Discovering Passion-adapted by Messenger

February had drifted into March. The weather had been as cold and dreary as Sun Mi's spirits. Since the fateful weekend at the Yong Pyeong Ski Resort, she had received no word from Hyun Chul, nor did she expect to.

The issue of Chic with Sun Mi's layout was released, but she couldn't build up the enthusiasm as she studied the tall, slim woman covering the pages. The layout was, nevertheless, a huge success, with the magazines selling as quickly as they were placed on the stands. She was besieged by offers as the weeks went by, but none of them excited her.

A call from Young Mi brought an end to her listlessness. The call brought a summons from the emperor. She debated refusing the order, then, decided it was best to meet him in his office than to have him seek her out at home.

She dressed carefully for the meeting, hoping the outfit would conceal her vulnerability. When Young Mi buzzed her in to meet Hyun Chul, she fought to swallow her fear while entering his office.

"Good afternoon, Sun Mi." Hyun Chul greeted her, leaning back in his chair but not rising. "Come sit down."

"Hello, Hyun Chul." Her voice matched the polite tone of his. Her smile remained in place even though her stomach had begun to constrict at the first contact with his eyes.

"You're looking well," he commented.

"Thank you, so are you." She thought giddily, what absurd nonsense!

"I've just been looking over the layout again. It's certainly been every bit as successful as we had hoped."

"Yes, I'm glad it worked out so well for everyone."

"Which of these is you, Sun Mi?" he muttered absently, frowning over the pictures. "Free-spirited tomboy, elegant socialite, dedicated career woman, loving wife, adoring mother, exotic temptress?" He raised his eyes suddenly.

She shrugged carelessly. "I'm just a face and body doing what I'm told, projecting the image that's required. That's why you hired me in the first place, isn't it?"

"So, like a chameleon, you change from one color to the next on command."

"That's what I'm paid to do," she answered, feeling slightly ill.

"I've heard you've received quite a number of offers." He leaned back in his chair again and studied her. "You must be very busy."

"Yes," she began, feigning enthusiasm. "It's been very exciting. I haven't decided which ones to accept. I've been told to hire a manager to sort things out. There's an offer from a perfume manufacturer but it involved long-term contract and I have to think about it."

"I see. I've heard you'd been approached by one of the TV stations."

"Oh, yes. But that involves acting. I have to give that a great deal of thought." She made a dismissive gesture.

He stood and turned his back, staring out at the window, and spoke. "Your contract with me is finished, Sun Mi, and I'm quite prepared to make you an offer, it would hardly be as lucrative as a television contract."

An offer, Sun Mi thought, her mind whirling, and she was grateful his back was to her so that he couldn't observe her expression. She would have to refuse, even though she had no intention of accepting any of the other contracts.

She rose before answering. "I appreciate your offer, Hyun Chul, but I must consider my career. I'm more than grateful to you for the opportunity you gave me, but............." her voice was calm, even professional.

"I told you before, I don't want your gratitude!" He spun to face her, the all-too-familiar temper darkening his eyes. "I'm not interested in your gratitude nor appreciation. Whatever you receive as a result of this," he picked up the magazine with Sun Mi's face on the cover. "You earned yourself."

Sun Mi resisted the need to swallow. She met his angry, searching gaze without flinching.

"Your success, Sun Mi, is of your own making. I'm not responsible for it, nor do I want to be." He seemed to struggle for a measure of control and went on in calm, precise tones. "I don't expect you to accept an offer from me. However, if you change your mind, I'll be willing to negotiate. Whatever you decide, I wish you luck...... I should like to think you're happy."

"Thank you." With a slight smile, she turned and headed for the door.

"Sun Mi."

Hand on knob, she shut her eyes a moment and willed the strength to face him again.

"Yes!"

He stared at her, giving her the sensation that he was filing each of her features separately in his brain. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye," she returned, and turning the knob, she escaped.

Shaken, she leaned her back against the smooth other side of the door. Young Mi glanced up from her work.

"Are you all right, Sun Mi? What's the matter?"

