Blush

Colors. That is the name of my family’s agency. It’s been around for as long as most of the other major Korean entertainment agencies, but ours is special. At least to me.
It was founded by my grandmother, Park Ahreum, the epitome of beauty and talent in her time. She worked hard, along with my grandfather, Park Daehyun, a clever and kind businessman, and together they made Colors what it is today.
My mother, Park Eojin would’ve taken over the company except she died unexpectedly in a car accident. She too was a talented woman, gone ahead of her time.
I was only six. My father, Ji-Won Jun, remarried when I was seven, barely a year after my mom’s passing and left me to go raise his new family. I remained in the care of my loving grandparents, always protected in their shadow, always respected due to our status.
I was eight when our new neighbors moved in. I remember seeing a cute boy, maybe about a year or two older than me, bouncing a basketball in his hand as he trudged behind an older lady, his mother I found out later. I didn’t think much of it for the rest of the day as I went about playing by myself until evening arrived and my grandmother called for me.
I dropped my little teapot and dolls and ran to the dining room where I had been summoned.
“What is it grandma?” I asked, looking up at her as she arranged something on the table.
“We’re going to go greet our new neighbors, so hurry and wash up!” She said.
I stared at her blankly for a moment until she stopped what she was doing and looked at me.
“What is it sweetheart?”
“Oh…” I wasn’t sure myself. It had been a while since I’d met new people.
“Go on, go put on that pretty yellow dress I bought for you last week.” She said as she turned back to do what she was doing. At the time, I was short, I couldn’t peek over the table top to see so I looked at her and then at the table before shrugging and running to do what I was told to do.
“You look so pretty, Ms. Park.” One of our servants, Yuri, said. Since mom died, she was the one who took care of me.
“Thank you.” I beamed at her as I twirled in my new frock and white shoes. “Let’s go, grandma must be waiting.” I took hold of Yuri’s hand, and together we climbed down the stairs and went to the living room.
“Ready?” My grandmother said from her seat on the couch. She’d worn a light pink skirt suit and her graying hair was cut short and brushed away from her face.
“Yes grandma.” I said as I excitedly ran to her. She pulled me into a hug and placed a kiss on my forehead before asking me to twirl for her.
“Oh, my granddaughter looks like a princess. But there’s one thing missing.” I stopped smiling as I looked up at her, confused. She looked down with a serious face as she reached behind her and pulled something out.
“This.” She said and laughed as she saw my smile break out once more. In her hand, she held a cute yellow and white bandana. “Come here, let me put it on for you.” I sat down next to my grandmother as she expertly weaved the bandana into my hair and tied a cute bow in place.
“Thank you grandma.” I said happily. I looked at Yuri who was smiling as she gestured that I looked perfect.
“Let’s go. Yuri, please give me the bag.” My grandmother motioned to a bag sitting idly on the coffee table.
My grandmother took the bag in one hand and grabbed my hand with the other before heading out the door and down our drive way. When we arrived at the gate next door, my grandmother rang the bell.
“There house isn’t as big as ours.” I said, looking up at the two story house. I remember it being modern and blue with large bay windows.
“Ssshh. Don’t say that little one.” My grandma squeezed my hand and I frowned as a handsome man approached the gate.
“Yes, is there something I can do for you?” The man asked looking from her to me.
“Hello, my name is Park Ahreum. I live next door and this is my granddaughter, Park Yuna. Say hi Yuna.”
“Hello.” I said as I bowed. The man smiled at me and then looked at my grandmother.
“Aah, yes. The famous Park Ahreum. The real estate agent did tell me I’d have celebrities for a neighbor. I’m ashamed that I did not recognize you at first. Please, come in.” The man bowed to my grandmother and quickly opened the gate, leading our way to their house. “Sorry everything is a mess.” The man said as he pushed away a box from the front door.
“Don’t be ridiculous… Mr…” My grandmother and the man looked at each other for a moment.
“Oh I apologize, I did not introduce myself. I am Im Hae-Seon. Nice to meet you.” He bowed once again as my grandmother smiled.
“Mr. Im, don’t be ridiculous and apologize. You just moved in. I am the one intruding.”
“Not at all, please come in…” I drowned out their pleasantries as I took in the inside of their house. Boxes lay everywhere but everything looked clearly marked. The house itself seemed nice and cozy. There was a small chandelier hanging in the parlor, casting extra light into the living room. The sofa and coffee table were already in place and as we walked in, a woman appeared. I recognized her as the woman I’d seen earlier accompanied by the young boy.
“Oh my god, it is such an honor to meet you Mrs. Park.” The woman said as she bowed and held my grandmother’s hand. Then she noticed me and smiled. “Is this your granddaughter?”
Our eyes met for a moment as she smiled.
“Yes, come here and introduce yourself, Yuna.” My grandmother said. I nodded and slowly approached the woman, who knelt down to greet me.
“Hello, my name is Park Yuna. Nice to meet you.” The woman’s smile grew wider as she looked up at her husband.
“Nice to meet you sweetheart, my name is Im Sara.”
“She will get along beautifully with my children.” Mr. Im, said catching my attention.
“Oh that’s wonderful. Yuna stays at home a lot and it would be good for her to have friends to play with.” My grandmother said as she took a seat Mr. Im had offered earlier.
“Just a moment, let me call my son. My daughter is staying with my mother so she will be arriving tomorrow.” The woman walked away as I took a seat next to my grandmother and waited as she chatted with Mr. Im.
“…the land is beautiful, there’s a lot of space…” I heard bits and pieces of their conversation until the woman walked in again, followed by the boy I’d seen out my window.
“Jaebum, come here. There’s someone I want you to meet.” Mr. Im said. The boy peeked around his mother’s back to his father, as he looked from him to us.
“Go on.” Mrs. Im pushed their son towards us.
“Jaebum, this is Mrs. Park, she’s a very famous singer and this is her granddaughter, Yuna.” Jaebum looked from me to my grandmother before bowing and formally greeting us. I could tell that he didn’t care.
“Jaebum, why don’t you show Yuna around the new house?” Mrs. Im suggested.
“Sure.” He shrugged and I frowned as I looked at the smiling adults. When I didn’t move, Jaebum turned around and said, “Are you coming?”
My eyes grew wide at the way he spoke to me but my grandmother urged me on and so I followed him out of the living room and into the parlor.
“This is the parlor….this is the kitchen…this is the downstairs bathroom….” And like that the tour continued with Jaebum speaking only when we entered a new room.
When we finally finished the tour of their new two story house, we went out to the backyard and I watched as he picked up the basketball and started dribbling the ball. The sound echoed as the ball hit the hard ground and came back up and I watched as he maneuvered around invisible obstacles and took a shot.
When he missed, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
“Why’d you laugh?” He asked, glaring at me. He stalked over and immediately I shut my mouth. “Stupid girl.”
My smile disappeared behind my hands as I lowered them and stared at him. I had never been called that.
“What did you say?” I asked.
“Stupid girl.” He repeated as he started dribbling the ball and walked away.
“Be quiet. You can’t talk to me like that!” I said.
“Yes I can.” He said, stopping to look at me.

