AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 171

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2018

 

"This isn't right! It should be Sun-Mi, not Young-Mi!... When the priest asks if anyone is opposed, I'm gonna object!" -- Jo Cho-Jeh

 

 

ORPHANAGE CHURCH, KANGWON-DO ...

 

"If anyone can show just cause why this couple cannot lawfully be joined together in matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace..."

 

The priest pauses briefly, not expecting a response, before moving on.

 

 

Unable to restrain herself, Sun-Mi throws open the sacristy door and steps into the sanctuary.

 

"I object!" she shouts loudly, so the entire congregation can hear. "This wedding is a fraud!"

 

 

Sun-Mi marches up to Young-Mi and slaps her on the face.

 

"Jin Sun-Mi! What are you doing?" Young-Mi replies, stunned by the unprovoked attack.

 

"I won't let you get away with this!" Sun-Mi declares, physically shoving Young-Mi back.

 

Knocked off balance, Young-Mi stumbles off her tall heels and goes down.

 

The congregation, watching the altercation at the altar, watches on edge wondering what will happen next...

 

 

Turning to Hyung-Chul, Sun-Mi pleads, "Senior, she doesn't love you ... it's all a scam, for money!"

 

Thinking she had already left, Hyung-Chul is surprised by Sun-Mi's sudden appearance. He stares back, lost for words.

 

"Come away with me, Senior," she urges, planning to flee down the aisle and out the main entrance to her waiting car.

 

"I love you, and I know you love me," Sun-Mi avows, "We were meant to be together ... It's True Love."

 

When he doesn't move, she grasps his hand and appeals again, "Senior, you said you wanted to run away together and elope..."

 

Instead, Hyung-Chul states emphatically, "I made a promise, and I must keep my word..."

 

 

Sun-Mi opens her eyes, sighing as her mental fantasy fades ...

 

"I'm an idiot, to even imagine he'd go with me," she criticizes herself quietly. "Of course, he would keep his word..."

 

 

Through the open door, she can hear the priest conducting the ceremony...

 

"... now, joining your right hands, declare your consent before God and his Church," the priest directs Young-Mi and Hyung-Chul...

 

After bride and groom join hands as instructed, the priest recites vows from the Catholic rite of Holy Matrimony...

 

"Yoon Hyung-Chul, do you take Huh Young-Mi as your wife? Do you promise to be faithful to her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and to honor her all the days of your life?"

 

"I do," Hyung-Chul makes his vow.

 

 

When Sun-Mi hears his solemn promise, a sudden, sharp pain slashes through her. Clutching a hand over her wounded heart, feeling her knees weakening, she leans against the doorframe to keep from collapsing...

 

 

The priest continues with the vows...

 

"Huh Young-Mi, do you take Yoon Hyung-Chul to be your husband? Do you promise to be faithful to him in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love him and to honor him all the days of your life?"

 

Young-Mi gazes into Hyung-Chul's eyes, relishing her moment of triumph...

 

... she has taken everything away from her rival, just as she'd vowed ... finally, ultimate victory is in her grasp! ...

 

 

Seated with the congregation, Cho-Jeh whispers to Jin-Soo, grumbling her discontent, "This isn't right! It should be Sun-Mi, not Young-Mi!... When the priest asks if anyone is opposed to the marriage, I'm gonna stand up and object!"

 

"You can't, idiot!" Jin-Soo whispers back. "Don't you know? Catholics do that before the wedding. It's too late now..."

 

 

"Young-Mi?" the priest prompts in a whisper, "Your vows..."

 

She nods and smiles, takes a breath, then states confidently, "I do."

 

 

The two simple words are another painful stab, deep into Sun-Mi's heart. Her chest crushes so tightly she can barely inhale... Beads of perspiration dot her brow as she gasps for air, dizzy from the lack of oxygenated blood, awaiting the imminent, final blow...

 

 

To join the couple sacramentally and eternally as husband and wife, the priest concludes the declaration of consent by confirming their vows with the traditional sanction...

 

"May the Lord in his goodness and mercy strengthen your consent and fill you with the richness of his blessings," he intones.

 

Pausing for a breath, he looks both bride and groom in the eye first, then makes the decisive pronouncement...

 

"Therefore, I declare to all present... What God hath joined..."

 

 

A loud boom from the back of the church interrupts him, as the main entrance door to the church flies open, slamming against the doorstop...

 

Heads turn back to look, curious about the disruption...

 

Heavy, determined footsteps slowly stride in through the doorway, then a commanding male voice demands attention. "Stop everything! I object to this wedding..."

 

 

Whispered murmurs travel through the congregation, speculating on what this is all about...

 

In the sacristy, Sun-Mi's eyes pop wide in surprise, at the familiar voice of the intruder...