New Beginnings: Stories from Beauville

Chapter 4-3

Story isn’t packed and Finn orders my tea for me while saying something to the lady in Korean before they leave me to my peace.

Finally.

Alone.

I take a seat at the back of the restaurant. There were no chairs and table on the sidewalk. Sawyer said something about rain later.

“Hello,” someone says.

I look up and smile at the girl standing at my table.

“Hi,” I smile back.

“My mom said you ordered this tea. If you need anything, just ask for me. I’m Kim Mi-su.”

“Great, thank you.” Her English is good.

“I’m glad you’re here.”

“Why is that?” I ask.

“I don’t get the chance to speak English when I’m not in school. It’s good to practice.”

I’d indulge Kim Mi-su, but I want to write in my journal. “I don’t know how long I’ll be in town, but the food here is fantastic, so I don’t mind stopping by and chatting while I’m here.”

“Jeongmallo?”

“Huh?”

“Really. Thank you.” She bows slightly and looks around awkwardly before she leaves me with my tea.

I take out my journal and start writing. I don’t think. I let the words flow and flow.

Zoe, I woke up today in a strange mood. Your fathers were with me, and I don’t know if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Mommy fainted. Me, your own mother. I’ve never fainted my whole life. Never, baby girl. It’s so strange. But I think the bump to my noggin is what Mommy needed. I wish you were here. You’d be a little over two months old. Crazy right! If I could go back in time, I would. But life has a way of steering you in the direction it wants you to go, even if you don’t agree. Is that a bad thing to say? I don’t mean it’s acceptable that you’re not here, rather, I can’t change that you’re not here. There is only one Zoe Amalya Danvers. You’re irreplaceable, and I promise never to forget you, okay? It’s you and me, kid, ‘til the end of time and back again. Mommy’s love has no expiration date. I love you, Tinkerbell. Sometimes loving you feels like I’m dreaming, but I know it was all real. Everything from beginning to end. You’ll always be in my heart. Say hello to your brother and tell him he’s in my heart as well.

When I close my journal, I look up and notice the restaurant is slowly filling up with people. I try to look for Kim Mi-su, but I don’t see her. How hard is it to pay for tea? It can’t be that hard. I’ll just pull out my card and give it to the hostess. I make my way over to the cashier’s desk and find that it’s in fact very hard to pay for tea at Story. Kim Mi-su’s mother and I are trying to communicate with one another. I’m pointing to the empty teacup and my card, and she’s shaking her head no.

“She’s saying that your bodyguards have already paid for your drink,” a deep voice from behind me says. I think my heart speeds up out of anxiousness. Why? I don’t even know the stranger behind me, and really what I should do is thank him for his help. There are alarm bells sounding off in my head, and I know what this is. It’s his voice that has me riled up. f*****g Danvers hormones. Happens every time. Normal people are turned on by the physical attributes… but not me. Nope. It only takes a voice. And not just any voice. It has to be a voice that instantly incites a feeling of warmth. This dude has it in spades.

Don’t turn around, Danvers. Thank the gracious lady and scoot your a*s over and keep it moving. I smile and bow slowly and try to scoot to the side to allow him to approach the counter. He’s saying something in Korean now, and it makes things that much worse for me. I do not know what he’s saying, but his voice is smoother now. The hairs on the back of my neck rise and I do my best not to bump into him. I don’t even want to smell him, because I have a feeling he smells amazing.

A gentle hand grabs my shoulder, and the voice whispers right into my ear, “She says you have to wait. Your bodyguards are coming to pick you up. She has to call them.”

The breath I hold expels audibly, and my shoulders slump in defeat. My traitorous body receives his words as foreplay. I try my best not to sound anything like I feel.

“Thank you. I guess I’ll wait.”

He makes a sound that I don’t understand, and the lady bows and smiles. I do the same and make my way back to my table and wait for Sawyer and Finn. I’m okay. I haven’t seen his face. There is no reason for me to be acting the way I am right now. I can’t make an escape; I have to wait for the twins.

