AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 148

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2018

 

"I'm warning you for the last time, Jin Sun-Mi! I won't stand by and let you steal Hyung-Chul from another woman again." -- Yoo Joo-Hee

 

 

ANNOUNCER 1 TEAM OFFICE, MBS YEOUIDO STUDIOS AND HQ ... THE NEXT DAY ...

 

"Senior Joo-Hee? I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here..."

 

Returning to the announcer's office from a meeting, Sun-Mi is surprised to find Joo-Hee seated at her former desk.

 

"I came in to visit my husband, but then decided to see you, too," Joo-Hee explains her unannounced presence.

 

"Would you like coffee?" Sun-Mi suggests.

 

"No need, I won't take long," Joo-Hee's declines, then asks, "How do you like this seat?" referring to her position in the department that Sun-Mi has taken over.

 

"I found it's not easy to fill those shoes," Sun-Mi replies deferentially to her mentor.

 

"Don't hold back in front of me," Joo-Hee urges. "Speak your mind, honestly."

 

"Then, I'll say it feels good to be recognized for my abilities," Sun-Mi admits, "and to prove that everyone who doubted me was wrong."

 

"But this position isn't just about you, and your success," Joo-Hee points out. "It's about making the entire department a success..."

 

 

She gets up from the chair and steps around the desk, moving directly in front of Sun-Mi. The corner of her mouth lifts a degree as she looks over the younger woman, once both her prot�g�e and rival, with an air of disdain...

 

Sun-Mi is dressed in a bright red Chanel stretch-knit micro-mini with a waist-length ebony Elie Tahari wing collar suede jacket. Sheer black stockings and knee-high, black suede Christian Louboutin boots on 120mm stiletto heels sheathe her legs. Circling her neck is a string of large cultured pearls, matched with solitaire pearl studs that adorn her ears.

 

"Being a role model for others demands a high bar of conduct and appearance," Joo-Hee states critically. "So let me give you some personal instruction..."

 

Without warning, she slaps Sun-Mi hard enough on the left cheek to make her head whip to the side from the blow. Startled, Sun-Mi looks back with amazement and confusion... just as Joo-Hee backhands her with another hard slap to her right cheek...

 

For a moment, Sun-Mi's eyes flash a desire to fight back, but years of social conditioning reins her back -- even if abused, she must respect a Senior and accept that somehow she is in the wrong to attract that abuse. Burdened with self-doubt, she stares at Joo-Hee with uncertainty and bewilderment...

 

 

"Whatever you're up to, stop it now," Joo-Hee demands, threatening, "or this won't be the last time I come after you..."

 

"Senior...what are you talking about?" Sun-Mi expresses ignorance to any reason for the charge.

 

"Don't play innocent with me," Joo-Hee thunders, her eyes flashing angrily. "Last night, at the Gala... did you think no one would notice?"

 

"Let me explain," Sun-Mi tries to justify herself. "It's not what you think..."

 

"Are you denying it? I've never seen anyone act so brazenly, I don't know what to say... words like temptress... seductress... skank... don't begin to describe the type of person you've become," Joo-Hee spits out her accusations.

 

 

The words hurt Sun-Mi more than the slaps had left her cheeks stinging... "What? How can you say that!" she objects vehemently.

 

Joo-Hee's eyes narrow. "At one time I respected you, I thought you had integrity, but now..." Joo-Hee sneers at Sun-Mi contemptuously. "... you just disgust me..."

 

"Me?" Sun-Mi is indignant. "What about Huh Young-Mi?! She's the one who..."

 

"So this is about Young-Mi?" Joo-Hee cuts her off and mocks, "Does it hurt your pride, Cinderella, now that Hyung-Chul is with her instead?"

 

Sun-Mi glowers back, her sore point pricked by Joo-Hee's pointed thrust...

 

"I had to swallow my pride when Hyung-Chul dumped me for you," Joo-Hee attests to their shared past. "Now that the shoe is on the other foot, you can do the same, too... It's time to stop..."

 

"I can't stop," Sun-Mi protests heatedly. "You don't understand the consequences for Senior..."

 

"There's no such thing as 'can't stop'. You just don't want to," Joo-Hee accuses. "If you won't, then I'm going to make you stop!"

 

 

Sun-Mi is stunned. "Then... you're siding with Huh Young-Mi now? That witch?"

 

"Be careful who you call a witch," Joo-Hee warns, quoting the proverb, "The hand that points a finger, points three back."

 

Sun-Mi is incensed by the implication. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

 

"You're so obsessed that you can't see reality, even when it's staring you right in the face!" Joo-Hee scolds. "Perhaps some time for self-reflection -- like Young-Mi -- would do you some good, too!"

 

"Are you insinuating that I need to become more like Young-Mi now?" Sun-Mi gapes with disbelief.

 

"You certainly could take a lesson or two on humility, modesty, and proper behavior from your sister," Joo-Hee shoots back her disapproval.

 

"If you have a complaint about me, say it directly," Sun-Mi demands.

 

"I'm saying, success has a way of changing a person, exposing a different face, and usually one not for the better," Joo-Hee replies. "Is that clear enough?"

 

"I don't have to listen to this," Sun-Mi retorts, incensed, "I don't answer to you anymore..."

 

"You're right," Joo-Hee agrees, yet doesn't back off on her assault, "but if you know what's good for you, stay away from Hyung-Chul... Don't involve him with strange rumors because of your affairs!"

 

"It's none of your business, or anyone's, my relationship with Senior," Sun-Mi asserts irately, unwilling to concede any ground. "Even being the daughter of a Director has its limits... So don't write novels, or go filming dramas of things you know nothing about..."

 

"What?" Joo-Hee sputters in the face of Sun-Mi's harsh rebuttal.

 

"You heard me, back off!" Sun-Mi demands.

 

Equally intransigent, the two women face off, each determined to assert her right to protect the man she loves...

 

Joo-Hee's eyes narrow as she drops a clear ultimatum, "I'm warning you for the last time, Jin Sun-Mi! I won't stand by and let you steal Hyung-Chul from another woman again..."

 

She picks up her purse from Sun-Mi's desk. "I'm watching you, be certain of that!"

 

 

Sun-Mi waits until Joo-Hee stalks out of the office and her strident footsteps have receded into silence. Then she sinks down into her chair, staring out the window, into the night, mulling Joo-Hee's words...

 

... 'Temptress... seductress... skank... these words don't begin to describe the type of person you've become' ...

... 'Be careful who you call a witch... The hand that points a finger, points three back.' ...

... 'Are you so obsessed that you can't see reality, even when it's staring you right in the face?' ...

... 'I'm warning you for the last time, Jin Sun-Mi! I won't stand by and let you steal Hyung-Chul from another woman again' ...

 

 

Disturbed, Sun-Mi wonders ... what if Joo-Hee is right? ... has this become such an obsession that I can't see reality? ... have I really become a skank? ...

 

 

Sun-Mi's mobile rings, interrupting her internal debate, and when she sees the caller is Director Kim Sun-Dal, she immediately returns to the urgency of the moment...

 

"Sorry, I got delayed," she answers apologetically, before he can even ask the question.

 

"Better make it quick," Sun-Dal demands. "We've already started, and President Kim is being his usual inordinate self."

 

"Don't worry, I'll be right there," Sun-Mi promises...