Years of Love

Almost Heaven

 

“Just a second!”

She was flipping through the pages of Judith McNaught’s ‘Whitney, My Love’, taking an ample time of her weekend, when all of sudden her doorbell ring. Yuri hesitantly rushes towards the heavy oak door, carrying the book with her as she walks from the couch she’d been resting on. She totters around her small living room before she finally reaches the knob.

“Yes?”

The door swings open and silence ensues. Yuri shoots a surprised look at the two uninvited visitors at the front. There before her was her persistent tormenter, also known as her sister, Sunny and a woman with blonde boyish hair whom she’d been praying not to see anymore, Amber Liu, the girl who caught her first kiss during high school and because of her, she was exiled to New York by her parents to learn her ‘lessons’.

“Hi.”

She gulps as Amber strive her first word to her. Unconsciously, she wipes her sweaty palms with the book she’d been gripping on tightly. If she hadn’t been too horrified by the bombshell that just arrived at her doorstep, she would had notice that Amber’s arms resting comfortably around Sunny’s waist and how they were actually fidgeting like a guilty child. If she looks green sick and sweaty, they look like they’d malaria.

“Yuri, we wanted to tell you something.” Sunny said, without heeding the panic she had at that moment, “We – we – we’re sorry.”

She had no idea what her sister is apologizing for. She can barely adjust her sight to them let alone take in what she’s saying.

“You – you don’t have anything to apologize.”

“Oh, I do. I’ve done some terrible things to you, Yuri.” She drew a long deep breath before she continues, “Let’s – let’s just start from the beginning, shall we?”

She thought a cup of coffee would soothe the tension between them and probably they would stop conversing like a dysarthric person.

“You want to come inside then? I can make a cup of coffee and there are some biscuits in my cupboard.” Yuri was actually hoping the shorter girl would say no, but when she refused, she’s still feels surprised.

“No, thanks. Amber and I had a plane to catch. We just came here to –” she apparently stops to think or suppress her answer, which ever it was, “‘explain’ some things.”

The next course of speech flew out from like she’d been rehearsing it for quite some time. Yuri was forced to listen but the fact that her little sister was confessing her old grave mistakes of hers to her was still a mystery and that’s what keeping her attention diverts as Sunny talking and mumbling in front of her.

“As you probably knew, I’m not your real sister.” Yuri could see she choked on those words,“I was left by my own parents because they think I am a financial burden for them.”

Yuri frowned. “No, Sunny, your parents died of explosion in Kuwait.”

“That what’s your parent wanted you to think. My parents did die of explosion but that after they gave me to your parents. Your mom and dad were trying to be considerate. They didn’t want me to feel indifferent. They are the nicest people I’ve ever met...including you.”

She thought she heard it wrong.

“I’m sorry for taking everything from you, Yuri. I have this tendency to be very competitive around you and I forced myself to succeed everything ahead of you so that our parents would notice and love me more than you. And I occasionally, perhaps a few times, interfere with your examination results to help mine shine.” So...that’s probably the reason why she took the top spot in New York whereas the last spot in her hometown. She always thought it was because of the ‘Asian-is-the-best-nerds’ thing. “And I’m sorry for ruining your relationship with your parents. I know it was entirely my fault to take all your parents’ love from you just because I’m in need of it. I –”

“It was not entirely your fault, Sunny. The fault was mine too. If I hadn’t caught kissing with Amber, they would probably accept me now.”

The elder girl sighed in vain. Her eyes were in the verge of tears.

“I told Amber to kiss you, Yuri.” Her voice came out as a rough whisper,“And I told everyone in the school that you were her partner for years, when actually I was her partner.”

That’s it. Yuri wants to squeal out of maddening shock she received in just a few seconds.

“We both thought it was the best that our relationship to be unknown for the outside world. They will never accept us the way we are.”

“And you think by scheming me into some sly act would solve it?”

“I know it’s wrong.”

“Damn wrong!”

“Look, Yuri.” It was the deep voice of Amber’s that immediately sent chills over her body, “We had no choice at that time. Sunny is running for the presidential place for her class and one of her classmates somehow had a glimpse of us making out at the back of the school. We’re trying to make a divergence so that no one realizes our complicated relationship.”