Those bastards.

If I don’t look up, I’m okay. I try to act as if I’m looking for something in my purse when I see two very expensive shoes step into my line of sight. I know it’s him. Who else would it be? I slowly look up and up. He’s tall and wearing all black. Even his face mask is black. His eyes are a bright beacon of fire. Piercing whiskey brown, almost amber, eyes assess me with curiosity. Where have I seen those eyes?

“Yes?” I ask hesitantly. I want to be rude, but he helped me, and the least I could do is to be courteous.

He takes a seat in the chair across from me. “Can I sit here?”

I sit back in my chair and clear my throat. “You already are. Why even ask?”

His eyes crinkle at the corner, and I can tell he’s grinning. “You’re welcome,” he simply states.

Right. He helped me. Did I forget to thank him?

I don’t think I did.

“I already thanked you.” I’m feeling some type of way about his demeanor. He thinks he’s entitled, or that there is more I should thank him for. But maybe that is the culture. He’s harmless, I remind myself. But if it were true, my inner alarm bells wouldn’t be sounding off like crazy. Dude is dangerous to every fiber of my being. My momma didn’t raise no fool. It’s the pretty boys that are the hardest to tame because they know they look good. I haven’t seen his full face, but I can tell. He’s fine as f**k.

“Are you expecting another kind of thank you? If so, I’m all out.”

“You only half thanked me.”

I laugh at his remark. “How so?”

“Well, I helped you, and you’re obviously struggling. You could have offered to buy me a cup of tea for my trouble.”

This guy can’t be serious.

“Because I couldn’t understand Kim Mi-su’s mother, and you helped, equates to me buying you a cup of tea?”

“Welcome to South Korea.” His voice is harassing the hell out of my senses, but I can tell he’s being a smart-a*s with his smarmy comebacks.

What a tool.

Kim Mi-su appears with a smile on her face until she notices him. Now her face is replaced with wonder. She’s breathing fast and fanning her face. “Omo, omo…” Kim Mi-su speaks in rapid fire Korean and her voice is high-pitched and overly excited. I understand dude is put together very well, but is it that serious? Their conversation continues in Korean until he finally relents and nods his head. Kim Mi-su squeals and rushes away, but quickly returns with her phone.

“Eonni, could you take the picture, please?” Kim Mi-Su says in my direction. I have no clue what Eonni means but agree. Kim Mi-su stands taller and pulls her black hair forward on her shoulders. My unwanted guest stands, and he is well over six feet tall. When he pulls the mask off his face, my breath stalls and all my senses leave for long seconds. I can’t hear, see, smell, or feel anything. The sweet aftertaste of the tea is a distant memory. The man standing before me is a work of art. From his sharp jawline to his soft, masculine features. There’s zero facial hair and his inky black hair holds subtle tones of brown and blond mixed in. Hair perfection. Not a single strand out of place. He’s either going for the freshly f****d look, or someone had the pleasure of combing their fingers through his hair. It’s almost as if he’s been photoshopped in real life. Like he just stepped out of a glossy magazine.

He’s not the type of man I would fall for. But his entire persona, from his deep voice to his height, and his perfect skin, has my body reacting. And why does he seem so familiar? It’s something to do with his eyes.

Why?

Kim Mi-su stands next to him with wild excitement blazing brightly in her eyes as she gazes up at him. She stares up at him like he is a god.

“Please take the picture,” Kim Mi-Su pleads.

Oh. Right. Their picture.

I snap a few pictures and hand Kim Mi-su her phone. “Eonni, how do you know oppa Wook Hae-in?” That’s this dude’s name? That’s a mouthful. But who am I to criticize? I knew someone from Brazil who took both their mother’s and father’s last names with no middle name.

The guy and I both look at each other, but I never get to respond. Oppa Wook Hae-in answers for me. “She is someone I recently met. Do you mind while we wait for her people to come and get her so we can have some time to talk?”

