The Yuchae Blossom Read online

  “You lost your balance. I thought you were going to fall.”

  “I was fine.” He angrily brushed himself off. Embarrassed or?

  “But….” Woo-bin had taken off his jacket and was attempting to dust off Jack’s pants with it.

  “Stop!” Jack turned to face him. “Seriously. I don’t need a valet, manservant, whatever.”

  Woo-bin looked stricken again. He stepped away and bowed.

  That was sort of… it. Jack took his coat off and shook it out. “Take me back.” He headed in the direction they had come. Leaving Woo-bin standing there, looking terrified.

  In the car, he thought about his reaction. Over the top? He really hadn’t been in any danger. He wasn’t that close to the edge. Was I? So, why am I so angry? His heart was racing, his hands shaking. He ran a hand through his hair. He was sweating, and he rolled down the window. The breeze felt good, and he closed his eyes. His arm around my waist. Strong, firm, and… protective? What are you thinking? It was crazy that he was so worked up. It was the whole valet thing. That was it. Yes. Tomorrow. He would do something. Something to help both him and Woo-bin. Taking a deep breath, he felt better. First thing. Sitting back, eyes closed, he tried to relax, but every thought brought him back to Woo-bin’s arm around his waist.

  “LUKEY!”

  “Hey, Dad. How’s everything going on Juju Island?”

  Jack laughed. “That’s Jeju Island.”

  “Oh. Okay. Jeju.”

  “Things are coming along. Got a few kinks to iron out before I’m comfortable.”

  “Like what?”

  “Well, I have a valet who is also my driver.”

  “What’s a valet?”

  “He’s a man who tends to my needs like getting my clothes ready—ugh—and opening the car door for me. Stuff like that.”

  “Whoa. That’s like being a rich guy.”

  “Not so much. It’s kinda annoying, really.”

  “Is it? I would love to get driven to school in a limo.”

  “I think you’ll have to settle for Gram and Pop for that. And knowing Gram, she won’t be opening your door for you.”

  “No. I don’t suppose she would.”

  “So, how’s everything in Bristol? Like your new school?”

  “It’s all right. I miss my friends, though.”

  “I bet, Lukey, and I am sorry for that. You know I didn’t have a choice. I had to come here. But when it’s over and I come back, you won’t ever have to leave San Francisco again. Aunt Jenna can come and stay with you like before when I have to travel to Sao Paulo.”

  “Finish soon, Dad. I miss you. A lot.”

  “I miss you too, Lukey. Hey. Tell Gram and Pop ‘hi’ for me. I know they want to talk, but I need to get some sleep. It’s eleven o’clock at night here.”

  “That’s right. Thirteen-hour difference.”

  “Yes. I’m half the planet away from you.”

  “Hey, Pop’s taking me to an observatory at Brown University in Providence. Jupiter is visible and two of its moons.”

  “He is? That should be fun. Miss our telescope on the deck. Of course we can’t see so much with all the light pollution from the city.”

  “But it was fun looking at the moon and comets.”

  “It was. It will be again. Take some cell phone pics of the observatory and send ’em to me.”

  “Okay, Dad. I will. Night. Call again soon.”

  “I will, Luke. Behave. I love you.”

  “Love you too, Dad.”

  He hung up. He had opted for a phone call instead of skyping. Hard to see his son and not want to pack up and just head home. He went in to shower and then head to bed. First day in the office tomorrow and he wanted to get in a run before breakfast.

  Six

  CHOON-HEE HAD given him his coffee in a travel mug. He instructed her the night before that he was having breakfast with Ms. Argent and to not cook for him. Lie. He just wanted to get out of the house, get to work. Get away from…. Woo-bin was waiting for him by the open rear passenger door when he came out of the house. We’re back to that? He didn’t wait for Woo-bin to open his door when they arrived. Woo-bin had barely made it around to his side of the car before he was out and on his way into the building. Jack turned slightly once inside to see Woo-bin standing by the car. Why was he just standing there? Ugh. Jack headed to his office. Missy’s door was open, but she wasn’t there. He closed his door and sat at his desk. It was a huge space, with a sitting area and a wall of windows with a bamboo garden just beyond, which could be accessed through one panel that was a door. There was a list of company phone numbers under the glass blotter. Locating the one for Personnel, he pulled his cell from his briefcase and called. It was picked up on the third ring and answered in Korean.

