AAE Beyond the Rainbow
Author: Margie L


Driving slowly along the dark stretch of road, the pretty lass sitting behind the wheel of the car was paying full attention to her driving. She hated driving along this road, particularly late at night. But it was either this or staying the night at the hospital -- which was something she'd prefer to avoid at all costs.

She did not feel like having another confrontation with Woo Jin. She found they had been steadily drifting apart. Their disagreements too, have been getting more frequent and heated. The thought of breaking off their engagement had even crossed her mind. She knew she should give him the benefit of the doubt, but there is no smoke without a fire. Further, she had even seen with her own eyes, Young Mi furtively leaving Woo Jin's office on the nights he was supposed to be on duty.

With all these thoughts churning in her mind, it was a wonder that she noticed the stationary car by the roadside. It was fortunate that the headlights were on, otherwise, it would not be surprising if she had rammed her car into the black Mercedes.

She slowed down and as she debated whether she should stop to take a look, a form suddenly jumped in front of her car. She had to step hard on her brakes in order to stop in time.

The form, or man, as she soon noticed, was tall and athletic looking. He walked up to her and indicated for Sun Mi to wind down her car window.

She refused to and made sure that her doors were locked. Who knows what he has in mind? He could be a mugger, a rapist or even worse, a murderer!

Motioning again for her to wind down her windows, he bent down to show his face.

"What... what do you want? I'm not winding down my windows. Talk, I can hear you."

"My car is out of fuel. I need a lift to the nearest petrol station."

Sun Mi was not going to fall into his trap so easily. "Why don't you call for assistance on your mobile?"

"I left it in my office. If you do not want to offer me a ride, may I borrow your phone to call my friend?"

Still looking at him suspiciously, she tried to gauge his sincerity by peering at his face. He bent lower still and smiled at her. After scrutinizing him for a few minutes, she thought he looked harmless enough.

She wound down her window enough to slip him her mobile phone.

He took the phone, but handed it back to her. "It's out of battery."

"Look, Miss. I understand and agree that you have to be cautious, especially out here. But I'm a decent man. All I want is a ride to the nearest petrol station. You won't have to see at all after that."

"Yea, because I would be dead by then!" she thought to herself.

When he saw her hesitation, he preyed on her compassion, "I have been stranded here for an hour. I'm tired and hungry. I promise you that I have no bad intentions in mind. What if I give you my business card?"

He did look tired and she felt a bit sorry for him. She took his card and looked at it. "HC Yun, Financial Resource Manager." The company mentioned on the card was one of South Korea's largest steel manufacturing plants.

"Okay. Step back please." She opened her door and told him to stand further away.

"I can't trust you so easily, so I must insist on certain conditions."

"Anything".

"One, I want you to drive, so I can make sure you keep your hands on the steering wheel all the time. Two, don't attempt any empty talk or try to stop the car. If you move your hands unnecessarily, I will not hesitate to use the pepper spray on you. Got it?"

He laughed when she mentioned the pepper spray.

"What's so funny?" She was annoyed that he found her comical.

"Nothing." He held up his hands in a conciliatory manner. "Don't worry, you won't need the pepper spray."

She handed him the key and got into the back seat, just behind him. When he noticed her medical bag on the front passenger seat, he glanced at her again.

"You're a doctor?"

"No empty talk! Drive," she ordered him.

He shrugged and started the engine. After driving for about 30 minutes, he broke the silence and asked if she has any snacks. He had not eaten anything since lunch.

Still keeping her eyes on him, Sun Mi sat forward and reached for her medical bag. She clicked it open and took out a big bar of chocolate. She always kept some snacks and a bottle of mineral water in her bag, just in case she got called out on an emergency and had no time for meals.

She tore off the wrappers and handed the chocolate and water to him.

"Thanks. I appreciate it."

He ate the chocolate hungrily and gulped down the mineral water.

Sun Mi leant back on her seat, clutching the can of pepper spray in both hands. She tried to keep her heavy lids open but finally gave up the struggle to stay awake. Her last thought was that if he tried anything, she would still have time to use the pepper spray.

Yun Hyun Chul looked at the dozing doctor in the back seat and smiled. Pretty and feminine -- but tried a bit too hard to act tough. He thought he had never met such a lovable female. He wondered what kind of a doctor she actually was -- was she a medical doctor, a surgeon or a pediatrician?

Keeping one hand on the wheel, he carefully opened her medical bag with his other hand. Pulling out a patient's medical file, he found her name -- Dr. Jin Sun Mi, Ob. & Gyn. He was surprised to find out she's a Gynecologist! Replacing the file, he looked at her again in the mirror. Stirring a bit, she scratched at an itch on her face. Hyun Chul caught a gleam from the diamond ring on her finger and moved the mirror to look at her hand. It was definitely an engagement ring. It really shouldn't come as a surprise to him that she is bespoken for. All the same, he felt a bit disheartened with this discovery.

Sun Mi suddenly sat up when the pepper spray fell on to the car floor. The car had already stopped at the petrol station but her 'guest' was not around. Where was he? She got out of her car and looked around. She finally noticed him coming out from the restroom.

"Hi, you're awake? Sorry, I did not wake you but I had to attend to an 'emergency'."

"I take it you have called your friend?"

"Yes, he is on the way, but it would take a while for him to arrive -- I'll wait here for him."

"I have to get on my way then. Do you want another chocolate?" Sun Mi does not know why she was not as anxious to get on her way.