“Yes, Oppa.” Kim Mi-su sighs. The guy pats her on the head before sitting down. Like she’s a puppy or some s**t.

We both sit in our chairs at the same time.

“That’s not my name.”

Huh? Did I say something about his name out loud?

“You have this look on your face, and only when she said my name. Or what you thought was my name. Oppa is like an older brother, or…a handsome guy. She called you eonni, which is older sister.”

“Ah so oppa and eonni can both mean cute.” He shakes his head and smiles, and I’m struck stupid again. “What is your name?”

“This is refreshing,” he mumbles under his breath, but I hear him.

“What? Me asking your name is refreshing?”

“You don’t know who I am?”

Obviously.

“No, why else would I ask? But by Kim Mi-Su’s reaction, you’re some type of celebrity, right? Is that why you wear the mask?”

“You could say that. I wear the mask so I can go out in public. Sometimes it works and other times it doesn’t. Have you ever seen the movie Ancient Heroes?”

“No, but I’m not completely in the dark. I know the movie received a lot of attention during the Independent Film Fest. You’re an actor.”

He nods before leaning forward to whisper, loudly I might add. “I’m Wook Hae-in, but all my friends call me Hae-in.”

It sounded like he said Hane. Interesting. I’d stick with Hane. It was easier.

“I like Hae-in better. It sounds better than the other two variations.”

“Really, why?”

“It has a nice ring to it, and it feels like it means something.”

“If you insist on calling me Hae-in I will allow you to.”

I sit back in my chair and feign surprise. “Wow, what an honor.”

He’s dead serious when he responds, “It is.”

I stare at him for a moment and take in his appearance again. Confidence surrounds him in a thick cloud of arrogance, but behind his whiskey-colored eyes there is a warmth that is set on a low simmer. He doesn’t think there is anything wrong with what he’s saying.

“You haven’t told me your name.”

“It’s India Danvers.”

“India.” He pronounces the a in my name longer. As if he is testing it out.

“Yes, but my friends call me Indy.”

Hae-in sits back in his chair and drapes his arm across the back of the chair next to him. “I like India better; would you like for us to be friends?”

He thinks he’s smooth, but I’ll go along for now.

“I thought we were friends,” I say with a smile.

“I’m glad you thought so.”

His arrogance is off the charts.

The door opens and I look up and notice Kai and a woman I’ve not seen before. I clear my throat and make a pained groan. “Can today just rewind? Better yet, how about the entire last few days?”

“Why, what’s wrong?”

Exactly. What is wrong? There shouldn’t be anything wrong, but Kai upset me by how nonchalant he was about our meetings. Shouldn’t he care? He is my doctor, after all? Or maybe I just want his attention. Another baffling moment for me. I am not in the mood or in any shape to even think that far ahead.

“There is someone here I wish I hadn’t seen at all today. I’d like to avoid being ugly today if possible.”

“You mean make a scene?”

“Yup, and because I’m going through a tough time right now, I don’t need another headache.”

Hae-in smiles at me and winks. “Don’t worry, I can handle it.” He turns to look toward the door. Kai and the woman both look in our direction. There is recognition in both their eyes, but it must be because Hae-in is famous. Kai is wearing a white suit with a bright red tie, and the woman he is with is in a white dress and bright red pumps. Oh, how cute. They match.

Hae-in scoffs and mumbles something in Korean, while Kai and his companion approach us. “You’re here?” Kai says in English.

“Here to see India, of course.”

Kai looks between the two of us. “You two know each other?”

“Yes, is it so hard to believe that I’d keep company with someone as beautiful as Miss Danvers?”

Kai works his jaw back and forth before answering. “Yes. It is. Where’s your manager?”

Hae-in smirks and sucks on his lower lip before smiling widely. “He’s looking for some items for me, why?”

Kai looks at me, and his face softens. “Is he bothering you?”

“If he were, he wouldn’t be sitting here.”

“Mind if we join you?” the woman at Kai’s side says in perfect English.

“Yes,” I say.

“No,” Hae-in says.

