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[REPOST]; [Moon HeeJun] Greatest Story Ever Told
Topic Started: Feb 24 2005, 03:35 PM (251 Views)
moonpiez!	Feb 24 2005, 03:35 PM Post #1
Super Member Posts: 625 Group: Member Member #3,263 Joined: March 31, 2004	This is one of my favorite stories that I've put together thus far. I wrote it September before last in recognition of the 2 year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. I've been going back and forth on whether or not to post this fiction due to some graphic content I thought was best not to expose a lotta the young readers in this board to, but after discussing this with administration and global mods, we've come to an agreement. So, please enjoy! Posted Image Greatest Story...Prologue He cradled her in his arms. Leaning over, he cleared a small a corner in the vacated room. As he laid her out on the carpeted foundation, he positioned himself on top of her, his back to the ceiling. He felt the tenderness beneath him, several limbs broken, and her inner organs combusted, she was helpless. Unmobile, she had no feeling in the lower extremities of her body, and as she caressed his swollen cheek, an uncontrollable whimper escaped his lips, "oooh God," he sobbed over and over again. She shared his tears, her whimsical gaze imploring of him, his affection. "JinSun...," he called her name. The only motion she was capable of remained frozen, frightening him, but she smiled, tears pouring out through the corners of her eyes, she begged of him to do the same, wanting to capture the last of him, just the way she had captured the first, a smile, an unspoken interest with a kiss that promised an everlasting story of a lifetime for the last time. "Thank you for this moment, I gotta say how beautiful you are of all the hopes and dreams I could've prayed for, here you are." She felt the quiver in his lips, moist, just as he slowly lowered his head, reluctantly willing to comply, selfishly wanting her to fight harder, knowingly forcing her to hold on to dear life for as long as he was still alive. He captured hers in a kiss that allowed each to exchange the taste of a definitive substance. The salty liquid from his mouth met the thickly coated fluid in hers. He cringed at the taste of blood. He cried at the feel of her skin, cold to the touch. He pulled himself away in time to note the gratitude on her face, her eyes closed, he saw the strain on her face, then felt her go completely limp. "It's the way we touch, it sends me, it's the way we'll always be, your kiss, your pretty smile you know I'd die for...you're all I need." She was lifeless in his grasp. But her suffering had ceased, as would his...He heard the commotion outside grow louder, even from 40+ floors up and he glanced one last time toward the sky. "If destiny decided, I should look the other way...then the world would never know the greatest story ever told...and did I tell you that I love you, tonight." Two years later... "What is it?" A young man caught the luster of a shiny object, as he swept up the street toward the entrance to the church nearby. He picked at it continuously, digging it out, as it was buried beneath some of the loose gravel on the ground. Another young man, dressed in faded jeans and a muscle shirt, tried to pop the small deconstructed square open, hitting at it with his tool. "You got it?" He watched as the other, held a golden circular band in his hands, clearing away the dirt that stuck to the inscription on the inside. "Wow..." "What's it say?" Few others crowded about. Maintenance and community service volunteers often chose Liberty Street to work their hours, picking up scraps and trash from off of the pavement. But the historic alterations that particular region had undergone two years before were often mind boggling. It seemed so surreal, to stand surrounding what was once a towering complex, but the feeling of relief set in shortly after, when they realized, two years or two minutes was still cutting it too close. While fate favored those many who walked away with stories of survival, others, who were thought unfortunate, took theirs with them, leaving behind only the momentos of their presence... "'Moon JinSun September 11, 2001'" Hundreds of victims, named, but statistically unknowns...with untold stories. Greatest Story...I He circled the building several times, all smiles, a witty grin as he thought about her. "This is it!" He shouted. "This is where I want it!" "What are you talking about, HeeJun?" His companion, though accustomed to the hopeless romantic that often surfaced on the part of his best friend, asked amusedly as he watched him jump up and down in excitement. "Just picture it, Hyunnie," he put his arm around ChilHyun's neck dragging him toward the entrance of Trinity Church. "JinSun standing over there in her beautiful white gown, then me in my suit, and you, my best man-" "Wait a minute, wait a minute," ChilHyun pulled away, cutting off HeeJun's dream sequence. "Did I miss something?" HeeJun grinned mischieviously, turning away, bringing his hand up to scrath his head, a teasing whistle as he skipped down the sloped sidewalk. "HeeJun," ChilHyun laughed, "Seriously, did you....," he motioned with his hands, attempting to inquire if HeeJun was infact, a husband to be. "....," HeeJun paused, "Mmmm, not yet," he winked while ChilHyun threw his hands up in frustration. "BUT," he added. "I will be, after tonight." He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a tiny gift box, waving it in front of ChilHyun, who then snatched it out of his hand. "I just need an inscription, I should probably do that the day before, right?" He followed ChilHyun from behind, gripping his shoulders on their way down. "HeeJun!" ChilHyun shouted in another fit of confusion as he opened the box and saw a small golden band in the place of a white diamond. "What is this?" He forced the box back into HeeJun's hands who frowned in curiosity as well. "That's a wedding ring, not an engagement ring." HeeJun knew the difference, but he couldn't bring himself to explain what he'd been trying hard to ignore, the fact that he could not afford anything more. "Kinda sure of yourself, aren't you? Just skip the long engagement and go right to the alter as soon as she says yes," he continued to tease. HeeJun nodded, pouting understandingly, as if he had known all along, he would be cheating his girl out of the experience of a lengthy engagement, with a promise ring more appropriate. "Yeah, you're right, but times are tough as h*ll right now, Taya, I can't afford a big ole diamond like the one she deserves!" he whined, kicking himself inwardly. ChilHyun shook his head, HeeJun would often claim his lack of finance to give his queen the finer things, she had been provided with throughout her upbringing made him less worthy of having her heart. But he'd never been given reason to, not by JinSun nor by ChilHyun who'd witnessed over the years, the simplistic gestures on HeeJun's part that overjoyed JinSun senselessly. "Why didn't you come to me? I woulda helped you, that's what a best man is for!" HeeJun stubbornly shook his head and ChilHyun knew he wouldn't be convinced. He wanted to give JinSun his best, not anyone else's, and JinSun had never concluded it wasn't enough. Moon HeeJun was the average civilian, forced to roll with the changes in corporate America. Unlike ChilHyun, he wasn't raised with the know how to succeed, overcome the hardships of life in the fast lane. He had moved to Manhattan two years ago, after ChilHyun graduated from Columbia University. He worked two jobs, one was as an assistant chef in a small cafe, and another, he had acquired to be closer than he had already been to a girl he met while touring the upper west side of Manhattan's fanciest residential areas. Choi JinSun was a native New Yorker, she came from a wealthy, cultured family and was bred for success in every aspect of her everyday life. She also attended Columbia U, with an internship at a databank in the north tower of the World Trade Center, a clerical position she chose to pursue after graduation. She was later introduced to HeeJun by his best friend/room mate and one of her former classmates, Ahn ChilHyun, a journalist for the Greenwich Village Gazzette. ChilHyun had long been the closest friend JinSun knew through college, and was immediately accepted by her family, meeting their standards of the perfect man to represent and remind JinSun of the kind of life her family wanted for her, professional, civil. But while JinSun and ChilHyun enjoyed spending time together, and cared much for one antoher, their interest had never been more than one of honest friendship and genuine respect for all the potential between the two. HeeJun's interest in JinSun was evident at first sight, and ChilHyun also noted JinSun's infatuation with his childhood chum an instant correspondence. When HeeJun attempted to follow her home, he was lost among the buttoned up, social intervention that was uptown Manhattan. JinSun, at many times, had proven to be his dedicated angel, willing and welcoming him, allowing him to see the adoration she felt to have him close by. ChilHyun recalled how she found him wandering the streets that fateful evening as she was detained at work several hours past her set schedule. Near the south tower of the World Trade Center, HeeJun strolled about the shops nearby. He scoped out the selection inside the popular Sam Goody music store waiting to see JinSun pass through on her way, ChilHyun had been given the opportunity to introduce his friends when he and HeeJun decided to do some shopping there the day before. But JinSun having been tied up for so long, HeeJun hadn't thought about how he'd find his way back home without ChilHyun to guide him. As night grew darker, pedestrains crowded the streets in every direction, and HeeJun knew if she was even nearby while he waited, she wasn't anymore. "Scary isn't it?" HeeJun heard a soft chuckle following the rhetorical inquiry, in the sweetest voice. He turned with a smile, hopeful to find a familiar face. "JinSun," he grinned shyly just as he'd let his guard down, his back to the oncoming crowd, he felt someone shove him in the direction of where she stood, and whatever space left between them, JinSun recovered. "Are you okay?" she held him from losing his balance, and he was briefly taken by the consideration in her charismatic gaze, made it difficult for him to compose himself. At that point he wasn't sure he'd be able to blame the people struggling behind him, her presence had power to weaken his knees as well. She was petite, black hair all the way down to her waist, a cream colored complexion, just a single shade darker than his own. And her eyes were perfectly shapen, wide but round, almonds, with a brown he'd never known. Even with the sun down, there was light, and he could make out the detail in each one. "HeeJun?" she smiled noting his actions frozen, as she continued to pull him up. "Huh?" overcome with blind admiration, HeeJun slowly realized her efforts were without reinforcement. "Oh...sorry," he pushed himself off, another sigh of laughter he blushed, looking away, in the direction he felt the hit and run make contact. "Sorry," he repeated, "I think I met him on the plane, he wasn't too happy, with me." JinSun frowned inquisitively. "I took his window seat...SORRY ABOUT THAT," he shouted to no one in particular. JinSun put her hand over her mouth, a subtle laugh at his attempt to justify the haste she was already accustomed to. "Maybe we should wait in here," she suggested, walking into the music shop he'd already been waiting in. He followed her back inside. Watching her stand in business attire as he had often stood next to ChilHyun, he suddenly felt like a mess, fidgeting with the zipper on his jacket and shuffling in place. "So what brings you all the way out here?" JinSun again tried to soothe the discomfort in his actions by showing interest in his appearance that night. Though she knew he worked in a cafe somewhere on Broadway, he actually shared an apartment with ChilHyun out in Jersey. "I've been out here for a while," he admitted. "Oh...so I guess you were just on your way home?" she asked disappointedly, hoping that he might have just wandered there amongst the masses of people. JinSun didn't give HeeJun time to crush the anticipation she felt when she first approached him. "I guess I'll be seein you, soon. Maybe we can all go out for lunch next week or something, I'd love to see where you work," she suggested. "Yeah, sure," they nodded, and JinSun walked out, glancing behind at him before she grew mobile, trying to keep up with the collective bunch walking in her direction as well. "JinSun!" he gave chase not long after he nearly lost sight of her and she turned to wait on him, the smile on her face evident again. "Maybe I should take you home, first-I mean it is dark." HeeJun did want to share what few minutes were left in the evening with her, but he realized he also had no where left to go. ChilHyun had walked him there from the restaurant, the day before, but the way home was much further, and night time was especially crowded, in this region of Manhattan. "Oooh I don't want to take you out of your way, HeeJun," JinSun tried to sound sincere. She didn't want him to go to any trouble, but nor did she want to leave his side, and she could only resist so much. "I'll be okay," she finally assured him. HeeJun was much too bashful to admit he was lost, but as JinSun continued on, she turned with the sole purpose of admiring his appearance and found him standing just as she left him. "HeeJun," he snapped his head back in the direction of her voice, and she was reluctant to make the assumption. "You do know which way home is...," HeeJun looked away, another dash of red on his swollen cheeks, as he brought his hand up to the back of his head, a habit JinSun thought irresistably endearing. "You can call ChilHyun from my place...if you want," she knew at that point she was making her interest in HeeJun obvious, but she couldn't help it. HeeJun, too, wasted no time catching up and walking at her side. He took her briefcase in his hands and merrily conversed with her about the most insignificant things all the way to her apartment. "Will you just hold it for me, Kang Ta? You are my best man, aren't you?" ChilHyun nodded and took the box in his hand again. "But here's a thought genious," he started again, "What do you plan on giving her when you propose? You're supposed to give her some kinda gift, an engagement ring is popular now days," he joked and HeeJun laughed. "I got it all under control, Hyunnie," he eagerly reached into his pocket again and pulled out...candy...though popular hard candy, ChilHyun hoped he was joking. "A tootsie roll pop? HeeJun, you wouldn't! A RED TOOTSIE POP?" HeeJun drew back, squinching down as ChilHyun's voice became louder. "What?" he popped back up, innocently questioning him with a curious grin. "You want one?" he reached in and pulled out another piece of candy. "I have original flavor." "Oh...nevermind," ChilHyun declined. Listening to HeeJun go on about his plans, he quickly realized he had misunderstood. But the idea that HeeJun would use candy wasn't all that farfetched. The many times he saw HeeJun's creativity produce handmade crafts or single out simple meaningful gadgets were unforgettable, mainly because JinSun bought every thought behind his heartfelt deliveries...and so, maybe it wasn't so crazy. The necklace he'd tied together with honeycomb and corn pops cereal was said to still be collecting ants on the entire floor she worked on...and so, perhaps she was just crazy enough to cancel out his insanity. Still holding out the candy and calling out suggestions, he didn't note the sudden change of face, and how quickly ChilHyun put the boxed ring in his pocket when he saw the girl crossing the street, walking toward where they stood. "I was thinking of proposing to her over a fancy dinner in one of those famous restaurants." ChilHyun shook his head, smiling past him as she got closer and closer, "And then giving her flowers with a card that simply says, 'I LOVE YOU'!" "Would I be interrupting something, love birds?" HeeJun froze in place, his hands still held up in ChilHyun's direction as he turned his head. She had only heard HeeJun's declaration of love before ChilHyun, and watched HeeJun's offering of candy to the other boy, same sex relationships were not unheard of in New York. "JinSun," he cracked a fearful smile. She stood with her arms crossed in a tan dress suit, a long black coat. "So this is a bad time?" she questioned again, as HeeJun held a guilty look of desparation on his face, lowering his hands and looking to ChilHyun for help. ChilHyun, confident that JinSun hadn't heard anything about the proposal, saw an opportunity to avoid the entire issue for good, by playing along with her teasing implication. "Well, JinSun," he put his arms affectionately around HeeJun's neck, "there was never actually a good time to tell you...," he leaned over pretending to steal a kiss from HeeJun's lips, but was quickly shoved away. "Are you crazy?!" HeeJun practically jumped over to JinSun. "Hehehe." He looked at her, smiling with humility, "I don't know what's gotten into him," he laughed nervously again. "Well, don't let me get in the way," she reached to grab the two pieces of candy in each of his hands, "I'll just take these, then." She walked off ahead of them. "We were just on our way up to get you." HeeJun mouthed a few words to ChilHyun while JinSun's back was turned and ChilHyun shrugged, his attempt to alert HeeJun failed and who knows how much she had actually overheard. "I can see that," she said sarcastically, continuing on. "JinSun." They gave chase and she possessively hid the candy away. "Don't even think about it! Do you know how long I waited up there for you guys, I haven't eaten all day," she claimed, taking the candy out of its wrapper and putting it in her mouth. "I'm sorry, Sunnie," HeeJun whined. "I wanted to go, but Taya...," he thought up a fast excuse, "Taya has this thing about heights, I mean your office is all the way up there, and he doesn't like bein too far off of the ground." "What!" HeeJun pushed ChilHyun behind him as he came up to reply a counter claim to HeeJun's. "You're such a liar," he laughed. "It's true, JinSun," she laughed as a playful fight ensued among them. "You know our ground floor apartment? His majesty's idea," HeeJun jokingly bowed in ChilHyun's direction. "That's only because, Dennis the Menace can't seem to keep from tossing water balloons out tha window, he gets me into so much trouble!" HeeJun stopped to give ChilHyun a look of warning, shaking his head, motioning that he stop saying things that would make him appear like a tough person to live with in the presence of someone he wanted to share his whole life with. "You do that, too?" His charade was cut off and his attention redirected, when JinSun sweetly implied she shared yet another one of his childlike interests. He saw her smile, hopeful and lovestruck all over again. "Yeah," he smiled, "I do. Do you?" She nodded, and wide eyed ChilHyun shook his head, watching them bask in their enchanted bubble. "Ooooh my gosh, we'd have the best time," she squealed excitedly in his arms as he kissed her lips. "I do not know these people," ChilHyun threw his hands up again, perfection existed solely in the existence of the bond the two shared, it was so unreal, it was scary. "Okay, I think Kang Ta is delirious now, we better feed him," HeeJun turned to acknowledge his best friend still standing there, and JinSun nodded in agreement, taking ChilHyun by the arm and positioning herself in step between her love and his best friend. "So where to, Taya? Anything you want, as long as JinSun agrees to it," they laughed together, walking in no particular direction, good company and more memorable conversation as they left the center. ---- Credits for the lyrics go to Oliver James' 'Greatest Story Ever Told' Credits for the beautiful poster go to the infamous Luna, one of the better known bests in HeeJun graphics! Thanks Luna!
