AAE Wishing for Love

AAE Fictions, MARGIE


The following afternoon, Hyung Chul arrived at the gift shop right on the dot. There were 2 sales assistants in the shop. He walked up to the counter and asked one of them for Sun Mi by name.

"You're Mr. Yun?"

Hyung Chul confirmed he was.

Both girls were giggling and nudging each other. "Sun Mi is in her office but she's on the phone." One of the sales assistants, whom Hyung Chul guessed must be Ms. Kim, volunteered the information.

"That's okay. I'll just wait here." He sat down on one of the lounge chairs.

Sun Mi came out of her office five minutes later, holding the pair of gloves in her hand. Hyung Chul stood up and greeted her.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Yun. Did I keep you waiting?"

"A good afternoon to you too, Miss Jin. No, you didn't and anyway I'm not planning to take a plane."

She smiled and replied, "Don't you have other appointments? If you do, please don't let me keep you. Here are your gloves."

Hyung Chul thought she seemed anxious for him to leave.

"No, I don't have any other appointments for today." Rubbing his hands, he hinted. "It's very cold outside. A hot drink on a cold day like this would be just perfect."

"Where are my manners? I should have offered you a drink. You really have time?" He replied he had all the time in the world. "This way please." She led the way into her office.

Although small, her office was very neat and tidy. Piles of purchase orders and invoices were neatly stacked on her desk.

She poured a cup of coffee for him from the percolator and handed it to him. "Be careful, it's hot."

Her phone rang and she excused herself to answer it. He asked if he should wait outside.

"No, it's alright. I doubt I would be long."

He sat down on the chair in front of her desk and sipped the coffee. He watched her while she answered the phone.

"Hello? Mr. Li, thank you for returning my call. I was just wondering if you could stand as guarantor for my loan application. And..... Hello? Mr. Li?" She exhaled deeply, blowing hair out of her eye. Although she was disappointed that Mr. Li had hung up on her, she wasn't surprised. She slowly replaced the phone.

She noticed Hyung Chul's eyes on her and smiled. "How's the coffee?"

Hyung Chul returned her smile and replied, "This coffee is great. I don't think I have ever tasted such great coffee."

"It's a Colombian brand. My aunt just returned from holidaying in Colombia." She took his empty cup from him and asked, "Would you like another cup?"

"Thank you."

"Oh! Have I returned your gloves?" She looked into her drawer. She has had so many problems on her mind lately, she could not remember if she had returned his gloves.

Hyung Chul pulled out the gloves from his pocket.

She tittered, "I've been so forgetful lately. Perhaps it's a sign of old age."

He laughed with her. "You can't be more than 25 -- yet you claim to be old? Then I'm practically antiquated!"

"If that's your way of trying to find out my age, you're not succeeding!"

Hyung Chul finds himself enjoying her company.

"I couldn't help eavesdropping on your phone call with Mr. Li. You said you needed a guarantor for a loan?"

Sun Mi's face clouded. "Yes. We're cash strapped. This being the Christmas season, our customers tend to buy bulk purchases for which they pay credit. We cannot demand that they settle in cash, because we may lose our clientele. As you know, my business is just a month old. The bank that I approached would not approve my loan without a guarantor's endorsement."

She explained that Mr. Li is one of her father's friends and quite well known among the business circle. She thought she could seek his assistance from him, but he hung up on her.

"I guess his answer is 'No'," she shrugged. "But I shouldn't be troubling you with my problem."

He took out his wallet and handed her a business card. "This is my business card. The one I gave you last night was a personal one."

Sun Mi took his card from him and was surprised by what she read on the card.

"You're Wen Rong Bank's Director of Banking?" When he nodded, "Then, you must be the son of the bank's Chairman."

Again he nodded.

"You have caught me unaware. Your name is always in the news but I did not realize you were the same person."

He sat forward. "I would appreciate if you could continue to treat me as you would treat a friend. Just like a few moments ago; before I revealed my identity." He looked at her and added candidly, "I am always introduced as Chairman Yun's son. When I'm introduced as plain Yun Hyung Chul, no one's interested in knowing me. I feel as if I do not have an identity of my own."

Sun Mi could sense the underlying resentment in his words. She felt deep compassion for him. He must have experienced loneliness at some point of his life. "This is a materialistic world, Mr. Yun. People would be nice to you if they think they could get something out of you."

"That's why I like your blithe attitude towards me last night -- when I patronized your shop and now -- when I'm sitting here, enjoying your coffee. To you, I am just Yun Hyung Chul, period!" He paused and said half seriously, "It seems that now, I'm the one who's boring you with my complaint."

She replied cheerfully, "Didn't I tell you my second name's 'Aunt Agony'?"

He asked her, "In that case, may I borrow your shoulder?"

Their continual laughter gave Kimmie and Ms. Cho the impression that they had both known each other for a long time.

"Why don't you apply a loan from our bank? If you can you come to my office tomorrow morning, I will attend to your application."

Sun Mi protested. "I can't impose on you like this. Even if I apply a loan through your bank, I would still have to find a guarantor."

"It would not be an imposition. And yes, it's our policy to insist on a guarantor -- but you do not need to worry on that score. I will take care of it." He took out his PDA and checked his appointments. "Shall we make it 11:00 a.m.?"

When she replied that 11.00 a.m. would be convenient to her, he continued, "Could you bring along your financial statements? Don't worry it's just a formality. Rest assured that your loan would be approved."

"I really won't be imposing on your good office?" Sun Mi had to be convinced that he would not be going out of his way to help her.

