NETIZEN

VIRUS

Seven years ago

Seoul, Hannam-dong

"Mwo-ya igeat, your son is making French tabloids magazine again. His grandfather only passed away a month ago, and he is walking on film festival's red carpets. You sent him to France to study the language and business. Look at him; he's a Playboy. And who's this girl he's dating? A Korean model Shim Chae Yeong has no money, nothing just a skimpy body" Spat Kwon Jin's grandmother at her son.

"Nae eomonni," replied Mr. Hong, who just desired to breakfast in peace.

"I met the Young daughter the other day; she is so pretty and smart. Her father's company just signed a contract to create pacemakers and Dialysers with SamSun technologies. I think she'd be a perfect much for uri Kwon Jin and a good investment for Hong Byeong Won," said Kwon's mother.

" Ah saesangae, the wife has more wit than the husband, kuré that's a good idea. Tell Kwon Jin to come back here and get married to the Young girl who is an only child. This means Kwon will have the seat of the son and heir of Young's empire.

22-year-old Ga Eun ate her breakfast silently; it was one of those conversations she didn't like. She wished to believe love existed, and her family killed the dream daily. Talking about marriage as if it were a strategic investment was a reality for chaebol children, which did not die out over the years. Ga Eun knew it was a matter of time before her situation was laid out on the breakfast table, and her intuition was proved right.

"Ga Eun, did you receive a letter from Jun Ho recently?" Her mother asked.

"Uhm yeah, last week."

"Stop lying; the boy has gone to do his military service and has forgotten you. Look at you; you are as pale and as light as paper. I know he is a Kang, but there is a whole world of worthy and wealthy suitors for you. Stop clinging to this boy, who doesn't even know what he wants to do in life," her grandmother threw.

Since the woman had lost her husband and sat at the head of the dining table, her tongue became bitter. She scolded the Hong household members at every meal.

Nothing no one did was good enough for the older woman, who grieved her husband in the dark of the night in her bedroom.

"He wants to be an inspector."

"Police, ah hum, what's with all these men doing the opposite of their family's desires? Where's the respect? Kang Baek Hyun wants his son to be a prosecutor, and his son wants to regulate traffic jams, aigoo, you'll all be the death of me," the old woman added.

"어머니 [eomoni]," her son- and daughter-in-law exclaimed in worry.

"Well, at least Jun Ho loves his country. He didn't ask his father to stretch out his hands to his connections to get an exemption for his military service to go and party in the South of France," the grandmother said while shaking her head in disapproval at her son's direction.

South of France, Cannes

27-year-old Kwon Jin was making headlines abroad; the heir was renowned for being a party boy. Kwon Jin knew studying in a foreign country was the last opportunity of freedom he had. The man made the best of it with an entourage of well-off children like himself. He rocked almost every party in Europe.

During one of those parties, he met the infamous Marc Joubert, a peculiar young man from an old aristocratic French family. The boy studied chemistry and always carried a little set of pills of his invention to make a weak party ambiance into an outer world experience.

The other significant encounter was Chae Yeong; the woman was breathtaking and delicate. She somehow reminded Kwon Jin, his sister, which he missed. They had been dating for a year, and even if he had a side dish now and then, Kwon Jin always found his way back to his 21-year-old girlfriend.

And now, standing behind the door of their bedroom with a bouquet of red roses, he was overwhelmed by a feeling of bitterness as he overheard the woman's conversation.

"엄마 [Eomma], I know I'm not wasting my timeㅡI'm doing all my possibleㅡOf course, he is in love with me. It's just a matter of time before Kwon Jin proposesㅡI know he's a playboy but who cares he is rich. Did you receive the necklace? Exchange it for paying Woo Bin's tuitionㅡ No, Kwon Jin won't notice I'm not wearing it! ㅡYes, mom, I'll do everything to be married before next yearㅡUhm, Eomma, bye, take care."

Kwon Jin boiled. How dare she?

How dare this woman take him for a fool?

The man battled his grandfather and father for her, saying he'd gain support in other ways than a profitable marriage. The woman had made Kwon Jin want to believe in sincere love. Hearing Chae Yeong talking about him as if he was a vulgar throwaway tissue angered him. And the gifts in the last months he bought her costly jewelry which were tokens of his love. The woman disposed of them without any regret or sentiment.

The man regained his composure as he entered the room; they were on Marc's yacht for one of his private parties.

"Oh, Kwon Jin, you shouldn't have," Chae Yeong said as she sold him her black widow smile at least. That's how he interpreted the smile in his mind.

"So, what are you going to wear to the party?"

"The dress from CARVEN you bought me the other day."

"Okay," Kwon Jin replied.

Chae Yeong approached to kiss him, unaware of what awaited her.

At 10 PM, the yacht was packed, and the music made the waves ripple.

Chae Yeong danced a lot; the 21-year-old enjoyed a life many dreamt of without ever attaining such pleasures. Kwon Jin approached her after a while.

"You should sit down a little, honey."

"No, I'm having fun," Chae Yeong always let her spoilt brat attitude act around Kwon Jin. Usually, the man found the childish behavior appealing, but there the woman embarrassed him.

"Then have a drink," Kwon Jin said, handing her a glass of champagne, which Chae Yeong gulped at once.

Thirty minutes later, it was a dizzy and sweaty Chae Yeong who fell on her boyfriend's lap. Kwon Jin helped her to their room. It was about 1 AM, and the music seemed to bang even louder in Chae Yeong's ears; everything she saw was in shades of lavender and blue.