A/N: A big thank you to everyone that read and reviewed Chapter 1. Very much appreciated. Without further adieu, here's installment # 2.
Love Conquers All Ways
Chapter 2
Love does funny things to people. It can make someone jump higher than a kangaroo. It can also bring the strongest person to their knees. Or, in the case of one Ahn Joong Hee, render him like a statue or a store mannequin.
He was adopting an all too familiar pose on his spacious couch. From the outside looking in, it almost seemed that time had simply stopped for him while the rest of the world was passing on by. In the last few days, he only got up off the couch to check if food magically appeared in his fridge (no luck) and to use the restroom. Otherwise, that piece of furniture suddenly became his new, albeit reluctant, best friend.
Wasn't the lack of sleep bothering him? Maybe. After all, he had the same video playing in his head on a continuous loop for the last week. Though the images didn't change, he still felt haunted in reliving them. It was a mix of both self-loathing and self-pity that were slowly taking control of his psyche.
He could vividly see Mi Young's beautiful, yet forlorn, eyes. His ears cringed at how she could barely keep her composure the last time they spoke. His whole heart and body ached when she left his embrace and slowly walked away from him. It's a wonder he didn't end up back in the same place that Mi Young just left.
"Mi Young-ah, are you OK? I just need to know if you're doing all right" Joong Hee thought. Suddenly, with muscle memory kicking in, he whipped out his phone and got Mi Young's speed dial on the screen. Though the word 'Judo' stayed on the screen for quite some time, he just couldn't seem to hit "Call". Then, he opened a new text. Fifteen minutes later, he hadn't even typed one letter.
"This is crazy. This is so crazy. How did my life get so screwed up so fast? I thought things were going well for me." As if on cue, he felt and heard yet another familiar pang – this time from his stomach.
"Wow. I am so hungry right now. I'm going to order some jajangmyun from that place. Let me pull up the number." As he scrolled through his lengthy address book, the doorbell rang.
"Whoa. Either the delivery drivers these days are psychic or it's another annoying salesperson" he thought. As he pushed the remote button, it was clear that he wasn't prepared for what, or who, he saw.
Though the deepest recess of his heart secretly hoped that Mi Young would visit him, the rest of him would not allow that thought to take root. Yet, despite his initial double take, it was really her standing outside his door.
"It's really her. What do I do? What do I do? Ok. Calm down, Ahn Joong Hee. Regardless of why's she here, the fact is she's here. Let her in." With that, he pushed the button and practically vaulted at the door. As he gradually moved the handle and gingerly pushed the door, he was suddenly in front of the same young lady who could barely look him in the face one week prior. Tonight, she wore a more hopeful, if not happier, expression on her face.
"Mi Young-ah. Mi Young-ah. It's really you." Joong Hee said.
"Ahn-bin-ihm" Mi Young replied.
"I . . . I . . . come in. Come in. Please" It was clear Joong Hee was still a little flustered at the current turn of events.
As she made her way into his apartment, it occurred to her that his place was even nicer than she had previously imagined. Suddenly, she realized how much comfort he had sacrificed just to live in her family's house.
"Nice place" Mi Young mused.
"Thanks. It's a little messy. I know I need to clean it, but I wasn't expecting company. Sorry!" Joong Hee replied with a tinge of embarrassment.
"I can help you" Mi Young offered.
"No, no, no. It's Ok. Just have a seat and make yourself comfortable". He went to the fridge to get two bottles of water. He opened them both and offered one to her.
"Thank you"
"Sure"
As he sat next to her, he suddenly remembered the last time that they sat together. He was praying hard that he wouldn't relive that heart wrenching moment right here in his own abode.
"So, Mi Young-ah. What brings you here?"
She took a quick gulp of water before responding. "I . . . I . . . just . . . I just"
"You just . . . what?" Joong Hee offered.
"I just needed to talk to someone. I've just been feeling so lonely lately." Mi Young finally said. It was her tone that Joong Hee wasn't feeling comfortable with, and he knew why.
"You haven't spoken to your dad at all this past week, have you?" he asked. Her lack of movement confirmed his suspicions.
"Hasn't it been too awkward to avoid him these past few days living under the same roof?" he further asked.
"Not really. I moved into my own apartment" Mi Young replied.
"Wait. What?! You moved out?! You're kidding me". Again, her lack of movement began to bother him. "Did you really have to do that? I mean, look at your siblings. I didn't see any of them move out even though they know the whole truth."
"Why talk about my siblings? Ra Young is too young and doesn't have money to move out even if she wants too. Oppa and Yoo Joo aren't going anywhere. And Unni lives with her husband's family. I don't have any of their chains, so I left home". Mi Young offered.
"You're right. And I'm one to talk. I wasn't much better when I first learned the truth. I'm sorry. I spoke out of turn." As Joong Hee looked at her, he realized that what he said next could be momentous in their relationship.
"Mi Young-ah. I'm not going to pressure you to talk to your dad if you're still not comfortable. But, I know that you know that you need to speak with him at some point. In the meantime, you did well to come here. As I told you before, I'm never going to judge you. I'm here for you always. I mean always. Understand?"
"Thank you, Ahn-bin-ihm."
"Was there something else you wanted to say?" Joong Hee asked.
She nodded her head. By now, he could only guess what she might say next.