	[banner courtesy of Jay] ANTONIO 02.14.81-06.15.00
moonpiez!	Feb 24 2005, 03:36 PM Post #2
Super Member Posts: 625 Group: Member Member #3,263 Joined: March 31, 2004	Greatest Story...II On a weekend of JinSun's return from a week long business trip outside of New York, HeeJun waited to hear from her, anxious to see her but dreading the outcome at the end of the evening when he would finally pop the question. Between the time that JinSun departed and the day she would fly back in, ChilHyun had been helping HeeJun look for odd jobs that would pay enough to put together a suffiecient amount for a fair looking engagement ring at a low cost. HeeJun glanced through the ads in the paper, snacking on cracker jack, and ChilHyun ran searches on his lap top. He removed his thin specs after a while and rubbed his eyes, shaking his head. He looked over at HeeJun, adjusting his dress shirt, preparing to meet with JinSun that night. "HeeJun maybe you should just forget about it," he suggested and HeeJun gave him a subtle look of contempt. "I mean what if you do get another job? When will you see JinSun? You barely get to spend time with her these days." "It'd only be temporary, Kang Ta, I gotta do it," he demanded ChilHyun stop arguing with him. "I need to get her a nice ring, and I'm not letting you pay for it! So don't even start!" "Well if it's only temporary, then why not just go to Queens, and sell your...self," he joked laughingly, "doesn't require long paperwork or years of experience." "HA HA HA," HeeJun mouthed, unimpressed, before actually giving a witty look of thought, "How much do you think I'd be worth?" ChilHyun laughed out loud, pretending to examine HeeJun's apparent characteristics and body, "Another box of Cracker Jack at most." He dodged a couple of popcorn peanuts thrown in his direction after his remark. "Watch out!" he hollered jumping back toward the phone, conveniently sounding off as he stood near it. "You've been eating those things like toothpaste lately, what gives?" HeeJun shrugged, "I heard some guy on the internet, collected the prizes and now it's worth millions, thought maybe-" ChilHyun laughed again, "HeeJun, those prizes are from the 50s, they're like 50 years old," he teased. "Yeah," HeeJun scoffed, "guess it doesn't help that every prize I've gotten so far is the same as the last," he tilted his head upward and shook the remaining crumbs out of the box and into his mouth. ChilHyun, still chuckling as he finally put the receiver to his ear, "Hello? Oh hi!" HeeJun gathered the useless paper ads and his empty cracker jack boxes while ChilHyun conversed on the line. "How was your trip?" He looked up and noted ChilHyun looking at him the whole time he listened to her voice on the other end. "Sounds, good," he smiled. "He's right here," he motioned to HeeJun and he quickly dropped his trash in a pile on the kitchen table. "He's been a pain, you know how it is," HeeJun tried to take the phone from ChilHyun but ChilHyun turned away. "Glad you're back, it'll be good for him," he joked again. "See you soon! K, here he is now." HeeJun snatched the phone away, grinning and tapping ChilHyun on the arm as he moved out of range. "JinSun?" he smiled. "Yeah, how was everything?" he asked again. "Nothing, really, overtime at work, and....waiting for you," he blushed and turned away from ChilHyun. "Yeah," he laughed. "Well, I'm ready now. What time do you want me to be there?" He paused, and ChilHyun saw his face fall momentarily. "Okay, I'll see you then..." he blew a small kiss into the mouthpiece, "bye." "All set?," ChilHyun finished picking up the pile from the table. "Yeah," HeeJun avoided eye contact, as he went over to help him. "What's wrong?" HeeJun turned away from him, "Did you forget to make reservations? What is it?" "No, the reservations are set, alright," HeeJun went to toss some loose papers in the trash before turning back to ChilHyun, "set for a funfilled day of yoga and a garden show in Central Park," he smiled a simulated smile, a sarcastic tone of excitement in his voice. "But not before I take her to dinner in one of many boring cafes, her co-workers wouldn't be caught dead in!" "Sheeez HeeJun, this song is getting so old," he grew agitated, listening on and going about what he was doing. "I know," HeeJun stood adament, "Just that every time she comes back, I can't stand thinkin she's coming home to a garden show?! And those luncheons in that conference room have to be twice as fancy as the places I take her to!" "Then don't take her to the garden show! Don't take her to the restaurant! You don't have to take her anywhere, she just wants to see you!" ChilHyun fought hard to help HeeJun see the insignificance in the comparisons he constantly pointed out, that regardless, her interest would remain the same, to see him after spending days, thousands of miles away. He stopped to compose his patience, "I'm not even gonna lecture you, HeeJun, just please, whatever you do, don't bring any of this up tonight, okay?" he pleaded. "She sounded so excited, and she really is just happy to spend time with you. Don't take that away from her." He saw HeeJun attempt to get a word in "PLEASE!" He asked again, "Don't be a jerk!" He walked clear out of HeeJun's sight before stopping at the sound of his voice, suggesting another thought that aggravated ChilHyun more. "I don't think I should ask her." HeeJun referred to the proposal he had been planning on for weeks. He looked over at ChilHyun who had grown too bitter to face him. "I just think she can do so much better than me, Hyunnie," he explained. ChilHyun turned slowly, a clenched fist hidden away. "You know what," he jeered inwardly and HeeJun could see his anger had taken on a whole other level rarely evident in the generous approach ChilHyun always carried. "I actually agree. And she does deserve better." As he walked out of the apartment, slamming the door uncharacteristically loud and hard, HeeJun knew he didn't mean it. If he thought JinSun deserved better it wasn't by way of finance, but consideration. She deserved someone who would deliver what she wanted and not what he thought she should want. The fact that HeeJun saw what he did for her as useless, was unfair to her, if she infact thought it to be the ultimate. He walked out, on his way, uncertain of how things would go that evening. But for the most part, he couldn't deny seeing her face, and the joy in her eyes as she saw his, would cheer him up. "Look at these diagrams, stuff is so complicated," JinSun toddled arm in arm next to HeeJun as they walked around the park, a pamphlet in her other hand. "Takes me back to that photosynthesis lecture I always thought was stupid," she laughed. "I hated biology, if it wasn't for those take home tests, I woulda probably failed that class." HeeJun's silence those last few moments was overwhelmingly loud, JinSun could only hear her own voice, as though she was talking to herself. "HeeJun?" "Hmm?" he continued to look straight ahead but when he saw JinSun lean forward in an effort to make eye contact, he looked down at her. "What's the matter?" she sighed, seemingly holding that concern back for a while and then addressing his dull demeanor. "No matter," he shook his head, a weary grin across his face. "HeeJun?" she stopped in her tracks and HeeJun felt himself pulled back, her arm still wrapped around his. "What's wrong?" "Nothing!" he insisted. JinSun sat herself down at a nearby park bench and HeeJun knew she wouldn't budge until he came clean. What she lacked in refined standards, she made up for stubborn persistence. "JinSun!" he nearly stomped his foot in frustration. "I'm just tired, that's all. And you had a long flight, you should be resting too. Maybe we should just go home and do this some other time." "I missed you," she explained why she couldn't wait, even though her arrival might have been inconvenient at any time. "And even if I am tired, I wont be resting easy if I don't know you are, too." "I am, I'm fine, everything is okay," he continued, but the expression on her face, grew more helpless, and HeeJun finally plopped down next to her. "What is it?" she held his arm again. "Just-," he stopped himself from telling her the reason why, "Me and Kang Ta had a fight." "When?" JinSun frowned, recalling the phone call she'd made to them earlier when everything seemed fine between them. "Just before I left the apartment." "Why?" he again shook his head trying to avoid the issue ChilHyun had asked him to. "Well, it couldn't have been that bad. What happened?" "He was really upset with me," HeeJun remembered the resentment in ChilHyun's eyes just before he left. "I'm afraid to even go home and face him." JinSun couldn't contain her laughter at the sincerity in HeeJun's fear of ChilHyun. She wasn't aware ChilHyun had a scary side, and HeeJun seemed to be the stronger of the two. He looked to her, his brows shooting up before realizing he had phrased it rather matronly. He cracked a smile as she apologetically wrapped her arms around his neck from the side and rested her head on his shoulder, trying to calm her spirits. "I think it'll be okay, HeeJun. He's not gonna hurt you," she teased. "Nah," he agreed, "I still feel bad, though." JinSun admired the thoughtful expression on his face, as he remembered how insensitive he'd appeared with ChilHyun who had been trying to ease his insecurities about his relationship with JinSun. "I was such a jerk." "Well, what happened?" JinSun wondered what might have occurred in the few hours after her call to their home. HeeJun looked down, it was unavoidable, she was going to ask for details, and if pushed hard enough, he wouldn't be able to keep from stating everything he felt all over again. "What was it all about?" she asked again. ChilHyun had asked him not to ruin her happy homecoming with a dialogue similar to the one that had created tension between them. "Tell me," she insisted. "You don't wanna know," he whispered. "Tell me, anyway," she reluctantly worded, looking into his eyes when he briefly turned to note the anxiety in her voice. "It'll make you feel better." He stood to his feet, holding his arms out, one in each direction to better emphasize, "it's about this!" He looked at JinSun who stayed sat on the bench waiting for him to continue. "All your friends are probably at some big corporate celebration costing tax payers like me a lot of money...and here you are with said tax payer, at a garden show!" The comparison he himself voiced, hurt him, and the fact that he felt so worthless as opposed to her uptown associates, made her feel more responsible every time he expressed it. "Why?" JinSun couldn't explain her love for HeeJun, it was unconditional, and strong in defiance of everything she was taught was best suited for her. She was happy with him, she never once doubted that everything else was just politics. She hated politics. The bottom line at the end of every adventurous and romantic roundabout with HeeJun was that she longed to be with him again. "I missed you," she whispered again. "...That's not what I mean," he sighed. He knew JinSun knew what he meant, and that she'd have nothing to say about what he felt, but what she felt. "He asked me not to say anything to you...but I can't help it, JinSun! It angers me, and it's so easy for him to say that I shouldn't think about it, because he's never had to!" JinSun looked away and HeeJun fought off the urge to comfort her, he didn't feel he was eligible, and she had to realize one way or another that he really wasn't. "I wanted tonight to be so special," he added selfishly. The idea seemed to revolve around him. While he didn't feel at all worthy of having her, he wanted to point out the qualities in him that should matter most. When JinSun would agree and speak about what mattered most to her, he'd suggest it wasn't right, though it would be nice if it was, it just wasn't. "I do, too," confused about what HeeJun would want to hear, she spoke in present tense to let him know the evening wasn't over, "I don't want you to think about this, anymore, Junnie. I never do!" "You're not me, JinSun!" he fought. "You can do anything, everything I can't! You don't know how much I wish I could...do for you." She listened on, "I wanna be with you, but I wanna be there for you. Feed you right, only the best with I have, lye next to you, wake up with you, take you to the airport, be there when you get back, take you home, and do it all again." He sat next to her again, he had yet to mention the money it would take to dine her, to pay for her cab fare, and most importantly to build her the castle she deserved to come home to. "But how can I do all that?" he thought aloud. "...You can marry me..." "That's not what I m-," he was about to throw another fit on how she was completely missing the argument. "What?" he thought he might have imagined the idea. He looked at her face, she hadn't taken her eyes off of him, noting the mixed emotions in his, shock, uncertainty. "Do you want to get married?" she asked again, casual tone. As he was about ready to proceed with what he was saying. She caught him off guard a second time and again he froze. "No?" she assumed the worst. "Did you-," he questioned how else the amazing coincidence could've been, how it might've been that his plans, the proposition he had rehearsed many times, had been so much the same as what she prompted effortlessly. "Did you talk to Kang Ta? Did he say something to you?" He couldn't believe there was even an explanation. "Kang Ta?" she frowned, shrugging her shoulders and shaking her head. "Nevermind," he put the concept aside, and focused on the proposal, still somewhat taken, he did his best to oppose without actually refusing. "What- I don't understand what-" "It's okay," JinSun tried to relieve him. A discouraged sparkle nearly evident along the outline, through to the sharp corners of her eyes. "No, it's not," He fell captivated by the wonderful nature in her curiosity, honest but sacred, a look that he alone induced, and a look that only he understood as he quickly dropped the aggressive demeanor and addressed her again, soft-spoken, "Why would you wanna marry someone like me, JinSun?" She felt the wind at her side, as he stood again. "I don't wanna marry someone like you, HeeJun," she specified, "I wanna marry YOU." Her phrases were like sonnets, lovingly backed by a somber tone, vowing to the last of her breath, a quiver. "But...why?" She seemed so endlessly perfect, untouchable in every way. "I have nothing," he panicked, though he knew in his heart he should send her away, he couldn't bear being without her, just the thought of not spending his life with her brought tears to his eyes. "I can't support you, I can't do all those things, because...I don't have anything, JinSun. I'm a failure," he cried. "I'll never be able to take care of you, of us," he went on. "And what about our kids," the sudden mention of future offspring was amusing for JinSun as she slouched down, blushing, smiling. "They're gonna have the very best, because of you, and to them, I'll be the deadbeat loser waiting in the car at PTA meetings." JinSun knew he was being serious and tried to disguise her laughter, but he caught her, as the rosy cheekbones on her face remained lifted, her lips tightened together. "What?" he smiled a teasing smile, leaning down, "What?" he gave a subtle chuckle that made her laugh out loud, still trying to pull the collar on her coat over her head. "You...you would have my babies, wouldn't you, JinSun?" he phrased almost flirtatiously. She looked up at him, the remainder of her spirited outburst still evident in a faded smile. She gazed, hopelessly drawn to regain her posture, "If I can be sure they'd be anything like you...I would," she convinced him, "just as long as this inferiority complex ends with you, HeeJun." He stood beaten at his own drama, did HeeJun. If his love for JinSun, strong as it was, didn't keep him from overlooking their differences once and for all, perhaps his love for his children, would. They would be the only other creations on this earth that would helplessly depend on him for guidance, encouragement, and unconditional love like what JinSun implored of him every time they were together, it was all she wanted, and all she needed to be sure he even felt an inkling of what she did for him. And if JinSun and HeeJun's combined influence was to be at all effective, it would be all their children would know. "You wouldn't teach our children that, right?" "...No," he sighed, he couldn't argue. "I guess I wouldn't." He sat himself on the opposite side of where he'd been sitting next to her. She slumped down again, resting the side of her head on the upperside part of the bench, still staring at him, love struck. "I guess I'd want them to be more like you," he expressed tenderly, a weary smile on his face as well. "I want them to be the best at everything, but open to others like me. I want them to be humble, better than everybody, but considerate of them." "HeeJun," she opposed, "that doesn't matter. There's always gonna be somebody better than you," she sighed. "It's not like you're not trying hard enough just because you don't get ahead of everybody...I...I just don't want them to ever feel like they don't deserve something they really want, might be the only thing keeping them from it, otherwise they'd be so happy," he realized she referred to him, "that's all I want." She had always hoped that she lived up to what truly made him happy, and though he swore up and down that she did, the times he spoke out about the discomfort he felt as he saw himself beneath her essence fueled insecurities within her, too. But he inched his face closer, slowly, as their eyes locked. She waited, glancing at his lips curved upward, an underhanded drive, that fathomed her as she was forced to bear the longing, while he wore an expression that didn't take from the soft supple filling she felt caress her lips. He repositioned himself, leaning around to allow her a more detailed taste, with their lips accurately merged, and she corresponded his kiss. He pulled away and imitated her manner of sitting, swagging down and nearly falling off of the seat. "So?" she laughed. "So....," he didn't appear to understand what she was waiting to hear. "Will you marry me?" she asked sweetly again. "Oh!" he sat up. "Oh yeah, I forgot about that," she smiled knowingly. "Well, you know...it is kinda sudden, JinSun," he joked. "Marriage is...well, it's tricky. Once you're trapped, you find out all sorts of stuff, you know?" He whispered, bringing his head closer then moving back to where he was, as if he was telling her a secret he didn't want anyone else to hear. JinSun realized then and there how much she really wanted that man. He could've been the filthiest, or worse yet, the most coordinated control freak in the universe, and she'd have worked around it for moments like this. "What if there's lotsa things about you that I can't stand? You're not keeping anything from me, are you?" He saw her excitedly push herself up and aim for his kisser yet again, gently forcing her lips onto his, and holding his jacket with one hand. She drew back and saw the satisfied smirk on his beautiful face, then felt his warm finger tips brush along hers. "I guess I'll risk it," he whispered at last. "Really!?" she leaped over to him, accidentally putting the boney weight of her knee on his thigh. "AIYAH!" he flinched in pain and she too felt the sensitive tissue helplessly in line. "Oh!" she jumped back, and massaged the wounded area impulsively. "I'm sorry," she retracted right along with him, regretfully imagining the pain he had felt. "...spousal abuse," he uttered playfully, "I guess I better get used to it." Still dazed, he stood to help put weight on the sore muscle. He held his hand out, pulling her close to him. Wide-eyed and wide smiles, she clinched on, squeezing him tight. "But I better go patch things up with my best man." He encouraged, and she released her firm grip, nodding and kissing his lips. She guided him along, as he tried to shake off what was left of the aching.
