AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 118

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2017

 

"Whatever happens, I won't let a little wardrobe glitch keep me from getting an important story." -- Jin Sun-Mi

"Sun-Mi... I don't know how I'll ever face her... she'll never forgive me for what's happened now." -- Huh Young-Mi

 

 

MANHATTAN FINANCIAL DISTRICT, NEW YORK CITY...

 

"I'd prefer to do the shoot with the fountain in the background, angling this way to show the other sculpture too," Sun-Mi suggests as she works out the details of the setup with PD Marconi.

 

"Okay, we'll be ready in ten," Alex gives her the time schedule, waving the crew on as they lug equipment across the plaza from the double-parked van. "I'll leave Dae-Won Jeon to you."

 

Sun-Mi quickly goes over to her interviewee, a stubby, heavy-set man in a grey pin-striped suit, with short hair graying at the temples and an affable face.

 

"Good morning, Vice President Jeon," she greets him in Korean with a polite bow. "Thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to do this interview."

 

"If all business reporters were as pretty, I'd give more interviews," he flatters her. "Manager Kang insisted I shouldn't miss the chance to interview with the remarkably beautiful and internationally famous News Correspondent Jin Sun-Mi, and I wholeheartedly concur with his assessment."

 

Sun-Mi makes a mental note to scold Jin-Woo for having introduced her using those exact words at Won-Jae's birthday party...

 

"Manager Kang greatly exaggerates on both points, Sir," she replies modestly, noting that along with his profuse compliments, he is looking at her with an open curiosity.

 

"After we finish the interview, I'm covering the shows for New York Fashion Week," she explains her unusual outfit -- given the warm, bright morning -- a short, white Oscar de la Renta trench coat, originally intended for one of the afternoon runway show shoots, but now, buttoned up and belted tight, providing conservative cover for the skimpy party frock she's wearing hidden underneath.

 

Her explanation appears to satisfy him, but then Sun-Mi sees a group of about four dozen Korean men and women in business attire approaching in orderly ranks, led by Manager Kang, Jin-Woo's brother-in-law.

 

"Did I mention that we'll have an audience?" Dae-Won belatedly informs Sun-Mi. "Everyone wanted to meet you in person... and collect autographs, if you don't mind."

 

"Certainly, I'm happy to meet all your staff," Sun-Mi replies agreeably, even as she reluctantly considers the additional time it will likely require before they can return to Bryant Park.

 

She turns to the group, bowing as she addresses them formally, "Hello everyone, I'm Global News Network Special Correspondent Jin Sun-Mi. Thank you for joining us to watch. Please move this way... "

 

She motions to the area behind the camera as she continues without missing a beat, "During the interview, we appreciate your silence... and turning off your cell phones," she pointedly, from experience, remembers to add the latter requirement. "Afterward, there will be time to meet and ask questions."

 

As Manager Kang shepherds the group to the designated location, Sun-Mi turns back to Dae-Won to give instructions. "Since we're taping the interview, we can redo any portion, so don't be concerned about making mistakes."

 

"That's good; I was feeling a bit nervous," he replies with obvious relief.

 

"We'll do the interview twice, first in Korean, and then in English for our international audiences. Do you have any questions before we begin?"

 

"No... I think I know what I want to say," he replies, showing her a printed sheet with handwriting scrawled over it. "May I use notes?"

 

"Let's try without them first. It looks more natural," she recommends. "Now, let's get in place for the camera."

 

 

As they approach the spot marked out on the pavement, Rebecca runs up excitedly...

 

"Excuse me, Sun-Mi," she says breathlessly. "Could we have a moment?"

 

"Please go ahead, "Sun-Mi motions for Dae-Won to continue without her. "I'll join you in a minute."

 

She turns back to her assistant, curious, "What is it?"

 

"Your hem..." Rebecca points down to Sun-Mi's legs, where a few centimeters of shimmery blue fabric peep out from under her coat. "It must have come loose after you got out of the truck. Let me pin it up again for you."

 

 

As Rebecca kneels to fasten the dress out of sight, Sun-Mi waves to Alex that she is coming.

 

"All done," Rebecca reports a few seconds later."

 

"Thanks, you're a gem," Sun-Mi voices her appreciation.

 

"This was really a good idea you had," Rebecca says admiringly, and apologizes again. "I'm sorry I screwed up."

 

"Whatever happens, I won't let a little wardrobe glitch keep me from getting an important story," Sun-Mi replies. "How do I look?"

 

Rebecca does a quick inspection, double-checking that the coat is solidly buttoned and belted, and nothing shows around the collar.

 

"Great!" she confirms with a caveat as she looks down at Sun-Mi's black mesh, pointed-toe Oscar de la Renta jewel and beading embellished 85mm slingback pumps, "but I like the look of the higher heels better."

 

Sun-Mi chuckles as she quips, "But would it be right if I was taller than VP Jeon on camera?"

 

 

"Sun-Mi... It's time," Alex calls out sharply, impatient to get started.

 

"Coming!" she calls back, hurrying over.