“Yuri, I know I’d done terrible mistakes to you before. But now, I understand your pain.” No, you don’t! “Or maybe I don’t. But I want to make amend because I felt terribly scoundrel and I think I owe you my life.”

She looks at them with an intense gaze. Half thinking whether this is real or not and half wondering why is she confessing to her at this particular moment right now.

Amber rolls her eyes out of vain. “It is in the past, Yuri.” She continues calmly, “I know it hurts you but you’d moved on quite gracefully. We’re here just to say that we’re very, deeply sorry for our mistakes and hope that you’ll move on without any nightmares. We had sorted it out with your parents and had given an email to our school mates explaining about these matters. Your parents had a hard time to digest but they would want to see you to say that they are sorry for all the mishaps and to tell you that they were always love you and proud of you. And they want you to meet with them if you happen to be free.”

“They said that?”

Sunny nods, “They realized that they had been making you feel inferior when we had some discussion, thanks to your –”

Amber nudges Sunny but Yuri was too clouded by the amusement that her parents are now, after all her hard works, this all years, now they finally said those magical words...they are proud of her, and most importantly they love her. Nearly 12 years being out-casted by her own parents because they thought she was uncontrollable defective child, now they want her back.

“I don’t know what to say.” She mumbled.

Both Amber and Sunny smiled expecting that she would the same for them. It happens all at the same time, both of her dark past and her new lights. However, when she smiled back to them she felt a huge boulder was lifted from her back. She felt free from inferiority for the first time in her life.

*****

She walks straight to the kitchen after watching Sunny and Amber went back to their cab. Yuri places her book at the side of the kitchen island, her reading mood had sailed away, and with another cheery setting she was into, she started to grab a spoon.

Ice cream.

It was a female’s epithet of celebration, or devastation for some people. She quickly head to her fridge with a huge grin plastered all over her face. The second she lays her hand on the deliciously Haagen Daaz’s chocolate ice cream, the bell is making noises again. The next minute, the door flies open and her long-time-no-see friend slash enemy, UEE, is standing there with her tall legs spread like the posh pose she likes to do whenever she was at the end of the runaway. The taller girl beamed the laziest smile she’d ever seen on her.

“Don’t you like to invite me in?”

Her head jerks. Not because she wanted to let her in but because of the memories of how she’d been annoying her back in the days when she was blooming in her modelling career. However, it sent a false signal to UEE as she swiftly makes her way inside her small apartment.

“What the hell, Yuri? Your apartment is half the size of my bedroom. It’s so small.” The tall girl announced as soon as she saw her modest home.

She starts to make faces behind her. Typical UEE, always had her way of annoying her.

“Is everything alright with you?” she said as she rests on her couch. It must be stiff because Yuri could see her flinches before she continues her blabbers, “Do you have any financial issues Yuri? If you had, I would love to help. Honestly, you’ve been a very old friend of mine and I happen to have loads of cash right now.”

She can’t help to giggle at her enthusiasm, “I’m fine, UEE. Really am.” She reassured her, “I love this apartment. I simply picked it out because it is cute and cosy. If I were about to choose something bigger and more expensive, I could do that, I still have the millions that Siwon gave to me, not to mention the extra cash that the company gave me during my retirement. It just that –” she pauses momentarily, “I love this house. It is simple, peaceful and uncomplicated…just like me at this moment.”

Well, not exactly at that moment.

The latter sighs before she mumbles, “I wished my ex is half kind as your ex.”

Her eyes twinge. “You broke up with Jae Jung?”

The latter rolls her eyes. Her hands balled into a fist. Yuri inched away from her, thinking of how suicidal those fists can be.

“That old man! He was ing another model behind my back. That girl was not even worth our five years of relationship. She’s cheap and fat and obnoxious and – and – and stupid.” Her eyes were glistening with tears.

“It’s alright, UEE.” She still can’t believe that she was comforting her that moment, “I’m sure you can move on. There’s a lot of man out there that would like to date you.”

“Yeah of course.” She shrug her shoulder confidently, “You are right. I can flick any fingers and men will be queuing behind me. Hell yes, I’m pretty and skinny and brainy, heck, I can get any men that I want. I don’t have to cry for that ancient cheapskate.”

She was relieved that her tall friend could move on so fast yet at the same time worried about her overconfidence and narcissism. One minute UEE was heavenly boasting about how perfect her boyfriend was and in a split second, she went on telling her of how she doesn’t need him. She even called him ancient cheapskate for God sake.

