AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 115

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2017

 

"Doing this for Young-Mi, like Sun-Mi, you know how it will look to everyone at the station once the word gets out." -- Kim Sun-Dal

 

 

MBS YEOUIDO HQ, SEOUL ...

 

"You did what? I don't believe it!" Sun-Dal is incredulous when he hears the news...

 

 

"You heard me right," Hyung-Chul, dressed casually in an open-collar shirt and khakis, replies as he puts down his coffee cup on the table between them and repeats his surprise. "I offered Young-Mi her former job back, and she accepted."

 

"Didn't you think to ask me first?" Sun-Dal complains, his feathers ruffled by the end run around him. "I'm the Director of Planning and Programming now, or did you forget?"

 

"In any other case I'd have followed procedure, but since I knew you'd agree, I went ahead anyway," Hyung-Chul excuses his decision. "We have a serious talent shortage right now, and it didn't make any sense to just let her go."

 

"And since you've taken this upon yourself, where have you decided we should assign Young-Mi?" Sun-Dal challenges him.

 

"Isn't Jung Eun-Hye taking a leave of absence from 'Right Foot and Left Foot' for health reasons?" Hyung-Chul proposes his idea.

 

"How did you know that?" Sun-Dal shows surprise. "I just found out myself a few days ago!"

 

"How I found out isn't important. All that matters is we remedy the situation," Hyung-Chul answers pragmatically. "Watching Young-Mi work at the orphanage, I've seen she has a natural aptitude and empathy with children... she'd be perfect for this slot."

 

Sun-Dal is blunt: "Understanding children is only part of the job. Does Young-Mi remember anything about being an announcer?"

 

"She hasn't recovered from her amnesia."

 

"Then how is she supposed to do the job?"

 

"You're going to retrain her," Hyung-Chul drops his next bombshell.

 

"But the next training batch doesn't start for six months," Sun-Dal irritably reminds his boss. "We need someone before the start of the new season. How can Young-Mi be ready by then?"

 

"She could be, if Joo-Hee trained her, one-on-one," Hyung-Chul suggests.

 

"I don't see that happening," Sun-Dal disagrees. "I'm not certain why, but Joo-Hee hasn't been acting her usual self lately, being particularly contrary about the littlest things that cross her."

 

"What would she have against Young-Mi?"

 

"Don't you remember? Young-Mi tried to injure Joo-Hee by sabotaging her car. I doubt there's any love lost between them."

 

"But Joo-Hee's already forgiven Young-Mi, so why wouldn't she do it, when it's for the Company?" Hyung-Chul appeals.

 

 

Loosening his tie as he ponders for a few moments how to answer, Sun-Dal finally decides to share his wife's confidence. "Because -- just between you and me now -- Joo-Hee is quite jealous of Young-Mi."

 

"She's what?"

 

"Joo-Hee saw Young-Mi fawning all over you during the birthday party, and it brought back old feelings."

 

"There's nothing between me and Young-Mi," Hyung-Chul declares, half-truthfully.

 

"But that's how it looked to me, too," Sun-Dal supports his wife's assessment. "So what's going on?"

 

Hyung-Chul hesitates, wondering how to respond, remembering Kui-Sung's warnings to keep this the entire affair under wraps.

 

"She's in love with you, right?" Sun-Dal guesses, concluding the obvious.

 

 

With the cat is out of the bag, Hyung-Chul reluctantly confirms, "Young-Mi claims to be in love with me, although she knows I love only Sun-Mi, that doesn't sway her feelings. That's why she left the convent, not wanting to be the hypocrite."

 

"And that's why you're supporting her now?" Sun-Dal makes the next connection.

 

"It's only to give her a second chance, nothing personal!" Hyung-Chul rebuts the charge sharply to put off further inquiry.

 

Yet Sun-Dal persists, "Doing this for Young-Mi, like with Sun-Mi, you know how it will look to everyone at the station once the word gets out..."

 

 

The sharp click of stiletto heels outside the open doorway catches the attention of the two men, and they look up to see Joo-Hee, wearing her signature Prada -- today a tightly-fitted, pale cream four-button jacket with a jewel neckline, and a tapered black pencil skirt hemmed up to show her knees -- that set off her svelte figure to perfection.

 

"When what word gets out?" she asks, curiosity piqued by her husband's last words.

 

"Joo-Hee, it's good to see you! You're looking radiant today," Hyung-Chul extends the compliment while noting the loosening of her usually strict conservative style.

 

"Thanks... and welcome back," she replies warmly. "I'd heard you're back in the office. How are you feeling?"

 

Hyung-Chul smiles to himself at the efficiency of the company grapevine, as he'd come in less than an hour ago, deliberately using the parking garage entrance to avoid undue attention.

