A/N: Thanks to everyone who's still keeping up with this story. Very much appreciated. Now it's on to installment # 4.
Love Conquers All Ways
Chapter 4
New mornings bring more than just the start of a new day. They also bring hopes of a brighter future and promise. But for one Lee Mi Young, there had to be a slight measure of disappointment as this particular morning came to the forefront. After all, she had just experienced one of the most peaceful, blissful nights of slumber in her life. As she slowly opened her eyes, she immediately recognized the gravity of her situation. She could still feel the ecstasy of being held ever so snuggly by the love of her life. Although her initial inclination would be to lie in that position for time immemorial, she knew that all good things had to end sometime. Her latest challenge would be to figure out how to gingerly escape Joong Hee's loving embrace. With some delicate tickles in a couple of well positioned spots, she managed to slither, albeit reluctantly, out of his loving warmth.
Although it was still early morning, enough light penetrated into the chasm of the apartment to let her navigate the place adequately. She first walked over to where he kept a notebook with pen. On the first blank page offered, she wrote down her thoughts and gingerly walked over to the table adjacent to the couch, where he still was in the grips of his subconscious, to leave her freshly written note. As she peered around, she spotted a friendly figure moving nondescriptly across the floor. She kneeled over the slow moving creature in order to leave some parting words.
"Al" she whispered. "I'm sorry that I have to leave now. But, I'll be back again sometime. In the meantime, keep an eye on Joong Hee-shi. Make sure he doesn't get into any kind of trouble. Understand?" She rubbed his shell with a measure of love and respect.
As her gaze refocused on Joong Hee, her face broke into yet another warm smile. Her current perspective provided a new, amazing observation about her new boyfriend.
"He's just SO cute when he's sleeping!" she thought with a giggle. As if to reinforce this observation in her mind, she decided to offer one last parting gift to this man who had already given her so much with his love and affection. With both delicate movement and touch, she planted a slight kiss on his right cheek without awaking him. With heart refilled, Mi Young quietly, but successfully, made her way to the door, out into the hallway, and finally outside of the apartment.
As she stood in the crisp Korean morning air, she slowly replayed all the various moments of the previous night in her mind. Her smile broadened with each successive mental picture. What's more, she slowly fanned her face and put her hand on her heart as if she's determined to bottle her love for Joong Hee forever. As the taxi finally arrived to pick her up, it might have seemed she didn't need the hired chariot for she might've possibly been able to float among the clouds. In short, Mi Young was officially a woman in love.
But, as she arrived at her destination, her levity came to a screeching halt. A different sort of emotion confronted her as she exited the taxi and stood outside of "Father's Snack Shop". Although she knew she had to return here sometime, she didn't think that time would be quite this soon. "How can a place that I've known for so long seem so unfamiliar so quickly?" she thought. Still, with the love of Joong Hee in her heart to strengthen her, she made the decision that now was the time to bury the proverbial hatchet with her dad and her family. With a quick exhale, she made her way into the family home.
As she entered the home, she silently made her way into the kitchen. As usual, Mr. Lee was already up preparing breakfast for the family. It took just a moment for him to note something different in the atmosphere.
"Hi Dad" Mi Young finally spoke.
"Oh, Mi Young-Ah. You're here. What . . . what brings you here?"
With the slightest of smiles, she replied, "I'm your daughter, remember?"
"Of course you are. I mean, did something happen? I haven't been able to reach you in over a week".
"I know. I know that I said and did some things before that were very hurtful to you. I'm really sorry, Dad. I was so focused on Ahn-bin-ihm's suffering that I didn't make any exceptions for how you'd be feeling. And that was wrong. I'm not here to make any excuses for what I've done. Again, I'm so sorry, Dad". In saying these words, she couldn't even lift her head to make eye contact with him.
"You don't need to apologize, Mi Young-ah. I was definitely in the wrong. I absolutely should have come clean with Joong Hee from the beginning. I also should have come clean with you, your brother, and sisters long before now. Despite what I went through all those years ago, I knew that my decision would probably come back to haunt me in a big way. So, I'm the one to apologize to you, my daughter. I'm just hopeful that you can somehow find it in your heart to forgive me".
With his response, Mi Young felt the strong paternal bond reemerge in her heart that had been there for her since her birth. At this, she could only muster a muter, but more meaningful, response in the form of a hug. As she and Mr. Lee held each other, it's as though their relationship reached an even better level of understanding than before.
"Are you Ok, Mi Young-ah?" Mr. Lee asked.
"Yes, I'm Ok now, Dad. I promise that I won't act this disrespectful towards you ever again."
