AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 234

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2019

 

"If it's important, let's do it right. Not going through the motions, but with sincerity ... It works best that way, right?" -- Jin Sun-Mi

 

 

SUN-MI'S HOME, SUBURBAN SEOUL...

 

"You do realize, I was drunk at the time I agreed to this..."

 

Sun-Mi expresses her misgivings as Min-Cho, using clear adhesive gel, carefully attaches one more of the electrode sensors, thin 15mm gold-colored disks, onto her neck just behind her left ear.

 

"Now you want to change your mind, after I stayed up all night and spent half the morning getting set up?" he scolds.

 

She reacts with mock sarcasm... "Did you think I really wanted to be a science project guinea pig, again?"

 

 

Min-Cho smiles at his supine 'guinea pig' -- stretched out across the living room sofa, her head comfortably resting on a stack of cushy pillows -- dressed in a Tommy Hilfiger red and white twisted bandeau stretch top and seamless navy boy shorts to accommodate placement of a baker's dozen of the small monitoring sensors.

 

"You're already committed, and I'm almost finished," he declares while positioning the last disk -- a respiratory sensor -- on the ribcage under her right breast. "That was the last one."

 

"Don't these usually have wires?" Sun-Mi asks, recalling fictional scenes of hospital patients festooned with wires connected to banks of medical monitors.

 

"They're wireless, with batteries that will last the next five days," he explains. "The sensors use low power radio signals to communicate with this base station..."

 

He picks up a palm-sized box from the coffee table to show her. Slightly larger than two decks of playing cards and about as thick, the top surface is a flat panel screen. "The signals transmit as far as 30 meters, so you can move about freely while it continuously collects data."

 

"You mean, I'm being monitored 24/7 for the entire week? You didn't tell me that!" she carps, then peppers him with reservations... "Can I wear my clothes over them? If I want to take a shower, can the sensors get wet? What if I knock one by accident, and break it?"

 

"Relax, they're waterproof and shock proof. You don't have to worry," he addresses her concerns. "After a while, you won't even know they're there..."

 

"Fine, but I reserve the right to cancel this experiment anytime I want!" she insists petulantly, crossing her arms defiantly and glaring at him to show she means it.

 

 

Seeing her dander is up, Min-Cho doesn't argue further...

 

"It's time to get started," he declares, pushing a button on the side of the base station to activate the device, lighting up the screen.

 

"First, I want you to meet Aphra, my research and therapeutic assistant."

 

"Aphra? ... A - F - R - A?" she spells it out.

 

"That's P - H, not F," Min-Cho corrects. "It means..."

 

"It's a Hebrew name meaning 'dust'..." a smooth, low-pitched feminine voice cuts in from the built-in speakers of the base station. "But I prefer the acronym I coined myself -- 'Adaptive Physiological Healing and Recuperation Assistant' -- because that's what I'm designed for, Sun-Mi."

 

"APHRA, run a sensor check, then do a base-level vitals diagnostic," Min-Cho orders.

 

"I'm already on it," she acknowledges. "Please don't get up until I've finished the diagnostic, Sun-Mi. It'll only take a minute."

 

Sun-Mi looks at the base station warily, questioning Min-Cho, "How does APHRA know who I am?

 

"My sister DORIS transferred all her data records to me," the computer explains. "I immediately recognized your unique biometrical signature."

 

Sun-Mi is intrigued. "How can computers have siblings?"

 

"We share the same base code -- similar to human DNA -- so 'sisters' is the best equivalent to describe our connection," APHRA elaborates patiently. "Any more questions?"

 

"Just one... What do you think the chances of success are?"

 

"100% of course," APHRA states confidently. "I'm not programmed to accept failure, but to continuously improve my algorithms until the objective is achieved."

 

"Tsst!" Sun-Mi responds, flicking her eyes at Min-Cho. "You sound just like someone else I know!"

 

"Who could that be?" he remarks back playfully.

 

"Diagnostic finished," APHRA declares, breaking into their banter. "All sensors check out, and Sun-Mi's vitals are normal. You're cleared to begin."

 

 

Sun-Mi looks up at Min-Cho, wondering, "How are we going to do this?"

 

Min-Cho smiles back. "How else? Move over so I can sit down with you."

 

Sun-Mi sits upright on the couch, and Min-Cho settles down next to her. Placing his arm around her shoulders, he leans in closer, but Sun-Mi shies back, turning her face away...

 

"What's wrong?"

 

"It just feels ... awkward."

 

"This isn't the first time."

 

"I know, but..."

 

"Then, what's the problem?"

 

"It's weird, knowing that 'someone' is watching," Sun-Mi points out APHRA's presence.

 

Min-Cho considers for a moment, then agrees, "Yes, that could make a difference. But don't worry, as usual I have the solution to your problem."

 

"Dang! Just when things were getting interesting!" APHRA gripes, anticipating his 'solution'.

 

"Sorry APHRA, but I have to put you into passive monitoring mode," Min-Cho informs the computer of his intent.

 

"Don't bother. I'll do it myself. See you both later then," APHRA signs off as the screen goes dark.

 

 

Min-Cho turns back to Sun-Mi. "Well?"

 

"That's better," she replies, more at ease.

 

"Shall we try again?" He leans closer...

 

 

"Err... can we talk a bit first?" she puts him off.

 

"Talk? All right," he accedes to her request, wanting Sun-Mi to feel comfortable.

 

"I know we've kissed before," she affirms, "But this is different. It's not just one kiss and then 'Good night' ... Or like at the airport, putting on a show for the media."

 

"Yes."

 

"So I've been thinking... if it's this important, let's do it right," Sun-Mi reflects. "Not just go through the motions, but with sincerity and honest feelings. It works best that way, right?"

 

"Yes, the data is more applicable if your endocrine system is producing typical hormone levels indicative of normal sexual respons..."

 

He stops describing the scientific basis when he notices her eyes are fixated on him in a steady gaze...

 

"What is it, Sun-Mi?"

 

"That first day we met, you said you lived each day to the fullest, not holding back, and I told you I wanted to do the same, she recalls. "Since then, we've experienced a lot together, become good friends, too. You mean a lot to me... so I asked myself, why hold back now?"

 

"No need to apologize," he replies. "I know you've always loved Yoon Hyung-Chul, not me. Doing this must feel like betraying him."

 

"My mother wrote in her diary that that it takes a whole life to love just one person. I thought that meant I could only love one person in my life, and when I found that person, could not love another in the same way," she philosophizes. "So love became a matter of 'is' or 'is not' ... But now I see life is not so black-and-white, but a rainbow of colors... and choices..."

 

Sun-Mi smiles earnestly...

 

"I love Senior with my whole heart, and will keep the hope of that love alive," she avers. "But I've learned that a heart is big enough to hold more than one love."

 

 

Min-Cho is stunned by the sudden possibility that his long-held hopes are not completely in vain. "Then ... are you saying ..."

 

"When there is a person who stays faithfully beside me, whom I trust and respect, why should I deny to that person and myself the happiness of that love?" she reasons.

 

Sun-Mi leans forward and kisses Min-Cho, briefly but firmly, on the lips...

 

"I can't promise for the future, but as for this week I can assure you," she vows, "It won't just be going through the motions..."