"I . . . I missed you. I really, really missed you, Ahn-bin-ihm. The last few days have been like torture. I thought that moving out might help heal my heart, but instead it's even worse because I've been so lonely. And this was the only place I could think of where I know someone would listen to me . . . without judgment." It was with both embarrassment and relief that she could finally pour some of her heart out to him.
As he processed her words in his mind and heart, he suddenly felt a lift that's evaded him in recent days. The sincerity of her words certainly moved him – so much so that he finally had the confidence to put on a more playful tone with her.
"So, you really missed me. And how many times did you try to call me but didn't?" he asked.
"Less than the number of times you tried to call me but didn't" Mi Young playfully retorted.
"I don't think so"
"I know you don't think so, but I know so"
"Wow. Listen to you!" With their playful banter, the mood of the place exponentially lightened to say nothing of the smiles now on their faces.
"Say, are you hungry? I was actually going to order some jajangmyun right as you came. I can order right now if you want?" Joong Hee offered.
"I love jajangmyun. And yes, I'm STARVING right now" Mi Young said.
"Ok. I'll place the order right now". As he made impromptu home dinner reservations, a familiar face caught Mi Young's attention.
"Oh, it's Al. Hi Al. It's me, Mi Young. You remember me, don't you? I'm sorry I've been away from you for a while. I was just telling Ahn-bin-ihm that I really missed him. But, I didn't tell him that I really missed you more".
"Hey, I heard that!" Joong Hee exclaimed.
"Jealous of a turtle. Are you proud of yourself?" Mi Young joked in return. As she turned her attention back to Al, she asked, "Is it Ok if I feed him? We shouldn't be the only ones to eat."
"Yeah, that's fine. Let me get you some lettuce to give him" As he provided her with turtle food, he watched as she fed and petted Al with love. He couldn't help but feel so blessed that he found an incredible young lady that he could love so dearly. He was in the throws of his delightful thoughts when the doorbell rang. Dinner at last!
As he took the containers out, he placed 3 orders of jajangmyun on the dining table. The two of them then sat across from each other to enjoy this special meal.
"Why did you order 3?" Mi Young asked.
"Simple. One for you. One for me. And one for us." Joong Hee answered.
"Us?"
"I'm not letting anything ruin this dinner tonight. So, eat a lot."
"Ok". As they slurped and devoured the delicious brown sauced noodles, they took playful turns wiping each other's faces. It's as if they were in a kindergarten class instead of an intimate dinner.
After they disposed of the dishes, Mi Young wondered what would happen next. She didn't have to wonder long.
"Mi Young, come here". She joined him in the living room area.
"I promised myself that if I'm ever with a girlfriend again, that there's something I want to do with her".
"What?" Mi Young inquired.
In a cute, but awkwardly lame, English accent, he asked, "Can I have this dance?"
She did her best to stifle a little giggle, but to no avail. As she regained her composure, she looked back at Joong Hee and realized that he was actually serious.
"Ahn-bin-ihm, you're not serious? You know I'm not good at dancing. Remember all the help you had to give me just to get through Unni's wedding?"
"Of course I do. You did fine at the wedding. Besides, I'm not even asking you to do that now"
"Ahn-bin-ihm, I don't know."
"Mi Young-ah, I'm talking about a slow dance. Anyone can do a slow dance. Even someone with two left feet like you."
"Two left feet?!"
"Oh sorry. I meant two right feet."
"Maybe I should go home right now" Mi Young joked.
"No no no. It's ok. Just follow my lead and you'll be fine." As she stared at him, she realized that, despite her reservations, she really had no choice.
He quickly got his phone since he already knew what song he wanted them to dance to. It would be Kenny G's "The Moment". As the music started to play, he took her hands into his. For the first few seconds, Mi Young stood as stiff as a board. But, as the music progressed, she surprised herself and found that she was keeping up with him effortlessly. With their closeness and unison, one could be forgiven for thinking that they had been dancing together for 40 years instead of just 4 minutes. As the song ended, it also closed one of the more intimate couple dances in all of Korea that night.
He slowly moved his head back so he can look at Mi Young. "I told you that you're a great dancer".
"It was . . . interesting", she replied with slight embarrassment. "I'm really glad I came here tonight. But, I think I should be going now".
"Already?" Joong Hee asked. The night couldn't end yet. "I mean, there's still one more thing I want for us".
"What?"
He had pictured how this moment would be. It would certainly not be like the scene that he shot with Mi Young for "Oh My Boss" as "punishment". It also didn't need to be Hollywood like. He knew that it just had to be from his heart and her heart.
As he slowly approached her, he could see her backing away. He gently put his hands on her arms. Though she initially still wanted to escape, with each passing second, she found her will failing. Soon, his hands moved from her arms and were gently cupping her face. They stared into each other's eyes for a seeming eternity. Then, within seconds, he leaned in and they finally kissed. Though they were but very young lovers, their kisses nonetheless contained a passion, longing, and singleness of heart that can only be found when two people love each other more than anything (short of heaven). With their lips locked and arms intertwined, they didn't know where their love would ultimately lead. But they did know this. Their love for each other was undeniably strong, unmistakably real, and undoubtedly . . . meant to be.
A/N: As usual, any and all reviews are welcome!
