Chapter 115.2
Chapter 115.2
She looked back and forth between the box and the slip, then let out a dry laugh.
“Your name’s been through a lot since you met me.”
The deliveryman glanced at her, puzzled. Miran bit her lip, thought for a moment, then opened the door.
André had left for New York the night before. Even if she sent the computer back, there’d be no one to refund it.
She had mentioned once in passing that they didn’t have a computer at home… but still. Sending a whole computer without a word?
She had thought there wouldn’t be much a man in New York could do for someone living in Korea. Apparently she had underestimated André.
“…I think it really is for me.”
“Oh thank goodness, I was scared you were going to return it.”
Just then, Juran came home from work. She stopped mid step as she stepped into the half open door, her eyes landing on the huge box the deliveryman was holding.
“Kang Miran, did you buy a computer?”
“N, no, I didn’t buy it!”
“Then what is that?”
“Well… André…”
Juran understood the rest immediately. She shot the box a quick, startled glance, then hurried to the refrigerator, pulled out some orange juice, poured a glass, and handed it to the deliveryman.
“You must be tired carrying something that heavy. Have some juice. We’re both computer illiterate, so… can you install it for us too?”
“Yes, yes, don’t worry. Mr. Andurae even paid for the installation fee.”
Juran turned her head aside and let out a stifled laugh.
The computer ended up on Miran’s desk. The two of them stood before it as it took up nearly half the table, looking imposing and proud. Miran pressed the power button on the tower.
The Windows 95 logo appeared. After a long wait, the desktop shifted to green. Aside from the Korean menus, it looked almost identical to the one André had shown her.
“…Should I really accept something like this?”
Miran muttered, unsettled.
It even smelled the same as André’s desk, that faint mechanical scent. She leaned in and sniffed, and behind her, Juran let out a low whistle.
“As expected from a man who runs a big business. Decisive and fast. Says he’ll email you and immediately buys a computer and ships it over? Next time André comes to Korea, bring him home. I’ll cook for him.”
“What are you talking about… Why would someone that busy come all the way here again? And why would you feed him? I told him I’m not going back to New York.”
“You never know. Something tells me he’ll be in and out a lot. Anyway, bring him over next time he’s here.”
“I don’t know, I don’t know!”
Completely flustered, Miran pushed Juran out of her room like a sulky teenager and locked the door. Then she sat down in front of the computer as if hypnotized.
—
Miran bought a copy of “Hello, Hangul Windows 95 Guidebook” from the bookstore. Whenever she had a spare moment, she sat at her desk clicking through things.
“Hmph. Computers aren’t that big a deal…”
Something she’d always thought of as difficult opened up new worlds with just a few clicks. Feeling more comfortable, she opened her drawer and took out the thick, high quality business card André had given her. She flipped it over.
On the back, elegant handwriting listed a website, an email address, and a password. André had made one for her when he made his own.
André de Lafayette. What a man of many talents.
He was much older than she was, yet he handled computers with ease. It amazed her.
Password: 19950909
As the modem connected with a series of loud, chaotic mechanical noises, Miran tilted her head.
“19950909… a date? What happened on September 9, 1995—”
Miran gasped and clamped a hand over her mouth. No way.
She rummaged through her drawer and pulled out her diary.
September 9, 1995 (Sat) Weather: Clear (much cooler)
Met a man in Itaewon with beautiful green eyes, André. Someone I never want to forget. I want to record every heart pounding adventure and romance….
Miran lifted her head from the diary and blinked blankly. Just then, the modem finally connected. She shook out her hair and, with both index fingers, tapped the website address into the keyboard.
The webpage loaded slowly from top to bottom. On a white background appeared the red Hotmail logo, and below it, “The World’s FREE Web-Based Email.” It looked like she was in the right place.
She typed her email address into the blank field and hit enter. A password prompt popped up. As she typed the password, sweat formed on her forehead.
André typed like he was playing the piano, using all ten fingers, ta ta ta tak, so swiftly. It was nowhere near as easy as it had looked.
“Huh? Something’s already here?”
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