NETIZEN

KITTY KAT

Kwon Jin was invited to GA international to inaugurate the new medical facilities of the latest research center the school was opening. For once, Kwon Jin left his political cap to appear as the representative of the Hong family and as the son-in-law of InTech industries. Kwon Jin looked forward to it. There was someone at GA he wanted to see.

Fate seemed to be on Kwon Jin's side as someone crossed the road.

The road to GA was long, like Yongsan University, one had to climb a slope; most kids came in their luxurious cars. But Soo Yeon preferred to walk like the commoners, as some liked to say, or those like Chul Yoo Jin with scholarships.

This detail did not escape the students who gossiped about her so-called wealth, primarily since Soo Yeon worked at the CNH. But at the same time, she lived in an apartment with a monthly rent of 3000 dollars, and when she used a car, it was the most recent and most expensive model.

Students concluded Soo Yeon was one of those eccentrics who pretended to live the "real life" experience.

"Stop the car," Kwon Jin ordered.

He lowered the window at Soo Yeon's level, "can I drop you off?"

Soo Yeon sang, the Motté album was out, and G.Dragon banged in her ears.

Kwon could no believe Soo Yeon ignored him but seeing her lips move, he understood and asked his chauffeur to blow the horn.

The student jumped, startled by the sound, which made her notice the black Genesis G90.

"Excuse me, can I drop you off?"

Soo Yeon, unable to hear, approached the window. She knew who Kwon Jin was; she had listened to his voice more than once in her household.

They had even met a couple of times when shy Hye Mi had not found a hiding place fast enough. But the girl Kwon Jin knew was short, awkward, and a 9-year-old the last time they officially met.

Kwon Jin had gone to Europe soon after, and if he had seen her during the shoe incident on the news in middle school, it was scruffy, bruised, and bloody that the man would have registered her.

There was no way the busy man would have put two and two together.

Kwon Jin did the background check. Park Soo Yeon's mother was a widow of an affluent investor who left a vast fortune.

Park Soo Yeon came to study in Korea to get close to her roots. Nothing odd there. His informant told him about her arrest as a suspect in the Song Hi stalking case, but she was cleared. The fact that Soo Yeon was the late idol's fan kind of touched Kwon Jin. There was something of Song Hi in Park Soo Yeon.

Marc saw things; differently he warned Kwon Jin, telling him not to meddle with a girl suspected of being a NETIZEN contributor. Kwon Jin laughed it off, saying that if she was an enemy, he preferred keeping her close to him as if he would contempt himself with surveilling her only.

"I'm sorry, Ajeossi, what did you say?"

"Ajeo-ssi?" Kwon Jin repeated, taken aback by the designation. "I'm not that old," he said, clearing his throat.

"Oh, sorry, then what can I do for you?" Soo Yeon said, face displaying a little smile accompanied by a puppy stare that had Kwon Jin forgive her instantly.

"I was asking you if you needed a ride. I'm on my way to GA."

Soo Yeon looked around, "Ajeossi, there are many students who would need a ride. Why me?"

"You were at the Supernova party; you're Kyeong Min Ha's best friend, her family, and mine are friends. My name is Hong Kwon Jin. I work for Senator Kang. Here's my name card, since you're Kyeong Min Ha's friendー."

Soo Yeon wanted to decline, but he brought up the party and his name to install the trust. Soo Yeon had to play naïve not to raise his suspicion.

"Oh, you were there, cheongmal cheseongaeyo," Soo Yeon said, using her I-am super-amazed-and-unworthy-of-such-a-delicate-attention stare as she examined his name card, "I didn't know who you were," she added.

The driver got out to open the door for her. Soo Yeon got in and sat at a small distance from Kwon Jin, who looked at files on his pad.

"Ajeossi, what are you doing here?"

"I'm here to open a research facility," Kwon Jin replied, unable to conceal the hint of annoyance in his voice. He hated the word Ajeossi like women cringed when called Ahjumma. The term made him feel old and undesirable, and this was something his vain persona despised above all.

"That's great," Soo Yeon said enthusiastically, making Kwon Jin smile. "Please excuse me once again. I'm unfamiliar with all the important Korean families."

Again her words reached him like a compliment; pleased, Kwon Jin finally turned to look at her. She's an adorable baby, he thought.

Soo Yeon made the man want to take her in his arms to cuddle. Kwon Jin could tell even older she would be this little porcelain doll. The girl was so cute he wanted to break and see her with a face of love and despair. Kwon Jin dreamt, observing her facial expression when she cried. The man adored seeing women in tears. It fascinated him to hear their little weeps, which showed him that he held their minds.

How did this girl cry?

The idea excited Kwon Jin as he looked at the high school student in her uniform. Thank you, whoever invented high school uniforms, the fetishist thought.

Kwon Jin longed for some devotion, for someone to need him. A person who would beg to see him, whose face would light up like a Christmas tree when graced by his presence. Kwon Jin had a dog, but he needed a new pet, and this girl appeared to have the pedigree for it.

"Excuse me; I think you didn't tell me your name."

"Oh, how rude of me. My name is Park Soo Yeon."

"Nice to meet you, Park Soo Yeon Ssi."

"Nice to meet you to ajeo-, I mean Deputy Director Hong."

"That's so formal," Kwon said, adjusting his posture.

Soo Yeon flaring the man's persona, fluttered lashes as she said, "how do you want me to call you?"

"Kwon Jin Ssi, for example, or since I'm older Opー."

Soo Yeon knew the direction he wished to go. He wanted the title, and she had no intention of giving it to him. Jared's words rang in her head, for Soo Yeon Oppa was no longer a word to throw around like a frisbee for every man to catch.