AAE -- For Better For Worse

Chapter 04

by LoveCR2

edited by All-About-AAE

 

 

After taping her weeknight radio program, Musical Postcards, Sun-Mi caught a cab from Yeouido to Cheongdam, alighting at the bus stop on Apgujeong-ro. To avoid rumors in the past, she and Hyung-Chul frequently met here clandestinely, safe from the attention of both nosey co-workers and prying paparazzi.

 

But tonight, something had gone awry. The appointed time came and passed, and Hyung-Chul had yet to show. Sun-Mi waited anxiously, watching the street, worrying of a possible accident. But underlining her anxiety was a larger issue -- her opportunity in London. How could she tell Hyung-Chul she didn't want to go, when he'd made it clear that, to meet his expectations, she had to work harder and make herself into a celebrity?

 

 

Thirty minutes later, Sun-Mi is still waiting.

 

She takes her mobile from her office tote, looks at it for a few seconds, then returns it to the bag.

 

"I know he will come," she assures herself. "There must be a good reason. I don't need to call and check up on him."

 

 

At that moment, Hyung-Chul is approaching the bus stop at a brisk pace. With her back towards him, Sun-Mi is unaware of his arrival. Pausing to catch his breath, he stops to take a picture of her with his eyes.

 

In that same moment he recalls the very first picture he had taken of Sun-Mi, sprawled over the bonnet of his silver BMW Z3M, with a look of total, uncomprehending shock on her face as she slid off, dropping to the pavement.

 

Since that day when fate had brought her into his life, six long, tortuous years of waiting had passed. The cute, curly-haired University freshman in casual dungarees and sneakers was now only a memory. In her place now stood a professional TV announcer in designer suit and heels. But while Sun-Mi's appearance had changed with age and maturity, what had attracted him from the beginning hadn't: her genuine, heart-melting smile, sparklingly inviting eyes, and sunny outlook on life that found silver linings in the darkest clouds.

 

 

Focused on watching the street traffic, Sun-Mi is unaware of Hyung-Chul stealing up behind her, until she feels someone grasp her right hand and turn her around. When she realizes it is Hyung-Chul, the look of surprise on her face immediately changes to exasperation.

 

"Senior, everyone can see us!" she protests.

 

"It was a long day," he excuses himself, unconcerned about her worries. "I got through it by thinking of holding your hand."

 

 

Sun-Mi was confronting constant rumors at the office about their relationship, so his nonchalant attitude at openly giving those rumors substance was unnecessarily reckless in her eyes.

 

Yet with those few, simple words, he had revealed exactly what she needed to hear. The very thought that such a powerful, successful, self-sufficient man -- who could have any woman he fancied -- had eased his day by anticipating simply holding her hand made Sun-Mi's heart skip a beat, and set the butterflies in her stomach all aflutter.

 

With a couple of quick steps, she catches up with him. Normally, walking hand-in-hand with Hyung-Chul would make Sun-Mi feel self-conscious with each glance cast their way. But tonight the warm glow in her heart banishes all concerns from her mind.

 

They stroll along for a time in silence, until Sun-Mi can no longer keep her curiosity contained.

 

"Why were you so late? ... What happened to your car? ... Is it broken? ... Did you have an accident?" The questions tumble from her lips without waiting for answers.

 

 

When Sun-Mi pauses for a breath, Hyung-Chul interjects to explain, "The Board meeting for the Children's Fund ran over. Afterward I was negotiating a contract by phone while my assistant drove me here instead of going back to the station for my car. Now ... is there anything else that you have to know?"

 

Sun-Mi pouts, pushing her lower lip out, as she lowers her eyes contritely. "Are you scolding me?"

 

Hyung-Chul looks at her adorable expression and laughs, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "You must be hungry. Let's get dinner."

 

"So, where are we going? The ramen place down the block?" she guesses the nearest restaurant.

 

"Nope, there's a new place that just opened, off Rodeo Drive," he replies. "They have great ratings, and a waiting list. I had to pull a few strings to get a reservation for tonight."

 

 

Sun-Mi drops his hand and turns to face him. "But that's over two kilometers away!" she exclaims incredulously.

 

"Since it's a pleasant evening, can't we enjoy the time together with a nice stroll?" Hyung-Chul suggests.

 

His proposal falls on deaf ears. After a long workday, the idea of taking a marathon walk in 100mm heels is the last thing Sun-Mi wants to do.

 

"You could have said something, instead of surprising me," she snaps, irritated by his thoughtlessness. "Then I'd have worn my hiking clothes, instead of dressing up nice for a date!"

 

 

After Sun-Mi's pique, Hyung-Chul can't help teasing her. Sporting a mischievous grin, he jokingly quips with a wink, "What if I piggybacked you there instead?"

 

He might as well have tossed a match into a pile of tinder ...

 

Sun-Mi glares back, eyes flashing with indignation, "Are you CRAZY? You want to create a scandal? Piggyback yourself! I'll take a taxi!"

 

Defiantly, she marches over to the curb and attempts waving down one of the passing cabs, calling out loudly, "Taxi! Taxi!"

 

 

Hyung-Chul watches on with amusement, knowing that in the after-work rush, all the passing cabs have already picked up fares from the corner up the street. He takes out his cell phone and makes a brief call, and then grabs Sun-Mi's hand and starts walking again.

 

"Didn't I say we'd do things my way from now on?" he reminds her of his declaration made on the night they reconciled. "I really meant that. So let's just enjoy our walk, okay?"

 

She glowers at him, but follows along grudgingly, airing her main complaint, "I've been on my feet all day ... You can't really expect me to walk all that way in these heels, do you!?"

 

"Why not?" he argues, keeping up his tease. "You think I'm not like other men who enjoy a nice pair of legs in high heels?"

 

"Senior!" she stares at him, exasperated. "Is that how you think? That I'm like a manikin in a store window, dolled up for you to gawk at?"

 

"Of course not, but then, I'm not the one who chooses what to wear each day to impress the boss, either."

 

 

Sun-Mi knows he is right, she does dress to impress him and attract his attention, so instead of arguing the point, she instead freezes him out ... let him suffer along with her feet!

 

They walk on in silence, Sun-Mi avoiding further contact as she turns a cold shoulder towards Hyung-Chul, determined to teach him a lesson.

 

 

Shortly, a scattering of raindrops begin to fall, and soon they're walking through a light shower.

 

"Are we going to keep on until we're soaked?" Sun-Mi breaks her silence to complain. "Why insist on this, Senior, just to make a point?"

 

As she is speaking, a black limo slows and moves into the curb lane, stopping beside them as the side window glides down.

 

"Good evening, Director Yoon," the driver greets him formally. "Sorry it took so long to get here."

 

 

The driver gets out and raises a large umbrella over Hyung-Chul and Sun-Mi. Hyung-Chul leads her to the car and opens the rear door, announcing with a flourish, "Your carriage awaits, Princess."

 

Sun-Mi looks at him coldly and grumbles, "You had this planned all along! Yet you let me go on like a fool! Why didn't you say something?"

 

He smiles and shrugs. "I answered every question you asked. You just didn't ask the right questions..."