A/N: This fanfic spins off from the Korean drama, "My Father is Strange", and tells the story of a blossoming love between two remarkable people, Lee (formerly Byun) Mi Young and Ahn Joong Hee. "My Father is Strange" currently airs on KBS TV on Saturday and Sunday nights. It goes without saying that this story won't completely follow what's actually shown on TV. The timeline of this story begins approximately 1 week after a heartbreaking separation between Mi Young and Joong Hee (episode 46). Reviews are always appreciated!
Love Conquers All Ways
Chapter 1
"So this is what a therapist's office looks like?" Mi Young thought. "Ahn-bin-nim has sat in this same chair to see this particular doctor? Why? Why, of all the therapists in Korea, did he have to pick his ex-girlfriend to treat him? How many times was he here? Were his sessions strictly professional? Wait a minute. Get a grip, Lee Mi Young! You're the reason he got therapy in the first place".
"So, you're saying that you haven't seen or spoken to your dad or your family in a week?" asked the aforementioned therapist.
"Yes", Mi Young replied.
"And you actually moved out of their house and into your own place because you still can't face them?" the therapist inquired.
"How would you have handled it differently?" asked Mi Young.
The doctor gave a quizzical, but somewhat sympathetic, look towards her patient.
"I'd be pretty shocked, confused, and upset also if this situation happened to me. I'm just not sure about the moving out part."
"Well, I'm still having trouble adjusting to this new reality. I'm still really disappointed in my dad especially", Mi Young mused.
"So, you really think that you can avoid and ignore your dad forever? What about your family? Are you planning on avoiding them forever too?" the therapist asked. "You know, at some point, you're going to have to have a talk with your dad to make things right again".
"Yes, but it's not just about Dad and the family. It's also about people outside of the family that have been hurt by this news", Mi Young explained.
"Other people? You mean like Joong Hee oppa?" inquired the therapist.
Mi Young gave a quick darting glance in response to this query. Her feelings about Joong Hee couldn't have been more transparent even if she wrote a sign.
"Let me guess. You haven't spoken to or seen oppa in at least a week also?" the therapist ascertained.
"You must really be a psychic!" Mi Young deadpanned.
After giving Mi Young a sly smirk, she said, "I must admit that, after I read the article, I really didn't know how to feel towards him. On the one hand, I felt somewhat bad learning the truth about his family. But, on the other hand, he'd broken up with me again. Yet, that's not even the worst part."
"The worst part is that he ended up finding a heart and falling for another girl. But not just any girl. He actually calls her 'Judo'". At this point, Mi Young heard a hint of disgust in the way the therapist pronounced 'Judo'.
"I can still remember driving oppa to his work one day. Just before he got out of the car, he was starting at someone for the longest time. I had never seen that look on his face before. And when I saw who he was staring at, I immediately could tell that it was 'Judo'. I couldn't believe it. So, maybe he wasn't into me. That's one thing. But, of all the women in Korea to fall in love with, why her? I mean, what's so special about her?"
Suddenly, Mi Young was no longer imagining what she was hearing. This therapist was not just being unprofessional, she was being downright rude. "Relax, Lee Mi Young. Relax. Inner peace. Inner . . . peace"
"If she came from a good family and a good background, then maybe I can understand. But seriously, I don't get the fascination oppa has with 'Judo'.
With that, Mi Young could no longer hold back her pent up anger. "You know, I have been sitting here patiently listening to you. But, I have to say that I'm really disappointed by what I've heard"
"Excuse me?" the therapist asked.
"It's not bad enough that you've shown a complete lack of professionalism today. You've also insulted my family, Ahn-bin-ihm, and me. And, on top of that, you haven't even helped me with my original problem."
"I beg your pardon?" The annoyance grew with each syllable in the therapist's voice.
Mi Young could sense that she hit a nerve. "Well, since it's obvious that you're not going to stay on topic, then let me help you with this. You keep wondering why Ahn-bin-ihm is the way he is. You know that he never really had a family to love him. Then, he found my family. Yes, I know that we're not actually related, but for a while, Ahn-bin-ihm got to experience the true love of family for the first time in his life. I saw with my own eyes how his heart has completely softened, and now he's a man that anyone would be thrilled to love."
