If You

Halfway

Emily waited as Lisa silently read her proposal, her eyes widening with each line. "You want to apply for permanent international assignment?" she asked disbelievingly.

"You've been asking how you can help me, and this is how," Emily replied. "I want you to transfer me to Seoul."

Lisa shook her head. "That would be a major pay cut," she said, "not to mention the work would be much harder. You'd have to learn to write in Korean, and maybe even get training as a translator. Even with all of that, I can't guarantee steady projects."

Emily nodded. "I understand. How soon can you push my application through?"

Lisa tossed the application aside. "This is risky, Emily," she said pointedly, "and I know why you're doing it. Are you sure he's worth it?"

"I'm sure."

Lisa sighed loudly. "I'll do what I can," she muttered, "but I'd be sorry to see you go. You're one of my best writers, and a good person." She stood up and offered Emily her hand. "I wish you luck in Seoul," she said.

Emily shook her hand warmly. "Thank you," she whispered. Lisa blinked rapidly and sniffed. "It'll take about two weeks to process the paperwork," she said, handing her folder back. "I'll email you the forms you need to sign."

Emily nodded. "I'll start packing," she replied. "Thank you again, Lisa."

She left Lisa's office and anticipation began to grow in her mind. Youngbae's right, she thought, taking the elevator down to the lobby. I'm not going to let this opportunity slip away again.

Her mind was so busy with planning that she hardly noticed getting a cab back to her apartment building. I should call Jiyong. No, I should go see him. What will I say? I should wear something nice. Oh, this is really happening!

The cab pulled up to the building and she paid the fare before getting out. It was mid-afternoon, but the sky was grey and a sharp wind blew constantly.

"Emily!" a voice called. She turned and saw Jiyong standing by the door to her building."Jiyong?" she said incredulously. "Have you been out here this whole time?"

Jiyong shook his head. "Only a few minutes," he said, though his teeth were chattering. Emily quickly buzzed them in and they hurried into the chilly lobby. "Why didn't you wait in your car?" she asked, tugging her scarf free.

"I took a cab," he said. He threw his hood back and snow scattered everywhere. "I have something to tell you."

"Me too," Emily said. "I was about to come see you."

"Let me go first?" he asked.

Emily nodded, holding the folder behind her back.

"Look, all those times I asked you to stay with me, I didn't appreciate what I was asking you to sacrifice," he said. "You've got a family, a career, an entire life that you've worked hard to build for yourself. I can't expect you to just go along with whatever I'm doing. It's not fair, and it's not right."

Emily's heart sank. Is he breaking up with me this time? she wondered.

He pulled a folder from inside his coat and handed it to her. "Open it," he murmured.

Emily cracked it open slowly, as if it might explode in her face. It only contained a few sheets of paper and she scanned them rapidly. "What is this, some kind of contract?" she wondered, looking up at him. "Jiyong, what did you do?"

"Just read it," he insisted. She looked back at the paper, trying to recall her limited knowledge of Korean characters. "The undersigned is... no, will take on more... contracts with the companies listed below thirty months from this date." She flipped to the next page. "The undersigned will... not tour internationally for three years after his military enlistment ends." Her breath caught in her throat and she looked at him again. "What does that mean?"