	[banner courtesy of Jay] ANTONIO 02.14.81-06.15.00
moonpiez!	Feb 24 2005, 03:38 PM Post #3
Super Member Posts: 625 Group: Member Member #3,263 Joined: March 31, 2004	Greatest Story...III "So he said yes?" "Yup, you called it!" she chanted over the phone, a dreamy sigh following. Incidentally, just days before her flight out of New York, JinSun confided in ChilHyun about how she'd consider proposing to HeeJun when she returned. ChilHyun had waited eagerly for weeks to see what would happen. Knowing that HeeJun, too, had purchased a wedding band for the happy day should she correspond his proposal, ChilHyun thought about who would beat the other to it. "You didn't say anything to him, did you?" "What do you mean?" he laughed. "He mentioned you, when I asked him. You didn't tell him, right?" "I just told him not to be a jerk, because...because....because I know you wanted the whole thing to go right. I didn't tell him that you wanted it to go right, but-," ChilHyun tried not to give anything away, but he realized he was caught in the middle, playing cheer leader for both, encouraging HeeJun to go through with his proposal to JinSun and congratulating JinSun on convincing HeeJun with her proposal to him. "I'm sure he didn't suspect," he breathed relieved when he saw HeeJun walk into the apartment. "Okay!" he hollered over the phone. "I'll have the rough draft to you tomorrow morning, first thing, and make myself available when you finish editing, then!" "See you guys, later," she laughed, "thanks, Taya." "Yea- No problem," he nodded, watching HeeJun hang his jacket on the coat rack. "See you, tomorrow." "What's tomorrow?" HeeJun grinned when ChilHyun hung up the phone. "Uuuuhh Tuesday?" "So what's that mean to JinSun?" ChilHyun looked away, a subtle chuckle and a dash of red having failed to fool HeeJun and anticipating more conversation relating to the night before. "She told you, didn't she?" "She told me that...she proposed and you said yes," ChilHyun specified. "And?" "And...she's really happy that you said yes," he added as HeeJun still wondered about the idea, both he and JinSun planning for that particular moment. "But, you didn't say anything to her, right?" "Like what?" "About my plans to...propose to her, you didn't tell her anything about that before last night, right?" ChilHyun, still somewhat bitter about the disagreement they had, tried to word it so HeeJun would be convinced. "No...and it's a good thing I didn't. She would've wondered why...you changed your mind." HeeJun walked toward the kitchen but stopped at the table, with his back to ChilHyun, he muttered again, "And just now?" "HeeJun, I haven't said anything, and I wont," ChilHyun gave his word. "She's the happiest I've ever seen her, if she was forced to wonder why you decided not to propose-" "I never said I wasn't going to!" HeeJun tried to justify his course of actions from the evening before. "I said, I wasn't going to, last night. I didn't even have anything to present her with at the time! I still don't...," his voiced broke off as he marched up to the refrigerator for a beverage. "Well, now you don't have to worry about that." ChilHyun was relieved JinSun had managed to wheedle an acceptance out of HeeJun first. He was also glad he'd been able to play both sides quietly. But the relief was short lived as HeeJun insisted now more than ever on providing something for the woman who had taken care of the proposal. "Yes I do! She asked me, but I'm gonna put a diamond on her finger if it costs me everything I own!" he vowed as he sipped from his glass. "As soon as JinSun leaves for Seattle, I'm gonna pawn everything I have that's worth anything, and I'm gonna get another job," he clarified. "I'll sell plasma if I have to, I just gotta get her a decent ring." ChilHyun did appreciate HeeJun's dedication. The idea that he was committed to someone who needed very little from him, but that he felt deserved the best he could possibly pull out of wherever seemed so strong and upstanding, a union that would weather situations much like the ones HeeJun continued to lead them into. "I can't stand the idea of making the announcement to her parents without something to show for it." "What?" ChilHyun stood skimming through his portfolios behind the couch where HeeJun sat sunk in more desparity. "Next Monday we're gonna have dinner with her parents, to tell them...about our plans." ChilHyun shook his head, annoyed, he smiled an irritated smirk, "Why do I get the feeling this wasn't her idea, HeeJun?" "Kang Ta, you don't know what I'd give to have my parents here," he tried to make ChilHyun understand. "She has her parents here, I'm sure she'd love to have them there." "Did she say that?" ChilHyun snickered pacing about the room. "Well, no-" "HeeJun! You've met these people! You know what they're like!" ChilHyun allowed himself to shout in declaration. "They're not gonna support this wedding, and much less, shell out one red cent to help pay for anything!" "I don't need their money, Kang Ta! You know I'm not doing this for that!" HeeJun countered defensively. "But they're not gonna pass up the opportunity to throw it in your face, HeeJun! You know it!" he grit his teeth in an aggravated tone. "And the only person who suffers in the process is JinSun, when you decide her parents are right about everything! You leave her alone in her principles and you break her heart!" ChilHyun forced all of his weight on the coffee table, agitated, sitting in front of HeeJun. "Those people are the lowest form of life on this planet. I swear sometimes, I can't help but wonder how she survived having to comply with their standards growing up. That place is like h*ll!" "What are you complaining about?" HeeJun pouted. "They're crazy about you." ChilHyun turned away, uneager to boast or build on that impression the Choi family had gathered of Ahn ChilHyun, but a concept HeeJun still thought would've been of help to him. "Sucks to be me," he whispered as he recalled his first and his only introduction thus far to JinSun's family. The table seated four, but throughout the evening HeeJun often felt excluded. ChilHyun had warned him times before this evening he knew would come, that the Choi family was not the traditional bunch from the old country with reservations and restrictions galore, but infact they were worse. JinSun and her family were all Americans, where generations before had struggled, her parents raised her to settle for nothing but the best. They themselves were college graduates, her father the most distinguished Asian attorney known throughout the big apple, and her mother, also a veteran notary in the field of law. She had tried several times to fix her daughter up with some of the young men who bordered business flights at the same time as the two often did, which for JinSun, actually made the trips less pleasurable, even though she got to see more of her mother. Mrs. Choi had seen the world, and was the toughest of the two parents to impress. "So what is it that you do, exactly?" she sipped her tea cup, fitting for one hand, she held it carefully and gracefully with both. "HeeJun cooks for a really nice cafe," JinSun smiled, "he's really good, Appa, I've eaten there many times. He cators, delivers, pretty soon he'll be running the place-," "He can speak, can't he, JinSun?" her laughing praises were rudely interrupted by the woman who had prided herself on showing her daughter manners fitting for corporate citizens. She didn't feel as much humility for herself as she did for HeeJun, who apparently wasn't all that JinSun had seen him for in the eyes of her family. She gave HeeJun an apologetic pout, and he smiled with one of his own. JinSun never expressed anything less than grave fanaticism for him, in whatever he did. HeeJun cleared his throat. "Well," he tried his best to make eye contact with the woman. ChilHyun had told him, little things like such, would help establish a presence around business types like the ones JinSun associated with. "I also started part time at Sam Goody, the one in the World Trade Center Plaza." But knowing his profession would fail to meet their standards, he tried to focus more on his committment to JinSun. "I get to see JinSun more, we take lunch together, everyday, and-" "Really?" her father followed up on his wife's idea, to point out the financial low in HeeJun's line of work. "Working part time at a music shop, and full time at a restaurant, you can't possibly make more than 25 thousand dollars a year," he grinned. "Where can you possibly afford to treat her everyday?" HeeJun was saddened his attempt to show them how hard he worked just to be close to JinSun, was overlooked by her parents of all people. Did they not care about anything more than expensive accessories, dining, and lifestyle? Though he sometimes wondered what someone of such rich and cultered background would want with him, he did feel for her to settle the way she did, she must've seen something in him that she didn't have. But whatever it was, it was apparently insignificant. "Well," he whispered, coyly, "I do room with Kang Ta, it helps me save a lot." Too embarrassed to mention that he didn't always take her to the fanciest of restaurants or cover their way when he agreed to join her at business luncheons, he instead attempted to point out, certain cuts in costs that would explain how he managed to provide for JinSun in whatever he could afford. "I'm sorry, Kang Ta?" "ChilHyun, Umma." JinSun clarified as her family hadn't known of ChilHyun's childhood nickname. "AHN ChilHyun?" She saw her father's serious tone, fade into more of a pleasantly surprised reaction upon hearing JinSun mention her old college friend. HeeJun noted it also, and nodded, dismayed, he buried his own expression in his plate, picking at his food. "How is Hyunnie, these days?" Her mother showed equal if not more interest in hearing about ChilHyun. For a split second, HeeJun couldn't help but remember how many times he'd heard wealthy, arrogant people use such phrases on TV or in restaurants JinSun had treated him to. "Tell him if he ever changes his mind about writing a common law column, to contact me." Mr. Choi continued to encourage, JinSun's affiliation with the refined journalist she'd shared classes with in semesters past. "I'd be happy to give him some exclusive info on some of the cases I'm handling." She nodded respectfully. "And tell him not to be a stranger, we'd love to have him when he's not so busy," her mother added and HeeJun felt all the more isolated, JinSun looked up at him from time to time while her parents went on about ChilHyun. "So how do you even know ChilHyun?" HeeJun didn't know he was being addressed, and JinSun answered on his behalf. "They grew up together in Korea," she smiled, "They've known each other since they were children." HeeJun realized late that the inquiry was directed toward him when he heard JinSun refer to he and ChilHyun. He nodded in reinforcement, hoping to have found a way into the conversation. "ChilHyun was born in Korea?" But the focus remain on his best friend and the generalizations continued on. "Hard to believe someone so educated could've come from the old country." "MA!" JinSun raised her voice in deep resentment for her mother's inconsiderate remark. The conviction in her voice only overshadowed by a sudden thunderous roar that vibrated within her as rain began to pour around the region. She watched her father stand and walk to the nearest window, disregarding HeeJun's response to calm JinSun's sudden submissive reaction. "Well, Ka-...ChilHyun moved to the states after grade school," he shared. "He attended more school in America. I moved here after graduation." "Well that explains it, then. He certainly has come a long way," she praised him again. "But he'd never forget where he came from," JinSun argued and her mother acknowledged the bitterness in her eyes. The fine line between conformity in the states, and leaving the history of the old country completely behind made it difficult for JinSun to understand what her family expected of her, what it would take to please them. While HeeJun knew his existence in JinSun's life had triggered the instigation, he felt alone again, understanding her issues with her family stemmed from much more, but he'd yet to realize how important a role he was playing in the life of his girl, in every aspect. "I'm sure he's curteous to his friend's feelings," her mother bounced back, implying ChilHyun only found it hard to leave the olden ways with the influence of HeeJun around him. JinSun could only shake her head, beaten, outsmarted, outspoken, and HeeJun felt useless, completely left out, and perhaps unwelcomed, unworthy. "It really appears to be coming down out there," Mr. Choi interrupted. "You two should really get going before it gets worse." "Yes," the mother agreed, "Why don't you go hail a cab and JinSun will meet you out there," but not without another mean slur in HeeJun's direction, who'd been downgraded from an uneducated peasant, to a door man serving the high society civilians the only way he really knew how. "Here," the father applied pressure on the nail already driven into the coffin. He pulled out a lumpsome of cash from the leather pocketbook in his hands, and held it out for HeeJun. "I'm sure it took the majority of your pocket change to get here, let me take care of this." HeeJun eyed the man, a spiteful glare, but in the direction of JinSun, a hurtful pout. JinSun had done the best she could to stand up to her parents, and HeeJun didn't know whether to feel cowardly for not following her lead or responsible for serving as the primary purpose, the family would have this fall out. He placed his hankerchief on the table and swiftly stood, seemingly walking out on her. JinSun watched him storm out, insecure about the underlying reason for his retreat, she waited for him to walk back in. When he didn't, her mother scoffed, and went on eating her dinner. Her father flagged her attention with the currency still in his hands. JinSun stood to her feet, taking the money from his hands and tossing it onto her plate along with her napkin before taking one of many candles on the dinner table and flaming up the heap. "I walked," she whispered. Her mother rushed to put fire out, "Honestly, JinSun!" She lectured, "I'd reconsider getting involved with the likes of this young man, I don't like the effects he's having on you!" She blamed HeeJun for the aggression in her nature that evening. "What on earth possessed you to get mixed up in an affair like that?" The father agreed as he saw his daughter make tracks toward the door. "He has a poor background, odd jobs, an unstable future, you should really set your sights higher." "I did!" JinSun couldn't remember the last time she had stood up to her father. She and her mother had had several arguments in the past, but typical mother daughter disagreements couldn't compare. As she stepped out, her sadness could almost be felt, the door heavy on her light heart, as she closed it behind her slowly. She caught a last glimpse of her father's remoseful gaze, her mother with her back to JinSun, calling to the help for housekeeping. JinSun walked on toward the exit of the building, a path just ahead, she stopped by the lobby. She hadn't touched her dinner that evening, and went to take something out of the vending machines. She wasn't really hungry, the salty taste of tears in her mouth kept her from deciding on something she'd enjoy. Her blood level dropping, she'd gone without nourishment the entire day, preparing for this occassion, and something small would've sufficed. But as she observed the small selection of foods and juices, she noted a familiar looking reflection and turned to see HeeJun hiding in a corner. A part of her was relieved he was still there, but a bigger part of her was angry, scared, confused all at once. He might have been there, but he certainly didn't have her back. She looked into his eyes, he had wept openly, tears filling up his eyes as well, deep and weary, they just wouldn't come down and JinSun panicked, turning swiftly and moving out fast. The image of her running out on him took a while to register in HeeJun's mind, and when he realized what was happening he jumped to his feet and chased after her. "JINSUN!" The door man was also momentarily drawn back when he watched the girl carelessly walk out of the building and into the rain without an umbrella, rain coat or any kind of protective shielding. "JINSUN!" He spotted the guy running in the same direction and held the door open for him. HeeJun did have an umbrella in his hand and tried to unfold the large canopy while trailing JinSun at the same time. "JINSUN!" After a while he gave up, tossing the umbrella on the flooded pavement and gripping JinSun's arm, but she brushed him off every time he tried to confront her. "Just do what you gotta do! Don't make me watch!" He heard her speak. "What do you mean?" "You tell me!" she brushed him off again. "Don't even tell me, just go!" "Is that what you want?" He waited for her to respond. "It is, isn't it? You want me to go!" "Does it really matter what I want? It never has!" "It matters to me!" he grabbed her arm again, spinning her around to face him. "Then why'd you leave?" a pleading frown on her face, she couldn't keep from breaking down and turning around when he couldn't muster up an answer he thought would help her feel better. "What was I supposed to do, JinSun? Nobody wanted me there!" "Yeah," she scoffed, walking away again with her back to him as he followed, "That's me, Choi JinSun aka Nobody!" "Don't say that!" he forced her around again, "You're everything to me, JinSun! I'm nobody! Everything you're parents think of me is true, you deserve so much more." "Maybe I do," he held her up by the arms, and she responded looking into his eyes. "Maybe you do. Does it really make a difference?" JinSun was brought up being told everything she needed and deserved, and what she should aim for, but she didn't see the purpose in fixing something that wasn't broken. She was happy, and those aspirations her family had for her were theirs and theirs alone, she was more than content just the way she was, and she didn't see where doing what they thought best, was going to benefit her own happiness, if it meant leaving HeeJun, especially. "I can't give you everything you deserve! I don't wanna hold you back, I wanna take care of you. What can I give you, that you don't already have? What can I do for you, that you can't do for yourself? What am I really good for? You're so much better than me!" "I'M BETTER WITH YOU!" She couldn't find the words to explain everything she meant, but she prayed he'd know how important he was to her. She hoped he'd see what she'd seen since the first time she felt the infatuation turned into an undying gratitude turned into an unconditional love, a heroin who did provide the finer things in life. Had she not met him, she would've never known them. Her parents were her only influence prior to him, and their admonitions never focused on what HeeJun had shown her. She loved everything about him, and she felt fortunate, saved from a life like the one her parents shared, which never seemed sincere, based on luxuries that weren't as solid as what she felt for HeeJun. "I'm not trying to compete with you, HeeJun," she cried, "I just wanna be with you! What else is there? Don't you wanna be with me?" "Of course I do! Why would you ask that?" "Why would you leave?" "What else was I supposed to do-" "STAY!" "I couldn't just sit there and take everything!" "I did!" she fought again. "I have been all my life, and if I'd have known I was gonna be with you at this point in time, I'd have set myself up for more, you don't know how much you're worth to me!" "...why, JinSun?" Her words were so beautiful, he didn't even know how to respond anymore, another area she was better in than he. "Why...why do you...love me?" She shook her head, there wasn't anything she could say that would do justice to everything she felt for him. "You don't know how much it hurts me to know I'll never be able to give you everything they have, JinSun. If only I could be someone, if I could pay for cab fare, pick up the check, take you to real nice places, buy you nice things." "What? What are you talking about?" She noted everything he wanted for her had nothing to do with the things he HAD done that made her so happy. They were materialistic, and temporary joys that would not remain if not consistent for those that had grown accustomed to them, a habit HeeJun had again delivered her from. "Your family will never accept me." "My family?" She turned in another fit of annoyance for his ignorant insistence. "JinSun!" he chased again, this time blocking her path completely. "Is that what you want? You wanna fit in with my family? Give them what they want? It really doesn't matter what I want!" she repeated. "I want to do them for YOU!" "For me!?" She attempted to walk right through him, but he didn't budge. "If you really wanna do all those things, then do them! But do them for YOU, HeeJun! They don't matter to me! It wont change anything! I've given you everything I have! What more are you trying for?! Why would you put yourself through this?! I don't care about any of that! It's not what I want!" "Well, what do you want?!" he finally asked. "I don't know what to do, anymore! What can I do?" "....kiss me," she whispered. "JinSun-" When she saw he didn't take her seriously, that he wanted to treat the matter rather than to show her the only affection she sought, she turned to walk in the other direction, but he caught up again. "I don't need anything else from you, HeeJun." As he held her close again, she let him know she wouldn't argue with him anymore, that she was done discussing the issue. "If you're not gonna kiss me, then let me go. But do what you have to do...I'll understand." He saw the grief in her eyes, before she closed them. She was scared and wished to be elsewhere, soaked and weakened in his grasp. She began to break down when his reaction was delayed. But as he moved his hands up to her face, water still pouring where they stood, she placed her hands on his and felt his soft, turgid lips on her own, smiling in relief. She put her arms around his waist, her hands on his back then on his shoulders. He moved his head to the side, and she felt his lips part. She welcomed his kiss, his hair hung beautifully, drenched with rain, as was hers. Heavy dropplets still hitting their faces, he removed his hands from her face and wrapped his arms all the way around her. The storm would certainly last longer than the kiss, but together, they'd have other opportunities to indulge in another....in whichever environment, whatever the weather, it was all she asked of him. ChilHyun's laughter broke into his reminiscent sequence. "Poor HeeJun," he mouthed in annoyance again. "You're so right. It sucks to be you." ChilHyun stood again, the tension broken by the joint recollection the two conversed upon. "I'd probably feel the same if I had the girl of my dreams propose to me, save me $7,000 on an engagement ring, choose me over just about every expensive accessory within her budget, rich and beautiful, and crazy about...YOU, it's a crazy backward's universe, HeeJun, deal with it!" "I get it, Taya!" HeeJun also broke into a laughing heave. "Did you say $7,000?" "Look, HeeJun," ChilHyun took the opportunity once the air seemed clear, to confront the matter in a peaceful manner, "I know right now, you're probably having a hard time understanding this, but," he sat facing him again, "just take my word for it, okay?" HeeJun listened on, "You can't let these people convince you that JinSun doesn't need you...she does." ChilHyun explained that JinSun had tried for years to make her parents proud without compromising her own happiness. That his essence in her life was a blessing, saving her from the kind of life she would have given into with her parents as her most influential guidance. "Just think about it, HeeJun. If she hadn't fallen for you and followed you, ten years from now, she woulda been right where they are...probably married to some suit, with a kid in Zurich. You've seen the way they are, they don't look too happy, just phoney, comfortable, lifeless routines day in and day out." HeeJun shook his head in denial. He knew in his heart, JinSun was special. She might have been raised with certain traditions in mind, but she defied them, an innocence in her heart that was wise enough to lead her in the right direction, if after all, she was led to HeeJun after so many years and so many refined examples that crossed her path. "Alright, so maybe not. She might've just chosen to leave and live alone, marry her job." He shook his head a second time. There was just no way something so sweet was destined for something so sullen. JinSun deserved more, and HeeJun wanted to make sure he'd provide as much of that as he possibly could. "She loves you so much, HeeJun," ChilHyun closed with the obvious in present tense. "Don't let these people make you feel like you can't love her back, I know you do." ChilHyun felt his sermon might've been too emotional all at once for HeeJun to grasp. "Just...think about what I said. Make me feel useful, I am your best man." HeeJun agreed. "If you take her there, make sure you take her with you." HeeJun nodded, a brief silence of respect for ChilHyun's heartfelt expressions. "Do you hear a violin in the house?" But he couldn't resist poking fun at the corny demeanor in which ChilHyun advised him, glancing around the room for the traditional tunes that would play during a sappy moment in a TV novel. ChilHyun reacted, laughing and picking up a gadget next to him on the coffee table, taunting HeeJun with it as he stood up. HeeJun brought his legs and his hands up for protection, then lowering his shields when he saw ChilHyun stroll out of the room.
