AAE MY LITTLE SUNSHINE
Written by: Margie L

****

Hyung-chol hands over his briefcase to his personal assistant. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks. His P.A. stopped too and looked inquiringly.

She's back.

At long last, she's back! An elated feeling mounts in him. Holding his excitement in check, he walks slowly towards the lift. Still, she did not notice him.

"Jin Sun-mi?"

The young girl turned. "Sanbaeneem! It is you!" She gave him a sunshine smile. "I recognized your voice immediately."

"I had been standing here for a good 5 minutes -- waiting for you to notice me," he chided her teasingly. "Welcome home."

"Thank you," she replied, and then eyed him doubtfully. "But you couldn't have been standing here for 5 minutes. I had just arrived," she checked her wristwatch, "exactly 3 minutes ago."

"Okay, so I haven't," he conceded. "Let me look at you."

He admonished, "As always, you look beautiful but much too thin." He drank in her loveliness. He chided her again, "You haven't been taking care of yourself."

A hint of a smile lit her face. "Being thin is all the rage in Europe," she joked. "You should know this better than anyone else. I remember all your girlfriends were skinny. Has your taste changed?"

"No. I still like skinny women."

He suggested that they head to the cafeteria for coffee. "I have a full schedule today. I'd like to catch up a bit before the gang monopolise your time."

****

Putting down his coffee mug, Hyung-chol inquired, "Why didn't you let me know you were returning to Korea?"

"Apart from not wanting to trouble you, I wanted to surprise everyone. Besides, I already had an offer."

He laughingly asked. "Your father, right?"

"No prizes for your correct answer."

"You've been away a long time. Everyone has missed you."

She asked with a playful grin, "Everyone? Does that include you too?" She didn't wait for his answer and added, "Actually 18 month is not that long. I must thank you for giving me the chance to train with the best of the crop in England."

He looked at Sun-mi. If only she knew how big a sacrifice he had made in approving her stint in England. If only she knew he had been on the verge of declaring his feelings for her. What then? Would she have declined this once-in-a-lifetime chance? How could she when it was every newscaster's dream to train in England as MBS' news-correspondent?

"Sanbaeneem?"

"Huh? I'm sorry I missed what you said."

"You were miles away. What were you thinking about?"

"Nothing," he assured her.

"I was saying that I just dropped by to say hello to everyone. I can only return to work in a week's time." Seeing the questioning look on his face, she added, "I came back with a friend. He's staying at my place for a week."

She came back with a male friend? It took him a lot of effort to mask his dejection. "That's fine." He looked at his watch and stood up. "I have to head for my meeting."

"But Sanbaeneem, Alistair --"

He patted her arm. "It's okay. You don't owe me an explanation."

They walked out of the cafeteria together.

Sun-mi suddenly remembered, "I almost forgot." She took out a box from her shopping bag. "This is your gift."

Hyung-chol looked suspiciously at the box. "I hope you did not get me a teddy bear?"

She laughed. "Don't worry. It's not a teddy. I know you've outgrown teddies."

"Well, I'm very relieved to hear that. The last 'toy' you gave me is still sitting on my desk."

****

Fresh from a shower, Hyung-chol reclined on his bed. His thoughts were on Sun-mi. To learn that she has found someone in England was very hard for him to accept. He cursed himself over and over again for having lost his chance. However, it was too late for regrets and second chances. He thought of calling her but decided against it. At this time, she would be having dinner with her father and her friend. Did she mention that his name was Alistair? He sighed.

Walking out into the living room, he spotted the box. He removed the wrapping. There was another smaller box wrapped with a different wrapper. Patiently, he removed the paper and found yet another smaller.

He chuckled at Sun-mi's naughty antics. What was she up to he wondered. After discarding several more boxes, he finally reached the last one. He looked inside the satin pouch and took out a silver medallion. The back was engraved with the words -- "In commemoration of the day we first met. ~ YHC & JSM."

****

"Papa! Can you answer the door please?" Sun-mi yelled to her father from the bathroom.

Her father yelled back. "I'm already at the door."

Sun-mi heard her father talking to someone.

"Someone's here to see you," her father called from outside her room.

"I'll be right down. Who is it anyway?"

Her father replied. "Come downstairs if you want to know."

"Give me a couple of minutes." After completing her task, she hurried downstairs with the squirming bundle in her arms. "Papa, look at what this little rascal did to me." She stopped short when she noticed Hyung-chol. He looked as surprised as she was to see him.