  “This is Division Manager Jackson Calloway. I’m calling from the Seawind property on Jeju.”

  “Oh, Division Manager, hello. I am Kim Min-jae. How may I help you?”

  “I’m calling about my driver slash valet, Song Woo-bin.”

  “Yes?”

  “Well, actually I won’t be needing him. So, if you could reassign him, I would appreciate it.”

  Silence—then, “Is there a problem?”

  “Ah, no.” Besides him seeing me naked, overreacting to me losing my balance, staring at me, irritating the hell out of me, making me feel…. “I just don’t need him.”

  “I see. All right, then. I’ll take care of that today for you.”

  “Thank you, Kim Min-jae.” He hung up.

  He felt better. Relieved? Stones.

  There was a knock at door. He froze. If he—

  “Jack?”

  Missy. “Come in.”

  “Hi. Coffee?”

  He held up his travel mug. “Choon-hee.”

  “Check your email. Bunch of stuff.” She smiled.

  “Okay.” He threaded his hands together as he sat back.

  She closed the door and pulled up a chair. “What?”

  “What?”

  “Your brow is making that, V thing.” She pointed, waggling her finger at the space between her eyebrows.

  “What V thing?”

  “The one that appears when you’re having a hard time with something.”

  “When did I ever?—”

  “The whole day in Seoul.”

  “I don’t. Do I?” He tilted his head back, sighing.

  “So?”

  “I called Personnel and had them reassign Song Woo-bin.”

  “What? Why?”

  “I don’t need him. I want a company car so I can get around on my own.”

  “Jack—”

  “I mean it, Missy. No more… driver slash manservants.”

  “Was it that bad?”

  “I like my privacy. I don’t want some guy doting on me all over Jeju Island, and I most certainly don’t want him in my room, my bathroom. So, yes.”

  “You don’t have an international driver’s license, so you’ll have to get a Korean driver’s license, which means—”

  “I’ll need a driver until then. Fine.” Sigh.

  “I’ll get the paperwork submitted and processed.” She stood and walked to the door. “Lunch later?”

  He nodded. “I don’t want him… attending to me all the time. Just when I need a driver. No more.”

  She nodded. “Email.”

  “Yes.” Jack made an X across his heart.

  She left, closing the door.

  He wondered where they would place Woo-bin. Maybe Seoul. Closer to his family. Better for him and me.

  Pulling his MacBook out of his briefcase, he booted it, opened the company website, and logged in to his email account—106 emails not read. He took a drink of Choon-hee’s coffee, which he was sure he was becoming addicted to—so good—and went to work.

  MISSY’S DRIVER dropped him off at the house at 7:00 p.m. Most of the lights were off except for the entry, kitchen, and hallway. He washed the travel mug and put it in the dish strainer. It
was kind of nice to be home and not have a shadow. Choon-hee kept to herself mostly, never hovering, only around for meals. It was odd not having Luke around. Talking to him the night before was such a double-edged sword. He missed his boy terribly. A lump in his throat threatened to make its way to his tear ducts. He breathed until it subsided. Opening the fridge, he took out a bottle of water and grabbed an apple and headed to his room. Wedged in between the door and doorjamb was an envelope. He pulled it free and opened it. A flash drive. What… is this? In his room, he closed the door and got his laptop out. When it had booted, he plugged in the flash. Pictures. Woo-bin had apparently taken pics of Jack with his own cell. When did he take the one of me on the bench at Sangumburi? He would pick out some and email them to Luke in the morning. Taking a long draft of water, he recapped the bottle and stretched out on his bed. He picked up the apple, took a bite. Woo-bin on the roof of the Seawind. That awkward moment I asked him about his mother. Had she died, or left him, left the family? Woo-bin hadn’t wanted to talk about it, that was clear. Or… did he? He took another bite. He’ll be better off. He will. And so will I. As Jack swallowed, the image of Woo-bin standing there in the afternoon sun, with Mount Hallasan off in the distance, came to him like a photograph. Every detail. The sadness. He suddenly wasn’t hungry anymore.

