AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 46

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2017

 

"Don't let anyone measure you by what someone else does or says about you, and you'll do fine." -- Jang Hon-Yong

 

 

MBS LONDON ... THE NEXT AFTERNOON ...

 

"But I'm not a child anymore!" Sun-Mi protests sharply into her mobile as she exits the lift into the MBS Bureau lobby at the end of her workday.

 

A man getting on looks at her oddly, and Sun-Mi lowers her voice as she continues, "Why shouldn't I get my own apartment?"

 

"I see you've grown up to be as stubborn as the rest of us Jin women," Sun-Mi's Auntie Jin reproves her niece. "I have a perfectly good room in my house for you, and this way, I can make sure you're eating properly..."

 

"I DO get enough to eat," Sun-Mi interjects...

 

"If you did, you wouldn't be so pale and anemic," her aunt rejects Sun-Mi's assertion out of hand." You clearly need someone to watch out for you. Why do you insist on staying alone, by yourself?"

 

"First, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself, and second, your place isn't convenient to the office," Sun-Mi adamantly argues her case. "Third, I still have another week on my housing allowance, so I don't have to decide right now where I'm going to live!"

 

"I understand you want to be independent, I was the same at your age," Auntie Jin empathizes, "but an apartment here is expensive and you need to save money for your wedding trousseau."

 

"Who said I intend to get married?!" Sun-Mi objects strenuously to her aunt's assumption. "I don't even want to date anyone now..."

 

"Now and never are two different things," her aunt points out gently, trying not to be too pushy.

 

"Enough, I don't want to talk about it," Sun-Mi harshly cuts off the conversation on the sensitive matter. "I've made up my mind..."

 

"So have I... There's no point in more arguing, it's already decided," her aunt is resolute. "Wait at the office; I have a driver on the way with my car to pick you up and collect your things from the hotel."

 

Sun-Mi, accustomed to winning easy arguments with her doting father, realizes she's met her match. "Why doesn't anyone ask me first, before deciding my life?" she grumbles resentfully, powerless in the face of her aunt's superior female intransigence.

 

"I'll have the room ready by the time you get here," Auntie Jin says happily in triumph, ignoring her complaint. "See you then, dear..."

 

"Bye," Sun-Mi answers sullenly, ending the call.

 

The unexpected news from her aunt is just a momentary diversion from what has troubled Sun-Mi since she arrived this morning. And now, with the latter issue resolved, in an unsatisfactory manner, the former reasserts itself more strongly to the top of her concerns. She stops in the middle of the empty lobby, fighting back tears she has suppressed all day, when footsteps approach behind her.

 

"Ah... Miss Jin, again. Still waiting for your beau to show?" Jang Hon-Yong snickers.

 

"Good night, Mr Jang Hon-Yong!" Sun-Mi replies abruptly, signaling their interaction is over before it started.

 

Then Hon-Yong sees Sun-Mi's tear-rimmed eyes...

 

"Hey, buck up. It doesn't matter what Son Mi-Ran, or any of them, think," he encourages Sun-Mi, patting her shoulder in a fatherly manner. "You're still the same person you were yesterday, and the day before, and that's a pretty good one, in my estimation."

 

Sun-Mi stares at him, incredulous at the sudden, apparent change of character. "Are you trying to hit on me again?" she challenges him suspiciously.

 

"I'm sorry if I didn't make things clear the other day," he apologizes. "I should have explained before... After my wife passed on a few years ago, Mi-Ran came from Seoul, and we got involved romantically. To be brief, things soon went sour, and now she barely tolerates me. I don't blame her, much, because my wife always said I'm difficult to get along with..."

 

He smiles, and this time it doesn't seem so wolfish to Sun-Mi. "So, I'm hoping you can put up with this old 'bastard'..."

 

Sun-Mi considers his words, then extends her hand. "I was a bit of a 'bitch' myself," she also apologizes.

 

After they shake hands, she smiles and asks. "Did you really mean what you said, about me?"

 

"I've been around this world a few times, working with the best in our business," Hon-Yong brags. "I think I'd recognize a diamond in the rough when I saw her. Just forget all this pettiness, and focus on your work. Don't let anyone measure you by what someone else does or says about you, and you'll do fine," he counsels.

