1 Chapter 1: A Giddy Reunion: After a long farewell… Part A
A Fitness Gym.
People are working out here and there…
A rerun of an episode of a reality TV show, 'Run Away Man', which Do-Yoon was on, is playing on TV. Do-Yoon and several other popular computer program/game developers were on the show few weeks ago for the 'Brain Man' special episode.
Han Do-Yoon (30). 'Han Ra-Bong' was his original name, but because he has been made fun of by his name ever since Han Ra Bong [1] came into Korea, he went on a hunger strike at age 12 and was able to change his name to Do-Yoon. There are only few who knows Do-Yoon was Ra-Bong.
He became a top world ranking Pro Gamer back when he was in high school, then when he was in college, he retired from being a Pro Gamer and became a successful computer program/game developer and a CEO of a computer program/game enterprise 'Torey'. Because he has everything… a national treasure like looks like Jo In-Sung/Won Bin [2], an outstanding brain, wealth as much as other top-ranking wealthy man, and a kind heart that knows how to look after the ones in need… he has been voted as #1 most wanted man in a popular magazine for years. People call him as 'Do-Yoon The God' for being such a perfect man.
Well… that's pretty much who he is from outside. But in reality, ever since his company had built up to a certain point, he left everything to his assistant and have been living as a prodigal but not a prodigal like… just concentrating on computer/video games and figurines.
. .
TV Screen… The rerun of the episode.
Inside a car.
Some of the members and Do-Yoon were on their way to their next destination.
The members of the show started throwing questions at Do-Yoon.
"Heard this is actually your first time being on a TV show. Are you alright?"
"Yes… I'm actually a bit nervous."
"Our crew told us that they were actually worried earlier… wondering if you would escape."
'Ah…' Do-Yoon embarrassingly laughed as if he just recalled something.
The members went on with the conversation.
"Heard you escaped right before taping the show 'Silver Bell' back when you were a Pro Gamer."
"Ah… something happened back then…"
"Right~ Thanks for not running away today."
Do-Yoon answered embarrassingly laughing.
"I'll make sure to stay 'til the end today."
"Yes, please stay 'til the end."
"Anyway… Aren't such titles like Korea's Prince William + Mark Zuckerberg… National Treasure like Must Have Man… quite a bit of a burden?"
"It is actually. Quite a lot. Makes me cringe every time I get called by those names."
"But to tell you the truth… it actually does make us think you won't even need to go to the bathroom ever. [3]"
Do-Yoon shyly laughed.
"He's right. You were called as Jo In-Sung of the gaming industry ever since you were a Pro Gamer."
!!! 'Jo In-Sung'… The name echoed in Do-Yoon's ears… insanely increasing his anger gage. There are two people who Do-Yoon wants to shoot out to the space… and Jo In-Sung is one of them. But because he must not let it be known, he just acted as if being called by the name was making him shy by just shyly laughing.
One of the members went on.
"There were some who called him as Won Bin as well."
Shyly laughing clenching his teeth, Do-Yoon replied.
"Ae-Whew~ How can I dare to be called as such names… and I… actually will die if I don't go to the bathroom."
Everyone burst in to laughter. Then one of the members chimed into what Do-Yoon just said.
"Right. Actresses will also actually die if they only eat dew."
Then all of sudden, other member threw an unexpected question at Do-Yoon.
"Have you ever dated before?"
Do-Yoon froze not knowing what to say… then murmured.
"… Well…"
This other member barged in and scolded at the member who just threw the question.
"A~ Hyung [4]! What kind of question is that when he's already in his 30s?! (then to Do-Yoon) When was your first love?"
Seeing Do-Yoon looking perplexed, not knowing what to say, another member quickly threw another question at Do-Yoon.
"Well! What is first love to National Treasure like Must Have Man, Han Do-Yoon?"
Do-Yoon just awkwardly smiled not being able to say anything.
The member who just threw the question went on to bring an answer out from Do-Yoon.
"The rating for the show goes up by having you answer such question. Honestly, we actually need to even ask you who it was as well… but just asking you up to this instead since that will be quite difficult for you to answer."
Another member tried to help.
"What is first love like to Han Do-Yoon?"
After hesitating for a moment… Do-Yoon finally answered.
"Em… someone who I must meet again?"
"Ah~ Guess you must have some melodramatic story behind."
Do-Yoon thought for a second then said smirking.
"I need to pay back."
"… It's not… money… that you must pay back, is it?"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Do-Yoon answered chuckling.
"No. Just… something that you can't pay back with money…"
. .
Back to Gym.
Suddenly, the channel on the TV screen changed.
As Ha-Ri went on the running machine and changed the channel, rerun of a talk show 'Daring Reporters' started playing.
