This is the beginning of the revised version: Meeting The Hwan

Year 2001

The residential district of Hanam was located in the vibrant city of Seoul, nestled among towering skyscrapers and bustling streets. This community was well-known for its well-planned residential areas, beautiful parks, and excellent educational institutions.

Mayu looked out her window, and she noticed the young boy and his mother exchanging warm goodbyes at the gate. It was a bright and sunny day, and Mayu could see the excitement on the young boy's face. The mother left; he waved her goodbye, and Mayu could see him holding a basketball in his hand.

One morning, Mayu woke up to the sound of loud arguments coming from the house beside them. The heated exchange continued throughout the day, with occasional breaks of silence. Mayu could hear their voices escalating and then fading away, creating an atmosphere of tension.

The next day, Mayu noticed a change in the pattern. The shouting and fighting were more intense today, accompanied by the sounds of objects being thrown or slammed. The commotion lasts for hours, making Mayu feel worried about the family and their well-being.

On a rainy morning, Mayu noticed the young boy and his mother exchange goodbyes at the gate as usual. However, this time the mother handed him an umbrella and gave him a warm hug.

The following day, Mayu woke up to the sound of silence. The absence of any arguments or raised voices surprised Mayu, who wondered if the parents had resolved their issues or decided to give each other some space. The calmness persisted throughout the day, giving Mayu a sense of relief.

Through their gate, Mayu observed the young boy and his mother exchanging goodbyes at the gate. However, this time, the atmosphere seemed a bit tense. Mayu noticed that the mother appeared worried, and the young boy seemed somewhat upset. As they bid each other farewell, Mayu decided to give the young boy some space but kept an eye out for any signs of distress throughout the walk.

When the night arrived, the shouting and fighting resumed, but in a different manner. Mayu heard more crying and pleading voices today, indicating that the disagreements between the parents had taken an emotional toll. The arguments seem to be fueled by intense emotions rather than just anger or frustration.

Mayu noticed a new dynamic today. The shouting and fighting had subsided, but there was an underlying tension in the air. Mayu could hear the neighbors engaging in passive-aggressive conversations, making snide remarks at each other. The atmosphere felt uncomfortable and strained.

Mayu left the house early that morning. Mayu saw the other side of the house and noticed the young boy. His mother was standing outside the house while carrying her toddler daughter. They hugged each other and said goodbye. His mother would then wait for the young boy to walk away from her until he was unable to see her.

Mayu kept a safe distance behind the young boy, their school bags slung over their shoulders, blending in with the other students making their way to school. As they walked along the well-worn path toward their school, the sound of chirping birds and a light breeze filled the air.

Mayu noticed a strange butterfly fluttering ahead as she continued to walk along the winding path. She followed it out of curiosity, keeping up her pace as she made her way through the canopy of trees.

The young boy, about Mayu's age, was moving a few steps ahead of her. He was completely unaware of Mayu's presence behind him as he continued to stroll.

The butterfly eventually disappeared from Mayu's view as she followed the young boy. Her attention was diverted, though, by the alluring sound of a nearby stream. She took a slight detour off the path and made her way slowly through the underbrush to the soothing sound of trickling water.

As the water gently flowed over the smooth rocks, the young boy arrived at the stream and stopped to take a break. He dipped his hand in, allowing the water's coolness to revitalize his skin. He was too engrossed in the peace of the moment to notice Mayu approaching.

Mayu came out of the bushes close to the water as she was drawn to the sound of the stream. The young boy turned around, was startled, and gasped when he saw Mayu standing there. For a split second, they were locked in each other's eyes.

"Annyeong!" Mayu gladly greeted him.

The young boy almost smiled but awkwardly raised his hand to greet her, "A-annyeong."

Mayu ran towards him. "My name is Mayu."

"I am Nam Yesung."

"But I always heard your mom calling you Hwan."

"Why are you being casual with me?" Hwan frowned. "How old are you?"

"I am eight; you're also eight, right?"

"Ah, jinjja?" Hwan asked, staring closely at her face. "What are you?"

Mayu slightly pulled her head back. "What do you mean by what I am?"

"Are you a foreigner?"

"I am."

"How do you know me?"

"We are neighbors. We transferred to your neighborhood weeks ago." Mayu looked closely at Hwan, "*Geunde, gwenchana?" (But, are you okay?)

"I am fine; why are you asking?