 

He notices that Sun-Mi still seems unconvinced. "If you don't believe me, then believe the Chief. After your interview, I had coffee with him, and he asked me to look after you. Claimed he didn't want to lose the best newbie Seoul has ever sent."

 

But Sun-Mi is still doubtful. "Chief Kim really said that?"

 

"I suppose I shouldn't have told you, so don't get a big head," Hon-Yong warns. "People won't say it to your face, because they're afraid of what society will say about them too, but you have a lot of secret supporters here..."

 

He grins, "Me... I can say and do what I want, because they've already written me off as a scalawag."

 

"Er... I don't know what to say..." she is regretting her first opinion of him.

 

"Don't mention it," he tells her. "Didn't I say someday, you'll need a friend here? ... You'll be okay now?"

 

Sun-Mi nods.

 

"Well, I've got to move on. If you ever want that drink, the offer stands. Just let me know."

 

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," Sun-Mi smiles, her spirits reviving ... At least she has one friend in the office, besides the Chief.

 

 

After Hon-Yong leaves, Sun-Mi's thoughts return to the dilemma with her aunt...

 

"Why do I have to let anyone run my life? ... I'm an independent woman now, I can do what I want," she states defiantly to herself. Emboldened to assert her own will, she pushes the entrance door open, determined to leave before the car arrives...

 

 

Beeeep... beeeep... The horn blares from a car parked at the curb outside the door as Sun-Mi is coming down the stairs.

 

She recognizes the car as her aunt's Volvo, and reluctantly abandons her fleeting expectations of independence. "Coming," she calls crossly to the driver, taking her time to finish descending the steps.

 

As she approaches the car, the driver's door opens... and Min-Cho gets out.

 

Sun-Mi is astonished. "You? ... Again? ... How? ..." she sputters, glaring as her contention over the forced situation moves to him.

 

"My, the wind changes quickly around here," he remarks with an amused grin. "But hold the fiery arrows, I'm just the messenger."

 

 

"You haven't answered my question," she demands. "Why are YOU here?"

 

"Everyone eats at the Arirang and knows your aunt," he explains. "She asked, and I'm doing her a favor. You, too."

 

"Me? How?"

 

"Your aunt lives just a few blocks from my uncle," he explains. "While working on my dissertation, I'm staying at his place most of the time, so it's a lot more convenient this way for our English lessons. Also, on the days I drive to Cambridge, I can drop you at the office, saving you the commute."

 

Sun-Mi is suspicious. "This was all arranged, right?" she accuses him. "My aunt and your uncle, trying to set us up?"

 

"What are you talking about?" he gives her an odd look. "I guarantee it's nothing like that."

 

But Sun-Mi balks, unconvinced. "For 'nothing' going on, there's an awful lot of coincidental 'somethings' happening recently..."

 

 

Tired of waiting while she assembles a conspiracy in her mind, Min-Cho impatiently motions to the car, urging, "Let's get going. Your aunt is making your favorite noodle dish, so we shouldn't be late for dinner."

 

"We?" Sun-Mi is astonished, after he'd just claimed there was no setup afoot. "My aunt invited you to come, too?"

 

"Of course," he smiles, confirming her question. "Payback for my generous help. I had to accept, or risk seeming rude."

 

Hearing that as his rationale, and considering his usual raffish behavior, Sun-Mi rolls her eyes.

 

"What? You'd rather I declined?" he answers her unspoken objection without showing offense. "I suppose I can tell your aunt something important came up..."

 

Sun-Mi lets out a long sigh. "No... it's all right. I'm really not upset at you. It's just..."

 

"A hard day at work?" he guesses. "Are you still running coffee all day?"

 

"No. That was just a stunt they pull on all the new arrivals from Korea, as a way for them to meet everyone on the first day," she informs him. "People here usually make their own coffee; it's not like back in Seoul."

 

"I'm glad to hear that. At least things are looking up."

 

"I'm not so certain..." she begins, then thinks better of sharing her personal matters with him.

 

But his curiosity is piqued, and he wants to know more. "What are you talking about?"

 

"Nothing. I'd rather not discuss it," she declines firmly. "Let's just go..."