AAE -- For Better For Worse

Part 2 -- Chapter 21

by LoveCR2

edited by All-About-AAE

 

 

Traffic is bumper-to bumper, moving at a snail's pace in the pouring rainstorm as Hyung-Chul exits the Olympic freeway off ramp onto Eonju-ro and heads south.

 

The rhythmic beat of wipers clearing the windshield is the only sound inside the car as it creeps along toward his usual rendezvous point with Sun-Mi. After a long day at work, the annoyance of this additional delay deepens the pensive expression lining his face.

 

He glances over at the empty passenger seat, anticipating the moment he will be with her again. Imagining Sun-Mi sitting there, beaming a brilliant smile at him, her playful eyes sparkling with zest, brings a blissful grin to brighten his haggard face.

 

Turning onto Apgujeong-ro, he drives east, passing the Galleria Department Store. Hyung-Chul starts changing lanes, moving to the right. Approaching the Cheongdam bus stop, he signals and pulls over to the curb, rolling to a smooth stop. He peruses the group of people sheltering under the bus stop canopy, but doesn't see Sun-Mi among them. Supposing she is still on her way, he puts the car in park and turns the flashers on to wait.

 

His arrival doesn't go unnoticed. Curious eyes turn his way, men admiring the sleek dark blue BWM 728iL, and women the handsome, debonaire driver inside.

 

One young woman -- notable for her bright red lipstick, short pixie hairstyle highlighted with a crimson streak, and large round, white-framed sunglasses -- smiles and waves to attract his attention.

 

Hyung-Chul politely nods in response, then turns his focus to scanning up and down the sidewalk, searching for Sun-Mi.

 

Not to be ignored, the woman steps forward to the front of the bus shelter and waves again.

 

Thinking he might have met her previously, Hyung-Chul briefly scrutinizes the woman, taking a picture with his eyes to compare with his extensive file of photographic memories. Finding no matches, he looks away, intending to discourage her. Noticing another woman still at a distance, dressed in a pale pink pencil skirt, face obscured by her umbrella, he focuses his attention there.

 

 

But his brief observance emboldens the young woman. Heedless of the rain, she marches up to the car and raps lightly on the front passenger side window, then points down to the door handle, indicating that she would like him to let her in.

 

Hyung-Chul pretends to ignore her entreaty, keeping his eyes fixed on the woman in pink.

 

There is no way he wants to be seen picking up an unknown woman he'd just met on the street -- particularly one dressed in a cropped stretch tube top, thigh-baring, pleated miniskirt, and studded high-heel sandals -- with a crowd of people looking on and probably ascribing his actions to the worst motives.

 

And certainly not when Sun-Mi's appearance is imminent.

 

 

But the woman persists, rapping on the car window again, harder this time, insistent.

 

Reluctantly, Hyung-Chul powers down the window halfway, preemptively stating, "Sorry, Miss, but I'm waiting for someone else."

 

 

Bending down to peer into the car, she looks at him for a few moments, eyes obscured behind the dark sunglass lenses, allowing no clue to her mood or intentions.

 

"Are you sure about that?" she answers ambiguously.

 

But there is nothing ambiguous about her voice, instantly recognizable by half of Seoul.

 

 

"Sun-Mi? Is it you?!" he exclaims, flabbergasted by her deceptive appearance.

 

"Were you perhaps expecting someone else?" she queries with a tinge of faux jealousy.

 

"No... er ... uh..." Hyung-Chul stammers, still gathering his wits.

 

"While you're deciding how to answer, could you unlock the door and let me in?" Sun-Mi requests, impatient with his slow response. "I'm getting soaked in this rain!"