"Sanbaeneem!"

"Who is this?" Hyung-chol replied with a question.

"This?" She moved nearer to him. "This is Alistair! Didn't I tell you about him?"

"You merely said you came back with a friend." He retorted accusingly.

She looked at the dark-haired toddler and smiled, "He is a friend and my godson." She kissed the baby's nose.

Amused by Hyung-chol's reaction, Sun-mi's father laughed. "Seems to have some explanation to do, daughter. Give him to me." He offered to take Alistair from Sun-mi but the baby had other ideas. He turned away from the elderly man's outstretched hands and clung to Sun-mi's neck.

"Okay, okay!" Sun-mi's father got the hint and shrugged. "I'll get us some drinks."

Hyong-chul immediately declined. "It's okay, Uncle. I've had breakfast."

"Well, just make yourself at home. I need to run along for an appointment." Actually he wanted to give them privacy.


Once they were alone, Sun-mi suddenly felt self-conscious at her disheveled state, apologising to Hyong-chul, "I was giving him his bath and he drenched me. He likes to 'paddle' in the tub." She dumped the baby on his lap. "Here, hold him for me while I change out of my wet clothes."

He did not have time to protest. Heading up the stairs, she stole a glance at them. The baby was sitting on Hyung-chol's knees, facing him. Sun-mi giggled at the sight of her unflappable senior looking haplessly at the little tot.

Alistair stared at this strange man holding him. He decided that he likes this uncle. He raised his chubby little hands to his eyes, playing peek-a-boo with his new friend. Hyung-chol's lips turned into a grin. Holding the baby's body, he shook his legs to entertain the little guy. Alistair gurgled with glee.

"Sanbaeeneem?" Sun-mi called to Hyung-chol. "Don't put him on the floor even if he wants to get down. He's a fast bottom shuffler."

"I won't."

Hyung-chol turned his attention to Alistair. "So, you have developed your own unique style of walking, have you? Care to give Uncle a demonstration, hmm?" The angelic face gazed back at him, saliva dripping down his triple chins.

Sun-mi came downstairs a few minutes later. She found Alistair asleep on the sofa. Hyung-chol was watching the baby sleep.

"Thank you for taking care of him for me." She offered him a charming smile.

"His parents are friends of yours?"

"A week after I arrived in England, I met an ex-schoolmate and her husband. Yun-hee was still carrying Alistair. In fact, my flat is a stone's throw from their home. After Alistair was born, I was invited to be Godmother cum babysitter."

"They're still in England? So, why are you taking care of their baby?"

Sun-mi explained that William has been posted to Korea on short notice. Since she was also coming home, she offered to take care of Alistair to give his parents more freedom to prepare for their relocation to Korea.

"It's only for a week. Yun-hee and William are arriving this Sunday. They already found a house. I had such a hard time on the plane with this little guy, I regretted having offered to bring him back with me."

Alistair was sleeping like a little cherub, oblivious to Sun-mi's complaints. "He was trying to crawl all over the aisle. I practically had to sit on him to get him to behave."

She laughed as she recalled how the air-stewardesses all fell in love with the mischievous imp. "Fortunately, the air crew were very helpful." She grinned at Hyung-chol. "Do you know? I think he doesn't like 'older folks'. He doesn't like Papa."

Hyong-chul laughed at her ridiculous idea. "Well, he seems to like me fine."

"How do you know he likes you?" she answered cheekily. "Did he play peek-a-boo with you?"

Hyung-chol nodded.

"He did?" Sun-mi was surprised. "Then, he does like you. He only does that with people he likes." She paused before adding, "You must have used the same charm on him, right?"

"What charm?"

"You know - the charm you always use on the women."

"As far as I'm concerned, there is only one woman I want to charm," he said seriously.

Both were silent for a few minutes.

Sun-mi asked, "Why are you here, Sanbaeneem? I mean the real reason."

"Perhaps I wanted to check out the competition."

He gazed at Sun-mi; his eyes were dark pools of ardor. Just then, the spell between them was broken by Alistair's whimper.

Sun-mi picked him up. "He's hungry."

"I have to get back to the station anyway." Hyung-chol stood up but was reluctant to leave. "I have a dinner function tonight. Can I come over around 11.00 p.m.?" Noting her hesitation, "Alistair should be asleep by then, wouldn't he? You would still be awake then?"

The baby whimpered again, demanding his feed. Sun-mi pacified him and put him down on the sofa.