Sun Mi stared without comprehension, then shook her head. "Nothing," she whispered. "Oh, everything." With a muffed sob, she streaked from the room.


Sun Mi hailed a cab a few nights later with little enthusiasm. She allowed herself to be persuaded by Woo Jin and Young Mi to attend a party across town in Kim Sun Dahl's penthouse apartment. She decided to stop brooding, and hoped the party would help to get Hyun Chul out of her mind temporarily.

She arrived at the party determined to enjoy herself. She requested Sun Dahl for a well-diluted drink when a punch bowl filled with sparkling rose pink liquid caught her eyes.

"Oh, that looks nice, what is it?"

"Planter's punch," he informed her already filling a glass.

Sounds safe enough, she decided as Sun Dahl was diverted by another of his guests. Sun Mi began to mingle with the crowd. Her depression and unhappiness seemed to have dissolved after socializing with her friends.

She was well into her third glass, having a marvelous time, flirting with a tall, dark man who introduced himself as Lee when a familiar voice spoke from behind her.

"Hello, Sun Mi, fancy running into you here."

Turning, Sun Mi was surprised to see Hyun Chul. She had only agreed to attend the party when Young Mi had assured her Hyun Chul had other plans. She smiled at him vaguely, wondering momentarily why he was slightly out of focus.

"Hello, Hyun Chul, joining the peasants tonight?"

His eyes roamed over her flushed cheeks and absent smile before traveling down the length of her slim form. He lifted his gaze back to her face, one brow lifting slightly as he answered. "I slum it now and then, it's good for the image." She nodded, draining the remainder of her glass.

"We're both good with images, aren't we?" She turned to the other man at her side with a brilliant smile that left him slightly dazed. "Lee, would you fetch me another of these. It's the punch over there," she gestured largely.

"How many have you had, Sun Mi?" Hyun Chul inquired, tilting her chin with his finger as Lee melted into the crowd. "I thought two was your limit."

"No limit tonight." She tossed her head. "I am celebrating a rebirth. Besides, it's just fruit punch."

"Remarkably strong fruit I'll say from the look of you," he returned, unable to prevent a grin. "Perhaps you should consider the benefits of coffee afterall."

"Don't be stuffy," she ordered, running a finger down the buttons of his shirt. "Silk," she proclaimed and flashed another smile at him. "I've always had a weakness for silk. Woo Jin's here, you know, and," she added with dramatic emphasis, "he doesn't have his camera. I almost didn't recognize him."

"It won't be long before you have difficulty recognizing your own mother," he commented.

"No, my mother only takes Polaroid shots on odd occasions," she informed him as Lee returned with her drink. Taking a long sip, she captured Lee's arm. "Dance with me. I really love to dance. Here," she handed her glass to Hyun Chul. "Hang on to this for me."

She felt light and free as she moved to the music and marveled how she had ever let Hyun Chul disturb her. The room spanned in time to the music, drifting with her in a newfound sense of euphoria. When the music halted, a hand touched her arm, and she turned to find Hyun Chul standing beside her.

"Cutting in?" she asked, pushing back tumbled hair.

"Cutting out is more what I had in mind," he corrected, pulling her along with him. "And so are you."

"But I'm not ready to leave." She tugged at his arm. "It's early, and I'm having fun."

"I can see that." He continued to drag her after him, not bothering to turn around. "But we're going anyway."

"You don't have to take me home. I can call a cab, or maybe Lee will take me."

"Like hell he will," Hyun Chul muttered, pulling her purposely through the crowd.

"I want to dance some more." She did a quick spin and collided full in his chest. "You want to dance with me?"

"Not tonight, Sun Mi." Sighing, he looked down at her. "I guess we'll do this the hard way."

In one swift movement, he had her slung over his shoulder and began weaving his way though the amused crowd. Instead of suffering from indignation, Sun Mi began to giggle.

"Oh, what fun, my father used to carry me like this."

"Terrific."

"Here, boss." Young Mi stood by the door holding Sun Mi's bag and wrap. "Got everything under control?"

"I will have." He shifted his burden and strode down the hall.

