Why Did Min-jung Lie That Her Mother Was Sick?

Immediately after Tan parked his car, he ran inside his house, screaming her name. Mi-Ok came out of the kitchen, giving him a weird look.

"She left a while ago. She asked me to give you this letter," Mi-Ok said, handing him the letter.

"What do you mean left? We were just together at the wedding, and we were supposed to return home together." Tan said, not taking the letter from Mi-Ok. If it was a prank, he didn't like it one bit. He stood by her door and knocked. When he didn't get any response, he went into her room.

The only evidence that she had been in the room was her peculiar flowery saint, which still hung in the air, the jewelry box he had gifted her, which lay on the bedside table, and the gown she had worn barely an hour ago, which lay folded on the end of the neatly spread bed.

He checked the closets, and it was empty. She had left no personal belonging of hers. She seemed to have disappeared. He fell on the bed and closed his eyes. How could she be so mean? Even if she had wanted to leave, couldn't she have said 'goodbye' in person?

Mi-Ok stood by the bedroom door, observing Tan. Why was he acting so strangely? What could have possibly gone wrong at the wedding? She asked herself.

"It seemed like she was in a hurry. I think something urgent came up that was why she left without saying goodbye," Mi-Ok said. "Besides, you can just call her and hear from her, right?" Mi-Ok asked, trying to cheer him up.

He stretched out his hands to Mi-Ok, and she took his hands, trying to help him up. "No. The letter. I want the letter," He said weakly.

She handed it over to him, giving him a pitiful look. He suddenly looked so tired and heartbroken. She couldn't tell what it was but hoped it would turn out well for them.

Tan opened the letter, which was handwritten with small delicate strokes. He could feel his heart pounding across his chest as he skimmed through its contents.

"Hello, Stranger.

I've been unable to sleep after our spat. I want to walk through the connecting door to talk to you, but I'm not sure I'll find the words I desire. So I'll write out all I feel, which might help you understand things better.

Initially, I had wanted to leave without any unnecessary goodbyes, but after the spat we just had, I think you deserve better than that.

Meeting and getting to know you this week has been the highlight of my life. I know we have had our issues, but it was nice meeting you. You asked if you were just a job to me, and the answer is No. You were supposed to be just a job, but how you managed to evoke in me feelings I never knew existed, I do not know. This is my way of saying goodbye to you. I'll miss you, and I hope you find all the love you deserve. Don't think of searching for me. You won't find me.

Your Paid Guest."

Tan crumpled the letter and threw it against the wall. She must be stupid to think he couldn't find her.

**********

Nana tried calling Min-jung on her way to the Incheon airport railroad, but her number wasn't reachable. She boarded the train and soon arrived in Seoul.

She went straight to Min-jung's house, she needed to get her remaining money to pay off the loan sharks immediately, and she also needed to see Min-jung's mother, who was sick.

She wasn't apprehensive about her father; she knew the loan sharks only cared about their money. So she knocked on the door calling out Min-jung's name.

Min-jung's mother came out of the house carrying a tray of bean sprouts, "Nana, how have you been?" She greeted pleasantly immediately after she saw her daughter's best friend.

"I'm fine, ma," Nana said, bowing slightly, "How are you feeling now? I'm sorry I didn't come earlier to greet you. I was out of town," She said, going back inside the house with Min-jung's mother.

"I'm healthy. Why are you apologizing? Your friend hasn't been around either, so I understand why you haven't come to visit," She said as she carefully picked the bean sprouts.

"Min-jung hasn't been around? Who has been looking after you?" Nana asked disbelievingly.

"Why do I need to be looked after? I have my business to attend to, and Min-jung has a life of her own. Besides, she traveled with her boyfriend. Don't tell me she didn't tell you," She said, giving Nana a puzzled look.

Why did Min-jung lie that her mother was sick? When did she get a boyfriend? Why didn't she say she had a boyfriend? And why hadn't she said she was traveling with her boyfriend? Different questions ran through Nana's mind.

She brought out her phone again to call Min-jung, and this time, the call went through. Immediately Min-jung answered the phone; Nana could pick out some sounds in the background, it sounded like she was in an airport, and she could hear what sounded like the final boarding call.

"Hello, girlfriend? How's the party going?" Min-jung called out excitedly as she moved away from Ji-Tae.

"Where are you?" She asked without responding to Min-jung's questions.

"I'm at home. I'm with my mother. She's sick, remember?" Min-Jung said, making Nana hold the phone away from her ear to cross-check the name on her screen. Min-jung just couldn't be lying so blatantly to her.

"I'm in your house. Where are you?" She asked again, wanting to give Min-jung a chance to correct her blunder.

"How can you be in my house? You're supposed to be at the wedding," Min-jung laughed.

Nana handed the phone to Min-jung's mother without another word to her "Min-jung wants to talk to you," She said.

"Min-jung, when are you coming back? Your friend is here with me," Her mother said, making Min-Jung draw back in surprise. How was she going to explain this to Nana? She needed to know what her mother had told Nana before she said anything else.

"Mom, please move away from Nana. I need to ask you something," She told her mum.

Min-jung's mother excused herself and went into her bedroom. "I'm in the room now. What's wrong?" She asked her daughter in a confused voice.

"What did you tell her? Where did you tell her I went to? I hope you didn't mention that I traveled abroad with my boyfriend?" She asked her mother desperately.

"How was I to know you didn't tell your best friend all about your movement? I told her already. I'm going back to join her before she starts feeling uncomfortable," Min-jung's mother said with an annoyed frown as she went back to join Nana.

"Sorry about that; I needed to help her check something," She said as she handed the phone over to Nana.

"Nana, let's not talk about this over the phone. I'll explain everything to you immediately after I get back," She said nervously.

"What about the money? I need it today," She said, suddenly remembering the main reason she had visited the house.

"Tell my mother to give you the money envelope under my bed. I need to leave now. Will see you as soon as I return," She said, hanging up the call.