AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 87

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2017

 

"That's why I can be happy... knowing my heart is not alone in this world, but joined to another for eternity." -- Jin Sun-Mi

 

 

OUTSIDE PLAZA ON THE RIVER, CENTRAL LONDON...

 

Hyung-Chul's heart plummets as Sun-Mi's words echo in his mind ... 'I know now, without a doubt in my heart, that I can be happy... without you' ...

 

"Then, what does this mean?" he asks, taking from his pocket the small stone she'd picked up on the mountain, and handing it to her.

 

"You still kept this?" she marvels, cradling the nondescript bit of rock in her palm like it was a precious gemstone.

 

"Two hearts, entwined at creation, now fused together for eternity," he repeats from memory.

 

"That's why I can be happy... knowing my heart is not alone in this world, but joined to another for eternity," she replies.

 

Their eyes meet, and for a moment it is eternity... Then Sun-Mi looks away, as tears threaten to spill over.

 

"Sometimes love must come second to responsibility," she confirms her decision. "Someone else is in front of me who needs you, and I won't stand in her place."

 

"I'm sorry, Sun-Mi, for how things turned out," his voice is raw with regret, "I never meant to hurt you."

 

"Don't be sorry. Everything happens for a reason, in ways we can't understand," she declares bravely, struggling to hold in her emotions. "Our time together and what happened, even the scars, aren't without meaning."

 

She hands the stone back with a promise, "Please keep this reminder that we will meet again, in the next life."

 

"If there's any way possible..." he expresses the faint hope.

 

"Meeting you again... even as a stranger... will be too hard, at least until the day I can look back at this moment and smile," she is unwavering. "Promise you won't contact me, or even think of me, as though I don't exist... and I'll do the same. You know in your heart, that if we truly love each other, it's the only way..."

 

He nods, though the thought of never seeing her again rips a gaping wound through his heart...

 

"Senior, just go now..." she pleads. "I can't say goodbye like this..."

 

"At least let me walk you back," he requests. "Give me five minutes."

 

... actually, she doesn't want to part yet, either ...

 

They finish crossing the street and head toward her apartment building, strolling together, her hand on his arm, sharing in silence an intimacy deeper than words.

 

In front of the Plaza on the River they stop, still reluctant to admit the inevitable.

 

"Your smiling face is so beautiful; I want to take a picture with my eyes," he asks. "Can you do this for me, smile?"

 

... he'd said this before, after their picnic lunch date at the Seoul MOCA ...

 

"Is that the only line you have?" she attempts a bit of humor to lighten the mood.

 

"But it always worked, right?" he quips with a chuckle to cover the ache of emptiness already seeping in. "Now, smile!"

 

Laughing at his joke, Sun-Mi smiles brightly...

 

Spotting a cab, Hyung-Chul raises his arm to hail it. The taxi stops and he opens the door.

 

Then on impulse turns back to Sun-Mi and embraces her, kissing her lightly on the cheek...

 

"English style." he declares, as he had when parting from her in the London airport.

 

Before she can react, or say anything, he gets in the cab and closes the door, and the taxi drives off.

 

 

Sun-Mi watches from the curb until the cab is out of sight, reflecting on the moment ... that was a warm goodbye ... we parted, smiling ... someday, we'll consider this just a step along the path of our lives ...

 

Then, turning to go inside, she sees a blur of motion and feels the sting of a hand contacting her solidly on the left cheek...

 

"What the?" she responds in confusion to the unprovoked attack, then sees Su-Ji glowering in front of her. "But... why?"

 

"You shameless hussy!" Su-Ji snarls. "First you trick Min-Cho into taking you in, then you seduce him into talking marriage, and now you betray him?"

 

Su-Ji swings her arm to deliver another slap, but Sun-Mi anticipates the move, and grabs Su-Ji by the wrist first. For a moment, the two women glare eye-to-eye. Then Sun-Mi tosses Su-Ji's arm to the side with contempt, her expression challenging Su-Ji to a real catfight if she wants to go for it.

 

Su-Ji backs off, but doesn't let up her verbal assault...

 

"I won't let you scheme Min-Cho any longer," she declares belligerently. "I'll expose you for what you are, a despicable, two-timing, gold-digger!"

 

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Sun-Mi exasperatedly disavows the accusations.

 

"I heard and saw everything, and I have the evidence right here to prove it!" she claims, showing Sun-Mi a small digital camera.

 

"But it's not what it looks like," Sun-Mi defends herself. "I was only..."

 

"Only making out with your lover the moment Min-Cho is conveniently out of the picture!" Su-Ji seethes indignantly. "I detest a shameless woman who does anything to get what she wants! Loyalty and integrity mean nothing to your kind!"

 

Sun-Mi realizes that arguing further is pointless. "I'd hoped we could put our differences behind us and be friends, but if you're determined to believe this, there's nothing more I can say..."

 

She pushes past Su-Ji and strides off toward the building entrance.

 

Speaking to Sun-Mi's back, Su-Ji declares defiantly, "This isn't over! I won't give up, until I make you quit!"

 

Sun-Mi stops and turns back. "Okay, come up, and we'll talk over coffee," she extends the invitation.

 

"Why would I want to do that?" Su-Ji balks at the idea.

 

Sun-Mi repeats her offer, "I'm giving you a chance to make me quit. Do you want to come up, or not...?"