North - South

Ri Cheong-ryeol, former Minster, still a father

The handkerchief he had tied around her ponytail was still there, where he had wanted for it to be. Looking for some faint brave, alone in that unknown place where the former Foreign Minister had ordered his men to close her in, Se-ri slipped off her head the small, checkered cotton to close it in between her hands. To cling to it. 

It smelled Ri Jeong Hyeok.

Ri Jeong Hyeok, who always said it was the Ministry when it was clear it was him the one who was helping her.

Ri Jeong Hyeok, who, in the night, walking to the kitchen for a glass of water, always stopped to check if her blanket was ok and adjusted it to keep her warm, thinking she was sleeping. She wasn't.

Ri Jeong Hyeok, who always said il eob seo when nothing was fine. 

Ri Jeong Hyeok who listened to her. Who smiled at her, who chuckled with her.

Ri Jeong Hyeok, saranghae.

If, at a first moment, Se-ri had tried to keep herself cool and take it rationally - ok, after that treat, it could be said that she couldn't consider Ri Cheon Ryeol an old friend of her dad. But why acting like that? -, now she had to admit that the fear was winning over her. Which were the man's intentions? Why closing her in such a place? And would have he found her soon enough this time?

And, in the end, the rage. Why being so hostile? Why putting her in... what was that? A storage room? Her look roved around that place. It stopped in front of an unmistakable red light.

"Oh, really?" Old perv! She jumped to stand in front of the camera. "What are you doing? Spying me? I did nothing. I'm here legally, check it! I... bah, I don't even know why I'm wasting my time explaining myself. Do what you want, it can't be worse than this."

Ishhh, such a vain, arrogant capitalist! Some manners! Ri Cheong-ryeol observed her through the screen. She was bolding to get upset. She!

"Do you prefer for me to take care of it, Sir? I can do it tonight."

"Ani. What is this, 2010?" And, to say it all, that last 'fact' that happened in 2010 had been just a mistake. "Bring her here."

"Drink."

Se-ri sniffed the cup, not taking a sip as ordered, though - "Shitake mushrooms, it's good." 

It was the businesswoman, the one who was now sitting in front of the former Foreign Minister. If she wanted to hope for a fair trade, she wouldn't have achieved it by playing the good girl. Because it was clear that he would have never considered her a good girl, that the only thing he could see while looking at her was her family name.  

The whole diplomatic world knew what had happened to her dad. And at least half of them considered all her family scammers. But this was a pro - she appealed to her optimism - because if that man knew, he also had to know that she was with no money and no choice. She was harmless.

"Why you're not drinking, then?"

"Thank you but excuse me if I don't feel like accepting your kindness after you kidnapped me." 

"I shouldn't feel like offering tea to a woman who has sneaked inside my son's house." Slightly offended, the old man adjusted on his armchair. If that western wanted to go straight to the point, then he was ready. "What do you want from him?"

"Excuse me?" Oh, that was rich! "I do want to go home. I tried, for days, in many ways. I even walked alone in the dark and forgive me but who is the fool who has decided that building so many buildings was a good idea? The Juche Tower is impossible to find now. I sent you a note, asking for your help. One day I was working on my due diligence and the day after I discovered that adieu, I couldn't go home. And if you send a note, they give it to the wrong person. My guide. For the records, she should work for the Ministry. Worst service ever."