HIS WIFE –  TROUBLE ON THE ROAD TO HAPPINESS

Yonghwa’s alarm clock woke them up at 5 am. They barely slept for 2 hours.

He asks for 15 minutes more to cuddle with her so Joohyun pulls him closer to her and kisses his neck.

When her phone alarm went off Joohyun had no choice but to wake Yonghwa up.  It was difficult because his body pinned her to the bed. She tried kissing him awake but it only resulted in him holding her tighter.

“Oppa – we really need to wake up. I need to be at Yoona’s house by 7. You don’t want me to be scolded by Ahjusshi do you?” Joohyun lightly pats his face.

At the mention of Ahjusshi’s name Yonghwa opens his eyes and after giving her a hug stands up from the bed and heads for the bathroom.

“Joohyun-ah! Let’s take a shower first.” He calls out.

Joohyun couldn’t use Yonghwa’s shampoo and soap because of their masculine scents so she just wet her hair and body all the while trying to dodge hands that try to tickle her.

“Just hold still while I dry you off.” Yonghwa was holding her wet squirming body against his.

“No! You’re going to tickle me again! I can do it myself. Oppa!” Joohyun giggled.

“Arasso – let’s dress up now. I will cook something for us to eat on the way back.” Yonghwa kisses her forehead as they go back to his room.

 “Oppa what about the sheets?” Joohyun eyes the bed - there were light blood stains.

“I’ll put them in the washing machine. Don’t worry about it – just dress up. You’re only wearing a towel so don’t tempt me.” He pulls the sheets from the bed and bundles them up. “Hurry up we’ll be late.”

Joohyun dresses up as fast as her sore body would allow. She removes the towel from her head and quickly combs it. She would just let it air dry.

“Oppa I’m done!” Joohyun calls out as she comes down the stairs.  She could hear Yonghwa moving about in the kitchen.

“Good – now help me pack our breakfast.” Yonghwa said. “It’s just an egg, onion and tomato omelette. Are you okay with that? There’s also a left over cold sweet potato side dish that Minhyuk’s Omma sent over. Let’s put that in a container too.”

They put the dishes in a food container, got a pair of chopsticks plus 1 bottled water.

“Let’s go. It’s almost 6 am” Yonghwa grabbed their breakfast and headed out the door as Joohyun gathers her windbreaker and bag.

Stepping out of the house they were greeted once again by Yonguk.

“Doryeonim, Agasshi” He bows to Yonghwa and smiles at Joohyun.

  “Have you all eaten?” Yonghwa asks.

“Of course Doryeonim”

“We’re in a hurry today Yonguk. We need to be in Seoul by 7 am.”

“The Mercedes it is then “Yonguk nods his head and signals. One of the security men drives up with the car and quickly hands Yonghwa the key.

Thanking the man, Yonghwa and Joohyun get into the car.

“Don’t drive too fast Oppa” Joohyun says as she feeds Yonghwa a cold sweet potato then eating one herself.

“Uhm…” Yonghwa winks at her. They drive in companionable silence – with Joohyun feeding him as he drives to Seoul.

“I think I ate more than you” Yonghwa said as Joohyun feeds him the last piece of the omelette.

“That’s okay Oppa.” She wipes his mouth and offers him the cold water.

“Am I seeing you today?” Yonghwa asks as he takes her hand and kisses it.

“I’ll try – if not then tomorrow. Let me talk to my unnies. Oppa, aren’t you going to look for your phone?”

“Two security guys will look for it in the house.  It has to be there somewhere. I didn’t go anywhere – not that Jonghyun or the 2 maknaes would let me out of their sight.”

“I’m glad they take good care of you.” Joohyun said. “Ah Oppa before I forget – I may have failed my last exam.”

“What? Why?”

“I can’t remember if I answered the questions and wrote the essay in English or Korean or both.” Joohyun explained.

Joohyun felt good when she heard Yonghwa’s laughter. She pretended to be cross at him but ended up laughing too.

When they got to Yoona’s house she was already waiting for them.

“Yah Yong Oppa – you gave us a fright not picking up your phone. Your dongsaengs wanted to go back to Suwon last night but I convinced them that it was better for Joohyun to be there for you. And you Maknae – everyone was waiting for your call!  Both of you totally forgot about us!”

“Mianhe unnie!” Joohyun felt her face heat up.  Of course she forgot about everyone – she was in bed with Oppa.

“Mian- Yoona-yah. Oppa and your Maknae had a lot to talk about.” Yonghwa said. His hand squeezed Joohyun’s.

“Okay! You two are so going to be questioned and teased so I will forgive you. I will just sit back and enjoy your discomfort.” Yoona laughs at the two blushing faces in front of her.

