AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 63

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2017

 

"I'm glad to see that your heart is getting stronger now, Sun-Mi... Don't be afraid to follow where it leads..." -- Auntie Jin

 

 

AUNTIE JIN'S KITCHEN, LONDON...

 

"We decided to get married this afternoon, so we could settle in together before the New Year..."

 

Sun-Mi is stunned as she exclaims into her mobile: "Daddy! Why didn't you call me? Didn't you know I wanted to be with you to celebrate?"

 

"Of course I did, and that's why I didn't call," her father replies. "Why make such a long trip? It's not a big deal."

 

"It's a big deal to me!" she fumes. "It's not every day that my Daddy gets married!"

 

"You really didn't miss anything," he tries to appease her. "We just went to the court and had dinner with your Uncle Kim Sun-Dal and his wife, and Young-Mi, that's all."

 

But hearing this adds to Sun-Mi's irritation. "Young-Mi? She was there?! I thought she had to stay in the convent!"

 

"Since Young-Mi is like a daughter to Jin-Suk, I asked the Mother Superior to make an exception for her," Kui-Sung explains how it came about.

 

Sun-Mi is incredulous, and hurt. "You went to extra effort to be sure that Young-Mi was there, but not your own daughter!?"

 

"It wasn't like that, Sun-Mi. Since I was at the orphanage supervising construction anyway, it was nothing to bring Young-Mi back to stay with us for a couple of days."

 

His attempt to explain only fuels Sun-Mi's fire. "So now Young-Mi's sleeping in my room?" she vents her exasperation. "Is she also wearing my clothes, too?"

 

Kui-Sung is puzzled by Sun-Mi's unusually ill-natured response. "I didn't think you'd mind, Sun-Mi... What's bothering you?"

 

 

Sun-Mi takes a deep breath to calm herself before she answers. "I'm sorry, Daddy... I'm just jealous of Young-Mi, because she's there with you, while I'm stuck here in London. I've been looking forward to this for so long, for you and Auntie to be together, for us to be a family. I just feel disappointed."

 

"It's really nothing more?" he probes.

 

Sun-Mi wonders if she should say what had really come over her mind...

 

"I'm your Daddy, you can tell me," he encourages her.

 

"Daddy, I couldn't help remembering... how Young-Mi tried to get in between us, by acting so pitiful and helpless, " Sun-Mi shares her worries, as her eyes fill with tears. "I know it's wrong to feel like this, that Young-Mi is scheming again to take my place with you and Auntie..."

 

"Sun-Mi, you're my only daughter," Kui-Sung says soothingly. "No one can ever take your place. After you come back, we'll all be together then."

 

Sun-M sniffs back her tears to whimper, "I love you Daddy... I wish I were there right now... I really, truly miss you."

 

"How much do you miss me?" he suggests, with a hint of mirth in his voice.

 

"High as the sky and deep as the ocean!" she recites the words of their parting game from habit, the ritual easing her melancholy.

 

"I love you too... Now be strong, okay?" he tells her in his fatherly manner.

 

"I'm not crying," she pouts, wiping her eyes clear with one hand so it isn't a total fabrication. "I'm not a little girl anymore..."

 

"But you'll always be my precious little girl, so it's okay to cry whenever you feel like it," he jokes to cheer her up.

 

"Daddy!" she protests as his characterization, but his affirming words bring a comforting warmth to her heart. "Let's not wait so long to talk again..." she suggests.

 

"Say hello for me to your Auntie," he reminds her. "I'll tell your new Mum we talked... Bye, Sun-Mi..."

 

"Bye, Daddy..."

 

Sun-Mi smiles wistfully as sets her phone on the kitchen table, trying to hold onto the sound of her father's voice as long as possible.

 

 

Auntie Jin comes into the kitchen, notices Sun-Mi's wistful expression, and sees her unfinished dinner on the table. She fills two cups from the coffeemaker, brings them to the table, and asks, "What is it?"

 

Sun-Mi smiles tepidly. "It's nothing..."

 

"Then it's something," her aunt declares firmly. "Out with it!"

 

"Did you know Daddy just got married?"

 

"That's wonderful!" Auntie Jin enthuses. "It's about time he tied the knot with his lady friend. But why the long face?"

 

"Auntie, did you ever feel like the world you left behind is changing into something unrecognizable, and there's nothing you can do to stop it?"

 

"Don't be discouraged, dear," her aunt pats Sun-Mi's hand comfortingly. "Whatever it is, everything will work out..."

 

Sun-Mi nods. "Thanks, Auntie. I know."

 

 

"Earlier... you said there was something you wanted to tell me tonight," the older woman reminds Sun-Mi of their conversation that morning.

 

Still focused on the situation in Seoul, Sun-Mi is reluctant to dive into another potentially controversial discussion. "It can wait till next time, Auntie," she defers.

 

"If it's about your moving out soon, I think that's a good idea," Auntie Jin states her opinion.

 

"What?" Sun-Mi is caught by surprise: first that her aunt somehow knows about her plans, and second that she is readily agreeing."

 

"Like you said, you're not a child anymore," her aunt recalls Sun-Mi's previous arguments on the subject. "I was worried because you were so wan and depressed, but now I see that you've gained a lot of confidence... and a decent backstroke, too, I've heard."

 

"How do you know all this?" Sun-Mi grumbles. "Does everyone have nothing else to do except gossip behind my back?"

 

"It's not gossip if I heard it from the source, right?" Auntie Jin's eyes twinkle as she divulges, "I try not to eavesdrop, but you do realize, my bedroom window is directly above the front door..."

 

"Auntie!" Sun-Mi exclaims, turning red with embarrassment as she thinks about all the late nights she and Min-Cho had talked -- and more -- at her front door. "It's not what you're thinking... Min-Cho and I... we're just good friends..."

 

Auntie Jin pats Sun-Mi's hand encouragingly. "I'm glad to see that your heart is getting stronger now, Sun-Mi... Don't be afraid to follow where it leads..."