	[banner courtesy of Jay] ANTONIO 02.14.81-06.15.00
moonpiez!	Feb 24 2005, 03:39 PM Post #4
Super Member Posts: 625 Group: Member Member #3,263 Joined: March 31, 2004	Greatest Story...IV The evening before JinSun was to depart New York again for a lengthy business trip to Seattle, she was accompanied by HeeJun to see her parents. This time HeeJun insisted on a cab ride that he would pay for. As it pulled up to the building entrance, he was afraid he would come up short, having added up the figures in his head as they rode along. He stepped out, holding the door with one hand and reaching to help JinSun out of the car, before closing it. She smiled at him, as did he. He knew she was somewhat amused by his behavior; he tried really hard to act in a more civil manner. "I saw it in a movie," he laughed. JinSun also read into his next move, and gripped his arm when he attempted to take the place of the doorman. He blushed, walking one step behind her. When they reached the door, she knocked, then turned to see HeeJun fidgeting again. She looked into his face, lovingly helping him adjust his tie. "We don't have to do this, Junnie," she wanted to be sure he didn't feel obligated to go through with it for her. "I'll bet Kang Ta is feeling really lonely at home," she tried to entice him elsewhere, but he was instead reminded of the previous discussion he had with his best man, taking all of his advice to heart as he reached up to knock a premeditated assurance. JinSun respected his wishes, knowing he wanted to do what was right, and she admired his persistence, believing that the evening would go their way. "It'll be okay," he held her hands together with his, leaning down to comfort her with a kiss that seized to do so, as the door slowly crept open. The dinner went along, and JinSun made certain she'd be able to enjoy at least the appetizing course before allowing HeeJun to start in on the announcement. She knew her family would ruin what was left of their evening together, as soon or as late into their visit. But his merry memo was again easily perceived before he could finish, typically pointing out how long and how much he was in love with JinSun, and the objections flew immediately out into the open. "Call me a realist, JinSun," her father approached the matter in a more considerate tone, "but marriage is a lot different than just dating someone like...well, than just dating." He tried to be sensitive to his daughter's feelings but nearly failed. He turned to HeeJun who'd hung on his every reference. "Well, excuse me for saying so, but JinSun is very much capable of providing for herself. How do you expect to fulfill your duties as a husband if you can't make an equal if not more of a contribution?" "That's right! And I hope you don't expect any help from us, JinSun! We've been lenient as it is!" "Lenient?" JinSun took offense to her mother's imperative remark. Not only had her parents refused to publically acknowledge her relationship with HeeJun, often times they'd avoid discussion about their only daughter, and her pedigree in business. She'd worked hard to live up to her family's united success, her accomplishments in the process pushed aside when she refused to give him up.. "With all due respect," HeeJun cut into JinSun's response. "We don't want your money! We didn't come here to ask for your help, we only wanted...support for JinSun." They traded smiles from across the table. "But I can see now, this might've been a mistake. Let's go, Sunnie." "Now hold on, you, two!" JinSun's father stood in conjunction with them as they froze in action, still paces apart from one another. "I doubt very much that you've got the means to pay for a big public wedding," the mother scoffed at HeeJun before the man could attempt to end the meeting on an appeasing note. "Unless of course, you have no intentions of even having a wedding," she questioned what JinSun would dare settle for, and JinSun refused to include her mother in her plans, whatever they'd be. "Really, son," he addressed HeeJun, "I don't doubt that you care very much for JinSun, but if you love her as much as you say you do, then you should consider stepping aside." JinSun felt her mouth widen in disbelief at what her own father was trying to do right in front of her. She fought to keep from speaking for HeeJun, not wanting to downgrade him in the presence of her arrogant guardians. "Her reputation is at stake, I'm sure you don't want to see her passed up on all the opportunities that await her. Her affiliates are of big help in promotional advancement. If you two were to marry, it can hurt her future in business very much...then you couldn't live on her income at all." The last of his advice offended HeeJun more than anything else. The idea he was using JinSun when in fact he worked three jobs just to provide a decent engagement ring, was a blow he could not withstand, not with JinSun standing, pleadingly before him, or with all of ChilHyun's previous counseling. "Really!" The mother proceeded to push him further away. "We've done everything we could to secure her promotions, we're not going to let you ruin her!" "Promotions?" HeeJun looked to JinSun for details, but JinSun could not explain why she had not mentioned them as they happened as she too was alarmed about where they actually came from having picked up on something her mother had absentmindedly blurted out. She saw her father, shoot a look of warning across the table. "What is she saying?" she directed the inquiry at her father. When he didn't answer, she looked to her mother who lacked integrity to hold back. "See?" the woman sat back down, "We tried hard to keep the details of this relationship quiet, and see how she repays us?" She looked back at the father the whole time. "What?" "Nothing, JinSun," her father motioned for her to sit back down, but she refused. "What about the promotions?" "It's nothing, JinSun, you earned those promotions, you know that," he stressed. "BUT when word got out about your affair with ChilHyun's friend, your father had to smooth things over with some of your employers!" JinSun stood stiff and HeeJun's anger for not being informed about the ongoings in JinSun's career, was overshadowed by a humility he felt in his heart, watching her spirit fade, her mother of all people making it clear JinSun was incapable of succeeding on her own. "And we will not let this affair destroy everything we built!" "...JinSun," HeeJun wasn't worried about acting appropriately, but he was still uncertain about what he should do. He knew JinSun's family did not support their relationship, and if there hadn't been more to it, he would've rebelled against them. But there seemed to be some kind of an arrangement unknown to even JinSun about her future. He felt responsible not only for what her family felt they had to do to carry her financially all the while JinSun believed she was doing it on her own, but also for angering them and compelling them to bring everything to light in front of him. Though he knew JinSun loved him so, he didn't know that his comfort would be of help, and he wasn't eager to find out. He'd seen her fall carelessly into her seat. Minutes later, she watched HeeJun make tracks for the door, "...HeeJun," she whispered helplessly. He turned to give her a last look, an undying love in his watery eyes. He opened the door and slowly stepped out... "It's for the best, JinSun," her mother continued to speak coldly, unmoved by HeeJun's decision to do what her family thought was best. But no one was aware he hadn't gone, he waited on the other side, leaving a small space between the door and its casing. "We're only thinking about your future! What good could come from something like that?" HeeJun only heard the relentless arguments come from JinSun's mother. "And what's going to happen when you have a family?" HeeJun moved closer, to listen in on the kind of advice the woman could possibly give JinSun about her family. JinSun already seemed certain about what examples she wanted to set for their children. "Your salary alone couldn't provide the tuition necessary for the best boarding schools overseas. Private schools took just about every cent we had." "That's enough," HeeJun heard her father finally attempt to put a stop to his wife's cruel lecture. But HeeJun waited to hear more, knowing the woman would not stop until she had said it all, and he counted on the idea, finally beginning to understand what he offered JinSun that she'd never known from the only other loved ones in her life. "Then you have to factor in the costs of a good caretaker, so that parenting wont interfere with your career. And if your kids are anything like you, it'll cost a great deal to find one willing to put up with-" "THAT'S ENOUGH, I SAID!" Nearly everyone jumped up, JinSun's mother grew especially speechless, and HeeJun realized an emotional outburst was long overdue. JinSun had never known happiness like she did with HeeJun, her family having put their careers before their daughter and justifying that choice by telling themselves it was for her happiness. She had been passed along from schools to schools to nursemaids galore, and somehow managed to find contentment alongside someone below that financial security, breaking that traditional following, she sought something real and as genuine as she. ChilHyun had been right, but then again, so had he. JinSun was special, raised by conservatives who failed to mold her into what they were, but then again, their absence was consistent as she grew up. The concept was common, but it wasn't for JinSun, she truly deserved something better, and just maybe, he truly was...better. HeeJun walked back in, just as her father had leaned over trying to console her. The man spotted HeeJun and stood to his feet, gesturing to his wife and JinSun of HeeJun's return. She looked up at him, then down, as he hunched lower, putting all of his weight on his calfs, so that he might look up and acknowledge her for what she'd always been, high above in any manner of speaking. She was real, untouched by the standards of high society. Unlike him, she'd never given the expectations thought, the most eminent of the two, she hadn't thought twice before corresponding his interest. And rather than to follow her example, he'd sided with corporate Americans, and like her family, told himself it would benefit her in the long run. He was wrong, and as he looked into her face, he reminded her he would always see her that way, but he promised never again to turn away from her. The way it was, was not her way, and she mattered most to him. As he moved back up, he held her hands, waiting on her to finally decide what she really wanted, and as she pulled herself up, he soaked up the fondest look of gratitude in her smile. "JinSun!" He held her hand and helped her along, but they were in no hurry to escape her mother's continuous objurgation, forbidding JinSun, threatening HeeJun. And as he assisted her in putting on her coat, the woman would ultimately wash her hands completely of the situation. "If you walk out that door, you're never to count on this family for anything, ever again!" JinSun pretended to give her mother's ultimatum serious thought, but she smiled vowing unchanging love and respect for her parents, holding HeeJun's hand in higher regard, and bidding what seemed like a last farewell to them as she motioned for HeeJun to move out, following closely behind him, and this time closing the door completely shut behind her. They walked into the quiet apartment, with not as much purpose as when they left her parents', but she did offer him as much solace in her spacious home as she had always offered him in her heart, and he followed her inside, carefully closing the door and making himself at home. But it was never easy for him to overlook the differences that seemed to dart directly at him. She resided in a big luxurious apartment building known as Tower 67 in the upper west side of Manhattan, as did a lot of her co-workers. The living room alone was already bigger than his cozy apartment in Jersey, and he shared it with ChilHyun. It was clean, comely furnished, and every appliance was state of the art. The windows were shiny, and the view at night from the top floor was sightly with the starlit sky and city lights seemingly complimenting one another. He looked on as she toddled about, not nearly as moved as he had always felt everytime he stepped into her place. She put her key in her coat pocket before taking it off and folding it over the suitcase she had set near the entrance, ready to pick up and leave on business the following day. She quietly walked toward the kitchen, steping up onto the separate platform; she walked into the sizeable galley and pulled a pot out of one of many cabinets sourrounding the entire quadrant. Taking a half gallon of milk from the half empty refridgerator, she poured a fair amount and proceeded to warm it up over the stove. Often times HeeJun picked up on certain preferences in how JinSun did things; why she preferred the stove to the microwave, the sink to the dishwasher, a small home video collection as opposed to cable. Few times, he found himself in her company late into the evening, enjoying a television line up, and saw her walk back and forth whether to change channels or fix fuzzy features, when the convenience of the remote control was right at her disposal. She was also known the daughter of a wealthy family who preferred the adventure in a stroll to the office or the pass time of a long subway ride to the center, rather than call for a cab or a company car. He thought to question her on many occassions but the execution in every little sequential step as she did them, charmed him, and the reason why had no bearing. The look of adoration on his face as he watched her reach into one of the higher compartments for a concealed can of powdered chocolate mix, was evident each and every time. The triumphant look on hers when she was finally able to grab it and continue fixing up the two cups of warm chocolate for herself and he, captivated him, and he felt himself drawn closer just as she pushed the cups to the side, allowing them to cool down. "Are you okay?" his whisper finally broke the silence in which they'd sensibly spoken in thought and in gesture. She maintained the quiet apprehension, nodding and helping him take off his jacket. She walked passed him, carefully smoothing out the wrinkles and placing it casually over her lap as she stepped down once and sat herself down on the miniature riser. He sat next to her, loosening his tie and pulling it over his head. He sloppily balled it up in his hand and she took it from him. He saw her fingers gracefully align the corners, folding it neatly. "I'm sorry I didn't get a new one." HeeJun didn't own an actual 3 piece suit, he'd tried to improvise with what he had, a random dress shirt, casual slacks and the same tie. "JinSun," she hadn't said anything since they walked out on her parents, but she turned to him as always to let him know she was all there, with him and for him. Though she smiled at him unregretably after all that had occurred and all she had done about it, much still weighed on his mind and he couldn't hold his head up long enough to return the hopeless devotion in her eyes. He felt an uncomfortable stinging in his just then and she saw the light in the kitchen from afar bounce off of the glimmering trickle. She wrapped her arms around his waist and his neck, hugging him with his shoulder supporting her head. She cried with him, and he held her tightly. She sniffled back, pulling away and wiping her tears. She went back into the kitchen for the cups and brought them to where he sat waiting on her to return. He tried to fix himself up again, bashfully bringing his hand up to scratch his head and rubbing his eyes. They huddled closely together, sipping warm chocolate. She'd wipe off the milk mustache on his upper lip and he'd try to make casual conversation about the details of her trip, wanting only to hear her voice sweetly respond to his senseless questioning. "Can I ask you something?" early on, HeeJun had concluded on the best handle to address one of many matters that surfaced during the dinner. She consented with another smile as she took her empty cup back into the kitchen sink. He, too stood up and accompanied her to the counter. "When were you going to tell me about your promotions?" He knew the idea that she just hadn't gotten around to mentioning any of them was ridiculous, but he did hope she had reason for leaving him completely out. "Why didn't you say anything?" she looked away and he knew if not for her family, he would have never known. "Was it because of me?" he waited, impatiently making assumptions for her. "It was, nothing, Junnie, not much to tell," she spoke in a muffled tone. But he didn't believe that. When he turned away, guilt-stricken, she walked closer. "It was a done deal, I really didn't expect any of it, I didn't even try for it," she sustained. "How come?" He turned to her, inside he knew all the reasons why, and he hoped to hear them echo word for word from her own lips. But she went to pick up his jacket and his tie from on top of the step, with her back to him and a half truth on the tip of her tongue. "Why wouldn't you try?" he encouraged her to speak. Her head hung low, she shrugged her shoulders, "I just didn't want to," she whispered, hoping that he'd leave the subject be. She knew what he wanted to hear, and she didn't want him to feel at fault again. "Who would want that kinda responsibility anyway?" she shook her head. "I don't need all that pressure, right?" He looked over her nitwitted reasons, a puzzled frown for the absurdity in her explanation. She made it sound as though succeeding wasn't at all rewarding. "Who needs that kinda burden, the higher you go, the more they expect from you, more competition, more work-" "More money, more power," he argued. "...Not much more," she heard his comparisons all over again. "And there isn't enough money they can give to move me away from you! I don't want to leave!" "Move you away?" he realized if she'd in fact have to be sent away in order to accept the promotion, she hadn't taken it. "You turned it down?" He remembered her father's words in his head. He really was holding her back. "HeeJun," she recognized the thoughtful look on his face, the conflict in his trembling hands as he placed them on the back of his neck. "HeeJun, I don't want you to think any of this is because of you! It's because of me! I don't want to leave you and I didn't want you to feel like you had to change your whole life because of me!" "Is that why you didn't say anything to me about this?" he threw his hands up, confused about what he wanted to argue first. The idea that she might have kept the good news to herself because he had no news of his own to balance out the concept, or the idea that she didn't share anything with him because she feared it would either separate them or make him conform to all the changes her career demanded of her. "That's what you've been doing all this time! I don't get to make a sacrafice!? Why didn't you tell me anything? We could've talked about it, I told you I didn't want to hold you back!" "You're not holding me back! I didn't turn down ALL the promotions!" His head snapped instantly in her direction to find her devastated and taken aback by the reflexive argument she didn't give thought to before making. "How many promotions are we talking about?" He had known the term to be plural but not abundant. "...Too many," but she hadn't intended to go there and tried to avoid the listing, keeping busy by racing to the windows and closing the blinds needlessly, "and I should have known something was going on all this time." HeeJun knew she meant to touch on the actions her father might have taken to ensure those opportunities she'd always thought she deserved. "JinSun," he softened his approach to comfort the humility she felt. "You heard what your father said. You earned those promotions, and you know you did," he agreed. "He only did what he did because...because of me." She turned in a brief sulken fit, a sadness in her eyes for him, pleading that he stop referring to himself. "Because the people you work with...they think like...like-" "Like him?" she denied, "I don't believe that, HeeJun!" She refused to justify what her father had done, and she would not generalize an entire community based on what her family believed. "Anyway it doesn't matter," she turned back toward the window. "I'm just not gonna take any of those promotions anymore. Let them make someone else who hasn't had a fair break really happy, because I don't need them to make me happy." She ran to him, "we don't have to worry about this ever again, okay?" she implored of him before walking over to the kitchen and taking his cup from the counter. "Is that really why you're doing this?" "What do you mean?!" she spun around, a frustrated stomp to the ground and a pout across her weary face. "I mean...are you really doing this because your Dad made you believe you don't deserve them? JinSun...," his voice remained quieted, "you've worked for this ever since you were in school. Do you really believe that?" She turned, overlooking the counter and he moved in closer. "Be honest, JinSun. I know what it is, I wanna hear you say it. Are you doing this because of me? Just tell me." "I don't want you to feel bad if that's what you mean," she admitted. She heard his audible sigh, "I never did, that's why I never told you," she quickly went on, "you weren't supposed to know." "But I do know," he cried. "And I do feel bad!" He thought up images of her celebrating quietly and alone, rejoicing the many offers and accomplishments, in her success by herself. He wondered briefly if she might have even shared her news with ChilHyun, it just seemed like a great deal to withhold inside. And he suddenly understood why she went to such great lengths to do that. "I know you didn't mean to hurt me, JinSun," he knew the demeaning analogies that broke his heart were those that he himself often noted, but that they also had to have given JinSun incentive to deny herself the glory that made HeeJun feel so small. "But I never meant to make you feel like...like I wouldn't be proud of you. I do want you to be happy, I want you to move up, I never wanted you to hold back anything!" "I didn't-" "I'm not talking about your job." He stepped up to the counter and she looked up at him, teary eyed as he had been throughout the evening. "I mean me," he specified. "I don't want you to keep all of this to yourself, I want you to share it with me." Having grown up in the care of everyone but the people that mattered most, he realized she'd been deprived of the chance to bask in the joy of the simplest achievements up to now, with no one there to cheer her on. His complex would also keep her from confiding in him all of her hopes, dreams, humble desires for the sake of making him feel uncomfortable and unworthy. "I know I haven't made it easy for you...but I want to," he held her arms and pulled her close to him. "I want YOU to let me be there for you. If we're going to be together, I want to hear all about your day, even if I don't know what you're talking about." JinSun had occassionally talked HeeJun into attending certain business junctures with her, benefit concerts, dinners. But whether she wanted to or not, she included him in everything except her own enthusiasm when it came to her career. "I want you to share your excitement with me, make decisions with me. Let me take you out to celebrate...whatever...I just want to be a part of it." "...You are," she pledged an undisputed loyalty. HeeJun had always been an inspiration to her. The love they shared, the idea that it would await her return from work, from out of the state, was what made her feel active, secure about leaving his side, just knowing he existed for her. She reached up to put her head on his shoulder, hugging him. He kissed her softly on her cheek, and wrapped his arms around her. Loosening his hold, he caressed along her face, tucking her hair behind her ears, and inching further away. "I better go," nearly midnight, JinSun worried about the hazards in the busy city and wanted to call for a ride home. He declined, but kissed her lips once more before sending her off to bed. "I'll see myself out," he offered, and she strolled slowly out of the living room. "Call me when you get to Seattle?" He called out before she could go far and she obliged, turning and smiling in compliance. He gathered his jacket and his tie together, then went to turn off the kitchen light. As he got ready to walk out of the apartment, he gave a last inspection to make sure everything was okay. He opened the door, but as he reached over to turn off the light in the sitting room, he saw a set of frames lined up along the wall to the side of the entrance. He'd seen them before, but he had never observed them. Certificates of diplomacy and medals of excellence, decorated a small area by the door. He remembered seeing them elsewhere about her home. He closed the door and looked around, found more aligned neatly in the hall way all the way down, pictures of beautifully structured landscaping, schools. From Brisbane in Australia, to Ambrit in Italy, a prized collection of international schooling and a life that entaled a combination of meaningless academic influence with an uninspiring isolation.
