AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 235

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2019

 

"I don't know about you, but I love Sun-Mi too much to do nothing, even if it costs me everything." -- Min-Cho Atwater

 

 

MAPO-GU, SEOUL ...

 

"I need your help..."

 

Min-Cho fixes his eyes on the man across the table, as he makes the purpose for their late-night meeting clear...

 

"... concerning Sun-Mi."

 

 

The orange-tarped pojangmacha (street bar) is bustling, most of the flimsy plastic tables occupied with the after-work crowd.

 

Pondering his rival's intent with reasonable suspicion, Hyung-Chul considers his options as he takes a drag on his cigarette...

 

"Help with what?"

 

"A matter that, if Sun-Mi knew about it, she'd be furious," Min-Cho dangles the bait, then downs a shot of soju as he awaits a response.

 

Rather than being deterred, Hyung-Chul is intrigued, "Go on... Let me pour you another." He picks up the bottle of Jinro and fills both shot glasses to the brim.

 

 

"Sun-Mi has decided to leave Seoul. We're flying to Athens after the wedding," Min-Cho passes the information on. "I thought you should know..."

 

Hearing this sends his heart plummeting, but Hyung-Chul keeps a poker face.

 

"She needs time to heal," Min-Cho explains. "I thought returning to Santorini might help the process, like before."

 

 

Hyung-Chul exhales a thin bluish stream of smoke and extinguishes the stub...

 

"It seems you have everything worked out, to your benefit," he remarks acerbically. "So what do you want from me?"

 

"A DNA sample from your brother, Hyung-Jae."

 

 

Hyung-Chul immediately surmises the reason for the request...

 

"You want to prove if Sun-Mi is related to Kim Eun-Ki or not?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Can't you use the test results from her father? Sun-Mi told me she gave them to you for safekeeping."

 

Min-Cho grins, "The truth is, that envelope held only blank paper. There was no DNA test."

 

 

Hyung-Chul chuckles at the successful deception they had played... "Then, it was all for show?"

 

"You know Sun-Mi is something of a drama queen," Min-Cho confirms. "She wanted to make a point with Song Jin-Suk concerning Ha-Eun that day. It was just coincidence that they'd returned the child back to Huh Young-Mi."

 

"Does that change the possibility Kim Eun-Ki is not Sun-Mi's real father?" Hyung-Chul queries.

 

"Unfortunately, no. The circumstantial evidence points to it," Min-Cho attests.

 

 

Hyung-Chul tips up his shot for a swallow.

 

"Why are you pursuing this, when Sun-Mi clearly doesn't want to know?"

 

"As long as it's unresolved, Sun-Mi's recovery from the incident with Kim is questionable," Min-Cho maintains. "And if she can't move forward, that means we're both left hanging in limbo, too."

 

"You're doing this for her sake?"

 

"Absolutely."

 

"It seems more likely you're intent on influencing Sun-Mi toward you," Hyung-Chul calls his rival out. "Why should I do YOU a favor by cutting off MY own head?

 

Min-Cho curls his right hand into a fist, deliberating as to whether he needs to punch some sense into Hyung-Chul, or not...

 

"Because it's ME doing YOU a favor!" he retorts irately, putting his finger pointedly in Hyung-Chul's face. "The truth is, Sun-Mi loves you more than me, but she'll never come to you as long as the possibility regarding Kim exists."

 

The two men glare at each other like stags ready to lock antlers, neither backing down, sizing the chances of coming out on top if the situation escalates from verbal to physical blows.

 

The proprietors' authoritative voice breaks the pending altercation. 'Hey, you two! ... Take it outside, or drop it!"

 

 

Hyung-Chul is first to offer a grudging fig leaf...

 

"There's a third possibility," he brings up an alternative. "Sun-Mi hates being the last to know. What you're proposing could break her trust completely."

 

"That's a risk we'll have to face," Min-Cho acknowledges, throwing caution to the wind, "I don't know about you, but I love Sun-Mi too much to do nothing, even if it costs me everything."

 

The challenge stings Hyung-Chul, as had Min-Cho's accusation of his doing nothing after 9/11...

 

"All right. I'll get the sample tomorrow," he promises. "When will you know the results?"

 

"If expedited, the day of the wedding," Min-Cho estimates the required time. "Before that, not a word to Sun-Mi, agreed?"

 

"Agreed... But until then, it appears you have the advantage over me," Hyung-Chul remarks at the disparity in their access to Sun-Mi.

 

"Since I'm playing 'catch-up', I'd call it an even playing field," Min-Cho gives his perspective. "And you can be sure I'll press any advantage to trade places in line with you," he declares his intent to win Sun-Mi's heart. "If Kim is actually her father, Sun-Mi will need assurance someone is standing beside her."

 

Grudgingly, Hyung-Chul accedes that Min-Cho has a point. "Okay, but what if Kim is not?"

 

"Then be prepared to stake your claim," Min-Cho tosses the gauntlet. "Even in second place, I won't back down... I don't like to lose."

 

"Fair enough," Hyung-Chul accepts the challenge, extending his hand across the table. "I don't like to lose, either. May the better man win."

 

 

They shake on that understanding.

 

"But to be fair, we each should have an equal chance to be the one to deliver the news to Sun-Mi," Hyung-Chul proposes.

 

 

"Then, let's flip for it," Min-Cho agrees, suggesting an impartial arbiter.

 

He takes a 100-won coin from his pocket, and with a flick of his thumb, flips it, spinning, up into the air...

 

"Your call..."