A LEAP OF FAITH

Fourth Step

Fourth Step

The Timber House

Gangnam, Seoul

February 19, 2002

12:10 a.m.

Jung Jin

"You are the last person I expected to say that you were in Korea," I said. "I missed your text. I was still in San Francisco at that time. Weren't you just here a month ago?."

Shawn smiled as the bottle of sake was deposited between us. Picking up the fluorescent green bottle of Juyondai, I poured a generous amount to both our cups. On the table sat a plate with freshly shucked oysters and pickled pear jelly, as well as a platter of sashimi, accompanied by bright wasabi and ribbons of ginger. I watched as my friend took a sip of the fragrant and delicate liquor before picking up my chopsticks and helping myself to some fresh tuna.

We were sitting at the lit bar on high red checked stools in the middle of the restaurant. It was still quite full, surprising for a weeknight, though its occupants were mainly foreigners. The bar was flanked on one side by beige and grey checkered armchairs and round wooden tables. The lighting was dim, cozy, meant to emulate the sake bars in Japan. It was one of my favorite places, another testament to my friend's good taste when I received the text asking me to meet here.

"Why were you in San Francisco again?" Shawn asked over the cup. "I thought you said that you and JJ needed to figure out what you were doing?"

"Nah, it all got ironed out sooner than I thought," I answered offhandedly before I realized what my friend just said. "What did you say?" I asked, confused, and Shawn gave me a sly smile. "What did you call him?"

"JJ Kim. He IS your client, right?" The question was asked lightly and I raised my eyebrows.

"I never told you his name," I said. "I could have sworn I never said his name."

"You didn't," Shawn replied. "But how many Korean baseball players with a Korean manager were there in the MLB? I'm not stupid, you know. I figured it out."

"You're right," I agreed with a resigned sigh.

"It wasn't that hard, Ethan."

I lifted my eyes in surprise at the use of my English name, before I smiled. "You're the only one left who even calls me that."

"Really?" Shawn asked. "What about the woman you were seeing in the States? Did she never call you that?"

Dammit. I had forgotten that I had mentioned her before. Talk about ridiculous and premature declarations.

It's been three weeks since the last night I saw her, and I hardly even remember her anymore. Not her greenish brownish eyes. Not her mouth with the full lower lip. Not even the heady scent of her.

I don't remember anything at all.

"She didn't call me Ethan," I said quickly, my voice gruff, downing the sake in one go. "She never knew my English name."

"What did she call you then?" Shawn asked curiously. "Don't tell me she called you Jung Jin."

"She never addressed me by my first name. She always called me Mr. Lee."

"What?" Shawn asked, amused. "No kidding?"

"Nope," I answered. "She always called me Mr. Lee."

At this, my old friend broke out in loud guffaws, the laughter thoroughly bemused. I saw a hand fly up to cover the sound before I motioned for another bottle of sake.