Playing Golf

Ha-na slipped on a pair of white, cabretta golf gloves around her hands, feeling the soft material cling pleasantly to her skin.

"So, what would it take?"

She glanced up at the older woman before her, who was clad in a collared polo shirt, Bermuda shorts, visors, and spikeless golf shoes.

The formidable Chairwoman Lim.

Owner of South Korea's finest fashion house. At the advanced age of 65, she still carried herself with regal poise – with skin as smooth as porcelain, touched only by the faintest traces of wrinkles.

A faint smile played on Ha-na's lips in response to her question.

The pair stepped out of a spectacular clubhouse and into a large, green field. Ha-na sucked in her breath, astonished by the idyllic sight before her.

The golf course stretched endlessly under the golden afternoon sun, its emerald fairways and towering trees swaying lazily in the gentle breeze.

She briefly closed her eyes, momentarily drinking in the serenity, which was pleasantly laced with the chirping of birds from the surrounding trees and the faint rustling of leaves.

"Breathtaking, huh?"

She opened her eyes to look into the smiling face of her companion. Unable to deny the sentiment, she nodded.

"Yes. It's astounding."

Chairwoman Lim planted her golf club firmly into the grass, stacked her gloved hands on top of the grip, and leaned against it. "I like to come out here when I need to think. Or make an important decision."

She glanced at Ha-na at her last sentence with a knowing look.

"Which brings me to my previous question – what would it take for you to get my daughter together with G & L's President? I'm willing to pay very handsomely. Thrice more than I already did signing my daughter up with your agency. I'll even add a huge, thank you bonus once you've successfully made the match."

Ha-na suddenly felt like she was under a spotlight on a theatre stage. She knew Chairwoman Lim implied a bribe – and she wasn't a greenhorn to such offerings in her line of work – but still, she had to tread lightly and carefully.

She had the reputation of her agency to uphold, and while her offer was tempting, she wasn't about to compromise her years of hard work.

She grinned broadly. "I will certainly try my best, but I cannot promise you success. I will definitely give my one hundred percent should things steer towards your favour."

Chairwoman Lim picked up her club and turned her body halfway towards Ha-na. There was a hint of a smile on her face.

"That is not very reassuring, Ms. Oh, but we'll see how it goes. In the meantime, you have ample opportunity to make things work."

Ha-na raised her brow in confusion, but her unspoken question was immediately answered when she sighted Ji-hoon's lofty figure a short distance away.

He looked every bit the vision of an arresting, professional golf player, garbed in a mesh polo shirt that accentuated the broad expanse of his powerful shoulders, grey pantaloons that encased his long, muscular legs, fitting snugly over his taut thighs and sculpted calves with effortless precision, and white golf shoes that perfectly complemented his striking ensemble.

His ivory complexion dazzled in the sun, and perched on his arm was a beautiful, petite, cherry-red-haired woman – equally in golf apparel – who seemed to have eyes only for him.

They walked by a group of suited men who bowed to them as they passed by. Ha-na could feel Ji-hoon's eyes on her as he approached and she suddenly felt self-conscious. Like his eyes were probing, trying to uncover all her deepest secrets.

She wanted to hide herself and hoped that neither Chairwoman Lim nor the woman on his arm would notice his lingering line of interest. She was meant to matchmake and not be matchmade!

They finally reached where they were standing, and Chairwoman Lim took pains to initiate the introductions.

"This is my daughter, Bin-na. Bin-na, the matchmaker I told you about."

Chairwoman Lim walked off with Ji-hoon, clearly to discuss weightier issues, while she was left alone with the pigmented-haired lady.

"TruHeart Matchmaking Agency, right? I was hoping to stop by in a few days." Bin-na grinned brightly, grabbing Ha-na's arm and taking her aside.

They stayed in a position well far away from Ji-hoon and Chairwoman Lim, but at an angle where they could watch them without being noticed.