  Stones.

  THERE WAS a new face at the breakfast table. An older man. Jack’s age. He looked from Choon-hee to the man who sat there eating, seemingly oblivious to anything else.

  “He replace Woo-bin. Sit. Eat.” There were several dishes with an assortment of food and a place set for Jack. No fork or knife. Just a spoon and chopsticks. He had agreed to eat traditional, but Choon-hee usually gave him a fork.

  “Just coffee this morning, Choon-hee. I’m not very hungry.”

  “Tsk—Tsk. Of course you no hungry.”

  “Of course?”

  She didn’t answer as she brought him his coffee.

  “Thank you.” He tried to catch her eye. She wouldn’t look at him and, returning to the prep area, began cleaning up.

  Jack sipped at his coffee. “So, you’re the new driver?”

  The man had his phone out and was texting and didn’t respond.

  “His English not so good. Park Byung-soo. Seonsaengnim-ui unjeon gisainji mudgoeossda (The director is asking if you are the driver).”

  “Hmmm?” He looked up at Choon-hee, then at Jack. “Mianhabnida.” Nodding. Ne.

  Great. “Please tell him I’ll be ready to leave in ten minutes.” Jack got up, taking his coffee, and went to his room to finish dressing. As he tied his tie, he thought about Woo-bin, wondering if he was settling into a new job, if it was more interesting. Byung-soo was waiting for him, car door open. Byung-Soo bowed. Jack sighed. Some things, he supposed he would just have to get used to.

  Seven

  TWO WEEKS went by like a high-speed chase. Meetings, dinners, inspections, two trips to Seoul to meet with the ED, and late nights dealing with building-plan changes. He was exhausted. Missy seemed nonplussed. For some reason, Choon-hee still would not look at him, and her responses were clipped at best. He chalked it up to her deliberate and straightforward demeanor.

  It was late on a Friday night, and Jack had just finished skyping with his mom and Luke. He headed out to the kitchen to make himself a cup of tea and jumped when he saw the outline of someone sitting in the dark. Reaching for the wall switch, he turned on the light.

  “Aigooo. Turn off light.”

  “Choon-hee. Why are you sitting in the dark?”

  “Dark is good for thinking.”

  “I guess.” He went over to the stove to grab the kettle.

  She was right behind him, taking the kettle and telling him to sit.

  “I can boil water.” He was frustrated.

  “Yes. You know how to do many things. I know.”

  “What, exactly, does that mean?” He raised one eyebrow.

  She didn’t answer. Just waved him toward the table.

  Jack sat.

  Choon-hee made him a cup of hot plum tea, placed it before him, and sat opposite.

  He looked at her as he brought the cup to his lips. She was staring at him. “What?”

  “Why?”

  Jack put the cup down. “Why what?”

  “You know what.”

  “No. Really. I don’t.”

  “Send Woo-bin away. This was his only work.”

  Send Woo-bin away….

  She continued to stare at him, waiting.

  “I didn’t send him away. He was transferred to another position.”

  Choon-hee tucked her chin, tilting her head. “What other ‘position’?”

  “Well, I don’t really know.” Why don’t I know? Why didn’t I check? His stomach knotted.

  “Tsk—tsk—tsk. When he left that day. He so upset. He think it because he make you angry and not do job well. Think must be something very bad for you to not want him work for you.”

  “I didn’t. I called the Seoul office and asked them to transfer him.”

  She scowled at him, arms folded.

  “Look, Choon-hee, I will find him and make sure he’s okay. They probably transferred him to the Seoul office. His family is there.”

  “Aigoo, he no want to be with father. Father like drink more than he like son. Brother nabbeun. This was way for him to send money to take care of old man.”

  “Nabbeun?”

  “Bad, trouble.”

  Jack looked at the vapor rising from the steeping tea. “I didn’t know. How could I know that?” But you did know something. When he told you about his family.

