AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 197

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2019

 

"After I met Sun-Mi, it's like something blooms inside me whenever I think about her." -- Yoon Hyung-Chul

 

 

GOLDEN DEW JEWELRY STORE, SEOCHO-GU ...

 

"May I see this ring?"

 

Hyung-Chul points out the one he is interested in to the attendant behind the counter, a petite woman in her late forties, dressed impeccably in a crisp black blazer, pencil skirt, and heels, with a nametag pinned to her lapel -- 'Park Kyung-Ri'.

 

"Certainly," she answers cheerfully, smiling at him as she unlocks and opens the case.

 

 

She had kept her eye on the handsome customer from the moment he'd entered the store, calculating from his expensive suit and refined manner that he was a good opportunity for a substantial upsale.

 

"Is this the one?" Kyung-Ri asks, pointing to the most expensive ring close to the one he'd chosen. "Your girlfriend must be pleased you have such excellent taste."

 

Hyung-Chul considers the ring she is referring to, with a massive center stone surrounded by two concentric rings of smaller diamonds and a full pave white gold band.

 

"Actually, my girl's not impressed by extravagance," he declines the attendant's suggestion, thinking of the huge, brilliant blue diamond that Sun-Mi had returned to Min-Cho. "The one to the right, please."

 

"Of course," she answers, recalculating her initial assessment of this customer as she takes out the ring he had originally indicated...

 

 

Hyung-Chul inspects it closely, a three-stone setting with a round brilliant cut diamond mounted between two smaller, deep-green round cut peridot gemstones, on a narrow white gold band.

 

"These are peridot, right?" he inquires for verification.

 

"Yes, how did you know?" Kyung-Ri is surprised that he so readily identified the obscure gemstone. "Since it's an uncommon choice, it's the only one we carry in this size. If you like to see a wider selection with green gemstones, I'd suggest going with emerald instead. Shall I get some out for you?"

 

"Don't bother."

 

"You only buy one engagement ring in your life," she attempts to persuade him, still hoping for a smaller upsale. "Why not take a little more time to look first?"

 

"No. This will do," Hyung-Chul states firmly. "I'll take it."

 

 

He hands the ring back to the attendant...

 

"When's the lucky day?" she asks conversationally, looking ahead to potential future sales.

 

"Soon... I'm thinking on her birthday," Hyung-Chul shares his plan. "But I'm not sure... I've heard women want the proposal to be a day all its own."

 

"I think it's a wonderful gift to give on her special day," Kyung-Ri encourages him. "You know, when you came in, I took you as being the 'all-business' type, but you're really quite the romantic."

 

"Actually, I never thought I could be that way myself," he confides, "But after I met Sun-Mi, it's like something blooms inside me whenever I think about her."

 

"That's True Love for you," Kyung-Ri states definitively, "The magic which can create a new person of us. These diamonds are just a symbol of that eternal bond between two people fated for each other."

 

"Exactly," he agrees. "But I have to go now. Thanks for the advice."

 

"It's a pleasure," she replies.

 

Hyung-Chul takes out a credit card from his wallet and passes it to her.

 

"Oh, yes. One more thing... If the ring needs resizing, please have your fiancée stop in. There's no charge," Kyung-Ri informs him, returning back to business. "We also have wedding rings on sale through the end of June. I can give you the best price in Seoul."

 

"I'll remember that," he assures her.

 

"Let me get this wrapped. I'll be back in a few minutes."

 

 

After the attendant leaves, Hyung-Chul takes out his mobile and flips it open.

 

"I wonder what she's doing right now?" he asks himself, then presses Sun-Mi's speed dial number...