Chaebol in Paradise

3.

The arrangement was discussed with Mr Pero. He was delighted to see me back in my suite but shared his concern about our arrangement. “Mr Han is a gentleman. I assure you. He's always been kind to our staff. But you barely know him and you're sharing a room with him?” he asked after the suite stealer went to the suite to unpack his bags.

In the midst of our rivalry, I had not even asked for his name. Mr Pero was right to be concerned. How could I share a room with him when I didn't even know his name?

“You know how badly I want the suite. Like you said, he's a gentleman. I'll be fine. If I feel uncomfortable at any moment during my stay, I will alert you,” I told him. He nodded.

I walked into the suite, now occupied by Mr Han. He was on a call speaking to someone in a language I did not understand. But I could identify that it was Korean.

I watched Korean dramas on occasion because my sister begged me to. She loved kdramas more than anything in the world. She'd probably think the suite arrangement was the beginning of a love story. In the many episodes of Business Proposal and Vincenzo I had watched, I could not grasp any Korean. Subtitles sufficed.

I was glad though that we had some escape from each other. He'd probably gossip about me to his friends back home and I'd do the same in my native language. I'd tell them all about the arrogant man who stole my suite without mercy.

I unpacked the suitcase I had angrily packed clothes into several minutes ago. “Han Min-jun,” I heard him say as he walked towards me. “Huh?” “My name is Min-jun. I didn't introduce myself properly earlier-well, I couldn't, given the circumstances. “Oh. Okay.” “You're not going to tell me your name?” “I was going to get to that. Do you have no patience at all?” I asked. He smiled. “Lingomso,” I said. “Took you long enough. Good. Now we know what names to give our hired assassins.”

I scoffed. I wouldn't hire an assassin. I was broke. Not really but why hire someone for something you wouldn't mind doing yourself?

“Alright, Ling. Which side of the bed are you taking?” he asked. “My mom calls me that. Lingomso is fine,” I said. “You can't dictate what I call you. If your mom calls you that then it's even better,” he said. “You're a stranger who stole my suite. She gave birth to me and raised me for 26 years,” I said.

“Ah, so you're twenty six? Makes sense.” “How old are you? 14?” “I'm flattered. Truly. But no, I'm 29 for a few days and then I will be much older,” he said. “You'll be ancient.” He rolled his eyes. “Wait, is it your birthday this week?” I asked. He nodded.
“Please don't say your birthday is on Thursday, I will evaporate,” I said. “For that very reason I wish it was Thursday but no, Friday. Why is Thursday so important to you?” “Why did you have to be born the day after my birthday?” I asked.

“Poor planning on your parents' side. Look at us sharing birthdays and suites. Isn't this a match made in paradise?” My face was blank. He needed to stop talking. “Get it? Because we're on Paradiso Island?” he explained. “Don't explain your joke, Minimum. It's embarrassing.”

“That's a terrible nickname.” “I think it's perfect.” “Back to serious business, which side are you taking?” he asked. “The one near the window. You take the one near the bathroom.” “That sounds like a really bad deal,” he said. “Well, you shouldn't have asked if you wanted to choose,” I said. “It's settled then, you're sleeping near the bathroom.”

“No. That's not what I said,” I argued. “Barely significant, anything you say really.” “You know, in most cultures around the world, it's most common for the guy to sleep nearest to the door because he'll be there to keep the girl safe if anything happens. And Mr Pero told me that you're a gentleman,” I said, softening my voice to sound sweet.

The infamous smirk appeared on his face. “Equal rights, right? And you seem like a strong independent woman. Times have changed. Maybe you'll be the one to save my life,” he said. I gave up. “You made me choose so that you could take whatever I chose.” “Smart, right?” “Pathetic.”

“I'm going to shower so…” “You want me to leave?” I saw an opportunity. “I'm not going anywhere. If you're not comfortable in your own body, then I overestimated you. I'm not even in the bathroom. I'll stay put, in fact, I'll sit on your side of the bed,” I said before strutting into the bedroom. “That's creepy. Even if you think you're being funny, staying here while I change is really weird,” he said. “Don't care.” He shook his head, grabbed his toiletries and went to the bathroom.

I use that time to go through my messages. My mother had left dozens of texts asking if I was safe. My sister had left one saying, “take pictures of hot island boys”. I could only hope to see people I'd be interested in. Min-jun was handsome, very handsome. It hurt to look at him and think that he was a terrible person when he looked like that.

I'd have to find company besides the hotel staff and Kufi if I wanted to survive the trip. Spending time in the suite all week was no longer a viable plan.

After a while, he re-entered the bedroom with a towel around his waist. I looked away immediately. There was no way I was going to let him catch me staring at him. “You know what's more effective than looking away? Leaving the room,” he said. Slowly, I got up and left the room. Admittedly, I did my walk of shame. But I'd be back to win the next round.