Suddenly another thought hit her mind.

“So, UEE…” She began.

“Huh?”

“How about the things that he gave to you? Did you keep it?” she asked, trying to be careful as possible.

She looks gobsmacked. “Of course I threw it away. Gosh, Yuri. That was the first thing I do when I knew about his affair.”

“What about your roses? Are they gone?”

She smirked in an evil way, “Smashed, right on top of his head.”

Yuri instantaneously drew out puffs of relief from her chest. Now, it’s a good time for her confession.

“Well actually UEE,” the latter gawped at her for a few moments, “I…kinda ruined your plants before. You see, whenever I went to your home you always give me this some kind of orange juice –”

“Yeah, I remember. Roselette’s orange juice, Jaejung’s favourite. I loathe it. It’s too bitter.”

Yuri grins. UEE used to love whatever her boyfriend likes and now she said she hates it. Ironic.

“I didn’t like it either. Like I said to you, it’s somehow taste like a poison. I used to water your roses with those orange juices you gave me and I turned out to be right. The juices destroyed your plant, isn’t it?”

“Owh.” She replied, “I thought the plant wilted just to suggest how our relationship was going to end.”

It reminds her of how UEE actually was a very superstitious delusional person.

“Oh well.” Her shoulder shrugged, “If it poisonous, then good. Serve that old man right. Let him die.”

It is kind of creepy the way UEE had her vengeance. She wonders if UEE would react the same way if she told her these things before this.

“Oh by the way,” she said as she ransacks her handbag, “I got something for you.”

She holds out a nice lovely white mini dress with small pink roses and beige laces around the waist. It looks exactly the same as the dress that she took from her but the only difference is the colour. But she likes this one more.

“This is for you.” She gently tosses it in front of her. “From Chanel.”

She was speechless. Of all time, she was actually giving a present to her.

“Why?” she asked, her voice is trembling slightly but she holds it firm, “Why do you do this?”

“Don’t thank me. It’s from our company. They wanted to give some token for your service. Apparently, they just realize that most of the agency’s cashes came from you and now they feel very thankful to you. And I also feel the same.”

“That’s…nice. I guess.”

“Well, because of you, now I had a large ‘shoes’ to fill in. So please pray for me.”

Yuri gave a warm smile at her compliment, “I will.”

“Another thing.” She continues, “I’ve already ripped down your photocopied G-stringed bottom.” And give a wink at the end.

Her heart beats even more furiously. Her face gawping in shock. How does she know?

“Alright. That’s that.” She said lazily while straightening her legs as she stands up. “I shall be leaving right now since my show is about to start anytime soon.”

Yuri accompanies her downstairs. She opens the door for UEE but swiftly scrunches her nose to brush off the coldness outside her house. Like she expected, it was snowing. With the shorts and light t-shirt she was wearing, she did not plan to go outside and fetch a cab for her ‘dear’ friend. Luckily, she didn’t need to do that. A black posh mercedez, which she assumed a company’s car, was waiting for UEE. The taller girl seems to notice it even though she was busy with her mobile phone and hastily bid her goodbye. She was ready to close the door and before she knew it, UEE swiftly turns around at her with a challenging look on her face.

“Before I forgot.” She reminds herself and digs into her handbag again. It was like a doraemon’s pocket now. Everything is magical in there. “Please change your g-string. It’s really outdated.” She said as she handed her a pile of discount coupons.

“What is this?”

“Victoria’s Secret coupons for their angels.” She explained half-heartedly, “More than half-price discount. You should go for it. They owe you a lot.”

It was like everything in your dream comes true. All her desires, wishes and dilemmas resolved in just a single moment. Now, Yuri wonders what next seconds is going to be like.

Perhaps Jess will come today. I owed her a lot.

However the thought quickly vanishes since she remembers how Jessica kept complaining of how her toddler can’t be away from her.

“So, adios Yuri.” Just like that UEE embarks on her journey to her next destination.

Meanwhile, Yuri stares at her as UEE walks towards her car. She was waving her goodbye when another car, a big white cab, stops in front of her apartment. She momentarily halts at the door frame, not paying any attention to the cab or the old couple who was fighting at the other side of the street or the stabbing coldness she felt on her skin. Standing there, looking out at the snowy view, she suddenly felt calm and peaceful, mostly because she had a wonderful feeling of luck today –

“Kwon Yuri, you owed me a lot!”

