AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 224

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2019

 

"I'm grateful, Senior. Because of these circumstances, I've realized that life isn't the same without you by my side." --Jin Sun-Mi

 

 

BUKHANSAN NATIONAL PARK, GYEONGGI-DO ...

 

"It's so peaceful here, and beautiful..."

 

Sun-Mi remarks on the vista of lush green mountains spread out before her...

 

"Isn't it just wonderful, Senior?"

 

 

Hyung-Chul smiles at her enthusiasm, recalling Sun-Mi's description on their previous visit...

 

... 'this is the kind of magical place where perfect memories are made ... where I could dream I was whatever I wanted to be, do whatever I wanted to do' ...

 

"It's good to see you so relaxed and cheerful," he replies.

 

 

She loops her arm around his, resting her head against his shoulder as they sit together on the narrow perch high on the rock face.

 

"Thanks for suggesting we come together today... What made you think about it?"

 

"I'll be busy once I start work," he reminds her of the coming change in his lifestyle. "Soon I won't have as many free days to go out on dates with you."

 

"Who said we were dating?" she huffily rebuffs his assertion. "I don't remember that."

 

"I thought it was settled already," he replies humorously, "We go out on dates, but you forget that we're dating, right?"

 

 

Sun-Mi smiles slightly at the joke, because there is some truth in it...

 

"Do you know what you'll be doing, as Ha Jin-Woo is MBS Chairman now?" she asks, curious about any developments.

 

"I'm still considering the options," he shares, holding back the news of his assignment to London, to gauge her feelings first. "The Executive Committee is suggesting an international posting to broaden my experience. What do you think?"

 

"It sounds like a good opportunity. I learned so much working in London and New York," she approves, then offers advice, "But you need to improve your English first."

 

"Oh?" He is disappointed she so readily agrees, even to 'helpfully' pointing out a deficit in his abilities.

 

"You have a strong accent," she notes, recommending a solution, "but some time with Min-Cho's language tutor DORIS can fix that."

 

"Anything else?" he grumbles, irritated that her solution is for him to seek help from his rival for her affections.

 

"Yes. If you do go ... I'll miss you," she replies, adding thoughtfully, "I'm grateful for you, Senior. Because of these circumstances, I've realized that life isn't the same without you by my side."

 

... words that ease his jealousy instantly ...

 

Sun-Mi looks at him impishly, "Did you know? You're my CSO now."

 

His eyebrow rises inquisitively... "CSO?"

 

"Chief Supportive Officer," she explains her newly-coined acronym for his place in her life.

 

Hyung-Chul grins happily, "You mean, I got a promotion?"

 

"Umm..." she affirms. "For carrying me safely over a really rough spot these past two weeks."

 

 

He reflects on what had happened since they made the trip to Sindu-ri, "Your Mum put you through a wringer all that time, pretending a heart attack, refusing to see you, and practically disowning you... then to suddenly do an about-face, and want to spend the day with Ha-Eun... that's a lot to deal with."

 

"Daddy said to be patient, that Mom would come around eventually," Sun-Mi credits her father's advice. "So I should be happy. But for some reason, I'm still apprehensive, that it's too good to be true."

 

"Why is that?"

 

"It's just a gut feeling ... All this time, Mom hadn't forgiven Young-Mi, and now out of the blue she takes Ha-Eun up to visit Young-Mi as if everything is suddenly all right?"

 

"Maybe that feeling is your empty stomach complaining," he gently suggests an alternative explanation. "It's mid-afternoon, and you skipped breakfast. Let's eat our lunch... I'm starving!"

 

"Sure," she humors him, "But I don't have much appetite."

 

 

Sun-Mi takes their lunch box out from her backpack along with a package of damp wipes, as Hyung-Chul produces their water bottles from his shoulder bag.

 

"Here, Senior," she politely offers, holding out the lunch box after they'd wiped their hands clean. "Since you're hungry, you go first."

