AAE -- For Better For Worse
Chapter 28
by LoveCR2
edited by All-About-AAE
In the Eve's Morning studio, Sun-Mi flips to the next page of her script.
She reads, "Next, we met with volunteers at an orphanage in Kang-Won-Do..."
The screen cuts to a pre-taped scene at the orphanage showing people working with the children.
Sun-Mi looks up at the studio TV monitor to time her next line. Watching the tape, she recognizes Young-Mi as one of the volunteers helping the children.
She stares, wide-eyed, at the TV monitor.
How could it be? Young-Mi had been missing for weeks. Presumed dead. But there she was -- alive, smiling, acting as if nothing had happened.
Sun-Mi catches her breath. The studio dissolves into a blur of light and shadow. The chatter in her earpiece fades to a distant hum.
Instantly, everyone on the set picks up on Sun-Mi's shocked expression. Their eyes also turn to the TV monitor.
In the control room, PD Park watches with alarm.
"What's with Sun-Mi?!" he barks into his headset microphone, "Kim Sun-Dal! Next line."
But Sun-Dal, reading the team, makes a judgment call.
"We're having studio difficulties," he says calmly. "We'll resume our program momentarily."
In the control room, Hyung-Chul and the staff scrutinize the TV monitors.
"There, is that Young-Mi?" PD Park asks.
On the set, everything is still in chaos.
"Did I see Young-Mi on-screen a second ago?" Ki-Jong asks, pointing.
Jin-Soo gets up and hurries forward for a closer look. "Too late." He goes back to the desk. "Sun-Mi? You saw Young-Mi, right?"
Sun-Mi doesn't answer. Snapping out of her daze, she gets up from her seat and turns to Sun-Dal.
"Senior, I want to go and see Young-Mi."
"I'll have a car at the main entrance," he replies.
Fifteen minutes later, Sun-Mi bursts from the lift like a racehorse off the starting gate, She weaves her way across the main lobby, heedless of risking a turned ankle, high heels clattering a warning of her approach.
Outside, by the waiting car, a knot of people mill about.
"She's coming," Cho-Jeh announces when Sun-Mi appears at the revolving door. She waves her onward, shouting, "Sun-Mi!"
"Sun-Mi!" Jin-Soo echoes, opening the car door.
Sun-Mi quickly slides in.
On the driver's side, Sun-Dal steps out and Hyung-Chul takes his place behind the wheel.
Sun-Mi looks out the window, trading last minute farewells.
"Call us, Sun-Mi," Joo-Hee asks.
"Have a safe drive," Ki-Jong adds.
"Be careful," Jin-Soo chimes in.
"Buckle up," Cho-Jeh reminds.
"Yes," Sun-Mi replies.
"We'll see you soon," Kyung-Hee has the last word.
The car pulls away.
Sun-Mi buckles in, then turns toward the driver. Her face hardens the moment she sees Hyung-Chul.
"Where is Manager Kim? Why are you doing this to me?"
Hyung-Chul shrugs. "It's not about you. I thought I should talk with Young-Mi myself. After all, she left her resignation letter with me."
They drive east from Yeouido on the Olympic-daero out of Seoul, then take Misa-daero to the Paldong Bridge, crossing the Han River. From there, they follow Gyeonggang-ro, then turn north on Bukhangang-ro, passing under the Jungang Line Bridge.
Sun-Mi watches the passing scenery, silent.
Eventually, Hyung-Chul tires of playing her game, and initiates conversation.
"What did Joo-Hee tell you?"
She doesn't answer.
"Did she say that MBS will collapse unless I become President? That GM Kim will put hundreds of people out of work?"
Sun-Mi turns and looks at him, her gaze unreadable.
He chuckles. "Joo-Hee conveniently forgot to mention that GM Kim was in charge while my father was hospitalized for a year. The Company didn't fail then, and it won't now."
They start to cross the Gyeonggang Bridge over the Bukhan River, heading into Gangwon-do.
"MBS isn't dependent on a single person. And GM Kim is not guaranteed the position. There are other candidates."
He looks at her. "Now, anything to say?"
"Yes," she replies quietly. "Joo-Hee did tell me that, and I believed her. But if you think that's why I said we should break up, you're mistaken."
"Then why?"
"I thought I was clear that night."
"That you don't want to be held back by ties to your life here?"
"Yes. We shared good times, and hard ones. But it's over now. I need to stand on my own. And you should too, Senior."
She pauses. "There's nothing more to say. So please, let's move on."