Apollo’s Heart - Chapter 36

Chapter 36 – Jealousy (2)

When Myung-je and Hye-seong abruptly arrived at the Hotel, Yuri greeted them at the reception in mild surprise.

“Mr. Jin,” she said, politely.

“Where is Hye-yeon? Why are you here instead of her?” He demanded gruffly.

“Um, that is because, um… Hye-yeon is away for a moment…”

She didn’t know what else to say, this was too sudden. Mr. Jin was supposed to be on a business trip, not in the lobby, and least of all looking for his truant daughter!

“For a moment? Then why are you in her uniform?”

His piercing eyes seemed to look right through her, she was intimidated.

At that moment, Hye-seong noticed her uniform and name tag – ‘Hye-yeon Jin’. Right then, Tae-jun’s words surfaced in his mind.

Yes. At H University Art Hall’s opening ceremony. She is such a talented lady.

H University’s opening ceremony….

One by one, the pieces started to fall in place. Yuri went to H university – Hye-seong recalled the day when he picked her up after school. She said she had an event to attend, and that day was possibly the day that Tae-jun referred to.

Hye-yeon and Yuri were so alike in height and silhouette. People often took them as sisters if not cousins. The girls hung out together too and were exceptionally close.

At that moment, the same thought flashed through Myung-je’s mind as well.

“Yuri,” he said, his stern gaze never once leaving her quivering face.

“Yes, yes sir.” She managed to say.

“Have… you… by any chance… attended H University Art Hall’s opening ceremony?”

“Yes, I did. Even though I could not make it to the exhibition.” She replied honestly.

Something glinted in the father’s eyes, and the son clenched his fist.

“I met someone who mistook you for Hye-yeon today. What happened?” Seeing how unsuspecting she was, he prodded.

Yuri sighed, she knew which situation the president was referring to. She had no other choice but to be forthright.

“There was a guest who’d left her belongings in the room, so I entered the room with a master key. However, the new guest checked in while I was in the room. He thought I was Hye-yeon, because of my name tag and I thought it was unnecessary to explain that I am not her. I am very sorry.”

Like a dead person, Myung-je’s face turned ghastly pale. It was this simple?

“And then, you met him at the opening ceremony?” Disbelief wreathed his eyes.

“I didn’t expect to see him there. I didn’t correct him because I didn’t think I’d ever see him again. Did something happen because of this?”

With a troubled face, Yuri looked at two men in front of her.

Did something happen? Yes, it did and it couldn’t be worse.

Having learned all that there was, without a word Myung-je and Hye-seong headed back home in silence. They sat on the bar. This turn of events, mistaken identity… their situation… one by one it played before their eyes.

The silent Myung-je quickly downed a glass of whiskey to calm his nerves.

“Father, we should give up on this plan. He’s mistaken Yuri for Hye-yeon.”

Hye-seong tried to comfort his father, but Myung-je murmured riddling things after downing two more drinks. A few moments later, he pulled out his cellphone and made a call.

“Get me everything about my driver’s daughter. Han.”

Hye-seong could not repress his shock. How could he not know what his sly father was up to?! He was trying to stage a fraud!

“Father! What are you doing? Are you…”

“What’s the problem? Hye-yeon, Yuri…..it doesn’t matter now!” He bellowed.

He’d been given an opportunity to survive, to fight back, and even rise… how could he let it go in vain? Whether it was his daughter or someone else’s, if she served his purpose, he would not shy away.

“No, not Yuri. Yuri is….” He was trembling.

Myung-je knew his son all too well. He was too softhearted for his own good. He detested such useless emotions.

“You moron! Do you still have a feeling for her? Didn’t I tell you I can’t accept her.”

<— Flashback Ends —>

A whiskey glass flew, and something flashed before Hye-seong’s eyes – darkness shrouded his sight. Hye-yeon’s voice brushed the rim of his ear.

“Ewww, I smell alcohol! It’s been a year already! You should really stop. By the way, where are the car keys? I need to go see Yuri now and dad took my keys away. Hey, brother! Where’s your key?”

Annoyed by Hye-yeon’s constant chattering, he pointed at the drawer. Little did he know it would be the last time he’d see his sister alive.

Two days later, when the police contacted him, what was waiting was a cold corpse of his sister.

She said she was going to see Yuri… to see Yuri….Yuri….

Yuri’s name incessantly echoed in Hye-seong’s mind, stirring his pain. After tossing and turning, he arduously lifted his eyelids. As deep as the pain in his shoulders pierced, as clear as his mind focused on some memories.

I am sorry…

The memory of Yuri became vivid and apparent to Hye-seong again. To him, she was enchanting, even when she turned her back on him. With vacant eyes, he murmured.

“You shouldn’t have come back, so I could forget you.”

⸙

The rain continued until dawn. Tae-jun was looking out the window.

One such rainy night, he’d cast a furtive glance on the back of a woman. Quiet and pensive, she seemed to be immersed in looking out of the window. She was oblivious to her surroundings, it appeared only the pitter-patter of the rain and she existed in her world.

What was she thinking about?

That was what he’d asked himself then. That’s what he asked even now.

Often, that scene would revisit Tae-jun. And each time, he wondered what could’ve been going through her mind in that moment. On a night like this, his own question was unbearable to him. He’d thought he could read Yuri like a book, but in fact, he’d come to realize he knew nothing about her.

Day by day, he had more sleepless nights. He’d experienced insomnia before, but not as bad as now – he reckoned he might need to take sleeping pills.

When another cigarette was lit, the buzzing of his phone broke the dismal silence. There was only one person who would call him this late at night. As if he already knew who the caller was, Tae-jun pressed the button without even glancing at the screen.

– “Hello”

“Any progress?” Tae-jun never bothered with pleasantries and got straight to the brasstacks.

– “Well, I think I am going to be on a date with a nurse who happens to work at the clinic Yuri undergoes her therapy. Which means, we’re getting close to her medical records. I’ve done more research about what Yuri does for a living. She is an assistant to some well-known plastic artist named ‘Roy Jean’.”

“Assistant?”

– “Yes, kind of, like a helper. But you know, some people say assistant, and others say something else. Sponsors and patrons are common in this field. From what I’ve heard, their relationship is ambiguous. People don’t think Yuri is just an assistant to him. This Roy Jean guy has a reputation of his own. Seems like he turned into a womanizer ever since his wife’s passing, and that’s why he came to Korea before.”

Clenching his fists, Tae-jun bit the bullet.

How dare you to find someone else?! By the way, the name sounds familiar– Roy Jean. I must’ve heard of him somewhere. But where?

While Tae-jun was lost in thoughts, Jay brought up something unexpected.

– “So here comes the highlight. Do you know where Roy Jean traveled for work with Yuri? I will give you a hint.”

“Stop clowning around.”

When he detected fury in Tae-jun’s voice, Jay checked himself and hastened his reply.

– “All right, all right. You have such a hot temper! The answer is… DaeJin Department Store in Korea… Where Mr. Tae-Jun Seo’s fiancée works as a director! What a coincidence, isn’t it?”

Jae-won’s voice echoed in his mind.

For Hotel Seoin’s lobby, what do you think about a piece from Roy Jean?

He’s Korean-American, and the hotshot plastic artist in the States nowadays. Daejin also purchased one of his works recently. I’ve met with his assistant before, so I can definitely help get in contact with him.

At the hotel, and at the department store – moments he did not care flashed before his eyes.

Subconsciously, his teeth grit and fists clenched.

Darn it, Yuri Han was right in front of him!