AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 202

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2019

 

"I want to seek out the true dream for my life, while I have the chance. It may take a long time, perhaps this entire life." --- Jin Sun-Mi

 

 

THE NEXT MORNING ...

 

Hyung-Chul's eyes drift open slowly. Something -- a noise, or perhaps the sunlight filtering through the window curtains -- had awakened him.

 

A dull pain throbbing in his temples reminds him of the night's overindulgence.

 

... 'It's the alcohol ... next time, don't drink so much' ... the admonishment pops into his mind.

 

"Sun-Mi?"

 

 

He turns his head, looking to his side. The space in the bed next to him is empty, the bedcovers neatly laid flat and unmussed.

 

... was it just a wonderful dream, that she'd shared his bed, made passionate love to him in his arms? ...

 

 

His white bathrobe draped over the foot of the bed triggers a memory -- the picture he'd taken with his eyes -- separating dream from reality.

 

"Sun-Mi? Are you here?"

 

... maybe she's in the bathroom, and can't hear him ...

 

 

Hyung-Chul sits up in the bed, the sudden motion causing the agony in his head to spike. He grabs the robe and puts it on before easing onto his feet.

 

Entering the kitchen area, he notices that the bathroom door is open. No one in there. No sign of Sun-Mi at all...

 

Then he sees the thermos on the kitchen counter by the sink, and walks over to investigate. Next to the thermos is a note, written in Sun-Mi's neat hand, under a set of car keys -- his BMW's.

 

He picks up the paper, hearing her dulcet voice in his thoughts as he reads...

 

 

Senior --

 

I prepared some medicine for you. Dried polluck soup -- it's the best for a hangover. Next time, don't drink so much.

 

This isn't how I wanted to give you the news, but now I have no choice. In a few days, I'm resigning as Chairwoman, and recommending your election in my place. Ha Jin-Woo has agreed to stay on and assist you, until the transition is completed. I hope you will see to continue my vision for the future of MBS.

 

As for you and me, I'm leaving not because of you, but because of me. I'm not the person you think I am -- I never was -- and I can't be the person you need to have beside you.

 

I want to seek out the true dream for my life, while I have the chance. It may take a long time, perhaps this entire life.

 

I will remember everything and take care of it, so you can forget it all. Forget me, and go on to fulfill your destiny. Please do this, for my sake, so I won't have to look back and think that our time together was wrong.

 

I hope you will be happy. Senior, you have to be happy.

 

-- Jin Sun-Mi

 

 

For a full minute, he stares at the note, rereading it repeatedly, while his heart sinks under the weight of the words...

 

... how could he ever be happy without her? ...

 

 

His mobile phone is on the counter, where she must have put it after removing his suit jacket. He picks it up and presses the speed-dial for Sun-Mi's mobile number.

 

A pleasant female voice answers, informing him, "We're sorry, but the person you are calling is unavailable. Please leave a message..."

 

He hangs up and immediately calls Sun-Mi's home number...

 

Another female voice answers, not so pleasantly, "The number you are calling has been disconnected. Goodbye."

 

Frustrated, Hyung-Chul next calls her office number, praying to get through....

 

 

After two rings, Miss Yeom Soo-A picks up, speaking with a cheerful voice, "Chairwoman Jin Sun-Mi's office. How may I help you?"

 

"This is Director Yoon," he barks irritably. "I want to speak with the Chairwoman!"

 

"I'm sorry, Sir, but she's not in the office, and is unavailable," Soo-A uses one of her stock answers.

 

"Do you know where she is?"

 

"No. I haven't heard from her, except a message left on my voice mail, that she is unavailable today."

 

"Do you know when she'll BE available?" he says harshly, taking out his ire on the hapless assistant.

 

The response is unflappable, "Just a moment, Director, while I check her schedule..."

 

Hyung-Chul stews impatiently, while Soo-A checks.

 

"Director?" she comes back on the line. "It's quite odd..."

 

"What?"

 

"After tomorrow," she reports, "the Chairwoman's schedule... ends..."

 

"Then you don't know what's happening, either?"

 

"I'm sure it must be a glitch in the program," Soo-A assures him. "May I take a message?"

 

"Tell her that... no, forget it, I'll contact the Chairwoman again, later," he declines, not knowing what to say through her assistant.

 

 

The accusations scold him mercilessly ... he should have seen this coming ... Sun-Mi was telling him this, in so many words last night ... he should have realized what she intended ... he may never see her again ...

 

 

"Very well, have a good day, Director," Soo-A says after a respectful pause...

 

"No... please... Don't hang up..." Changing his mind, Hyung-Chul hurriedly speaks up...

 

"Tell Sun-Mi that I'll wait. However long it takes, I promise, I'll wait for her..."