AAE -- For Better For Worse

Part 2 -- Chapter 20

by LoveCR2

edited by All-About-AAE

 

 

The afternoon weather had belied the morning's optimistic prediction of sunny skies over Seoul with an occasional sprinkle. Since noon, the sun had rarely made an appearance throughout a steady drizzle, mixed with intermittent heavy showers that dropped straight from the low-hanging, leaden-gray clouds.

 

In a hurry, Jin Sun-Mi strides at a quick clip along Gangnam-gu's famed high-fashion Apgujeong-ro, umbrella raised for protection from the latest torrent of raindrops. Usually busy with after-work shoppers, the wide sidewalk is almost empty, most pedestrians choosing to linger in the stores until the current downpour has subsided.

 

As she passes by the Missoni Boutique, her mobile rings. Without slowing her pace, Sun-Mi dives into her YSL shoulder bag with her free hand and extracts the phone.

 

Flipping it open, she takes note of the caller ID and exhales a brief, irritated sigh before answering breezily, "Hi, Cho-Jeh! What's up?"

 

Cho-Jeh's angry voice is loud enough for anyone passing by to hear. "I haven't heard from you for days! Why haven't you answered my calls?"

 

"Hey, take it easy," Sun-Mi replies coolly, hoping to calm down her friend. "I've been busy."

 

"Doing what?"

 

"First, I had the house to vacuum and tidy up, bathrooms and kitchen to scrub, and two weeks of laundry," Sun-Mi checks off her list of chores accomplished, "Then there were windows to wash, and ..."

 

"Whoa!" Cho-Jeh interrupts. "Why the sudden domestic frenzy? Aren't you off to London soon?"

 

"After Senior and I got engaged, I couldn't go out in public without getting mobbed by the paparazzi, so I had to do something to keep from going crazy while cooped up," Sun-Mi describes her situation. "Besides, I want everything to be in good shape for Daddy before I leave."

 

"I get it," Cho-Jeh seems appeased, then her tone turns puzzled, "But if you're stuck at home, what's all that noise I'm hearing?"

 

"That's the street traffic," Sun-Mi explains. "I'm in Cheongdam right now."

 

"Didn't you just say you couldn't go out?"

 

"I can't hide forever. I had to buy food, and have my hair and nails done."

 

"What about the paparazzi?" Cho-Jeh considers the incongruity. "Aren't you worried you'll be recognized?"

 

 

"It doesn't seem to be a problem now," Sun-Mi replies vaguely. "Anyway, before I go to London, I have a lot of shopping to do, and can't put it off any longer."

 

"Why not wait until then, so you don't have to pack along the extra baggage?" Cho-Jeh questions the practicality of her decision.

 

"Everything's cheaper here, and there's no guarantee I'll find the sizes and styles I want there," Sun-Mi answers patly. "Besides, I don't know anyone in London who I can shop with, like here."

 

Catching the hint, Cho-Jeh perks up instantly. "You want us to go shopping together?"

 

"How about tomorrow?" Sun-Mi suggests.

 

"I'm spending the day with Jin-Soo. We're going to the ball game," Cho-Jeh demurs. "But I'm free tonight."

 

"Sorry. I have a date with Senior soon. In fact, I'm on my way to meet him right now. What about Saturday?" Sun-Mi offers an alternative.

 

"Saturday it is," Cho-Jeh accepts. "Where do you want to meet?"

 

"How about Sinsa station, ten o'clock?"

 

"Good. I'll be there. Oh ... where are we having lunch?"

 

 

"Is food all you think about?" Sun-Mi remarks with a chuckle. "Don't worry, it's my treat."

 

"In that case, there's this trendy caf� near Dosan Park that has great reviews. It's called CREAM Cake House. All the celebrities go there now, and I heard the desserts are heavenly!" Cho-Jeh raves. "What do you think?"

 

 

Sun-Mi stops dead in her tracks. Being the scene of her painful breakup with Hyung-Chul, that is the last place she wants to see again, or even think about!

 

"Er ... let's decide tomorrow, okay?" she immediately cuts the topic, and Cho-Jeh, off. "I've gotta go now, or I'll be late."

 

"But..."

 

"See you Saturday."

 

"But..."

 

"Bye!"

 

With a quivering hand, Sun-Mi snaps her phone shut and drops it back into her purse. She closes her eyes and inhales a long, deep breath and then exhales the same, letting her tension dissipate and settle the troubling vibes skittering about in her mind.

 

"Senior and I are back together now, for good!" she states firmly, as she gazes down at the physical evidence of that promise adorning her finger, still somewhat in awe that it isn't all just a dream.

 

"We have God's blessing, and our parents', so nothing can happen to change that, right?" she reassures herself.

 

 

Clutching her umbrella firmly, Sun-Mi resumes her previous pace. Then she checks the time on her wristwatch.

 

"Oh, my! I really will be late now!" she scolds her own tardiness.

 

Hoping to still make the appointed time with Hyung-Chul, she takes off running, her Gucci heels splashing through the shallow sidewalk puddles.