he had taken the initiative to retrieve from her closet and opened her door to her out. "Saranghae, Cinderella, I’ll call you when we get to Darwin."

- "You better Oppa, now I really have to go; annyeong." They were already in the elevator when she managed to terminate the call. She had switched to her earpiece when Dr. Jihoo arrived and was now throwing it in her trouser pocket along with the phone.  "I'm so sorry, my brother called me and he's actually with my friends and well they took the phone from him. I tried to terminate the call, you did hear, right?" He could tell she was worried he would be upset but still on a high from the call, she rambled on.   Kike and she communicated mostly via text or email, so to hear his voice made her day.

-"Gwenchanayo," they had arrived downstairs and he helped her into her coat. She was still smiling to herself. Jihoo felt like he had uncovered another one of Ilana's layers. It wasn't the right moment to confront her about her Korean, but he could ask her about her family while her guard was down.

Once at the car he took her bag and crutches from her so she could enter the vehicle without hindrance.

- "Your Oppa is in California?" Jihoo asked as he pulled out of the parking garage. It took Ilana a few seconds to realize which Oppa he was talking about.

- "Oh! Kike? He lives in Miami but he travels all over for work. He's in Sydney, Australia at the moment." Jihoo noticed that the Ajumma had gone away; he'd have to keep asking questions until her return.

- "And your chingu are from Australia?"

- "Actually, they also have to travel for work; it's just a coincidence they are all currently traveling in the same place."

- "Your chingu, KyuJong Uissa, travels as well?"

- "Mmm," Ilana wondered how much to tell him and still maintain her privacy.

- "It must be a large company to require a doctor to travel."

- "Oh...um, I suppose," with that answer Jihoo knew the Ajumma was returning, he’d quit while he was ahead. He had just pulled into his parking spot at the hospital.

- "Arraseo, we’re here. Ilana-ssi brought her clothes to change into?" He had arranged for PT to call her if there was an opening she could take advantage of during her the day. She could use her lunch hour or immediately following her work hours.

- "Yes, I did, thank you. I hope you didn't go out of your way."

He opened her door and helped her out.  "Anieyo, we take care of each other here."

Ilana smiled.  "That's what Unnie told me when she interviewed me. I think...I see it. At least on our floor...It's nice...and wholly unexpected," they slowly walked into the building.

- "Your last position wasn't like that?"

- "No...It was...but that was the owner’s legacy."

- "Was? As in deceased?" Jihoo noticed an unmistakable look of pain or sorrow cross her face.

Ilana had been so focused on the conversation; she hadn't really noticed they had gotten in the elevator until they arrived on their floor.  "Oh, we're here already." Ilana avoided the last question. "Thank you again for bringing me." Ilana's walls had gone back up. Jihoo had been enjoying peeling off her layers but he'd have to be cautious and sensitive of when to push and when to stop.

- "Anieyo kwenchanayo, have a nice day. Just let me know when you're ready to leave." He bowed and was about to leave when she stopped him.

- "Oh, wait!" She blushed at her forwardness. "I mean, Dr. Jihoo, you haven't had breakfast yet, have you?"

- "Anieyo, wae?" He still preferred his sleep and usually ate later in the morning.

- "I was distracted on the phone and made too much food by mistake," she rummaged through her bag and pulled out the extra egg, pork belly (left from the night of their barbecue) and green salsa burrito. "Here, the salsa is homemade by my Nana and the tortillas are from California. Nana sends me care packages."

- "Kansamnida, the next meal is my treat."

- "You've done too much already; there’s no reason for you to do that. Since you won't accept payment for services rendered, then think of it as a tip." She challenged him to protest with her gaze.

He chuckled.  "Arraseo," he turned to start his rounds and she headed for her desk. Later when he had time, he'd compare all the layers he collected so far. He had a feeling that he would be completely surprised once he got to her bottom layer.

Thank you all so much for your support.  How will Ilana handle the holidays on her own?