AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 125

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2018

 

"Playing 'what-if' won't change anything, just keep us from counting the blessings of 'what-is' ... you know that Joo-Hee." -- Yoon Hyung-Chul

 

 

HYUNG-CHUL'S OFFICE, MBS YEOUIDO HQ, SEOUL...

 

"What's going on? Is there something I should know?"

 

Sun-Dal points out the back page article in the day's entertainment tabloid to Hyung-Chul, and reads the headlines aloud... 'MBS Announcer's Return Hints at News Shakeup' ... 'Director of TV Production Backing Rival to Former Fianc�e'...

 

"It's just speculation," Hyung-Chul brushes off the reports as fluff. "There's nothing solid there."

 

"Then we'd better start making that clear... the Company is inundated with rumors," Sun-Dal speaks disapprovingly, placing the newspaper on the desk. "They're referring to Young-Mi as the 'Queen of MBS' and predicting she's on the fast track for the News At Nine. There's even talk that she already has your wedding date set..."

 

"Since when do we respond to gossip?" Hyung-Chul interrupts testily with the reminder. "Trying to fight rumors is like throwing water on an oil fire -- it just spreads the flames wider."

 

"You might not be so sanguine about things, if you knew what they're calling you," Sun-Dal continues with a tone of urgency. "How does 'Playboy of the Executive Row' sound?"

 

"I can think of worse than that," Hyung-Chul chuckles, unworried. "Don't get all hung up on trivialities."

 

"If you saw Joo-Hee's face just now, you wouldn't say this is trivial," Sun-Dal states seriously, revealing the true source of his concern.

 

Hyung-Chul answers with a knowing grin, "So what's got Joo-Hee in a tiff today?"

 

"I'd tell you if I knew myself," Sun-Dal replies tiredly, having done his best to deliver a preemptive warning. "But you won't have to guess. She's on her way up right now."

 

 

As Sun-Dal speaks, from the open office door they hear the aggressive tap of approaching heels, then a clipped, "Don't bother... I'll see myself in..."

 

 

A moment later Joo-Hee barges into the office, shoves the door closed, and with a harsh glare on her face directed at Hyung-Chul, marches up to his desk...

 

Hyung-Chul quickly speaks up, intending to defuse what appears to be a volatile encounter brewing...

 

"Give me a minute to wrap this up, Joo-Hee. Why not take a comfortable seat and have some coffee first, and then we'll talk?" he quashes an immediate eruption.

 

"B-but..." Joo-Hee sputters, denied her immediate opportunity to vent.

 

"I've been on my feet all afternoon," Sun-Dal agrees, picking up on Hyung-Chul's start. "That sounds good to me..."

 

Hyung-Chul presses the intercom TALK button and requests, "Miss Lee, it's late, but could you make some fresh coffee?"

 

"It's already brewing, Director," his competent secretary confirms.

 

 

While Hyung-Chul is occupied, Sun-Dal slips his arm around his wife's still-slender waist and propels her toward the conference area, giving Joo-Hee no choice but to move along with him. He helps to seat her first, and then sits down, resting his arm firmly around her shoulders and pulling her closer.

 

Joo-Hee gives him a stern 'what do you think you're doing, we're at work' glare as she tries to squirm free without attracting Hyung-Chul's attention.

 

Sun-Dal ignores her silent resistance, speaking loud enough so Hyung-Chul can hear from across the room, "It's been a long day, my Dear, and I've been longing to hold you close..."

 

From his desk, Hyung-Chul smiles as he shuffles some papers.

 

Joo-Hee colors with embarrassment, but now that she knows Hyung-Chul is aware, the fire cools in her eyes, and she stops resisting.

 

 

A knock sounds on the door and Miss Lee enters, carrying a serving tray with coffee and three cups. Joo-Hee immediately moves to put space between herself and Sun-Dal, but his grip on her shoulder tightens. Flustered, her face turns redder.

 

Miss Lee circumspectly ignores the couple as she puts down the tray and fills the cups.

 

"Coffee is ready, Director Yoon," she announces as she heads for the door and pulls it closed again.

 

 

Hyung-Chul gets up from his desk and ambles over to the conference area, settling into the chair facing the couch.

 

Joo-Hee nudges Sun-Dal with her elbow, and he loosens his arm so she can sit upright. After self-consciously smoothing her skirt down over her thighs, she reaches for her coffee.

 

"I've never seen you looking prettier, Joo-Hee; you're practically glowing today," Hyung-Chul subtly hints at her discomfiture. "How's the baby? It's four months now, right?"

 

"Fourteen weeks, and the baby is doing well, thank you," Joo-Hee answers succinctly, then launches into her original purpose, "but I didn't come up here to discuss MY pregnancy..."

 

Her emphasis causes Sun-Dal to look over inquisitively, but Hyung-Chul just placidly sips his coffee as he waits for the shoe to drop...

 

"I can't believe that you'd allow something like this to get so out of hand," she charges with disbelief.

 

"What can I say?" Hyung-Chul admits his fault. "I have no excuse. Do you want me to explain?"

 

"That's not necessary," she sighs. "But, did you really think a pregnant woman wouldn't notice the signs?"

 

Hyung-Chul shrugs as he replies, "I figured it'd be obvious sooner or later, but hoped it'd be later."

 

"What are your plans now? You just can't let this hang," Joo-Hee insists he move assertively.

 

"Do I have a choice, if I want to be responsible?" he declares his lack of options.

 

She scoffs disbelievingly, "NOW, you choose to be responsible? Isn't that coming a few years too late?"

 

Hyung-Chul hears the bitter edge of resentment in her voice, and moves to ease the weight of a burden that will apparently always stand between them... "Playing 'what-if' won't change anything, just keep us from counting the blessings of 'what-is' ... you know that, Joo-Hee."

 

Joo-Hee smiles feebly and concurs dispiritedly, "Yes, I know... but at moments like this, It's easy to forget..."

 

 

Listening in, Sun-Dal realizes that, again, he is the only one who isn't privy to the real conversation at hand. "What are you two talking about?" he demands inclusion.

 

"That Young-Mi is pregnant," Joo-Hee informs him with a roll of her eyes, annoyed with her husband's lack of perception.

 

Sun-Dal stares blankly at his wife, then looks for confirmation to Hyung-Chul... as it all comes together in his head...

 

"Young-Mi's pregnant?" he repeats the news with astonishment, then draws the obvious conclusion, "With Hyung-Chul's baby? So... the rumors were right?"