AAE -- For Better For Worse

Part 2 -- Chapter 16

by LoveCR2

edited by All-About-AAE

 

 

From the restaurant, Hyung-Chul and Sun-Mi drove south out of Seoul, to the small rural cemetery where Kim Woo-Jin was buried. In contrast to her somber mood on their journey to his mother's grave, Sun-Mi was a lively chatterbox on this trip. Her feeling that they had his mother's approval to marry had seemingly erased all uncertainty and doubt, and her normal optimistic enthusiasm filled every minute of the two-hour journey.

 

Whether minutiae of wedding plans, hopes and concerns over her new correspondent posting, merits of different London boroughs and restaurants, or just remarks on passing scenery, Sun-Mi engaged him in the continuous stream of thoughts that flitted, however momentarily or casually, through her mind.

 

Leaving the BMW in a nearby car park, they ambled along a shady, tree-lined graveled path leading to the graveyard. It was situated on a high bluff overlooking a large reservoir lake, where a stiff breeze brought relief from the humidity. Overhead, the sun played peek-a-boo with fluffy white clouds dotting an azure sky. As in the car, Sun-Mi continued her lively patter throughout their walk, as Hyung-Chul mostly listened, the sweetness of her voice and the sparkle of her laughter a lyrical melody to his ears.

 

Soon they emerged onto the steeply sloping field with its irregular rows of grave mounds, many fronted by stone markers of various styles. The grass, though recently trimmed, was unkempt in places, interspersed with patches of prickly weeds and barren, rocky outcrops.

 

This was Sun-Mi's first visit since the funeral, and the sight instantly brought memories of that sorrowful day. Hyung-Chul lent his support -- emotional as well as physical -- to Sun-Mi, steadying her arm for their slow traverse over the uneven ground down to Woo-Jin's grave.

 

As they stood before the granite marker bearing Woo-Jin's portrait and inscribed name, Sun-Mi's emotions finally broke through her fragile veneer of outward happiness. Clutching Hyung-Chul's borrowed handkerchief, she sobbed quietly, dabbing at the tears rolling in her eyes before they could spill down her cheeks.

 

 

After silently paying his respects, Hyung-Chul releases Sun-Mi's hand and passes the small bouquet he had carried for her. She bends down to place the flowers before the gravestone, then stands erect again.

 

"Senior, may I have five minutes to speak with Woo-Jin, alone?" she requests.

 

"Of course," he replies understandingly. "I'll wait for you at that tree by the bluff."

 

 

After he leaves, Sun-Mi reminisces on her youthful years with Woo-Jin, counting the blessings of her memories, before she speaks ...

 

"Woo-Jin, you were always with me when I needed to be comforted, listening to all my troubles. And right now I need that more than ever. How I wish you were here with me, your arm around my shoulders, gently encouraging me, like you always did."

 

Kneeling as she speaks, her face is wrought with anguish.

 

"I miss you so much, oppa! There isn't a day that I don't think of you ..."

 

 

Meanwhile, the five minutes -- with a few more for good measure -- have passed, and Hyung-Chul has come back, expecting that Sun-Mi is ready to go. But seeing that she is still kneeling before the grave, he waits, out of sight but within earshot, observing her carefully.

 

"Every time I take a step towards Senior, I find myself looking back, thinking how this is just one more step taking me away from you," Sun-Mi confesses. "Even though you chose Young-Mi, I never completely gave up carrying hopes that someday, somehow, we would be together."

 

Hearing this, Hyung-Chul stares incredulously at Sun-Mi's back, stunned by her frank revelation.

 

"Many times I tried to forget you -- even cursed you -- hoping to be freed of my love for you," she laments. "Yet I still longed to hear you call my name, to feel your hand holding mine, to see your face smiling at me. I dreamed of what our life together could have been, if Young-Mi hadn't stolen you away..."

 

She pauses to wipe at the tears rolling down her face.

 

"I imagined the sunsets we never saw together, the good times we never shared, the children we never raised, the loving we never experienced," she reflects sorrowfully. "How happy I thought it would to be at your side, growing old with you ..."

 

Her voice breaks from the pain, but she goes on, barely audible in her grief...

 

"Woo-Jin, Oppa ... the truth is that, even though you have left this world ... I can't ... stop ... loving you."

 

A sob catches in her throat, followed by more, her tears inconsolable.

 

 

Still eavesdropping on Sun-Mi's soliloquy, Hyung-Chul flinches as her words knife deeply into his heart. Unable to continue listening, he flees, numb with the realization that he must forever compete with a ghost for Sun-Mi's love.

 

 

Gradually, Sun-Mi regains her composure, and continues...

 

"Please, Oppa, I need your help," she begs, her streaming tears unstaunched, "Help me to move on, to give all my love to Senior. I won't forget you, I just don't want to be held back any longer."

 

As she gazes at Woo-Jin's picture on the gravestone, half-blinded by tears, is it her imagination that he smiles, nodding in agreement?

 

Feeling a great burden has lifted off her chest, Sun-Mi wipes her face dry and stands up confidently, her mission accomplished.

 

 

She takes a few careful steps further down the slope, balancing her weight on the pointed toes of her pumps to prevent the slender heels from sinking into the soft earth. Not seeing Hyung-Chul where he had said he would wait, Sun-Mi takes her mobile out and calls him.

 

"Senior? Where are you?" she grouches, peeved by his unexpected disappearance.

 

"At the car," he answers brusquely.

 

"What? You said you'd wait for me!" her annoyance shows through. "Are you coming back?"

 

"There isn't time for that," he snaps. "You'll have to walk up to the road, while I bring the car."

 

Looking back the way they came, she sighs in frustration. Even with a helping hand, it would be difficult to make her way up the steep slope in high heels. Alone, it became a daunting task, impossible to accomplish in a hurry.

 

"Are you serious?" she grumbles, upset with his attitude. "I'm wearing heels, remember?"

 

"So? It wasn't MY idea to come here," he firmly puts the problem squarely onto her to resolve.

 

Sun-Mi fumes silently, knowing he is right. Wanting to look her best for church and dining out, she had dressed with style and not practicality in mind.

 

"We need to go SOON," he impatiently emphasizes the last word. "A big storm is coming up, so hurry!"

 

 

She wonders at his harsh tone, but the massive wall of dense gray clouds approaching over the lake confirms his warning.

 

"I'll come up right away," she confirms. "I'm finished here."

 

 

With no other recourse available, Sun-Mi steps out of her shoes onto the grass. Frowning, she anticipates the beating her tender soles will take from the prickling thorns and sharp-edged rocks.

 

"Wait 'til I see you, Director Yoon! I'll make you pay, big time, for this!" she consoles herself with the idle threat.

 

Then, stooping to pick up her slingbacks by their heel straps, she starts off barefoot, trudging up to meet him.