"Genophobia? Me?" Kim blinked. She seemed taken aback by dr. Lim's diagnosis of her.
Genophobia is a state when a person is afraid of intimacy. This is a condition that can cause intense fear or panic when sexual intimacy is attempted. From the results of regular consultations with dr. Lim for the past two weeks, Kimberly Park was diagnosed with Genophobia.
No. Kim should not be surprised because she had calculated this before. She had tried relationships with several boys though, but it's always ended about seven to nine days later. Kim cut ties with her boyfriends when they started approaching her intimately, and Kim couldn't stand the situation.
Kim walked along the sidewalk with her mind still glued to her meeting with her psychologist that morning. To be honest, even though this was within her calculations, Kim was still in shock. Instead, she just for fun followed her friend's advice to consult about the feelings of fear, disgust, and panic that she feels when men want to hug and kiss her. So far, Kim has felt fine because she still has palpitations when she's attracted to a man and still has the desire to have a relationship. But, there's the problem. All the love relationships she builds always destroys when intimacy starts to get in there. Suji---her best friend---even always laughs when she tells about the slaps she gave when her boyfriends want to kiss her lips. Then, the slaps will be continue on the word, "We're done" which Kim said firmly.
The cycle is always like that.
Thinking about it gave Kim a headache. Luckily, she was at the bus stop area right now. Waiting for the bus, Kim sat on the bus stop seat, it also to calm down herself.
New York is bustling as always. But, if it was usually annoying in Kim's eyes, this morning was different. Seeing somany cars going back and forth in front of her, actually made Kim's mind quite calm because she got another distraction. Unfortunately, the calm was not long. When her cellphone rang and she glanced at who the caller was, a heavy sigh escaped Kim's mouth.
That's her omoni. Her mom.
"What else now, huh?" Kim muttered tiredly. However, she still took the call on the third ring.
"Yes, Omoni?" She greeted first.
Suddenly, the results of the diagnosis flashed back in her head. This made Kim's heart suddenly pound. What her mom was going to say would definitely mess up her day for more. So, Kim steeled herself. She also tightened her grip on the cellphone.
"Kim! Where's your boyfriend?! When will you going to introduce him?! You will not getting married, huh?!"
Kim gasped. Her free hand reflexively squeezed her left chest, cause her heart got a strong attack. "Yeah, as always. Without further ado," she said to herself.
Kim's father is Korean and her mother is Korean-American. They got married and are currently living in Korea. From childhood to high school graduation, Kim still lives with her family. But, she decided to continue her studies in America then settle down and work here. Kim did this because, to be honest, she couldn't stand the pressure from her extended family, which had lots of rules. Even her mom, who is not native Korean, pressured her in many ways. Lately, her mom has been haunting Kim about marriage.
The headache that had disappeared earlier came back again. Kim even had to massage her head to relieve that headache. It was useless to tighten up the strength when it turned out that her mom's attack was this strong. Kim bet her headache would last into the night if this conversation still continued. So that, Kim quickly explained, "Omoni, I'm so sorry. I have to get on the bus and go to work right now. I'll call you later."
"What---"
Pip!
Kim smiled regretfully after turning off her cellphone unilaterally.
***
The specter of marriage apparently didn't just happen to Kim. Ronald J. Gavel, a handsome, rich, and charismatic man is also experienced something similar. It came from his grandpa.
Currently, Ronald was busy reading the division's latest project document that he was managing when a lot of messages from his grandpa came disrupting his focus.
[Son, look at the list of women and their photos! Tell me if there's one that interests you!]
Ronald read the last message only through the notification bar. He had not the slightest interest in putting up with the same bragging from his grandpa for the last few days, despite the fact that John J. Gavel was very serious about it.
Ronald was about to take his eyes off the cellphone to focus again on the document in his hand, but the cellphone suddenly rang. He immediately took a deep breath, especially when he saw the name 'Pops' appear on the screen.
That call didn't immediately he reach. He took a moment to put down the document then his fingers tapped on the table. His eyes looked forward, where the employees of his division were leaving the division room towards the elevator to fill their break time with lunch in the office canteen. How about Ronald? No. He never goes with them because he has his own lunch time, it when all the work he's doing is finished, so that he can calmly eat his lunch.
When the division room was completely empty, Ronald finally stopped tapping his fingers and turned to reach the cellphone on the table. He received his grandpa's call and put the cellphone to his ear. "Yes, Po---"
"So? Have you made up your mind yet?" John J. Gavel just cut in. From his super excited voice, he seemed impatient for Ronald's reaction to what he had sent.
Once again, Ronald exhaled. But before he could give an answer, his eyes were distracted by the woman who entered his division room. Ronald suddenly narrowed his eyes. The woman was wearing a work suit and walked steadily towards the cubicle on the far left of the room. It seems like, she is Ronald's employee as well. This made Ronald's frown disappear. Although, he had not taken his eyes off her because her face and her aura was so gloomy. No one knows about what happened to that woman. And most importantly, who is she, actually?
Okay, for the last question, blame Ronald for not being able to memorize the faces and names of his employees properly. It's because he was too oblivious to his surroundings.
"Ronald! Are you there?!"
Ronald was aghast. He almost forgot he was talking to his grandpa. Recalling his grandpa's question earlier, Ronald was annoyed again. He then took a deep breath. "Mr. John J. Gavel, haven't you been busy? Have you been short on work, huh? But that seems impossible considering you're the CEO of this company."
Instead of being sarcastic, Ronald's words actually made John laugh.
Ronald's voice apparently did not only get a response from John. The woman who had come in gloom earlier seemed like awakened from a magic spell when Ronald's deep voice broke the silence in the middle of the quiet room. Maybe she thought she was the only one in the room.
Ronald and she exchanged glances. From afar, Ronald accidentally read her name tag. "Kimberly Park," he spelled out to himself.
Kim was embarrassed when her eyes met Ronald's sharp eyes. He stiffly nodded his head to show his respect. Ronald only gave a brief reply before then got up from his chair and stepped out of the room with the cellphone still to his ear. Kim slightly bowed her head and body when Ronald passed her cubicle. She even held her breath. When Ronald finally came out and disappeared from her sight, Kim finally breathed a sigh of relief. She corrected her sitting position then while shaking her head. "My boss is really scary. Even without my phobia, I probably still can't stand dealing too closely with him. Handsome indeed, but his gaze makes my eyes feel like they're going to be bleed." Kim shuddered at his own words.
Although, for surely, Kim and Ronald didn't know that 14 days after that day, both of them actually agreed to marry.
***
