AAE -- For Better For Worse

Chapter 26

by LoveCR2

edited by All-About-AAE

 

 

 

The Eve's Morning team is gathered for their regular morning pre-broadcast meeting. But today they have an unexpected visitor, Director Yoon Hyung-Chul, who enters the room and takes the head seat at the table normally filled by the PD. The tension level rises as silent speculation on the purpose for his presence bubbles under the surface.

 

"I understand that this is a stressful time because of Announcer Huh Young-Mi's disappearance," he goes directly into the issue at hand. "And this week you've also had to adjust with having a guest anchor on the program, Announcer 2 Team's Lee Mi-Ra."

 

He pauses for a breath, and to add import to his formal announcement:

 

"As you all know, we've considered having Mi-Ra take Huh Young-Mi's co-anchor slot permanently," he makes the management's position clear, "I've heard rumors of discontent among the staff. So if anyone has anything to say, speak up now."

 

 

Hyung-Chul looks around the table, but no one ventures a response.

 

"Everything is working out well," the PD finally speaks up.

 

"Oh, really?" Hyung-Chul starts to express his doubts, when a knock on the conference room door interrupts him. "Yes?"

 

All heads swivel to look as the door opens.

 

Sun-Mi comes in and cheerfully greets the team, "Hello, everyone..." Then, seeing Hyung-Chul, she stops in her tracks, face blanching, smile frozen.

 

The PD immediately steps in. "Sun-Mi, it's your last broadcast day, isn't it?"

 

"Yes," she barely chokes out the single word, then numbly continues on toward an empty seat on the far side of the room.

 

As Sun-Mi passes behind Hyung-Chul, neither even acknowledges the other. Furtive glances exchange across the conference room as the estranged behavior witnessed with their eyes confirms the back-channel rumors.

 

 

Sun-Mi lowers herself onto the chair adjacent to Shin Ki-Jong, grateful to be off her shaky legs.

 

"London Special Correspondent... I'm jealous!" Ki-Jong jokes intentionally, trying to thaw the frozen atmosphere.

 

"Is it tomorrow you're leaving?" Lee Kyung-Hee chimes in.

 

"Yes," Sun-Mi confirms quietly, barely finding her voice.

 

"Sun-Mi, you won't be there a long time, but you'll have to work really hard," Choi Jin-Soo blurts out thoughtlessly.

 

 

Uncertain of what to say, Sun-Mi smiles uneasily, glancing over at Hyung-Chul to gauge his reaction. But when he looks up, she averts her eyes, maintaining her impersonal stance.

 

"Sun-Mi, along the Thames River, there are some great cafes," Ki-Jong again speaks up to relieve the awkward moment, "There's one called Schuberterie. They have great coffee. Go there when you have time ... and check out the soccer teams. Arsenal is the best."

 

Everyone laughs at the last bit, as Sun-Mi has never shown any interest in watching sports.

 

 

A knock sounds on the door, and Sun-Dal enters, taking the spotlight off Sun-Mi to her relief.

 

"You're back already?" Jin-Soo appears surprised.

 

"Did you have a good vacation?" Ki-Jong asks.

 

"Yes," Sun-Dal replies. "The time off was very relaxing."

 

"Everyone's here now," the Producer gets the meeting back on track, "So let's get down to business."

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

 

Later, with the business at hand completed, the PD concludes the meeting, "See you all on set in an hour. Director?"

 

"We accomplished a lot today. Thank you for working hard," Hyung-Chul commends the team. But as they are rising from their seats he adds, "Announcer Jin, may I have a word?"

 

Usually after their staff meetings, the Eve's Morning team indulges in good-spirited bantering and conversation, slowly working their way to the door. But today, everyone except Sun-Mi immediately exits the conference room in muted disquiet.

 

After the door closes, Hyung-Chul looks over at Sun-Mi.

 

"It's been awhile. How have you been? Are you unwell?" he asks.

 

"Ehm ..." Sun-Mi clears her throat, maintaining her distance.

 

"I'm asking as your Manager," he clarifies. "If you're going to co-host today's program, you must be in good health."

 

"I'm sorry. If I'd known you'd be at the meeting, I'd have come more prepared," she defends her deer-in-the-headlights reaction. "You needn't worry. I'm fine. It won't affect my performance."

 

 

He nods. But the strain of holding back bursts through his facade, "Sun-Mi, I know I shouldn't say this, but ..."

 

"Then don't," she cuts him off coldly. "At this point, it's better to leave things unsaid."

 

 

Standing, she indicates the conversation is over.

 

"I'm leaving first, Director Yoon. I have a program to prepare for," she declares. "And please, don't come out to the studio to watch. This is the last time I want to see your face before I go."

 

Her forceful demand leaves Hyung-Chul stunned.

 

 

Avoiding further eye contact, Sun-Mi quickly makes her way to the door. But as she extends her hand to open it, Hyung-Chul stands.

 

"Sun-Mi, wait!" he commands.

 

She stops, but does not look back.

 

"I don't want to part like this," he begs. "How can we say goodbye, not smiling to each other?"

 

"What's the point?" she refuses, tears springing up as she reminds him, "You will erase me from your mind. We agreed to that."

 

"We agreed that I will let you go, if you want to leave," he states his understanding. "But photographic memory is indelible. I can't forget you, as long as I live, even if I wanted to."

 

 

Sun-Mi's hand on the doorknob is trembling. She feels her will weakening, her longing to rush into his comforting embrace growing with each second she remains with him.

 

"Senior ..." the word slips out unconsciously, out of habit, from between her lips. "Actually ... Actually ..."

 

She teeters on the edge, her resolve crumbing. But then Joo-Hee's admonition buttresses her resistance ...

 

'There is no place for you in Hyung-Chul's future ... he will have to give up everything ... his destiny is to marry me, not you,'  the harsh words resonate in her mind, 'Run away ... forget everything ... for your sake ... and his.'

 

 

Grasping the handle tightly, Sun-Mi shoves the door open. The decision made, fresh determination invigorates her final words...

 

"Director Yoon, I have to go ..."