  Choon-hee got up from the table and smoothed out her long skirt. “He only want to please you, Seonsaengnim. His heart in right place.” She left the kitchen.

  Where is—was—your heart, Jack?

  THE NEXT morning he called Missy.

  “Morning, Jack. Did we have plans today, or…?”

  “Where’s Woo-bin?”

  “You mean, Song Woo-bin? Why do you call him Woo-bin? He was your employee. That isn’t the correct—”

  “Because I like calling him Woo-bin,” he responded tersely.

  “Did you consider that maybe he didn’t like being called Woo-bin?”

  “He’s never objected.”

  “Like he ever would.”

  “I asked him when we first met, the night we arrived, if he minded me calling him Woo-bin.”

  “And?”

  “And he said he didn’t. Why are we having this discussion now?”

  “Well, I suppose if he didn’t have a problem with you calling him—”

  “Do we know where he was transferred to? Seoul, or is he still here on Jeju, working on property?”

  “Jack….”

  “What?”

  “He was let go.”

  “What? Why? I told them to transfer him.”

  Missy sighed. “When are you going to get it, Jack? This isn’t the US. Not how it’s done here. An employee gets one chance. If his or her performance is not reported as favorable, they’re terminated.”

  “But I didn’t say anything about his performance. Just that I didn’t need him.”

  “Exactly.”

  He didn’t respond at first, then, “I want to find him, Miss. Call Seoul. See if they have contact info, and if not, then have security track him down.”

  “Jack. I don’t think ED Lee is going to approve of resources devoted to the location of an ex–service employee.”

  “I don’t really care. I want him found and reinstated here, on Jeju. Ask him what he wants to do and give him a substantial raise.”

  “And not as your valet?” Her sarcasm obvious.

  “Attitude. No. We’ve been through this. I don’t want or need a valet, and I am barely tolerating Byung-soo. His English is terrible. He took me to the Osu-something Tea Museum yesterday morning instead of the convention center.”

  “I’ve been wanting to go—”

  He sighed hea
vily.

  “Okay, okay. I’ll call today and see if I can get things moving.”

  He softened. “This is my fault. I’m sorry if it feels like I’m directing my anger at you.”

  “Did you?—”

  He waited for her to finish and had to look at his phone to see if the call had been dropped. “Missy?”

  “It wasn’t because you thought he was… gay… was it?”

  “What? No!” Stones.

  “Sure? ’Cause you were pretty freaked when he saw you ah, in the buff.”

  “I never said anything about him being gay.” Then why?

  “Well, you did use the word preference. I thought it was implied. Anyway, let me go so I can call HR. It’s Saturday, but I know they’re in until noon. I’ll let you know what I find out.”

  He thanked her, but she’d already disconnected. Jack looked toward the ocean. He had come out into the garden off his room to have his coffee and watch the sunrise. Something about the morning here, the sky was always fiery, an explosion of color before the sun inched above the horizon. They would find Woo-bin and bring him back. Get him something in the office. Messenger. Someone to run errands. He didn’t care. Something. He sipped his coffee. It was cold, and the color was starting to fade from the sky, the morning getting underway. They would find him. And what if they didn’t? Why does this matter? Knots again. Because it’s my fault. I am responsible. Guilt? Something more? “He only want to please you. His heart in right place,” Choon-hee had said. My heart. Fear stabbed him in the gut as a memory buried long ago floated to the surface. Gavin. His roommate his first year at UC Berkeley. Irish from Dublin. Black hair. Eyes as green as the Emerald Isle itself. And, as he recalled, startlingly handsome. Jack found himself watching him as they studied, waiting for him after class, after games—Gavin played rugby. And, had he? Yes. He had jerked off a few, well, maybe many times in the shower, imagining Gavin as he lay in bed in the other room. Gavin always slept naked. What the fuck. Why hadn’t I ever realized what it might have meant? He’d never said anything to him, to his roommate, ever. But it was a bittersweet year of longing and needs unfulfilled. Then in graduate school, he’d met Nannie. They’d married after graduation, and he’d never looked back. Jack had never felt anything for another man since then. Woo-bin….