Sun Mi was carried from the building and dumped without ceremony into Hyun Chul's waiting car. "Here." He thrust her shawl into her hands. "Put this on."

"I'm not cold." She tossed it carelessly into the back seat. "I feel marvelous."

"I'm sure you do." Sliding in beside her, he gave her one despairing glance before the engine sprang to life. "You've enough alcohol in your system to heat a two-story building."

"Fruit punch," Sun Mi corrected, and snuggled back against the cushion.

Hyun Chul parked the car in the garage that serviced Sun Mi's building, turning to her with reluctant amusement. "All right, Sun Mi, can you walk or do I carry you?"

"Of course I can walk. I've been walking for years and years." Fumbling with the door handle, she got out to prove her ability. Funny, she thought, I don't remember this floor being tilted. "Gee," she said aloud, weaving dangerously. "Perfect balance."

"Sure, Sun Mi, you're a regular tightrope walker." Gripping her arm to prevent a spill, he swept her up, cradled against his chest. She lay back contended as he carried her to the elevator, twining her arms around his neck.

"I like this much better," she announced as the elevator began its slow climb. "Do you know what I've always wanted to do?"

"What?" His answer was absent, not bothering to turn his head. She nuzzled his ear with her lips. "Sun Mi," he began, but she cut him off.

"You have the most fascinating mouth." The tip of her finger traced it with careful concentration.

"Sun Mi, stop it."

She continued as if he had not spoken. "A nicely shaped face too." Her finger began a slow trip around it. "And I've positively been swallowed up by those eyes." Her mouth began to roam his neck, and he let out a long breath as the elevator doors opened. "Hmm.........., you smell good."

He struggled to locate her keys, hampered with the bundle in his arms and the soft mouth on his car lobe.

"Sun Mi, stop it," he ordered. "You're going to make me forget the game has rules."

At last completing the complicated process of opening the door, he leaned against it a moment drawing in a deep breath.

"I thought men liked to be seduced," she murmured, brushing her cheek against his neck.

"Sun Mi, for haven't sake!"

He staggered for the bedroom while Sun Mi continued to murmur soft, incoherent words in his ear.

He tried to drop her down on the spread, but her arms remained around his neck, pulling him off balance and down on top of her. Tightening her hold, she once more pressed her lips to his.

He swore breathlessly as he struggled to untangle himself. "You don't know what you're doing." With a drowsy moan, she shut her eyes. "Have you got anything on under that dress?" he demanded as he removed her shoes.

"Mmm...., a shimmy."

"What's that?"

She gave him a misty smile and murmured. Taking a deep breath, he shifted her over, released the zipper at the back of her dress, pulled the material over smooth shoulders, and continued down the length of the slimly curved body.

"You're going to pay for this," he warned. His cursing became more eloquent as he forced himself to ignore the honey skin against the brief piece of silk. He drew the spread over the inert form on the bed. Sun Mi sighed and snuggled into the pillow.

Moving to the door, he leaned wearily on the frame, allowing his eyes to roam over Sun Mi as she lay in blissful slumber. "I don't believe this. I must be out of my mind." His eyes narrowed as he listened to her deep breathing. "I'm going to hate myself in the morning." Taking a long, deep breath, he went to search out Sun Mi's hoard of Scotch.


Sun Mi awoke to bright invading sunlight. Her head was spinning, and she squeezed her eyes tight to jar her memory about last night. As she was about to pull a robe from the closet, she saw her dress tossed on the foot of the bed. She looked in confusion with no memory of what happened last night. She needed aspirin, juice and a cold shower.

When she walked towards the kitchen, she saw a pair of men's shoes and a jacket in her living room. "Good heavens," she whispered as a partial memory floated back. Hyun Chul had brought her home.

"Morning, darling."

She turned slowly, her already pale face losing all color as Hyun Chul smiled at her. The dampness of his hair attested to the fact that he had just stepped from the shower - her shower! Sun Mi's brain pounded out as she stared at him.