Or maybe not.

“Jess?!” A shriek came out from . Yuri opens again but close it soon after. Too shock to speak, too stiff to greet.

“Oh don’t you give me that blank look, Yuri. I know what you did and I had a list of it to discuss with you.” The petite girl in leather jacket claimed as soon as she was near enough to her, just a few steps in front.

“Hi Yuri unni.” Jessica’s sweet sister walks and halts beside her sister. “Nice to meet you.”

Well, at least somebody did the proper greeting.

“Hi.” She replied awkwardly but with a polite smile before she turns agog unconsciously. “How the hell you guys came here?”

Not only her expression is livid, now, even her breaths sound tremendously furious.

“Oh God Yuri. Of course we came here by plane and this cab.” Showing the white car behind them, “How dare you speak like you didn’t want to see me after all the hassles I got into.  I even left my daughter at home for you. And I’m your best friend since high school!”

Her foot stomps on the cobblestone, a sign of a very frustrated Jessica.

“Gosh Jess, it’s not like that.” She pampered her friend with the nicest tone and speech she’d ever use, “I’m just shock to the fact that you are in front of my door now.” She swiftly embraces her, “Gosh…I miss you so much.”

For half a minute, no one dare to disturb them. It was her and her best friend feeling the warmness of their friendship that they didn’t had for so long.

“I miss you too.” Jessica murmured.

If it is about Jessica, or Tiffany as the matter of fact, everything is ironic. One moment they are smoking livid and the other second they can be like the sweetest child asking for candy. You will not know what happen next when you’re with them. But that’s her friends, her crazy friends.

“Let’s go inside. You two must be freezing.” She invited.

They settle on the island near her kitchen the next second. Jessica and Krystal were practically like her family, they don’t need a formal meeting in the living room. They just make their own way to the kitchen and gobble up her fridge. Funny how they complained how much freezing Newcastle was yet, here they are, in her apartment with ice-cream splattered around their mouth.

“How are you doing here, Yuri?” Jessica asked out of the blue, “Are you adjusting well with Newcastle?”

She raised her eyebrows, faking a mild shock, “Wow, Jess.” She chuckled, “You supposed to ask the question decades ago before you decided to ransack my apartment. Or even before you ambushed me with ‘you owe me a lot’ statement.”

“Well, you did owe me a lot.”

“Okay…” gently put her spoon down, Yuri snatch Jessica’s chair and let her foxy expression facing her. Satisfied with their current position, she remained ready for her revelation, “Fire up.”

Jessica gives a little chuckle before she begins.

“Alright,” She crossed her arms, “My silver flip-over mobile that I ‘lost’ a few years back, my antique earrings that Jaebom bought for me that you never gave back because you accidently crook it and also the eight hundred dollar that you took from my handbag to give out for some random charity behind my back.”

To her horror, all the things Jessica said were actually true to its core. She did do all that. But the thing is –

How the hell did she knew?

Yuri raises her eyebrows, “How – how –”

“How did I know all these crap?” Jessica, in return, raised one of her challenging look.

Krystal was giggling at the back, probably amused by watching her sister playfully bullying her best friend. She’d always knew, Jessica, out of all people in the world, wouldn’t care about some trivial and petty stuff even though it costs her money. She thought her sister’s best friend would realize that. But apparently, she doesn’t.

Yuri, unexpected, is still gaping and looking pale white.

Noting Yuri’s guiltiness that exceeds her acting ability to remain angry at her, Jessica smiles out of hilarity, “Aren’t you going to hug me and beg me to forgive you because you are so sorry?”

Realizing her ogling silence, Yuri shook her head and launch forward, embracing her dear friend.

“Aww Sica, I was going to tell you all that.” Yuri pouted, “I promise you I will pay back. I will buy you a new phone. I will give your money back. But the earrings…I will buy you another expensive one, okay. I’m so sorry. I knew Jaebom bought it for you, but I’ve crooked it and I, somehow, threw it away. Really sorry, Sica ah.” She pinched her ears like a child that had done a grave mistake.

