Val (Gi) walked down the corridor behind the security guard. She wondered what was happening. She had met G-Bear earlier that day, and he hadn’t seen anything wrong with who she now appeared to be. A western journalist, a woman he had only recently met, and not someone he had known as part of Peace Blossom, a young girl he had known and managed for a few years now. Had he found out the truth somehow, was he going to drag her back into a life that she was so close to escaping from? There was no way he could know that was there?
Meanwhile….
As Val’s journey continued, Hyun-Hee (Holly) was still answering questions alongside the other members of “Peace Blossom”.
Bo Mi-Ok, the group’s charismatic leader, leaned forward, her voice cutting through the remaining chatter with the practiced ease of someone used to commanding a stage. "여러분, 마지막 질문입니다!" (Everyone, one last question!) she announced, a final, bright smile gracing her lips. A flurry of hands shot up, and the floor manager pointed to a young woman, practically vibrating with excitement, holding a microphone adorned with a tiny sparkly 'Peace Blossom' logo.
"평화로운 꽃 여러분!" (Peace Blossom!), the reporter began, her voice a little shaky with excitement. "미국에 도착하면 가장 먼저 보고 싶은 것은 무엇입니까?" (What is the one thing you want to see first when you get to America?)
Bo Mi-Ok didn't hesitate, her eyes sparkling. "엠파이어 스테이트 빌딩이요!" (The Empire State Building!) she declared, miming a skyscraper with her hands, earning a collective "ooh" from the room.
Next, Jeom Young-Mi, the group's elegant main dancer, chimed in, her voice soft but clear. "자유의 여신상이요!" (The Statue of Liberty!) she replied, making a small, graceful gesture.
Jeong Sook-Joo, the powerhouse vocalist, grinned, a slight flush rising on her cheeks. She tapped her chin thoughtfully, then blurted out, "음... 얼굴이 많은 산이요!" (Um... the mountain with all the faces!) A few reporters chuckled politely, clearly knowing what she meant but amused by the literal description.
All eyes then turned to Hyun-Hee. She paused, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and then, with a wide, charming smile that could melt glaciers, she replied, "공항이요!" (The airport!)
A ripple of laughter went through the room, punctuated by more enthusiastic camera flashes. Jeong Sook-Joo, relieved, quickly leaned towards Hyun-Hee, whispering, "고마워... 진짜 고마워." (Thank you... Really, thank you.) Hyun-Hee just winked, her smile unchanging.
Suddenly, a stern, yet kindly, voice boomed from just off-stage. It was Ms. Kim, one of their older, no-nonsense advisors, her face peeking from behind a velvet curtain. "저희 비행기를 타야 해서 여기까지입니다!" (We have a plane to catch, so that is all we have time for!)
The girls simultaneously rose from their seats, bowing deeply to the reporters. "감사합니다! 다음에 봐요!" (Thank you! See you next time!) they chorused, waving as they were expertly ushered off the stage by their staff, leaving behind the lingering scent of excitement and a room full of buzzing reporters already typing up their headlines.
Val stood outside the door of the room that G-Bear was using as his office at the venue.
"박 선생님께서 만나고 싶어 하시는 서양인이 있습니다." (“I have the westerner you wanted to see Mr Park.”) The security man said as he knocked on the door.
"아, 그녀를 안으로 데려오면 좋겠구나." (“Ah good bring her inside.”) Came a voice Val recognised as G-Bear’s.
The door in front of Val opened to reveal G-Bear standing beside a desk that made the Korean man look huge to Val.
“Ms Glover, please take a seat,” G-Bear said in an accented form of English.
Val realised that something was wrong; G-Bear very rarely let his accent show as much as it had during that one sentence.
“Is something wrong, Mr Park?” She asked.
“I think so, Ms Glover, I think so. It's Hyun-Hee.” He told her.
Something was wrong with Hyun-Hee, Val thought; he must know something. “What do you mean, Mr Park?”
“She has not seemed herself for the last few days. I had a call from her mother this afternoon telling me that her daughter was asking questions about her childhood as if she did not remember it.” G-Bear answered.
“Maybe she is just nervous about the overseas concert,” Val said, trying to bluff her way through.
“You may be right, Ms Glover, you may be right,” G-Bear replied.
“I am sure that is all it is,” Val told him, trying to make him believe it.
“Has she said anything to you, Ms Glover? You two seem to have become very close over the last few days.” G-Bear asked her, looking somewhat concerned for his young charge. He had been an Idol and knew how the industry could affect someone as young as Hyun-Hee.
Val stood there for a moment, looking at G-Bear. This was a side of him she had never seen back when she had been Gi. He seemed to care for the young woman as if he were a parent. Maybe G-Bear was not the monster she had once taken him to be.
“She has not said anything to me, Mr Park. She did speak about her childhood, but only when I asked. I wanted to know about it for a more complete profile, but I asked the same questions to everyone.” Val replied almost honestly.
“I mean no offence, Ms Glover. I only wish to find a way to help Hyun-Hee. I want to make sure that she is well. I think that is the right English word, is it not?” G-Bear asked the westerner, hoping that he had not upset her.
“I take no offence, Mr Park,” Val answered.
“That is good, for I have a request to make of you,” G-Bear said.
Val looked worried. “What do you want to ask me, Mr Park?”
“You are following the group to the next concert as we spoke about earlier, yes?” G-Bear asked.
“Yes, I thought it would be the perfect way to end the article on the group as we discussed,” Val replied nervously.
“Yes, that's the agreement. I thought that since you and Hyun-Hee had become so close that you could help her get over her nerves by accompanying us on our flight rather than meeting us there.” G-Bear said cautiously.
“You mean you want me to fly to America on your jet?” Val asked.
“That is correct, Ms Glover, and during the flight, you could speak to Hyun-Hee to see if there is anything that can be done to help her,” G-Bear told her using his parental tone once more.
“I am not sure, Mr Park. I do not want people to see me as the group's spokesperson. I would need to know that I could still have control over what I write.” Val told him, secretly enjoying standing up to the man who had previously had so much control over her life.
“There will be only one change to our agreement, Ms Glover. That will be to keep the conversations on the journey private.” G-Bear replied.
“In that case, Mr Park, I would be only too pleased to help Hyun-Hee,” Val answered.
“I will arrange for one of my people to take you back to your hotel to gather your things. We will be leaving Korea in three hours, and thank you, Ms Glover.” G-Bear said to her as he turned to pick up a phone to make the arrangements.
Val turned and left the room to allow him to do so in private. She found a seat outside and waited for someone to come and take her to the hotel. It had not been the way she wished to leave Korea, but at least she was leaving. The flight itself would allow her the time to help settle Hyun-Hee’s nerves.
A few minutes later, a short, round man arrived and guided her towards the rear exit of the venue and to a waiting car. She took her seat in the car, and the journey back to the hotel began. In the back seat, Val (Gi) started scribbling on a notepad as she tried to work out her next move.
