AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart
Chapter 147
written by LoveCR2 -- 2005
edited by All-About-AAE -- 2018
"Maybe I'm trying to be indispensable... now that I'm about to lose you, Sun-Mi" -- Min-Cho Atwater
BALLROOM ENTRANCE, MUN-YUNG DIAMOND HOTEL...
Min-Cho is already at their agreed rendezvous with the limo when Sun-Mi appears at the entrance doors.
"Sorry, I lost track of the time," she apologizes for keeping him waiting.
He smiles and offers his arm. "Not to worry. There's still five minutes before the limo turns back into a pumpkin..."
Sun-Mi shakes her head at the joke, and slips her hand around his elbow. As he accompanies her to the limo, the attendant opens the door, and Sun-Mi climbs first into the back seat...
She sits down with a long sigh. "I'm exhausted..."
Min-Cho joins her in the back, the door closes, and the driver starts off. Sun-Mi leans forward and unwinds the coil of one Ren� Caovilla pump, then gingerly slips it off her foot and drops it on the carpeted floor. Then she does the same with the other shoe.
Watching her, Min-Cho offers, "I have a solution to your problem..."
"Who says I have a problem?" she grumbles at the worn remark.
"That grimace on your face speaks volumes," he identifies the source of his insight.
"I'm fine," she insists curtly. "How was I to know I'd be dancing most of the night? Anyway it's no big deal, I'm used to it..."
"Sure," he answers disbelievingly. "How does Su-Ji put it? ... 'Sometimes looking good is more important than being comfortable' ..."
"I had to look my best, if I hoped to compete with Young-Mi," Sun-Mi defends her decision testily. "I don't expect you to understand."
"Understand, maybe not," he agrees, "but appreciate, for sure... You look stunning tonight."
"You must have said that a dozen times," she reminds him tiredly.
"Is that all? Then it wasn't nearly enough," Min-Cho replies with a saucy grin. "And judging from what I saw in Director Yoon's eyes, he felt the same way, too."
"It's just this dress," she declines taking the credit. "Thanks for helping me get it here on such short notice."
"Isn't that what little dogs do... go fetch?" he jokes.
"Tsst..." Sun-Mi lets him know she thinks his joke is silly, but finally breaks a smile...
"Seeing you smile, I feel better," Min-Cho observes. "That's a good step toward resolving your problem."
"I said, I don't have a problem," she repeats crossly. "Except having to listen to bad jokes..."
"Since the jokes aren't getting better, we'll have to try some other way," he suggests.
"Fine... so what's your 'solution'...?" she gives in skeptically.
He pats his thigh. "Put your legs up here..."
Sun-Mi frowns suspiciously...
"Come on, I may bark, but I don't bite," he drops another joke.
"Very funny," she grumbles, then grudgingly pulls the long hem of her dress above her knees, turns in the seat, and lays her calves across his thighs where he'd indicated... "Like this?"
"Perfect."
"Now what?"
"Close your eyes," he orders. "And I'll do a magic act."
"Magic? What nonsense are you talking now?"
"I'm going to make something go away," he promises. "Just wait and see..."
Sun-Mi does as he instructed, leaning back into the corner made by the side of the car and the padded leather seat back.
Min-Cho immediately goes to work, expertly massaging her strained legs and aching feet...
"Hey... what do you think you're doing?" Sun-Mi protests, but he ignores her, keeping at it. As her tense muscles begin to loosen up and the soreness dissipates, she acquiesces, relaxing...
"Just give it some time," he tells her.
Sun-Mi doesn't reply...
Min-Cho looks over and smiles. His solution had worked...
Sun-Mi is fast asleep, her face in peaceful repose, the hint of a blissful smile on her lips...
LATER ...
"Hey, Sleeping Beauty, it's time to wake up..."
Sun-Mi half opens her eyes. Where before she had been leaning against the car, now her head is resting on the cushion of Min-Cho's shoulder, and his arm rests around her protectively...
She groggily asks, "Where are we?"
"Almost home..."
"When did fall I sleep?" she wonders. "I don't recall..."
"I was in the middle of solving your problem," he reminds her. "Remember?"
"Oh..." Sun-Mi brushes the hair back out of her eyes and looks at her legs, stretched out across the seat, with amazement...
"Feeling better?" he asks.
Sun-Mi wriggles her toes in acknowledgment. "Actually, terrific. The pain's gone, like you promised... You're quite the magician. I didn't know you had this skill..."
"You never asked," he points out her omission.
"But you never offered before, either," she points back, then wonders, "So why today?
"That's because..." he grins ruefully, "maybe I'm trying to be indispensable... now that I'm about to lose you, Sun-Mi..."
"You don't have to try," she reassures him, putting her hand on his arm, "because you already ARE indispensable."
"Thanks, I'd like to believe that, but the truth is, I'm not," he states the reality clearly.
Sun-Mi disagrees, turning her head to look at him, "You're wrong. Without you, I wouldn't have had the courage tonight..."
"Then... how did things go?" he asks.
"At first I thought it was pointless, things were so awkward between us," she replies. "I was about to give up, then suddenly, we were connecting," she relates the experience. "I didn't believe it was possible, but it happened... the door is open again, and he's willing to step through..."
"Congratulations," he says cheerfully. "I'm happy for you."
"How about you?" Sun-Mi asks eagerly, "How did 'running interference' go?"
"I put out my best roguish charm, but Young-Mi's loyalty to her fianc�e seems indisputable," he reports.
"Then your scheme didn't work, after all," Sun-Mi concludes, discouraged.
"Don't give up yet. Young-Mi did agree to meet again, so let's stick to the plan," Min-Cho recommends. "After your meeting tomorrow night, bring Director Yoon to the bar... I'll be there with Young-Mi..."
"I don't know... are you sure?" she still worries.
"When it's over," he promises, "with both engagements broken, the way will be clear for you and Director Yoon to be together again..."