“Where is he?” “They will come. I’m sure”, Jung-ah assured Uee. Uee was getting tense knowing that Cheon Dong has not arrived yet in the studio. They both plan to meet first before After School’s performance for the night but Cheon Dong was running late and it was already half an hour before their goodbye stage. All of the members of After School’s sub-unit RED are with her in the waiting room.  “Who’s coming with Cheon Dong to watch our performance?” Nana asked who are sitting beside her. “Hhmm..I think it will be----“before Uee can finish her answered a knock was heard from the waiting room’s door. It was there manager, making sure they are ready which they quickly assured him that everything is well. The manager looked at Uee, “Yoo, you’re looking pale. Are you okay?” Uee quickly nodded, “Yes, I’m just nervous that’s all. I’m fine”. “Are you sure?” asked the manager, still not convince “She’s alright sajangnim. She’s just nervous. Like all of us”, Nana come for Uee’s defense. The manager managed to smile to all of them, “Don’t worry. You’ve all practice hard and I know you’ll give your best. Don’t be nervous.You---all of you will do fine”. Kahi smile, “We’ll keep that in mind.” “Okay, I’ll just check if everything we need is all ready once after your performance was done. We need to get to your next schedule as soon as possible. I’ll see you guys in a minute” the manager said while closing the door again. All of them turn there back from the door only to turn again because it got open again. This time with the person Uee’s been waiting for.   “Honey, I’m sorry I got----“before Cheon Dong can finished Uee was already hugging him, her arms encircled on his nape and her face is already on the side of his neck and shoulder. Cheon Dong was quick to hug her close in returned and kissed the top of her head before whispering, “Mianhe” “You got me worried…”Uee whispered in answered, she don’t know what got into her but she felt such strong longing to her husband nowadays. It was as if her very air was him, without him in sight, she feel restless and she can’t function at all. She needs him more than ever. “I’m sorry. Hyung, got held up on something that’s why we got late”, Cheon Dong apologize again. He hold Uee’s face up to met his gaze…then give a light kiss on her forehead, “Mianhe…”, she can’t help but close her eyes as warmth and calmness flow on her body again… Cheon Dong places a soft kiss on her eyelids, on her nose, on her cheeks before giving her a deliberately slow kiss. His lips met hers with a feather like touch at first, on her upper lips then on her lower lips before taking possession of her warm and sweet lips thoroughly. He coaxed her to open which she freely let him, he explores its sweetest and giving her the apology he so meant to give… at the same time, wanting to give her a part of his soul to her…in just a brief moment. A minute must have passed before they part from each other with Cheon Dong’s planting a soft kiss on the top of her head and pulling her into an embrace once again. “My apology for being late…”Cheon Dong said, closing his eyes and inhaling his wife sent to calm the spreading warmth on his body. Uee simple returned his hug. Her head was on his chest near his heart, she can clearly hear his heart beating widely in celebration being near her once again echoing hers as well. Kahi make a small noise at catching their attention, finally. Both, quickly raise there head to looked at Kahi who was across the room. Uee remained on Cheon Dong’s arms, enveloped in his embrace. Cheon Dong gazed at the other After School members in the room, bowing a little in greeting. “Glad you’ve finally arrive. She seems restless without you”, Nana said, a little embarrassed looking curiously at both of them. “We’re starting to worry for her. It’s so unlike her to be restless before a show and it’s all because of you”, Jung-ah softly reprimanded Cheon Dong. Cheon Dong bowed again and apologize to all of them, “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry for being this late”, he said while his wife is still in his arms. He clearly doesn’t want to let got of her, now that he arrived. “Unnie, mianhe…If I got you worried as well”, Uee said then turned to Cheon Dong, her eyebrow meeting in the middle, she hit his chest, “Yah! This is really your fault! I got the Unnie’s worried!” Cheon Dong just grin at her and drew her close into a tight hug, “Mianhe…” Nana managed to smile at the couple in front of her, feeling the love in them…but her attention was caught by the person who arrives with Cheon Dong, late as well. “You’re the reason Cheon Dong-oppa was late, isn’t it?” Nana asked folding her arms in front of her. Joon took as small step backward, feeling the cold door behind him. “Is it my fault that the shower in my room is not working? Of course, I have to get it fixed first before going here!” Nana walked slowly towards Joon. She stopped only when she is just a foot away in front of him and raises an eyebrow, “Just because of that you got late? You’re one clean man huh? She said her hands were on her hips. “Of course, I am! What do you think of me?!” Joon answered back, his word was said with clenched teeth. Nana just brushed her hair in the air, “A man in the mud. That’s what you are!” “And you?” Joon’s gaze swept through her face, “…a princess on her heels?” “Why you?!” Nana answered with burning anger in her eyes, the other in the room could feel the heat. Jung-ah quickly hold Nana’s arm and pull her away from Joon’s fiery gaze and held her across the room, a safe distance from the two. “What’s with the two of you?”Kahi asked while looking back and forth between Joon and Nana who’s still locked in a staring battle. “Hyung? Are you okay?” Cheon Dong’s voice seem to wake Joon’s more calm side because the latter close his eyes and drew a deep breath before meeting Cheon Dong’s eyes. “Yes, I’m fine”, Joon said then turned to Jung-ah and Kahi, “I apologize for my rude behavior” Kahi and Jung-ah looked at each other before silently nodding. On the other hand, Joon just ignore Nana and met Uee’s gaze who’s curiously looking at Nana. Cheon Dong cleared his throat to get his wife’s attention. Uee looked up at him in complete awareness, he met her gaze then looked at Joon’s, and she turned to Joon, waiting for the guy’s word to her. Joon cleared