“Oh yeah? And why is that?” I asked, putting a hand to my hip.
“Because you’re a girl.” I stared at him, once again flabbergasted as he continued to dribble the ball.
“Well you’re stupid too then. You can’t even play basketball.” I said, crossing my arms.
“Oh yeah, and who says?” This time when Jaebum dribbled and shot a basket, it went right through. “Stupid girl.”
“Stop calling me that!” I said as I stomped my foot.
“You’re so spoiled.” He said, angering me even more.
“And you’re so mean!” Something about Jaebum and the way he’d talked to me had gotten to me that day.
I stalked back inside, finding my way quickly to my grandmother.
“Oh, you’re back, where is JB?”
“JB?” I asked Mrs. Im.
“We call Jaebum JB for short. Where is he?”
“He’s outside playing basketball. He called me stupid so I came inside.” I said, my face all huffed.
“What?” Mr. and Mrs. Im looked at each other surprised. “Hold on just a moment.” Mrs. Im went out for a moment as I sat down next to my grandmother who looked at me with concerned eyes.
“Come.” Mrs. Im came back inside, dragging JB by the ear. When she stopped, she let go of JB’s ear who rubbed it angrily and glared at me.
“Did you call her stupid?” Mr. Im asked sternly.
“Yes.” JB whispered.
“What?” Mrs. Im asked.
“Yes. I did.” He said a little louder as he looked at his parents.
“Why would you say such a thing?” Mrs. Im asked him, her tone disappointed.
“Because she laughed at me.” Everyone looked at me where I was seated and I looked at my grandmother as my face grew hot.
“But that’s because he missed the shot. He was playing basketball and he couldn’t make it in like those men on TV.”
“Yuna, you don’t laugh at people when they can’t do something. First of all, it is rude and second of all, it can hurt their feelings. Apologize to him.” My grandmother said as she pointed at JB who was steaming. I remained silent.
“Yuna, apologize.” My grandmother said, a little more sternly this time.
“I…I’m sorry.” I said as a tear suddenly spilled from my eye.
“Look what you did, you made her cry. Apologize right now JB.” JB’s mom scolded him.
“But she laughed at me first!” He said pointing at me.
“Now!” She said, her lips pursed.
“Fine, sorry!” JB said and continued looking at me.
“Good, now shake hands and make up.” I looked at Mr. Im and then at my grandmother who motioned for me to get up. I wiped my tears away and slowly got up and walked over to him and held my hand out. He looked at the hand and then at his parents before looking back at me.
Even back then, his hand was larger than mine, but it was soft and warm. A hand that one day, I’d grow to rely on.

Notes