AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 219

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2019

 

"How could you believe I'd deliberately keep a father from knowing he had a child, even for a day?" -- Jin Sun-Mi

 

 

PYEONGCHANG-DONG, SEOUL ...

 

"... and then, P.I. Nam told me that Sun-Mi slapped Hyung-Chul!" ...

 

Sun-Dal's voice is incredulous as he repeats the private investigator's description of the scene in the lane behind CREAM Cake House.

 

What?!" Joo-Hee puts down her teacup and gapes across the patio table at her husband. "Did he say why?"

 

Sun-Dal settles into the chair opposite Joo-Hee first, before answering...

 

"He was too far away to hear what they were arguing about," he relates the uncertainty of the situation. "But earlier, in the caf�, apparently Sun-Mi got upset over his performing 'career' and stormed out, with Hyung-Chul on her tail."

 

"What happened next?"

 

"He told me that Hyung-Chul dragged Sun-Mi, against her will, off to Dosan Park. P.I. Nam followed them to the gate, but said it was too risky to go inside, so he can't say what they did afterward."

 

 

"This doesn't sound good," Joo-Hee moans.

 

"Don't jump to conclusions. They might still work it out," Sun-Dal holds out the possibility of a positive outcome. "I asked Nam to wait by the park entrance, and report how they leave, together or separately."

 

"Still, maybe I shouldn't have intervened," she second-guesses herself. "But I couldn't watch Hyung-Chul continue to waste his potential pining over her. Somebody had to do something!" she justifies her decision to get involved.

 

"You did what you thought was right," Sun-Dal agrees supportively.

 

"I was too optimistic, playing Fairy Godmother in a Cinderella story," she admits. "How can two people make love so complicated?"

 

"It's up to them to use the opportunity you provided," he states encouragingly. "What happens isn't your fault."

 

 

Joo-Hee smiles at her husband lovingly, "I just wanted Hyung-Chul and Sun-Mi to find the same blessings we've found."

 

"Yes, we are truly blessed," he replies, gazing at his wife adoringly. "Me and you, sharing a true lifetime Love Story..."

 

"Do you really mean that?" Joo-Hee asks, warmed by his declaration of steadfast love.

 

"I'm the happiest man alive, to have the gorgeous and talented Yoo Joo-Hee as my wife and the mother of my children," he praises her.

 

Though she is wearing a simple Chloe blue floral shirt dress, with only a touch of lipstick for makeup and her hair pulled back into a loose ponytail, Joo-Hee seems just as beautiful as when she was dressed to the nines as a newscaster, with professional makeup and hair stylists.

 

"Tsst... Sweet words!" she hisses at his blatant flattery, while basking in his admiration.

 

Sun-Dal reaches across the table to take Joo-Hee's hand. He stands, and assists her to her feet.

 

"Dae-Woong just went down for his nap, and it'll be an hour before the nanny is back from the park with the kids. Why don't we go inside first, and I'll give you more words like those?" he suggests with a devilish grin.

 

His hands slide down the sides of her torso and circle her waist, still as slender as before she'd borne two children. In response, she cozies her lithe body up against his solid bulk.

 

He whispers something into her ear, and Joo-Hee giggles as they step into the house together...

 

She answers with a sparkle in her eyes, "Now, that's exactly what I was hoping you'd say..."

 

 

 

DOSAN PARK, GANGNAM ...

 

"Stop it, Senior! ... People are staring!" ...

 

Sun-Mi persists in her complaints as Hyung-Chul drags her at a brisk pace across the open plaza in the center of the park...

 

"Let me go! ..."

 

 

When he doesn't respond, Sun-Mi stops resisting, and tries another tack...

 

"Please ... It hurts ... My foot."

 

Hyung-Chul stops and releases his iron grip, asking with guilty concern, "What's wrong?"

 

"I twisted it a little," she explains, "Back, by the park entrance... My heel slipped."

 

 

He looks at her guiltily. "I didn't know. Why didn't you say something earlier?"

 

"You weren't listening to me anyway," Sun-Mi admonishes him. "Why would I think you'd care?"

 

Hyung-Chul is surprised ... doesn't she know that he cares for her more than life itself? ...

 

 

"Lean on me," he offers assistance. "I'll help you to that bench."

 

He puts his arm around her shoulders to support her weight, They head for the perimeter of the plaza, slowly now, with Sun-Mi favoring her right leg. At the bench, he steadies her as she sits down.

 

"Thanks, that's better," Sun-Mi says gratefully with the weight off her feet.

 

 

Hyung-Chul kneels in front of her and slips her pump off.

 

"Senior... what are you doing?" she reacts, embarrassed by his attentions.

 

"Where does it hurt?" he queries as he slowly rotates her ankle and gently presses in different places on her foot, while watching her face.

 

"It's not that bad. Really, I'm okay," she tries to play down the injury.

 

 

When he sees her grimace slightly, he stops probing...

 

"It's a slight sprain, in the foot. You have a little swelling, here," he touches lightly, stating his diagnosis. He put her foot back into the shoe, suggesting as he stands up. "You probably should stay off it for a day or so, though, until the swelling goes down."

 

"Yes, Doctor," Sun-Mi takes his advice humorously, looking up at him with an inviting smile.

 

Hyung-Chul accepts the invitation and sits beside her.

 

 

Earlier, about that..." she brings up what had precipitated their present situation.

 

He puts his hand to his cheek and quips, "I probably should keep my mouth shut for a day or so, too, until the swelling goes down."

 

Sun-Mi smiles at his joke, then says seriously, "I think we need to clear some things up."

 

Hyung-Chul nods. "Okay, you go first."

 

"What kind of person do you think I am? Someone like Young-Mi, who seduces any man she fancies?" she accuses him. "And how could you believe I'd deliberately keep a father from knowing he had a child, even for a day? ... The idea is so offensive!"

 

"But you've been so secretive about this, what was I supposed to think?" he justifies himself.

 

"That you knew me well enough to trust me without making judgments," she replies.

 

"Even when you kept saying that I don't know you at all? You can't have it both ways," he reasons.

 

 

Sun-Mi ponders that for a moment...

 

"So I overreacted," she agrees. "I owe you an apology, too."

 

"I'm not asking for an apology, just an explanation."

 

"Why is it so important to you? Or anyone, for that matter?"

 

"Don't you think that others will have the same questions?" he reminds her.

 

"But it's nobody's business but mine!" she argues doggedly. "I don't care what anyone thinks! All that matters, is that I'm her mother now..."

 

 

"Wait a minute, what you said ... 'Now'... Was it an adoption?"

 

The fleeting flicker in Sun-Mi's face tells Hyung-Chul that he'd hit the nail on the head...

 

"I'm right, aren't I?" he presses. "Your expression gave you away, so 'fess up."

 

 

Sun-Mi sighs...

 

"Yes, Ha-Eun is adopted. I brought her home from the orphanage at the beginning of the year."

 

 

Hyung-Chul grins, triumphant that he'd solved the puzzle...

 

"There's nothing wrong with adopting. It's commendable, in fact. So why all the secrecy?" he queries. "What is it you're really hiding?"