"That's fine. That's good. Have a seat. Breakfast is almost ready" As if on cue, Jun Young and Yoo Joo made their way together into the kitchen and almost did a double take on seeing Mi Young.
"Piggy" Jun Young exclaimed.
"Aga-shi" Yoo Joo said.
"When did you get here?" Jun Young asked.
"Just now"
"I don't know, Jun Young-shi. Am I really seeing Mi Young or a ghost?" Yoo Joo joked.
"You're right, Yoo Joo. It's kind of hard to tell" Jun Young wittily retorted.
"You guys!" Mi Young mockingly cried. With that, laughter started emanating from the kitchen.
"Mi Young-ah. Omo. You're here. And you've already gotten so much thinner in just a few days. Look at you!" Leave it to Mrs. Lee to act as a mother in this situation. "I should really give you a big scolding later on, young lady!"
"Honey, don't do that. She's home now and she's safe. That's what most important" Mr. Lee reminded her.
"I guess you're right. But, don't think that I'm going to let you off this easy!" Mrs. Lee warned her daughter.
"Unni!" Ra Young finally made her presence known. "Unni, I've missed you! Why didn't you call or text? Don't you know how mean you are?"
It was now time for Mi Young to make amends to the clan. "I'm sorry that I acted the way I did. No matter how upset I got, that's still no excuse for the things I said and did. I'm really sorry, everybody"
"Don't worry about it, Piggy. We're still family" Jun Young offered.
"That's right, Mi Young-ah. You did well to come home." Mrs. Lee said.
"Welcome home, Aga-shi" Yoo Joo said.
"Missed you Unni!" Ra Young said. Finally, Mr. Lee offered a simple affirmative nod to his second daughter.
As the family gathered for yet another breakfast, they proved the age old axiom that love is indeed thicker than water.
Meanwhile, in an apartment down the road, Joong Hee sat anxiously on his couch. Having risen a while earlier, he woke up to a sense of panic at Mi Young's absence. Then, having seen a note on the table, he hastily grabbed the piece of paper and processed its contents in his mind.
"I'm going home today. It's time that Dad and I have that talk. I'll let you know how it goes when it's over.
Love you,
Mi Young"
The same mix of emotions ran through his body now as when he first read the note. On the one hand, he was greatly relieved that nothing bad happened to her. On the other hand, he grew anxious with how her family 'reunion' would go over. With each passing moment, he could feel his heart ready to burst from curiosity.
"Mi Young-ah. Please let it go well with your dad and family. It has to. For you, for ajjushi, for your family . . . for us!" he thought. After a few more minutes alone with his thoughts, his phone rang. It was with a great of sense of joy that he'd finally be speaking with a familiar, but sweet, voice.
"Hi Mi Young-Ah"
"Hi Joong Hee-shi. I'm sorry for slipping away from you earlier. But, I had something to take care of"
"Yeah, I saw your note. And it's the right thing to do. But, do you know how worried I was when I didn't see you this morning? At least I know you're Ok though."
"He really loves me, doesn't he?" she thought with a smile.
"So, did you talk with ajjushi?"
"I did"
"And?"
"We made up. Things are fine with Dad now"
"That's great, Mi Young-ah! I'm really relieved for you and everyone else." Suddenly, he felt a weight lifted off his shoulders as well.
"Yeah, it does feel better not having this anchor on my heart" Mi Young agreed. "I just had breakfast with them too"
"That's really great, Mi Young-ah. And I'm proud of you as well. By the way, does this mean that you'll move back home?"
"I'm not sure" Mi Young replied.
"What do you mean you're not sure? Is there something else going on between you and your family?" Joong Hee asked with slight concern.
"No, it's not that"
"Then what?"
"Well, I was thinking. Maybe we don't always have to hang out at your place. Sometimes. . . I may not feel like going anywhere. . . " she slyly hinted.
"Mi Young-ah. Are you being silly now?"
"How is that silly? I mean, you and scandals seem to have a way of intersecting. Don't you find it tiresome that you're always stuck in your place every time the press wants to follow you around?"
"Well" he mused.
"Wouldn't it be nice to have a second place to hide out which no one else knows about?" she teased.
"Then you'd be an accomplice. If you go further, then it's aiding and abetting" he reminded her.
"Well, if we're together, is that really so bad?" she playfully rejoined.
"Well, when you put it THAT way" he mused. Suddenly, laughter infected both of their phones.
As they continued chatting, minutes turned into a couple of hours. As they finally concluded their conversation, two truths became readily apparent. First, unlimited talk plans are one of the greatest things ever created. Second, love truly knows no boundaries, especially when it came to Joong Hee and Mi Young.
A/N: As usual, any and all reviews are welcome!