AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 177

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2018

 

"If you really wanted to help Sun-Mi achieve her dream, why not step up... and make her dream come true?" -- Kim Sun-Dal

 

 

MBS YEOUIDO BUILDING ...

 

"Miss Lee said I could find you here," Sun-Dal remarks casually as he steps off the metal stairs onto the rooftop...

 

On the far side of the deck, Hyung-Chul is looking down over the street and car park. It only takes a second for Sun-Dal to observe that his friend is not his usual self.... In contrast to his normally impeccable presence, Hyung-Chul sports a two-day-old beard, dark rings under bloodshot eyes that brood out of a drawn face, and a suit rumpled as if slept in.

 

"I also told Miss Lee that I didn't want to be interrupted," Hyung-Chul complains.

 

 

Although the afternoon is sunny, a light breeze makes it chilly without an overcoat. Sun-Dal fastens the buttons on his suit jacket against the cold...

 

"Isolating yourself isn't going to change anything," Sun-Dal suggests.

 

"There's a lot to think about lately, and I've been trying to focus my mind on something," Hyung-Chul explains. "It's important."

 

"Your job is important, too," Sun-Dal points out. "And so is mine."

 

Hyung-Chul nods. "Yeah... What do you have?"

 

"First, Kim has gone on the offensive. He filed a suit with the FSC, charging Caritas and Atwater with violating securities acquisition and reporting laws."

 

"Do you think he has a case?"

 

"It's hard to say. But if he wins, it will negate the takeover," Sun-Dal concludes. "Even if Kim loses, this could set the transition date back."

 

"But even if Kim wins that fight, there is the sexual harassment against him."

 

"Was..." Sun-Dal corrects. "Because of what happened to Sun-Mi, the witnesses have backed out, fearing they'd be targeted next. Without their testimony, the Prosecutors' s Office has closed the case."

 

Hyung-Chul is incensed. "Are you suggesting that Sun-Mi was the real target at the church, and Kim was behind it?"

 

"There's no proof of that, yet," Sun-Dal replies. "Only my suspicions, knowing the history between Sun-Mi and Kim."

 

"But if it's true, that means Bae In-Soo and Kim were in collusion," Hyung-Chul deduces. "Maybe Kim was involved in the scam Bae and Young-Mi were running, too."

 

"Speaking of Young-Mi, she is still refusing to cooperate and testify against Bae in the conspiracy," Sun-Dal mentions. "Maybe, if you agreed to see her again as she requested...

 

When he notices the deeper creases on Hyung-Chul's brow, and the firmer set of his mouth, he drops the appeal. "Okay, forget that..."

 

"No, you may have a point," Hyung-Chul concedes. "Now if there's nothing else, I want to get back to what I was doing before you interrupted."

 

 

"There is one thing more," Sun-Dal adds. "It's about Sun-Mi..."

 

At Sun-Mi's name, Hyung-Chul's interest perks up. "Has her condition improved?" he begs for information. "Will her father let me see her soon?"

 

"I don't know if Jin Kui-Sung has changed his mind," Sun-Dal states. "But as for Sun-Mi's condition... They've moved her from the ICU to a private room in hospice care... to 'wait and see', I was told."

 

"Wait and see for what?"

 

The look in Sun-Dal's eyes is all the answer Hyung-Chul needs... making his heart sink. "Then there's no change?"

 

"Sorry... at this point, she needs a miracle."

 

 

Knowing there is nothing he can say as a way of encouragement, Sun-Dal offers companionship instead...

 

"Smoke?"

 

He takes a pack out of his jacket breast pocket, offers one to Hyung-Chul, and takes one himself. Then he uses his lighter to light up both.

 

"Thanks." Hyung-Chul takes a deep drag and exhales a blue cloud into the wind...

 

 

"Care to fill me in on what you're thinking so seriously about?" Sun-Dal pries.

 

"I've decided to resign," Hyung-Chul reveals.

 

Sun-Dal is taken aback... "Resign?" Why?"

 

"What's the point of it all? MBS? The family legacy? It's meaningless," Hyung-Chul shares his feelings openly. "I'd be happier if I'd stayed in London..."

 

He glances over at Sun-Dal's confused expression...

 

"The only reason I came back and followed my parent's wishes was for Sun-Mi," he elaborates. "So I could be by her side and help her achieve her dream..."

 

Hyung-Chul pauses to flick the ashes off the end of his cigarette...

 

"I wanted to give Sun-Mi everything. Instead all I brought her was pain and heartbreak, and now she's lost everything, because of me..."

 

 

"Still, resigning isn't the answer," Sun-Dal counters. "It's just running away again, like before."

 

"I wish it could be like before," Hyung-Chul replies dispiritedly. "I wish I could run away... but it's impossible now."

 

His pronouncement piques Sun-Dal's curiosity. "Why?"

 

"Wherever I go, Sun-Mi's face is in front of me. Whether I'm awake, or asleep in my dreams, I can't get that last picture of her out of my mind," he explains with a grim face. "It's the curse of a photographic memory. Until the day I die, I'll carry the explicit reminders of how I failed Sun-Mi..."

 

"Everyone has scars of regret," Sun-Dal doesn't buy his excuse. "That's no reason for dropping out."

 

"Then give me one good reason why I shouldn't," Hyung-Chul fires back.

 

 

In response, Sun-Dal looks Hyung-Chul straight in the eye, and levels the challenge...

 

"If you really wanted to help Sun-Mi achieve her dream, why not step up in her place? Why don't YOU make her dream come true?"