AAE RIGHT HERE WAITING
WRITTEN BY: MARGIE L.

2004-10-10
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APRIL 1999

"Has there been any change to Woo-jin's condition?"

Sun-mi shook her head sadly. "None at all. He still hasn't awakened yet."

Hyung-chol stretched out his hand to touch hers. "Is there anything I can do? Get the best doctors for him perhaps?

When Sun-mi pulled her hand away, Hyung-chol felt uneasy. He had a premonition of what she was going to say.

She looked at him with anguished eyes and said softly, "Let me go. Woo Jin needs me." She pleaded, "YM's dead and Aunty is too distraught to be left on her own. How can she cope?" Tears falling down her cheeks, she added, "I can't just stand by watching him waste away. I can't --"

YM died at the hands of her old beau, Bae In-su. Infuriated by YM's betrayal that sent him to prison, he had stabbed her to death. When Woo-jin saw Bae In-su lunging at YM with a knife, he dashed across the street without noticing an oncoming truck. After the accident, he lapsed into a coma and hasn't woken up since then.

Heart breaking, he looked solemnly at Sun-mi. "What about us? What about me?" When she remained silent, he continued, "I'm really sorry for what has happened to Woo-jin. He was my friend too." He paused. "But I need you too. I need you by my side. Don't I count?"

"That's why I said I'm the most selfish person in the world." More tears gathered in her eyes. "I want to be with you. I want to be there for Woo-jin. I want to be able to do both -- but I know I can't have the best of both worlds," she added sadly.

Hyung-chol smiled sadly. "I think you're not sure yourself what you really want. You say you want to be with me, but in your heart, Woo-jin would always take center place." He sighed. "I'm not angry with you or Woo-jin. I've always known that. I've always known that to you, I'm only second best."

"You're not second-best," she refuted angrily. "But he needs me more than you do. He hasn't shown any indication that he would wake up from the coma. The doctors don't believe he ever would. Aunty is devastated and cries every day. It's just breaking my heart. After all, they have done for me, I can't turn my back on them," she said firmly.

Hyung-chol thought for a moment. "If that's the way you feel, then by all means do what you have to do. But promise me that you would return to me no matter what happens. I'll be right here waiting for you -- no matter how long it takes."

"You're a silly man. You really shouldn't be so good to me. I would only take advantage of you." She wiped quickly at her tears. "No! I won't allow you to turn me into a self-centred and selfish woman." She added firmly, "I want to break off our relationship. Go on with your own life and find your own happiness."

"I don't mind you taking advantage of me." Hyung-chol said adamantly. "I've found my life and happiness when you walked into my path. Just as I can't and won't stop you from doing what you have to do, don't try to stop me from what I want to do." He held her hand. "I will wait for you to return to me."

"What if I say you would just wait in vain? What if I decide to marry Woo-jin?"

He contemplated the unbearable thought. "If you could forsake our love and marry another man, then I would have to admit defeat and move on. I will try my best to forget you -- even if it takes me a lifetime."

When they parted that night, Hyung-chol once again reminded Sun-mi he would wait for her. He acceded to Sun-mi's request not to make any contact with her during the time she is with Woo-jin. He buried himself in his work. Many times he would pick up his cell phone to call her number. He would hastily put it down when he realised what he was doing. Some nights after work, he would drive over to Sun-mi's house, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. He would feel comforted when he sees the light in her room. At least she was safe. Once a week, he would leave a single stalk of red rose on her gate to remind her of his presence.

Woo Jin died nine months later. Hyung-chol met Sun-mi again at Woo-jin's funeral. She had become so pathetically thin. He tried to talk to her but apart from accepting his condolences, she avoided him. Hyung-chol wanted to whisk her away from all the sadness. But until she gave him the indication, he could only wait. Eventually, he discovered that the Jins had moved out of their house and that Sun-mi has gone abroad. She didn't want him to try to find her.

JUNE 2000

"Sun-mi has returned to Seoul?" Hyung-chol questioned Sun-dal. "How did you learn about this?"

"Brother Jin notified me."

"You mean Sun-mi's father?" Sun-dal nodded. "Did you ask for their phone contact and address?"

"I'm not a brainless dolt!" Sun-dal replied indignantly. He took out a piece of paper. When Hyung-chol tried to take it from him, Sun-dal held it away from him. "Brother Jin said I must not give it to a specific guy."

"Why not?"

"Seems his beloved daughter said not to." Sun-dal grinned. "But, there were many instances when Brother Jin does not mean what he says."

"Thanks old friend."

"Just tell me when I can collect payment." Sun-dal gave a salute and walked out of Hyung-chol's office, whistling a happy tune.

