Power & Sex, and... 33
Eun-mi ended up staying over at Jeong-ah's place, and they agreed to meet up tomorrow. I dropped the two of them off in front of Jeong-ah's house before heading to the family home in Yeonsan-dong late at night, all because of Ara's stubborn insistence.
"You said last week was busy, right?"
"Yeah. There was some party business, so I couldn't make it down."
"Well, don't go making trouble that gets you in hot water with the elders."
My mother accepted my greeting but voiced her worries right away—concerns sparked by the news reports, wondering if I wasn't stirring things up too much. She knew nothing about politics and had lived her whole life as an ordinary housewife, so for her, having a son who was now a congressman for the district was already more than enough pride and honor. Naturally, she just wanted me to live as a quiet, ordinary assemblyman.
I couldn't exactly tell her that I'd orchestrated those incidents on purpose as steps toward becoming this country's president someday, so I simply promised her I'd be careful. Otherwise, she'd lose sleep over more worries.
I left Ara in Mother's room and stepped out to the rooftop for a smoke. That's when my younger brother followed me up.
"Hyung, they say you, a first-term assemblyman, kicked up quite the storm."
"What, you worried too?"
"Why would I be? You're probably the type to calculate everything before you act anyway."
"Yeah. Thanks for thinking that way—and make sure to reassure Mom so she doesn't fret."
"Don't sweat it. But seriously, how far do you plan to go?"
"Might as well see it through since I started. I'll go as far as I can."
"You thinking Blue House someday?"
"Show me a National Assembly member in Korea who doesn't dream of the presidency. Anyone who doesn't isn't fit to be one."
"So you've got a shot?"
"Too soon for the next one, but I'll run in the one after. Keep that in mind—you and everyone around me. Make sure to manage your circles so there are no issues down the line."
My brother had picked up on it to some extent, just like back in school days when I'd throw myself into the student movement with all those "breathing exercises," and he'd understood my actions, explaining their righteousness to our worried mother to ease her mind. True to form.
"Anyway, I'll take good care of Mom, so don't worry about home. Focus on your work. And look after Sis-in-law too."
"Got it. Thanks. Even if I can't come down often, make sure she doesn't feel neglected."
"Sure thing. You're out there handling national affairs, after all. Leave home to me."
Thanks to my brother, at least Mother's worries at the Yeonsan-dong house were off my plate. Truth be told, if he agreed, I'd love to bring her to our hometown village for her later years—but that would mean giving up his personal life, so I couldn't bring myself to ask. All I could do was warn him in advance not to get swept up in any reckless nonsense from his surroundings.
I handed him the envelope I'd prepared ahead of time.
"What's this?"
"Just some extra living expenses."
"I've got plenty. Use it on yourself—politics eats money no matter how much you've got."
"Nah, I've got backers covering me. Give Mom plenty for pocket money, win over the neighborhood grannies a bit."
I forced the envelope on my reluctant brother, who kept waving it off, then headed down from the rooftop. After saying goodbye to Mother, Ara and I left the family home.
"I missed you, Ajji."
"Aigoo, is that so, my little wifey?"
"Pfft~ Bet you didn't miss me, Ajji."
"How's Mother-in-law?"
"Mom's doing great as always. She even said you brought her a chicken."
"Chicken? What makes a guy living off his in-laws so damn pretty?"
"Right? And he's got a wife—me—plus three more besides."
"Three more?"
I turned to Ara in shock at her words.
"I know about Suji."
"How?"
I'd always planned to tell her myself someday, but I'd wanted to be the one to break the news first. How had she found out?
"Truth is, last time she was in Busan, the way she looked at you was different. And today, chatting with Unni Eun-mi, I asked her straight up."
"Sorry. I should've told you, but the timing never came."
"No, it's fine. I already knew you weren't a man I could have all to myself."
"Still, I'm sorry to you most of all, Ara."
"Just remember I'm your first wife, your principal wife. The others can do what they want, but no pregnancies for Jeong-ah or Suji. If a good guy comes along, let them go."
"Yeah. Got it. Sorry."
As she said it, her eyes welled up, but a faint smile played on her lips. It was done, and she knew full well how essential those women were to my survival in politics, so she was swallowing her pain to smile for me. I pulled over to the shoulder, held her tight—words failed me beyond that.
"Ara. I'm sorry. And I love you."
"I'll love only you, Ajji. Just stay by my side always."
Ara burrowed into my arms as she spoke. Tears glistened in her eyes, so I gently pressed my lips to them, sucking away the drops.
"Wheee~!"
A sudden whistle pierced the air, followed by snickering. I glanced over to see two guys in their twenties peering through the open window.
"Nice view, old man~ Dragging around a young chick to bang? Least rent a decent ride. What's this junk? I roll in a foreign whip like this, and you're chowing down on old hag meat, too broke to know shame, renting some domestic shitbox to lure chicks."
Not wanting trouble, I ignored them and started the engine. But their car peeled out and cut me off, parking right in front.
"Hey, old man. This Ajji's my husband. Mind your own business, assholes!"
"Ara, stay quiet."
Ara snapped back, pissed. Worried it'd escalate, I calmed her down. I tried reversing to go around, but they backed up and rammed my bumper. They must've figured we were cheating and I'd back off from any real hassle.
If it were my car, I'd have just planned to fix it myself and left. But it was a rental, so no dice. I called 112 and summoned a patrol car. Spotting that, they got aggressive—one pounding the window, the other kicking the hood with his heel.
I ignored them, window up, waiting for the cops. Soon, a patrol car rolled up with lights flashing. They tried to bolt then, but the patrol blocked their car tight—no escape.
Two officers approached my car.
"You the one who called it in?"
"Yes. Those guys in that car were causing a scene, so I reported it."
"Could we see some ID?"
I handed over my resident registration card. The officer shone his flashlight on it, then snapped to attention and saluted.
"Sir!"
"Officer, what's this? No need for formalities."
The salute drew the other cop's attention—he was tussling with the youths trying to open their door. He glanced at me, then back at his partner checking my ID.
"Sergeant, this is Assemblyman Park Maru."
The sergeant rushed over and saluted too.
"Assemblyman, sir! Sorry for the inconvenience."
The two punks, who'd been watching slack-jawed through the window, finally got it. They piled out, yelling obscenities.
"Fucking perfect. So a congressman's banging some fresh-faced kid on the sly? Assemblymen get to screw any slut they want? Korea's so fucked."
The cops looked awkward at the crude outburst. Handling it officially would blast my alleged affair everywhere; covering it up meant silencing these idiots—tricky either way.
"Officer, this is my husband's wife. We're not cheating."
Ara yelled, fuming.
"Ara, hush. You can't raise your voice at officers on duty."
I calmed her and explained to the cops that Ara was my legal wife. They relaxed visibly, loaded the punks into the patrol car, and radioed for backup—one had to drive their car to the station.
"Assemblyman, sorry, but could you come down to the station?"
"If needed, of course."
It wasn't a big deal really—just claim repair costs for the bumper and hood, give a statement, and it'd end with a warning. But my status as an assemblyman meant these two had shit luck.