AAE -- Wishes Of The Heart

Chapter 239

written by LoveCR2 -- 2005

edited by All-About-AAE -- 2019

 

"Although Fate may have made us for each other, Senior, it also ordained that we'd never be together in this life." -- Jin Sun-Mi

 

 

"The summer rain like teardrops on my window..."

 

The singer on the small stage is languidly crooning Gary Moore's 'With Love (Remember)' to the accompaniment of a four-piece band as Sun-Mi and Hyung-Chul enter the Odyssey Club's Sky Lounge...

 

Noticing the well-dressed couple entering the door, the captain immediately approaches to seat them. Then his face lights up with a smile of recognition...

 

"Chairman Yoon," he greets Hyung-Chul warmly, "Welcome! Your usual table?"

 

He motions for them to follow as he heads across the lounge to an empty table near the stage.

 

"The golden shades of autumn all around us..."

 

Hyung-Chul seats Sun-Mi, before sitting down himself.

 

A waiter sidles up to take their drink orders... "Sir?"

 

"Scotch, straight," Hyung-Chul requests his usual.

 

"And for the lady?"

 

Sun-Mi glances across the table first, before she gives her order, "Ketel One martini, up with a twist, no olive."

 

The waiter nods to acknowledge before moving on, and Sun-Mi studies the lounge décor curiously as they listen to the next verse...

 

"The coldest days of winter draw so close now ..."

 

When the instrumental interlude ensues, she catches Hyung-Chul's eye and remarks...

 

"The last time we were here, it was after Joo-Hee's wedding," she remembers the night from almost three years ago. "It seems that nothing has changed since."

 

"It does feel like déjà vu, doesn't it?" Hyung-Chul agrees, reminiscing, "That night, it was a shock to hear you wanted to go to London."

 

"It wasn't that I wanted to go," she corrects him, "but that I wanted to give you a sense of urgency. I was hoping that you'd propose to mw. So when you instead told me I could go, it was a shock to me, too..."

 

He flashes a slight grin. "I thought that was what you wanted to hear, so when I saw the disappointment in your eyes, I was totally confused about what to say. So I opted to say nothing."

 

Sun-Mi smiles thoughtfully as she reflects on that awkward moment. "Looking back with hindsight, it was probably good what happened. We sidestepped what could have been a real disaster."

 

"Do you really think that?" he asks, surprised by her remark.

 

"Back then, I was so naïve, filling my head with dreams of True Love and living happily-ever-after," she describes her rosy attitude at that time, admitting, "I was immature and idealistic, not ready for the hard realities of marriage, or ready to be a supportive partner... I'd have made your life miserable with my petty behaviors and expectations."

 

Hyung-Chul considers her confession, and makes his own...

 

'Honestly, I wasn't ready to marry either," he declares. "I was too proud and full of myself to compromise, with a lot to learn about myself and how to be a loving husband... I'd have made your life miserable, too."

 

 

Their drinks arrive, and Hyung-Chul raises his glass to touch Sun-Mi's...

 

"Here's to a disaster avoided," he quips humorously...

 

Sun-Mi smiles back as she sips her martini and listens to the end of the song...

 

"... I pray you will remember me with love."

 

 

As the music fades off, the club manager comes over to their table...

 

"Chairman Yoon! ... It's been a long time!"

 

"Manager Kwan, this is Jin Sun-Mi," Hyung-Chul completes the introductions.

 

"Truly a pleasure, Correspondent Jin," the manager recalls her former public status, bowing as he greets her. "It's not every day that we are graced here by such beauty and ability..."

 

Sun-Mi blushes at the effusive flattery, while Hyung-Chul gazes at her adoringly, totally in agreement with the manager's assessment.

 

 

"Food and drinks compliment of the house tonight," Manager Kwan offers, as inducement into his upcoming request... "The stage is open tonight, Chairman. Our guests have always appreciated your efforts."

 

"Sorry," Hyung-Chul declines the offer, then recalls Min-Cho's warning, and gloating ...

 

... 'you'd better be prepared to do your utmost ... I won't back down ... I don't like to lose' ... 'The way I see things, whatever you do is pointless now, there's only one way this works out' ...

 

... and his own response ...

 

... 'This fight isn't over yet. There's another round left, so we'll see who wins in the end!' ...

 

 

"On second thought, there's no such thing as a 'free lunch', right?" Hyung-Chul jokes, looking over to Sun-Mi for approval.

 

"Why not? Go up, Senior, it's been a long time since I heard you sing," she agrees "For old times sake?"

 

"Sure..."

 

Hyung-Chul walks up to the stage and sits down at the piano. Several patrons recognize him, and offer a smattering of applause as encouragement.

 

He taps the mic to be sure it is turned on, and responds to the audience, "Thank you. Tonight I'd like to dedicate this song to a special friend, someone who means everything to me..."

 

He plays the first several bars while introducing his selection, "This is a song by the American performer David Pomeranz, 'Born For You'. I hope you enjoy it..."

 

Hyung-Chul completes the short instrumental intro, then eases into the melody, raising his eyes to look over the piano at Sun-Mi to flash a quick smile.

 

"Too many billion people running around..."

 

Sun-Mi sips her martini introspectively, listening and watching Hyung-Chul as she reminisces about the first time she'd heard him at the piano, on a long ago summer day in Cambridge.

 

The background chatter in the lounge dies off, as people turn their attention to what is proving to be an unexpectedly exceptional performance.

 

"... It was written in the stars..."

 

Hyung-Chul catches Sun-Mi's eye and gives her a playful wink. His focus concentrates totally on Sun-Mi, locking her eyes to his as he sings. The lounge fades to a blur as the music and words pour out from his heart to hers.

 

"... bless the day that I was born for you..."

 

Sun-Mi's eyes are rimming with tears, as her smile beams out all the love in her heart for him too.

 

Hyung-Chul plays the instrumental outro to a full house of applause, dipping his head repeatedly to acknowledge the audience's approval.

 

 

Back at their table, he hands Sun-Mi his handkerchief before he sits down.

 

"Thanks," she croaks over the lump in her throat, daubing at her wet cheeks and eyes.

 

"You're being a real crybaby tonight," he teases.

 

"I do cry too easily," she agrees, "But that song was beautiful, Senior. Thank you for a wonderful moment."

 

 

He decides to take the plunge, and dives in head first ...

 

"Those weren't just words for the moment, Sun-Mi. I honestly believe that we were always destined for each other," he asserts.

 

"I know your feelings, and you know mine, too," she affirms their mutual affection. "Yet... we have to face the cold reality... that although Fate may have made us for each other, Senior, it also ordained we'd never be together in this life..."

 

"But..." he starts to dispute her conclusion.

 

"Our time together is short," she reminds him, "Let's enjoy this moment as it is, and not dwell on tomorrow ..."