"There's an all-night caf� nearby -- I'll just pop in for a light snack." He looked at his watch and asked her, "It's already 2.00 a.m. -- but if you're not in a rush to get back, can I buy you a cup of coffee to thank you for your assistance?"

"Thank you, but I must decline. I really need to get back." She moved to get into her car.

"Wait! You shouldn't be driving when you're still feeling tired. I'm sure another half hour won't make any difference. Why don't you just freshen up a bit, have a cup of coffee first before you go on your way? At least you would feel more refreshed."

She thought he had a point. "OK. I'll do that." She patted her hair. "I must look a fright." She had always had a problem keeping her riotous curls under control.

He shook his head and said seriously, "On the contrary, I have never seen a lovelier vision before me."

Shocked by his personal remark, she looked up at him. "Huh?"

He did not reply but merely held her hand to lead her to the coffee shop. Sun Mi gently but firmly disentangled her hand.

"Mr. Yun, I would appreciate if you do not take such liberty. I must tell you that I'm engaged."

"I know -- I noticed your ring. But that doesn't mean I can't be friends with an engaged lady."

"Of course you can, but you shouldn't make such personal remarks or ..."

He completed what she had wanted to say. "Or, hold your hand?"

"Yes."

"I apologise if I've offended you. Shall we get that cup of coffee?"


The following day at the hospital, a big bunch of roses arrived for Sun Mi. As she was attending to a difficult delivery, it was almost early evening by the time she completed the operation. It was extremely 'touch and go' for mother and baby and Sun Mi was thankful that she managed to save both.

She went into her office, sat down in her swivel chair and rested her tired eyes. Perceiving a sweet smell permeating the room, she opened her eyes. There in the corner of her room, was a big bunch of roses she had not noticed when she entered. The mixture of red, pink, yellow and white roses was extremely beautiful and must have cost the buyer a small fortune. She removed the card from the bouquet. It was from him! How could he have known her name and where she worked? He must have peered into her medical bag -- the sneak!

She answered the soft knock on her door. The last person she'd wanted to see entered her room.

"Hi, Sun Mi. Can I talk to you for a few minutes?"

Sun Mi nodded curtly and Young Mi sat down on the chair facing her.

"Sun Mi, I won't beat around the bush. I know you and Woo Jin are engaged... but I want to ask you to release him from your engagement."

"You have a nerve, Young Mi. You came into my office and just like that, you demand that I free my fianc� from our engagement. What business is it of yours anyway? My engagement is between Woo Jin and myself." Sun Mi was furious that the radiologist dared to even imply that she should break up with Woo Jin.

"I am involved whether you like it or not. I'm sure you must have heard the rumours. Well, they're all true. I've been seeing Woo Jin even after he got engaged to you and I'm now 2 months pregnant!"

"What?" Sun Mi could never believe that Woo Jin could betray her in this way. "You're lying! I don't believe you!"

Young Mi handed her a medical report. With the evidence in front of her, she had to believe Young Mi.

"Why didn't Woo Jin tell me himself? Is he such a coward that he had to send you to break off our engagement?"


Although Sun Mi was hurt, she was surprised that she was not as sad as she should have been. Indeed, she was a bit relieved that she now had a good reason to break off their engagement and get on with her life.

Young Mi told her that Woo Jin had not wanted to tell Sun Mi at all. Neither did he plan to break off their engagement. Young Mi was desperate since she was already 2 months pregnant. She did not want to be an unwed mother and be condemned by society. She knew she should not have done what she did, but she really loved Woo Jin. It was also because of this, that she could not bring herself to have an abortion.

She implored, "Sun Mi, if only you'd agree to leave Woo, I'm sure he would marry me."

Sun Mi stood up. She pulled off her engagement ring and handed it to Young Mi. "Please return this to Woo Jin. I don't care what he wants to do with it. I don't want it anymore. You're welcome to him. Now, please leave."

She turned her back to Young Mi and looked out the window. She heard a soft click and knew Young Mi had left her room.


It had been raining steadily the entire day and the rain had just stopped. It was as if after she had given the ring to Young Mi, the dark sky had lifted. She could even see a rainbow in the horizon.

Her intercom buzzed.

"Dr. Jin, a Mr. Yun Hyun Chul, is here to see you."

Sun Mi calmly replied, "Thank you. Could you show him in please?"

Her door opened and Yun Hyun Chul strode into her room. Everything in the room was overshadowed by his very presence & magnetism.

"Hello, Dr. Jin. I'm sorry I did not call beforehand."

"It's okay. Thank you for the roses. Please have a seat."

He looked at his gift and asked if she liked it. "It's just a small token to thank you for your assistance this morning."

She smiled. "It wasn't necessary. Is there any particular reason for your visit?"

"Well, apart from wanting to thank you personally, I would like to invite you to dinner. A good friend of mine is celebrating the official opening of his restaurant. I would be honoured if you and your fiancee could join me."

Sun Mi hesitated just a few seconds before accepting his invitation. "It would be just me. As of today, I don't have a fianc� anymore."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I put my foot in my mouth?"

However, far from being sorry, he was elated!

She shrugged delicately and replied, "We just grew apart and I don't even feel sad about it. He has someone else and I think he'll be getting married soon. I wish him happiness." She looked at him and asked, "About this dinner, do I need anything formal?"

"No, it's a 'come as you are'. My friend's a very 'Bohemian' sort of guy."

"Then I should wear my white coat too?" Sun Mi joked.

He laughed and took her hand. This time she did not protest at all. After all, Yun Hyun Chul is a very attractive man.

THE END