"I could use some coffee, darling." He kissed her lightly on the cheek in a causal intimate manner that tightened her stomach. He strode past her into the kitchen, and she followed, terrified. After placing the kettle to boil, he turned and wrapped his arms around her waist. "You were terrific." His lips brushed her brow, and she knew a moment's terror that she would faint dead away. "Did you enjoy yourself as much as I did?"

"Well, I..... I guess, I don't..... I don't remember...... exactly."

"Don't remember?" He stared in disbelief. "How could you forget? You were amazing."

"I was....... Oh." She covered her face with her hands. "My head."

"Hung over?" he asked, full of solicitude. "I'll fix you up." Moving away, he rummaged in the refrigerator.

"Hung over?" she repeated, supporting herself in the doorway. "I only had some punch."

"And three kinds of rum."

"Rum?" she echoed, screwing up her eyes and trying to think. "I didn't have anything but......"

"Planter's punch." He was busily involved in his remedy, keeping his back toward her. "Which consists, for the most part, of rum - amber, white and dark."

"I didn't know what it was." She leaned more heavily on the doorway. "I had too much to drink. I'm not used to it. You...... you took advantage of me."

"I took advantage?" Glass in hand, he regarded her in astonishment. "Darling, I couldn't hold you off." He lifted his brow and grinned. "You're a real tiger when you get going."

"What a dreadful thing to say," she exploded, then moaned as her head hammered ruthlessly.

"Here, drink." He offered the concoction, and she regarded it with doubtful eyes.

"What's in it?"

"Don't ask," he advised. "Just drink."

Sun Mi swallowed in one gulp, then shivered as the liquid poured down her throat. "Ugh."

"Price you pay, love," he said piously, "for getting drunk."

"I wasn't drunk exactly," she protested. "I was just a little..... a little muddled. And you" - she glared at him - "you took advantage of me."

"I would swear it was the other way around."

"I didn't know what I was doing."

"You certainly seemed to know what you were doing - and very well too." His smile prompted a groan from Sun Mi.

"I can't remember. I just can't remember."

"Relax, Sun Mi," he said as she began to sniffle. "There's nothing to remember."

"What do you mean?" She sniffed again and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

"I mean, I didn't touch you. I left you pure and unsullied in your bed and slept on that remarkably uncomfortable couch."

"You didn't...... we didn't...."

"No to both." He turned in response to the shrilling kettle and poured boiling water into a mug.

The first flood of relief changed into irritation. "You deliberately led me to believe that I, that we......."

"Slept together," Hyun Chul offered, casually sipping his coffee. "You deserved it. You drove me crazy all the way from the elevator to the bedroom." His smile widened at her rapid change of color. "Now remember this, most men wouldn't have left a tempting morsel like you and slept on that miserable couch, so take care with your fruit punch from now on."

"I'm never going to take another drink as long as I live," Sun Mi vowed, rubbing her hands over her eyes. "I'm never going to look at a piece of fruit again. I need some tea or some of that horrible coffee, something." The sound of the doorbell shrilled through her head, and she almost swore.

"I'll fix you some tea," Hyun Chul offered. "Go answer the door."

She opened the door to find Sun Hee standing at the threshold, and staring at her disheveled appearance.

"Do come right in," Sun Mi said, shutting the door behind Sun Hee with great force.

"I heard you made quite a spectacle of yourself last night."

"Good news travels fast, Sun Hee - I'm flattered you were so concerned."

"You don't concern me in the least." She brushed invisible lint from her jacket. "Hyun Chul does, however. You seem to make a habit of throwing yourself at him, and I have no intention of allowing it to continue."

This is too much for anyone to take in any condition, Sun Mi decided, feeling anger rising. Feigning a yawn, she assumed a bored expression. "Is that all?"

"If you think I'm going to have a little nobody like you marring the reputation of the man I'm going to marry, you're much mistaken."

For an instant, anger's heat was frozen in agony. The struggle to keep her face passive caused her head to pound with new intensity. "My congratulations to you, my condolences to Hyun Chul."

"I'll ruin you," Sun Hee began. "I'll see to it that your face is never photographed again."