	[banner courtesy of Jay] ANTONIO 02.14.81-06.15.00
moonpiez!	Feb 24 2005, 03:39 PM Post #5
Super Member Posts: 625 Group: Member Member #3,263 Joined: March 31, 2004	Greatest Story...V She spat once more into the sink and wiped her mouth with a bath towel, setting her toothbrush down. She finally reached for her hair brush, the last of her long, time-consuming hygene habits before going to sleep. She leaned toward either side and ran the bristles through her hair, before holding the suave cluster together with a random hairpiece nearby. She walked out of the restroom, opening the door half closed and nudging it forward behind her. She switched off the light and just a couple steps ahead, she was startled to see him sitting on her bed. "HeeJun?" she smiled pleasantly surprised. He looked at her walking out of the wash room, even in casual flannel pajama bottoms and a fleece nightshirt, she looked so beautifully refined and clean. "What's wrong?" He kept quiet, his dress shirt completely unbottomed and his tee underneath untucked, as if he'd been there for sometime. "HeeJun?" she sat down next to him, facing him with one leg up on the bed folded flat. "What was school like?" he suddenly asked. "What?" she laughed, not quite sure she understood what he meant. "What was school like?" he turned over, mimicking her position. "You know, in Rome and Australia? Was it nice? Did you have fun?" "Why do you ask?" she wondered, as she pulled the hair piece slowly off of her hair, it lay beautifully over her shoulder. "No reason," he turned back and she walked over to her dresser. "Did you like it?" he tried one more time and she faced him again, leaning on the set of drawers behind her. "Why do you want to know?" she frowned, and he withdrew his inquisitive expression, before she finally answered. "The academy was always nice," she started, "great teachers, and the best education money can buy." She hoped to have concluded that discussion. "And you had fun?" She thought about where this interest in her scholastic past was coming from. "Yeah," she answered simply, "It was fun." He looked down, knowing she didn't really want to go into detail with him and she also picked up on his saddened reaction. "Well," she continued again, "about as much fun as they'd allow you to get away with," she laughed nervously. "Most schools take their admistrative purpose real seriously, it's a costly alternative, no one wants to see dollars go to waste." "So, what did you do?" She assumed he meant to ask how she had fun. But she didn't want to refer to herself as she couldn't really remember having as much. "Well, the most rebellious of us had the best time," she teased before continuing on to clarify she wasn't one of 'us'. "Unfortunately, they got kicked out." She went to sit next to him again. "I guess it was just one of those things, if they didn't wanna be there and their parents wouldn't take them out, they knew the schools were too uppety to tolerate behavior problems." She took his hand in hers, "the rest of us just had to adjust the best we could." She looked down at his hand, rubbing it with her fingers, avoiding his knowing stare. "So...what did YOU do?" he knew she had neither rebelled nor adjusted, having succeeded so much while enrolled yet having grown distant from that civil class. She glanced up at him from time to time, "It is hard to accept the fact you wont get to see your parents as much as you wish," she sighed. "I knew if I dissappointed them, they'd disown me. Maybe that's why parents send their kids off really young," she pondered out loud, "to keep from getting too attached, so they can decide what to do about them without thinkin twice or regretting it at all." She had just managed to secure some type of relationship with her parents, but it wasn't the way she wanted it, it wasn't genuine, it was much like...work. "I guess I just always thought that maybe if I work really hard and make them proud, they would make themselves more available to me when I really needed them." She shook her head signifying that that hadn't been the case. Her plaques, all the medals that hung showcasing her ongoing success came just as they appeared. "But maybe that was just me," she blushed. "A lot of the others seemed to manage okay. I got out as soon as I was old enough to pick my own college." He nodded understandingly, removing his hand from her grasp and pulling her onto his lap. "So what kinda relationship do you think the others have with their parents?" She licked her lips, trying to withhold the cackle, "Boring!" She wanted badly to keep from crying, so she burst in a fit of laughter though tears were still evident in her eyes. "What do you think happened to them, anyway?" he tried to sound casual, wiping her tears with his thumb. She shrugged, before looking to the ceiling, remembering, "Some of them are actually really successful," she smiled, "I read about them all the time...They seem happy." She took his hand again. "Most of them either live for their work, marry their job," she uttered, "those man-eating women in business," she giggled. "And those that are lucky enough to find a soul mate in the fields, most likely do what their parents did...have a family...kids in boarding school, and just...work." He listened, he swore he'd heard those exact presumptions before. ChilHyun had warned him about how much he brought to JinSun's life, how much she would have suffered without him, how much more she would've deprived herself of without his presence. He nodded again, certain he was right where he needed to be, "I guess it was just you." She looked at the meaningful support in his eyes, one of many promises, that he would serve his purpose at her side. She held his hand to her lips and kissed it. He leaned in and kissed the corner of her mouth, then her cheek. She sat, massaging the back of his head, and then putting her arms around his neck, pulling herself closer and embracing him cheek to cheek. He sniffled, turning to kiss just below her eyes, her lashes also dampened with tears that fell in consideration of his own. She felt his lips wet on her neck, and as he brought his hand up from atop her thigh, she buried hers in his hair. Simultaneously, they brought the upper part of their bodies even closer, he held the side of her head, pulling her toward him, and she encouraged him, with her fingers still entangled in his brownish locks, as his head still rested on her shoulder. She whispered three words in his ear, and as he pulled away, she pecked at his face continously, several times over his eyes, the depth in them immeasurable, once on his button nose, and after brushing away the long strands that fell upon his face, she kissed his forehead. She wiped the tears from his face, and gazed devotedly into his eyes, an unspoken rebuttal for every argument he'd ever come up with to deny himself the heart of a woman who longed for his unconditionally. Though he'd often tell himself, nothing would stand in the way of his love for her, regardless of their differences in stature, salary, or any other credible asset one might have held stronger than the other, he never thought he'd find someone so undisputedly deserving of something more than he'd be able to offer. If he couldn't provide for her, the least he could do is meet her halfway. If he couldn't be more successful, he would at least strive to be just as successful. But the undying committment in her eyes pleaded with him to stay, that she'd not be willing, possibly incapable of waiting for him to feel he'd become good enough in the near future. The few hours they'd spend apart everyday, were unbearable for her. The weeks she was sent off on business, were agonizing. If she was forced to wait on him anymore than she already had, the void in her heart would more than likely kill the lively spirit that so enamored him about her. He felt drawn to comply, watching her ready to break down again. She brought her fingers to his face, outlining his heart-shapen lips, and as he leaned toward her, both felt themselves completely weaken. As if they'd been fighting so hard, they desired to be closer than close, something much more intimate than the kiss they'd longed for so many times, a simple gesture that meant the world, but tonight, they fell defenseless to one another's needs. His need to feel useful to her, to feel certain she would be pleased with him. Her need to express her desire for him, to convince him, she'd do anything for him, to let him see the effect he'd continue to have on her whether his expressions were as sweet as a kiss, or as sensual as the experience they had yet to share, but felt just could not go wrong. They knew what it would take to satisfy the other. They're lips finally touched, and they continued to torture themselves with the unspoken confirmation. They knew what they wanted, they knew how to ease it, but he wanted to be gentle, and she wanted him to feel her trust in him. He held her by the arms and nudged her back first onto her bed, where he'd been sitting. She lye still, waiting on him, her legs still resting, over his thigh, he leaned in again, and she pulled him close, her hands on his cheeks, she brushed her lips softly against his, and they shared another lengthy lock. He stood to his feet and removed his dress shirt and the white cotton tee he wore underneath, before helping her up onto the headrest, and carefully unbottoning her night shirt. She allowed her hands to wander about the lineament of his bare upper body. When her shirt was completely undone, she felt his hands on her stomach. He kissed her neck again, then gently nipped at her collar bone and she gasped when he softly swept about her chest with his lips. She felt his hand on the back of her neck, encouraging her toward him, he pulled her up and her shirt easily fell behind, revealing her own denuded features, with only a brasseire left strapped onto her shoulders. He admired her skin which held the shade of a shiny new penny, a brownish tan. He proceeded to feel about her body, tugging at her night bottoms, and kissing along her abdomen, and then her thighs, and her shins, as he pulled lower and lower until they were completely off. With only undergarments away from disrobing her completely, he decided to remove his own clothing first. She watched and sighed in anticipation, nervous but anxious, gladly putting herself at his disposal as he would take his time. Note: This chapter has been shortened by request of the moderator due to some graphic content. If you would like to read it, in it's entirety, please go here But please bear in mind, that the details are graphic. Please do not go there if you do not feel comfortable with the detailed sequence in a love making script.
	[banner courtesy of Jay] ANTONIO 02.14.81-06.15.00
moonpiez!	Feb 24 2005, 03:41 PM Post #6
Super Member Posts: 625 Group: Member Member #3,263 Joined: March 31, 2004	Greatest Story...VI Having resided in a small, almost rural area in Jersey for so long, he'd never awoken to the sounds of traffic in the busy streets of New York at the crack of dawn, nor did he awake to the fond nestling in the presence of an affectionate lover. Her arm stretched out along his stomach, as she rested her head on his chest, she was the first realization that came to mind. He'd slept holding her in his arms, and the correspondence he felt in her embrace when he opened his eyes, was a feeling only she knew how to ignite within his heart. He felt essential to her needs, her desires, her dreams, as the image of this man in her thoughts was always noted. Even as she slept serene and secure, the intimate closeness they'd experienced the night before, brought about a certain glow on the sweet expression on her face. One arm draped across her back, and his chin supported by the top of her head, their faces just inches away, he brought his other hand up to caress the side of her face left exposed while the other probed into his sternum. He kissed the top of her head and carefully careened over briefly to brush his lips softly along her forehead. She made a subtle motion pulling herself closer to him, his body heat and his natural scent leading her in. The contentment shown both in her action and in her satisfied smile, relieved him of any doubt left after what they'd shared the night before. As he watched her sleep soundly in his arms, with a song in his heart, he remembered another first intimate moment he'd been reluctant to incite not too long ago. "Thank you for this moment... I've gotta say how beautiful you are. Of all the hopes and dreams I could have prayed for... here you are. If I could have one dance forever... I would take you by the hand. Tonight, it's you and I together... I'm so glad...I'm your man. And if I lived a thousand years you know... I never could explain, the way I lost my heart to you, that day. But if destiny decided I should look the other way... then the world would never know the greatest story ever told... And did I tell you that I love you, tonight." She gazed in awe, at the emotion in his voice, and the meaningful gestures on his face. She didn't know whether to clap or maintain respectful silence. "How pretty," she smiled. "Did you write that?" "Nah," he blushed, stepping down from the wooden platform in front of the swing where she sat, looking on. "This British guy came in one day, just trying to earn an honest dollar, offered to provide some entertainment," he shook his head remembering what the young man's performance resulted in. "Really?" she couldn't remember the guy or the song, she had gone there to see HeeJun many times for lunch. "He only sang that one song?" She assumed that might have been the case, if he remembered so many of the lines. "He only sang that one time," he laughed off the humiliation he felt for the singer who failed to strike the consistent fancy of the staff. "The people there didn't like it as much, so...now they got kareoke instead." She nodded, she had noted the new kareoke segment established recently at the cafe. "Well, you must've really liked it," she acknowledged again how accurate his version appeared to be and he confirmed, smiling and nodding assuringly. "Yeah," he sat himself in the swing next to hers. Having told her of his music appreciation and his aspirations of someday pursuing a profession in the industry, he managed to keep hidden the real motive behind his newest occupation at Sam Goody...to be closer to her. "It was a nice song," he explained. "It was just so...real," she watched his eyes glisten with a notion as genuine as his testimony. "Just one of those songs...where the melody just sounds like somethin you heard before....but you haven't?" She smiled understanding what he meant. "And the words...they're simple, but...they work," he moved in closer to her, "If you listen to them really closely...you just kind of know what's coming...next." She looked into his eyes, mindlessly nodding again in anticipation, she wasn't sure he was referring to the song, waiting for his next move, welcoming it, nervously smiling, encouraging him to follow through. She just managed to feel the warmth in his presence so close as he had leaned in to kiss her. A familiar tune sounded off before he could actually touch her lips, a sharp ring tone from just a few feet away broke the moment they'd slowly worked up to. "Do you wanna get that?" they laughed with an honest humility for one another and he let her off, considerate it might have been an important message from work. She shook her head, scolding herself quietly for not turning off the blasted device earlier. "Voice mail will get it," she waited for it to stop, "You got a rock?" she looked around for something to throw at it and he sighed another uneasy laugh. They sat in an uncomfortable silence for a while, the butterflies of both disappointment and embarrassment so far up, it left room for just one more ice-breaking suggestion. "So...are you ready to eat now?" he reminded her. "...Okay," she reluctantly gave in to the discomfort, too, standing with him and walking toward the merry-go-round. "Wait!" she suddenly gasped excitedly, another idea occurred to her just then and she playfully pulled him along. He felt the wind in his hair and around his ear, his eyes opened, he admired the upside down images passing by over and over again. The trees, the slide, the swing set, the jungle gym, the seesaw next to the light posts, the trees, the slide, the swing set. He closed his eyes, wide smiles, he heard her laughter next to him, the cool breeze in his face. It was the simplest revelry he'd ever known. "Don't close your eyes!" he turned to see the merriment on her face as well. "Look at that moon," she sighed dreamily. The stars in the sky surrounded a full moon that seemed to move right along with her as the merry-go-round started to slow. She sat up, combing out the hair on her head with her fingers. She took his hand and assisted him in pulling himself up, the images seemingly rotating on their own in his head, he tried to shake off the dizzy feeling while stretching out the cramp in his back from the cold steel they'd been seated on. "Better?" She looked on fanatically, and he returned her appeasing interest, scooting closer toward the center. "Yeah," he laughed, characteristically placing his hand on the back of his head, bashful. "We really shouldn't do this on an empty stomach," he tried not to show how much he'd actually enjoyed the spin. "Mmmhmm," she teased, her eyebrows rising right along with her playful smirk. Earlier that evening, HeeJun had treated her to a motion picture showing out in Harlem, where he'd unexpectedly have it out with another movie-goer who was upsetting the rest of the audience. Though JinSun didn't know her native language too well, ChilHyun would often act as her interpreter, and the profanity was an unavoidable wonder. "What?" he smiled innocently. He had played instigator that night, and JinSun was tossed out behind him, just as she had walked in. From out in the cold exit, the snack bar, far more out of reach than before. "I'm sorry," he knew it probably wasn't the kind of evening someone such has herself would have expected. Though she did appear to be just as childlike and open-minded, he feared her impression of him would suffer. But he watched her shuffle across the hard surface on her knees, her casual jeans stretched out as she carelessly slid and sat, resting her back against one of the metal bars. She dug into a pile, her heavy coat and his bulky jacket secured a small bag of take out near the other end. Consequently, they were forced to make a meal out of deli sandwiches, potato chips and juice boxes, but as she saw him continue to turn away light-headed and remorseful about the incident prior, she knew he would consume what she offered, willingly. "Do you think they'll ever let us back into the place?" she joked, setting up a small picnic circle within the circle. He tried to overcome the sudden complex he felt to her modest efforts. Unknown to him that night, the first of many times he would suggest she could do without him. "Maybe if you walked in by yourself," but he left room for the likely coincidence of maybe running into her, "they wouldn't recognize you." The last of his sentiment, continuously interrupted by the loud rustling of the potato chip bag as she tried deliberately drowning out the sound of his abject self-pity with her loud crunching. "Well...we don't have to go to that one," she posed, hopeful that he might have wanted to take her out again. He smiled approvingly as she held her juice box up and he toasted to the agreement of perhaps a second attempt soon, after which they sat and talked about nothing of real importance. His charming wit and the innocence in her enthusiasm were well balanced by an equal favorable feeling for one another. His jokes might not have been all that humorous and perhaps her encouragement for him to continue wasn't necessary, but she felt relieved to finally see him carefree and happy, and he noticed that special consideration more so in her gentle smile than in her submissive laughter. They walked around the park, goofing and sharing just about every insignificant detail in their everyday lives they could think of. She schooled him in the jungle gym and he teetered with her on the seesaw. The weight in his masculine build making it easy for her to push herself up on high, and his leg strength also allowing her momentum to hold herself down, the advantages later played against him as playful teasing ensued just before a mischeivious grin appeared on JinSun's face. "Don't!" he warned her, jokingly again, he could've easily shifted his weight around enough to wiggle his way slowly down. But he instead chose to humor her, a doubtful dare, certain she wouldn't jump off her end. But again she made good use of his margin, a rascally snarl, she leaped off of the wooden board. "AIYAH!" she heard a quiet thump and saw a brief wincing motion on his face, but shortly after, he recovered, targetting her and giving chase without so much as a head start this time. She laughed out loud, running clear through the obstacle course, his urgency caught up with him and he nearly tripped several times, while she seemed to slither through it easily. She stopped to catch her breath, watching him struggle to detangle himself from the netting, a last obstruction from the wooden course. She climbed up the ladder, ready to move down the slide, but as he followed her up the ladder, she slid midway and he cut her off, jumping back off of the ladder and running toward the bottom of the slide. She just managed to escape his grasp but he tackled her at the waist and her back reflexively snapped back, her knees buckling more so from the body heat she felt at her backside. She managed to twist around, landing face up, and as he pinned her down by the arms, he fell closely on top. Her upper body tithered as she breathed laughter. "You lack coordinance and balance," she pointed out. He shook his head, no excuses necessary, he had justly caught up. But what he would do with her now that he had her there beneath him was something he hadn't given thought to before, and as he did right then, a silence enveloped that particular moment allowing her to admire the fairy like features on his face. His pale complexion was beautifully drained of any artificial tanning. His eyes more than anything else bore an outstanding depth, long and effortlessly broad. His cheeks were also round, exquisitely shapen, a bubble-like flesh that complimented his full lips, a lofty set with a healthy pink contour in the form of a heart. His nose and his chin, two diminutive attributes, smaller than every other aforementioned facial trait, but befitting for an adorable structure. She wanted badly to touch him, to caress the smooth texture, to taste his sweet kiss, to douse into the wonderful scent he gave off as he, too, tried to let himself go. He was reluctant, but she lye there, waiting on him, and he knew whatever her reaction would be to his first, that she wouldn't turn him away. No matter how obvious her longing for him made her appear, she was helplessly willing to play foolish for him. He held his body up off of the ground as he brought his head lower and his lips finally found acceptance in hers. Though, it was too soon, too aggressive, too forward, it just felt too right. "...JinSun," he saw the whimsicle serenity on her face, and she opened her eyes to see the apologetic frown on his. He wasn't sure he'd done right. She put her finger to his lips, motioning for him not to say anything, not an objection, nor a withdrawal. "Listen," she whispered dramatically, implying that there was no rejection in her voice and nothing to keep him from doing what he felt, to keep him from taking what he wanted, that infact, he might have already had it. He aligned his body horizontally on top of hers, perfectly solid as one, there was no opening left uncovered for light on either side to shine through. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and he kissed her again, deeply, sweetly but with a passion that spoke of so many promises. It was just the beginning, a first date, but it was certain, much like the sonnet he'd sung earlier that evening, there was so much more to be written, so much more for them to conclude together. Trading secrets, fantasies, what ifs, they'd left that enchanted sequence with just one thing left unsaid... He noted the time on the alarm clock placed on the night stand next to him, keeping vigil. Her plans for departure still hours away, he nudged her over on her back, positioning himself in similar fashion, as the night before and that selfsame recollection of nights ago. Half asleep, even so, her acceptance was also similar if not stronger each time. She caressed his back, and he helped himself to the taste of the warm skin on her upper most features wrapped in only a thin layer of linen. A soft moaning in her throat as their bodies became an active bundle beneath the bed sheets, the many times, he feared his approach would be rejected with every new experience they shared together were finally done with.
