September Peony (12 Months Series - Part 2)

Chapter 08

Joon Gi has a light lunch and then goes to the clinic to let the doctor check his arm. Joon Gi feels it getting stiff and sore again and plans to ask the doctor for some pain killers. Joon Gi enters the clinic and goes to the reception to tell the woman behind counter he came for an appointment.
"I'm sorry, sir," sighs the lady and clicks on mouse several times and clicking her tongue while checking on a computer screen. "Doctor Bishop was called away in an urgent business. You can wait for his substitute, doctor Mars, to check your arm. However Dr. Mars is already handling all the appointments, so there is a considerable delay."
Joon Gi is about to ask her about some other date for appointment when lady Freya walks out of one of the door and heads to the reception with thick folder.
"Good afternoon, lady Freya!" Greets her Joon Gi. Freya is wearing a turtle-neck again and a doctor coat. Joon Gi didn't really think about it last time, but it's not that cold around. Isn't she feeling hot in such warm clothes? "What brings you here?" He asks.
Freya places the folder on the counter and looks into his eyes. They are big, beautiful but somehow lifeless and cold like eyes of a doll. They are missing some spark, some inner light that would give them more lively look. Freya speaks with quiet voice. "Good afternoon, sir. I don't understand your question. I'm a doctor. This is a clinic. Where else should I be? I'm more astonished by your presence here. Are you okay, sir?"
Joon smiles. She also talks more like a doll than like a real person. "I came for a check with my arm."
"I was telling him, he has to wait with the others for Dr. Mars." Steps the receptionist in.
"What happened to Dr. Bishop?" Asks Freya.
"He was called away. Some emergency."
Freya nods and looks back to Joon Gi. "I can check your arm, if you have no objections. You won't have to wait."
"That would be very kind of you, lady Freya."
"I'm Dr. Arran." Corrects him Freya. "Follow me to the Dr. Bishop's consulting room." She leads him to a small and perfectly clean office. She closes the door and steps to the file to find his folder. "Before I check your records, you can tell me what happened to your arm."
Joon Gi briefly explains the circumstances. "It's still a bit soar and because I want to go for a horse ride tomorrow..." Joon Gi doesn't finish the sentence. It is obvious he just wants to be prescript some pills.
Freya is focused on the records for a while, then she puts them on a table and asks Joon Gi to sit on the examination bed and take his shirt off. Joon Gi obeys and watches Frey taking another pair of latex gloves and putting them over a pair she is already wearing. She steps to him and examines the bruise. She gently presses it and asks Joon Gi to hold it in front of him. Joon Gi's fingers are shaking a little bit. "What did Dr. Bishop say about the shaking?"
"He said it will disappear in time."
Freya frowns a little bit and looks into the records again. "I would like to make MRI."
"Is anything wrong?" Asks Joon Gi.
"Not at all. It was a massive blow to your arm and I'd like to be 100% sure there are no permanent damages."
Freya takes him to another room with large white magnetic tunnel. Joon Gi takes his shirt off again and lies on the cold surface. Soon it moves and he goes inside the tunnel. It only takes few minutes. Then they go back to the office. Joon Gi sits in the armchair and Freya starts to analyse the images from magnetic resonance.
"Would you mind if I ask you about your sister?" Starts Joon Gi shyly.
"You have to be more specific, sir. I have 11 sisters." Replies Freya all focused on her computer screen.
"Godiwa... I mean, I would like to ask you about lady Godiwa."
Freya gives him a quick cold glance. "Godiwa is very scrupulous about her privacy. You can try asking but I can't promise you I will be given an answer."
"Fair enough." Nods Joon Gi. He sighs. "I'd like to know one thing. Is there... I mean... Is Godiwa seeing someone?"
Freya looks at him and tilts her head to the side a little bit. Her doll eyes are emotionless and look like made of glass. "I have bad news and good news for you. The good news is, your arm will be alright, as Dr. Bishop said. Bad news is, that I can't share such a personal information about my sister with you. Maybe if you rephrase it."
"Rephrase it?"
"I can't possibly tell personal information however Godiwa's family status isn't confidential and so is the fact whether there are any official suitors."
"I see." Smiles Joon Gi. "So please, could you tell me everything you can and is connected to Godiwa's love life?"
Freya's eyebrows go up. She looks like a frightened doll now. "Your rephrased question is even more astonishing than the original one."
"Lady Freya," sighs Joon Gi, "I'm no teenager. My mother is desperately begging me to finally settle down and have children. And the only woman I can see is your sister Godiwa. I love her most sincerely and I'd like to show it to her but I keep crushing into the wall of her fears. I'm going to be entirely honest with you to avoid any kind of misunderstanding here. I intend to marry Godiwa. I'm aware it might take some time but I truly believe we were made for each other. If you are not willing to help me, just say it now. I will accommodate to that fact. If you have any questions you'd like to ask, I'm here to answer them."
Freya stays silent for a while. "I think you are going to fail." Says Freya. "Don't take me wrong. I have nothing against you but you should know that Godiwa doesn't need you. She is independent and powerful and wealthy by her own. I understand you are an actor and your biggest role in western film was a supportive role in some zombie film? No offense but you are aiming a bit too high. Godiwa is pursued by astonishingly wealthy men for more than a decade and none of them made it to even one to one meeting with her. What makes you believe, you have any chance?"
So the porcelain doll is pretty hard, thinks Joon Gi. Freya is showing no emotions. It's apparent she sees nothing but a fool in him. Joon Gi gives her his brightest and cutest smile. "I'm meeting lady Godiwa tomorrow morning for a horse ride. It's going to be just the two of us. If no one reached that stage before me, I believe I have a pretty good chance." Joon Gi could mention he was meeting her at night the whole time in his dreams but that would sound creepy. Also he doesn't count the accidental encounter on the beach. That was just a coincidence.
Freya sighs. "We will see. I don't intend to help you fooling my sister. No! Do not interrupt me. Let's assume I believe your tales about being in love with Godiwa, even though I consider it to be a lie. However let's pretend I believe it. You have no idea what you are getting into. Godiwa has never loved anyone. Not ever. Her marriage was arranged, her husband was gay diagnosed with AIDS. He died after two years teaching her all the tricks of politics and her nursing him. She has no real friends, no lovers, no social life. She has no experiences with children. Are you sure you want to spend the rest of your life with woman like Godiwa? Because she will never leave London, you know. She sacrificed everything to her career and even if she falls in love with you, she will never drop her responsibilities. She will never follow you to Korea."
"I would never ask her to do so..."
"So what? You move to London? And what do you intend to do there? You have no proper skills. Do you want to become a trophy husband supported by his rich and hard-working wife? Do you really expect me or any of the sisters to agree with this?"
"Lady Freya!" Sighs Joon Gi and he tries to control his temper. "You don't know me. I don't blame you for suspecting me of such an outrageous behaviour but it's genuinely offensive. I'm excellent award winning actor..."
"Korean awards, sir. I have never seen you at the Golden Globes, Academy Awards, Berlinale or BAFTA."
"No matter what you say, I'm pretty persistent and I'm sure I could find a job in London or anywhere else."
"You are one hopeless optimist, sir."
"Maybe but you told me everything I wanted to know. Even the confidential details. Good day to you, Dr. Arran." Joon Gi jumps on his feet and leaves the office as quick as possible. That little sister is one cold bitch! He would love to see her face when she realizes she told him Godiwa has no lover and she never had, that she is basically friendless and never experienced true affection. Well, no matter what that doctor thinks, Joon Gi is really good at one thing – romance!

