AAE -- For Better For Worse

Part 2 -- Chapter 12

by LoveCR2

edited by All-About-AAE

 

 

"The place where we met, that morning ..."

 

Sun-Mi's words had brought back a troubling memory for Hyung-Chul to ponder as they drove on to Banpo's Han River Park and walked from the car park to the riverbank.

 

 

Looking down into the murky water, Hyung-Chul wonders why Sun-Mi chose the same place where she had previously told him to let her go while she took care of Kim Woo-Jin. The possibility that a similar outcome is in the offing roils uneasily in his gut.

 

"What did you want to say earlier, in the car?" he cautiously broaches the subject.

 

Without turning to look at him, Sun-Mi answers, "Why do you want to marry me?"

 

"It's simple," he declares. "Because I love you!"

 

"Is it really that simple?" she challenges his pronouncement. "Look at how different we are -- you said yourself that it's like an ocean pearl and a meteorite from space coming together -- what do we have in common? Our family status, our childhoods, our interests, our personalities, our expectations, they're all so different."

 

"This is something you've known all along. Why is it suddenly important?" he questions her assertion. "Did my father, or step-mother, say something to you?"

 

"They didn't have to say anything," she reflects on her immediate experience. "It's one thing to know something in one's mind, and another to face it in reality."

 

"So what if our pasts are different? We can build a present, and a future, together," he implores.

 

"But the present exists because of the past. We can't ignore it," she argues. "When you said I had no part in your family problems, do you know how that made me feel? As if I haven't the right to know an important part of you."

 

"I meant that I didn't want you to be hurt," he clarifies his intent. "I wanted to protect you, not exclude you."

 

"Protect me from what?" Sun-Mi scoffs. "Knowing what happened? Then it's too late."

 

"Whatever my father's wife told you, don't believe it!" he warns heatedly. "Why would that woman tell you the truth? She hated my mother, and will say anything to disparage her! Don't ever talk to her again!"

 

 

Sun-Mi turns to face Hyung-Chul, her eyes smoldering.

 

"Which do you want me to be? Your wife? Or your employee?" she rebukes him harshly. "Make your choice, right now!"

 

 

The vehemence of her ultimatum startles him.

 

"Sorry. I ... I overstepped," he recants his words apologetically. "But when family is involved, I'm not good at talking about it. It's hard."

 

"Even so," Sun-Mi stresses her point, "if you can't trust me in this, what does that say about our relationship? People already call me a Cinderella who aspires to be Princess ... But when the magic ends, Cinderella is still a common servant girl. Is that what I am to you, too?"

 

"You don't need to be Cinderella -- becoming someone other than who you are -- for me to love you," he contends. "If I wanted a Princess, there were plenty waiting behind me in line."

 

He extends his arms to embrace her.

 

But Sun-Mi steps back, wanting to come to a resolution first.

 

"I was wrong to hold back," he confesses. "But I was afraid that the only truly good part of my life would become damaged, and then... I would lose you, too."

 

"I'm not so fragile!" she replies forcefully. "And my love not so capricious. Knowing the truth won't damage me, and it may help you."

 

"How?"

 

"Because you don't need to be a Prince for me to love you," she reiterates back to him. "I can accept you as you are, too, can't I?" She steps closer. "We can work through our differences in family and upbringing, interests, and personalities -- if you want to."

 

"I'm sorry -- very sorry -- for doubting you," he tells her with relief, his pent-up worries dispelled by her reassurances.

 

"I'm not asking for an apology, just that you never do this again, leave me as the last to know," she chides him. "Let's not be scared of getting or causing hurt, but be brave. Can't we just love each other?

 

 

This time when Hyung-Chul reaches to embrace her, Sun-Mi reciprocates, wrapping her arms around his neck as he encircles her waist, drawing her closer. The seconds stretch into minutes as the ardent couple lose track of time and place, until the loud blast of a boat's air horn startles them into reality.

 

Sun-Mi looks out to see a passing river tour cruiser, the rail crowded with curious gawkers, and frets, "Senior ... people are watching!"

 

"Get used to it," Hyung-Chul brushes off her concern, jauntily acknowledging their audience with a confident wave. "I want everyone to know you are the woman I love!"

 

"Then what are you waiting for?" she boldly ripostes, tilting her head back and aggressively pressing her lips onto his.

 

The departing tour boat sends off another long blast, but this time Sun-Mi and Hyung-Chul don't respond, completely absorbed in their passionate exchange.