 

Inside the lunch box, the kimbap she'd prepared fresh that morning looks tempting. He takes the box from her hand and selects a piece, but doesn't eat.

 

"You'd better go first, or you may not get anything," he advises, referring back to the day on the bank of the River Cam when he ate her entire picnic lunch while she was studying English.

 

"No, you eat it," she insists.

 

"Once I taste your delicious kimbap, there may be no stopping me," he threatens jokingly, holding the kimbap out for her. "Here."

 

 

The sight and aroma is enticing, rousing pangs of hunger as her stomach rumbles for satisfaction. But as Sun-Mi reaches for the treat, he pulls it back teasingly.

 

"Senior! Why tempt me, then take it away?" she sulks, irritated by his game playing.

 

"Just testing my theory that you were actually hungry, but didn�t want to admit it."

 

"So?"

 

"This seems to be a pattern. What other things do you want, but won't admit to, Miss Jin Sun-Mi?" Hyung-Chul asks the question rhetorically.

 

"What on earth are you talking about?" she retorts impatiently, not interested in a discussion about her psyche. "I thought it's just lunch."

 

"If you say so," he allows, moving the tasty morsel closer again, so it almost touches her lips, making it clear he intends to feed her, in a deliberate repeat of what he'd done their previous time here.

 

She glances from the kimbap to his face, to discern if he is still teasing. But the intensity in his eyes makes it clear this is no joke...

 

Sun-Mi's heart leaps, even as her mind urges caution... She hesitates, debating his motives, uncertain of how to respond.

 

"Go on... Eat it," his command makes the choice clear for her.

 

Sun-Mi acquiesces, slowly eating from his hand, though she keeps her eyes fastened on his for the slightest hint of what he is up to.

 

 

When the last bit is finished, Hyung-Chul leans closer, focused intently. He tilts his head a little to the side, as if scrutinizing something. Then his lips slowly curve into a roguish grin...

 

"You have something on your mouth," he informs her. "Let me take care of it for you."

 

Sun-Mi nods, tilting her face up and closing her eyes, as she had before...

 

That time she had anticipated experiencing, with an avid but na�ve imagination, a magical, perfect moment -- True Love's first kiss -- and been disappointed.

 

This time she in under no illusions, tempering her expectations, waiting to see what happens.

 

 

His touch comes a moment later, a light, tentative brush across her lips as before, but not with his fingers...

 

When nothing more materializes, she opens her eyes. Seeing that he is still focused on her, she snaps irritably, "Senior, what do you think you're doing?"

 

Surprised at her brusque reaction, he blinks and pulls back, unsure...

 

"Umm... I was just..." he stammers, then with a deep breath squares his mind and starts over, "Sorry, that was presumptuous of me."

 

 

Sun-Mi sighs, frustrated. "I'm not looking for an apology," she clarifies. "It's just that, if you're going to kiss me, do it right! I'm not some fragile flower that is easily bruised. Either show a little enthusiasm, or don't bother at all!"

 

Her frank remarks take Hyung-Chul aback...

 

"I'm confused," he confesses. "On one hand, I have the feeling that you want to move forward with me..."

 

"That's right," she agrees succinctly

 

"While on the other, you seem to insist that we have no future together."

 

"Didn't I say I want to enjoy the times together, without making promises for the future?" she reminds him of their previous conversation.

 

"But when strong feelings are involved, that's not easy to do," he counters realistically.

 

"It's not as if you and I haven't kissed before," she contends. "Or that I haven't kissed other men, too. Why can't a kiss be just a kiss?"

 

"This isn't like you," he replies.

 

"You're right... I'm not the person I was the last time we were here," she acknowledges. "In these past three years, I've learned that life is too short to live half-way. I want to live each day to the fullest, without regrets, and not hold back."

 

"How to do that?" he asks. "Where do we go next?"

 

Sun-Mi smiles...

 

"It's simple," she answers. "We start where we'd be if you'd just kissed me properly in the first place..."

 

She brings her mouth closer to his, almost touching, and closes her eyes...