Arranged by chance and Married by choice - Chapter 11：Eleven

Three months later Min-Soe sat in their empty apartment in the city on her off day looking through the photographs of their- what one would call the honeymoon period. The three days they spent together exploring the resort, in each other’s company, was what consisted the most memories they had made together. She sighed in remembrance of the sweet time.

After those three days had passed both of them had drifted apart, being sucked into the vortex of each other’s professional life. The first month of their married life consisted of most days and nights spent together.

Mel remembered clearly, they were marking their one month anniversary after marriage when Kai had shared the news with her. It was an evening like any other, with a cold breeze blowing through the open windows. She had returned from her work an hour ago and browsing through the television for something to watch when he too had arrived with a mixed expression. He sat heavily beside her, clearly tired and placed his head on her shoulders.

Mel: Love, is everything alright?

Kai: (nodding) yes, it’s just that we’ll have to move soon.

Mel: Where to?

Kai: I will be starting on my new album soon baby, it would take most of my time and-

Mel: you are notorious for recording through the whole night.

Kai: (chuckling) yes. I’ll be worried if I let you be here all alone. So we must move back to our flat in the city.

Mel: (smiling) ok.

She had pushed down her actual question and had quietly agreed with his decision as she didn’t want him to worry about her when he was working.

That had been just the start of their long separation in their short married life. Mel was aware that there would be many more times like this but she had willingly walked into it all, so she didn’t see the point in complaining and making him feel burdened.

From the past two months, their routine had been the same: she would be absent in the morning and he would be gone during the nights. Sometimes, he couldn’t make it home even during days.

Mel would sleep alone in the night but wake up to see his face in the morning. For Kai, he just wanted to finish the album but it didn’t fit right with him if it wasn’t perfect. He wanted all the time spent away from the family and comfort of home- in which he worked hard- to be fruitful. He would return to home in the wee hours of the morning to see his wife sleeping peacefully but by the time he woke up, she would be gone.

He was grateful for her as she never forgot about him. She had gotten used to leaving him small sticky notes on the fridge door- reminding him to eat, get some of the chores around the home done, get his deliveries on time, about his medicines. Small things which he used to overlook, she made sure that he never forgot them. He would check for her notes when he woke up from his sleep each afternoon. He would then leave his own comments back on them. It had become an intimate way of connection between them.

Mel was brought out of her thoughts when she heard him come down, now fully awake and dressed to head back to work. He didn’t know that she was still present in the house. She watched in surprise as he made a beeline straight for the fridge. He started to look on the floor and wherever he could think of when he didn’t find the note.

Mel: you need something Love?

Kai: (jumping) Ah! Baby, you are home today?

Mel: (chuckling at his scared expression) yes, It’s my day off. (Giving him a once-over) I was right!

Kai: about?

Mel: (sternly) you have lost weight, you are over-working yourself and not to mention skipping your meals.

Kai: (defensively) no, I’ve been eating properly and not over-working myself.

Mel: (glaring at him) I believe you eat just once only when you leave home. Love! You have been smoking a lot too. What would I tell Mom when she would ask me if I have been starving you? Ye-Jin would make fun of you and not to mention, my Mom would chew my head off after looking at your state.

Kai: (embarrassed by her monologue) Aish! Baby, it isn’t that bad.

Mel: Love, you would give competition to a big grown panda in dark circles and win it.

Kai: no that would be our youngest.

Mel: (rolling her eyes) ok, as you say but you will faint if you continue at this rate. For Kai to be cool and fly on stage, Kim Kai should be more careful about his own health.

Kai: (hugging her from behind) you’re so cute baby, have I told you that?

Mel: (smiling) No, you haven’t in about two months.

Kai: Ah! That’s so stupid of me, sorry baby. Don’t worry much, it will be over soon.

Mel: (turning to him with worry-filled eyes) Love, please do take care of yourself. You really have lost weight and in a short time. It’s not a good thing.

Kai: (pecking her forehead) I promise it will be done soon. Then the tour and after that, I’ll have a long resting period.

Mel: (nodding in acceptance) OK. Come on, have lunch, you’ll leave soon.

Kai followed her quietly but he was really touched by her worry for him. It had been the first time in three months that she had spoken to him as she owned him- as he belonged to her, she made him feel like she cared about him and she worried out loud for him for the first time in their relationship. His heart felt like it would break out of his chest in happiness.

She definitely didn’t make him feel like they were apart from months- he had been afraid, that it would have been the case once they spent time again. Now grinning like an idiot he enjoyed all the attention and pampering she was showering on him.

A week later, Kai was struck on a particular verse for his title track for the album and no matter how much he tried he couldn’t find a perfect symphony for it. He was over-working as Mel had pointed out. He was deeply lost in the lyric when the door to the studio flew open with his best friend walking in and a disapproving frown adorning his face.