	[banner courtesy of Jay] ANTONIO 02.14.81-06.15.00
moonpiez!	Feb 24 2005, 03:42 PM Post #7
Super Member Posts: 625 Group: Member Member #3,263 Joined: March 31, 2004	Greatest Story...VII "What smells so good?" ChilHyun walked out of his bedroom and into the kitchen, fixing his tie and his sportscoat. He saw HeeJun cooking up a fancy two course meal for...two, but as he nervously mixed up the sauce for the pasta, ChilHyun snatched up half of a sweetened tomato left over from the excess ingredients spread out all over the counter. "So, what's for dinner?" he joked and HeeJun didn't have the time to acknowledge it, hastily moving about the tiny quadrant. "Guess it wont bother you too much to know I can't stay." "Aish! I forgot about dessert!" HeeJun's first verbal action was one of panic, and ChilHyun realized he was worried about JinSun who had yet to arrive from Washington. "Would you run down to the market and pick something up before you leave?" HeeJun rushed to grab his wallet from inside his coat pocket. "Sorry, I'm already running late for this junket," he grabbed another piece of tomato then went to the freezer. "There's some ice cream in here, it should do." But HeeJun heedlessly searched for funds, his mind in a whirl of emotions for JinSun's absence and the few preparations left unsettled for the fancy dinner he wanted to present her with. "I don't have any cash," he threw the wallet aside and frisked about his many pant pockets for a credit card or a check book but was too preoccupied to remember what they even looked like. "Nevermind! Maybe there's some ice cream left in the freezer!" ChilHyun laughed, HeeJun would not have noticed if his dinner had mysteriously been snatched right out from under him and ChilHyun fought off the temptation to pack the gourmet lunch up for himself. "HeeJun, calm down, everything looks great." HeeJun walked back into the living room, his back to ChilHyun, allowing him to steal another piece of tomato from on top of the counter. "I don't know, Taya. She should've called me hours ago, I'm supposed to be there to pick her up at the airport! And all I get is her voicemail when I try to call her! What if something happened!?" It seemed ChilHyun avoided the real issue on HeeJun's mind so that HeeJun would come clean, had he insisted JinSun was okay before HeeJun even said anything, HeeJun would've denied his hasty behavior had anything to do with anything other than the dinner which was short of dessert. "Nothing happened, flights are delayed all the time, she'll be here, if not for dinner then...for breakfast," HeeJun turned, and his focus was slowly coming back as he snatched what he thought was ChilHyun's first taste out of his hands. "But she called me just before the plane took off, Kang Ta! That was this morning, it's never taken this long!" He started to panic again, walking over to the stove and stirring the sauce like mad. ChilHyun checked to see if he was lost in anxiety again, deliberately looking to get caught as he reached for another piece of tomato which he managed to get away with. "She should be able to reach me even she's still in the air," HeeJun continue to torment himself. "Sometimes it's hard to get a working signal," ChilHyun suggested again, "maybe her phone needs charging," he tried desperately to ease HeeJun's mind but saw him quickly come to another thought, another determined expression on his face as he turned off the stove and ran towards his bedroom. "Then she could be waiting for me right now!" ChilHyun gave up, taking one last piece as he got ready to leave. "Have you seen my jacket?" He heard HeeJun call from all the way in his room, amusedly chuckling to himself, as it hung right where HeeJun was last looking for money. "I have to go," he walked to the door, "call me if you hear anything!" "Fine, go," HeeJun repeated from afar, "I'll call you if I hear anything!" ChilHyun opened up the door still laughing to himself just as the source of HeeJun's hopeless discombobulation appeared on the other side. "Man," he sighed relief, "Good timing, JinSun!" He didn't know whether to yell at her or hug her, but she reached up to hug him before he could act on his own. "What?" she wondered out loud and he shook his head, welcoming her into the apartment. "How was your trip?" She smiled, few details to speak, but they were lost before she could reply. "JinSun!" Her face lit up when she saw HeeJun hurrying over to her, and she too, hopped to meet him halfway. "What happened? I thought we said, I'd go pick you up!" he pulled away and snapped at her briefly. But she laughed along with ChilHyun who thought he'd finally be content. "I wanted to surprise you," she explained as she pulled herself closer to him again. Everyone knew he would not be able to stay mad, and ChilHyun thought it safe to leave the two. "Well, I wanna hear all about the trip tomorrow...over left overs," he added, hinting to them in whisper as he walked further out. "I'll be home late, okay?" HeeJun motioned for him to leave already and ChilHyun snickered playfully before closing the door behind him. HeeJun took her coat and went to hang it on the rack. "So what time did you get home?" She had obviously made it back early in the day, the commute to Jersey from Manhattan was an hour more or less and he also took notice of the simple dress shirt and casual jeans she had on when she arrived at his apartment. Though she wore it well, it wasn't the attire she'd have packed on a business trip. "I was worried you wouldn't make it in time," he admitted. She reached up to kiss his lips and held herself close to him, before he guided her to the dinner table and pulled her chair out for her. "Need any help?" She asked as she sat down. But HeeJun excitedly turned the idea away, lighting the candles, and pouring the cider. He placed a glass vase of freshly picked flowers in water on one end of the table and two salad plates on the other end where she sat admiring the fine arrangement of cooked shrimp and olives, ready to eat. He quickly prepped the pasta on the counter for after the appetizer. They sat at the cozy dining table next to the kitchen. JinSun talked about the business agenda of her trip and HeeJun pretended to understand what she was talking about. He had asked to be included in every aspect of her life and she did her best to use the terms she would use with anyone she worked with to make him feel as educated and updated as she was. She later turned the topic over to what he knew best as he wrapped up dinner and took the ice cream from the freezer. He shared his recipes and even suggested a few dishes he wanted to cater their reception with if they should decide on having one. He served three scoops of vanilla ice cream in a single bowl, knowing it would suffice after two courses they hadn't completely finished. He allowed her to have the first spoonful, holding it out and feeding her from across the tiny table. She reached over to brush a loose strand of hair from out of his face and put her hand on his cheek. He placed his hand over hers and brought it to his lips, kissing it. "You look so tired," the long flight along with the digestion process as she consumed dinner that evening beginning to wear her out. She tried hard to stay awake if only to spend time there with him. "Maybe I should take you home." She refused, sitting back in her chair and pretending to sip more cider. "But you look exhausted," he insisted, knowing her childish antics well. He glanced over to the living room which for the most part was cleared away and spacious. "Well, Kang Ta wont be home till late...wanna make beds on the floor for a while?" She nodded cheerfully, and then helped him clean up the kitchen. After dinner, they laid themselves out on the living room floor. JinSun rested her head on his chest as he lye typically unclothed from the waist up beneath the comfortable blanket they shared. The light from the television ahead illuminated the dark setting, the ever-changing shadows of brightness as he flipped through the channels carelessly before turning it off and affectionately tending to the warm body at his side. "I wish it could always be like this," her sweet voice the only audible sound in the room. Her wee fingers traced over the rim outlining the subtle curves on his upper body. "Soon," he promised. Tender motion followed his whisper, as she cuddled closer, and he secured her in place with his arm around her back and his chin atop her head. She felt his pulse just above her temple. "Have you given any thought to what we talked about?" She wondered how soon it would actually be before they would agree on a place to settle down together after they married. She had long suggested that they reside together in her apartment, but he had yet to officially decline or agree. "Mmm?" he murmured sleepily, his eyes still closed and a tranquil peace in his respiration, she knew the slightest idea of what she was asking had yet to register in his mind. "You know...about moving to New York with me after the wedding...-" "What?" the soft touch in her fingertips did very little to ease the vibration in his reaction. She sat up to confirm the frustrated look on his face, as she became relentless in trying to persuade him. "Well...we need a place to go after," she reminded him that their ceremony plans were not too far long. "Since we both work in New York, it would be so much better if we lived together in the apartment." "In YOUR apartment," he argued. "OUR apartment," she countered and he turned to his side, facing away from her. "HeeJun!" she moved closer, holding herself up with one hand on his arm and looking over his shoulder. He closed his eyes, hoping the matter would just go away. "I really don't wanna talk about this now, Sunnie," he pleaded. He didn't have an alternative in mind, and so he'd nothing else to suggest. He knew he would eventually have to come up with something, her apartment was a given. "If not now, then when?" Her persistence made him react, briefly lifting up his head to better emphasize his point. "I already told you I couldn't afford an apartment like that." "But you don't have to-" "No N-no, don't!" he wanted to hear nothing that would suggest he didn't have to pay anything for the home he wanted for her. He let his head drop back onto the floor, trying to get comfortable again, much weighed on his mind, and the lack of her considerate touch didn't help ease the discomfort much. "JinSun?" She obliged his call devotedly laying back down behind him, his back still turned she brought her hand up to slightly massage his shoulder, caressing his arm and whispering a relentless argument. "It would only be for a little while," she spoke softly, she felt the irritated stirring as he turned to face the ceiling again, a lenient sigh, he was waiting to hear her out. "You could save up, and then we could buy a cozy house out here, and be closer to Kang Ta, too!" she named another advantage. "A house?" Both he and ChilHyun lived in nice houses back home, growing up, but the idea of having one of his own someday never actually occurred to him. "Yeah," she smiled sitting up, enthused, "It would be so nice to live in a real house, with a yard and a patio and a garden and a dog, no?" He nodded, letting her know he knew the idea well. "How long do you think it'll take?" He nearly felt willing to give in, hoping to prove his worth and his ethic as a man and a husband really soon. "Just a few short years, three at the most, I'm sure of it!" She encouraged him along. "This much time," she used her fingers to describe the general period of time, a bit exaggerated he knew, but he looked up at the excited glee on her smiling face, and had but few stipulations left to confirm. "And I get to pay for it?" he made certain, she knew the contract. She nodded with confidence, that much closer to sealing the deal just weeks before the big day. He sat up next to her, his hands placed behind, he rested the weight of his upper muscle along his arms, stretched all the way up. "So, what can I do until that time?" He was determined to take some responsibilities right away, few that would make him feel of use to his bride, to their situation together. She shrugged a curious laugh, hoping he'd feel better about the idea, knowing he'd be providing more in the near future. "JinSun," he hunched over, pitifully, "I didn't get to propose, I didn't get to put a $7,000 diamond on your finger, the ceremony's gonna be cheap because I can't afford a decent one," she rolled her eyes playfully, uninterested in those details she'd listened to time and time again. "Now I wont even have a place of my own to take you to, after the wedding." "Did you say $7,000?" this time it was she who tried to casually avoid the matter. "JinSun!" he whined, he pleaded with her to give his issue as much thought as he'd given hers. "I have to do SOMEthing, I wont just leave it all up to you!" "Well, I don't know, HeeJunnie," she put her head on his shoulder, before popping back up with an idea. "You can redecorate the place," his eyebrows shot up in wonder. He hadn't expected such a homemaking task, "yeah, refurnish it any way you want, you're creative," she added and he nodded off to the side in agreement. "Get new bath towels, wall paper, you guys are always complaining about the colors we choose," she suggested again, and he understood the importance of it all thus far. "And you can pay for tupper ware, dinner ware, silver ware, and...all that other kitchen stuff you need when you cook. You know I'd be eating Ravioli out the can every day if it wasn't for you," she sweetened the approach, wrapping her arms around his arm as she continued to list several other simple yet costly gestures he could afford. "And you can pay for the wash, and...my bill to the cleaners, do all the grocery shopping..." "Wait-wait," It hadn't occurred to him, "laundry, tupper ware, cooking, decorating?" she'd been naming the everyday tasks he recognized as the kinds of activities his mother would indulge in while his father was away at work. "You know you just made me your housewife, Sunnie?" She laughed realizing right then that each of the chores she brought up was consistently synomous with that of her parents' housekeeping staff. "You did everything but ask me to knit you some socks," he joked. She shrugged bashfully, withholding her laughter, "Well...it will be cold out by that time," she agreed warm handsewn stalkings would actually come in handy. "PSHHH," he threw a playful fit, "How about...NO! Like I should just ssew ssome ssweet little curtains for your tacky window paness," he uttered with a feminine lisp and animated hand gestures. She laughed out loud, he might have actually sold that queer personality if she didn't know him so well. "Then we can give your sstaff a fabulousss make over, that formal wear is ssso 60 Minutesss." She continued to tear up with laughter as his bubbly approach seemed to kill the serious tone he'd held just minutes before. "I got two wordsss for you, thweetie, PASSS-TEL, mmmkay?" He held her chin, rather buoyantly before snapping his fingers merrily all around. "EVERYBODY, FENG SHUI!" "HeeJun!" He struck another vogue pose, and she suddenly felt compelled to pounce on him, laying him out aggressively on the floor again, while he wailed a girly cry for mercy. "AHHH!" she pinned him down by the shoulders. "OKAY! Okay! I'll do it," the tone in his voice softened. "Really?" she sat up, happily, straddling him on top. He nodded violently, squinching, pretending to feel wounded, and physically beaten into the agreement. "Yes?" she listened to hear his last word. "Yes." The clear enunciation made her squeal with excitement. "Yes!" She hopped joyfully up and down and he found her contentment rather fulfilling, placing his hands behind his head and watching her celebrate. "So it's settled then," she smiled self composed, with her hands on her knees, she looked on as he smiled back. "But...," she seized mid-fantasy sequence to hear the condition he neglected to mention before allowing her to believe the discussion ended in her favor, "Who gets to wear the gown?" he asked somewhat flirtaciously, luring her closer. "Pretty good, huh?" he laughed innocently. She was ensatiously moved by his corny sense of humor and his witty charm; she creeped down on all fours, each of her legs on either side as well as her hands, fencing him in. His smile faded into a more thoughtful observation as she leaned in closer, a lack of integrity and self-respect evident in her compulsive actions, fittingly so, as he would accept her kiss. She broke the lock just as he brought his hands from behind his head to gently toss her loose hair away from their faces. His soft moaning grew audible as she sucked on his lower lip briefly before pulling away to assist him, gathering her hair to one side over her shoulder and then straightening her body on top of his again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips again, moving over to his cheek then slowly passing her tongue along his ear, the nibbling sensation around his lobe enticed him to roughly massage her back, he worked his hands from just above her hip up to her shoulder blades, he could feel her backbone pop out the more she forced herself on him. As her lips retraced their way back to his, he slid his hands underneath her blouse, caressing her skin and gripping her shoulders from behind. She felt the warmth of his touch on her body and the wetness of his lips on her neck, instinctively tilting her head further upward, stretching herself toward the sky and he, too, drew a trail of light kisses on her chest. He brushed his lower lip back up along her neck as she came down. He kissed her chin then captured her lips one more time. He rolled to the side and pushed her carefully onto her back, the kiss unbroken as he now lay on top. From the bottom up, he managed to undo few buttons on her shirt, and break away from her lips, allowing her to breathe freely. She took a breath but the respiration was short lived, a nervous thrill induced by the slightly stimulating tickle she felt on her stomach and her back as he fondled about her tailbone, kissing her abdomen. The warmth he exhaled when the tip of