Mayu shook his head and said, "Nothing; I'm glad to hear you're okay." She looked at her wristwatch and said, "We're going to be late!"

Mayu ran past Hwan, but he just stood there, and Mayu noticed him. She looked back at him and said, "Hurry up, Hwan-a!"

Hwan also decided to move toward her.

###

The Present

The city was hustling, with cars moving inches by inches on the road due to rush hour. People were lining up at the bus stops along the road. People were crammed into the buses that were stuck in traffic.

Mayumi Acda was in the middle of the bus, surrounded by passengers. She was attempting to maintain her grip while holding the handle above her, but the force from behind was pushing her forward. She was also struggling to open her round, brown eyes. Her pale skin may have hidden her nationality; her nose bridge may be a little sharp, but the holes in it were large and wide. It was the only indication she had Filipino ancestry.

When the bus arrived at her destination, she attempted to excuse herself through the people near the door in order to exit. When she stepped outside, she checked her wristwatch and realized she was almost late. That prompted her to sprint through the streets, where people were strolling leisurely. The museum was ten minutes away from the bus stop, but because she ran, it only took her three minutes to get there. She paused for a moment to adjust her peach top and tight black skirt, and she tried to wipe the sweat from the sides of her face through the glass wall. She also double-checked that the baby pink lipstick on her thick lips was still in place. She then decided to enter the building with confidence and proper manners.

The gallery was built with clear glass walls and white marble floors.

Mayu walked up to the front desk with two women. "Anneyong haseyo," she said with a bow. "Hello, my name is Mayumi Acda, and I am here for the interview."

"Annyeong haseyo," says the front desk lady. "Are you here for the manager's interview?"

"Yes."

"My name is Sook Nari, the supervisor for the front desk. Do you have your portfolio?"

"Ne."

"Can I, have it?"

"Sure!" Mayu looked inside her bag and gave her portfolio to Sook Nari.

"Follow me, please."

Sook Nari walked away from the desk, clutching pages of bond paper. Mayu trailed her behind. Despite having seen the paintings on display many times, she moved around and appeared entranced as they continued to walk. She took a deep breath because the aroma reminded her of old paper that had dried flowers adhered to it. The museum has a distinct smell that soothed her jumbled mind.

They entered a lobby with a few other people dressed in the same formal attire. They were seated tightly with their backs straight. Before entering the door inside, Sook Nari asked her to take a seat.

Mayu sat down. She became nervous when she noticed that the other applicants appeared sophisticated and educated like her. She attempted to mend her upper garments and pulled out her black skirt. That made her uneasy because she was the only foreign applicant.

The applicant woman across Mayu asked, "Anneyong haseyo," She bowed her head. "May I ask are you Korean?"

"Anneyong haseyo," Mayu also bowed her head, "Aniyo*,"

*No (formal)

"May I ask what your nationality is?

"I am Filipino."

"And you're applying for a managerial position?" the woman asked with confusion.

Mayu slightly frowned and said, "Ne*."

*Yes (formal)

"Did you graduate?"

"Ne, I did."

"Where?" She looked at Mayu from head to foot.

Mayu cleared her voice and said, "Ehem, Seoul National University."

"Jinjjayo*?" The woman has covered her mouth with her palm.

"Ne, actually, I graduated with a master's last month."

"Whoa, joesonghabnida." She bowed her head to apologize.

"That's fine; I get that a lot." Mayu awkwardly smiled.

One applicant went out the door where the front desk woman entered. He was shaking his head sideways while slightly scratching behind his head. The woman who was sitting across from Mayu asked him, "How was it?"

"The director is an intelligent and bold woman. I don't think I can make it."

"What did she ask you?" the woman asked again.

"What is art for me?" The man said.

"That seems basic?" the woman wondered.

"It is, but the follow-up questions are like bullets. Good luck to all of you."

The man exited the room, leaving the remaining applicants in the lobby in silence. That made Mayu even more nervous.

Sook Nari opened the door. She looked at Mayu, which made her swallow hard. "Your next Acda-shi."

"Jegayo*?" Mayu asked while pointing at herself.

*Me (Formal)

Sook Nari nodded her head and smiled.

"But I just arrived," Mayu said almost in a whisper.

Mayu stood up and entered the room.

There were two women and a man sitting across the rectangular table; Mayu sat on the other side.

"Anneyong hasimnikka," Mayu said, bowing her head with a formal greeting.

