AAE -- For Better For Worse

Chapter 04

by LoveCR2

edited by All-About-AAE

 

 

After wrapping her weeknight radio show, Musical Postcards, Sun-Mi steps into a taxi outside the MBS Yeouido complex. The cab weaves through the traffic toward Cheongdam. She gets out at the bus stop on Apgujeong-ro, their usual rendezvous point, far from the curious eyes of both nosy co-workers and ever-prying paparazzi. Standing under the bus shelter in the glow of a streetlamp, she waits, keeping a sharp eye on the approaching traffic for a familiar BMW.

 

Thirty minutes later, Sun-Mi is still waiting. Something has gone awry.

 

The appointed time has come and gone. Hyung-Chul has yet to show.

 

Sun-Mi watches the cars closely, her breath catching each time one seems to slow. Her fingers tighten around the strap of her office tote.

 

Worry creeps in -- was there an accident? Something worse? Beneath the surface, another fear churns -- London. How can she tell Hyung-Chul she doesn't want to go, when he'd made it clear that success -- as he defined it --means chasing celebrity status?

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

At that moment, Hyung-Chul approaches the bus stop at a brisk pace. He pauses to catch his breath, watching Sun-Mi from behind.  Her back is lit by the soft glow from the illuminated Chanel advertising box on the shelter. He drinks in the sight, remembering the first time he saw her—sprawled across the bonnet of his silver BMW Z3M, eyes wide with shock as she slid off, dropping to the pavement with a deadly thud. That moment, burned into his photographic memory, marked the beginning of six long years of longing.

 

The cute, curly-haired University freshman in casual dungarees and sneakers is gone. In her place stands a poised TV announcer in designer suit and heels, coifed in a professional bob. But her essence has not changed with age and maturity -- that genuine, heart-melting smile, those sparkling warm eyes, and a sunny outlook on life that finds silver linings in the darkest clouds.

 

 

As Sun-Mi scans the street, Hyung-Chul steps up behind her, his footsteps masked by the traffic noise. He reaches forward and grasps her right hand, spinning her around.

 

Her eyes widen. She glances nervously around. "Senior! What if someone is watching?"

 

"I was thinking all day about this," he replies with a cocky grin. "Holding your hand."

 

Constant rumors swirl at the office about their relationship. His nonchalant attitude seems unnecessarily reckless in her eyes. Yet in those few, simple words, she sees the man behind the title. That such a powerful, successful, self-sufficient man -- who can have any woman he fancies -- had eased his day by anticipating simply holding her hand.

 

Sun-Mi's heart skips a beat, the butterflies in her stomach all aflutter.

 

She falls into step beside him. Normally, she is hyper-aware of every glance, every whisper. But tonight the warmth in her chest banishes the worry.

 

They stroll along for a time in silence, until her questions spill out -- "Why were you so late? What happened to your car? Is it broken? Did you have an accident?"

 

 

He waits for her to catch a breath, then replies, "The Board meeting for the Children's Fund ran over. Afterward I was negotiating a contract by phone while my assistant drove me here. To save time, I didn't go back to the station for my car. Now ... anything else?"

 

Sun-Mi pushes her lower lip out and lowers her gaze. "Are you scolding me?"

 

Hyung-Chul chuckles and squeezes her hand. "You must be hungry. Let's get dinner."

 

"So, where are we going? The ramen place down the block?"

 

"Nope. A new place that just opened, off Rodeo Drive. They have great reviews. I had to pull a few strings to get a reservation."

 

 

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

 

"It's a nice evening. Let's enjoy the walk."

 

Sun-Mi sulks -- her feet already ache from a full workday in 100mm heels.

 

"You could've warned me!" she snaps. "Then I'd have worn my hiking shoes, instead of dressing up for a date!"

 

 

Sporting a mischievous grin, he teases with a wink, "What if I piggybacked you there instead?"

 

Her eyes blaze. "Are you CRAZY? You want to create a scandal? Piggyback yourself -- I'm taking a taxi!"

 

She storms to the curb. Waves at the passing cabs, calling, "Taxi! Taxi!"

 

 

Hyung-Chul watches, a smirk on his face. In the after-work rush, all the cabs have already picked up fares from the corner up the street.

 

He takes out his mobile and dials a number, speaks a few words quietly, then slips the phone back into his pocket. Stepping over to join Sun-Mi, he grabs her hand and starts walking, pulling her along with him.

 

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

 

She scowls, but follows. "You can't really expect me to walk all that way in these shoes!?"

 

"Why not?" He lifts a teasing eyebrow. "You think I don't appreciate a nice pair of legs in heels?"

 

"Senior!" She glares, compressing her lips into a thin line. "Is that how you see me? Like a manikin in a store window, dolled up for your amusement?"

 

"Of course not. But I'm not the one choosing outfits to impress the boss, either."

 

 

Sun-Mi sighs. He is right. She does dress for him. Instead of arguing, she goes silent -- let him suffer along with her feet! That will teach him a lesson!

 

They walk on in strained silence. One long block. Then another.

 

Each step now shoots a twinge of discomfort up her legs. Her calves ache. Her toes throb. But Sun-Mi keeps a cold shoulder towards Hyung-Chul, refusing to meet his eyes.

 

She would rather endure the torture, than give him any satisfaction.

 

Hyung-Chul notices the slight shift in Sun-Mi's gait. But he doesn't say anything -- better not to push her when she has her hackles up.

 

 

A few raindrops fall, then more. The drizzle soon turns into 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 prove a point?"

 

 

As she is speaking, a black limo glides to the curb beside them. The window lowers.

 

"Good evening, Director Yoon," the driver greets him with a dip of his head. "Sorry it took so long."

 

 

The driver gets out, a large umbrella in hand, shielding Hyung-Chul and Sun-Mi from the rain. Hyung-Chul opens the rear door, sweeping his arm out with a flourish.

 

"Your carriage awaits, Princess."

 

Sun-Mi turns cold eyes on him. "You had this planned all along? Yet you let me suffer like a fool! Why didn't you say something?"

 

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