Martoons

Today: Get a hint of “the foreigner’s” ulterior motive.

Cast of characters

Mr E

Mr Go 

“A foreigner”

Scene: Soju tent in Chinju

*

“Actually, I strongly dislike her,” the foreigner said. 

E was taken aback and squinted in bafflement.

“Even though we’re Korean blood,” the foreigner explained, “in Canada my parents always favoured her while we were growing up. It’s Canadian style – they’re Canadians and adopted both of us.

“My sister had the best room; I always got stuck washing dishes; even our grandmother always gave her pocket change and sweets and doted over her…”

His voice trailed off and he reflected.

“She always got everything she wanted and I got the crumbs. A lot of resentment grew between us over the years. I’ve never stood in her way but never done anything to help her, either.”

“But you just helped her get this job.”

* Why did he want his sister hired here? *

“I confess a conflict of interest there!”

He chuckled and looked over toward the soju tent’s entry/exit flap.

“I have a favour to ask Mr Go…”

Go burst through the flap, catching his breath and flexing his arms.

E chuckled and said to the foreigner, “He usually does pushups – upwards of one hundred – whenever we hit these soju tents. It clears his head for more soju!”

“Waitress!” Go called, still catching his breath and wiping sweat off his brow. “Another round of soju please!”

The foreigner said in a falsely honorific tone, “Mr Go Sir, I have one more favour to ask.”

He was going to wait but figured why procrastinate?

It was time to lay his cards on the table and disclose the behind story to his campaign to get his sister hired.

* What could this ‘favour’ be? *

“Ayeesh…” Go resumed his seat, not in the mood for granting any favours. “Wey? (Why?)” 

Every bone in his body had told him not to hire the foreigner’s sister, but he’d already buckled under the pressure of the scandalous video tape.

“I already sell my soul for you. What do you want now?”

“It concerns …” The foreigner could feel himself treading on dangerous turf. “… Thomas.”

Go squinted skeptically as if he hadn’t heard right. “Thomas? What about Thomas?”

* What about Thomas?! *

Plain and simply, the foreigner was jealous as hell of the athletic, six-pack-abbed Canadian – Thomas seemed to have monopolized the interest of the sultry, pouting Coffee Lady, whom the foreigner had a serious crush on.

“What about Thomas?” Go emphasized, still with a screwed-up face and now getting defensive and feeling suspicious. “Shoot!”

The foreigner now had second thoughts.

He needed a quick change of strategy; a different path to his objective.

After a long, killer silence he uttered, “Help me stay in this country Mr Go.”

* Why the change of request? *

Go threw his arms up. “What does that have to do with Thomas?”

The foreigner waved him off and patronizingly touched Go’s arm. “Sir, help me stay in this country.”

Go hated people calling him ‘Sir’.

He also strongly sensed the foreigner was now beating around the bush.

He took a deep breath and gathered his thoughts. “Stay in this country?”

The foreigner nodded.

Go waved him off. “Stay if you want! Leave if you want! It is a free country. Your comings and goings have nothing to do with me. Ayeesh!”

His expression instantly looked blasé.

*

Tomorrow: Love thickens the plot.