Ban Ha-Ri (30). Back when she was in high school, went to work as a background actress on a sitcom to earn some extra money and became an actress after getting picked up by an artist agency CEO, Na Dae-Pyo. She doesn't have the doll like beauty like Tae, Hye, Ji [5], but has swept all the TV dramas, movies, TV shows, and ads because of her breathtaking body figure and acting skills that just melts into the character… which led her to enter into Cannes and Hollywood even. She does get called as a world-class top star, but she always feels a bit awkward admitting that she is a top star because of inverse proportion between the industry's applaud for her competency and her popularity.
Ha-Ri runs on the running machine with her earphones on listening to the TV.
. .
TV Screen… The rerun of the episode.
Lee Gi-Ja, a reporter, began talking about an actress B's rumor.
"The top star 'B', who always had scored big on every show she worked on ever since she debuted and has been noted as an irreplaceable actress for melting into the character and making the character into herself, has never been in love scandal besides top star 'A' who has revealed her to be his first love and couple other actors who had been on the same show. But a rumor started spreading around lately that she will soon to get married to a 2nd generation of a conglomerate."
Another reporter chimed in.
"I've heard about that rumor as well. They were even saying she is getting married because she got pregnant."
Gi-Ja replied and went on, and in the background, one of the panels of the show asked another panel who they were referring to and looked shocked with her mouth wide open as the panel told her by writing the names down.
"Yes. Since it hasn't been covered on the news yet and because both sides aren't making official comment about the rumor, all sorts of malign rumors like pregnancy and threats have kept coming up. According to what I have confirmed, the rumor on the marriage itself wasn't true."
The host questioned.
"Well, to be honest, there are times when marriage rumors between celebrities and conglomerates actually turn out to be a fact when they are denied in the beginning."
Gi-Ja answered.
"But top start 'B' is actually the type who rather favors a nerdy like life style."
A panel budged in.
"Ah… nerds don't get married to conglomerates?"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Gi-Ja answered laughing.
"That's actually not what I meant. Although there have been few scandals, none of them were found out to be a fact, and she is well known to have her day just filled with work, working out, and her hobbies which even led to a rumor that she has never dated so far. And when she's not working on a project, it has been found that all she does is pretty much going on a trip with her family or volunteering for the ones in need. Therefore, there aren't many chances for her to mingle with other people besides her family and close friends. And this is just personal saying on the whole rumor, but she has been referring to the actor Jo In-Sung as her ideal type guy since her debut. Since there's 0% conformity between the man mentioned in the rumor and Jo In-Sung, it is very likely that it isn't true."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Several panels carried on with the topic amongst themselves.
"Well based on that standard, think the rumor would have been more realistic if it was Do-Yoon The God."
"Ah~ the 'T' Enterprise CEO who most women say they want to have?"
"You are making him sound like an object by calling him like that."
"Uh-Woo~ I want to have him myself."
Everyone giggled.
Gi-Ja giggling as well then went on.
"The one thing that I always felt sorry for top star 'B' was her competency being over casted by beauty of other actresses and that keeping her away from winning awards."
"Ah~ is top star 'B' ugly?"
Gi-Ja answered giggling.
"No. She actually has a jaw-droppingly awing body figure and she does have that 'wow she really is an actress~' awing look when she is with ordinary people. But since many other actresses have such awing beauty, she often gets compared to them and isn't getting enough love from the public because of it."
The host chimed in.
"That's right. If it is who I think it is… the producers, writers, and other celebrities always feel sorry for her because of it. She is one of a kind awingly competent actress. Well! Reporter Lee Gi-Ja, please sum it up for us now."
"Yes. Top star 'B'! Don't mind about such nonsense rumor… and just bask in Best Actress Award like glory by getting married to a man who is just as awing as Jo In-Sung."
. .
Back to Gym.
Lee Gi-Ja (32) boards on the running machine beside Ha-Ri's. Her real name is Gi-Ja [6]. Ha-Ri was her very first interviewee when she was an intern, and the two became close because of an incident later on. She often levels down from 'close reporter unnie [7]' to 'just a reporter' by bombing stories on Ha-Ri on the show 'Daring Reporters'.
Ha-Ri said taking her earphones off.
"It so is Ban Ha-Ri no matter who hears the story!"
"A~ I didn't say it was you. And plus, no matter how much I try to cover on the show, the ones who know just know. Don't underestimate the netizens in Korea."
"Why did you mention In-Sung Oppa [8]---"
"I was just wishing you a luck."
"You mean you had called the antis [9]."
"Don't his fans actually like you?"
"Like they will. It's not that they like me. It's more like ignorance. Like… 'Who cares? Her level itself doesn't even measure up to our Oppa's to begin with anyway.' You know?"
"Should I have woken up the sleeping Kang Hyun-Woo fans instead?"
"Well, they are always on guard with their eyes lightened up already."
Gi-Ja said chuckling.
"Right."
"Anyway, what started the rumor? Is he dating someone who looks like me?"