Hyung-chol tried the number. There was no answer. Unable to concentrate on his work, he turned his chair to face the sunny sky.

Hyung-chol rang the doorbell of the white manor-style house. He knew it was impolite to drop by without a word. However, he could not risk Sun-mi's evasion tactics. He heard scuffling from inside the house and a male voice calling, "I'll get it."

Sun-mi's dad looked at the personable young man standing on his doorstep. "So, you've finally found us." Smilingly, he invited Hyung-chol inside.

"How are you, Uncle Jin?" He extended his respects to the older man.

"As you can see, I'm in good health." He eyed Hyung-chol. "Looks like you've lost weight."

Although Sun-mi's father agreed with Sun-mi's decision to take care of Woo-jin, he was far from agreeable with her decision to break up with Hyung-chol. He did not want her to regret her decision. More importantly, he did not want his daughter to lose the man she loves. So, for the sake of his daughter's happiness, he felt inclined to 'lend a hand.'

"Who is our visitor?" A middle-aged lady came out from the kitchen.

"Come and meet Sun-mi's friend." Uncle Jin introduced the lady as Woo-jin's mother. Her face lit up when she recognised his name. "Oh yes. I remember you now."

"How are you, Aunty?" Hyung-chol asked for the person he most wanted to see.

Aunty Song answered. "You can find her by the lake." He thanked her but she stopped him.

"Wait. Jin has told me everything. I just wanted to thank you for your sacrifice." Hyung-chol let her say what she wanted. "I knew of your relationship with Sun-mi but I still begged her to stay with my son. I had hoped that with Sun-mi around, my son would recover. I knew Sun-mi she would not refuse me." She took Hyung-chol's hands in hers. "Can you forgive a selfish old lady? If not for me, both of you would not have lost almost 2 years happiness."

Hyung-chol replied. "You did what any mother would do. And maybe our separation was a good thing."

Aunty Song answered, "You're just saying that to relieve my guilt."

"No. I said that because I am convinced letting Sun-mi go was the right thing to do. If I had forced her to remain with me, a part of her would always resent me for that. I understand why she refused to see me after your son died. She felt that she could not expect our relationship to continue as if the years we were apart did not happen. She thought my feelings for her would die during the 2 years we were apart." Hyung-chol smiled at the elderly couple. "Sun-mi has underestimated the depth of my love for her. No matter how our relationship is tested, no matter how many hardships we go through, my love for her would never die. No hardship can break our bond and our love can only go from strength to strength through the years."

Sun-mi's father and Aunty were visibly moved by Hyung-chol's declaration. "You're a good man. No wonder Sun-mi loves you." She smiled at him. "But your declaration is wasted on us. Go find her and tell her every word you just said. Take her home."

"I intend to do just that." He set out for the lake with purposeful strides.

Sun-mi was sitting on a bench, making some rough sketches of the scenery. She jumped when she felt a little hand on her leg. She looked up and saw a little girl of about 4 years standing in front of her. She was holding a few stalks of flowers in her hand.

"Hello!" Sun-mi smilingly greeted her. "Are you alone by yourself?" Sun-mi looked around and noticed a young couple a few benches away -- smiling at the little girl. "Is this your little girl?" Sun-mi inquired politely. The couple nodded. The little girl shyly held out the flowers to Sun-mi.

"For me? Don't you want to give them to your momma?"

The little girl shook her head. "That uncle said I must give them to you."

"Ah? What uncle?" Sun-mi turned her head to look around. Her heart skipped a beat when her eyes found 'him'. Hyung-chol was leaning against a tree just behind her. The little girl skipped happily to her parents. The family waved cheerfully at Sun-mi and slowly strolled away in the other direction.

Hyung-chol walked towards Sun-mi. They both looked at each other for a few seconds. Hyung-chol picked up Sun-mi's sketchbook. Still looking at the drawing, he said lightly, "I didn't know you could draw."

Sun-mi replied, "I don't think you could call that 'drawing' - I was just doodling."

"May I add something to your 'doodles'?" Hyung-chol asked with great courtesy. He held the crayon firmly and deftly added some trees and bushes to Sun-mi's sketches.

She looked at the amazingly life-like sketches with admiration. "Since when were you an artist?" He put the sketchbook on the bench and held her left hand. She was still wearing the eternity ring he had given her more than a year ago. He touched the ring.

"You're still wearing my ring." He said.

"How did you know where to find me?"

"I've said it to you before. You are my destiny, I'm your future." He pulled her into his arms. "No matter which path you take, it will always lead you back to me."


THE END.

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Hi! Please forgive any errors that you may come across in this story. Thanks and goodnight all!
~Margie~