AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 100

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2017

 

"Before I finish, I'll take away everything you hold dear, Jin Sun-Mi... you'll suffer like I suffered." -- Huh Young-Mi

 

 

MUN-YUNG HOSPITAL, SEOUL ...

 

Sun-Mi sits by Hyung-Chul's bed, facing the door, call button still in hand, dozing. But at the sound of the door latch, she instantly awakens, opening her eyes and clenching the button as Young-Mi (Anna) comes into the hospital room.

 

Seeing her, Young-Mi exclaims, "Sun-Mi? Is it really you? I thought you'd be in New York!"

 

"Young-Mi?" Sun-Mi answers, surprised and relieved at the visitor. "How are you here? I thought you'd be at the orphanage."

 

"Please, it's Anna now," Young-Mi corrects.

 

"Sorry... Anna," Sun-Mi uses the adopted name for Young-Mi's new life.

 

"I'm bearing gifts," Anna explains, referring to the bag in her hand, "the children's 'get well' cards. I stayed last night with Dad and Mom. Why didn't you let us know you were here?"

 

"I only have a few hours," Sun-Mi justifies her decision. "I came directly from the airport last night, and I'll be leaving to catch my flight to New York soon."

 

"Then you're not staying?" Anna asks, sounding disappointed. "You won't see Dad and Mom?"

 

"There's no time," Sun-Mi answers. "Please don't tell them I was here, so they won't be disappointed."

 

"Sure," Anna promises. "How is Director Yoon? Any change?"

 

"He's still in the coma," Sun-Mi replies despondently. "Maybe I was being foolish, thinking if I came and talked to him, it might somehow help. I talked and prayed, even tried telepathy, but nothing worked..."

 

"They say it's possible that a person in a coma can hear us," Anna says encouragingly. "Keep up hope, you never know."

 

Sun-Mi sighs, "Still, I feel so useless."

 

Anna gives Sun-Mi a comforting hug. "You hardly slept at all," she remarks, concerned at Sun-Mi's haggard face. "You must be exhausted."

 

"I'm fine, I can sleep on the plane," Sun-Mi assures her. Then she looks over at Hyung-Chul and sighs again, "If only I could have talked with him...maybe if I catch a later flight."

 

 

"I've heard how much Director Yoon did for you. Staying would show how much you appreciated his help," Young-Mi deliberately points out.

 

Her words raise an instant reaction in Sun-Mi. "That's exactly the problem! Everyone thinks I owe my success to Senior," she complains. "New York is a big break; I may not get another opportunity like this. If word gets out that I gave it up because of him... No, I have to go..." Sun-Mi talks herself out of the idea.

 

"I admire you," Young-Mi says with only a hint of satisfaction in her voice. "You're so strong! I can't imagine myself leaving here for any reason..."

 

Sun-Mi recalls Young-Mi's formerly fierce pride and ambition. "That sounds so different from the person I knew before," she states with an air of lament. "What I admired most about you then was your drive to succeed. It's because of watching you, that I can even attempt this."

 

 

"Then go if you must," Anna replies. "I'll stay with Director Yoon for you, and if he wakes up, I'll tell him you came."

 

"No... he mustn't know I was here," Sun-Mi is firm. "Don't tell anyone. No one must know. Let this be our secret."

 

"Of course, I'll do as you ask," Anna gives her promise. "But... Sun-Mi?"

 

"Yes?"

 

"I've wanted to say for a long time, how I appreciate that you accepted me into your family," Anna shares her feelings. "Having someone to call Mom and Dad, that means so much. And there's no one who I'd rather have as my Sister, but you."

 

Sun-Mi think back over her conflicts with Young-Mi through the years and marvels to herself ... who could have guessed we'd end up friends, even sisters? ...

 

"I have a confession to make, too," she replies. "I was jealous that you were here while I had to be somewhere else. But I see all this happened for a reason. Now Daddy and Mom -- and Senior -- have someone to rely on."

 

"I'll do my best to take care of them all," Anna pledges.

 

Then Sun-Mi remembers to warn her... "Last night, a man came in, I think he was one of those ruffians who attacked us..." She stops when she notices Young-Mi's odd expression, then continues, "...Oh, of course, you don't remember."

 

"Don't worry, I won't leave his side," Anna vows. "I'll protect Director Yoon for you. You can count on me."

 

"Thank you, Unnie, you're truly a blessing," Sun-Mi expresses her gratitude lovingly. "But I have to go now..."

 

She picks up her bag from the floor by the bed, and the two women embrace warmly...

 

Anna sees Sun-Mi to the door, watching from there as Sun-Mi walks down to the elevators and gets on.

 

 

Returning to the bedside, Young-Mi looks down on Hyung-Chul for a moment, then opens the small vial of perfume she'd lifted from Sun-Mi's bag while they hugged. She dabs some on her wrists, and sniffing, wrinkles her nose at the scent, a soft powdery floral with notes of rose, jasmine, and vanilla...

 

Putting the vial into her own bag, she boasts to herself, "You're still an idiot, Jin Sun-Mi, making it so easy... Before I finish, I'll take away everything you hold dear, and when you're the 'weed' that everyone despises, you'll know what it means to suffer like I did!"

 

She glances at the clock, sees that it is almost noon, and gets down on her knees by the bed, taking Hyung-Chul's hand...

 

 

Several minutes later, she feels his fingers move slightly, and gives them a squeeze, watching as Hyung-Chul's eyelids twitch open.

 

"Director Yoon? Can you hear me?" she asks hopefully, leaning closer so he can see her.

 

"Sun-Mi... is it you?" he whispers, barely audible, peering through bleary eyes.