his tongue swirl proficiently against her skin, excited her, and the teasing pleasure became too much. She cried helplessly for his mercy, knowing she would not be able to control herself should he continue and he eased up, moving his hands further up on her back and his lips to her neck. Her fingers having been deeply embeded in the dark brown coil in his hair, she continued to enliven the drive in his procession, tenderly stroking his head. Finally his hands resurfaced, wrapped around her arms, then caressing her cheeks, he kissed her, claiming his victory with their bodies still passionately intertwined. On the morning of their long awaited nuptials, and one of many mornings following an evening spent lying at her side in what would soon be their home, he awoke earlier than usual, but stretching his arms out on the bedding, a vacant space on either side. He opened his eyes, sitting up, he looked around the room. Her voice was heard elsewhere, a rare amplitude followed by an unusual slam. He heard a shuffle coming toward the bedroom, then saw her appear in a frenzy, her spirits momentarily calmed by his appearance, and his, as always breathtaken by hers, her casual nightwear and her hair held together in the sweetest looking lock at the top of her head as it swayed in every direction with her every move, she was a sight to behold in the morning. "HeeJun," she smiled. She had not expected to find him awake and was hoping to avoid discussion about the phone call she had just received from work. She set a tea cup on the night stand at his bedside before leaning over to kiss his lips good morning, a kiss he returned reflexively but with an unchanging frown of curiosity whether because he had not completely awoken, or because he wondered why she strayed so far so soon when the day had just begun. He saw her rush to pull some formal wear from her spacious closet. He had seen her wedding gown a few days prior and wondered out loud. "You're working?" Guilt stricken, she couldn't bear to face him as she turned around. But before she could assure him, it would not interfere with their plans that day, he made another rhetorical inquiry. "Aren't you supposed to be on leave?" "...As of tomorrow," she went on to remind him that for the past few months, due to all the traveling they'd obligated her to do that her off days had consistently been Sundays and Tuesdays. "I guess since I'll be on leave for the next two weeks, they want me to go make sure everyone covering for me knows what to do." He nodded understandingly. "which shouldn't take more than a couple of hours, Junnie. I told them that," she promised. "If I leave in the next hour, I'll have lots of time." "Jersey? That's a long drive, JinSun." She shook her head, refusing to postpone anything. "Mid-day traffic might make you late. Didn't you tell them about the wedding ahead of time?" "Of course," the dream of one day taking a leave to spend with HeeJun was something she would've told the world if she thought it wouldn't hurt her family's reputation. "Either my parents have more pull than I thought, or no one believes me," she was certain, the idea was to delay her on her own wedding day if not to put it off completely. But as she plopped down in thought on the edge of the bed, HeeJun saw an opportunity to argue the other aforesaid possibility. "I wouldn't believe you, either," while he'd normally argue about his failure to give her a decent engagement ring to support her big news, today was different. She turned to see him scramble quickly to the opposite side, where one of many boxes with few of his belongings had yet to be unpacked. He pulled out a tiny black box much like the one he'd shown to ChilHyun months before and scat back over to where she waited for him. "I was going to wait until we left for the church...but," he held the gift box up for her to take. She smiled excitedly, turning to face him and scooting completely onto the mattress. She took the box and opened it slowly. He was forced to anticipate her reaction, perhaps more nervous than she was. She sat quietly with the box and it's contents before her eyes, not necessarily blinded by it's luster, but speechless and moved just the same. "Do you like it?" he waited for her to say something, but when she couldn't find the words to express the questions in her head and the emotion in her heart, he carefully pulled the box out of her hands and proceeded to place the diamond on her finger. He kissed her hand before looking into her face again. "JinSun?" Her gaze held a breathtaken whim, as she looked up at him. She glanced at the ring on her finger from time to time, but only out of curiosity, touched more so by his gesture, and the consideration he had for how she might have been treated when she announced her unbelievable plans. "It's so pretty," she whispered, a corresponding twinkle in her eye, she swallowed back the salty liquid in her throat. "But how did you...?" she wanted to casually break away from the serious silence that suddenly surrounded them, but she caught herself before she could finish asking him how he was even able to purchase such an expensive looking piece of jewelry and she saw the humility in his eyes, hoping that she wouldn't force him to speak of the financial difficulty with which he bought her the gift. "How did you know which one to get?" she asked. "I mean those places have such a wide selection," she laughed through her tears trying to regain that moment. "Kang Ta went with me," he blushed, "It was hard at first, then we saw this one...and it fits. I mean it didn't fit him when he tried it on, and the jeweler asked if we'd like to resize it but-" He babbled and she imagined the scene as he described it, shaking her head at the unbelievable concept the two might have stirred together at the shop. He kissed her hand again. "I knew it would fit," he smiled approvingly at how gracefully the diamond and it's shape took to her tiny fingers. "Do you like it?" he asked a second time. She nodded looking into his face, he looked down at the ring, trying to redirect her attention to it, wondering if she was really content with it. "Now, maybe people will believe you when you show it off at work," he suggested, still hoping she would give it another look. She leaned over and threw her arms around him instead, a sweet kiss on his lips, she embraced him and he felt an onward force in her motion. He fell back onto the bed, and she kissed him. But before she could adjust her body on top, he reminded her, "But don't you have to be there in the next hour?" She buried her head in his shoulder, "Oh yeah," she suddenly became inactive and lazy, reluctantly pushing herself up then pulling him close. "Maybe we should both try to save some time," he brought his face closer to hers, his forehead resting against her own and her eyes wandered admiring the detail in his lips and in his round cheek bones. "Maybe we can conserve some hot water, too." She saw the mischievious grin take form and quickly jumped off of the bed in a race for the bathtub, drawing a single bath for the two. Later that morning, JinSun worked quickly and finished fast, compliments heard left and right on her floor as well as best wishes and congratulations. She'd heard fewer between then and the time she first mentioned her engagement which saddened her, not so much for her but for HeeJun who's plites in life were never to be taken seriously if they had to compete with the likes of uptown hoity toities, so to speak. Well ahead of schedule as one of the office clerks made her rounds, JinSun quickly gathered the mess of filed memo stacks in her arms. "What a sweet looking diamond," the young woman stopped right at her disposal, "Congratulations, JinSun! When's the big day?" "Today actually," she laughed. "I still have to hit the parlor, pick up my dress, and everything! So would you please take these, Gloria? I really need to get going." She gathered her things, "I have them labeled just place them in the mailboxes. I'll be back on the 26th." "Sure thing," the lady held the stacks with both arms, "But before you go, you have a call on line two from a Mr. Choi." "Mr. Choi?" JinSun frowned confusedly. "Yeah, he says he's your father?" the girl shrugged, then wandered slowly away, a thoughtful expression on JinSun's face as her reaction slowed. "Mmmhmm," she nodded before calling out to the girl again. "Thanks!" JinSun looked down at the phone on her desk, sure enough the second line was still lit up and she debated inwardly about whether or not to pick it up. "What are you guys doing here?" Meanwhile HeeJun opened his door to some unexpected company. "Is that all you can say, this junk is heavy!" ChilHyun rushed past him and two others followed behind carrying boxes with clothing, electronic goods, and food. "I needed to clear the rest of this junk outta the place," ChilHyun joked. "I need room for the pool table." HeeJun knew, even though ChilHyun would now have the chance to get himself a real apartment with someone else able to make bigger payments, that he wouldn't. It was going to be tough to lose his best friend again, this time to someone who made way more than he did. Typical. "You didn't have to come all the way out here, now, Hyunnie." HeeJun felt bad he had been completely moved out before he was even tied down to the girl. "You could've waited until we left." "Are you kidding?" ChilHyun continued to smile wide. "It's my first day off in...I don't remember when, I wanna enjoy it with my best friend in his last hours...as a ladies man." HeeJun looked behind him at the two young boys who shook their heads signifying that the reference wasn't made toward either one. HeeJun never actually made many female friends, of course he stopped trying after he met JinSun his first few nights in the states. But as ChilHyun put his arm around him, he realized right away, he was the one. "So everybody, time for the bachelor party!" A big haired boy, brought out the box of Krispy Kreme variety. "No no, we don't have time! Kang Ta!" HeeJun wondered how ChilHyun could act so at ease with few hours left to get back and get ready. "I'm not going to ride all the way back in that suit! It itches!" ChilHyun laughed at HeeJun who stomped disapprovingly while everyone else carelessly carried along. "I'm serious!" he continued. "I know," they tried to dial down the laughter. "Relax okay? We've got plenty of time, we're not going back there." HeeJun frowned curiously waiting for ChilHyun to explain what he was trying to pull. "As your best man, I've made new arrangements...as a writer, I've arranged for a small ceremony at Trinity Church just like you wanted," he smiled hoping that his best friend would finally appreciate a heartfelt service without worrying about what it might have cost and how much more he owed for it. "It didn't cost me anything, HeeJun," ChilHyun was one step ahead. "I promised the ministry there some publicity for their charaties in exchange for a couple of hours, small guest list, not too obvious, you know...it's all settled." HeeJun had forgotten how to be thankful, he had refused to accept anything given to him anymore. But he thought about JinSun and how he'd finally be able to give her a decent wedding, in a big church, and an all expense paid trip shortly after. "I don't know what to say," he thought aloud. "I owe you, Hyunnie," he grew rather emotional and everything seemed to be coming together. "The church, the tickets, the ring!" HeeJun knew ChilHyun was very much financially able to room alone, more so he realized this when ChilHyun allowed him to live there rent free in order to pay off the engagement ring. "I'm gonna pay you back!" "It's what a best man does, HeeJun," ChilHyun argued. "The church didn't cost me anything, and the tickets are a gift, would you rather JinSun buy them?" HeeJun shook his head right away. "...and I expect 10% interest," he joked again, unable to keep a straight face. "And how about some coffee, you know, we came all the way over here to deliver your things!" HeeJun rushed into the kitchen for a cup. "So anyway," ChilHyun cleared his throat, wanting to change the mood for the longest time, "now we have lotsa time to unpack, get dressed-" "Play the PS!" One of the boys dove into the box with HeeJun's electronic possessions for his Playstation system. "I get first!" the other boy, dug in deep for the controllers just as ChilHyun and HeeJun toasted to the happy occassion. "Oh!" ChilHyun remembered, and HeeJun saw him pull something out of his coat pocket. "Here, what do you think of this?" He handed HeeJun the wedding ring that he had bought long before the wedding was even planned, an inscription that put a genuine smile on the groom's face. Moon JinSun September 11, 2001 "Good work, Taya," he laughed. "So, she already knows where to meet us?" He wondered if JinSun was aware the details had changed. "She will...," ChilHyun was reluctant to mention, "...I talked to her father this morning. He called me, and...he told me wanted to be at the wedding. He said...he would tell her-" "Her father?" HeeJun had a lasting impression of the man. "You knew where to find me...why am I not surprised," JinSun continued to suspect her parents had a lot of pull over her workplace. "JinSun, I know you're upset with me and your mother, but we're still your parents," he declared, "and I haven't done anything to deserve that tone." JinSun fell easily intimidated, quietly listening to him. "So...do you have much planned for the reception tonight?" "No reception," she responded promptly. "We're leaving New York this afternoon." "Where to?" "Florida...Orlando-" "Sounds good," he wanted badly to have a conversation with her that wasn't so direct and formal. "You still have time for something small, how about I treat us all to dinner?" "No, HeeJun would never accept it," she reminded him. "And what about you?" He asked, uncertain if he really wanted to know what she thought. "Would you, accept it?" JinSun didn't know why her father would suddenly take an interest in what she thought and what she wanted. She'd never known him to be as aggressive as her mother but nor had she known him to stand up for her, to support what made her happy. "I don't know," she whispered sadly. "I don't want HeeJun to feel bad." He knew she'd have passed up the finest reception he could put together for her, and he felt as useless to her as he'd been that night when she sought the compassion and understanding she would not get from her mother. That night her father appeared to be as much brainwashed as he felt JinSun had been; lured into a relationship in which she was settling for less than what she was raised to seek, as the only other person she hoped would support her was lured into initiating a battle of the fittest against the one joy in his daughter's life, a man who provided something more solid than even finance. Perhaps her father's disapproval of HeeJun wasn't about the inferior status of the young man JinSun had fallen for. Perhaps, it was HeeJun who without the influence of others, namely the woman he vowed matrimony to, would offer JinSun something he'd been told was irrevelant, overrated, insignificant without the foundation built on money, modern profession, fierce success...genuine feel-good happiness. Perhaps, HeeJun's lack of confidence before the man who outranked him in high society worried him, realizing that HeeJun didn't have to fight as hard as he did to win his daughter's admiration. Perhaps he felt his success was suddenly nothing, if it didn't move JinSun the way HeeJun had effortlessly done with his love. "Would you let me do something else, then?" She waited listening to him sigh, as if he were holding back some painful emotion. "Let me give you away, at your wedding." "What?" She worried she had heard something she only wanted to. "...Sunnie," he slowly started. "I know what you must think of everything I did for you to be successful but...I didn't do it because I didn't think you could do it on your own." He meant to speak of her promotions and her advancements up the corporate ladder. "People in this kind of business are a lot like your mother and...like me, they just blow every hard earned asset on one little detail like who you associate with." She remembere HeeJun tried to convince her that her father did mean well. "And I've never been able to do anything for you until you and HeeJun...I did everything I could to make sure you got what you should have...that's all." JinSun had always wanted to believe that her parents would someday show the kind of affection her father felt he missed out on too. "I was always sorry I couldn't do more for you, Sunnie," he continued to refer to her earnestly. "You're my only daughter...and I love you very much." "...Really?" she whimpered overwhelmed, but happy. "Yes Really!" the conviction in his voice grew firm, before he realized he had never actually told her so. "And I really want to give you away, I want to be there, on your side, I don't want to lose you." "Well," she sniffled back her cry, "you would have to go all the way out to New Jersey, and we're both running out of time," she tried to refocus on the details of her wedding with time ticking away, with more than fifteen minutes left till nine. "Oh," he remembered his call to ChilHyun earlier that morning. "ChilHyun told me to tell you, he's made new arrangements at Trinity Church right across from the center." "What?" she asked again. "He said the wedding was going to be there right across from you," he repeated, "you might want to call him to double check then let me know if I'm understanding right," he advised. "But I'll be there, don't start without me, I'll be there, rain, sleet or snow," he promised and she laughed about to hang up just as a roaring boeing jet plane was then going over the building. "JinSun," he called to her once more. "What?" she heard a loud commotion ensue from several floors up, the plane still seemingly near the tower as well, but she tried to listen to what he would say. "Appa?" "I'm very proud of-" he was cut off before he could finish. "Sunnie?" ------ Note: American Flight 11 from Boston crashed into the North Tower at the World Trade Center at approx. 8:46 AM.
