AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 26

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2017

 

"Really, a formal contract is so unnecessary, when we can seal this the old-fashioned way." -- Park So-Won

 

 

GANGNAM-GU ...

 

"Where could he be? This isn’t like Senior," Sun-Mi grumbles, voicing her impatience aloud as she waits at the Cheongdam Primary School E bus stop on busy Apgujeong-ro, where she and Hyung-Chul usually met for their after-work dinner dates.

 

"What if he’s had an accident? I’ve told him to drive more carefully," she frets to herself. "Why doesn’t he listen?"

 

She takes out her cell phone and presses the speed number for Hyung-Chul’s mobile. The same message she’d heard repeatedly plays again... "The party you are trying to reach is unavailable..." She flips the phone closed and is about to put it back into her bag, when it rings, signaling an incoming text...

 

Eagerly, Sun-Mi opens her phone again, to read: Sorry. Meeting running late. Tomorrow

 

The mental picture of Hyung-Chul driving off with So-Won in her red convertible for a ‘meeting’ provokes Sun-Mi to jealousy, but she reminds herself once again: "He's not that kind of person... I know I can trust him..."

 

But as she walks away to eat dinner alone, she vows, "I'll settle this tonight, once and for all.."

 

 

HYUNG-CHUL'S VILLA, LATER THAT NIGHT ...

 

"Where did you say you are?" Cho-Jeh's voice expresses her disbelief clearly over the phone.

 

"At Senior's place," Sun-Mi repeats her location. "I have to hear it from him directly..."

 

"It's just a business meeting, remember?" Cho-Jeh tries to reassure her friend. "You said so yourself, that you can trust him..."

 

"It's not Senior, but that... that woman, who I don't trust!" Sun-Mi vehemently clarifies her point.

 

"Sun-Mi, just be careful..."

 

"I think I hear a car. Bye..." Sun-Mi cuts off the call and puts the phone away in her bag.

 

 

She turns as a bright red Porsche convertible -- the same car that Hyung-Chul and Park So-won drove away from MBS that morning, but now with the top up -- approaches the entrance to the parking lot. When she sees that Hyung-Chul is not returning alone, Sun-Mi quickly steps into the shadows behind the gate house to conceal herself.

 

After stopping the car near the staircase to his apartment, Hyung-Chul gets out of the driver’s seat and goes around to open the passenger-side door for So-Won. Sun-Mi moves back further, where she can watch without being easily seen.

 

"So this is where you live," So-Won states with a slight air of disdain as she looks up at the villa complex.  "But why here? Your place in Gangnam was much more convenient."

 

Hyung-Chul is noncommittal: "The air is cleaner here."

 

She smiles. "Can I come up?"

 

"Maybe another time," Hyung-Chul declines to extend the offer.

 

So-Won doesn’t seem to be discouraged. "Anyway, thanks for dinner, and..." She takes a step closer and places her hand on his arm. "How about tomorrow? There’s a new cafe near Rodeo Drive I’ve been wanting to try, and we still have so much to talk about..."

 

"It’s getting late..." he responds brusquely, ignoring her suggestion. "About the contract... we’ll sign once your uncle gives his approval."

 

"Really, a formal contract is so unnecessary, when we can seal this the old-fashioned way," So-Won declares. Then immediately closing the distance between them without warning, she kisses Hyung-Chul... on the lips.

 

What kind of 'contract’ is sealed with a kiss? Sun-Mi wonders to herself. Without seeing his face, she can’t gauge Hyung-Chul’s reaction, but as So-Won lingers, and he doesn’t break it off, the conclusion becomes obvious...

 

Sun-Mi faces two choices: confront the situation, or run away from it. She needs only a moment to decide. Quietly, keeping her eyes fixed on the intimate couple, she slowly backs toward the gate. It swings open almost noiselessly, and Sun-Mi escapes unseen...