 

"The limp is almost gone," he informs her, "and whatever was going on in my head seems to have cleared up over the last several days. The doctor gave me a clear bill of health to return to work full time next week."

 

"That's great," Joo-Hee smiles brightly at Hyung-Chul -- perhaps a bit too brightly, it comes to his mind -- and with practiced steps that keep the two men's rapt attention focused, struts across the office to the conference area, where she takes a seat on the couch at Sun-Dal's right.

 

"But what brings the new Director of TV Production in from sick leave to see my husband? Are you two plotting a palace coup, without inviting me?" she remarks facetiously, reminding them of her part as one among equal co-conspirators.

 

"Coffee, Dear?" Sun-Dal offers, although there are only two cups on the table.

 

"No thanks," she curtly brushes off the suggestion, focusing her full attention on Hyung-Chul as she awaits his reply...

 

Casually, she crosses her leg over at the knee, a deliberate move provocatively exposing a generous length of smooth, creamy thigh in a manner visible to him but not her husband.

 

"After idling for most of the summer, I need to do something useful," Hyung-Chul jokes over his surprise and discomfort at Joo-Hee's blatant flirting, especially given Sun-Dal's earlier revelations about her current state of mind.

 

"Actually, we were talking about Huh Young-Mi starting on 'Right Foot and Left Foot' after Jung Eun-Hye leaves," Sun-Dal attempts to inject himself into the conversation, aware of a tense dynamic developing between his wife and the object of her former infatuation. "What do you think, Joo-Hee?"

 

The unexpected possibility of Young-Mi's return doesn't seem to faze her as she ponders its ramifications. "Hmm... I think there's some unspoken reason why two Directors want my opinion on this matter... So what is it?"

 

"I see we can't pull anything over on you, can we?" Hyung-Chul laughs, asking her directly, "I'd like you like to retrain Young-Mi for the job. Can you do it?"

 

The question seems to intrigue Joo-Hee. Uncrossing her legs and looking back squarely at him, she assumes her role as the Manager of Training...

 

"Train Young-Mi?" she mulls the idea carefully. "The new season starts in just a few weeks. Do you think it's possible?"

 

"If anyone can accomplish the impossible, you can."

 

"I appreciate the vote of confidence," Joo-Hee answers, sounding pleased at his need to rely on her professionally, "But you're asking a lot, given the circumstances..."

 

Sun-Dal and Hyung-Chul exchange a quick glance, worried that perhaps she'd overheard their earlier conversation.

 

"Er... what exactly do you mean?" Hyung-Chul hesitantly asks, now on the defensive, expecting a heated harangue from Joo-Hee's sharp tongue to follow.

 

 

Joo-Hee replies smugly at their reaction, and teases further, "Maybe the reason why I came up to see my husband will answer that..."

 

She turns her attention from Hyung-Chul to Sun-Dal expectantly...

 

Flustered as to her meaning, Sun-Dal frets, "Does it have anything to do with Dae-Hyun's adoption? Is there a problem?"

 

"Nope," Joo-Hee shakes her head, smiling as she gazes at him with loving eyes. "Everything is on track with Dae-Hyun, my Dear."

 

"Then what?" Sun-Dal insists, impatient with playing her guessing game. "Just say it, okay?"

 

"I got a call from the doctor's office this afternoon," Joo-Hee at last reports, "He said there's no question... the reason I've been feeling out of sorts lately" -- she hesitates to build suspense -- "is that I'm pregnant."

 

 

Speechless, Sun-Dal gapes at his wife, trying to comprehend the reality that in a few months' time, he will be a father responsible for THREE young children.

 

"Congratulations, old chap," Hyung-Chul is quick to acknowledge the blessing, "and you too, Joo-Hee."

 

Joo-Hee flicks her eyes at Hyung-Chul in brief recognition of his words, but wraps her arm around Sun-Dal's and delivers a beaming smile his way, before she leans forward and plants a lingering, passionate, unself-conscious kiss on his lips.

 

Sun-Dal, however, aware that her affection is being deliberately executed in front of Hyung-Chul, turns beet red with embarrassment... until he succumbs to Joo-Hee's amorous insistence and throws all caution to the winds...

 

Watching the two love birds celebrate their good news together in an intimate embrace, Hyung-Chul laughs to himself, now grasping the reason for Joo-Hee's earlier flirtations and timing of her announcement... to make him regret the domestic bliss with her that he'd let slip away...

 

instead it triggers another thought, about Kui-Sung's admonitions, and the unwelcome possibility... will he soon be experiencing a similar moment of parental revelation, not with Sun-Mi as he'd long hoped... but with Young-Mi? ...