Jessica snorted. “Well I already have three iPhones and I don’t think I need another one. Jaebom gave a lot of cashes and I obviously doesn’t have financial problems.” She said as she point at her Prada blouses and Jimmy Choo’s boots, “However, that earrings...it certainly need a punishment. That’s the first thing he bought for me with his first salary you know.”

Yuri smiled. She finally realizes her friend was teasing her. “So what’s my punishment Princess Sica?”

Jessica stared at her before she spills out her wish, “I want you to walk for Krystal’s show again.”

Her eyes wide open with flickers of memory of how she hated Krystal’s design. Far behind Jessica, she could see Krystal’s innocent hopeful eyes at her. How can she say no to that?

“I – I...okay.” Her shoulder stiffened by the burden, “I’ll do it.”

Krystal gave out her biggest grin to her, “I knew you will do it, unnie. You said you love my design right? You think it was very futuristic, right?”

Did she really say that?

“Yeah...” She was forced to play, unable to break a child’s dream, “You are very talented, honey.”

Krystal smiled at her before she turned to her sister. Both of them almost immediately burst out laughing. Yuri was left hanging with blank face.

“Goodness God, Kwon Yuri.” Jessica blurted, “You are just too hilarious.”

She replied with an awkward smile, “Am I? Great…then?”

“Oh unnie, you don’t have to be so kind to me.” Krystal holds her laughter as she expressed her concerns, “My designs were terribly awful. No one had ever given me positive critiques except you, unnie. Even my sister thought it was rubbish.”

“No Krystal. Don’t say that. You love your fashion, your passion in fashion.”

Krystal shook her head, “Yes I do love fashion. But it doesn’t mean designing is good for me.” She smiled, “I’ve already settled down as a fashion consultant a few months ago, unnie. And I finally didn’t need Jessica unnie to help me in this. I’m doing so well and I had a lot of customers now – f(x), Sistar and a few actresses. Finally, I had some recognition. I’m aiming for Girls’ Generation now.”

Impressed, her lips curve into a warm smile. “Wow, Krystal.” The next compliment she gave is the truth, “I feel so proud that you had found your career. I still remember that time when you are asking me what you would be in a few years’ time.”

Krystal beamed a smile at the thought. “And you told me to let life come to me.”

“I told you that?” she raised proud eyebrows to Jessica while stretching out for the ice cream, “Gosh, I didn’t know that I’m good at quotes. I should be Mahatma Gandhi.”

Jessica smiled knowingly. “And we will be going to let your life come to you, Yul.”

Preoccupied with the ice-cream in front of her, she missed it, “What Jess?”

“Nothing.” Jessica sighed. Sneakily, she packed her bags and gestured her sister to do the same.

“What are you doing?” she asked, noticing when they are lurching for their winter coats.

“We’ll be going now.”

She spattered out her ice cream, “What? You just arrived here.”

“Well, we wanted to visit St James Stadium.”

“What?” Weird. That’s all she could think of. “You two had never been a fan of sport. You just know the existence of Manchester United because there is the hot and hunky Christiano Ronaldo in that team.”

“W-Well.” Jessica stuttered, “Yah, I can do whatever I want whenever I want it! You cannot decide it for me.”

“Yah…” she hold her arms and swing it back and fro with pampered motion, “Stay for another hour. We still had a lot of things to catch up. I haven’t asked about Hana yet. I haven’t asked about your sister’s new husband yet.”

Jessica was already lurching for her doorstep, “They are already married for one year, Yuri. If you want to catch up get your fat to Korea.”

“Kai is doing okay, unnie.” Krystal answered at the door frame.

“But –”

Before she protested, Jessica places her palms on her face gently. She looked her in the eyes as she smiles. “I love you, Yul, but I have to go. I don’t want you to wait to cherish your heavenly moments.”

“What are you saying? Reading book alone in an old apartment is not exactly my idea of heavenly moment.”

“I know.” She whispered, “I happened to know what is it and when is it going to happen but I would like the nature to reveal it to you. Just wait for a few minutes. You’re going to find your life change dramatically.” She promised. “Just wait here, Yul.”

Her heart pounding hard. Her eyes already watery. Though, she couldn’t understand why. Why?

