AAE -- For Better For Worse

Chapter 17

by LoveCR2

edited by All-About-AAE

 

 

After the drinking is done, Sun-Mi efficiently clear away the snack dishes and empty glasses, carrying them to the kitchen. Her father --well past his limits -- shuffles off to bed with a weary 'Goodnight'.

 

Upstairs, Hyung-Chul stands in the center of Sun-Mi's bedroom, absorbing every detail. His gaze lingers on her bookshelf, then drifts to her cluttered desk -- a row of bookmarked novels and poetry volumes on the left, a stack of English periodicals, a jumble of skincare bottles, a small container brimming with hair bands and clips.

 

His eyes roam the room, pausing at each frame on the walls, prints and photographs that offer glimpses into her artistic sensibilities. Bric-a-brac adorns every flat surface -- colorful ceramics, dried flower arrangements, and a collection of music box figurines. He counts a dozen or so, including a pair of birds in gilded cages.

 

A guest in her private world, he takes it in like the opening pages of a novel -- curious, expectant, wondering where the story will lead.

 

 

The door opens. Sun-Mi steps in, carrying a folded pair of pajamas. She pauses in the doorway, unsure of how to handle the novel situation, unsure of herself.

 

"Looks like I really have to spend the night here," Hyung-Chul says, then sees the clothes in her hands. "What is this?"

 

Sun-Mi glances down with a shy smile. "Daddy's pajamas." She walks over to the bed and puts the pajamas down. "He insisted."

 

 

Hyung-Chul sits down on the bed. "Let's talk." He pats the mattress beside him.

 

Sun-Mi hesitates. Her eyes flick between the bed and Hyung-Chul, apprehensively. She is alone. With a man. In her bedroom.

 

Her heart thuds against her ribs. Cho-Jeh's teasing words echo in her head -- 'When a man loves a woman, he doesn't stop with a hug... he wants S - E - X"

 

Is this the moment? The one she has read about in romance novels?

 

Sun-Mi sits awkwardly, stiff and uncertain, hands clenched in her lap.

 

Hyung-Chul smiles gently.

 

She holds her breath. Lowers her eyes. Waits for him to speak, to move, to do anything.

 

But he doesn't. The silence drags on, each second an eternity.

 

She exhales. Her fantasy is just a mirage, dissolving like mist.

 

Sun-Mi's lips curve wistfully. Foolish girl, she scolds herself.

 

To break the tension, she picks up the remote and turns on the TV. But instead of the late-night MBS drama, the screen lights up with a familiar image --Hyung-Chul's face -- from a tape he made for her weeks ago. His voice fills the room, "This is the you I love the most."

 

Hyung-Chul looks over his shoulder at the TV, watching himself. "I hope to make you smile -- always. It's a promise."

 

Flushed with embarrassment, Sun-Mi scrambles to turn the TV off. Hyung-Chul grins, pleased that she has kept the tape -- and watched it.

 

 

He rises and goes to the shelf where he'd earlier seen a photo album. Retrieves it and sits next to Sun-Mi again, opening the album. He pages through her baby pictures, chuckling.

 

Sun-Mi reaches over to grab the album, scolding, "Senior!"

 

He laughs. "OK, I won't look anymore."

 

But he does.

 

Watching Sun-Mi grow up as he turns the pages -- learning to ride a bike, playing piano. High school graduation. The college. Until he comes to pictures of Young-Mi and Woo-Jin.

 

 

Sun-Mi's expression turns somber. She touches an image of the happy couple, her fingertip lingering as she remembers Woo-Jin's tragic death, and Young-Mi's mysterious disappearance.

 

"Life seems so different now, since they both left us," she reflects. "That makes me all the grateful for you."

 

Hyung-Chul listens silently.

 

"Which is why I'm struggling to decide whether to go or not ... But if it were Young-Mi, she wouldn't give up London, right?"

 

Hyung-Chul's throat tightens. He shifts on the bed, moving the conversation on. "I spoke with Sun-Dal about having you as the new announcer for Eve's Morning in Young-Mi's place."

 

"That was what you wanted to say to me?"

 

He nods. "Yeah... But the Special Correspondent is a much better opportunity."

 

His words say one thing, his face says another.

 

Sun-Mi studies him, searching for clarity. "Can I really go?"

 

"Of course. You can go."

 

The instant he says it, regret floods her. Hope had lived in the ambiguity. Now, it's gone. Then she remembers his advice...

 

"You have to say what you really feel. Speak from your heart.''

 

 

She draws in a taut breath. Sits straighter. Squares her shoulders.

 

"Senior...?"

 

He looks up. Their eyes meet.

 

Her lips part -- tentative, ready.

 

She searches for something -- recognition, warmth, a spark of connection -- but his gaze yields nothing.

 

The words vanish.

 

She exhales. Forces a smile. "Nothing. It's getting late... See you in the morning."

 

 

Hyung-Chul blinks.

 

Cut off. Again.

 

Left dangling in silence. Uncertainty.

 

He doesn't respond. What is left to say?

 

 

Sun-Mi stands and walks out, closing the door behind her. She hesitates, hand still on the knob, debating whether to go back in.

 

But she walks away.

 

Hyung-Chul waits until her footsteps fade. He moves to her desk. Takes the engagement ring out of its box, looks at it wistfully, then puts the ring over the hand of one of Sun-Mi's music box dolls. Winding it up, he watches the doll slowly twirl as the melody plinks along.

 

He imagines the moment he places the ring on Sun-Mi's finger. The expression of surprise -- then joy -- on her face. Her nod accepting his proposal. The kiss, sealing their promise.

 

The music box winds down, its final notes fading into silence…

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

Downstairs, Sun-Mi lies awake in her father's bed, staring into the darkness. His snoring is steady, comforting. But her thoughts are not. She is about to be replaced. Again. Joo-Hee -- like Young-Mi before her -- wins.

 

She blinks back tears.

 

With Woo-Jin, she had swallowed the pain stoically. Pasted on a smile. Hid her tears. Yelled out her anguish where he couldn't hear her. But not this time. She refuses to be the helpless victim.

 

No -- not this time. She will choose the moment. Be the one to walk away first...

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

Upstairs, Hyung-Chul stares at the ceiling, the silence thick with foreboding. Sun-Mi's decision for London upends his carefully laid plans. The pressure to marry Joo-Hee, to secure control of MBS, will only intensify.

 

Then a thought strikes him -- another possibility. He checks his watch. 1:00 AM. London time -- 4:00 PM.

 

There is still time to make a call...