AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 214

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2019

 

"Honestly, everywhere I go, her face still haunts me. I don't think I'll ever get over Sun-Mi, as long as I live." -- Yoon Hyung-Chul

 

 

ODYSSEY CLUB, SEONGNAM ... FOUR MONTHS LATER ...

 

"Another time, another place.

The lonely streets where we embraced.

Then you would go without a trace.

Nothing's the same without you...

 

 

Jin-Woo sips his Old Fashioned, listening to a live cover of Belfast-born guitarist Gary Moore's 1992 blue's song, 'Nothing's the Same'.

 

Unusually packed for a weeknight, the dimly lit club's air is clouded with cigarette smoke.

 

"Another day goes passing by

I sit alone and wonder why.

Sometimes it's hard, but I will try

to live my life without you...

 

 

He smiles across the table at Lee Soo-Hee.

 

In response, she coyly lowers her eyes to the half-consumed Pink Lady cocktail in her hand.

 

He leans forward, resting his elbows on the table and his chin on his hands, fixing a steady gaze on her as the male soloist croons...

 

"You're in my heart, you're in my dreams.

You're everywhere or so it seems.

So many times I've heard that song.

Hold back the tears, pretend you're strong..."

 

 

The crowded club is warmer than the June evening outside, so Soo-Hee had removed the bright peach blazer she'd worn at the office -- draping it over the back of her chair -- revealing an ivory stretch silk camisole that clings to her feminine curves and bares a shapely nape, shoulders, and prominent collarbones.

 

His eyes rest briefly on the plunging "V" of her decolletage, before lifting to focus on her face, as he contemplates the outcome of a total makeover...

 

The past week, Soo-Hee had suddenly adopted a new 'look', trimming her long hair to a short 'Audrey Hepburn' bob and adding auburn highlights, changing her makeup to bolder, defining colors, replacing a wardrobe of conservative cut, neutral suits for a rainbow of fashion-forward, pastel dresses and separates with short flirty skirts, and stepping out of a collection of stolid, practical pumps into sleek stilettos and strappy sandals.

 

Under his lingering scrutiny, Soo-Hee blushes self-consciously, her glossed ruby lips curving in an uneasy smile...

 

"Another day goes slowly by.

I sit alone and wonder why.

I think of you, I start to cry.

Nothing's the same without you..."

 

 

"Why are you staring at me like that?" she finally speaks up during the instrumental interlude. "Don't you have anything to say?"

 

"All these changes... why now?" he asks the question percolating at the top of his mind.

 

"It was on a whim, just for summer," she offers something plausible.

 

"You should think about making it permanent,' Jin-Woo suggests. "You look nice this way."

 

Without looking up, she answers diffidently, "Do I, really?"

 

"Yes, really..."

 

The end of the interlude interrupts their conversation, as the next verse begins...

 

Another time, another place.

The sweetness of our last embrace.

What would I give to see your face.

Nothing's the same without you...

 

Nothing's the same.

Nothing's the same...

 

Nothing's the same without you.

 

 

At the end of the final refrain, the lead guitarist licks into a wailing guitar solo, voiced over the rhythm.

 

"Soo-Hee?" Jin-Woo speaks up, over the music, to continue their conversation...

 

Her eyes are fixed on the singer / keyboardist, a tall, lanky man with a mane of disheveled hair, dressed all in black and sporting dark aviator shades, jamming the outro with the rest of the band.

 

"Soo-Hee?" he tries again to get her attention...

 

"Yes?" she answers absently. "What is it?"

 

"There's something I've wanted to say to you, for a long time... about us...

 

"Can it wait a minute?" she requests as she raises her hand, waving to the singer as the music fades.

 

 

The man takes off his glasses, revealing dark, brooding eyes deep-set in a face shadowed by a two-day stubble...

 

Then a spark of recognition lights... "Lee Soo-Hee?" he exclaims. "Is it really you?"

 

"Chairman Yoon, it's been a long time," she addresses him with his former corporate status, rising to her feet out of habit. "Come over and join us!"

 

 

Accepting the invitation, Hyung-Chul saunters to their table, openly admiring the elongated line of Soo-Hee's willowy legs from abbreviated hem to elevated heels...

 

"What've you done to yourself? I hardly recognized you," he compliments her with an approving smile. "Where's my prim-and-proper assistant?"

 

She smiles back, her eyes sparkling. "I took some advice from a friend... that it was finally time for a change," she explains enthusiastically.

 

"It was good advice... If you were my girl, I'd be concerned some other guy might just walk up and try to steal you away," Hyung-Chul jokes, giving her a wink.

 

Then he notices the tense line of Jin-Woo's mouth and the cold, jealous glare in his eye, and begs off, "But I don't want to impose. Nice to see you both again."

