'Mm...Ngh..."

Wait a bed? I thought I went to sleep on the couch.....

Did I remember right?

I started making breakfast, still in a daze.

Then Kris opened his bedroom door.

That's rare... He usually sleeps until noon...

"Good morning."

"..."

"Dou you want coffee?"

"Make it strong."

"How about breakfast?"

"I'll have some if you've made it."

We ate breakfast together in silence.

I glanced at Kris to see how he was looking and caught a similar glanced back at me.

"About last night."

"I am not getting a divorce."

"You're a stubborn as I am, huh."

"Tell me something that I dont know. You had said that several times last night."

I made a cold remark, and Kris let out a sigh.

"I dont get it. It wont do you any good to stay with me."

I put my coffee cup down.

"Then let me ask you something. Define good."

"What?"

"Is good defined as when you get promoted and can live the high life? Or is it when the people around me get jealous of me having a husband with good prospect?"

I look at him in the eye.

"None of these things are necessary to me."

"..."

"I see marriage as a kind of seesaw."

"A seesaw?"

"Yes...No matter which of us falls into a slump....the other one can always lend them some strength. In fact when I was in a slump over the wine bar design..you gave me advice, didnt you?"

"That was to get you to go with me to Busan,"he admitted.

"But the fact remains that you lent me your strength. That's why I refuse to seperate."

"..."

"If you're dead set on divorcing me,fine, then you should hurry up and cheer up. That way I can go on without having to worry about you."

"..."

"Now then, thank you for the meal."

I rose to my feet and gathered my plate and cup.

"Once you're done, bring your dishes to the kitchen. I'll wash them all later."

"Sure."

Kris gave a small nod with a look of resignation.

I hope this can put a stop to thoughts of divorce.

I dont know what I can do for him.

But I cant just leave him the way he is now.

I stayed so busy in December, the month went by in a blur.

In that month, we spent our first Christmas together and.....

"Alright, I'll leave the New Years food here,"my mum said.

"Thanks. Sorry, I should have been able to make this myself."

"Its fine. Work's keeping you busy, right?"

"Yeah..There's a grand opening at the beginning of the year and things just keep coming up.."

"How's Kris?"

"He's out of the office. He's got a lot of social events at the end of the year himself."

'That must be rough."

"But he's doing his best to get by in his new position."

"I see..."

"By the way, um... He had brought up a divorce before..."

"Its fine . It was just an extension of a lover's spat. Forget about that okay?"

"I hope thats all it was..."

My mum looked unconvinced though.

"Its true. Dont worry. When you put two different people living together, its only natural for things to come to a head sooner or later ,right? You've had your share of run-ins with Dad yourself, havent you?"

Mum cheered up.

"You do have a point there...I certainly have."

"But you're still married, right? Soo we will be fine too."

Click...

Oh, looks like he's home."

"I'm home."

"Welcome home."

"Dont mind me,"My mum said to him.

"Mrs Jeon...."

"My mum brought over some New Years snacks for us. Look ."

Kris smiled. "Goodness...I've never had homemade New Years snacks before. Thank you for all the trouble."

"Its fine. I dont know how good it will taste but you're welcome to eat some."

"Certainly ma'am."

"Oh..Here Jiyoon,"Kris said as he passed me a plastic bag.

'What's this?"

"I got it on the way back. Its Lebanese wine."

"Lebanese wine? I've never had that before..... We can have it with the end-of -year soba then."

"Soba and wine? Do those go together?"

"You'd be surprised. Try it for yourself tonight ."

"It could make me sick."

"Oh, it will not,"I assure him. "They go really well together."

"Looks like it'll be alright..."my Mum muttered.

"Hmm? Did you say something Mum?" I asked.

My mum shaked her head. "Nothing. I'll be getting back now."

"Thank you for the New Year snacks. It will be my pleasure to have them..." he said to my Mum.

"Give Dad my best regard."

"I will. Enjoy your dinner..."

Middle of January.....

Several days before the grand opening of the wine bar, we held a debut party in the bar.

"Wow...Its an even better turnout than I'd expected,"Jinki said feeling overwhelmed.

"There's a lot of reporters here!" Bora said."Wow, this wine is fantastic!"

"There are some people from Design Express here too,"Mr Choi joined in the conversation.

"Design Express?" I asked in shock. "The industry magazine?"

Mr Choi nods. "Yes, come to think of it, the Design Express Award announcement is coming in 2 month's time."

"Oh yes, that's right,"Jinki agrees. "What'll you do, Jiyoon..If this bar get picked for the store design category?"

"Not a chance....," I said.

"Yeah! Even you havent won yet Jinki,"Bora said.

"Hey,hey...I've won awards in the display category before."

"But never in the store design category," Mr Choi reminded him.

"Yeah but at least I was nominated before.....Hm....Jiyoon, isnt that your husband?"

"Really?"

I glanced to the direction Jinki is looking and he's right, Kris's here!

I quickly went over to my husband. "Kris! Thank for coming!"

"You can save the thanks, I'm here on work,"he said coldly. "Where's the owner anyway?"

I was disappointed but ah well.. "Hold on, I'll introduce you."

"Owner!"

"Oh, Ms Jeon. Thank you for all you've done here."