Ray: Kai!

Kai: Hey! Ray, how have you been?

Ray: (frowning at him in disapproval) Min-Soe was right, you are testing your limits.

Kai: (sighing in annoyance) that woman is ridiculous!

Ray: hey! She is just worried about you and she wouldn’t have told me anything if I hadn’t pushed her for it-

Kai: when did you meet her?

Ray: -and by the looks of it, she was right. You have forgotten that you have a family now, a wife- whose birthday you’ve clearly forgotten.

Kai: (eyes widening in surprise and then in a burst of knowledge) Shit! Shit! How can I mess this up? It was today!

Ray: (nodding) now that you have remembered, get out of here and make sure she has a great birthday. Wait! She is intelligent; she’ll guess that I told you.

Kai: (waving his concern away and putting on his jacket) no, don’t worry. I had ordered flowers for her a week ago for today. They might have been delivered to her by now.

Ray: (surprised) you remembered?

Kai: yes, at least a week ago I did. I pre-planned several things, in case I pulled out my mess card.

Ray: (chuckling) you really are good when it comes to winning a lady’s heart.

Kai: but my wife sure does make me put all the efforts.

Ray: she did promise us to keep you on your toes all the time. I’ll meet you tomorrow.

With a salute back to his friend Kai hurried out of the studio, he received a text from her when he got into his car.

‘Mel: the flowers are beautiful, thank you, Love.’

He decided against replying and got to know about her whereabouts from the florist. With a renewed resolution on the mind, he drove in the direction of her office.

Mel sat in her cabin staring at the beautiful flowers sent by her beau. She was suddenly feeling low after she received them. She couldn’t pin-point the reason for her sudden lack of enthusiasm for her birthday- maybe it had to do with the fact that he wasn’t going to spend any time with her today.

Initially, she wanted to reject the flowers but when the delivery man told her that they had been pre-ordered she went ahead and accepted them. A faint knock on her cabin door pulled her out from her deep contemplation.

Tae-hee: boss, what are you doing here on your birthday?

Mel: (rubbing her temples) I had some work to go through.

Tae-hee: (casually strolling into her cabin and admiring the flowers) these are really beautiful. Who sent them?

Mel: (shrugging) who else?

Tae-hee: (noticing her melancholy) I want to have coffee, join me.

Mel: no- (sighing) alright, maybe that’s what I need to restart my brain.

They were both standing in the corner after ten minutes with a warm cup of strong coffee in their hands and enjoying the hot beverage when several of the employees came forward to wish their boss a happy birthday. Mel couldn’t help but feel more disappointed as more wishes came in. She hid her expression well and gladly responded to her employees.

Mel: (sipping on her coffee) I don’t know why I am feeling sad instead of happy today.

Tae-hee: (softly) what is it that you are upset about?

Mel: He is busy; I can’t help- (softly)- but worry about him.

Tae-hee: why?

Mel: he is working too hard- and I can’t help my feelings either.

Tae-hee: (smiling) Oh! You are in love.

Mel: (hitting him hard on the shoulder) really now! Can’t you keep your thoughts to yourself?

Tae-hee: but-

Whatever he was about to say was cut short by a throat being cleared near them. Mel looked up to see a well-dressed man who had his face covered- as if he didn’t want anyone to recognise him- was glaring at them.

Mel: (in surprise) K-Kai?! Oh my! I can’t believe you are here!

Kai: (still glaring at Tae-hee’s hand on her shoulder) yes, I am here to spoil my wife.

It didn’t go unnoticed by Tae-hee that Kai stressed the word wife with more than required force. He quickly gulped in fear and pulled his hand back. He could clearly see the anger swirling in his eyes which scared him to no end. Mel too noticed it but decided to keep quiet and just enjoy the show.

Mel: Really! B-but I thought you were busy today?

Kai: not anymore, so shall we go?

Mel: (nodding her head in excitement) yes, I’ll just get my bag and coat.

She left the two guys with a renewed spring in her step. The atmosphere in the near surroundings soon grew awkward with Kai still angry and Tae-hee still trying to get the courage to speak up. Thankfully for them the woman- the reason for this charged air- returned soon smiling wide at both of them.

Mel: Love before I forget, this is Kim Tae-hee, my best friend and assistant editor of this office. Tae-hee, you know who it is.

Tae-hee: (forwarding his shaking hand for a handshake) nice to meet you.

Kai: (still glaring) same here. (Turning to Mel) shall we leave, baby?

She nodded in absolute pleasure and waved goodbye to Tae-hee before taking Kai’s offered hand and leaving with him.

Tae-hee let out a breath he was holding in relief and silently cursed Mel for putting his timid heart in that predicament. It sure did feel like a stare down match with a ferocious lion when faced with his menacing glare.