"I'll wait for you," she promised.

****

Returning to Sun-mi's house again that night, Hyung-chol was surprised to find the house in darkness. Uncle Jin's 4-wheel drive was parked outside. He looked up at Sun-Mi's bedroom window. The light was switched off too. He checked his watch -- it was five past 11.00p.m. Probably she had fallen asleep while waiting for him. He wanted to call Sun-mi's cell phone, but did not want to rouse her from her sleep.

****

The phone rang early in Hyung-chol's apartment the following morning.

"Good morning, Sanbaeneem. This is Sun-mi."

"Miss Jin Sun-mi. You stood me up last night!" he accused.

She tittered. "That's why I'm calling at this early hour to apologise. Are you still in bed?"

"I'm an early riser."

She explained that she had dozed off while waiting for him. "It was all Papa's fault. I had left the lights on so that you would call me when you arrived. And Papa switched them off when he looked in on me. I woke up around 1:30 a.m. but you had left."

"Hello? Sanbaeneem?" Hyung-chol did not answer. "Are you mad at me?"

"Yes, definitely! I'm still sore at you." He plied on the pretence. "It was my first experience being stood up by a woman! You must be punished."

She laughed. "Ho Ho! I've heard all about your punishments from the staff. Alright, do your worst!"

"It's a Saturday. You'll have to spend the entire day with me."

"Sanbaeneem, I can't. I have to take care of Alistair."

"Can you leave him with your father?"

"Pop has gone out on a trip with friends." Sun-mi wanted to spend time with Hyung-chol too. However, she has to put her godson first. Hyung-chol was disappointed.

She suggested. "I'll be working from next week. We'll be able to meet every day."

"Meeting at work is not the same thing," he replied. "I'll think of something and email you at work."

"Ok then." Sun-mi quickly added, "Wait, Sanbaeneem. Someone here wants to chat with you."

He laughed but obliged. Although 'baby talk' was not his forte, he seemed to have done quite well. The happy gurgles from the other line told him how much the baby enjoyed their 'conversation.'

****

That Monday, Sun-mi handed Alistair back to his parents. But before that, she gave him a cuddle and a kiss. He had brought so much joy to her and she was sad to let him go. However, she was assured that she would always be welcome to see Alistair whenever she wanted.

****

Work at MBS developed into a routine so hectic, Sun-mi was stretched as taut as a rubber band. There had been many organizational changes in MBS during her absence. Hyung-chol had moved up the ladder as Vice-Chairman, just one rung below his father. His post as Director of Planning was given to his step-uncle, Kim En-qi, a ruthless taskmaster and an ambitious go-getter.

He capitalized fully on Sun-mi's popularity since her return to MBS. He made her wear many hats - as anchorwoman, talk show host and studio producer. She was so busy, she has had to skip meals at times to meet deadlines. Yet, she never complained -- not even to her father.

Hyung-chol was aware of his step-uncle's tricks but did not interfere. While he worried about her health, he knew she would not want him to intervene. On the sly, he talked to his father about his interest to take on the post of DoP and to offer his step-uncle a new portfolio. His father was reluctant because he felt his brother-in-law was doing a good job. MBS' programs were well-received under Kim En-qi's tutelage. Moreover, Chairman Yun knew his brother-in-law had been 'eyeing' that particular post for some time. Hyung-chol had to be satisfied with his father's promise that he would think over his proposal.

Just as she was about to head to the cafeteria to grab a bite, Sun-mi's pager buzzed. It was an urgent message for her to attend a meeting. She put down the tray and rushed for the conference room. Pushing open the door, she entered.

Everyone was already there. The Chairman and Hyung-chol were there too.

"Miss Jin, I would appreciate if you could manage your time better." Kim berated her in front of everyone. "This is not the first time you're late."

Politely, she apologised but felt justified to defend herself. "I'm sorry but I was not given notice about this meeting."

She wiped the sweat from her brow. She looked around the room and saw Hyung-chol's angry frown at Kim En-qi.

He spoke, "Please take your seat, Miss Jin. Director Kim, I would appreciate if we could proceed with the meeting."

"Thank you, Mr. Vice-Chairman."

As Sun-mi turned towards an empty seat, the room started spinning. She grabbed the back of the chair but missed. Everything receded into a black pool of darkness.

Hyung-chol rushed to the motionless Sun-mi. She was sweating profusely but her forehead was burning hot. He lifted her up and ordered, "Get my car ready."