"No, don't think so. Reporter Hwang told me he heard his assistant talking about it to someone… and from another source… there's a rumor that President Tak is apparently threatening your agency with a merge of the two companies and marriage between you and his son. Although Na Dae-Pyo so firmly denied about it."
"Well, there's no reason for him to do such thing. It's not like our agency is like SM or YG. And moreover, I'm the only one that's tied in right now."
"That's true. Although I did hear that they are trying to expand their entertainment agency, just having you as their new addition is a bit not enough."
"What do you mean it is a bit not enough. It's quite a lot not enough."
"Anyway, it is okay for you to work out like this here right now? Looks like you will be very tight on schedule getting ready for the award show."
"Well, need to fit this peasant body into the precious dress."
"How many zeros is this precious dress worth this time?"
"Like… two or three times more than the cost of burgers you and I can eat every single day for over 100 years?"
"Ah, in that case… every bit of second you are sparing is worth indeed."
***
Same Moment.
Do-Yoon's House… Inside Do-Yoon's Secret Room.
TV drama that Ha-Ri was in before was playing on TV.
Looking like a zombie with dark circles coming down to his chin, Do-Yoon stared at the TV as if he was about to shoot laser beams out. Then he cut out Ha-Ri's photo from a magazine, glued it on a scrapbook, and began scribbling on it.
Do-Yoon then smirked like an evil and said.
"Ban Ha-Ri… just wait… we will meet soon! I will d.e.f.i.n.i.t.e.l.y! for s.u.r.e! pay back for what you've done!"
Behind Do-Yoon, a revenge plan was mapped out with Ha-Ri's photos and illustrations on the wall.
Plan List
1. Reach out to Ban Ha-Ri and slowly throw attacks on her heart.
2. Endlessly make her heart throb not giving her a chance to doubt about it.
3. The moment when Han Do-Yoon gets the 100% share of Ban Ha-Ri's heart and mind! Explode Ban Ha-Ri's heart in the air and tear it into bits and bits of pieces.
MuHaHaHaHa! Do-Yoon excitingly works on the scrapbook.
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A while later…
As Do-Yoon came out of the secret room, locked it up, and pressed a button… a book shelf that was open split in half started closing hiding the door.
Do-Yoon's secret room is located inside his man cave room. No one is allowed besides him.
Just when Do-Yoon was about to turn on a game console out of joy, Kang suddenly barged in.
Choi Kang (28). Do-Yoon's assistant. He has been best friends with Ha-Ri's younger brother, Ga-On, and Ha-Ri's manager, Tae-Yang, since middle school. He once wanted to be a Pro Gamer setting Do-Yoon as his role model, but entered into a medical school instead because of his parents' refusal. But finding himself not being suitable the med school, he just dropped out and just wandered at PC Bang not knowing what to do with his life. Then he ran into Do-Yoon at PC Bang one day and became his assistant. Most of Torey's program/game ideas came from him.
"Dae Pyo Nim!! [10]"
Do-Yoon just ignored and turned on the game console. Then he put a lollipop in his mouth and sat down on his comfy gaming seat.
"Dae Pyo Nim! It's an emergency!"
Do-Yoon tossed a controller over to Kang and said.
"Want to play?"
Kang caught the controller and started playing. Then went on.
"Pineapple has acquired Torey."
What?!!!! A thunder just stroke down splitting Do-Yoon in half. Well figuratively of course. Do-Yoon looked frozen as if he had become a statue and his console and lollipop dropped down on the floor.
Kang just calmly picked them up from the floor like it was his daily chores.
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FOOTNOTE:
[1] Han Ra Bong (English Name: Dekopon) is a seedless & sweet mandarin orange. It was developed in Japan back in the 70s as a hybrid between Kiyomi and Ponkan. Came into Korea in the 90s.
[2] Jo In-Sung/Won Bin are one of top ranking South Korean Actors debuted in the 90s still referred to as one of the most handsome actors in Korea.
[3] In Korea, people often say celebrities and other extravagant/fancy people look as if they won't even need to eat nor go to the bathroom referring them to as this God/Goddess-like figure. They often say actresses look as if they would only eat dew as their meal to refer to their beauty and their slim body figure.
[4] Hyung: a name for Older Brother in Korea; a younger brother calling older brother; even used amongst people who aren't related by blood
[5] Tae, Hye, Ji: a name that refers to top 3 actress in Korea, Kim Tae-Hee, Song Hye-Kyo, Jun Ji-Hyun.
[6] Gi Ja: means reporter in Korean.
[7] Unnie: a name for Older Sister in Korea; a younger sister calling older sister; even used amongst people who aren't related by blood
[8] Oppa: a name for Older Brother in Korea; a younger sister calling older brother; even used amongst people who aren't related by blood
[9] Anti/Anti-Fan: the term Koreans use to refer to haters
[10] Dae Pyo Nim: a formal name called for CEOs in Korean; 'dae pyo' referring to CEO and nim' being an honorific
