AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 16

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2016

 

"My head tells me it's impossible, too, but my heart... it tells me to believe." -- Jin Sun-Mi

 

 

"Senior? What is it about Young-Mi?" Sun-Mi gasps breathlessly when she appears at the open door of Hyung-Chul's office. She had just dashed up from the Announcer 1 Team office after receiving Hyung-Chul's call.

 

"Come in..."

 

As she steps into his office and approaches his desk, Hyung-Chul relates the news: "I just heard from the Seoul Police. Young-Mi's car was found, abandoned, in Kang-Won-Do."

 

"What is Young-Mi doing in Kangwon-do?" Sun-Mi wonders. "Why would she go there?"

 

"You'd better sit down first."

 

He motions toward the chair beside his desk, and waits until she is settled in the chair before continuing...

 

"Her purse and shoes were on the bank of a large reservoir," he says gravely, "but so far, they haven't found a body."

 

Sun-Mi looks at Hyung-Chul, shaking her head in denial: "Senior... no... it can't be..."

 

Hyung-Chul is prepared, and holds out his handkerchief. "Here... go ahead, cry if you need to."

 

But instead of the tears he'd expected, Sun-Mi answers with a firm resolve: "I know in here," -- she lightly pats her chest -- "that Young-Mi is still alive."

 

"How can you be so sure?" he tests her conviction. "If she were alive, someone would have come forward."

 

"I know what you're saying, Senior. My head tells me it's impossible, too, but my heart... it tells me to believe. Remember my dream?"

 

"It was only a dream. You have to be realistic."

 

"But it was realistic... so real, like I was seeing it all in person!" she insists.

 

Hyung-Chul shakes his head. "Sun-Mi, I know you feel responsible, but..."

 

The intercom buzzes, interrupting him. Hyung-Chul presses the TALK button. "Yes?"

 

"The tapes you wanted are here."

 

"Good. Bring them in."

 

Miss Lee comes in as Hyung-Chul is getting up to meet her halfway. She hands him several video tape cassettes and then exits, closing the door. Hyung-Chul checks the labels on the tapes, puts one into a VCR, and starts the tape with the remote.

 

Seeing the quizzical look on Sun-Mi's face, he offers an explanation before she can ask. "It's a hunch, about your dream. This tape is from our feature series on the good people are doing as volunteers. It was filmed a few weeks ago."

 

Hyung-Chul fast-forwards the tape as they both watch intently.

 

Suddenly, Sun-Mi's eyes open wide. "Senior, that's it, the orphanage!" she exclaims excitedly. She points at the TV: "Go back!"

 

He rewinds the tape and plays it at normal speed.

 

"Look!" Sun-Mi gasps. "There… it's Young-Mi! Exactly like in my dream!"

 

Tears of happy relief overflow from Sun-Mi's eyes. "Oh... Senior! She's alive!"

 

Hyung-Chul pauses the tape and hands her his handkerchief.

 

"Thanks."

 

Sun-Mi dries her eyes, then looks at him sheepishly. "I remember now. I was in the editing room, helping cue a segment for Art Club, when that tape was playing... I wasn't really paying attention, so I didn't realize it was Young-Mi. I feel so foolish now."

 

"Why? It was because of you -- your dream -- that we found Young-Mi," Hyung-Chul encourages her. "It's all that counts."

 

"Yes," she agrees, still feeling stupid. But then she smiles eagerly, "So when are we leaving?"