“I promise you that everyone will be where they should be before the flight,” Val said trying to comfort the younger woman.
Before Holli could say anything in reply there was a knock on the room door. Followed by one of her detail opening the door and walking inside
“여사. 목 그것은시간~을 위한우리를에게가다”( “Ms Mok it’s time for us to go.” ) The man in the black suit told the two women sat there.
“나하지 않았다완성된나의 대화 아직.” (“I haven’t finished my conversation yet,”) Holli answered the man in perfect Korean.
“우리~할 수 있다 가져오다 여사. 글로버위로에게 당신의방이것저녁 만약에 너소망” (We can bring Ms. Glover up to your room this evening if you wish) He told her.
“나 가정하다 저것~ 할 것이다 가지다 에게 하다.” (I suppose that will have to do) Holli replied.
“What were you talking about?” Val asked appearing to only half understanding the conversation that had just taken place in front of her.
“They said I have to go just now Val but they said you can come up to my room later. If you want to.” Holli told her using a sad tone of voice on the last sentence, trying to make Val feel as if she would be heartbroken if she didn’t.
“Of course, I will visit later but need to speak to my producer, so that I can confirm the story about America. You never know they might want me to do a piece on it. I should be free around seven if that is ok?” Val asked.
“I will let G-Bear know. He may want to see you beforehand.” Holli told Val.
“여사. 목 그것은 분명한.” (Ms. Mok it’s clear.) The man who had been speaking to Holli a moment ago announced as he opened the door once again.
“좋아요 나 가정하다 우리가졌다 더 나은 얻다 가고 있다 그 다음에.” (Ok I suppose we had better get going then.) Holli replied to the man in the suit.
“See you tonight Val,” Holli told her friend in English.
“See you then Holli,” Val shouted after the younger woman.
The door was closed by one of the men in suits as he departed the room. This small act allowed Val to catch her breath. Holli had effortlessly switched between Korean and English without even pausing for a second. Val had taken note as it was happening but Holli seemed to remain unaware that she was even doing it. Until the conversation she had just had with Holli, she had thought that the changes that were taking place between them were cosmetic at the moment, well for the most part anyway.
She was aware that there had been one or two other changes such as when she had given her the ability to speak and sing in Korean but Holli had denied that she could speak the language let alone sing in it. She remembered how shocked she had looked when Sook-Joo came up to her and spoke to her in Korean, even then Holli still denied that she now understood the language. Val thought that it must have been the concert that had she had changed her mind. Performing in front of that many people and having them hanging on your every word must have been the turning point.
Having that much power over a crowd would be something that Val would miss but it would be worth it to gain her freedom she thought. The way that she had once again managed to reassure her replacement. Yes, that was what she was. Holli was now the K-Pop artist, not Val. Who had ever heard of a K-Pop signer with a name like Valerie Maire Glover? That was more the name of a UK-based journalist rather than a K-Pop artist, wasn’t it?
Holli had arrived back in the group's suite, she knew that she had to pack for the flight even if it was not her who would be leaving on it. She still needed to keep up the pretence for the moment anyway. She went into her room and called room service for some green tea, which was brought to her by one of the men of her security detail.
“감사합니다.”(Thank you) She said to him as he put it on the table in front of her.
He smiled and said in return ,”그래서 제가 여기에 온 거예요, 목 선생님.” (That's why I'm here, Ms. Mok.) He then left the room leaving Holli to her tea.
