XIII. Butterfly

“Just like the butterfly. I too will awaken in my own time.”~Deborah Chaskin.

Modern Day Seoul, South Korea.

Inside a coffeeshop                                                                                        

At the coffee shop, the rain still poured.

She sat by the window awaiting his answer.

She had asked him, “Who are you?”

Silence had followed.

She watched his eyes, measuring the sincerity of his responses.

He seemed relaxed and at ease.

As memories of the day when she had first traveled to Goryeo came back, details started to come back.

She had sat on that dock, drinking soju.

He had been there too. 

An image of him then, superimposed on him now. 

Her eyes stayed glued to his face.

Searching, trying to record the changes she saw in him now.

The homeless man she remembered had looked different from the man that stood in front of her now.

There where physical changes in him.

She remembered the side of his face had a scar. As a cosmetic consultant that had registered it when she met him first.

She could not see that scar now. 

Was it surgery? Cosmetics?

His teeth where different too. 

The homeless person she had met did not have perfect teeth.

Was he that same homeless person she had met before leaving for Goryeo?

Could he have transformed so quickly in two years?

A thought, suddenly hit her.

Could she have changed events in the future by travelling back to Goryeo?

When she left for Goryeo, this man was homeless.

Did her actions change his future?

Was this Ji-Mong?

And who exactly had Ji-Mong been?

He searched inside his wallet, and extended a card to her. 

“I’m Ji-Won.  I’m a historian.” He said with a smile.

My specialty is the study of Goryeo. The collection of paintings you saw displayed earlier at the gallery… I oversaw curating the exhibit.” he said with pride in his voice.

“Our company’s exhibit on Goryeo era cosmetics and paintings was sponsored by ISOI cosmetics. “

Hae Jin looked down at the card he gave her. She read, “Ji-Won Head of Research. Nabi Enterprises.”

A butterfly logo was printed next to his name.

As she read, he continued,” The collection is especially held in esteem by our CEO.”

“You seem very familiar. I seem to recall meeting you before my accident, at the dock. Have we met before?” She asked him.

He addressed her again, “Accident?”

“It was during an eclipse. I nearly drowned after jumping in to save a child who had fallen into the water. I was in a coma for a year. I have recently recovered my memories.”

As she watched him listening to her, she added, “After the accident, you could say things changed for me. In many ways the coma,... it was like traveling to a faraway place.  There are many things I am seeking answers to after that day.”

He shook his head, then said, “I’m sure your kind heart and your decision to jump in and help that day made a difference for those you helped.” then added, “You paid a large personal price for that decision.”

Hae Jin realized, whether this man was Ji-Mong or not, his indirect answering style had not changed. She felt like she was playing a cat and mouse game with him.

Looking straight at Ji-Won, Hae Jin answered, “I guess only time will tell if the sacrifice was worth it.”

“Time is an interesting way to measure cause and effect. Small actions can have big ripple effects.  Sometimes a butterfly’s wings can move in one place causing a hurricane somewhere else.” Ji-Won said. “Your small actions, can have big effects. This is also part of the philosophy of our company. The reason for the name Nabi and our butterfly logo.”

Have you worked long for ISOI as a cosmetic consultant, Ms. Hae Jin?”, he asked.

“I have worked for them for 5 years.” Hae Jin answered.

“Our CEO seemed very impressed with you, he asked me to ensure you where taken care of, after the gallery.”

Hae Jin sat in silence listening to his words.

She kept her face in check trying not to show her emotions.

Instead she focused on the meaning in her words.

“The gallery collection, you suggested I view….it was such an interesting choice of pictures. I can say after seeing it, that it was a new awakening for me. A massive surprise.”

As she spoke, she opened her purse, and slowly pulled out and held in her hand what she was looking for.

“At the exhibit, I was moved to tears.” she said.

 “It seems help arrived just in time.” She added. 

Ji-Won smiled at her with understanding and added, “Our CEO, is very fond of art and historically accurate portraits. He was there for the opening of the exhibit.”

“I must thank him for his kindness.” Hae Jin  said, as she extended the handkerchief she received from him.