AAE -- Twists of Fate

Part 1 -- Chapter 09

by LoveCR2

edited by All-About-AAE

 

 

Hyung-Chul glances at his watch. Eight o'clock. He puts down his pen and leans back in his chair. He inhales deeply, closing his eyes as he stretches his arms over his head. When he opens his eyes, Sun-Mi is framed in the doorway.

 

Their eyes meet.

 

"Am I interrupting?" she asks.

 

"Not at all." He gestures to the desk-side chair. "Come in."

 

 

Sun-Mi sits on the edge of the chair, back straight, hands on her knees.

 

Hyung-Chul leans forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "I've been worried -- where were you all day?"

 

"Thinking."

 

"About the scandal?"

 

She nods.

 

"Me too," he says. "Sun-Dal and I --"

 

"I'm sorry," Sun-Mi interrupts. "Manager Kim told me this will cause trouble for you with the Board."

 

"That's not a given," Hyung-Chul replies. "You're presuming."

 

"Am I? This wouldn't even be a scandal if it were Senior Joo-Hee."

 

"What do you mean?"

 

"Because of her position in the Company and society, the paparazzi would be celebrating you as the 'couple of the year'. She's the daughter of a Director, so you'd have the Board's blessing. But all I can do is drag you down."

 

"It doesn't matter what the paparazzi or the Board think. If it's not gained by my own merit, the position isn't worth it."

 

"That's easy for you to say," she protests, "but where I am, there are few second chances."

 

 

Hyung-Chul stands. "It's late. Did you eat?"

 

"No. I don't have an appetite."

 

"At least, why don't we have dessert? That always lifts your spirits."

 

Her expression is somber. "I can say what I need to right here, Senior."

 

He sits down. "Go on."

 

"Recently, I've been wondering -- whether it's you I liked, or what you could do for me?"

 

Her fingers graze the Peter Rabbit figurine, placed prominently on the corner of his desk -- her gift for him to remember her by when she had left London.

 

"Don't look so surprised. It's what everyone's thinking, right? So, until I know my own heart, I don't want to hold you back. If we stop seeing each other now, then the scandal has no substance. We can each go on with our lives unimpeded."

 

 

"What do you want me to do?"

 

"Tell the press -- officially. We're just friends, and have never been more than that."

 

"You want me to lie?"

 

"It's not a lie. Sometimes people confuse friendship with love, right? Where was the romance? You never even once kissed me on the lips." She raises her eyes to look directly at him. "I'd do it myself, except for company policy."

 

He draws a long, slow breath. "You're certain this is what you want?"

 

She nods.

 

He searches for any sign that her heart opposes her words. But Sun-Mi's face is inscrutable -- her eyes are clear, her gaze fixed on him, her mouth set in neither a smile nor a frown.

 

"I'll always be thankful to you, Senior." She holds her voice together, each word delivered with exactness. "In spite of all the unreasonable things I did, you always stayed by my side."

 

"Sun-Mi --" He reaches for her hand, but she draws it away.

 

"I feel this is what I have to do -- right now -- or I won't be able to. Don't worry about me anymore. I'll try to be strong and make my own way -- without you."

 

She stands. "Don't get up. I'll see myself out."

 

Hyung-Chul stares at her. His mouth opens, but no words come out.

 

"Goodbye, Senior."

 

He watches her back in silence as she walks away. Sun-Mi pauses at the threshold, then steps through the doorway without turning.

 

She doesn't look back.