Power & Sex, and... 63
“You must have been pretty shocked, Assemblyman.”
“I was prepared for something like this anyway. But I'm worried about Jongmin getting hurt.”
“In our world, people get hurt all the time. Gunshots are rare, but it's not a serious injury, so don't worry.”
“Still, it's a relief. They say it won't affect his arm use going forward.”
“Yes. You must be tired, so get some rest.”
“Thank you. We all survived thanks to you, Manager.”
“No need. I feel bad for arriving late.”
The manager urged me to rest and left the room. I showered and lay down, but sleep wouldn't come, so I decided to grab a coffee instead and stepped out.
“Assemblyman, heading out?”
“Who are you people?”
“The manager instructed us to stand by.”
As I opened the door, four young men in suits bowed toward me. Even though the incident was over, the manager must have been uneasy and stationed guards at my door.
“Just going for a coffee. You don't need to do this.”
They wouldn't listen anyway, so I headed to the elevator. As I got in, they radioed that I'd gone down. When the doors opened, two more young men in black suits bowed in greeting. They'd been waiting after hearing I was coming down. I considered going back up but went to the coffee shop instead.
I savored the rich coffee aroma while gazing out the window. It was such a peaceful scene. Wishing it could last, my mind drifted to the morning's events, making me wonder if I should quit politics altogether. Luckily, the bullet only grazed my shoulder, averting worse disaster—but if state agents had carried it out instead of local thugs, it wouldn't have ended with mere injury. The thought tightened my chest.
“You're Assemblyman Park Maru, right?”
“Yes, that's me.”
“There's a call for you, sir.”
The waitress handed me the phone. Wondering who could know I was here, I picked it up.
“Ahji, you okay?”
“How'd you know I was here?”
“Asked Uncle Cheol-rak. But really, you okay?”
“I'm fine. Did something happen?”
“Ahji, you're so mean.”
“What're you talking about, out of nowhere?”
“Anyway, I just passed the Gokseong rest area, so wait a bit.”
I had no idea what Do Cheol-rak had told her to make her rush all the way to Gwangju. She'd probably doubted my story about going abroad, asked him about me, and he'd spilled my location without knowing I'd lied. Looked like I'd catch hell today.
Since I was already down, I decided to wait another thirty minutes. That should be enough time from the rest area. I ordered another coffee and stared blankly out the window.
“Ahji~!”
The coffee shop suddenly filled with Ara's voice, nearly a wail. I turned at the sound and saw her dashing across the tables.
“Ara, don't run! You'll get hurt!”
Ignoring my worry, she threw herself into my arms, repeating, “Are you really okay?” over and over. Even when I assured her, she didn't believe it—pawing my face, scanning my body, and finally trying to strip me off right there.
Once convinced I was unharmed, she burst into tears, pounding my chest with her fists.
“Hey, people are watching. Stop it!”
“I thought you got shot and died! Is this America? What kind of husband lies to his own wife?”
I held her quietly, waiting for her to calm. No words would reach her now; letting her feel my heartbeat was best proof I was alive.
After sobbing in my arms for a while, she finally lifted her head, now composed.
“All cried out?”
“Yeah. I really thought you were dead, Ahji.”
“What exactly did Uncle Cheol-rak say?”
I was baffled how his words had convinced her I was dead.
“Assemblyman, sorry. I told her you were fine, but she kept insisting you'd passed away. I had no choice.”
It was Do Cheol-rak's voice. Amid her hysterics, I hadn't noticed anyone else.
“Uncle Cheol-rak, when did you get here?”
“He drove me.”
Ara answered with a pouty glare.
“How could you think I was dead? You hoping I'd die or something?”
“Why are you raising your voice, Ahji? Who lied about going to America?”
“I had to. Couldn't let my whereabouts leak.”
“Even so, lying to your faithful wife? If not for Uncle Cheol-rak, I'd have been clueless about what happened to you.”
“Sorry. No choice.”
The stares in the coffee shop made staying impossible. I apologized to the bewildered patrons, bowed, pulled Ara up, and headed to the elevator. The suited young men at the entrance bowed as before.
“No more trips down. Report in and rest easy.”
I said the same to the guards outside the room and turned to enter, but Do Cheol-rak started to leave.
“Where you going? Come in.”
“You've reunited with your wife after so long. Catch up.”
“Catch up my ass. Get in. I have things to tell you anyway.”
He hesitated despite my words. I finally grabbed his arm and dragged him inside.
“Whoa! Ahji, you're staying in this room?”
As if she'd never cried, Ara's eyes widened, darting around the parlor, conference area, bedroom—then she looked faint.
“Ahji, why waste money like this? Can a congressman afford it?”
“I'm not paying. Uncle Cheol-rak is.”
“Assemblyman, what're you saying? Not me!”
I blamed it on him to placate her; he waved his hands in panic.
“Then whose money? And how much is this room a night?”
“No idea. If it were mine, would I shell out for this?”
“Anyway, show me the receipt later.”
“Jeez, I told you it's not.”
Ding-dong~
We were bickering over the bill when the bell rang. As I stood, Do Cheol-rak opened the door. A hotel staffer wheeled in a cart with cake and wine, followed by the beaming manager.
“Manager, what's this?”
“Heard your wife arrived, so I came to greet her.”
Word had reached him already. He chatted with Ara, starting from her election coverage, mentioning Seo Dong-beom's articles, saying he'd wanted to meet her. She went from shy to beaming, calling him “Uncle Manager” upon learning he was Do Cheol-rak's friend.
He treated her like a cute young niece—his own age bracket—yet mindful she was a sitting congressman's wife, keeping polite.
“Uncle Manager gave you this room, not Uncle Cheol-rak?”
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Then change it. This place is crazy expensive. Another guest could pay hundreds of thousands a night—it's too lavish for us.”
Realizing it wasn't Do Cheol-rak's doing, she demanded a switch. From her view, even the living area matched our home's size. Then came Do Cheol-rak's bombshell.
“Ma'am, it's not hundreds of thousands—it's a million won a night.”
“What? Uncle Cheol-rak, seriously? A million a night?”
“Yes.”
“Ahji, you're insane! Lounging in a million-won room?”
The ire turned on me. I cursed Do Cheol-rak's loose lips inwardly. This room would haunt me for a while.