"My name is Ha Baek-Hyeon, I am the vice president. The woman in the middle is Bu Chun-ae, the director, and beside her is Madame Geneviv Choi, the assistant director."

Mayu bowed her head again. "My name is Mayumi Acda."

"How long have you been staying in Korea?" Ha Baek-Hyeon asked.

"I was born in the Philippines, but my family migrated to Korea when I was six. I grew up in Korea until I was 17, but we went back to the Philippines. I went back to Korea four years ago to take my master's under the Global Korea Scholarship."

"So, you already knew how to speak Korean before you arrived in Korea?" Ha Baek-Hyeon said.

"Ne."

Ha Baek-Hyeon read the pages above the table. "So you graduated from Seoul National University? Last month?" He smiled. "Chukahaeyo*!"

*Congratulations! (formal)

Mayu smiled and bowed her head, "*Gahamsamnida*"

*Thank you (formal)

Bu Chun-ae also searched her portfolio. "You took comparative literature based on your resume. And you have translated Korean poetry for an English newspaper?"

"Yes, I did," Mayu said.

"What did you think, Madame Geneviv." Bu Chun-ae asked.

Geneviv also searched the pages of her portfolio. "All of your translated poems are written by Kim Hye-soon. Is she your favorite?"

"Ne, I appreciate her poetry."

Bu Chun-ae asked abruptly, "How about art?".

"Poetry and art go together like a married couple. According to Park Min-young, I read in the Korean Herald, "the two distinct genres have long complemented one another, as underscored by the close friendships shared by renowned artists and poets throughout history." She continued, "In the East, it is said that poetry is a picture painted with words and painting is a picture poem. It implies that the two are equivalent in their core. Many poets also like to paint, and many painters find inspiration in poetry. Additionally, Korea has a strong tradition of illustrated poetry, said Ko Un, a well-known poet in Korea."

"Okay, we're done," Bu Chun-ae suddenly said.

"N-ne?" Mayu asked with confusion.

"We'll get back to you."

"N-ne?" Mayu asked again.

"Call the applicant named Kim So-hyun, Nari." Bu Chun-ae said.

Sook Nari opened the door and looked at Mayu, who was still sitting in front. Mayu looked back at the ones who interviewed her. Ha Baek-Hyeon smiled and pointed out the door.

"Ga-gahamsamnida." Mayu bowed her head before she stood and left the room.

Sook Nari closed the door.

"W-what just happened?" Mayu asked Sook Nari. "Am I rejected?"

Sook Nari smiled and said, "We'll call you back."

"Okay? Gahamsamnida." She bowed her head.

###

People were everywhere in Itaewon during the night. Everyone walking the streets was dressed in bright, springtime attire that just barely covered their bodies. Currently, Mayu was dining with her friend Cha Hea in an establishment that served *samgyeopsal. They were seated across from each other at the *Korean barbecue. Cha Hea was a fine woman with tanned skin and a round face, but she had muscular physical features.

Cha Hea was grilling the meat while Mayu was eating.

"How was your interview?" she asked Mayu.

Mayu swallowed first, saying, "I think I got rejected from the moment I opened my mouth."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing. I told them I used to live in Seoul, but then I left and returned for my master's. Then I was asked what art is, and I correlated it with poetry since that is my forte. After that, I was asked to leave," she said after chewing a slice of meat.

"You graduated from Seoul National University; they will at least consider that, right?"

"I don't know. I don't care anymore."

Cha Hea put some meat on Mayu's plate from the grilling stove. "If you don't get accepted, you can find something else."

"Yeah, same thought," Mayu said before she put the meat in her mouth. "You know, I think I was discriminated against earlier by another applicant because I am Filipino."

"Jinjja*? What did she say?" Cha Hea said, annoyed.

*Really (formal)

"When I told her I was Filipino, she was surprised that I was applying for a managerial position. When I told her I graduated from Seoul National University with a master's degree, she immediately apologized."

"Ya, if I were you, I would ruin her mouth!" Cha Hea said.

"That's fine; I get that a lot anyway," Mayu said.

"But it does not mean we will tolerate it!" Cha Hea defended.

"What, do you think I'll fight her in the middle of a job application?" Mayu said.

"Pst, if I were there, I'll–" Mayu put meat in her mouth. "Just eat."

"Did you put your professor as a reference? Did you tell them that he asked you to apply for that job?" Cha Hea asked while chewing the meat.

