It’s in the DNA

I felt a sharp turn, ripping my eyes wide open, making me hold onto my seat in an attempt to stay in my seat. We seemed to be in complete darkness for a second with nothing but the beams of the car lighting up the few meters in front of us. As we got onto a main road, I realised we were shadowed by trees on each side and only a long road in front of us.

I couldn’t tell if I had slept or not, or how much time had passed. All I knew was that we were still driving, but we were close. Both Yejun and Minjun had shifted in their seats, and we were approaching some light ahead. The car slowed and we approached a large black gate. We came to a stop, just waiting for a second as the gates began to open. We slowly drove into a pebble covered driveway with coups of flowers down the middle in a shape of a larger flower down the middle of the driveway, almost making it into a roundabout. Two other cars were parked up by the edges of the driveway, as we drove up to the entrance of a mansion. Perhaps not really a mansion, but a giant house that you’ve only seen in Home Alone or a real estate reality show.

Every window was alighted by a soft yellow light. The doors were slowly opening and both Yejun and Minjun were getting out of the car, but I was too blinded by the beautiful house to even notice. Yejun opened my door, awakening me into the reality of actually entering the beautiful house. I slowly got out of the car, feeling my hands instantly wrap around the sleeves of my cardigan to protect them from the cold as well as gain some control over my anxiety.

What Kdrama is this?

In a blink of an eye, I was standing in a grand room with a chandelier the size of my whole bedroom. Several faces were in front of me, and their eyes were on me as my eyes travelled from one wall to the next. From the chandelier to the art pieces on the wall and the flowers on the marble counters.

“Miss Choi, welcome. My name is Lim Hajun. I am the head of our private security team – Amity.” The tall man, in an identically black suit bowed, before extending his hand for me to shake.

“Annyeong haseyo.” I shook his hand, bowing as well. His hair was longer than anyone else’s. He looked older than most of them, yet still youthful and way too young to be the chief of anything. I expected an old, grey-haired man with a greasy moustache and a beer belly. He was handsome.

“I would like to formally apologise for the inconvenience that took place at the King Cross police station. Our team worked as quickly as possible to get you out of there. I deeply apologise for anything that you endured while in their custody.” He bowed, staying still for an extra second, which was usually a sign of respect in Korea, but I didn’t care about the had been, gone by hours, I had more pressing questions.

“Detective Hussain said that the DNA test results were conclusive, which to my understand would mean that I matched the DNA of the person whose identity is being stolen? Could you explain how the results were read because it was very confusing. Also, Mr Hwang mentioned something about my father and my brother and information that you would provide me with once I arrived.” I felt overwhelmed and the words were pouring out of me without even a breath. Hajun’s head snapped at Minjun at the mention of my father and brother, before he inhaled a deep breath.

“Eomeo…” I heard someone gasp lightly from behind Hajun, making us all turn our heads in his direction.

“What?” Minjun’s expression suddenly fell short of his attitude and his doe eyes stared across the room at the man standing behind Hajun.

“Youngho?” Hajun enquired confused.

“I might have messed up. I told Minjun hyung that we were doing a trial run.”

“Mwo?! Trial run?! Your name is really Miss Choi?”

“My name is Sujung Min-sun Choi, yes.” I confirmed as Minjun’s eyes widened increasingly with every second and it looked as though he was ready to collapse onto the floor.

“Joesonghabnida! My deepest apologies. Please forgive me for my unprofessional behaviour in the car.” Minjun took a loose grasp onto my hand as he bowed as low as he could, nearly screaming the apologies at me. It made me smile in confusion and endearment.

“Miss Choi, please forgive me and my team for our unprofessional introduction. Could you please excuse us for just one moment.” He rounded them up with one swift movement of his hand in the air and they followed him like ants into another room. I couldn’t hear their conversation, but the tone of Hajun’s voice was anything but friendly. If the door was even slightly ajar the floorboards would shake from his strict projection.

Perhaps I was delirious from the lack of sleep, food and water, or perhaps it was the low blood sugar, but the situation was amusing. I had a million and one questions in mind, but I was strangely entertained by the strangers.