I toss him a look and he shrugs before standing and pulling out the chair next to him and rounding the table to sit next to me.

“Kai wanted to grab some tea before we headed to the open market.” Kai still hasn’t introduced her, and I decide to ask.

“Who are you again?”

“Oh,” Kai interrupts “this is—”

“I’m his fiancée, Sung Bora.”

“Nice,” Hae-in says in a loud voice. “Congratulations.”

Kai clears his throat. “This is only the third date.”

“Three dates mean a match, otherwise why go on a third date?” Hae-in leans closer to me to whisper loudly, “In our culture, especially with Chaebols, our parents get to decide who we marry. Kai here is a second-generation, firstborn son. Whereas I am a self-made, I can be with whomever I want.”

“Chaebol?”

“Oh, the uber rich.”

“Ah, got it.”

Kai tugs on his red tie. “Bora showed up unexpectedly.”

“Don’t be shy, Oppa, you missed me.” She looks at both me and Hae-in. “He really missed me.” Why is this woman’s voice so annoying? I look between the two of them and offer my congratulations as well.

“Y’all look good together.”

“Are you two ordering?” Hae-in says. Whether the two of them have a beef remains unclear, but there’s something there. “We’re about to leave,” Hae-in turns to me and gives me a pout. “India wanted me to take her back to her hotel. Right?”

Yup, there’s a beef. Kai doesn’t like his response.

“I’m ready now,” I say. I pull out my cell and group-text the twins.

India: I’ve got a ride back to the hotel.

Finn: Who?

Sawyer: Stay your a*s put, Indy.

India: Too late. See you back at the hotel.

I stand at the same time as Kai and Hae-in.

“Can I have a word with you?” Kai asks. He clears his throat and says, “In private.”

This is new.

“Why?”

“I’d rather not say in front of them.”

It must be about my session with him today. If Lola were here, she’d tell me to stay a step ahead and put his a*s on blast. The Danvers don’t play. Ever.

“If this is about our session, I missed this morning, don’t worry about it.”

“India, you don’t understand,” Kai tries to explain, but I don’t want to hear what he has to say. I hold my hand up in front of his face.

“Stop right there.”

“India, we should leave.” Hae-in puts his hand on my shoulder. I don’t argue. It’s pointless, and he’s right. I need to go. I make my way over to the door. I’m super aware of my surroundings. The rain outside beats a constant rhythm on the pavement. The smell of wet concrete and grass smells the same here as it does back home. When did it start to rain?

Hae-in’s voice is low. “Where are you staying?”

I give him the name of the hotel and he signals for a taxi. I’m quiet and reflective the entire ride to the hotel. I shouldn’t be butt-hurt about him ditching me. I don’t have any connection to him. Kai is my doctor. Sort of. The twins brought me on this trip to catch my breath and put things in perspective. They wanted me to talk to someone, but honestly, I don’t feel that I need to talk to Kai. The journal helped. If I just continue to talk to Zoe in that way, I think I can get by. I’m so deep in thought; I don’t realize I’m crying.

“Could you not cry, please?”

“Huh?”

“If you keep crying, I’ll have no choice but to distract you.”

What could distract me? I never get the chance to ask. Soft lips connect with mine. Tentative at first. His warm lips open slightly over mine. Open mouth kisses with no tongue, but intense. His hand caresses my cheek while his other hand holds my head in place as he continues to press his lips against mine. The twins would not have been so nice or warm with me. Passionate, yes, but Finn’s hands would have been gripping my waist, pulling me toward him, and Sawyer would have been holding me by my throat as he manhandled me. Not Hae-in. His grip is gentle on my head. Like he’s giving me an option to accept his kiss or pull away. Both our eyes are open, and his amber gaze is intense. There are authentic emotions there in his depth. The meaning behind his eyes is clear. He doesn’t want to push me, but he wants me to allow him to take his time. It almost feels like he wants to get behind the closed doors of my heart to the deepest and darkest place of my soul.

It scares me.