AAE -- For Better For Worse

Chapter 14

by LoveCR2

edited by All-About-AAE

 

 

From the club, Hyung-Chul drives to his usual bus stop rendezvous with Sun-Mi. A boyish smile plays on his face as he thinks of her bright, guileless presence, melting the tension from his icy confrontation with Joo-Hee.

 

His car phone rings, and Hyung-Chul picks up the call. "Yes?"

 

"It's me."

 

The caller doesn’t have to identify himself further. Though slurred from alcohol, Hyung-Chul recognizes his old friend's voice.

 

"You're still at the bar?"

 

"Where else? Did you talk with Joo-Hee?"

 

"I just left the club. She's angry and desperate over the whole affair. You must believe that Joo-Hee really had no choice," he offers encouragement. "So once this is resolved, I'm sure she'll want to get back with you."

 

Sun-Dal is less confident. "You're that sure your plan will work?"

 

"Let me worry about that," Hyung-Chul reassures him. "Nothing is settled yet. Meanwhile, get over your funk and go to Joo-Hee. Right now she needs a friend more than ever. Show her you're that friend."

 

"I'll try, but that'll be hard," Sun-Dal frets. "Just seeing her makes my heart fall."

 

"Believe me, whatever you do will be rewarded," Hyung-Chul states with conviction. "But I've gotta go now."

 

"Thanks for the heads-up. See ya tomorrow," Sun-Dal signs off.

 

 

Approaching the bus stop, Hyung-Chul sees Sun-Mi waiting there and pulls over.

 

Recognizing the car before she can see the driver, Sun-Mi is ready to get in as soon as he stops.

 

As she puts on her seatbelt, she asks, "Where are we going tonight?"

 

"A place in Seongnam."

 

"Why so far?"

 

"I thought it'd be nice to do something different," he avoids a direct answer, "for a change of pace."

 

 

Normally direct in his manner, his evasive answers kindle Sun-Mi's curiosity.

 

"Oh, okay," she accedes while pondering his odd behavior.

 

 

"I have something for you." Reaching into the back, he presents Sun-Mi with a small bouquet.

 

"Flowers?" Surprised at the unexpected gift, Sun-Mi rewards him with a brilliant smile. "What's the special occasion?"

 

"Isn't it special just to have known you?" he quips back, his lighthearted words reflecting the anticipation bubbling in his heart.

 

 

But Sun-Mi immediately connects his words with those from another day, years ago, when they were in London City Airport -- "Isn't it special to have known me?" -- That day she was about to leave him and end her summer in England, returning back to her normal life in Seoul. She wonders if the shift from 'me' to 'you' is significant, a hint that the situation is reversed?

 

Since morning, Sun-Mi had puzzled over the disparate events of this day -- the flowers at her gate, the revelations from Joo-Hee, and now Hyung-Chul's odd behavior on their date. The dots all seem to be connecting around one possibility, that Hyung-Chul is assuaging guilty feelings, he is about to leave her, and return to his rightful place with Joo-Hee.

 

"Senior, what's going on?" she airs her suspicions, hoping for a straight answer this time.

 

But not wanting to give away his plans, he replies vaguely, "It's just that I have something to tell you."

 

His refusal to come clean prompts Sun-Mi to respond in kind, "Me, too. I have something to tell you."

 

In his exuberant frame of mind, Hyung-Chul takes this in the most positive light.

 

"Really? I hope they're the same thing."

 

But Sun-Mi is less sanguine, reflecting on Joo-Hee's somber declaration ...

 

"There's no place for you in Hyung-Chul's future ... Go away to England and forget everything, for your sake, and for his!"