04: Dinner & Deal

Local Restaurant

As soon as Verosha arrived at the venue of the meeting, Andy what Verosha told her. He just dropped her off and let Verosha go inside on her own. Inside, she was greeted with respect by the guards and signal the waitress to come. 

“Welcome, Lady Vero.” the waitress came and greeted her with respectful familiarity.

“Table with Mr. Kim.” Verosha said and the waitress nodded.

“Right this way.” The waitress lead the way and guided her toward the table where her old friend waiting.

“Thank I got this.” Verosha thanked the waitress as soon as she saw Mr. Kim’s whereabouts.

Verosha noticed already something was wrong as got a closer look at their table. Mr. Kim, her old friend was holding his crane and looking at his wristwatch patiently waiting. Verosha sighed over the stubborn old friend of hers.

“Don’t you dare get up on your seat, Li-song.” Verosha warned him as she got closer to the table. Mr. Kim was indeed a stubborn fellow and still tried his best to pay respect to her. Verosha clicked her tongue in annoyance and went to his side immediately. She assists him to take a seat again.

“Sorry, can’t help but pay respect to my old friend.” Li-song Kim smiled weakly as he apologized.

“You know that I would really give a punch if you were not being like this.” Verosha was annoyed as she rolled her eyes and took a seat not far from him.

“Then it's good that I’m being weak right now.” Li-song joked but earn a very deadly glare from Verosha that made him raise his hand in surrender.

“Enough with it. Have you eaten already?” She changed the subject and Li-song shook his head.

“Not yet but we made some orders already. I also included your favorite.” He added while looking around the restaurant.

“Then while we wait, why gave me a telegram? You’re not a person who sent those things along with your documents.” Verosha went straight to the point that made Li-song sigh in defeat.

“Straight to the point as always. Before, I explain further, I would like you to meet someone…” Li-song smiled weakly and Verosha sensed the excitement in his tone.

“Who?” she wondered who was it then Li-song looked around and saw something by the entrance of the restaurant.

“Ah! Finally, he’s here.” His smile went wide which made Verosha wonder who was it.

“Sorry, Dad, I was called at the local bar before going here.” The familiar voice of a young man echoed through the hearing of Verosha.

“It's alright, meet my friend that could help you. Lady Vero, here’s my only son, Lium Kim.” Li-song waved it off and introduced his only son to Verosha.

“So, that’s why he looked familiar.” Verosha coldly looked at him and said those words to him. Though, she likes seeing him again in person and was still enchanted.

Verosha made a quick scan of how Lium was looking at the moment and he was not wearing just a shirt or pants. He was now wearing a midnight blue shirt with buttons, a black jacket blazer, pants, and dark blue topsider shoes. He was not even wearing a bandana but he made sure that he combed his hair up making his look now clean and neat.

“You knew each other already?” Li-song asked curiously.

“Sort of accidentally hit her when I opened the door of the local bar.” Lium smiled and showcased his dimple as he took the opposite side of Verosha. He was still enchanted seeing her again.

“You did what?! Apologize!” Verosha was surprised when Li-song hit suddenly his only son’s shoulder while telling him to apologize to her.

“He already did, Li-song, and you better not lose cool when…” Verosha waved it off and was about to say something but Li-song cut her off. 

“I know. I know.” Li-song just calmed himself down. Verosha noticed that he didn’t want his only son to know what was happening to him.

“Your foods are already here.” The same waitress handed to them their order.

“Thank you.” Li-song thanked them but Verosha was eyeing him. He sensed it but weakly smiled.

They had a nice and quiet dinner until they were having dessert. 

“So, Dad, why call me for a dinner and meet your young friend?” Lium asked while eating his milk ice cream.

“Young for my age but she’s six years old than you.”  Li-song answered as he finished his creme brulee.

“What? She looked like just around my age.” Lium was surprised and almost drop the spoon that was full of ice cream because he never thought that Verosha was older than him.

“Gentlemen, please respect the lady’s pride in her age.” Verosha cut their conversation since it seems to her that her presence has been forgotten there.

“Right, sorry.” the father and son apologized at the same time.

“Speaking of, why call us for dinner, Li-song?” Verosha changed the topic to the real one as she took another bite from her mixed nuts vanilla mint ice cream.

