A Bowl of Rice

Ha-na swallowed another spoonful of rice and seaweed soup. She was seated at a table at the centre of the spacious kitchen. Her grandmother, settled beside her in the head seat, watched her with a big smile on her face.

"You're eating heartily tonight; you must be very hungry." She said, cutting a piece of fish from one of the side dishes on the table and placing it on Ha-na's bowl of rice.

Ha-na, grateful for the gesture, bolted down another spoonful of the fish with another rice. She picked up a rolled omelette with a pair of chopsticks and devoured it with equal relish.

"I couldn't have lunch today; we had a lot of calls from new customers since the heir of G&L Jewellery signed with our agency."

"Ah, that explains a lot," She commented, placing another fish on Ha-na's plate. "You've been working very hard lately."

Ha-na smiled through her well-stuffed mouth, slanting her head at an angle to regard Min-seo. "Well, I learned from a certain someone."

Her grandmother chuckled. Ha-na watched her for a moment. Despite being at an advanced age of fifty-five years, she had a youthful look with rich, dark brown hair styled in a classic short bob cut.

There was no hint of graying hair on her head. Ha-na recalled with a smile, instances when people refused to believe that she was her grandmother, calling her "too young."

Min-seo regarded Ha-na with a mock glare. "It's Friday night. You should be out enjoying yourself with your friends and not here, sitting and looking glum with a boomer like me."

Ha-na chortled. "I'm not complaining, grandma."

"Exactly, and that's what worries me. You've never once brought in a guy and introduced him to me as your boyfriend."

"Grandma!"

"What? Are you waiting till I'm on my deathbed before you bring a man home for marriage?"

Ha-na dropped her spoon on the table, sighing wearily and laughing. "Are we seriously having this conversation?"

"Yes, we are!" Min-seo folded her arms across her chest, her face comical even though she attempted a serious face.

"You're twenty-eight, Ha-na! You should be enjoying your youth, entertaining the attention of handsome young men. Life is not all about work, you know. You need love in your life too."

Ha-na squeezed Min-seo's hand in her own, smiling at her warmly. "But I have that already."

"You know what I mean." Min-seo removed her hand from Ha-na's, staring down at it. Ha-na sensed the change in her countenance instantly.

"I don't want you putting your life on hold any longer just because of me," She began, her voice betraying the intensity of her emotions. "You didn't go to college because you were taking care of me. You had to run the agency right out of high school just to pay up my medical bills."

She looked into Ha-na's eyes. "You come home early every day just so you can assist your grandmother who is confined to a wheelchair."

Her voice cracked. "If only I hadn't gotten into that accident –"

"It's not your fault, grandma."

"Still, I feel responsible for it."

Ha-na squeezed her grandmother's hand affectionately. Though she smiled, she felt a sharp jab of pain in her heart. The last thing she wanted was for her grandmother to feel guilty about her life.

She knew her grandmother well. Having lived a tough life, she was adept at masking her pain and struggles behind a smiling façade. Her last visit to the doctor had confirmed her suspicions: her grandmother was still struggling emotionally.

The doctor had explained that Min-seo's case was psychological and advised her to take her to see a psychologist – that was the only way her grandmother could walk again since therapy was no longer effective on her.

Ha-na hadn't yet mustered the courage to tell her. She didn't know how her grandmother would take the news. Meanwhile, she vowed she'd do all in her power to keep her grandmother happy and satisfied.

She grinned broader.

"You're missing the bigger picture here, grandma. Thanks to you, I'm one of the most sought-after matchmakers in Seoul! My agency is ranked in the top five. Plus, I'll be a college graduate soon! Just give me a few months."

Min-seo wrinkled her nose. "Online college is not the same as when you attend in-person. You're missing the experience! The college parties! The student clubs and field trips! You can't get that while studying online."

"Of course, I know that!" Ha-na giggled. "Soo-ah never missed any opportunity to prattle to me about her college life, so yeah, you can say I basically 'lived' the college experience! Besides, I don't regret anything. Before I began running the agency, I was basically clueless about what I wanted to do after high school."

She hugged her grandmother. "Thanks to you, I found my true calling."

Min-seo patted Ha-na's back affectionately. "Argh, you're making my eyes get all misty, Ha-na!"

She leaned back to look at her granddaughter, framing her face lovingly in her hands. "Alright, alright. My granddaughter is a bad-ass lady boss."

"Now, you're talking!"

Ha-na resumed eating her food heartily. Their voices filled the house and the empty street outside as their discussion turned to lighter subjects ~

***

Ha-na's mobile phone vibrated on her desk right next to her monitor. She picked it up and answered the caller.

A few seconds into the call, she heard some commotion outside her office door. But before she could blink next, a knock came on her door. Eun-ji's petite form appeared in the doorway, and she entered her office.

There was a nervous look on her usually bright face. "Director…"

She glanced to the side – outside the door – and clammed up even further. Ha-na promptly ended her call.

"What's the matter, Eun-ji?" She asked curiously, her brows raised.

Eun-ji attempted a smile, but it only acted to enhance her unease. "It's just that…uh…"

"You have a visitor." A deep male voice, as rich and velvety as a bar of luxurious chocolate, cut into Eunji's cluttered speech.

Ha-na watched as his long, powerful frame filled the doorway. Everything about him was impeccable and inviting to perfection – from the grey linen suit that hugged his physique, to his tidy, down-permed hair and shaven jaw – except for the frosty glare in his eyes.

Ha-na stood up as soon as Ji-hoon stepped into her office. He felt like an avenging angel as he faced her squarely.

"Director Oh, is it? We need to talk."

Ha-na signalled for Eun-ji to leave the room. She spoke as soon as she went.

"President Cha. I didn't expect to see you so soon," She carried on politely. "I was hoping to arrange a meeting with you later today."

"That won't be necessary," His reply was curt and straight to the point. "I need a cancellation of the contract you signed with my parents immediately. Or I'm suing your agency."