My surroundings were more than enough to distract me. There was a police officer at every door and a couple of them just pacing the floor outside of the room.

They all returned with their heads down and returned to their original standing posts without a word. Hajun came to stand in front of me, with a short, apologetic smile.

“We can take a seat and I will answer all of your questions.” He gestured to two comfortable looking, white, leather couches. He took a light seat on the edge of one of the leather couches, gesturing for me to take a seat on the opposing one to be face to face. I smiled in return and took a soft seat on the couch, sinking into the leather.

“Would you like me to answer your questions or go over the whole thing and then answer your questions if there is any at the end?” He suggested and I felt myself shrug, before collecting myself and my informal behaviour.

“Go ahead.” I nodded in agreement, giving him the floor so I could remember all the questions I wanted to ask.

“As I mentioned I run a private security company in Korea, which was hired by your brother Choi Joonho to investigate and find any blood relative of his and your fathers. 6 months ago, your biological father was murdered. He was a wealthy investor and left his fortune to all his children. Since his death, Mr Choi has been looking for any other blood relatives, having heard that your father had a daughter. We managed to find your name, but none of your previous locations lead us to anything concrete, so we flagged your name across the UK, with no idea that you have been living in Korea for the last year. That is why you were arrested on suspicion of identity theft and that is why the DNA results were conclusive, because you were a match to Choi Joonho’s DNA.” I felt the wind knocked out of me. I was no longer amused. My chest was compressed by pressure, and I’d forgotten how to exhale. I stared right into Hajun’s eyes, not knowing what else I could do. My eyes weren’t fixed onto his particularly. They were frozen as was my body and my mind.

“Forgive me, what?” I stared blankly at him.

“I know this is a lot of information to process. Please take your time and ask me any questions.” He reassured me, but I wasn’t entirely sure what he had said to begin with. It was all hazy. Father, brother, daughter. Something. Murder. Blood relative.

“Um… I have to call my mother and tell her I’m okay.”

“We’ve informed your mother of the situation and your whereabouts.”

“Right. And my brother? Where is he?” The word brother felt strange on my tongue. I have a brother. I don’t recall ever meeting my real father and my mother's boyfriend came into my life when I was still young, so I never felt like anything was missing. I was well looked after, what’s there to complain about?

“He’s still in Korea. He should be with us tomorrow morning. We have arranged a room for you to spend the night and meet him in the morning. Yoo-na and Hanee will look after you and get you anything you need, anytime you need it until you dismiss them.” Hajun explained as if we’d planned all along for me to stay there.

“Okay.” Time was slipping away, and it was completely dark outside. There was no time left to be astonished and confused. If anything, going to bed was going to give me time to go through everything and try to comprehend it.

“Do you have any other questions?”

“I don’t know.”

“We will let you rest if you’d like, and we can commence after Mr Choi is here tomorrow.” Hajun could see the confusion and tiredness on my stunned face. I wasn’t sure I was even making eye contact with him. I was just staring into the distance, not looking or focusing on anything, just looking.

“Okay.” My voice was meek. I was exhausted suddenly. The information was so overwhelming I felt lightheaded.

“Would you like me to call Yoo-na and Hanee for you?” I jerked my head back up to Hajun’s face as if having heard those names for the first time. Right, they’re rich. They have maids and cleaners and cooks and security on every corner. I was out of place.

“Could you just show me where the restroom is please?” I needed to splash some water onto my face to wake up my stunned brain.

I have a brother. A rich brother.

“Of course. End of the hall on the right. If you continue to the right, you will find Yoo-na, who can show you to your room.” I got to my feet – barely. My legs felt like jelly, and I couldn’t wait to get into bed, even if it wasn’t my own.

“Thank you.” I bowed timidly, feeling my head spin at the fast movement, before heading for the door.

“Goodnight, Miss Choi. Rest well.” Hajun’s voice echoed inside my head as I left the room. He was perfectly respectful and handsome and kind and yet I felt a twinge of annoyance at him. As though he was causing this weird chain reaction and my whole life was suddenly changing because of him.

I want to say there was never a time that I hoped something like this would happen. That my father would suddenly appear and change my life for the better. But would it have been better?