AAE -- For Better For Worse

Part 2 -- Chapter 04

by LoveCR2

edited by All-About-AAE

 

 

Nearing noon, as Gui-Sung tools up the lane to his house, he notes Hyung-Chul's BMW is still parked by the gate.

 

He recalls Song Jin-Suk's concern when he had mentioned the Director ... "I'm not sure I trust that man. He may be a player. There was something going on between him and Young-Mi and Sun-Mi when I saw them all in the hospital that night!"

 

 

He stops his Range Rover next to the car, and ambles across the yard to his front door.

 

"Hopefully they've worked out whatever it was between them," he congratulates himself on the apparent success of his plot.

 

 

As he enters from the vestibule, he finds Hyung-Chul and Sun-Mi together on the living room couch.

 

"Sir, I have something to ask you," Hyung-Chul informs him right away.

 

"What is it?"

 

"Sun-Mi and I have decided to marry, and we would like to have your blessing."

 

Gui-Sung doesn't seem surprised. "Give me a minute to sit down first," he answers.

 

 

Joining them in the living room, he occupies the chair adjacent to the couch.

 

"You say this, in all seriousness?" he probes directly. "Marriage is nothing to trifle with."

 

"We love each other," Hyung-Chul declares, "and want to spend the rest of our lives together."

 

"And you agree with him?" Gui-Sung asks Sun-Mi.

 

"Yes, Daddy. I love him with my whole heart," she avows, looking at Hyung-Chul starry-eyed.

 

 

"It seems you both have already made up your minds," Gui-Sung observes, noticing the diamond on his daughter's left hand. "Why are you asking me now?"

 

"We want your support, Daddy. I hope that you and Senior can have a cordial relationship."

 

"I see," Gui-Sung nods, then directs his next question to Hyung-Chul. "What about this engagement affair in the papers?"

 

"It's not true," Hyung-Chul immediately asserts, then corrects himself, "Not the complete truth, anyway."

 

"Go on."

 

"It's true that I was betrothed to Yoo Joo-Hee in an agreement made by our grandfathers. But I have never agreed with that promise," he asserts forcefully, "and never intended to marry her."

 

"Yet your families still are holding a formal engagement party?" Gui-Sung questions his assertions. "That seems to contradict what you just told me."

 

"Honestly, I never thought it would come this far," Hyung-Chul admits. "They think that by going public in a big way, I'll be pressured to bow down to their wishes. I like and respect Yoo Joo-Hee, but we're not right for each other. I wouldn't marry her under any circumstances!"

 

"I believe you," Gui-Sung accepts the situation as laid out for him. "But I can't give my blessing for you to marry Sun-Mi."

 

 

Sun-Mi stares at her father, shocked. "Daddy! I told you I love him!"

 

"Marriage is about more than love," Gui-Sung admonishes her. "Until Director Yoon resolves this problem with his family, I can't in good conscience allow my only daughter to become involved. You're too immature and naive to deal with such a matter."

 

"I'm not a child!" she pouts, irritated at being talked down to, "I can do whatever I think is right!"

 

"That's exactly why I won't approve," he reproves her. "You let your emotions overrule your common sense."

 

"Pleeeease Daddy?" she beseeches, letting a tear roll from her eye to wend slowly down her cheek. "It's True Love. I'd rather die than live without him by my side!"

 

"If it's Love that True, then marriage can wait until the problem is resolved," Gui-Sung counters, holding his ground against her attempts to sway him. "Right Director Yoon?"

 

Put on the spot, Hyung-Chul has to agree. "Yes, True Love can wait."

 

"But, that could take weeks, or months, or even ... �years," Sun-Mi laments, putting forth the worst case. "Senior, what if your family never accepts your feelings? Will you hold back, and never marry me?!"

 

"It won't come to that," Hyung-Chul assures her. "But your father is right. I need to take care of my problems first."

 

 

Now that both men are opposing her, Sun-Mi doubles down.

 

"Daddy! Because of you, now I may never marry Senior!" she wails. "How can you do that to your only daughter? I hate you! I hate you with all my heart!"