"Ani*, I want to be accepted as me."

*No (informal)

"*Baboya! They'll hire you from the very moment they see you!" Cha Hea said.

*Stupid

"Ya, if I get hired, it only means I was meant to be there!"

"Araso*, it sometimes confuses me if you are smart just because you graduated from a prestigious university," Cha Hea said while grilling the meat and putting it on Mayu's plate.

*I understand (informal)

"Do you want soju?" Mayu asked.

"Of course!"

"Ajumma*! Two bottles of soju, please!" Mayu shouted.

*Old lady

###

In a meeting room inside the museum, Ha Baek-Hyeon, Bu Chun-ae, and Madame Choi were sitting across from each other with resumes and portfolios on the table.

"So, who should we hire among those candidates?" Ha Baek-Hyeon asked before he took a sip of his coffee.

Bu Chun-ae was looking at Mayu's resume. She stared at her face in the one-by-one photo.

Ha Baek-Hyeon stood up while carrying in his hand the cup of his coffee. He went towards Bu Chun-ae.

"I think I've seen that girl before," Ha Baek-Hyeon said. "She looks oddly familiar, don't you think?"

"Mayumi Acda," Bu Chun-ae murmured.

"I like how she correlates poetry with art, and since she has expertise in translation, I think she would be a good fit."

"She also graduated from an outstanding university!" Ha Baek-hyeon said. "Don't think hard anymore; hire her!"

"Madame Choi, kindly inform her she's hired," Bu Chun-ae ordered.

"Algesseumnida*," Madame Choi smiled and stood from her seat to get out of the room.

*I understand (Formal)

"Since we're done, I am going home," Ha Baek-Hyeon said as he walked to the door.

"Are you going to meet Yesung-a?" Bu Chun-ae looked at his back and asked.

"N-no? Why?" Ha Baek-Hyeon faced her.

"N-nothing."

###

Mayu was sitting on a crowded bus. She rushed to excuse herself from everyone near the doorway when she arrived at the bus station. She stepped onto the ground and walked a few meters away from the waiting shed to fix her upper garment and pull out her black skirt. She checked her wristwatch to see what time it was. Since she was early, she took out her mirror from her bag and looked at her face in it. She put back the mirror, and then she breathed deeply before she started walking to the museum.

When she arrived at the museum, she paused meters away from the entrance and once again took a deep breath.

"I'll forever love this smell," she said.

She went on to walk inside, going to the front desk. Sook Nari and another woman were there.

"Anneyeong haseyo," Mayu bowed her head. "My name is Mayumi Acda; I was hired yesterday."

"Annyeong haseyo, Acda-shi," Sook Nari said with a smile. "I'll call Madame Choi first; please, take a seat."

She bowed her head and thanked her before she proceeded to a peculiar but artistic brown sofa near the front desk to wait.

When Madame Choi arrived, she stood up and said, "Anneyong Haseyo, I apologize if I kept you waiting."

"*Animnida, it's okay."

*No (formal)

"I am Geneviv Choi, the assistant director of this art museum." She offered her hand for a handshake, and so did Mayu. "My name is Mayumi Acda; you may call me Mayu."

"Nice meeting you, Mayu-shi. Welcome to Haetae Art Museum," she said with a sincere smile.

Geneviv Choi had bonded black hair above her head and was very white. She was dressed in an elegant outfit that made her appear refined.

"Kindly follow me, Mayu-shi."

Madame Choi led the way, going to the elevator.

They reach the floor in an open office facility with three employees on separate desks. Madame Choi went towards the employees, and when the employees saw Madame Choi approaching, they stood up and gathered together while their heads were bowed.

"Good morning, everyone," Madame Choi said to them.

"Anneyong hasimnikka, Madame Choi," everyone said.

"Mayumi Acda will be your new Editor in Chief."

"Anneyong Haseyo, Mayumi Acda-shi," all of them said while bowing their heads.

"Annyeong haseyo," Mayu also bowed her head, "You may call me Mayu."

"Introduce yourselves," Madame Choi said.

"My name is Joo Won, the editorial assistant. This is Lim Hei-ran, the writer, and Chon Mi-hi, the admin assistant. We will be your team from now on. Welcome, Mayu-shi."

"*Gumawoyo everyone." Mayu thanked them formally as co-workers.

*Thank you (formal)

"Let's go to your office, Mayu-shi," Madame Choi instructed.

