AAE -- Twists of Fate

Part 1 -- Chapter 01

by LoveCR2

edited by All-About-AAE

 

 

Sun-Mi sits on a chair in the center of Young-Mi's cramped studio, feet together, back straight, hands in her lap. She is still wearing the gray pantsuit and white camisole from her day at MBS. Young-Mi sits on her bed in a sleeveless brown shift dress, legs crossed, one hand braced on the mattress behind her. Between them, a small blue box waits on the table.

 

"Take it." Sun-Mi lifts the lid. "Woo-Jin's diary. All his pictures of you."

 

Young-Mi picks up a black and white photo of Woo-Jin with his MBS video camera. She holds it, studying the image,  her face unreadable.

 

"I don't know why Auntie asked me to bring this to you," Sun-Mi says, her jaw tightening. "Maybe because of Woo-Jin. He really... loved you."

 

Young-Mi tosses the photograph back into the box and rises, turning away. "What do you want me to do? I don't need any of it. I'm free of him now."

 

Sun-Mi stands, the chair rolling back from the force of her rising. Her slingbacks click sharply on the tiled floor as she closes the gap between them. "Huh Young-Mi!"

 

Young-Mi turns to face her, folding her arms. "I said I don't want them. Tell your Auntie not to bother me again."

 

Sun-Mi presses her lips into a thin line. Her chin trembles. She swings and slaps Young-Mi across the cheek, the sharp smack snapping her head to the side. "Are you even human?" Her voice pierces the silence. "Have you no heart? Think of his mother! How much Woo-Jin meant to Auntie."

 

"Are you finished?" Young-Mi's voice is flat. "You can go now."

 

Sun-Mi's fists clench. "I'll never forgive you! Never! I'll see you ruined, even if I have to die!"

 

A brief, bitter smile twists Young-Mi's mouth. She turns to face Sun-Mi. "Then do that."

 

Sun-Mi glares at Young-Mi, then snatches up the box and storms out. The door bangs shut.

 

Young-Mi stares at the closed door. "You must do that," she murmurs. "You have to keep your word."

 

 

Outside, the July afternoon is hot and muggy -- the air hits her like a wall of steam. Young-Mi's apartment is several blocks from the main street where Sun-Mi can hail a cab. She strides away, her heels pounding the pavement, determined to put distance between herself and Young-Mi.

 

By the time a taxi stops to pick her up, Sun-Mi's damp suit is clinging to her back and her forehead is beading with sweat. Her moist feet chafe against the leather, her toes squishing in the confines of her pointed-toe pumps.

 

She gets in and gives the driver her destination. The air conditioner is on full blast. With a sigh of relief, she sets the box on the seat next to her. Taking out her mobile, she flips it open and taps in a speed dial number. She presses the hard plastic to her ear, shutting out the street noise.

 

"Hello, Sun-Mi?" Jin-Suk's voice is faint over the line.

 

"I went to Young-Mi's as you asked, but she refused to take Woo-Jin's box," Sun-Mi says, her voice still taut. "I'm on my way to deliver it back to your house."

 

"I don't ever want to see that box again! Just throw it out!"

 

"I can't do that. How would Oppa feel?"

 

Jin-Suk sighs. "I don't know what Woo-Jin ever saw in that woman. I knew from the beginning she was trouble. How could he be such a fool?"

 

"Auntie, don't think of Oppa like that. I don't understand how he could love Young-Mi either, but he must have seen something good in her. Maybe, after she considers it, she'll want the box."

 

"Then keep it yourself," Jin-Suk grumbles. "I have to go. There's a customer waiting."

 

Sun-Mi shuts her phone with a click and meets the driver's eyes in the rearview mirror. "Sir, could you take me to Suseo instead?"

 

He grunts. "Yes."

 

The driver changes lanes to make a left turn toward their new destination. Sun-Mi relaxes against the cool vinyl and brushes the damp hair off her forehead. Reaching down, she pushes the straps off her heels and slips her sore feet partway out of her shoes.

 

The steady rumble of the tires and car's gentle sway soothe her. Soon her eyes droop, and she drifts into sleep.