Bad X Bad: My Dear Hana - Chapter 8

“Will you teach me how to cook this?” He asks the befuddled cook who looks at the madam for help. What’s wrong with the young master?

“Sejin, why are you interested in cooking suddenly?” Madam Do asks him with concern.

“I am curious too.” Seol A stares at him. She has an epiphany. “Don’t tell me that you want to cook for your girlfriends?”

“I want it to learn for my survival.” He drinks the juice. “Recently, I have realized that cooking is a life skill.”

Do Hwan Seok is surprised that his wayward son would say something like that. Usually, he lets him do anything he wants. “Why cooking?”

“If I am stranded on an island someday, I need to know basic skills to survive.” Do Sejin can’t forget last night or the taste of coffee that he made. This cooking skills might come in handy when he is staying over at other women places. It is not just for Ahn Hana. Besides he wants her to fall in love with him to break that pride of hers, it is important to entrap her through senses. He needs to reawaken her taste buds first. He is sure that they are dead.

“If you are stranded on an island, you would need a completely different set of skills to survive.” His father comments. “I can arrange for you to learn all of that. It will be good for your growth both mentally…” He pauses and looks at his son who still manages to look like a high schooler. “And physically.”

“Does it involve cooking?” Do Sejin asks curiously. He knows that he isn’t pleasing to Ahn Hana’s eyes because of his flower boy looks. He never thought that he would be doing this. Usually, university girls are naturally attracted to him like bees to flowers. But, she is a different deal. It must be because of her age. He needs to look more handsome than her first love who is also someone older.

Now, it is his goal to look older.

“I will arrange for it.” Hwan Seok smiles to himself. “Seol A, you are also going.”

“Why?” Seol A asks, looking aggrieved.

“These skills will help you become mentally strong. You will become physically fit.” Hwan Seok is having a good time. Through this, he will get some time of peace. His eldest son is always thinking about women. His daughter is always thinking about celebrities. He doesn’t know where they got this habit from. He and his wife are normal people. Maybe, they will come back with some life lessons and change their ways. “Your uncle will teach you everything.”

Sejin and Seol A protest together. “No way!”

“You can’t back out now.” He looks at his wife. He isn’t the type to let go of this opportunity.”Prepare their luggage.”

The siblings are trapped.

***

After two weeks, Seol A and Sejin are back with tanned bodies. Madam Do welcomes them with a wide smile. They sit on the couch with a thump.

“We are back to civilization,” Do Sejin tells his mother with a lost expression.

“It wasn’t life skills.” Seol A puts her head on his brother’s shoulder. “I will never go for something like this.”

“I wasted two weeks because of this.” Do Sejin has the biggest loss. Ahn Hana has given him only a month and he has already lost two weeks. Did she already forget about him? She hasn’t called him once.

“Did you learn life skills?” Madam Do asks them. “How was it spending time with your uncle on the island?”

How to prepare someone for the life skills in Do Hwan Seok’s way? Send them on a trip to an isolated island with their uncle who is a retired soldier from the military. Their father has used the opportunity well because he knows that he won’t get the same chance again.

Sejin: “I don’t know how many times…”

Seol A: “We nearly died.”

Sejin: “He made us fight wild animals.”

Seol A: “Eat raw bugs.”

Sejin: “I will never…”

Seol A: “Trust father again.”

“My poor children!” Madam Do pats their heads. “Sejin, did you learn cooking?”

“I learned a lot more than cooking.” Sejin sighs. “Father is going far in politics in the future.”

“Of course.” Madam Do grins at them. “Sejin, you also have to become a good lawyer. Your father would need you in the future. You are the hope of the family.”

“…” Sejin gets up and walks to his room. He takes a quick bath. Later, he calls Ahn Hana. He hopes that she hasn’t forgotten him. He must use the best of the 15 days that are left in their agreement.

[Hello]

He hears a woman’s voice on the phone.

“Ahn Hana?”

[I am her doctor. Ahn Hana is at the hospital. She can’t take your call right now.]

