AAE -- For Better For Worse

Chapter 15

by LoveCR2

edited by All-About-AAE

 

 

The Odyssey club is mostly empty when Hyung-Chul and Sun-Mi walk in. Dark wood and faux brickwork on the walls breathes a quiet elegance, a taste of European nostalgia. Shaded sconces cast amber halos on the walls, while recessed ceiling cans offer a soft, uniform glow. Round tables, flanked by high-backed chairs upholstered in rich jewel tones, create pockets of intimacy in the open layout.

 

The lounge Captain, formal in black, leads them past the bar to a table with a clear view of the stage. An auburn-haired American woman her red top aglow in the spotlights, swaying to the rhythm, sings with raw emotion. A piano and electric bass backs her rendition of Roxette's "Listen To Your Heart"

 

"...listen to your heart, before you tell him goodbye."

 

Scattered applause follows the final note, polite but subdued.

 

A waiter arrives. Hyung-Chul orders champagne.

 

Sun-Mi tilts her head, lifting an eyebrow. "It must be something really special tonight."

 

He offers a cryptic grin. "Give me a moment."

 

She watches as he rises and walks to the stage and speaks to the singer, sipping idly from her water glass.

 

 

Hyung-Chul returns to the table and sits down.

 

As the first notes sound on the piano, the woman begins crooning lyrics from The Rose (written by Amanda McBroom, and made famous by Bette Midler).

 

"Some say love, it is a river..."

 

Hyung-Chul discreetly takes a beribboned ring box from his pocket. Holding it under the table, he clenches it tightly, waiting.

 

"What did you want to tell me?" he says quietly.

 

"You first, Senior," she demurs.

 

"I insist."

 

 

Sun-Mi exhales. "Well... That is... Joo-Hee asked me to take the job in London -- the Special Correspondent."

 

Hyung-Chul feigns surprise. "Oh, really?"

 

She leans in. "What do you think? What I should do?"

 

"If you want to go, that is the most important."

 

"Yes, I want to..." she replies, her voice wavering. "But ..."

 

 

"It's the dream, afraid of waking

That never takes the chance..."

 

The song fades in Hyung-Chul's ears as Joo-Hee's words echo louder.

 

"She doesn't want to upset you by making you wait -- again."

 

 

The ring box burns in his palm. He swallows the words he'd rehearsed. Sets aside his dreams for hers. Accepts that she has something yet to accomplish on her own -- without him.

 

"Go then." He says firmly. "You know it's a good opportunity."

 

 

Sun-Mi's breath catches -- Is he letting her go? Or pushing her away?

 

She tries again. "What did you want to say to me?"

 

 

"Well, umm..." he hesitates. "Next time."

 

 

She nods, but her heart stirs with unease. She had prayed he would want her to stay. Instead he had urged her to leave. To put her career first. Joo-Hee was right about that. Was she right about everything else?

 

Hyung-Chul surreptitiously returns the ring box to his pocket.

 

They sit in silence, immersed in their own thoughts, the song filling the space between them.

 

"And you think that love is only

For the lucky and the strong..."

 

The singer's melodic voice glides through the club, warm and wistful. But to Hyung-Chul, the words fall like autumn leaves -- beautiful, but fading -- burying his dreams.

 

Their champagne arrives, but neither lifts their glass.

 

When the song ends, the band steps down. The singer comes over to their table, smiling at Sun-Mi.

 

"Congratulations."

 

Sun-Mi's brow creases. "Sure ... Thanks."

 

After the singer walks away, Sun-Mi turns to Hyung-Chul. "What was that about?"

 

He shrugs. "I may have mentioned something about your situation."

 

 

"You already knew?"

 

He nods. "Joo-Hee told me."

 

"That's what you wanted to celebrate tonight?"

 

 

Hyung-Chul's heart aches to speak, regardless of the repercussions. But Joo-Hee's voice lingers...

 

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

 

"As I said," he repeats, "it's your decision."

 

 

Sun-Mi gathers her purse, her expression set like stone. "If you've nothing more, I'd like to go home," she says, her voice cold.

 

Hyung-Chul rises first, without a word, waiting.

 

She walks ahead, heels clicking on the polished wood. Each step takes her farther from the disappointment she won’t show. He trails behind, shoulders slumped, gaze fixed on her retreating figure. What had he said to make her freeze him out again? Or hadn’t said?

 

On the table behind them, the champagne sits untouched, its effervescence fading -- like the moment they almost shared, but didn't.