The accounting manager entered Gun-Ho’s office. He had joined GH Development about the same time when Secretary Yeon-Soo Oh was hired. He had a tax accountant license.
“Mr. Accounting Manager, how do you like working here so far?”
“I like it, sir.”
“Since this is not a manufacturing company, I believe that you don’t see much complicated work here. Director Kang is the one who pushes the tenants, who are behind on rent, to pay it, right?”
“That’s right, sir.”
“I just asked all of the GH companies to send their last year’s financial statements for an external audit here. Seven companies will send their financial statements to us. Can you collect all of them, put them together, and bring them to me?”
“I will do that, sir.”
When the accounting manager left Gun-Ho’s office, Assistant Manager Ji-Young Jeong entered the office again.
“I’ve arranged to send a flower wreath to the funeral home, sir.”
“Good.”
“And, this is the envelope with condolence money in it.”
“I recognize this nice writing on the envelope. I guess Director Kang came back to the office.”
“Yes, he just came back and wrote this.”
“This looks great.”
When it was after 6 pm, Gun-Ho wrapped up his work and went down from his office. At the front entrance of the building, his Bentley was parked waiting for him. The security guard in uniform opened the car door for Gun-Ho and gave him a military salute.
Once Gun-Ho got in the car, he said to Chan-Ho Eum, “We are not heading to TowerPalace now. Let’s go to Seoul National University Hospital.”
“Seoul National University Hospital, sir? Are you going there to see your wife, sir?”
“No, I need to attend a funeral there. One of my classmates— a high-ranking police officer’s mother just passed away.”
“Oh, I see. I will then take the route in the direction to Changgyeong Palace, instead of Daehakro. The funeral home can be more easily accessed from that direction.”
“The traffic must be heavy at this hour, isn’t it?”
“I guess so since everyone is getting off work around this hour.”
While he was still on the way to the funeral home, Gun-Ho received a call from Attorney Young-Jin Kim.
“Are you going to the funeral today or tomorrow?”
“I’m on my way there right now.”
“Really? Then meet me there at 8 pm. I’m leaving now.”
“Sure, I will see you there.”
When his car was passing by the National Theater of Korea, Gun-Ho made a call to Young-Eun. He, at first, thought of sending her a text message, and then he decided to talk to her on the phone directly.
“Hello?”
Young-Eun picked up the phone.
“It’s me.”
“How come you are calling me at this hour? Today is not Friday.”
It was at the end of the day, and Young-Eun sounded exhausted.
“Where are you right now? Are you at home? Or still at the hospital?”
“I’m at the hospital. I have a night shift today.”
“I’m actually heading to Seoul National University Hospital right now. I will arrive there soon.”
“Umm… Did you get hurt? Are you ill?”
“No, no. I’m going to the funeral home there. One of my classmates, his mother passed away. Can I see you for a second since I will be there?”
“We will see each other on Friday.”
“Well, but I will be there anyway. I just want to see you. I won’t take much of your time.”
“I am making a round to see my patients soon. Come to see me after 7:30 pm then.”
“Okay, I will see you then.”
The traffic was terrible, and Gun-Ho could arrive at the hospital when it was almost 8 pm. Gun-Ho’s Bentley stopped at the front door of the hospital after passing the hospital main gate. Gun-Ho went straight to the night-duty room for doctors. Young-Eun was working at a desk with a computer. She was wearing a medical doctor’s white coat.
When she saw Gun-Ho coming into the room, she stood up from her seat.
“I couldn’t just leave without seeing you since I’m here.”
Young-Eun’s skin under the lamp looked fairer, especially with her white coat. Gun-Ho thought that she looked like an elegant lily.
Gun-Ho hugged Young-Eun and said, “I miss you every day.”
Young-Eun quickly pushed him away.
“Don’t do this. I’m at work. Someone could enter the room at any time.”
“Who cares? We are a married couple.”
Gun-Ho smiled in embarrassment and said, “You seem to have a lot of work to do even at this late hour.”
“I have some work overdue that I have to take care of.”
“I see. Don’t stay up too late. I’m leaving.”
Gun-Ho waved his hand at Young-Eun.
“Oppa!”
Young-Eun called Gun-Ho in a low voice.
“I’m sorry that I couldn’t be nicer to you.”
Gun-Ho smiled and said, “I’m not that nice to you either. I’m sorry too.”
Young-Eun waved her hand at Gun-Ho with a smile.
There were tons of people at the funeral home. Some people were wearing police uniforms.
The flower wreath that Gun-Ho sent was standing proudly at the entrance.
Gun-Ho made a deep bow to the deceased twice, and then he gave a deep bow to the deceased’s son— his classmate. Assistant Commissioner Park seemed to be the deceased’s first son since he was standing at the very first row. After giving a bow to each other, Assistant Commissioner Park said to Gun-Ho, “Mr. Class Manager, thank you for coming.”
Assistant Commissioner Park introduced his siblings to Gun-Ho, and then he led Gun-Ho to the area where other guests were sitting.
“Mr. Congressman Jo, Mr. Minister Kim is over there.”
At one of the corners, Gun-Ho saw a few of his classmates from the Advanced Center for Administrative Development sitting together. They were occupying a table, and they were drinking liquor as most guests at the funeral home did.
“Oh, Mr. Class Manager, you are here. Please sit with us.”
Gun-Ho looked around to find Attorney Kim, but he was not there yet. One of the congressmen filled up a glass with liquor and gave it to Gun-Ho.
“You came with your chauffeur, right, Mr. Class Manager?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Then drink a few glasses of liquor before you leave.”
Minister Jin-Woo Lee didn’t show up that night. The people at the table were not very close to Gun-Ho; they were a few congressmen and ministers. They conversed with each other, and Gun-Ho didn’t chip in. Gun-Ho was not a government worker like them, and he was a lot younger than them.
Gun-Ho stood up and looked around one more time to find Attorney Young-Jin Kim. At a nearby table entrance, Chan-Ho was sitting with other chauffeurs.
“I’m sorry that I came late!”
Young-Jin finally arrived.
“Did you see Assistant Commissioner Park?”
“Yes, I just did.”
Since Young-Jin Kim joined the table, Gun-Ho drank a few more glasses of liquor. As time went, more and more people came to the funeral home.
The place eventually became packed with people, and they had to sit altogether tightly. Gun-Ho noticed that the man who was sitting next to him kept glancing at him. That man looked like he was in his early 50s, and he had a sturdy build. He was drinking his glass of liquor. Gun-Ho glanced at him as well since he thought he saw this man somewhere before. Gun-Ho just couldn’t figure out where and when.