	[banner courtesy of Jay] ANTONIO 02.14.81-06.15.00
moonpiez!	Feb 24 2005, 03:43 PM Post #8
Super Member Posts: 625 Group: Member Member #3,263 Joined: March 31, 2004	Greatest Story...VIII HeeJun sat with ChilHyun at the dinner table, sorting through what was in the boxes, while the two other boys struggled to make the game work on JinSun's State of the art entertainment system. "It's a good thing you brought my hair dryer, the one she uses frizzes my hair," ChilHyun observed HeeJun's hair, rubbing a few strands between his fingers. A few minutes prior, they hadn't given much thought to the sirens that grew louder, and more abundant, medical assistance in every field seemed to be on call. "So, did you finish your vows?" ChilHyun asked curiously wanting to get a jump on the ceremony. HeeJun smiled and went into the bedroom to collect his written draft. ChilHyun walked over to the living room to help the young ones fix the settings as they continued to struggle with HeeJun's playstation. "Here!" HeeJun rushed back into the room, and handed ChilHyun a piece of paper, folded and nearly worn out. One of the boys flipped for the auxiliary station and fatefully gave up the search, unknowingly stopping at a breaking news brief no one thought to pay much attention to, the footage looked like something out of an action movie. They tried reading the manual for the television posted on the side and ChilHyun read the last passage of HeeJun's written profession for the wedding, trying to remember where he'd heard it... "I don't hear the music when I'm looking in your eyes. But I feel the rhythm of your party close to mine. ...And if I lived a thousand years you know I never could explain, the way I lost my heart to you that day But if destiny decided I should look the other way Then the world would never know the greatest story ever told And did I tell you that I love you...tonight?" "Hey didn't that one dude sing this at the cafe once?" ChilHyun thought it might have been a karaoke contestant who first introduced the lyrics. HeeJun shook his head, but the expression on his face remain obvious. "Mmmhmm," they laughed. "I thought I'd sing it for her, though," he wondered if it would be appropriate. "You think that's okay?" "Yeah sure-" "Guys!" One of the boys directed their attention to the screen. "When did this happen?" he asked, having yet to realize the feed was actually live and close by. "I don't remember that," ChilHyun knelt down beside them. "That's the towers..." He had seen the World Trade Center featured in many films but the scenes on the screen appeared to be low budget and uncut. He realized that they were watching one of many local news stations and channeled up and down to other nation wide broadcasts but the images would not alter, not the building, nor the crash, nor the explosion as the sequence on air was repeated. "What the h*ll?" He denied it could be. "HeeJun?" He turned around to see HeeJun's face frozen to the screen, confused and slow to react. But the sirens outside and even the people passing through created a rather loud and agonized atmosphere, to which he finally reacted, rushing out of the door and down the many stair cases. "HEEJUN!" ChilHyun ran after him and the boys followed as well. They stopped at the lobby on the first floor, breathless and weak, he leaned against the wall, the people there stopped to give them a look then continued to watch those same pictures of the North tower on the monitor. Few of them were receiving calls on their cell phones, letting their families or friends know they were at safe distance from the explosion and HeeJun could no longer hope the incident wasn't real, only that it might have taken place hours ago before JinSun even made it far up into her building. But he could no longer wait for her to find safety, if this accident was hours old, she should have reached him by now. "HEEJUN!" ChilHyun had been with him, asking residents and guests there what had happened, before running after HeeJun again. "Brian, you guys stay here!" He directed the other two boys to wait on them. "HEEJUN, WAIT! TAXI!" He hailed a cab along his way, finding one that would drive in the direction of the fire was not easy and by the time he did, HeeJun was halfway there on foot. He continued to call for JinSun on the line, before it went completely dead and the dial tone sounded. "Jeannie," he called for his secretary, "my daughter was on line one, would you get her back, please?" He waited for a response, but none came from either the staff or his daughter. "Jeannie?" He wondered what the hold up might have been, and just then a woman entered his office, unannounced. "Jeannie, what's going on?" The woman tried to with hold the hysteria of the unbelievable news that immediately shook the community. "Mr. Choi," she knew his only daughter might have been at risk and rather than tell him so, she asked to lead him out, "I think you better come take a look at this." JinSun felt herself pulled away from her desk in several directions. The people were scattering every which way they were told was an exit in the case of an emergency, some went to the windows to see if they could flag down rescuers but nothing could be done for them in high altitude, they had to go further down. She went along with a large group of people, heading down the stairwells, the elevators were occupied as an insane amount of people crowded themselves inside. She made it down to the 48th floor, then left the stairs, and ran into several of the offices and conference rooms trying to find a working phone to let HeeJun know what had happened and that she was safe. She found quiet, many people simply taking cover in some of the departments, and her mission became a lonely one. After a few minutes, she concluded there might not have been a working line in the building and found a near empty set of stairs, presumably in the rear which would lead her to safety along the back area. She gave it thought, perhaps no one would use them because it was a hazard in a certain area, given that the crash was in that far corner. She walked further into the well and felt it was secure and a faster escape without the shoving bunch making it difficult for her to see where she was going. She reached the 40th floor, and felt relief to hear civilians still active below. But the sun was quickly overshadowed, when the vibration of another blast seemed to shake the building momentarily. "Oh my God," ChilHyun whispered to himself. They had arrived in time to see a second plane crash into the neighboring south tower. Everyone on the ground was dumbfounded with a brief silence in awe before the people grew emotional again, some fainted and were carried away from the smoke that was starting to invade the streets. "What's happening," HeeJun was stunned, "Kang Ta, What's happening?!" He turned to ChilHyun for answers. He hadn't seen anything like that before and although he knew it was the trauma driving him to badger ChilHyun with questions, he was frightened and demanded to know something that would help him feel secure, that would insure his safety and that of JinSun's, to know that he was going to find her and that everything was going to be okay. But ChilHyun was of no comfort. As HeeJun hollered and stood firm against the many faces that brushed past him, ChilHyun couldn't take his eyes off of the spectacle. It was surreal, historic. HeeJun saw him shake his head violently. "No!" "Kang Ta, what is it?!" He thought maybe ChilHyun had become aware of something concerning his bride but as he looked up, he saw a civilian, desperate to escape the building, and then plunging down from nearly 80 floors up. Spectators cried out, and ChilHyun put his hand over his mouth, hunching over, throwing up his breakfast. She tried to hold her balance, but the panic slowed her motion and boggled her senses. She made it to the 39th floor but the walls were starting to chap, and the ceiling looked as though it was about to go down. The door to the 39th floor suddenly squeezed off of it's hinges and flew into the well, hitting her back-first just as she made it to the railing. She grabbed on to the rail from the set of stairs above her, the door tumbling further down onto the steps of the stairs below her. She tried to stand but could not feel her legs. The door wasn't heavy, but the force had fractured her spine. JinSun tried to reach up with her other arm, to have a better hold on the rail but she didn't have the support of her strong back and she started to slip. She feared the worst as she glanced down, the tips of her fingers now slipping to the top of the bar. "HeeJun...," she cried hoping he wouldn't be upset with her for not informing him about her delay, her mind apparently focusing on the better part of her life, wanting to ease the suffering she knew she had coming. Unable to hold on any longer, she felt the steel beneath her fingers leave her touch, she could not feel her feet on the ground and wobbled off and onto the steps, covered with a rough rubber stretched along. She tried to block with hands but her stomach made strong contact with the edge of one of the steps and she rolled onto the door, flipping it over once she hit the bottom, shielding her from eye sight. "JinSunnie," HeeJun had also been unable to wait for her to appear outside, and walked toward the building, stopped on his way by several firemen who stood waiting for other firemen and survivors to come out of the two towers. "HEEJUN!" ChilHyun's panic as he ran after HeeJun helped to distract the officials rather than to stop HeeJun from running into the North tower. He managed to spear his way through and ChilHyun could no longer give chase. He ran clear through the entrance, climbing up the stairs, the second floor then the third in stairwell B where a massive amount of people were rushing to come down. HeeJun stood in the corner at the bottom of the steps leading to the fourth floor, hoping to see JinSun with everyone else. But after a few minutes, he feared the worst, and continued going up. It took him fifteen minutes more or less to reach the 64th floor where JinSun worked, almost twenty floors down from where the plane had crashed into the building. He called to her, running around in circles. She hadn't been in her office and he checked as many of the other rooms but she didn't appear nor did she respond. He knew right away, something was terribly wrong. If she was in fact still conscious, she would hear him and if she would hear him, she would come. He shook the thought and quickly resumed his search. He had help from civilians still in the building, some guiding others down, taking descriptions of the young stranger who shared their tower. HeeJun went down, floor after floor, and found no sign of her. He began to cry in desperation when he heard a horrific wailing on the other end of where he stood on the 39th floor and ran immediately to the stairwell. It's door was missing and he heard a stir of echoes just below the set of stairs below. A group of people surrounded what appeared to be a severely wounded victim. Some could not bear to behold the sight any longer and rushed further down. A couple of firefighter officials met them as they exited the 38th floor, assuring them that stairwell B was the most secure and explaining to them why that particular part of the building wasn't. HeeJun overheard the firemen and thought about heading back up, surely JinSun knew where to go and she'd been safe in stairwell B all this time. But the crowd slowly moving away from the body that lye still and stiff beneath the door, offered him a closer look. Had it not been for her left hand, left uncovered, or the diamond on her wee finger, also left out to grab his attention just before he would pull away, he would have never imagined as he walked slowly down the steps, dreading the possibility, that this person injured, ailing, possibly dying...would be her. "JinSun...," he cried, carefully but expeditiously tossing the door down the set of steps leading to the 38th floor and kneeling beside her. He did not want to believe this was happening. He wanted to sit there until he would wake up. But when he didn't, he had no other alternative than to wait until she was ready to awaken. Crying, praying, and frozen in fear, he wasn't certain he should call for help. They'd more than likely pull him away and leave her to die, alone, without him, if she wasn't already dead. "...HeeJun," he looked down and immediately jumped at the sudden movement of her hands. He ran to the other side of where she lye and saw her eyes open, she smiled wearily but tears still filling her eyes, and a thin stream of blood coming out of her nose. "I'm sorry, HeeJun," she whispered. "I'm sorry-" "Shhh," he begged her not to move or to talk, as he continued to scream for help, but she wouldn't listen. "HELP! SOMEBODY HELP US!" and he shouted to keep from sobbing in hopelessness as it appeared JinSun did not want to cooperate with him. "Please don't talk, everything's gonna be okay," he whispered brushing her hair back softly and kissing her cheek. "SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME!" Two men came from the floor below, past the broken down door and up the steps. "Please help, I think she's hurting!" HeeJun hoped they would bring in a stretcher or a wheelchair, but when they carefully turned her over onto her back, they concluded she wasn't in any pain. She didn't react when they touched her legs or her abdomen, but they saw she was bleeding internally and HeeJun continued to wipe her nose and her forehead. "She's not gonna make it," one of them whispered. "WHAT!?-" "HeeJun...," he was about to yell at them, but quickly scurried to her side when she called his name. "I'm cold," she whimpered and one of the men took off his sports coat and placed it over her body, her arms still able as she blindly adjusted it around her shoulders. "We have to evacuate, now," the man tried to get HeeJun to move down but he refused again. "We're not gonna leave her!" HeeJun pulled away and tried to pick JinSun up from off of the ground. "We will send a team of experts back to do what they can, but...," the man knew HeeJun would not hear him explain that JinSun was not going to live should she even leave the building, "we have to lead everyone else out, first. There might be others, wounded! We have to abort!" HeeJun also had an idea that they were not going to let him take her along, perhaps they felt it was pointless to try so that she might spend months under artificial support, and he too would agonize along that period of time, one way or the other, he was going to be without her. "We have another civilian up here!" he heard the two men tell few others who were meeting with them there, possibly after rallying more survivors to lead to stairwell B. HeeJun made a quick decision to dodge them, JinSun in his arms, he ran back up to the 40th floor. "HEY!" he heard them call as he went further up. He tried to run across, to stairwell B. He wasn't half way there, before he felt another tremor shake the building, the magnitude of an earthquake. He ran into the room closest to them, a large conference quarter with a window that fatefully faced the image of the South tower. He didn't have time to blink, shivering as his heartbeat raced it all the way down in paral, the building collapsed and his knees nearly weakened in accordance as he watched. He wondered how this had happened, how it could be that he was so close as it happened, and why. "...HeeJun...," her voice sounded, she rested peacefully close to him and he came to. He walked into a secure opening. Sheltering her in his care, he cradled her in his arms. Leaning over, he cleared a small corner in the vacated room. As he laid her out on the carpeted foundation, he positioned himself on top of her, his back to the ceiling. He felt the tenderness beneath him, several limbs broken, and her inner organs combusted, she was helpless. "Guess what?" she'd lost a lot of energy and her vocals became raspy. "My Dad called me this morning," she sniffled, happy memories of her father's last words to her. "He wants to give me away, today." He nodded, trying to keep her from explaining anymore. "Please don't talk." Unmobile, she had no feeling in the lower extremities of her body, and as she caressed his swollen cheek, an uncontrollable whimper escaped his lips, "oooh God," he sobbed over and over again. "...I have a confession," HeeJun shook his head, whatever it was, was unnecessary and meaningless to him, he wanted her to hold on to the strength she had left, to preserve the last breaths so that she might live on. "Remember...remember that first night you walked me home?" she started. "That night...you were lost...down at the plaza...and you took me home...remember?" He nodded quickly again, if he wasn't going to get her to stop talking, he might at least encourage her to speak fast. He thought back to that evening when he browsed about the Sam Goody music store pretending he had been there doing some shopping while he actually waited on JinSun, hoping they would run into one another. He realized in all the time they'd been together he never told her that he had been there to see her. "I was there...the whole time," she professed. "I saw you inside and...I watched you...and I waited for you to come out," HeeJun shook his head, it was oddly similar to what he had done. He had waited inside to spot her walking from the center before approaching her casually passing by. "I wasn't working late or anything like that," she admitted. "I just waited and I watched you...and when you came out...," she paused. "...I wanted to tell you then...I wanted to tell you that I loved you." She took a breath, "but I was afraid...afraid you'd think I was kinda crazy...maybe I was," she cried, "but I still am." She bore the insult close to her heart, her feelings for HeeJun ran deep and unconditionally. "Me, too," he hovered over her, and kissed her forehead, letting her know that he, too would call himself crazy before denying the idea that he had fallen in love with her. She smiled wide, everything had fallen into place for her that day. Her father would approve their union as he agreed to give her to HeeJun, knowing that he was the man she wanted and was destined to share her life with. Their best friend had long given them his blessing, fittingly holding the two together until the day they would vow forever to one another. She had persuaded her groom to shack up with her in her apartment where they would live on cloud nine and stay happily ever after. "I should have said it then...now we're gonna be so late," she pouted. HeeJun didn't want to leave her side, and he knew then he wouldn't be able to live without her in his life. He wanted to stay with her, now more than ever, all the differences that had kept him from proposing sooner, marrying her sooner, would not keep him from her again. He owed her, she had chosen him long before he even considered himself to be unworthy and he would not allow her to suffer without him. "I'm sorry...," she blamed herself for holding back, even if it was just by a few months before letting him know she wanted to be with him, she hadn't allowed herself to be honest with him, to let herself go the way she always had when HeeJun backed her into a corner. But he shook his head violently, he should not have forced her to say anymore than she had to, nothing else mattered. He cried, remorse and fear together. She shared his tears, but her whimsical gaze imploring of him, his affection. "JinSun...," he called her name. The only motion she was capable of remained frozen, frightening him, but she smiled, tears pouring out through the corners of her eyes, she begged of him to do the same, wanting to capture the last of him, just the way she had captured the first, a smile, an unspoken interest with a kiss that promised an everlasting story of a lifetime for the last time. She felt the quiver in his lips, moist, just as he slowly lowered his head, reluctantly willing to comply, selfishly wanting her to fight harder, knowingly forcing her to hold on to dear life for as long as he was still alive. He captured hers in a kiss that allowed each to exchange the taste of a definitive substance. The salty liquid from his mouth met the thickly coated fluid in hers. He cringed at the taste of blood. He cried at the feel of her skin, cold to the touch. He pulled himself away in time to note the gratitude on her face, her eyes closed, he saw the strain on her face, then felt her go completely limp. She was lifeless in his grasp. But her suffering had ceased, as would his...He caressed her face, then embraced her, cheek to cheek. The remaining tower began to move again, and he heard several pieces of metal and slab above pound hard and heavy. He knew it was time. He took a shiny golden band from the breast pocket on his shirt and after throwing the diamond carelessly aside, proceeded to place the promise ring on her finger. He covered her with his body, lying closely on top of hers. The commotion outside grew louder, even from 40+ floors up and he glanced one last time toward the sky. Another kiss on her lips, he closed his eyes and whispered three words in her ear. Greatest Story...Epilogue The following week, ChilHyun was discharged from Bellevue Hospital Center after sustaining some injuries in a blast after the South Tower collapse. He also sought some therapeutic rehabilitation to help him deal with not only the loss but the experience that haunted his dreams and his reality after, a condition he shared with many New Yorkers. He and JinSun's father worked together to make sure Moon HeeJun and Moon JinSun were named as such in the eulogy which would be broadcasted worldwide. Mr. Choi also held a service of his own for his daughter at which ChilHyun would tell the story of his two best friends, who fell in love under the stars and the moon and the autumn breeze of a New York night. Their most cherished experiences in several parts of the big city, and though the defining ceremony of matrimony was unnecessary for them, their plans to marry in a church just across from the infamous World Trade Center made for a great story among friends and family who would not identify with these two particular victims otherwise. Two Years Later... "What is it?" A young man caught the luster of a shiny object, as he swept up the street toward the entrance to the church nearby. He picked at it continuously, digging it out, as it was buried beneath some of the loose gravel on the ground. Another young man, dressed in faded jeans and a muscle shirt, tried to pop the small deconstructed square open, hitting at it with his tool. "You got it?" He watched as the other, held a golden circular band in his hands, clearing away the dirt that stuck to the inscription on the inside. "Wow..." "What's it say?" Few others crowded about. Maintenance and community service volunteers often chose Liberty Street to work their hours, picking up scraps and trash from off of the pavement. But the historic alterations that particular region had undergone two years before were often mind boggling. It seemed so surreal, to stand surrounding what was once a towering complex, but the feeling of relief set in shortly after, when they realized, two years or two minutes was still cutting it too close. While fate favored those many who walked away with stories of survival, others, who were thought unfortunate, took theirs with them, leaving behind only the momentos of their presence... "'Moon JinSun September 11, 2001'" Later that evening, when the area was well swept and cleared away, the young man put the golden band back where he had first found it. He walked away with a combined memory and an image of the many things that might have been taking place that day as the nation seemingly froze in time when the sequence of terrorist attacks was launched by a plane crash into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Hundreds of victims, named, but statistically unknowns...with untold stories. THE END Two years later, the memory of September 11, is history made and just the date sparks an instant look back at that tragic Tuesday morning. And although the nation would like to think that it was pulled together by the event that took the lives of thousands of people, those heroic people which included children who had yet to begin to live, women and men who might have been experiencing the happiest of times or the worst of tribulations, will never truly be acknowledged by the world, a country in mourning. We should only hope they are survived by loved ones who hold so many stories and so many character impressions of the people they lost close to their hearts. If not for them, those many who were taken in that terrorist attack on 9/11/2001 would be nameless, insignificant, as our assailants see this entire nation. But in that event which literally shook the world, everyone, everywhere, was deprived of a certain future. Those who died and those who lost loved ones, more than anyone. Yet, those of us with any hope left for a brighter day as Americans, might've lost future leaders, as people, we may have lost inspiration in every sense. Where there might've been greater stories to tell our children and grandchildren, the greatest story is now up to us. What we can contribute to this nation remains to be seen, how we tell the story of September 11, 2001 will differ with everyone, everywhere, every year. I chose a love story following the modern fairy tale romance of two young people who played hero to one another in the blast and prior to it. --------------------- DISCLAIMER: This story is FICTION, none of it is true, but was set, based on, and inspired by the events in New York on September 11, 2001. I did much research on New York geography and read many survivor stories describing the conditions inside of the North Tower to get a good idea of how the action towards the end would make sense. I apologize if anyone felt in any way offended or hurt, I realize September 11 still hits close to home for a lot of us. Note: Greatest Story Ever Told: Lyrics by Oliver James, featured on 'What A Girl Wants' OST American Flight 11 from Boston crashed into the North Tower at the World Trade Center at approx. 8:46 am United Flight 175 from Boston crashed into the South Tower at the World Trade Center at approx. 9:03 am The South Tower at the World Trade Center collapsed at approx. 10:05 am The North Tower at the World Trade Center collapsed at approx. 10:28 am “Everyone else feels like 9/11 was a long time ago. I still feel like we are stuck on September 12, not really able to move beyond it.” God Bless! Thanks.
	[banner courtesy of Jay] ANTONIO 02.14.81-06.15.00
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