The Negotiation (Completed)

Alternate Ending - Final

The exchange of letters had become a part of his everyday life. Min Tae Gu has found himself immersed in reading and rereading all her letters-his only window to the world outside. Everyday, after he finished the prisoner's morning routine-he answers or sends her leters, trying to unravel hinself to the woman who not only saved his life, but also saved his heart.

At other times, he talked to the prison guards asking them for some details about parole and how could he apply for such. In his case, it was quite difficult, but given his attitude in prison-surprisingly he did not get into any fights, he made friends with his prisonmates, he stays in his cell for most of the day-it was not impossible. He might be granted one, or he could do a crossdeal with the NIS, just like what his boss, the late Chairman Koo, did.

He weighed about it. If he goes into a crossdeal, he will have to give out some names, names that he didn't want to get associated with anymore. He will also have to run while looking behind his back to know who might be after him. He knew all of those, because he became one of them.

He wanted to start clean. He wanted to live a life with a new meaning. He knew that it won't be easy, but at least he won't have to fear for his life, always. He wanted to live a life, considering that there was someone he holds dear again.

Ha Chae Yoon. He wanted to start anew because of her. He wanted a life with her. Throughout their correspondence, he became sure of one thing.

He loves her. Not just because she is beautiful physically, but he saw something in her that made him hope for a better future. He wanted to be there for her when she needed someone to lean on, to cry on when a hostage taking ends up otherwise. She has always regarded herself as the one at fault for not saving them. Such confession made him feel guilty about what he did, but what's done is done. And he was sure it was not guilt that brought him to feel this. It was the attraction that was there from the very beginning.

---

Although she enjoyed writing letters to him, Chae Yoon never once visited him. Or, made it inside the prison compound. She sure had attempts to do so, but arriving at the gates made her change her mind. She was not ready to see him, just in case she won't be able to hold herself not to cry in front of him. In their exchange of letters, it was clear to her that Tae Gu wanted to be with her when he gets out of prison. She was right, he was a good man after all. She felt sad at the thought that he was plunged into a harsh reality when he was adopted and brought to the UK. She wished she had met him at a different circumstance, a better one at that. But they were brought together by a somehow tragic event.

He told her he was willing to change its course, and meet her somewhere there is no place for hatred but just love and happiness. He was willing to do everything just to set things right for them. He was willing to wait for her, however long it takes, only to find her and be with her. His life saver.

She fell in love with him along the way, finding herself waiting for his letters. And although she really wanted to say yes and see him, the harsh reality of them being on the other side of the law made her think otherwise. Reading his letters became her way of hanging in and waiting for him to be granted the parole he so wanted to have kept her from deciding which way to go after everything she had been through.

---
Two years and countless letters have passed. Because of his record in prison, and when all the kins of victims did not pursue to file a case against him, he was granted parole and is under probation for two years, granted that he had to stay in South Korea until a full pardon was given. He likewise attributed it as a miracle, too. Happiness was evident in him, and he decided to pen one last letter for her while in prison.

Chae Yoon ssi,

Guess what, I have been granted a parole! This was what I have been waiting for. To tell you I am happy is just the tip of the iceberg of what I really felt about it. I feel free.