"You definitely won't." He looked at his watch and stood up. They have been talking for almost 2 hours.

"I have taken up a lot of your time." He told Sun Mi. She merely smiled. "Another thing -- I would be happy if you could join me for lunch after your affair is settled."

Sun Mi looked at him warily, thinking if he expected to be 'rewarded' for helping her.

Hyung Chul noticed her look and hastily added, "Please do not feel obligated to accept. I'd understand if you're busy."

She was amazed that he knew exactly what she was thinking. "Goodness! It's small wonder you're the Director of Banking!"

"Why do you say that?"

"That's because you are able to read minds! You are able to tell if you'd get the money back from your clients."

He laughed heartily, "I can read your mind because your face is like an open book."

"I think I'd better wear a hat tomorrow to hide my thoughts from you!"

Hyung Chul had to laugh again. He'd never met another woman as refreshing as Jin Sun Mi. She's just a breadth of fresh air! She amuses him -- even when she's totally serious.


*****

The next day, Hyung Chul kept looking at his watch. When his intercom buzzed and his secretary advised that Miss Jin is here, he was already out of his office.

He was amused when he saw her. She was really wearing a hat -- a white beret, white pullover and white fitted slacks with a dark blue coat. He thought she looks just terrific!

His secretary and his staff were stunned by the total change in their superior's attitude. They had never seen this carefree side of Director Yun before. He had always maintained a serious and stern exterior in front of them. So much so, they tend to walk on eggshells when he's around. However, towards this Miss Jin, he is all smiles and charm.

"Would you like a drink, Miss Jin?"

"Thank you -- but it's not necessary." She flashed a bright smile at Hyung Chul's secretary.

The minute Sun Mi and Hyung Chul had disappeared into his office, the nosey-parkers worked on what they're good at -- gossiping. The single girls were all jealous of Sun Mi while the men were envious of Hyung Chul.


*****

On the morning of Christmas Eve, Sun Mi called Hyung Chul. They have been communicating frequently ever since their second meeting.

"Do you have any free time today? I was wondering if I could make an appointment to see you."

"I have a lunch appointment with my staff. I will be free after that. Shall I come over to your shop?"

"It would be more convenient if you could. I have a surprise for you."

When he arrived at the gift shop, he was ushered into Sun Mi's office.

She rose from her seat when she saw him. "Thanks for dropping by, Director Yun. As always, you're punctual."

"I don't believe in keeping people waiting." He smiled at her.

"Then I will not keep you waiting for your surprise." She invited him to sit on the sofa and took out a present from under her desk. It was quite a big box and beautifully wrapped up.

She sat down beside him. "Since I would not be in Seoul on Christmas Day, I would like to give you your Christmas present today." She went on before he could ask her where she had planned to be. "Open it, please."

He unwrapped the present. "A teddy bear?" He did not know if he should be amused or offended that she had given him what he considered to be a child's toy.

"Isn't it cute? This is a very special bear. We had just received this stock from Japan." She took his hand and placed it on the bear. "Pat its bottom."

A taped voice sounded from the bear's tummy. It was Sun Mi's voice.

"Director Yun, Merry Christmas! I have not thanked you properly for your assistance in obtaining my loan. If not for you, I might have to give up my gift shop. So, I would like to say, "Thank you very much" for your kindness and to play this for you -- The First Noel. I chose this, because of its significance -- of our first Christmas -- as friends."

She added, "It has been a long time since I last played the piano -- so, please forgive me if I play out of tune. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you my Christmas wish for you. Director Yun, whatever you do, wherever you may be -- may you have everlasting happiness, and may each and every one of your wishes come true."

Hyung Chul listened in deep concentration. After the musical strains of the ivory keys had faded, he lifted his eyes and looked at Sun Mi.

Feeling uneasy with his silence and his thoughtful look, she joked. "I hope my 'rusty' fingers did not make the music sounds like sandpaper!"

Finally, he smiled and replied, "Your 'rusty' fingers played very well. Where would you be celebrating Christmas?"

She told him that her father runs a shelter for abused and abandoned children in Cheju Island. Every year, she would travel over there to help her father out with the Christmas programs for the children.

"Since you already have looks, money and recognition, I'm curious what else you would wish for."

He told her, "Miss Jin Sun Mi, like you said, I already have everything; but there is still one wish I would like fulfilled."

"What is that?"

"I wish that by the time our second Christmas comes around, we would be more than just friends."

She was totally unprepared for his response.

"Well, ah ......" She laughed nervously and added, "I'm not sure, how I should respond to that."

"Just say you wish the same thing too." He inched closer to her. "Now, I'm going to demonstrate how the British proffer their thanks."

He kissed her right cheek, "This, is to thank you for the 'cute' teddy bear." Then her left, "While this, is to thank you for your magical rendition of the carol." He moved to her lips, "As for this ......."

A red-faced Sun Mi held her hands against his chest. "Wait a minute, Director Yun! Are you telling me the British have dispensed with handshakes?" She stood up and directed an accusatory glance at him. "I think you're taking the word 'Thank You' to the extreme."

"Didn't you say you hope that my wish would come true?"

"Yes, I did and I still wish the same for you -- but that does not mean ..." He overruled her objections.

"I just wanted to make sure that I would be a step closer towards achieving my wish!" He patted the sofa, "Now, come sit here. I am not finished with thanking you yet!"


*****

Yun Hyung Chul's wish was realized a year later.

His second Christmas with Jin Sun Mi was also the day of their engagement.


THE END OF "WISHING FOR LOVE"