 

Ignoring his petulant daughter's "spontaneously" thrown tantrum, Gui-Sung stands up.

 

"Director Yoon, if we could have a word, in private? Let's take some fresh air."

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

 

Outside on the porch, Hyung-Chul lights up a cigarette while he waits for Gui-Sung to come out.

 

"I told Sun-Mi to go to her room," Gui-Sung chuckles as he step out through the door. "That girl is precious to me, but sometimes she can be quite a headache. Are you sure you want that headache, too?"

 

"Sun-Mi is the joy of my life," Hyung-Chul confirms. "Headaches or not!"

 

"I can see that. You're both adults, and can do what you choose, but I'm serious about holding back my approval," Gui-Sung reiterates his stance firmly. "In the meantime, I'd like you to maintain a separation from Sun-Mi, to prevent more rumors from spreading. And take this back, too."

 

He holds out the engagement ring.

 

"I won't allow my daughter to wear it in public, while you're still engaged to another woman. I hope you can understand that."

 

"I never intended to bring any disgrace onto Sun-Mi or your family name, Mr. Jin," Hyung-Chul replies, taking the ring he'd just managed to put back onto Sun-Mi's finger.

 

"Out of respect, I'll wait for a time. But I won't give up my love for your daughter," he states his stance firmly, too. "Nor will I separate myself from her while we wait to marry. I can't imagine not having her by my side."

 

 

With their opposing positions resolutely entrenched, there is nothing more to negotiate.

 

"Go now, Director!" Gui-Sung orders. "I don't want to see you again, until you've settled everything!"

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

 

When Gui-Sung returns inside, Sun-Mi has come down and is waiting anxiously for him, with something she has to say.

 

"I sent Director Yoon away," he bluntly tells her first. "It's for your own good."

 

 

But she has another, more important, matter on her mind...

 

"Daddy, I'm so, so, sorry I said those terrible things," she apologizes profusely. "I really didn't mean them! You must believe me! You know I'll always love you."

 

Gui-Sung takes her hand. "I know," he replies. "It's because you feel so strongly about this. Actually, it reminds me of your mother's reaction the first time I asked for her hand and her father refused. Come, let's talk."

 

 

He leads her to the living room, and they sit down together on the couch. Sun-Mi waits for her father to speak first.

 

"I always thought of Director Yoon as a good man," he tells her. "And now, after hearing his declaration of love for you, I'm also satisfied that he would be a good husband, too ..."

 

Hearing this, Sun-Mi's spirit lifts, the lines of worry easing from her face.

 

"However, I still can't give my blessing."

 

The nascent glint of hope in Sun-Mi's eyes fades. "Why? Why won't you bless our marriage?"

 

"If you go ahead now, society will only see you as an interloper between Director Yoon and his fiancee -- a home wrecker. That reputation will follow for the rest of your life, and stain your children's lives and futures, too. Children should not suffer for the sins of their parents, but that's society. Let Director Yoon settle his affairs first, and then after a decent amount of time passes, if you still feel the same about marrying, I'll give my consent."

 

"But Daddy, what if that really does take years?"

 

"You're still young, what's the rush? Weren't you leaving for London, anyway? Or is there something you haven't told me?" Gui-Sung casually broaches a concern.

 

Sun-Mi has no idea what he is asking about. "Huh?"

 

"I'm sorry to bring this up, but by any chance are you ... pregnant?"

 

Astonished, Sun-Mi looks at her father, wide-eyed. "Of course not, Daddy! "

 

She rests her head on her father's shoulder.

 

"But please, won't you reconsider? I do really love him, because he reminds me so much of you."

 

"Is that so?" Gui-Sung smiles contentedly, aware he is being buttered up. "But my answer is the same. I won't give my blessing until he has his personal matters in order, and has the approval of his father, too. I don't want you marrying into a family where you will be resented, instead of appreciated. You will never be happy in those circumstances ... and your happiness is everything to me."

 

"But Daddy ..."

 

"Say nothing more," he warns, "This matter is closed!"