"She must have skipped breakfast. I can't understand why women would want to starve themselves just to maintain their figures." Kim En-qi's careless remark riled Hyung-chol.

He lashed out angrily at his step-uncle. "You should have been more concerned about your staff and less obsessed with your own ambitions!"

Kim En-qi's face immediately turned three shades of red. He could only stare at Hyung-chol's retreating back as he carried Sun-mi out the conference room.

Chairman Yun called for a postponement of the meeting. After everyone has left, he turned to his brother-in-law.

"Hyung-chol is right. I don't have to be a doctor to know that Miss Jin collapsed from exhaustion," the chairman admonished his brother-in-law. "You have been selfish."

"How could you side with your son? Didn't you witness how disrespectful he was to me?" Kim En-qi's face was a mask of fury. He continued, "He has always been protective of Jin Sun-mi. But this time, he went too far. It's obvious today -- to everyone -- that he has feelings for that girl."

Chairman Yun smiled. "It's been obvious to me long ago."

"You knew and approve?" Kim En-qi was astounded by his brother-in-law's words. "I thought you wanted Hyung-chol to marry someone of a comparable status."

"You thought wrong, En-qi. I never thought that and I never wanted to interfere in my son's choice of a bride." He reminded his brother-in-law of his own status. "I had nothing to my name when I married Hyung-chol's mother. So what if Miss Jin's from a working class family? She's a wonderful and decent girl and good enough for my son."

"Then I have nothing further to say." Kim En-qi headed for the door.

"Just a minute, En-qi. I want to talk to you about a new opportunity."

****

Sun-mi stirred and lifted her heavy lids. Her eyes moved around the room. She realised she was in a hospital. She lifted her hand to check her watch but it had been removed. She tried to sit up and felt her head throb. She blinked when the door opened and a light streamed into her room.

"Sun-mi, you're finally awake."

Her father's concerned face came into focus.

"Poppa? How many days have I been hospitalized?"

"It's a good sign that you know you're in hospital. At least you're alert." He sat down on the chair. "You've been unconscious for 4 days. You've had a very high fever for 3 days. I'd even thought I'd lose you."

Sun-mi caught a glimpse of tears in her father's eyes. She held her father's hand.

"There's nothing to worry about, Poppa. I'm fine."


"You dare to say that? I almost had a heart attack when the doctor said it was 'touch & go' and I'd have to prepare for the worst if your fever did not 'break'. I thought to myself -- what would I do without my little sunshine. I would go mad for sure."

Her father gripped her hand. "Your mother was the greatest love of my life. When she died giving birth to you, I blamed you."

Her father smiled when Sun-mi's eyes widened in surprise. "I know, I've never told you this before. But it's the truth. When you were six months old, I looked at your sweet face and you stared back at me. Then you smiled at me. It was then that I noticed how much you resembled your mother. She had the same smile. My darling daughter, you didn't take your mother away from me. You brought her back to me. Each time you smile, I 'see' your mother. I love you, my daughter."

Sun-mi held out her arms. "Oh, poppa. I love you too. You're the best father in the world. I'm so lucky to have you. Nothing else matters."


Hyong-chul slowly closes the door. He walked further down the corridor. Sun-mi's father came out ten minutes later and spotted him.

"Hyung-chol. You're here," Uncle Jin sniffed. "Sun-mi's going to be fine."

"I'm much relieved. You should go home and rest," he suggested.

"Since she's sleeping now, I guess I'll go home." He looked at his watch. "It's late. You should get some rest too. You've been here every day."

"I'll just check on her for a few minutes."

After Sun-mi's father has left, he entered Sun-mi's room.

"Have you forgotten something, Poppa?

"I'm not Poppa." Hyung-chol chuckled. "Your father said you were asleep."

"I pretended to be or he wouldn't leave. He looks exhausted." Sun-mi smiled weakly. "You look exhausted too. You've been overworking yourself again. And you need a shave."

He laughed. "You've turned into a nag from boredom, have you?"

Sun-mi joked, "I've always been a nag. When my father tells prospective suitors that, they would all run away."

"Your father wouldn't say that to me. And I'm not running away. I'm staying right where I am."

"What?" She looked at him, wide-eyed. "What are you saying?"

Bringing her hand to his lips, he smiled tenderly at her. "You heard, my little sunshine."

~ THE END ~

Song -

You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are grey
You'd never know, dear
How much I love you
Please dont take
my sunshine away!