AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 101

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2017

 

"I dreamed that I could fly up in the clouds... So whenever I think about flying, I remember that, and I'm not afraid." -- Jin Sun-Mi

 

 

ASIANA FLIGHT 19, NEW YORK TO SEOUL...

 

"Sit still and stop acting up!"

 

The man in Seat 23H scolds the young boy beside him, then tries to distract him with a book, "Here, Won-Jae, it's your favorite..."

 

"I don't wanna read!" the boy responds stubbornly as he squirms in the seat. "I want my Mommy!"

 

Frustrated, the boy throws the book at the seat back in front of him. It bounces off and knocks over a glass of red wine on the adjacent tray table of the passenger in the window seat. Horrified, the man stares at the dark red stains spreading across the woman's white suit.

 

 

Engrossed in her thoughts while staring out the window at the cloud -swept sky, Sun-Mi is startled by the sound of the tipping glass...

 

"Oh, my!" she exclaims at seeing the splash of wine on her jacket and the trickle still dripping into her lap. The lone paper napkin that came with the drink is useless for sopping up the spill, so she presses the flight attendant call button on the overhead panel to request help.

 

"I'm so sorry. Allow me..." the man contritely says, taking out a cloth handkerchief from his pocket. Reaching over Won-Jae, he drops the handkerchief into the puddle on the tray table.

 

A flight attendant, passing on her way to deliver another drink, stops and gives Sun-Mi more napkins. With these, Sun-Mi is able to wipe up the remaining spill.

 

"I'm afraid your handkerchief is ruined," Sun-Mi apologizes as she looks at the sodden, stained cloth.

 

"It's nothing," he replies, handing the soaked handkerchief and napkins, along with the empty glass, to the flight attendant as she goes by on her return.

 

"About your suit, I'll make full compensation when we get to New York," he apologizes, holding out his business card for Sun-Mi.

 

She quickly skims his card for the critical info -- Ha Jin-Woo, Accounting Manager, CPA, KIC International -- and replies, "You needn't be concerned, Mr. Ha."

 

"Please, call my personal number when you determine the damages, and I'll arrange for transferring payment to your account," he insists authoritatively.

 

"Really, there's no need," she brushes off the matter. "It was just an accident. You don't owe me anything."

 

"Nonsense!" he contends. "It's my responsibility, and..."

 

Unhappy at being ignored by the two adults talking over his head, Won-Jae starts wailing loudly, "Where's Mommy? I want my Mommy!"

 

"Stop that! Be quiet!" Jin-Woo blusters, only making the situation worse as the boy just cries louder.

 

 

But Sun-Mi leans down, so she can look directly into Won-Jae's face. "Is this your first time in an airplane?" she asks.

 

His purpose of getting attention achieved, Won-Jae quiets down...

 

"Are you afraid, without your Mommy here?"

 

Won-Jae sniffs and nods.

 

"I think you're a brave boy to come on this big airplane," she dishes out praise. "How old are you?"

 

Won-Jae raises five fingers to show his age, answering excitedly, "But I'm almost six. My birthday is next week!"

 

"Wow! My birthday was yesterday," Sun-Mi tells him enthusiastically.

 

"How old ARE you, Ajumma?" he asks.

 

"Actually, just old enough to be your Nuna," Sun-Mi sidesteps the question with a smile. "Do you know, I had a dream when I was six."

 

"What was it?" Won-Jae is curious to know about this new person who has befriended him.

 

"I dreamed that I could fly like an eagle, high up in the clouds," she tells him, moving her hands like soaring wings. "So whenever I think about flying in an airplane, I remember that, and I�m not afraid."

 

"What�s it like to fly up in the clouds?" Won-Jae wonders, his imagination spurred. "Can you land and walk on them, like the angels, without falling through?"

 

"That's a good question. Why don't you change seats with me? Then you can see out the window for yourself," she offers.

 

Won-Jae asks for permission first... "Can I?"

 

"Sure, go ahead," Jin-Woo approves the move, sending Sun-Mi a smile of relief and appreciation...

 

 

Sun-Mi and Won-Jae exchange seats, and while the boy busies himself gazing out the window and making 'airplane' sounds, the two adults return to conversation...

 

"Thank you so much, Miss... ehm... I'm sorry, I should have asked before," Jin-Woo fumbles.

 

Without the distractions of Won-Jae or her own personal issues, Sun-Mi closely regards Jin-Woo for the first time since boarding. With a slim, lanky build, and black eyes partially hidden behind thick, metal-rimmed lenses, he is neither especially handsome or noteworthy in his appearance. She estimates he is in his early thirties, although his conservative, dark grey, three-button suit and close-cropped hair make him look older.

 

"I'm Jin Sun-Mi," she introduces herself.

 

In response, for a moment he scrutinizes her like she is someone he should know, then she sees recognition click in his eyes. "Jin Sun-Mi, the GNN reporter?"

 

"Yes," she nods, lowering her eyes modestly.

 

"I'm sorry, I'd have recognized you immediately, except that you're so much prettier in person... " he flatters her effusively, then grins self-consciously as he adds, "Sorry, I suppose you hear that all the time..."

 

"Thank you," Sun-Mi answers with polite coolness to sound indifferent towards the compliment -- or the pickup line, depending on his intentions -- which she hasn't fully ascertained yet. But, considering he's a married man with a young son, she decides it is meant as the former, and smiles warmly. "Won-Jae is a very nice boy."

 

"He has his moments," Jin-Woo chuckles. "Thanks for helping me out of a tough bind. You're an angel in disguise."

 

"An angel?" she chuckles at his choice of words, "I have my moments, too, you know."

 

 

"I still feel responsible for your suit," Jin-Woo returns to the topic they were discussing when Won-Jae interrupted. "Since you won't accept money, perhaps I could treat you for a business lunch sometime?"

 

"Actually, I was just reassigned to a position in the New York Bureau," she declines with a surefire excuse: "You know how it is, things are always hectic the first couple of weeks on a new job."

 

"If you're looking for an apartment, I have some connections with our real estate clients," he offers, not giving up. "I could get you a good deal in any borough you're interested in."

 

"Thanks, but I'm staying in my boyfriend's apartment on Fifth Avenue at Central Park," she refuses his assistance, glad now that she has Min-Cho's offer of a place to live backing her up.

 

"What a coincidence, you live so close!" Jin-Woo remarks excitedly. "We're having Won-Jae's birthday party Friday. Why don't you join us?"

 

"I can't impose," Sun-Mi declines politely. "We've barely just met."

 

"It's just family and a few friends. This way you can get to know some others, too," he urges, then gets Won-Jae's attention to help persuade her. "Won-Jae, would you like Nuna to come for your birthday?"

 

Won-Jae turns from the window toward Sun-Mi and gives her a cute, disarming smile. "Nuna, please?" he begs, and sweetens the deal,. "Mommy's going to make a special cake, and I can show you my airplanes, too!"

 

"Thanks, but I'm not sure I can..." she tries to turn the boy down gently.

 

"I have lots of airplanes! If you come, I'll give you one!" Won-Jae tries bribery. "Pleas-s-s-s-e?"

 

Sun-Mi sighs with exasperation at the persistence of these two men that chance has thrust on her...

 

"Thank you, Won-Jae, that's very thoughtful, but seeing them will be enough," she concedes, letting herself be swayed by the adorable grin of a six-year-old.

 

"Then you'll join us, Friday night?" Jin-Woo concludes, with a pleased grin on his face, too.

 

Sun-Mi laughs. "Do I have a choice?"