AAE -- For Better For Worse

Chapter 15

by LoveCR2

edited by All-About-AAE

 

 

They drove out of Seoul, south to Seongnam, mostly in silence, immersed in their own thoughts -- Hyung-Chul rehearsing his proposal, and Sun-Mi trying to sort out exactly what is going on.

 

During his overnight vigil at Sun-Mi's gate, Hyung-Chul had planned out his marriage proposal, finally deciding on an intimate, live music lounge, currently headlining an American torch singer, to set a romantic mood for popping the question.

 

After they are seated and their drinks are served, Hyung-Chul gets up to make a request of the singer. Meanwhile, Sun-Mi watches curiously, still wondering what he is doing now.

 

"I'm going to propose to my girl," Hyung-Chul asks in Korean-accented English.

 

"Yes?"

 

"Can you sing a love song?"

 

"Sure."

 

"Thanks a lot."

 

"OK. Good luck," she smiles encouragement.

 

 

Hyung-Chul returns to the table, sits down, and motions that he is ready.

 

As the first notes are played on the piano, the woman begins crooning lyrics from The Rose, a song by writer Amanda McBroom, made famous by American singer and actress Bette Midler.

 

Hyung-Chul discreetly takes the engagement ring box from his pocket. Under the table, out of Sun-Mi's sight, he clenches it tightly, at the ready for the opportune moment.

 

"So what did you have to say?" he asks, referring to their earlier conversation in the car.

 

"Senior, you go first," she demurs.

 

"You should go first," he insists. "If I go first, you may no longer have anything to say. You go. What do you need to tell me?"

 

 

When Sun-Mi sat down, she was prepared to confront Hyung-Chul over what Joo-Hee had told her. But as she found herself gazing into his dark eyes, listening to the love song he'd requested, all the dots began to reconnect in a new possibility. What if, instead of breaking up with her, he was intending to propose to her?

 

"Umm ... Well ... Joo-Hee gave me the job," Sun-Mi stumbles over her words as she hastily segues back to the original question she had procrastinated in asking, "the Special Correspondent in London."

 

Hearing this, Hyung-Chul acts as if it is news to him. "Oh?"

 

"I wanted to ask you what I should do."

 

"Really? That's what it was?" he responds, trying to ascertain if her decision was already made as Joo-Hee had told him, "Do you want to go? Whether or not you want to go is most important."

 

"I want to go ..." she reflexively states her decision made the night before, which now feels less decided as she verbalizes it to him. "I want to go, but ..."

 

"... but she doesn't want to upset you by making you wait -- again," Joo-Hee's words ring loudly in Hyung-Chul's mind.

 

"Then go." After all, didn't he initially scold her for not wanting to advance her career? "It's a great opportunity."

 

 

But Sun-Mi, hoping her intuition was right about his intentions, holds the door open. "Senior, what did you want to tell me?"

 

"Oh, umm..." he declines uneasily, "I'll tell you next time."

 

She nods reluctantly, accepting his reticence, the uncertainty of his intentions returning -- did he want to break up with her, after all?

 

Hyung-Chul, his hopes also dashed, just as discreetly as he took it out, returns the ring box to his pocket.

 

 

Upon finishing the final stanza of The Rose, the band steps down for a break. The singer comes over to Hyung-Chul and Sun-Mi's table, where they sit in an uneasy silence.

 

She smiles at Sun-Mi. "Congratulations."

 

Puzzled, Sun-Mi replies, "Sure ... Thanks."

 

After the singer walks away, she asks, "What was that about?"

 

Hyun-Chul shrugs, answering vaguely, "I may have mentioned something concerning your situation."

 

 

Sun-Mi wrinkles her brow in thought. "You already knew?"

 

He nods, fessing up, "Joo-Hee and I had discussed this already."

 

"Then, you really do want me to go, right? Senior, tell me how you really feel."

 

 

Hyung-Chul is tempted to bare his feelings and propose, regardless of the repercussions, but Joo-Hee's admonition holds his tongue ...

 

"If you truly love her, you'll allow Jin Sun-Mi to do what is best for herself, not you".

 

"As I said, it's your decision," he declines again to express himself.

 

 

His refusal frustrates Sun-Mi, but asking again seems pointless.

 

"If you've nothing more to say, I'd like to go home now," she requests.

 

 

 

After leaving the lounge with Sun-Mi, it starts raining. The rhythmic swishing of the wiper blades is the only sound in the car. Hyung-Chul turns into the lane leading to Sun-Mi's house, and stops the car in front of the gate. He notices that all traces of what was placed there that morning were gone -- just as his hopes from the morning had vanished, too.

 

Sun-Mi immediately takes off her seatbelt, but doesn't immediately open the door, hinting that she has something more to discuss.

 

But after a glance at Sun-Mi, Hyung-Chul decides that this is not the best time to talk, and instead sends her off.

 

"Go inside."

 

Sun-Mi manages a weak smile. "Drive carefully."

 

He nods. "Okay."

 

 

Meanwhile, having seen the car's headlights outside, Sun-Mi's father appears at the gate, holding an umbrella.

 

"Sun-Mi!" he calls out.

 

Sun-Mi looks at her father, then at Hyung-Chul, sending a wordless 'goodbye' with her eyes. She alights from the car, carrying her bouquet.

 

After a moment's thought, Hyung-Chul also gets out.

 

 

As Sun-Mi runs up under the cover of her father's umbrella, he asks, "Did you just get back?"

 

Upset by his intrusion, she complains, "Why did you come out, daddy?"

 

"I was worried because it's raining," he explains.

 

 

Hyung-Chul walks up, under his own umbrella, and bows politely to Gui-Sung. "Hello."

 

"Oh hello. Long time no see," Gui-Sung replies. "You came all this way today. So come in for a bit."

 

Sun-Mi protests, "Daddy!" Then she leans closer and whispers to her father. "Did you drink?"

 

Gui-Sung grins, "Just a little." Then he invites Hyung-Chul, "OK. Come in."

 

 

He starts off toward the house, Sun-Mi walking closely beside him to stay under his umbrella, out of the rain.

 

Following behind them, Hyung-Chul smiles happily, thinking that perhaps this night won't end so badly after all.