As she spoke these words, she could see the therapist's eyes and face growing angrier and colder by the second. But, Mi Young remained undeterred.
"I see that you're still not getting me. Ok. I'll make this really simple for you then. You keep wondering why you and Ahn-bin-ihm aren't together anymore. Here's why. He never loved you! He can't love you! He never will love you! His heart rests with me and only me . . . because he loves me!"
It took every ounce of restraint for the therapist to not get up and start a brawl in her own office.
"And one more thing. I love him too!" At this point, Mi Young couldn't believe what she'd just said. After a momentary pause of reflection, she realized that she had indeed said it. More importantly, she definitely owned her words.
"I believe that our session has long run over!" retorted the therapist.
"What a complete waste of my time! I came here for advice, and the best you can do is tell me to talk to my dad. I could've gotten that advice for free. I really should ask for my money back!" Mi Young responded.
"I'm warning you. If you don't leave this office in the next two minutes, then I'll have you escorted out!" said the therapist.
"No problem. I see the door, and I know how to use it!" Mi Young retorted.
"I'll also make this really simple for you. First, I don't ever want to see you or Joong Hee oppa again for as long as I live. Second, grow up little girl!"
Mi Young pointed two of her fingers towards her eyes and in the direction of the therapist before storming out of the office.
As she made her way outside into the evening air, Mi Young was still seething "What did Ahn-bin-ihm ever see in her? Talk to my dad? Grow up little girl? I can give 10 times better advice and charge half the price. Licensed therapist, my butt! Hah!" Still, as she took her first steps into the Korean summer, she couldn't help but realize the truth of her second query.
"She's right. I need to talk to Dad eventually. Just not right now." With that, she resigned to turn towards her new abode.
Though the apartment was neither spacious nor fancy, Mi Young was already starting to feel settled in. Still, it couldn't help her overcome one nagging issue – loneliness. In her desperation, she actually went to see Joong Hee's ex-girlfriend because she still had trouble facing her own family and him. However, her loneliness remained and it was starting to cripple her emotionally.
She turned and reached for her phone and immediately brought Joong Hee's speed dial on display. Though she stared and stared at the screen for a seeming eternity, she couldn't hit the call button. Then, she opened a text and frantically typed in a few words before she ultimately hit the "Delete" button. The pang in her heart gnawed at her like a tightening vice.
"Is Ahn-bin-ihm OK? I just need to know if he's doing all right" Mi Young wondered. Then, a thought occurred to her. "No, I can't do that! But I really need to know. Ok, I'll text him. No, that's a cop out." As the pendulum swung mercilessly in her heart, her despair grew. Then, a sobering realization made her take notice. The longer she stayed radio silent, the greater the chance that she could lose him – for good. Suddenly, her original instinct was taking front and center.
"I can't believe I'm doing this. I really can't believe I'm doing this. It's OK, Lee Mi Young. You're not visiting a stranger, you know. You can do this. Fighting!"
It was a sojourn she had made many times before. She even had to learn to drive a van to get to this destination. Still, tonight was completely different from the previous times. Why was that? Because she was no longer Joong Hee's manager? Because she no longer worked with Joong Hee at all? Because the two of them were actually not siblings? All of the above?
As she was riding a taxi to his place, she pondered all of these questions. What exactly was she to Joong Hee? Then, it occurred to her. A chosen girlfriend and lover. After all, he had openly professed his love to her. The thought sparked the first smile on Mi Young's face in a week. As the taxi finally arrived at Joong Hee's apartment, she stepped out into the night air with a new sense of both joy and anxiety. After all, it was right around that same spot where he previously professed that he liked her also. Still, the anxiety started to weigh on her again, and she realized that the taxi had already left. Was she really going to chicken out? Would she actually keep her composure if she saw him?
"I can do this. I promise I won't cry in front of him again. It's not going to be easy, but I know that I have to do this. It'll be all right." Mi Young thought. With these emotions in tow, she made her way into the apartment complex.
If nothing else, Mi Young understood one simple truth – when you're crazy in love, even the surreal can start to make sense.
A/N: That concludes the opening chapter. If you want me to continue this story, then please let me know. Again, any reviews are greatly appreciated! We'll see you on the other side!