 

"It's me, Anna... Huh Young-Mi..."

 

He stares at her, trying to focus. "I heard a voice of an angel calling me to wake up," he says weakly. "I'm sure it was Sun-Mi..."

 

"It couldn't be. Don't you remember? She's in London," Young-Mi corrects him gently. "It was me you heard praying, asking God to have mercy and bring you back."

 

But Hyung-Chul persists, "It had to be Sun-Mi... I could smell her fragrance."

 

In response, Young-Mi moves her wrist close to his nose. "I'm sorry, if this misled you. I stayed in Sun-Mi's room before I came, and was tempted to try her perfume."

 

He recognizes the scent as one of Sun-Mi's favorites, and sighs dejectedly, "Everything is so confusing right now."

 

"I understand," she concurs. "You and Sun-Mi were once close. Of course you'd think it was her. But I'm with you now..."

 

She takes his hand again, squeezing it encouragingly as she declares, "Praise God, this is a real answer to prayer..."

 

 

INCHEON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...

 

As Sun-Mi settles into her seat on the flight to New York, her mobile rings, with 'Mun-Yung Hospital' appearing on the caller ID.

 

"Yes?" she answers hopefully.

 

"Sun-Mi, this is Anna," Young-Mi identifies herself. "Director Yoon is awake! The doctor is checking his condition right now!"

 

Sun-Mi is stunned. "He... he came out of the coma? Just now?" ... if she had only stayed another few hours ...

 

"God answered my prayers... It was a miracle!" Young-Mi offers up praise. "Thank the Lord!"

 

Sun-Mi's heart drops as she realizes ... why would God have listened to me? Young-Mi is so good now, and I'm so useless ...

 

Young-Mi excitedly recounts the events to Sun-Mi: "As I was concentrating in prayer, something touched my heart. I heard a voice, barely a whisper in my mind... and then Director Yoon opened his eyes and said that he'd heard a voice like an angel's, that's why he came back..."

 

"Senior and you... connected telepathically?" Sun-Mi wonders, surprise and dejected ... why couldn't we? ... do Senior and I not have that kind of relationship? ... am I nothing to him anymore? ...

 

Young-Mi continues. "Didn't I say, that people in a coma can hear when we speak?"

 

"I... I'm so glad for your efforts, and your prayers," Sun-Mi replies half-heartedly. "You..."

 

"Just a moment, Sun-Mi..." Young-Mi interrupts.

 

 

As Sun-Mi waits, she hears voices speaking, but can't make out all the words.

 

"Hello, Sun-Mi?" Young-Mi's voice is back on the line. "That was the doctor... Director Yoon will need extensive rehabilitation to recover, so I suggested the new therapy center at the orphanage hospital, which we dedicated in his mother's name."

 

"But it's an orphanage. Can Senior really go there?" Sun-Mi is incredulous.

 

"It's a special case, but if the Mother Superior agrees, it's possible," Young-Mi says excitedly. "A big part of recovery is a supportive, environment, being around the children will help him a lot. They all love him, and this way I can be by his side, caring for him," she repeats her promise.

 

 

A flight attendant's voice comes over the airplane intercom, "Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention? We're about to leave the gate, so please turn off all electronic devices now, as they may interfere with the plane's navigational and communication systems..."

 

"I have to hang up, Anna. We're about to take off," Sun-Mi relays the situation.

 

"Goodbye, Sister," Anna says affectionately. "I'll miss you. We'll all miss you. Don't be a stranger..."

 

An empty feeling of loss comes over Sun-Mi as she bids farewell, "Bye, Anna..."

 

 

A few minutes later, as the Asiana 747 accelerates down the runway, Sun-Mi is trying to sort things out ... what is she to think, to believe, to do now? ...

 

She recalls Min-Cho's toast, made the night he proposed ... 'Here's to Special Correspondent Jin Sun-Mi, may she scoop the biggest story New York has ever seen' ...

 

... that's right, focus on the future ... she encourages herself ... who I will meet, what new things I will experience, what different kind of person I will become ...

 

But his quote from Haruki Murakami ... 'No matter what they wish for, no matter how far they go, people can never be anything but themselves' ... makes her question her confidence...

 

... is it true? ... she asks herself, as doubts begin to gather again. ... will my heart and my head always be at odds? ...

 

She considers what Min-Cho, waiting for her in London, said ... 'If something is right for a lifetime, it's just as right tomorrow as today' ...

 

... but how can I go back there? ... she dismisses the possibility ... how can I keep building up his hopes, only to disappoint him? ...

 

She thinks again of Hyung-Chul, and her near miss today ... 'Senior and I ... it seems our fate is ... never to be together' ...

 

... so how can I come back here? ... she wonders ... just to keep disappointing myself? ...

 

What she'd told Min-Cho seems truer than ever ... 'Who could be happy with me? I'm not a person that anyone should love, because it will only lead to disappointment' ...

 

"Then what is left, without love? What is there to live for?" she muses quietly to herself, as another quote from Murakami comes to mind ... 'The answer is dreams... Entering the world of dreams and never coming out. Living in dreams for the rest of time' ...

 

 

Sun-Mi looks out the airplane window, watching the skyscrapers of Seoul shrink in size as the jet gains altitude and turns northeast, heading for New York, toward her future...

 

She smiles thoughtfully and nods her head in agreement, "Yes, even if I have nothing else, I still have my dreams to live for..."

 

... 'See those birds ... soaring on the wind? I'd dream I was like them, flying freely over the mountains, above the clouds. Flying away to faraway places, with nothing to hold me back' ...