AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart
Chapter 143
written by LoveCR2 -- 2005
edited by All-About-AAE -- 2018
"Frankly, I'm not sure I know Sun-Mi's real face anymore. She's not the same person as before" -- Yoo Joo-Hee
MBS CHARITY GALA, GRAND BALLROOM, MUN-YUNG DIAMOND HOTEL...
"Ladies and Gentlemen, may we have your attention, please?"
Former News At Nine anchor Chang Yoon-Seong, the Gala's emcee with his co-anchor Choi Geun-Hye, speaks loudly into the microphone over the general din of the ballroom...
The room quiets, and Geun-Hye continues in turn, "We hope you enjoyed the banquet. Now we'll begin our next segment of the evening, the heart of why we all came here tonight."
Yoon-Seong speaks next, "Please welcome to the stage MBS Director Yoon Hyung-Chul, head of the MBS Charitable Foundation, and MBS Announcer Huh Young-Mi, host of MBS' children's educational program, 'Right Foot and Left Foot' ..."
To steady, polite applause, Hyung-Chul and Young-Mi stand up and she takes his arm. They slowly walk to the stage and ascend the short flight of steps, then approach the podium together...
Watching from their banquet table, Joo-Hee leans closer and quietly suggests to her husband, "Don't Young-Mi and Hyung-Chul look good together?"
"Didn't you favor Sun-Mi before?" Sun-Dal recalls. "Apparently it's Young-Mi now..."
"So? Young-Mi is different than before, sincere and warm hearted. She'll make a wonderful wife and mother," Joo-Hee predicts. "But frankly, Sun-Mi's changed since she left Seoul."
"Certainly, her style is different," he allows. "But is she really a different person?"
"I noticed it when she came over for dinner the other night," Joo-Hee explains, "Although Sun-Mi acts the same on the surface, underneath there's something a calculating drive that wasn't there before."
Sun-Mi has had some difficult experiences, perhaps that's what you're sensing," he offers an explanation.
"No, it's more than that," she disagrees. "It's something hard to put a finger on it exactly, but..."
Noticing on stage that the two couples have finished exchanging their greetings, and Yoon-Seong and Geun-Hye have stepped off to the side, Joo-Hee suggests, "Let's talk later..."
But Sun-Dal is curious about his wife's impressions, "Go on. Say it..."
"I don't know any other way to put it, but it's almost as if Sun-Mi and Young-Mi have switched personalities," Joo-Hee confides. "Frankly, I'm not sure I know Sun-Mi's real face anymore. She's not the same person as before..."
At the microphone, Hyung-Chul signals for quiet again...
"Thank you, everyone... Announcer Huh Young-Mi will now introduce our charity fund drive for the evening."
Young-Mi bows to the audience, then begins, "We all agree that the future of our nation, the advancement of our society, depends on our next generation. So for any child to not reach his or her potential -- whether from poverty, lack of medical care, or distressed families -- in a nation as wealthy as ours, it is a travesty..."
On a video screen above the stage, a slide presentation demonstrating the need begins...
"Surely as our hearts extend to the unfortunate, each of us can do something. But by joining our efforts we can accomplish much more together, and have a more significant impact," she declares. "The Seoul United Children's Fund does exactly that, by working through many local groups -- orphanages, social agencies, schools, churches -- dedicated to improving the lives of each child in need..."
The slide presentation changes to a video showing the work of several of the organizations...
Hyung-Chul leans closer to the microphone to read off the next line. "Tonight we have an opportunity to partner with the UCF in helping the children. So please open your purses and wallets, and consider making a generous donation..."
He stops when he feels a hand on his arm, and looks over at Young-Mi.
Smiling an apology for the interruption, she indicates she wants to speak, and then turns to the audience...
"But first, before you open your purses and wallets, think about the children in your life, how much you treasure them... because this is about the treasure of our society," she implores. "Then give, as your heart leads... Thank you..."
"Please text the number on the screen behind us," Hyung-Chul directs as it appears superimposed on the video image.
Beneath the screen, a red digital marquee comes on, showing the current pledge total. As the pledges start to pour in, the number on the marquee continuously increases with the latest tally...
From their seats at the KAIROS table, Sun-Mi and Min-Cho are watching the ceremonies...
"Young-Mi is really good. If I didn't know differently, I'd think she was genuine," Sun-Mi remarks sarcastically, keeping her voice down so only Min-Cho can hear.
"Given her personal experiences, maybe she is being genuine," Min-Cho suggests.
"But does she have to cling onto Senior like that? And the way she looks at him, acting so flirtatious in public!" Sun-Mi grumbles critically. "Doesn't she have any shame?"
"I sense some jealousy here," Min-Cho remarks at her attitude.
"I'm not jealous!" Sun-Mi quickly snaps, then seeing his skeptical expression, recants, "Okay, just a little..."
"Regardless of what you think of Young-Mi, the cause is worthwhile," Min-Cho points out, flipping open his phone to make a pledge.
"Yes," Sun-Mi readily agrees, taking her phone from her clutch and texting in a pledge, too...
Gradually the pledge total changes more slowly, then stays unchanged for several seconds.
Hyung-Chul leans into microphone again to speak again...
"Thanks to your generosity, together we've raised the largest amount ever!" he declares enthusiastically. "President Lee Kyung-Min of the Seoul United Children's Fund is here tonight. Please welcome him..."
To applause, Kyung-Min comes up onstage, as Hyung-Chul steps away from the podium to greet him. A few seconds later, Hyung-Chul's assistant appears to hand over an envelope.
Still at the microphone, Young-Mi cues the formalities, "Now Director Yoon will present the donations to President Lee."
The two men turn to face each other, and after Hyung-Chul formally presents the envelope, they shake hands to more applause. Young-Mi joins the two men as they head off the stage, again taking Hyung-Chul's arm as they return to their table.
At the podium again with Geun-Hye, Yoon-Seong states, "This ends our formal program. Now we will have a brief break."
Geun-Hye wraps the segment, "After that, the Gala will continue with performances by the hit groups g.o.d. and Fin.K.L, followed by music until midnight. Please enjoy the rest of your evening..."
From their table, Sun-Mi intently watches Hyung-Chul and Young-Mi conversing with the others at their table, with Young-Mi clearly the center of everyone's attention.
"Everyone is treating her like she some kind of queen," Sun-Mi grumbles critically, quickly looking away when Hyung-Chul turns and glances at her.
"Be careful," Min-Cho admonishes. "You're being obvious."
"It's hard to watch, and not to watch... I'm so frustrated," she admits.
"Don't focus on your what's bothering you, but on how you'll accomplish your goal," he advises.
"But I'm just as anxious about that, too," she frets. "What if it doesn't work?"
"There's no guarantees, of course," he answers. "It depends on you being correct about Young-Mi. If you're wrong, this could come back on you instead."
"I know Young-Mi, like I know myself," Sun-Mi insists confidently. "I'm willing to take any risk myself, if I can protect Senior..."
Looking back at the other table, she sees that Young-Mi's place is empty. Scanning the ballroom, she notices Young-Mi leaving through a doorway.
Quickly, Sun-Mi tells Min-Cho, "Excuse me, I have to visit the Ladies Room now..."