AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 7

by LoveCR2

edited by All-About-AAE

 

"It's two hearts, entwined together at creation, and now fused for eternity." -- Jin Sun-Mi

 

Sun-Mi and Hyung-Chul continue on together, enjoying the invigorating surroundings. Soon the sun is near the local meridian, and more hikers are descending than ascending. Though a cooling breeze blows, Hyung-Chul now carries both windbreakers over his shoulder along with the water bottles.

 

Sun-Mi smiles happily, with shining, half-moon eyes. "Senior, don't you just love this?"

 

Before he can answer, she stops, bends down, and picks up something from the ground. She turns to show him a small stone, holding it as if she'd discovered a rare treasure.

 

"Isn't the shape interesting? What does it remind you of?"

 

He peers at what looks like just another bit of shiny grey-brown rock. "Well … umm … how about you?"

 

"See? It's two hearts, entwined together at creation, and now fused into one for eternity."

 

"Huh?" he responds, unsure over what still appears like an ordinary chunk of rock. "Umm…"

 

Sun-Mi pouts and tosses the rock ahead on the trail.

 

Hyung-Chul is now completely perplexed. "Why did you do that?"

 

"Hmmph! … It's no fun if only one can see," she complains and starts off again.

 

Hyung-Chul smiles and chuckles. He lets Sun-Mi gain a couple of steps on him, and when her head is turned away, discretely dips to pick up the rock she just discarded. After a moment of puzzled scrutiny, he slips it into his pocket, but not before Sun-Mi catches his move in her peripheral vision. With her face out of his sight, she immediately drops her affected pout for a satisfied smile.

 

When Hyung-Chul catches up to her a few steps later, Sun-Mi's face is beaming again. Although he instinctively snaps a picture of her gorgeous smile with his eyes, he is baffled over her ephemeral moods.

 

A family with two children is about 10 meters ahead of them on the trail. The two youngsters scamper about, playing on the rocks, heedless of their parents' nagging to be careful.

 

"Jin Sun-Mi, what's got into you? You're acting like one of those naughty kids," Hyung-Chul chides her mildly.

 

Sun-Mi links her arm with his and grins mischievously. "It's because I feel like a child again! ... See that tree? Let's race!"

 

She points to the tree, about 50 meters up the steep trail, at the next overlook.

 

"You're kidding, right?"

 

"Bet you're out of shape, Senior," she chides him mildly. "When was the last time you were at the gym?"

 

"With those short legs, you don't have a chance!" he taunts her back.

 

Sun-Mi digs in her toes, like a sprinter ready for the gun. "Just you see!!" she challenges him. "I'll count to three!"

 

He watches her with a grin, arms crossed, doubting that she is serious.

 

"Ready? -- One -- Two -- Three…"

 

She takes off immediately and is already five steps ahead before Hyung-Chul reacts. "Hey! … Not fair!"

 

Sun-Mi stops and looks back, pokes her tongue out at him, and then sprints off again, her small backpack bouncing with each step.

 

With something to prove, Hyung-Chul takes off in pursuit. Footsteps pounding hard on the rocky path, his long strides eat up the distance, and he rapidly gains on Sun-Mi. But as he closes in, about to pass, Sun-Mi's red cap flies off her head. Propelled by the breeze, the cap tumbles back down the steep trail.

 

Sun-Mi immediately stops and turns to look back. "Oh, no! … My cap!" she wails.

 

Hyung-Chul, breaking stride, comes to an abrupt halt just past her. He shakes his head, silently admonishing himself that he should have expected her to pull a trick like this on him.

 

"Senior, it's blowing away!" Sun-Mi points, imploring him with sorrowful eyes. "It's my very most favorite... Can't you save it!?"