[Ji-Won, I am right here. Give me the phone.]

[I need you to rest, Hana. You keep forgetting your situation. Jung Kwang-Soo already asked you to take a break.]

[You are making a hill out of the mole.]

[Nearly being killed by a mob wasn’t enough for you. You got hit by a car. Did you forget about your head? Why would you take a case like this? The entire nation – ]

The call is hanged up.

What just happened when he wasn’t here? Sejin gets ready in a hurry. He calls Kim Dong-Woo. He is sure that Kim Dong-Woo would know because they keep themselves updated with famous cases in history.

[Yo, brother. You are back. There is a party at -]

“Dong-Woo, what happened to the 100th-day murder case?”

[Oh, that one? A few days after you left, the case was handed over to a famous lawyer who is trying to prove that the chaebol heir is not a killer. All the pieces of evidence are against him. It’s quite foolish of that lawyer. She is even asking for a reinvestigation. This looks like a new tactic to delay the final hearing before defense comes up with new tricks to save the Chaebol heir. That lawyer has a bad reputation of helping the bad people for money. The public has a strong negative reaction. A few days ago, she got attacked by the families of the victims outside her firm. When she was running away, she nearly got into an accident. She is at the hospital. The mob is outside the hospital, waiting for her to come out.]

Sejin drives to the hospital. The mob is protesting outside the hospital. The cops are having a hard time to control them. He slips through the door and goes to the receptionist.

“I am Ahn Hana’s friend. Where is she?”

The receptionist glares at him. “Tell me your name. I will confirm it with her.”

“Do Sejin.”

She calls someone and confirms it. Do Sejin is finally allowed to visit her. Her room is on the top floor, with guards outside her room. When he reaches there, he finds someone scolding her badly.

“What kind of person will take this case?” The lady doctor scolds her.

“Why don’t you scold Kwang-Soo? He is the one who made me take this.” Ahn Hana covers her ears. “I didn’t know that the public will react in this way.”

“Hana, you bȧrėly managed to come back from the death’s door.” The lady doctor lets out an exasperated sigh. “After your first accident, you were warned that you shouldn’t get another head trauma. If you do, you would ride the elevator to hell.”

“How are you sure that I would go to hell?” Ahn Hana eyes her. “I could go to heaven.”

“Seriously?” The lady doctor crosses her arms. “You believe that? You test results will come out in a few days. Your body is delicate. Take care of it well.”

“I take care of it. I exercise regularly. I don’t drink much. I eat a balanced diet.” Ahn Hana counts on her fingers. She finally sees Do Sejin. “Oh, you are here.”

“Who is he?” The lady doctor looks at him suspiciously. “Boy, you aren’t an ȧssassin, are you?”

“I am not.” Do Sejin laughs. “How are you doing, Ahn Hana?”

“I have been better.” She is honest. “Do Sejin, help me sneak out of this place.”

“AHN HANA!” The lady doctor screams at her. “Have you lost your head? You are not well.”

“I am perfect.” Ahn Hana waves her arms like an octopus. “The car didn’t hit me. It stopped before it could. You and Jung Kwang-Soo are too worried. I want to go back home and relax. If I stay here, you will keep scolding me.”

“You deserve scolding.” The lady doctor glares at Do Sejin. “If you help her, I will kill you.”

She leaves after that warning.

“She is a weird doctor, right?” Ahn Hana looks at Do Sejin. “Did you get a tan?”

“I was on a trip. That’s why I could not come and see you.” Do Sejin scrutinizes her with his eyes. “Does it hurt anywhere?”

“I am not hurt. I am here for a show.” She climbs off the bed and takes her clothes. She comes back from the bathroom after changing. “Let’s go. We are running away.”

“She told me that she would kill me if I help you.” Do Sejin is not afraid, but he doesn’t want her to be at risk. “There is a mob waiting for you outside.”

“Don’t you want your meals?” She asks him with a smile. “It’s long due, right?”

She knows exactly what to say.