 

"Quiet, everyone," Alex orders. "Sun-Mi... ready..."

 

 

Roving microphone in hand, Sun-Mi is standing about five meters from where Dae-Won is waiting. At the PD's cue, she starts slowly walking along as she speaks...

 

"Hello, this is Correspondent Jin Sun-Mi, reporting for MBS Global Network News. "It's a beautiful September morning here in New York City's Lower Manhattan Financial District. We're at the Austin J. Tobin Plaza, and behind me, you can see the James Rosati sculpture 'Ideogram', and the 'Sphere at Plaza Fountain', by German sculptor Fritz Koenig..."

 

Approaching Dae-Won, she switches to introduce the topic for the interview: "Recently international trade relations between the United States and South Korea took a front seat in the news..."

 

She is a single step to Dae-Won's right as she leads in, "For an inside perspective on the changes that new trade relations might bring, today I'm interviewing Vice President Jeon Dae-Won of the Chosen International Trading Company. Welcome, Vice President Jeon."

 

Sun-Mi tips the microphone toward Dae-Won to cue his response...

 

"Thank you, Correspondent Jin," he replies with a trace of nervousness, his voice instinctively growing louder with the intruding sound of aircraft jet engines approaching overhead...

 

"Cut!" Alex interrupts, upset at needing to redo the first lines. "What's that noise?"

 

Sun-Mi looks up, toward the sound, pointing. "There..."

 

The cameraman, following her arm, instinctively tilts the camera up... through the viewfinder, he watches as a jet airliner flies straight into the side of one of the two enormous buildings towering over the plaza.

 

 

One second later, a massive fireball explodes in a deafening roar, sending a shower of shattered glass and fiery debris hurtling down, directly at them...

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE FLOOR ELEVATOR LOBBY, MBS YEOUIDO HQ, SEOUL...

 

"Quit? Why?!" Hyung-Chul, surprised at Young-Mi's announcement, thinks first of the problem they'll have if she doesn�t take the open slot. "We really need you to do this. Don't be afraid to try, we're behind you 100%."

 

Young-Mi wipes at her tears before answering, "I know that, but..."

 

"Director Kim Sun-Dal just told me everything was progressing well with your training. Is there some problem between Manager Yoo and yourself?" Hyung-Chul guesses at the reason.

 

Shaking her head, she replies with a softly trembling voice, "No, Senior is very good. I owe so much for the second chance she's giving me."

 

He probes further, "Is it gossip among the staff? Are people complaining you have special treatment?"

 

"No, nothing like that," she replies with a firmer tone, now that the tears had run their course. "Everyone treats me nicely, and makes me feel welcome."

 

"Then what is it?" he presses impatiently, "What is the problem?"

 

"It's you, Director... I mean, my concern about you," she confesses. "Knowing that every day you are burdened, having to watch where you go and what you say to keep our secret. I was foolish to think this could work out..."

 

"Don't trouble yourself because of me," Hyung-Chul says comfortingly. "I'm only doing what I agreed with Mr Jin, for you and Sun-Mi."

 

 

"Sun-Mi... I feel so guilty to her too," Young-Mi whimpers as new tears build up and trace wet streaks down her cheeks, "I don't know how I'll ever face her again... she'll never forgive me for what's happened now..."

 

"There's nothing that's happened can't be forgiven," Hyung-Chul offers encouragement. "What happened is all in the past, we just need to focus the best we can on the future."

 

She looks at him with wet, sorrowful eyes, as if wanting to say something, but is afraid...

 

"Whatever it is, I want to hear you out," he promises.

 

"The real reason I need to resign..." she reiterates her surprise announcement gravely, and pauses to wipe back tears.

 

"Go on..."

 

Young-Mi turns away first, as if too ashamed by what she has to say, to speak to his face...

 

"I don't know how else to tell you this, but..." her voice breaks with heaving sobs again as she struggles to get the words out... "I did... the test... and... and... I'm pregnant..."

 

 

Before the shock can completely register in Hyung-Chul's jumble of thoughts, his mobile rings. Mechanically, he takes it from his jacket and answers numbly, "Yes?"

 

"Come down to the News Center right away!" Sun-Dal's voice is unusually urgent. "New York just called in. The 1 World Trade Center building was hit by a jetliner and is on fire. They say it could be an accident, or a terrorist attack on the US..."

 

Hyung-Chul looks over at Young-Mi, with her back to him weeping miserably and forlornly alone. He thinks of the personal crisis he needs to address. The comfort he feels he owes her sits heavily in his mind, as he weighs the balance of whether to stay or go...

 

He knows there is nothing, practically speaking, that he can do about the situation in New York to make any difference in what ultimately happens there, while his presence where he is at this moment now could make all the difference here...

 

But Sun-Dal's next words tilt the scale decisively: "An hour ago, Sun-Mi took a remote team there to shoot an interview... she could be up in that burning tower."

 

Instantly the yearnings of his heart overrule the admonitions in his head, and the urgency is now in Hyung-Chul's voice as he replies into his mobile: "I'm on my way..."