his throat first before saying, “I should apologize for making Cheon Dong late because of waiting for me” he bowed a little, “Mianhe” Uee silently nodded and places her head against Cheon Dong’s chest while staring again at Nana. Her friend has a blank expression on her face which is making her worried. The others sit silently on the sofa across them. Joon was leaning on the wall with his arms across his chest. Cheon Dong pulled her with him on the other sofa. She sits beside him while he hugs her close. A soft brush of a hand on her cheek made her grew aware of the Cheon Dong’s gaze at her. She looked up, only to be given a light kiss on her lips, making her smile. “Honey, I think I’m getting hungry” “Huh? You’re performing in just a matter of minute. You want to eat now?” Uee pouted. Cheon Dong smile, lightly tap his forefinger on her pouting lips before saying, “Okay, what do you want?” “A big ice cream bowl!” “Okay, I can get that for you”, Cheon Dong was about to stand up when Uee said, “With a chocolate syrup at the top and a cherry…” she paused, thinking, “..with a strawberry syrup as well, a cookie, a small candies like M&M, with powdered milk too…” “Er...isn’t that too much sweet?”  The others on the room were looking at them and obviously hear Uee’s weird request. “But that’s what I want to eat..”,Uee managed a frown. Cheon Dong sighed. “Alright, if that’s what you want I’ll get it for you”, he said, land a soft kiss on Uee’s forehead before standing and went to the door. He turned to his wife, “I’ll just be quick. So don’t worry”, he smile and went out. Joon followed him outside.   Once the men are outside, Kahi can’t help but voiced out her concerned to Uee, “Are you really feeling okay, Yoo?” Uee smile in answer, “Yes, now that Cheon Dong’s here..”, she met all her friends gaze and said while growing scarlet on the face, “I just feel agitated when his not within my sight, that’s all” she brushed a hand on her hair, “I don’t know what is with me this days but I feel so attached to him…I want to always see him and just be on his side. I know, his my husband…but we can’t always do that can we? Because, after all the issue that is coming out from almost everywhere, we still have to make a public announcement…and I’m waiting for our promotion to be over before making the announcement to cleared the issue once and for all…but until then, we have to bear this concealment of our relationship…” Nana stood up, sat on her side, take her hand and smile to her, “With us here, both of you don’t have to conceal whatever you’re feeling…we will always be by your side, Yoo”. “Thanks, Nana” “And…you clearly were not shy with us…not trying to hide at all”, Kahi said with a teasing tone. Jung-ah grin to her, “Yes, you’re all about not-concealing anything…” “You’re all over him”, Nana teases. She looked at them then covered her face with her hands. Making them all laugh loudly by just her reaction. Later, she was also laughing with them. “I know, he has that effect on me” Nana nudge her shoulder, “And your not even angry at him because his late?!” “Nah…she jumped on him quickly, forgetting his supposed tobe late and he deserves some punishment…” Jung-ah added. “Not to mention, making a display in front of us---your single friend----how to be kissed in a I’m-late-I’m-sorry way”, Kahi said with laughter in her eyes. “I’m horrible in that department. I admit” she threw her hands in the air as if in surrender to all the teasing her friends was making. A roll of laughter from Nana, Jung-ah and Kahi echoed through out the room.   A minute passed with there teasing her have finally manage to relax them. Then a soft knock announces that they will be the next to perform. Uee heard her message tone from her phone and read the message: “I’ll be watching at the side. I love you! Fighting! ” from Hubby Donggie A wide smile grew on her lips as happiness spread through her body. She feels inspired. She will surely do her best for this goodbye stage. 
_ _ _ _   Once on the stage, her body instinctively dances to every beat of the music. Feeling the meaning of the song in every cell of her body, interpreting the music, her mind was completely on the song. While singing to their fans, the music flowing on all corners of the stage and beyond. Connecting each soul hearing the song and watching there dance, drawing out all the fire and coldness of the day into that song, into that dance. It was there goodbye stage after all, a goodbye yet until there next album…and all of them want to give uniqueness in each performance. The music was at its end. Every hand in the audience is together, applauding another great show for them. Uee was on her last step and she’s still hearing the music weaving through the loud cheer of the crowd when she felt that the days light is slowly drawing to a close…. The stage is not dark…it’s full of light…but why am I… Before she can realize what happening, her consciousness is sleeping away. She saw a green light at first, thinking that it must have been just the lighting effects of the stage but then everything went dark. She is not conscious anymore when a strong arm has caught her body before it landed on the stage floor. Everything went silent…   _ _ _ _   “I’ll get the ice cream” “But Hyung---“ Joon rubbed Cheon Dong’s hair, “Don’t argue with me. It’s my apology. I’ve made your wife worried”. Cheon Dong reluctantly nodded and said, “Thank you.” “Nah…it’s nothing. You have to watched there performance. You can go first on the side stage. I’ll just follow you with the ice cream in hand” Joon said then turned to leave. “Hyung! Do you remember all the specifications she requested?!” Cheon Dong called on Joon before the latter walked away. Joon turned and nodded, “Yes, I heard all about it”, he grins, “She has some sweet tooth huh?” Cheon Dong grin back, “A sweet tooth just for me…” “Yah! Proud man!” Joon scolded back and turned, he walked ahead the studio hallway. “Thanks!” Cheon Dong said again. Joon just wave his hand in answer.  

 

As the performance start, Cheon Dong’s eyes were held captive once again by his wife. Uee’s every move, her every breath and every word sung by her lips. He becomes lost in her voice…the allure, the passion it arouses in every part of his being. She’s captivating in every way and just like him...the audience was held cap