Hotel Blue Moon (Inspired by Hotel Del Luna)

Chapter 4: Someone we can trust

"How do we start?" Do Hwan asked expectantly.
"Honestly, I have no idea. I don't have any experience in hiring managers to ghost hotel, I told you." 
"Well.. how did the previous owner hired you then?" 
Chan Seong chuckled at Do Hwan's question.
"Short story, she caught my father trying to steal flower from the Moon Tree and made him promise to send me to work here in exchange for his life. She tracked me down all my life and forced me to work for her by giving me the power to see ghosts. I almost died several times in the process." 
Do Hwan's jaw dropped. "This is the short version?" 
"Believe me. If I want to, I can make it into a series with at least 16 episodes." Chan Seong laughed. Do Hwan joined him, in disbelief.

"I still don't know how to hire a manager." Do Hwan said, tired.
Chan Seong knows how much the owner is responsible for the hotel. Do Hwan has to think of  something to have a shot at eternal peace.
"There is something we can do, but it's probably gonna be a mad idea." Chan Seong spoke. Do Hwan's ears perked up.
"i'm ready to do anything." 
As Chan Seong shared his idea, Do Hwan couldn't believe what he was hearing.  "Are you crazy? You want me to do that?" 
"Hey! You told me you're up for anything!" Chan Seong defended himself.
Do Hwan sighed. He has no choice but to do this plan now.

*

"I still can't believe your plan was to reveal my identity and my hotel to someone." Do Hwan sat in the car, grudgingly. 

Later that day, Chan Seong had tugged Do Hwan along to his hotel in Gangnam. Do Hwan tried resisting, giving excuses that the moon tree will follow him if he was out long, but Chan Seong didn't listen. 
"Are you forgetting that I was with Man Weol until a few days ago? Nothing will fly with me." Chan Seong had said when Do Hwan protested.  
On the way to the hotel, there was an uncomfortable silence in the car. Both of them didn't know what to talk about, it was almost suffocating.
"So," Chan Seong started. "When you left my home the other day, I actually googled you." Do Hwan's heart, if he had one, would have stopped.
Chan Seong continued. "But, it is not my business. So I didn't search anything. I just wanted to let you now." 
Do Hwan kinda felt a certain warmness he hadn't felt before. All his life, surrounded by intrusive people, now someone actually cared about his business? Is he telling the truth though?
"Really? You didn't search anything?" Do Hwan inquired. 
Chan Seong nodded. "I just wanted to let you know that no matter what you did for you to own the hotel, you will soon find peace from it. Even if it takes a long time, you will."
Do Hwan was quiet. He doesn't know who Chan Seong really  is, but he felt comfortable with talking to him about his feelings. He didn't think what he did was forgivable, but it is still nice to hear people like Chan Seong are there for him to trust and fall back on. 
"Thank you.. for saying that." Do Hwan looked at him. Chan Seong just smiled in reply.

*

The duo reached Chan Seon's hotel 'The Venture' in Gangnam. This is one of the biggest hotel in Korea, and Do Hwan couldn't believe Chan Seong worked here, let alone be the General Manager. Both were welcomed in to the hotel by a few staffs, and Chan Seong asked for a certain Manager Ma, asked one of the staffs to send him to his office. As a newbie hotel owner, Do Hwan took mental notes of Chan Seong's behavior. They both headed to Chan Seong's office, Do Hwan was certainly impressed by his authority here. 'No wonder he was the manager of the guest house of the moon previously.' He thought.

There was a knock on the door. A man in his late forties entered the room. 
"Yes sir, you called for me?" The man asked, in a calm voice.
"Mr. Ma, meet Mr. Do Hwan. He is a very close friend of mine. I'd like to ask if there are staffs or interns in our hotel who would like to take up extra responsibilities. Is there anyone you trust?"
Mr. Ma thought for a while. Do Hwan and Chan Seong looked at each other. Mr. Ma brightened up. 
"Ah yes, in fact.. there is an intern here. A meticulous girl. I can't think of any person other than her." 
Do Hwan looked at Mr. Ma intently. "Mr. Ma, this is an almost impossible project. Will she be up for it?"
Mr. Ma looked thoughtful again. "Of course sir, I trust her to do a good job. "
"Okay Mr. Ma, would you call her to my office? I'd like to confirm myself." Chan Seong replied. Mr. Ma bowed at them and left.
"That's it?!" Do Hwan said in disbelief. Chan Seong smiled. 
"I don't know, let's not get carried away yet."
A minute later, there was a knock on the door again. This time a woman peaked around. She was dressed in the hotel's uniform, a smart, cut skirt. Her hair was up in a pony tail. She should be in her twenties, Do Hwan thought. 
"Mr. Ma said you called for me, sir?" The woman asked, standing with her arms folded.
"Yes, you can sit down while we talk, please." Chan Seong replied. 
Do Hwan felt like he had to ask something, he cleared his throat. "What is your name?" He asked the girl.
"Jung Ae Ra, sir. I'm an intern here."

*

"Miss Jung, what I'm about to tell you, is something that cannot be comprehended, it could be hard to believe, but listen to me first. Is that okay?" Do Hwan asked her very softly.
"I don't understand..?" She turned to look at Chan Seong. He nodded.
"I'll try." Ae Ra said, almost bewildered. 
"Have you heard of this legend, about a hotel- I mean a guest house, where lost souls could rest before continuing their journey?" This is a long shot, but Do Hwan had to take this.
"I think everyone heard this as a kid, it's a fairy tale. Guest House of the Moon, right?"  Ae Ra said, confused.
"Right. Except, it is not a fairy tale." Do Hwan said, smiling.
"What? I don't understand wh-" Ae Ra was interrupted by Do Hwan's bold voice.
"It's called the Hotel Blue Moon now." 
"How would you know that?" Ae Ra was more confused now.
"I know this, because I'm the owner." Do Hwan smiled.
"I'm sorry, what now? Sir, what is going on?" Ae Ra turned to look at Chan Seong, who had gone through this already. But she doesn't know that, does she?
"It's true Miss Jung. Mr. Do Hwan here wants to offer you a job, but it is entirely your choice to go or not."
"Wait, a job? At the spirits hotel?" Do Hwan liked the fact that Ae Ra didn't say 'Ghost hotel'. 
"With all due respect sir, I don't know if this is a prank or not." 
"Don't worry Miss Jung, it's not a prank. I have been in the Guest house before, I was a manager there, in fact." Chan Seong tried to diffuse the situation, but Ae Ra looked visibly shocked.
"You were a manager there?? What the-" Ae Ra stopped herself from cursing. Do Hwan couldn't control his laughter.
"I know it is a huge thing to ask, but if you'd like to visit the hotel, I'll take you. Maybe then you will believe me." 

Jung Ae Ra's mind raced. "What do they want? Maybe my kidneys? Is it our GM's side business??" She couldn't help but smack her head for thatt absurd thought. Chan Seong laughed.
"This is huge, he doesn't expect you to make a decision right away. You can visit the hotel if you want, or talk to me if you have doubts. It is your choice to go or not." 
Do Hwan knew he shouldn't be disappointed if she chose otherwise, but he thought there is a huge problem if she didn't.