“Do I still need to call my Omma, unnie?” Joohyun tries to change the subject.

“Ani – Ahjusshi will be here at 9.  So you and Yong Oppa can come inside and be together some more.” Yoona lets them in her house.

Once inside Yoona and Joohyun call their unnies.  Yonghwa listens patiently and apologises to his girlfriend’s unnies. But it warmed his heart to know that they were also very worried about Joohyun and himself.  He gave them his word that he and Joohyun would fix her engagement and let their parents know about their relationship.

They made plans to meet up the next day for a movie and dinner.

Yoona calls Jonghyun so that he and Yonghwa could talk. The Maknaes were still sleeping.

Just then Joohyun’s phone rings. It was Ahjusshi.

Bidding Yoona goodbye – the couple go out to Joohyun’s car.

“Agasshi go inside the car first – let me talk to your young man first before we go home.”

Ahjusshi and Yonghwa walk towards the Mercedes as Joohyun looks on.  She sees them shake hands and Yonghwa gets in his car.

“Agasshi – you can call your young man now.  By the way your parents left early – so I think you should let your young man inside the house even for just 2 hours. Your omma wants me to remind you that you haven’t practiced your piano since Saturday.”

Joohyun dialled Yonghwa’s number and told him that he could finally come to her house.

“I feel sad that I can only come to your parents aren’t there.” Yonghwa sighed.

“Oppa – please. I’m so excited that you can finally come to my house. Don’t think about that first please.” Joohyun pleaded.

She had to literally pull Yonghwa to get him past the gate and into her house.  Before Ahjusshi left them he reminded them that they only had 2 hours to be together then Yonghwa would have to go.

Joohyun led him to the piano. Seating him on the arm chair facing her – Joohyun could not hide her happiness.  She was playing the piano for him again.

“I’ll do my Liszt practices first. Bear with me.” She smiles at him and launches on her exercise.

Yonghwa just smiles back.  He was happy just to listen to whatever music she decides to play.  His cars were full of the CDs that she’s given him of recordings of her piano practices.  He loves listening to them even when he was studying.

“Ah – I’m excited just to see you sitting there just listening to me. What do you want me to play for you?” Joohyun said.

“Anything happy because that’s what I feel right now – just looking at you I’m happy.” Yonghwa smiles at her.

“Anything?” she laughs and begins playing the beginning notes for “Summertime” by George Gershwin but improvising it into a jazzy beat.

“Wah! You’re amazing Joohyun-ah!” Yonghwa claps his hands when she finishes the piece. “Why didn’t you want to become a music major?”

“The hours were too rigorous Oppa.  I want to play the piano when I want to and not I have to. My mother understood but not my Appa.  He thinks I’ve totally wasted my years of training.  But I kept pestering him so he just gave up and agreed to let me finish high school in a normal school not in a performing arts school.” Joohyun replied.

“And I wouldn’t have met you.” Yonghwa said as he got up and took a seat beside her on the piano.” I had piano lessons too but I hated it.  But my brother told me that it’ll help me learn guitar faster so I stuck to it until I went to the US after that I hardly touch the piano anymore.  So the one in our house has just been there for the longest time no one plays it.”

“I’ll play and you sing – how about that Oppa?” Joohyun said. “It’s a favorite of my parents – do you know the song “All the Things you Are”?

“Ha – my father’s favorite.  He has to original record by Frank Sinatra.  I remember the words – I think I can sing it” Yonghwa smiles before he starts to sing in a soft voice.

You are the promised kiss of spring time./That makes the lonely winter seem long./You are the breathless hush of evening./ That trembles on the brink of a lovely song.

You are the angel glow that lights the star./The dearest things I know are what you are./Someday my happy arms will hold you./And someday I’ll know the moment divine/When all the things you are /Are mine

They smile into each other’s eyes and Joohyun starts playing the piano again. “How about something that’s newer Oppa? I learned this song just awhile back and I know the band is a favorite of yours. Feel free to sing with me.”

She starts to play the piano and Yonghwa’s laughs as he recognizes the song – “Yellow” by his favorite band Cold Play. Joohyun just smiles at him as she starts singing the song.

Look at the stars/Look how they shine for you/And everything that you do/Yeah, they are all yellow.

I came along/And wrote a song for you/And all the things that you do/And it was called “Yellow.”

So then I took my turn/Oh what a thing to have done/and it was all yellow.

Your skin/Oh yeah, your skin and bones/Turn into something beautiful/You know/You know I love you so/You know I love you so

I swam across/I jumped across for you/Oh what a thing to do/Cause you were all yellow.

Your skin/Oh yeah,