"I've heard about the ninety-five percent success rate of your matches," she regarded Ha-na with large, earnest eyes. "That's why I'm so glad you're here. I need you to give me a head start with Ji-hoon."

She watched Ha-na with anticipation, eager to hear her response.

From the way she referred to Ji-hoon on a first-name basis, Ha-na reckoned they shared a close, personal relationship. Why she felt prickly on that note, she could not comprehend.

She took a deep breath of the clean, invigorating air, hoping it would clear some of the nonsensical notions in her head. Casting aside her personal feelings, she took on the mask of her professional mien.

"Of course, I'd be happy to help you." Her response elicited a brighter smile from Bin-na, who began to babble on.

"I've had my eyes on Ji-hoon for a long time – since we were teens in fact. But…" she sighed, suddenly feeling defeated. "He's always so detached and aloof no matter how nice I am to him."

Her expression brightened again as instantly as it had dimmed. "But good thing you're here! You'll help me break through his icy heart, won't you?"

Ha-na plastered a big smile on her face. "Of course, I would! As a professional matchmaker, it's my job to see you happy and well with the man of your dreams."

"Right?!"

Next, Bin-na delved into intricate details about her designer golf clothes and the reddish tint of her hair, which she attributed to the colour of Ji-hoon's favourite wine.

Soon, they joined the duo on the other side of the golf course and began taking turns landing precise shots into the fairway.

----- 

For the third time, Ji-hoon found himself missing another shot. He sighed frustratedly, stabbing his golf club into the grass.

"You seem to be out of touch today, Ji-hoon," Chairwoman Lim commented smugly, grabbing her golf club from the bodyguard beside her. She walked towards Ji-hoon, taking his position for her next swing.

"Shall I count that as luck on my side today?"

Thwack!

Her club hit the small, white ball on the tee, landing in a perfect parabola very close to the demarcated depression in the ground.

Ji-hoon, hands on his hips, watched her ball travel farther than his towards their targeted goal.

"It seems you already have the upper hand, seeing as you won't relinquish some of your shares to me."

Chairwoman Lim returned to his side, glancing up at him. There was a mischievous glint in her fringed, brown eyes.

"I never said I wasn't willing to give part of my shares. Just that it would cost your bachelorhood. My daughter fancies you very much, and I'm sure your parents wouldn't object to a union between our families. Business-wise and image-wise, it's advantageous. A fair deal, if you ask me."

Ji-hoon sighed wearily and then turned his eyes towards his object of distraction that afternoon.

Ha-na.

Her long, straight, black hair – peeking lengths from underneath the white, visor she wore –swayed seductively in the cool, nice breeze. He couldn't seem to keep his eyes off her for a minute.

He had come here on business hoping to persuade Chairwoman Lim in a casual game of golf, but had received the biggest shock of his life when he arrived and saw her.

Now, she served as a potent distraction from his tendency to win, and his frustration grew. Even now, the way she swung her club awkwardly to hit the golf ball did strange things to his emotions…

-----

Ha-na swept the back of her hand across her forehead, wiping away the beads of perspiration that had begun to gather. She had always enjoyed following golf tournaments on television, but never imagined playing one would be this hard.

Behind her, she heard the trio make lively conversation and severely hoped that they were too distracted by their talking to notice the spectacle she made of herself.

She glanced back and watched Ji-hoon with Bin-na. He wore a stoic expression on his face, obviously unaffected by the efforts Bin-na was exerting to draw his attention.

Ha-na sighed. If that was how he was going to play for all the matches she would recommend, then it was going to be one hell of a matchmaking process for the cold and aloof President of G & L.

She lifted her club to take another swing at the ball but it stopped midway in the air. Angling her head, she found Ji-hoon beside her, his lofty frame towering over her willowy own.

His eyes seemed to take on a more magnetic quality under the blazing heat of the sun. 

"That's not how you swing a golf club. At this rate, you'll end up taking your eyes out."