 

 

But Jin-Woo, responding reluctantly to Soo-Hee's silent appeal, lightens up his defensive stance...

 

"It's no interruption. Have a seat, Chairman, and share a drink," he offers.

 

 

Hyung-Chul gives a nod to the nearby wait staff and pulls up a nearby empty chair to the table...

 

"Please drop the formalities," he requests, settling down, "That's a life I've put behind me."

 

"I didn't know you were so talented," Soo-Hee raves, gazing at him with admiration. "Your voice is amazing!"

 

"You give me too much credit," Hyung-Chul deflects the praise.

 

"I'm impressed, too," Jin-Woo chimes in, not wanting to be left out of the conversation. "How long have you been performing like this?"

 

"I did some London street busking in my free time, back when I was reading at Cambridge," Hyung-Chul discloses his history. "Music was something I've wanted to try again, so I did some auditions, and got a regular gig here a few months ago."

 

 

A waiter arrives with a double whiskey for Hyung-Chul, and replacements for Soo-Hee's and Jin-Woo's depleted drinks.

 

"This round is on me," he informs them, raising his glass and declaring, "To old friends..."

 

 

"How are you doing?" Soo-Hee asks after they share in the toast, concerned about his gaunt appearance. "I've been worried since you resigned."

 

"No need to worry, I'm a happy man," Hyung-Chul replies with a broad smile. "I can come and go as I please without the corporate burden on my head, and I certainly don't miss the office politics."

 

"I talked with your father recently. He's retiring soon," Jin-Woo purposely reports what Yoon Jong-Ki had expressed... "Mun-Yung needs new, dynamic leadership. You should consider stepping up to take his place as Chairman."

 

Hearing this brings a frown to Hyung-Chul's face...

 

"All my life, my identity has been tied to my place in the line of succession," he gives his negative perspective of the suggestion. "But now, I'm just another person. You can't understand how freeing it is, to put all that behind me... Why would I ever want to go back?"

 

 

Despite Hyung-Chul's assertion, Jin-Woo presses on, "If that's how you feel, then why did you come back to lead MBS?"

 

"I did it only because of someone, and since that person is no longer here, I don't need to keep up the charade any longer," Hyung-Chul answers honestly. "So now I intend to pursue my own dreams, in my own way."

 

"Good for you!" Soo-Hee adds her support, knowing how miserable he'd been after Sun-Mi had left. "I understand your feelings exactly ... having to work each day in a place that carries fond memories, realizing it will never be the same anymore."

 

"Are you speaking from personal experience?" Jin-Woo remarks enviously, suspicious of the closeness of Soo-Hee's former relationship with her boss, and the unexpected possibility of it rekindling.

 

Upset by his accusatory attitude, she fires back. "Honestly, if you want to know... MBS just isn't the same without Yoon Hyung-Chul!"

 

Eye meets eye across the table, glaring through an icy barrier that hadn't been there a minute ago...

 

"Then I'll leave you two to reminisce on the good old days," Jin-Woo grouses, abruptly getting up to leave. "Thanks for the drink, Chairman."

 

 

As Jin-Woo storms off, Soo-Hee looks at Hyung-Chul and smiles conspiratorially.

 

"Do you think Jin-Woo caught on?" he asks.

 

"I'm sure he has no idea why I wanted to come here tonight," she affirms.

 

"All it takes is the threat of a little competition to awaken a man's awareness," Hyung-Chul asserts. "I'll be happy when you two are finally together."

 

 

"How about you?" Soo-Hee asks sympathetically. "Are you really happy now, without Sun-Mi?"

 

"What does it look like to you?" he grins jokily.

 

"Like you're forcing it," she opines astutely.

 

He sighs tiredly, dropping the pretense. "Honestly, everywhere I go, her face still haunts me. I don't think 'll ever get over Sun-Mi, as long as I live."

 

"Some people claim that going back where memories were made, to acknowledge and release them, can help," Soo-Hee advises. "By celebrating the past, instead of repressing it, the burden is lifted."

 

Hyung-Chul is doubtful. "Do you really think that works?"

 

"Isn't it worth a try?" she considers it feasible. "Tell me... what place holds your fondest memories of Sun-Mi?"

 

"The gate outside her house," he answers immediately. "That was the last place every day I saw her, the picture I held in my heart through the night and next morning, until I could see her again."

 

"Then go there, and see what happens," Soo-Hee encourages him.

 

"Sure, I'll do it," he agrees, though not convinced. "But what about you and Ha Jin-Woo now? He seemed pretty upset."

 

"I have a solution for that," she replies, then confides jokingly, "When he comes back, I'll ask him to marry me."

 

 

They share a laugh over that, then Hyung-Chul raises his glass to toast, "Here's to a better tomorrow, for both of us."

 

"For both of us," she echoes.