Martoons

Today: Love adds more suds to the soap opera

Cast of characters

Mr E

Mr Go

“A foreigner”

Scene: Soju Tent in Chinju

*

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

His expression instantly looked blasé.

Foreigners were always passing through Korea and always had.

In fact, Go mused evilly, If this foreigner leaves before his sister arrives, I could cancel her once and for all! 

He rubbed his hands together but then caught himself in the act and stopped.

“I’m sorry. I’m confused. I’m not sure what you’re asking.”

“I want to be with the girl of my dreams. If I can’t, I will leave Korea.”

There was a long silence.

“Mr Go, I’ve found love here, and love is so precious!”

* Has he really? *

Go looked to Mr E for an explanation.

They conferred quietly and the foreigner could hear the expression “love triangle” several times.

Go finally broke out of the little huddle and just shook his head, turning to the foreigner: “Ayeesh! It’s a TV soap opera. So you and Thomas like the same lady?”

He waved the foreigner off.

“Sorry, don’t involve me in this.

It is a personal problem. If Thomas is with the woman you love, that’s too bad for you. That’s life. What can I possibly do about it? Frankly speaking, if I was a woman I’d rather be with Thomas!”

* How will the foreigner react to Mr Go’s comments? *

There was silence so Go continued hammering. “Why even ask me? Ayeesh. This is … strange.”

E nodded in agreement and patted the foreigner on the back sympathetically and reassuringly.

“Maybe it is best to leave Thomas alone. If Coffee Lady loves him, so be it.”

“Love is natural and as you say – precious. We should let it flower. It is the Korean way.”

“Very touching,” the foreigner said half genuinely, “but I can’t let this go. I’ve never felt like this toward any woman back home.”

He straightened up and cleared his throat again, announcing, “Coffee Lady is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever been with! It’s my destiny to have her.”

“Mr. Go, please! I don’t have a chance to reel her in with Thomas here fishing for her too. And Thomas is … no good for her.”

* Is he genuine? Or just saying this? *

Go waved him off mildly with a father-knows-best grin.

“Shouldn’t we let the Coffee Lady decide who is good for her? Okay look, I think you’re sincere. Maybe you feel it is your destiny. But love is a two way street. Is it her destiny?”

He did a sweeping-away motion with his hand. “But as I said, I don’t want to get involved in this!”

* Will Mr Go end up getting involved? *

“When I’m with Coffee Lady,” the foreigner said dreamily, “hours fly by. This is true love – it’s bigger than the both of us.”

Go laughed in a resigned way. “Maybe I understand your feeling but even if Thomas wasn’t part of the picture, there’s no guarantee that Coffee Lady would choose you.”

“I know, but the odds would be way higher!”

Go became irked. “Love is not about math! I can’t control love. Do I look like Cupid? And why did you say Thomas is no good for Coffee Lady? Thomas is a very good man.”

Silence ensued for the next 30 seconds as Go sat reflecting and taking long, meditative puffs on his dwindling cigarette.

“I cannot,” he finally said, almost as if he was convincing himself. “and I will not interfere in Thomas’ private life.

If he is in love that is good. It means he will be happier and will do a better job and stay in Korea for a long time. He is very valuable to my business.”

* And yet Thomas does not work for him anymore… *

The foreigner sat there unmoved and Go became uncomfortable.

Seriously needing some fresh air again, he excused himself and got up.

“Why?” Mr E queried. “Where you go?”

Go patted and mildly clutched his stomach, grimacing. “This soju tent food no good tonight. That fish we ate earlier? Maybe the grease too old.”

He got up and scurried over to the tent flap and out.

His tummy was a bit queasy but, really, he just had to get out of that claustrophobic tent with that high-pressure foreigner.

This guy just never let up!

*

Tomorrow: Mr Go has an episode.