Mayu followed her back, going to her office.

Madame Choi entered the office first.

"Let's talk first." Madame Choi sat on the sofa across from the desk, while Mayu sat on the other side of the sofa.

"How are you feeling, Mayu-shi?" Madame Choi asked.

"Thank you for hiring me." Mayu bowed her head.

"You were impressive; you deserve to be hired." Madame Choi smiled with sincerity. "Have you been to the museum?"

"Yes, I've been here a lot of times."

"This art museum was established 44 years ago and auctions artwork. Most of our artists are pure Koreans with little knowledge of the English language. Since you can understand Korean, it might be better for them to speak in Korean and then just translate it into English. You need to translate into English the facts and interviews about the displayed artworks and the artworks to be auctioned that will be posted on their website. The purpose of this is to help the artist promote his or her work internationally. This will also help the artist be recognized worldwide. The auction can also be done online for interested foreigners."

"Algesimnida," Mayu said.

"Do you want to look around the museum?" Madame Choi asked.

"Ne, I would love to."

Mayu left her bag on the sofa before they left her office.

They both descended to the floor, where the exhibited works of art were. Madame Choi was walking around the area, while Mayu was also looking around to see the artworks one by one.

There were no certain categories for the displayed artworks. They were just there on the wall, with a light of their own above them. Aside from the artwork, there was also a room full of photographs and portraits, both black and white and colored. The different artworks were like rainbows of paintings with a magic touch of the artist's soul. Some represented contemporary art with geometric structures, and some were abstracts of kaleidoscopic colors.

But a specific artwork has given her pause.

She stared at it.

It's obviously not made of a brush due to the handprints on it. It has a mixture of colors—red, pink, and black—as it shadows the beating of a heart. She was familiarizing herself with it again. She searched for the name of the artist at the lower right corner of the artwork. When she read about the Korean character named Hwan, she felt goosebumps in her entire body.

"Excuse me, Madame Choi?" she asked.

Madame Choi came towards her. "It's mesmerizing, isn't it?"

"Hwan..." she whispered, "Hwan is Nam Yesung, right?"

"Yes, that's his real name. His artwork and photographs are recognized in the Korean community," Madame Choi said.

"I never thought that he'd be this well known," she muttered to herself. "How much is this painting?"

Madame Choi chuckled, "It is not for sale. Nam-nim* does not want to sell it."

*Mister (formal)

"Really? Why is that?" she asked.

"Because he's not the only one who made this painting. Those handprints were from the other person. They made this artwork together, so for him it's priceless."

"I never knew he'd be sentimental," she whispered. "Wait, so I'll have to meet him soon?"

"Yes, you will be meeting him too." The phone she was holding suddenly rang. "Nam-nim?" Yes, I am here. You're here? I am in front of your painting, The First Love. Okay." She ended the call.

When Mayu realized the situation, her eyes widened, and she swallowed hard.

"Who was that?" Mayu asked to confirm.

"Nam-nim."

"Nam Yesung?"

Madame Choi was about to nod her head, but she saw from her peripheral vision that someone was walking towards them.

Mayu stared at the arriving man with shocked eyes. The man wears simple black pants and a white T-shirt with black Chuck Taylor shoes. When she saw his face, everything flashed back in her memory. Her heart started beating faster than usual, and her stomach felt like it was crawling inside.

"What are you doing here?" the man asked as he stood between them.

Mayu instantly looked down to avoid his gaze.

"I'm just showing her around," Madame Choi said. "You are early? Having some trouble sleeping again?"

"I did sleep; I took the medicine last night," the man replied.

Mayu slowly walked from behind, inches away from them.

"By the way, she is our new editorial-in-chief. Mayu-shi meet Nam Yesung-nim." Madame Choi said.

Mayu did not look into his eyes; she bowed her head and said, "Annyeong haseyo."

"Anneyong haseyo, Mayu-shi," he also bowed his head.

"We'll be working with him soon since he'll be having an exhibit," Madame Choi said.

Mayu kept her head down. "Nice meeting you, Nam-nim"

"Shall we talk inside, Nam-nim?" Madame Choi asked him.

"Yes, we need to talk."

"I'll leave you for a while, Mayu-shi."

"Ne, n-no problem." She lowered her head more and did not look at them until they walked away.

When they were meters away from her, she finally gazed at them.

"Did he notice?" Mayu sighed heavily. "Hwan-a."