“Alright, since you two are eager to hear them, Lady Vero, marry my son.” Li-song directly dropped his answer which made Verosha stopped from eating her ice cream but Lium take it differently.

“WANT ME WHAT?!” Lium slammed his hand on the table and glared at his father. Not caring that some customers looking his way for a second there.

“You heard me, you’re going to marry, Lady Vero.” Li-song firmly said that making Lium sigh heavily.

“But Dad…” he was trying to reason with his father but Li-song gave him the reason why offer it.

“She’s the one we had the huge debt with and she’s the only one who could help you as well assured that you’ll be in good hands.” Li-song reminded Lium of the reason why he was working so hard that even forced him to stop his college degree.

“Good hands…I don’t know her…” Lium sounded sad as he slouch on his chair upset.

“Li-song, is that the real reason why you handed me the real documents for keepsake and telegram of apology?” Verosha pointed out a question that caught Lium’s interest and listen carefully.

“What I’ve written there are the real reason and my last request from you, Lady Vero. You’re the only one I trust to keep my son safe. Please.” Li-song answered honestly and Lium noticed that his father was still hiding something from him.

“Dad, what are you doing?” he asked his father.

“Very well then but I will tell him everything he needed to know for this to work.” Verosha suddenly bargain in her cold and firm voice that snapped Lium. 

“Are you marrying me because my Dad asked you to?” he asked in his confused voice.

“Li-song.” Verosha didn’t answer and looked seriously at his father.

“Have it your way but marry him in return.” Li-song sighed and let Lium hear what made him decide like that.

“Deal.” Verosha accepted the arranged marriage which left Lium totally confused. He wanted to get angry to the two adults before him but could not because of the debt weighing his thoughts.

“Thank you.” Li-song thanked her.

“Nicolite, send Li-song to our safe house and make to protect your ‘brother’. You’ll be continuing your medication there and be sure that you can walk down the aisle and attend your son’s wedding.” Verosha waved her hand and summoned her men that were guarding the entire restaurant.

“Thank you, Lady Vero.” Li-song thanked her again as he was being assisted carefully by another acquaintance.

“Lium, sorry but I am happy that I could leave you in good hands.” Li-song sincerely apologized to his son. But also happy because his son will be in good hands.

“Dad…” Lium muttered only as he watched his father being assisted carefully out of the restaurant.

“Lium, come with me. I’ll tell you what you need to know about your father’s case.” Verosha got up from her seat and waved her hand again.

“What’s going on, Vero? Please, I know my Dad was a secretive person but medication?” Lium looked around as he followed Verosha. He noticed all of the staff working in the local restaurant bowing as they leave.

“I’ll tell you later. But please, be open-minded as much as you can. Andy, we’re done here.” Verosha might be sounding cold to what she told Lium before calling her driver.

When their ride arrive, Andy opened the door for Verosha and pushed Lium since he was hesitating to get inside. Lium was about to complain about it but Andy already started driving the car. There was silence in the car until Lium's heavy sigh echoed around.

“Care to tell me now, what’s happening and why you accept my Dad’s offer?” Lium break the silence and asked Verosha beside him.

“Aside from the debt he has to me, there’s something else you need to know about his reason.” Verosha just answered followed by a click on her tongue that caught Lium’s attention more.

“I already warn him to tell you about it, but you know your father, stubborn and secretive.” She added as she glared while looking outside the window.

“But not to you.” Lium scoffed.

“Of course, he can’t when I’m the one who's keeping his family alive.” Verosha sighed as she crossed her arms.

“What are you talking about?” Lium asked while trying to understand everything that he just heard.

“Your father, Li-song Kim, or who I always call Stupid-Idiot-Stallion insisted on working for me…” She started on explaining but Lium’s reaction cut her off.

“What?” he reacted in confusion.

“Stop that. You looked like your father.” Verosha rolled her eyes when she saw his reaction.

“Wha-!” He was about to react the same way when Verosha gave him a very deadly glare that shivers his spine.

“I said stop that or do you want me to call you stupid idiot like what I called him?” she was still glaring at him and Lium just stopped while hiding his embarrassment over his cheeks.