Asking for Blessings

When the car almost arrived at Karina's father's house, suddenly Karina's cellphone rang.

"It's from my dad. Should I pick it up?" Karina asked, confused.

"Just pick it up, Rina," replied Norman.

Karina took a deep breath before finally picking up the phone from her father.

"Yopposeo?"

"Rina! Where did you go?! That picture of you and a guy in the bushes are everywhere! Where are you? There's a lot of neighbors, journalists, all gathered in front of the house, I can't go out! You sold your body to that actor?! We are in trouble now. Mr. Park Lee Dom, he is collecting the debt now because of you are not a virgin anymore!" Karina's father exclaimed, not even giving Karina a chance to speak.

"Well, that old bastard is not a virgin too, right?"

Karina's sentence surprised Justin as he glanced at Karina. Karina's response was unpredictable.

"Rina!!!" his father shouted.

"I'm on my way home with Justin Kim. We'll talk at home," Karina replied.

"What?! With whom?" his father asked.

"With Justin Kim, that actor. You just wait. We'll be there in a minute," Karina replied.

"You just have to stop hallucinating, Rina! How could that actor really come with you? Just hurry home! I will persuade Park Lee Dom to still marry you as long as you stay at home and dressed pretty! And…”

Karina hung up the phone before her father finished speaking with a sigh. Justin glanced at Karina, while Norman was busy calling here and there about press conferences

and other things for the rest of the trip. Finally, they arrived in front of Karina's house. It's true what Karina's father said, reporters and neighbors gathered there. As soon as they saw Justin's car approaching, the reporters surrounded him with blinding camera lights.

"Damn, they look like vicious ants," said Norman, honking his horn.

"Then how do we get out?" Karina asked.

"Relax, Norman is always prepared," Justin replied.

Norman smiled and a minute later the bodyguards came with motorcycles. Karina was surprised because she didn't know when Norman called the bodyguards .

"Come on!" Norman exclaimed as he got out of the car.

The bodyguards opened the door for Karina and Justin from different sides and took them immediately to Karina's house. Seeing what happened, Karina's father immediately unlocked the door. He immediately opened the door and was very surprised to see Justin Kim who nodded politely and entered the house. The door was immediately closed by Norman and the bodyguards immediately stood guard outside.

"Karina!" Karina's father exclaimed because he didn't know what else to say. He almost grabbed Karina's arm, but Justin quickly blocked her with his body, but tried to be polite. Karina's eyes widened at that and her heart started pounding. Karina blushed.

"Anyeong hashimnika. I'm Justin Kim, nice to meet you," Justin said politely as he bowed and stretched out his right hand to shake Karina's father's hand. Hesitantly the middle-aged man shook Justin's hand while slightly bowing.

"Annyeong hashimnika, I'm Norman, Justin's manager. Nice to meet you, sir," said Norman, bowing and shaking hands with Karina's father.

"Can we talk to you?" asked Norman.

"P-please sit down," Karina's father said. He still can't believe that his daughter actually brought actor Justin Kim into their house.

Justin walked to the sofa while looking around. Karina's house isn't bad. This one-story house with a minimalist interior shows that Karina does not come from a really poor family. His father's two hundred million won debt now makes sense, because perhaps it was the result of misguided business ambitions. The man in front of him did look like a middle-class businessman. Justin also saw an open laptop on the desk.

"So can you explain what's going on here? I've seen pictures of my daughter with you in the bushes down the road," Karina's father said, slightly annoyed. She thought Justin would only bribe him to say things that would restore his good name. A little money means nothing to Karina's father compared to her shame to everyone.

"So this is what going on, sir. Justin and Karina accidentally fell into the bushes. Indeed they were drunk that night. Look at their foreheads, sir. There's a blue bruises, right? They passed out there," said Norman.

"Is that right, Rina?" his father asked.

"What do you care dad? You want to sell me to an old brat, now you don't have to pretend to care!" Karina exclaimed.

“Insolent child!” cried Karina's father. He was so emotional that he raised his hand to slap Karina. He no longer cared that there were other people in front of him. However, Justin unexpectedly held Karina's father's hand.

"Please be patient, sir. Let us explain first," said Justin.

Karina's father pulled his hand roughly from Justin's grip.

"Hurry up, what do you want?! I still have a lot to do!”

"So this is..." Norman tried to explain, but suddenly Justin cut Norman's words.

“I want to marry your daughter. Regarding your debt to the other party, I am willing to pay it right now," Justin said.

Karina glanced at Justin with a pounding heart. Justin is indeed the ideal man according to his imagination so far. Karina's father was shocked at her words.

“You… You want to pay my debt?” asked Karina's father.

"Yes. Two hundred million won, right? I can write a check right now,” Justin said firmly.

Karina's father glanced at Karina as if in disbelief. Karina now crossed her arms and smiled triumphantly. Justin didn't wait long, he held out his hand to Norman and like telepathy Norman understood what he meant. He pulled out Justin's checkbook and pen. Karina's father was still dumbfounded when Justin wrote a check for two hundred million won and signed it.

“This check is yours. You can check it. Here's my business card if you need anything," Justin said, handing him the check. Karina's father accepted it then put on his glasses which he kept in his pocket for a better view.

"The conditions are very easy. Karina is going with me tonight. You also have to tell everyone that Karina and I are already married to suppress the gossip," Justin said.

“B-but…”

“You don't have to worry. Justin is really getting married to Karina, we are preparing it," said Norman.

Hearing all that, especially with a check in hand, Karina's father was at a loss for words. Justin smirked. Even though he doesn't like Karina, he doesn't like a father who sell his own daughter for money. Women are not goods that can be traded. Now Justin understands a little why Karina immediately agreed to a marriage contract agreement with him. Because the contract is much better than her own family situation.

After bringing her personal belongings, Karina didn't want to say goodbye to her own father. She was still too angry because of his father's attitude. Justin didn't blame her, especially Norman who was just happy that his plan was going well. Now he just needed to arrange a press conference as soon as possible. They got back into the car and headed back to Justin's apartment.

“I have to go now because I had a lot to take care of. You guys get ready for the press conference tomorrow,” Norman said with the phone to his ear. He then waved and left before even getting an answer. He was busy talking to someone over the phone.

Karina and Justin was left alone in the spacious apartment. Justin crossed his arms while looking at Karina who was blushing red. Being alone with Justin makes Karina's heart fluttered.

"Your room is over there. And that's my room. You can go anywhere in this apartment except my room. Understand?" Justin asked in a cold voice. Very different from his gentleman manner earlier.

"U-Understood," Karina replied.

“This is the apartement keys. You are free to go anywhere, but my advice is that it is better to stay in, because the paparazzi will find you and they will follow you," Justin said again, handing her the apartment key. Karina accepted it nervously.

“I will go and probably won't come back home tonight. Don't wait. You can take anything in the refrigerator and use this if you want to buy food or whatever you need," Justin said while handing some bills.

"Where are you going?" Karina asked.

"It is none of your business! Remember Karina, we can't ask each other about personal matters," Justin replied curtly.

Justin grabbed his car keys and walked out without looking back. Karina took a deep breath at that. Meanwhile, Justin was in a hurry to leave before it got dark. His business with yesterday's creature wasn't finished. He had to get it over with before things got messy.