The Beauty of What Could Have Been

Chapter 9 - Desperate Options

Author's Note:

Hi everyone! Thanks so much for the love, comments and votes.

I still can't seem to resign myself to the idea that Ri Jeong Hyeok and Yoon Se-ri are destined to be together for only two weeks every year, and so this chapter deals with a bit of brainstorming on options, from Hyun Bin's and Son Ye Jin's perspectives.

Hoping that you find it an enjoyable read!

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They were seated on the living room sofa after dinner in his apartment. The skies were clear that Saturday evening and millions of stars flickered through the large panoramic windows facing the sofa. The view was quite a calming sight from their penthouse suite, with the stars looking as if they were waving to them and seemingly competing for attention with the illuminated windows of the other buildings around their apartment complex.

Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin sat on either end of the sofa, each one beside a lamp which cast streams of gentle light on each one's copy of the script booklet as they quietly prepared for the "paragliding crash landing" scene for Episode 1 which was scheduled for filming the next day at Hallasan National Park in Jeju Island.

It was a scene that Hyun Bin dreaded, because Son Ye Jin would be dangling 20 feet from a crane during the filming. He had been trying to convince himself that he needed to trust Director Lee to make sure that she would be safe, but still can't seem to fully overcome his fright and concern. A couple of air tickets laid on the coffee table in front of them for their flights early the following morning. His steaming mug of caffeine-free tea and her mug of chilled fruit juice sat near the air tickets. The enticing aroma of chamomile permeated the space as both quietly poured onto their respective dialogue lines in the materials.

They did not have any filming calls earlier in the day, for it was a rest day for the production team. Son Ye Jin also had a morning appointment with Dr. Gang. Both went, heavily disguised for the occasion; her wearing a white hoodie, jeans, a pair of sneakers, a baseball cap and her large pair of sunglasses, and him wearing a black sweater, black jacket, slacks, sneakers, a baseball cap, and his usual pair of sunglasses.

Dr. Gang's clinic had a dedicated VIP entrance at the rear of the building, but they decided to don their urban camouflage attires anyway, not taking any risks. Getting caught together by the papalachi while in a known health centre for celebrities would surely result in another scandal. "It's a doctor's clinic, and we would be together", she told him. He was really apathetic to her concern, but was happy to support her every way he could.

The kind doctor confirmed that both mother and baby were fine but reiterated that she shouldn't skip taking her meds and vitamins, eat well, minimize her intake of caffeine, and that she refrain from over-exerting herself during filming. Hyun Bin took a mental note to be more vigilant of her. "You heard her" he said lovingly as they got back to the car. "I suggest that we switch your afternoon and evening coffee with fruit juice". She reacted with a pout, but nodded after. "As long as it's not citrus flavoured juice, I should be okay. I still need to have my morning cup though...." she bantered as the seeming negotiation went on. "For some reason the baby does not seem to like anything with citrus." He could only smile at how cute she sat on the passenger seat as she spoke. She didn't know that he really didn't have the backbone to argue with her on these things, for she had him wrapped around her pinky finger. And he was quite happy with that.

Feeling cozy on the sofa, she took a sip of her fruit juice. "I like that Ri Jeong Hyeok and Yoon Se-ri would finally be reconciled in Switzerland in Episode 16, but two weeks a year to be together is rather pathetic, don't you think?" she said as she put her booklet on the coffee table and looked at him. "Yes, it really is" he replied, also putting his booklet on the table.