Joon Gi can't sleep at night. He keeps turning left and right in the bed, his mind can't slow down. He's nervous and anxious, he keeps worrying about the morning horse ride. He tried to come up with something to impress Godiwa. He considered the good old classic ideas like bouquet of flowers, chocolate, beautiful jewellery, elegant shall, expensive handbag, stuffed animal... Nothing seemed good enough for Godiwa. She has enormous Eden garden just outside her house, as a duchess she owns hundreds years old pieces of art as jewellery and she is no teenager to fall for stuffed animal. Joon Gi feels hopeless and restless. He's got just this one chance and he can't afford to mess up. He has never felt this terrified before. He's going through proper panic attack. He feels Godiwa is the only woman he can ever love and share his life with but what if she won't be able to see it? How can he persuade her he is good man for her? What if she finds some flaw on him? What if she decides he's not good enough for her? And she has every right to get to this conclusion because she already has everything she needs and Joon Gi himself has nothing to offer. Nothing but himself. And that's not that much, to be honest. What if Godiwa gets to conclusion he's more trouble than benefit for her? What will Joon Gi do then? How will he continue living without a woman he knows is the one and only for him? Maybe he should give up now and spare himself the broken heart. He should do the wise thing, pack his suitcase and go back to Seoul. He should forget about the dream woman beyond his reach...
Joon Gi sighs and watches the sun rising. He can't just surrender and leave. He owes it to himself and to Godiwa as well. She has been alone her whole life, what kind of a man Joon Gi would become if he left her now? Maybe he doesn't have to show off his adoration and love by gifts. During their dream sessions she never even mentioned something materialistic she would long for. She just bright up when she can talk to someone, trust someone. Maybe this is what she wants – not a bread winner, not a master and guardian angel, she needs none of those. Godiwa doesn't need to lead someone, she does that all the time, she doesn't need to follow anyone, she wasn't born to do so. Godiwa needs someone who will walk beside her and be a partner to her. She obviously needs someone reliable, who earns her trust, who will let her to love him and who will love her back the way she deserves. Joon Gi loves her already with the whole of his heart. All he needs to do is to persuade Godiwa about it, make her believing in their future.