"No, I should thank you for the trouble you went to on my behalf," I said.

"So, who is this?"

"This is my husband."

"My name is Kris Wu," Kris said as he gave his namecard to the Owner.

"I see, your husband...Wow, you work for CJ Products?'

"Yes, I've been handling Middle Eastern wines lately in my work..."

"Ohh...What pary of the Middle East, if I may ask?"

They seem to be hitting it off well...

I hope it works out well and helps him in his job....

"Where's your husband?"

"He's talking to the Owner. He apparently wants to make some wine sales ."

"I see...Your husband's a real businessman, huh." Jinki commented.

"Oh, so this wasnt for you Jiyoon?"Bora asked. "But for business?"

"Looks that way..."

"That's not necessarily true,"Mr Choi said.

"Hm?'

"Your husband spent a long time studying the interior when he came in. He could be interested in seeing your designs as well, Jiyoon."

"Oh...You think so?'

I'd be so flattered is that was true...........

"You're free to go home after this, Jiyoon."

"But Mr Choi, I still have work tio do..."

"Nothing that requires rushing, right? As long as your husband's here, you might as well go home together, right?"

"Aww, no fair playing favourites with Jiyoon,"Bora cries out.

"You and Jinki can go straight home after this too if you dont have any pressing business. We could go drinking together, even."

Bora face lit up.

"I second that motion! I nominate that bar with lots of College of Arts students!"

"Yeesh...You go there a lot too Bora?'

Looks like no one's going back to work.

I dont have anything especially pressing right now.... I guess I could go home early today.

"Are you sure about not going back to the office?'Kris asked as we stepped out of the bar.

"Yes, Mr Choi gave ne his permission. What bout you Kris?"

"I'm going home straight too. I worked two day's worth of overtime last night.

Two day's worth of overtime? Come to think of it, he did come home really late last night...

"Were you working overtime last night for the even today?"

"Er...No, not exactly..."

"Thank you...."

"I'm telling you, it had nothing to do with today!"

His blushed.

"I only came today because it showed potential for work!"

I smile at him happily. "You dont have to deny it so strongly..It wouldnt hurt to say, 'It was for you?'"

"But its the truth.'

I pouted. "Fine, I understand. But...whatever your reason was, I was happy that you came to the debut party. Thank you."

"Good.."

Kris looked off and picked up his pace.

"Wait, Kris. As long as we're doing this, would you like to go out for something to eat?"

"With you?"

"Yes, with me."

".."

"You dont want to? We barely ever come out to town together...Ack!"

Suddenly, my foot get caught on something and I fell in my rear.

"Oww..."

"What happened?"

"I'm not sure. I got caught on something..Oh, my heel...!"

"Is it broken?"

"Yes...Looks like it got caught in a manhole."

Kris looked at  the damage.

"I'm impressed you managed to break it off from the base."

"I'm sorry..."

"Honestly..What a pain."

Kris let out a sigh and crouched down in front of me.

"Kris?"

"We'll go to a shoe store. Hurry up and climb on."

"But..."

"You cant walk in those shoes. Its no trouble for me to at least carry you on my back."

"...thank you..."

I reached around Kris's back as passerby stared.

"I'm really sorry about this..."

"That was an accident. There's nothing to be sorry for."

"Okay..."

What a large back.... I didnt think he had such broad shoulders....

Oh...I can smell his scent...

My feelings were mixed. I felt apologetic but I also wanted to hold him more.....

As those two feeling swayed my heart my heart, I climbed onto Kris's back...

"Goodness, it must have been awful breaking a heel,"the saleslady said.

"Yeah. It got caught in an identation in a manhole..."

'Is that your husband who brought you here?"

I gave a small nod.

"How nice of him to carry you here on his back."

I look at her shyly.. "Yeah."

Thinking back to the back that I had clung to until just now....

I felt a slow swelling of warmth within my chest.

"So, how would these shoes suit you? They're close in design to the ones you broke..."

"These heels are so narrow, they look like they could break right off again."

Its true, what a lovely design...

But those heels could break right off again...

"Umm, do you have anything with sturdier heels?"

"Sturdier?'

"Yes, I'd like one where the heel isnt prone to breaking off."

"One moment please."

The salesgirl passed by Kris as he came up.

"Are you going with those shoes?"Kris asked.

"No, I want a different pair."

"Why?"

"Thank you for waiting. How would these suit you?"

"Oh...Those look much better. There arent any straps either..I'll go with these."

"But you like the other shoes more."

"Maybe, but.."

"Just buy them then.."

"But if I do, they could break again...'

"And if they break, we can always fix them."

"Huh?'

"If you cant fix them, just find me."

"..."

Kris grabbed the shoes from my hand.

"Excuse me, I'd like to get this pair instead of the other."

"Very good choice sir."

Kris.....

"You're giving me a weird look."

"Its just.....You said something amazing..."

"Something amazing?"

"To find you..."

"...Well..."

"There's no deep meaning to it. I just said it because you'd be stuck if you couldnt find someone."

But Kris is blushing to his ears...

"Then I'll hold you to that. I will really find you if my shoes break again, okay?"

"Fine, whatever..."

Kris turned away from me and went on the register.

It was so adorable. I couldnt help but smile.