AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 111

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2017

 

"The power of love does that, changes a person from the inside, whether it's God's love, or another person's." -- Mother Superior

 

 

RURAL KANGWON-DO...

 

"HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYYY!!!..."

 

The throng of children greet Hyung-Chul with a boisterous cheer as he appears at the lakeside door of the Cha Mi-Rae Memorial Rehabilitative Therapy Center.

 

Seeing Young-Mi waiting beside the door, he asks her, "Where is Mr. Hong?"

 

"He went to Seoul today, to run some errands," she answers. "Let me give you a hand, okay?"

 

With Young-Mi at his right side, and the additional support of a cane in his left hand, he slowly walks out onto the terrace, making his way to the table where the children are gathered around a cake with lit candles --- three tall and one short.

 

Young-Mi shushes them with a finger to her lips, then requests, "Let's all help Uncle blow out the candles... Ready? One... two... three... blow!"

 

The collective puff of air from two dozen round mouths makes short work of the candles, and everyone claps in celebration.

 

"Come, children," Young-Mi directs them, "Youngest first."

 

The children line up, each holding a hand-made card. The first, a girl, steps forward. "Happy birthday, Uncle," she greets him shyly, holding the card up for him to see.

 

Thank you," he replies, taking the card in his left hand to admire it. "It's beautiful. I see you worked hard."

 

Beaming at the compliment, she nods and steps aside, and the next child moves forward, presenting his card...

 

 

From back in the line, Mi-Rae looks up and waves to her parents. Looking down on the celebration from the Center's rooftop deck, Sun-Dal and Joo-Hee wave back.

 

"Mi-Rae has really blossomed since you adopted her," the Mother Superior watching with them remarks. "As much as we try to be a family here for the children, having a home with mother and father, God's original design, is always the best."

 

"It's a blessing as much for us as parents," Joo-Hee reflects. "I've never worked harder, but felt more fulfilled, than as a mom."

 

"Me, too," Sun-Dal notes with a chuckle. "I never thought I'd look forward to being a Daddy reading bedtime story books."

 

 

Below, after the last child presents her card, the children focus eagerly on the birthday cake as Young-Mi moves it to an adjacent table where a stack of dishes and a container of ice cream are staged. There she begins efficiently slicing pieces of the chocolate confection and distributing them with scoops of vanilla ice cream.

 

 

"Mother, how is Director Yoon's recovery progressing lately?" Sun-Dal asks.

 

The nun answers, "In the past month he's made steady improvement in physical therapy as his body heals, but his mental condition... that's another story."

 

"What is the diagnosis?" Joo-Hee asks, wanting more information.

 

"Test results indicate that everything appears to be normal, so it's something of a mystery. His doctor thinks it may be related to his coma," she answers, "the cause of which they also don't know."

 

 

With the children all served, Young-Mi redirects her attention back to Hyung-Chul. She brings a plate of cake and ice cream to him, sitting in the adjacent chair, where she feeds him small bites as she says something that is inaudible in the children's clamor.

 

 

"Anna seems to be very attentive to Director Yoon," Sun-Dal observes, remarking on her behavior.

 

"Yes, Anna has such a giving, loving heart, she's been a real help and encouragement to Director Yoon," the nun acknowledges.

 

"A remarkable change of character on her part," Joo-Hee chimes in. "She is completely different than the person I once knew."

 

"The power of love does that, changes a person from the inside," the nun avers, "whether it's God's love, or another person's."

 

"I understand that well," Joo-Hee agrees, glancing over at Sun-Dal affectionately. "My husband's love, and Mi-Rae's, has changed me and my outlook on life so much."

 

Sun-Dal smiles back when he sees Joo-Hee's eyes on him. "Mother, my wife and I have talked this over carefully. We'd like to adopt another child as soon as possible," he announces their decision. "We feel that Mi-Rae should have a little brother or sister to grow up with."

 

"Why don't we talk later, in the office," the Mother Superior suggests. "But excuse me now, I have some things to attend to."

 

 

After the nun leaves, Joo-Hee confides with her husband. "Don't you think Young-Mi is behaving a bit too friendly with Hyung-Chul?"

 

"You mean, Anna..." Sun-Dal corrects first, then offers his opinion. "I don't see anything out of line. Could it be, you're feeling jealous?"

 

"To be honest...yes," she admits. "I'm sorry if that hurts you, but it's true... I'm jealous, and sad, when I see him with any other woman, even a nun. But it doesn't mean I love you any less, or that I'm not happy being with you."

 

"I think I know better than anyone, the depth of your feelings," he assures her, moving his arm to hold her close. "You don't need to suffer in secret. Like before, whenever you need to cry, just come to me."

 

Joo-Hee sighs as she leans her head against his shoulder. "Just saying thank you doesn't express all I feel right now. Feelings of gratefulness, and contentment, and joy. That's what you give to me."

 

"Then it's unanimous," he declares. "Because I feel the same when I think about you..."