1 A Taste Of Wine
Year: 2018
In the middle of Seoul, at the Gangnam Street in a small quiet pub, a young woman was sitting by the table and drinking a glass of a red wine.
In her dizziness, the young woman looks at the red, violet and dark liquor in the crystal clear wine glass. Her love life was like that colour before. The colour was red..yet it was sometimes purple: the grape's colour. And it was so dark in some angles too.
She could still remember everything.
........
Year 2014...
It was her first day at college. She was doing her registration at the college office. She accidentally slipped off her bag. A gentleman picked it up for her. He had a friendly smile. When she did not think he was such a handsome man, he definitely was a charming one with friendly smile.
"Here's the bag..lady...be careful next time... don't let it slip off.. "
"Thank you"..
That was all she could reply.
************
"Rose....my Rosie!"
A young lively lady was calling to her friend among the crowd of students who were running there and this for classes.
She finally found her friend praying to herself in front of their classroom.
The two girls hugged after Rose finished praying. A young gentleman came toward the classroom and greeted the two girls.
It was the day for Rose to present in the class on the project Rose has been doing the whole month.
Park Chae Young, or Rose as a more common name for her, among her relatives and friends.
She and her family lived in a small village near Busan. Rose had no experience outside Busan much except when her grandmother took her out for vacation with her sometimes. She had always been a favourite grandchild.
Rose family's life is not always happy as her father was sick and her mother did not stay at home much and not at all support the family. Her elder brother mostly was outside too drinking. Her younger brother was trying his best school, but with Rose still studying. The father of the family, Mr Park Yi Sung, tried his best at work even with a failed health. Nonetheless, most of support came from Mrs Park, the grandmother who was still doing well as a school master. Mrs Park supported all her might for Rose's education, especially when the girl showed her willingness to learn about designing and architecture (of furnitures and building). Her grandmother was happy Rose grew up to be a lovely tall young lady with intelligent and artistic mind.
Rose finally got to attend college to study major in interior architecture. Building a beautiful home had been Rose's dream, and she thought coming to Seoul from her home twon to study here is refreshing for her, not having to deal much with her family.
She met her current boyfriend on her first day of college, at the registration. He was such a kind fun old chap, majoring in music. He and Rose happened to meet on several occasions especially at college music events. Rose loved music. Besides, she also supported her classmates who were taking music as their minor major too by attending music events at college and college parties as well. In this way, Rose finally fell in love one of the music majored student whom she met on her 1st day of college then.
Rose often visited her boyfriend in his music class, and he often came to cheer her up at her lectures especially when Rose would be having projects to present in class.
"I known our Rose had built a cool romantic home.... just present it to the world!!" he said before giving her a peak kiss on her rosie cheeks.
"Thank you!" Rose replied kissed his cheeks back. She was completely ready.
Her enthusiasm of project presentation, on designing a house with a garden, made the class captivated. Rose was a happy.
.......
Rose was in her third year now.
Her graduation would be coming soon and She was doing well with studies.
That evening, Rose, her boyfriend and her friend went to sing to celebrate their well doing for the day. Rose and her friend went to university park to sing while her boyfriend played the guitar. Rose could see her friend voice is natural and sweet.
Her boyfriend seemed very pleased with such a sweet voice.
Rose had been friends with this sweet voice owner since their high school days. She was gentle, nice and quiet contrast to Rose's outspoken nature. Both of them loved music and arts. She chose to take nursing as her major while Rose had taken Architecture. Despite being in different faculties, Rose met her occasionally and they hang out together a lot.
She was so into the study that sometimes she felt like she felt like she was being far from her best friend and her boyfriend. He did not text her everyday like before. He must be really busy with studies just like her. Rose thought. And Rose did not meet her fe
Tomorrow was a Valentine Day. Rose felt like she had not much taken care of her boyfriend as much these days. She wanted to surprise him.
Lucky for her, she did not have any classes that day.
In early morning of February 14th, Rose prepared herself to go to the flower shop. However, when she opened her room and saw a bouquet or white roses and altogether with a box of chocolates bundle up at her door. Rose was overjoyed, she was so sure it was her boyfriend although he had never give her flowers on valentine's day before. They would normally go for movies, dinner or park or sang together in the last couple of years they had dated.
Rose kissed the flowers.
She kept them in her room. She decided to go for flowers to this time.
Rose went to the flower shop. She had to line up. There were so many boys and girls.
Rose finally got the flowers. A Bouquet of Red Velvet Rose.
She knew that her boyfriend had a music event this evening. Rose was certain her romantic gift would make him surprised and happy.
The evening came. It was in college beautiful park. The garden party was held for valentine day between all college students. Some students had partners but some are singles. Nevertheless, parties were fun. The college allowed to hold party to reduce stress from studies too.
Rose's boyfriend would sing on stage today. The daylight still existed and it was still early.
Rose entered the gate to party and walked in.
Rose enjoyed the romantic decorations and soft romantic scent of roses. It was dreamy.
She saw her boyfriend sitting on the chair besides table. And her best friend was beside him ..and they were .... kissing on the lips.
Rose could not move at all. She was very still like a stone. The bouquet of red velvet roses slipped off from her hands. The two people..her boyfriend and best friend awared of her .. they looked up at her.
"It's ummm.."They both began..
Rose came back to her senses. Her tears were falling down. She did not want to know anything yet. She did not want to hear anything yet. She turned back and ran away from their sight.
It was how Rose learned of the feelings of heart break. She went back to her room. She looked at the white roses she got this morning... who gave them to her... but she did not want them now. Not at this moment. She felt like her heart had been bleed by the sharp thorns of roses.
Rose and her boyfriend broken up... They didn't see each other again for long time..And they were all graduated.
Her family and other friends cheered Rose. She knew she had responsibility for her family. She did not show them how hurt she was.
*************
Year 2018
And tonight, at Gangnam.. (it was a few days after her graduation) ..She wanted to throw every hurtful feelings. Did the wine help her.. ? She thought so. It was time to go back.
She was too dizzy. Then the two men came to pick her up. One was her brother and another one was her junior at college. They brought her back to her dorm and the landlady their help them to put her in bed.
"Umm..I have never seen her in this kind of state before. She must be really tired of studying." Her younger brother said.
Rose must have some consciousness left.
She was muttering.
"A taste of wine is so sweet..! Who says..its..bitter..not bitter..it's bitter!"
The other young man did not say anything. But he looked at Rose with teary eyes. Rose had always ignored his affections..no not ignored. But she did not realised how he felt for and only saw her as a junior friend. But perhaps chances will come for him to make his move soon!
*************
Meanwhile ...
In California, USA. At the luxurious condo, high up stairs....
Lee Min Hong wake up from his sleep. It was morning now. This afternoon he had to be at the airport. He had to go back to South Korea for business.
He got up as move the curtains up. It was a beautiful sunny day. He began his packing.
A smart looking woman came in.
She looked at her son...and said..
"Are you sure you can handle this job..Max!"
"Don't worry mom. I will be ok...I will help the best with this job... property business is my expert.."
"I'm not worry about it.."..she paused ..then continue..
"You know who you are going to deal with."
Lee Min Hong came to hug his mother..and said..
"Don't worry mother, everything will be fine. And besides I am willing to meet my biological father's family too.....and my two young half brothers.!"
His mother was hugging him hard.
"I wondered how will they feel when they meet me.... but I won't let them know until the right time.!"
