21 April 2013, 2:25 PM

Hye Kyo slowly regained consciousness, but she didn’t know why.  Gradually, she became aware of 2 things…first was the warm body that was spooning her from behind, holding her tightly just as he had done each night for the past 7 days.  Their journey back from Tahiti had been long, with them landing in the very early hours of the morning.  The waiting car took them to Hye Kyo’s house, and there was never a question of whether or not Joong Ki would spend the night.  That had been some 12 hours ago, and Hye Kyo now realized that the jet lag had hit them harder than either one anticipated.  The second thing that Hye Kyo became acutely aware of with each passing second was the annoying sensors notifying her that the front gate.  Glancing at the clock, Hye Kyo was surprised to see that it was already the middle of the afternoon.  Hurriedly, she got out of bed, careful not to disturb the slumbering Joong Ki, and quickly got dressed even as she buzzed in her visitor, her manager Vivian Park.  Hye Kyo made it downstairs just in time to open the front door, only to find a very agitated Vivian rush past her and into the living room.

“Where did you and In Sung go together?!” Vivian demanded as she threw half a dozen afternoon papers and gossip rags onto the coffee table.  It took Hye Kyo a minute to scan through them as Vivian continued.

“The agency has been bombarded with every entertainment and gossip reporter across Asia since 11 AM, when Dispatch released the story.  They say you two flew on a private jet somewhere for the past week.  They caught you coming home earlier this morning and released these photos.”

A bemused look came across Hye Kyo’s face as she examined the photos more closely.  “Whoa…Dispatch is good!”

“Good?!?  Is that all you have to say?!”  This is not the reaction that Vivian had expected…at all.  She had been prepared for panic; she had been prepared for anger; she had not been prepared for calm…for an almost amused and contented look from her most important and successful client.

“What do you want me to say?” Hye Kyo stated calmly.  “The story is not true.  I didn’t go anywhere with In Sung oppa.”

“That’s not you in the photos?  That’s not him?” Vivian asked.

“Yes, that’s me and him.  But he was dropping me off at the airport.  He gave me a trip to Tahiti as a reward for the end of the series.” Hye Kyo stated, almost too casually. 

“So that’s where you’ve been this past week?  Tahiti?”  Vivian let out a breath that she had been holding.  “This is good…we can release a statement of denial saying exactly that…In Sung gave Hye Kyo the trip as a gift…you went alone…we need to get In Sung to say the same thing.”

“You can’t reach In Sung hyung right now.  He’s in the middle of serving his annual duty tour with the Air Force Mobilization Reserve Forces.  He’ll be back in 2 weeks.  And Hye Kyo didn’t go alone…I went with her to Tahiti.”  The new voice belonged to Joong Ki, who, to Vivian’s amazement, calmly walked past her and scooped Hye Kyo up into his arms, greeting her with the gentlest of kisses on the lips.  By the way he was dressed, in sweatpants and a wife beater, Vivian could tell that he had just gotten out of bed.  And as they turned from greeting each other to her, she was stunned at the sight.  They both glowed with happiness and contentment.

“You...and…you…what…how…when?!  I…I need to sit down” Hye Kyo’s manager stammered as the truth hit her harder than anything Dispatch could have dreamed up. 

The young lovers couldn’t help but laugh at Vivian’s reaction as they moved to help her get situated on the couch.

“Miss Park-seonsaengnim, may I introduce myself?  My name is Song Joong Ki, and I am the man who is going to marry Hye Kyo-ssi.”

SJK SHK | SJK SHK | SJK SHK | SJK SHK | SJK SHK | SJK SHK | SJK SHK | SJK SHK | SJK SHK |

13 May 2013, 8:52 PM

In Sung laughed until tears came down his face as he heard Hye Kyo recount the story.  He had been on maneuvers with his squad in the eastern mountains near the DMZ bordering North Korea some 3 weeks ago when he had been summoned suddenly to Seoul by the Air Force Chief of Staff, who was very annoyed that tabloid journalists had bombarded the ROKRF press office demanding proof that In Sung was serving his annual deployment as a part of the Mobilization Reserve Forces.  It took a hastily arranged press conference with In Sung, the Air Force Chief of Staff, and documentation and footage of In Sung serving in uniform to quiet the storm. 

Now, Hye Kyo was finally giving him the full story.  He had just completed his service and had gotten back to Seoul yesterday.  She had invited him to this charming, rustic, and very chic Italian restaurant, The Kitchen Salvatore Cuomo, in Apgujeong as a thank you for setting her and Joong Ki up.  Hye Kyo had seen to it that they were seated in a semi-private part of the restaurant and that their servers were discerning and discrete at the same time. 

As they were enjoying the last of their desserts, Hye Kyo continued her tale.  “You can imagine Vivian’s reaction when Joong Ki said that he was the man who was going to marry me.  And she almost fainted when he answered two years in terms of the time we have been seeing each other.”

“But that’s the truth…almost.” In Sung replied shrewdly.  “You two have been seeing each other for that long…ever since that barbeque at my place when you argued like cats and dogs.  You were just both too stubborn and shy to admit it.  Heck, even his grandparents tried to push you guys into dating properly!”

“Well yes, but we really never….”

“You never had the courage until I…yes…brilliant me…sent the two of you to paradise.” In Sung completed the sentence, exaggeratingly puffing out his chest like a proud father. 

Now it was Hye Kyo’s turn to laugh.  She had no idea what she had done in her previous life to deserve such a wonderful friend, an amazing older brother, as In Sung, but she was going to say thanks in her prayers every chance she gets.  “Well, for that, we will owe you until our dying day, Oppa.”

In Sung, for his part, was very glad to see Hye Kyo happy, this happy.  He sat back and marveled at show she just glowed with joy.  “And then what happened?” In Sung asked, wondering how the Air Force got roped into the tabloid frenzy.

“When Vivian had recovered, she had my agency release a statement saying that you had given me the trip as a gift and that I had taken it alone.  The statement seemed innocent at first but then became a bigger headache when no one could get in touch with you.”  Hye Kyo continued.  “Because you were incommunicado, the press then demanded answers, which led to your agency stating that you were on duty, which led to the Air Force being bombarded with questions, which led to….”

“Which led to my being hauled off the mountains and back to Seoul to face the wrath of Daejang Lee.  I seriously thought he was going to buck me back to private!  And I don’t think I would have had to spend an extra 10 days on duty this year if this hadn’t happened.”  In Sung again finished the sentence.  And a more serious look came over his face as he looked straight into Hye Kyo’s eyes.  “But it’s all worth it to see you so happy again.  And I meant what I said when I put you on the plane…take this leap of faith…give true happiness a chance.”

The two friends stared at each other for a long while.  No words were needed and the love they had for each other was understood.

“To love,” In Sung finally said as he held up his wine glass to toast. “May you and Joong Ki have it…forever and a day.”

Hye Kyo smiled and raised her glass to accept the toast, and yet as they both drank, she couldn’t help but notice a slight twinge of sadness in her brother’s eyes.