"Hello, Sun Hee," Hyun Chul said casually as he entered the room.

Sun Hee whirled, staring first at him, then at his jacket thrown carelessly over the back of the sofa. "What.....what....are you doing here?"

"I should think that's fairly obvious," he answered, dropping to the sofa and slipping on his shoes. "If you didn't want to know, you shouldn't have taken it upon yourself to check up on me."

He's using me again, Sun Mi thought, banking down on shivering hurt and anger. Just using me to make her jealous.

Sun Hee turned on her, her bosom heaving with emotion. "You won't hold him! You're only a cheap one-night stand! He'll be bored with you within the week! He'll soon come back to me," she raved.

"Terrific," Sun Mi retorted, feeling her grip on her temper slipping. "You're welcome to him, I'm sure. I've had enough of both of you. Why don't you both leave? Now, at once!" She made a wild gesture at the door. "Out, out, out!"

"Just a minute," Hyun Chul broke in.

"You keep out of this," Sun Mi snapped, glaring at him. She turned back to Sun Hee. "I've had it up to the ears with you, but I'm in no mood for fighting at the moment. If you want to come back later, we'll see about it."

"I see no reason to speak to you again." Sun Hee announced with a toss of her head. "You're no problem to me. After all, what could Hyun Chul possibly see in a little tramp like you?"

"Tramp," Sun Mi repeated in an ominously low voice. "Tramp?" she repeated, advancing.

"Hold on Sun Mi." Hyun Chul jumped up, grabbing her around the waist. "Calm down."

"You really are a little savage, aren't you?" shot Sun Hee.

"Be quiet, Sun Hee," he warned, "or I'll turn her loose on you."

He held the struggling Sun Mi until her struggles lost their force.

"Let me go. I won't touch her," she finally agreed. "Just get her out of here." She whirled on Hyun Chul. "And you get out, too! I've had it with the pair of you. I won't be used this way. If you want to make her jealous, find someone else to dangle in front of her! I want you out - out of my life, out of my mind." She lifted her chin, heedless of the dampness that covered her cheeks. "I never want to see either of you again."

"Now you listen to me." Hyun Chul gripped her shoulders more firmly and gave her a brief vigorous shake.

"No." She wrenched herself out of his grip. "I'm through listening to you. Through, finished.... do you understand? Just get out of here, take your friend with you, and both of you leave me alone."

Picking up his jacket, Hyun Chul stared for a moment at flushed checks and swimming eyes. "All right, Sun Mi, I'll take her away. It'll give you a chance to pull yourself together, then I'll be back. We haven't nearly finished yet."

She stared at the door he closed behind him through a mist of angry tears. He could come back all right, she decided, brushing away drops of weakness. But she wouldn't be here.

Rushing into the bedroom she pulled out her cases, throwing clothes into them in heaps. I've had enough! She thought wildly, enough of Seoul, enough of Sun Hee, and especially enough of Yun Hyun Chul. I'm going to Los Angeles.

In short order, she rapped on Ju Hee's door. Her friend's smile of greeting faded at the sight of Sun Mi's obvious distress.

"What in the world....." she began, but Sun Mi cut her off.

"I don't have time to explain, but I'm leaving. Here's my key." She thrust it into Ju Hee's hand. "There's food in the fridge and cupboards. You take it, and anything else you like. I won't be coming back."

"But, Sun Mi........."

"I'll make whatever arrangements have to be made about the furniture and the lease later. I'll call and explain as soon as I can."

"But, Sun Mi," Ju Hee called after her, "Where are you going?"

"Los Angeles," she answered without turning back. "To my parents."



Note from Messenger:

Wow...... can't believe I've actually made it so far. The truth is, I almost gave up after posting the 3rd chapter as I realized I was biting more than I could chew. But I have to keep my promise since you guys are so wonderful and supportive. Have a good weekend! Sit tight and wait for the final chapter.......... hopefully by Monday.

ps: Irene, I couldn't bear the thought of Young Mi putting her arm around Hyun Chul, therefore, had to make her a good gal. It was easier using somebody else as "the other woman".