*****

She is waiting. Not very patiently but she is waiting, waiting for something, someone perhaps, that supposed to makes everything that happened today logical.  Yuri was pacing back and forth across the living room windows, raking her hand through her hair and sighing heavily now and then. She already gathered that all the things that happened today seem too organized to be true. First, Sunny and Amber, then UEE and then Jessica and Krystal, everyone that happens to be somebody that she needs to clear up some misunderstandings, mistakes…secrets?

“Hello?”

Yuri lurched around as the front door knocked. “What is it?” she blurted out when she couldn’t stand the suspense anymore.

She was watching a group of ten year old girls grinning at her. One of them is holding a trolley full of cookies and another was holding a ticket and also a jar of money. She figured out instantly that they weren’t people she was expecting.

“Hello miss, we are Kingsley High School’s Girl Scout. We are here to sell cookies. The money we collected will be donated to National Children’s Leukemia Organization. And –”

She couldn’t bother to hear it anymore. Ten pound is all it takes for them to leave and she did only that. “Here.” She gently shoved the money in front of them. “Sorry but I’m kinda busy now. Goodbye.”

“Wait!”

Before the door successfully shut, the girl calls her again. With a forced smile, Yuri opens the door.

“Yes?”

The tallest girl who was holding pieces of ticket stood near her and gives her braces grin. “You forgot your ticket, miss. Every time you donated you got this ticket.” The little girl showed her, “Thank you for your contribution, miss. May God bless you.” She said squeakily.

She shot them a quizzical look but the crowd already running away to the next door. Slowly, she closes the door and lean on it. Yuri is trying to concentrate on the piece of paper that she just received but as soon as she saw what’s on it, her emotions were in turmoil.

It only took you ten pound to save a life. Thank you for your donation.

From: National Children’s Leukemia Organization

Her mind was falling over itself as she came up with logical explanations for a terrifyingly bizarre situation. “Oh God…” she whispered. Her palm was on as memories flooding in.

“…I’ve never saved a life…”

“…I owe Jessica 800 dollar…”

“…I broke Jessica’s mobile phone a week ago and hid the pieces in my handbag...”

“…and broke her earrings too. At that time I thought I’m going to be dead. It was Jaebom’s first present her with his own money. But then I thought, what she doesn’t know doesn’t her.”

“...her designs are awful. The most horrible stuff that I’ve ever wear in my entire modelling life. But still I have to pretend I like them. Well, she is my friend’s sister. I could not say no...”

“ ...terrible girl called UEE. This new dress arrived the other day. Nice white floral mini dress. Complete with a pink lace and white rose in the middle. But she just took it from our designer…”

“ ...sometimes I water her stupid rose plant with the deathly bitter orange juice that she used to give me every time I came to her house. Just to serve her right...”

“ ...Victoria’s Secret is so stingy. As their models, they don’t even give discounts to me when I buy my there. So ungrateful...”

“…I had a few too many drinks at the last Christmas party. I was drunk, I was stupid and I was crazy. So I went to a machine, stripped off my cloth, sat on it and photocopied my G-string bottom…”

“…I’ve never done anything to make my parents proud of me…”

“…my cousin Sunny came to live with us and all at once it was like my parents couldn’t see me anymore. All they could see was her. She was twelve when she arrived, and I thought it was going to be great you know. Like having an older sister. But it didn’t work out that way...”

“...she was a swimming champion and an ‘everything’ champion. And I just...nothing in comparison...”

“…I was caught kissing a girl behind our school. It was not my fault. I was harassed by her. But no one listened to me and mom…my mom just told me to go to New York to learn my lesson. I was out casted since then. They didn’t even want to know about my news anymore. In their live, they only had one daughter which is Sunny. They don’t want me. They hate me…”

She felt as if the room was starting to rock back and forth. Suddenly she knew the person behind this. All she could think about at that particular moment was this person…Choi Minho.

She was abruptly jolted by a male voice accompanied by a few knocks on the door.

“Yuri?”

She couldn’t answer and gazed blankly on the floor as she held on to the ticket tightly to her chest.

“Yuri?”

Mentally, she lunges forward into his embrace and plants the kiss that she’s longing to do on his lips. She would hear the words of how much he missed her and it would be as seductive as the deep kiss that followed it. And she would reply with all the fine adjectives she could remember in the world for him. They would kissed for a while and stop when oxygen is in for their concern.

But none of them happen.

Not yet.

“Yuri?”

“Why are you here?” she asked. Not bother to open the door for him.

“Well,” he said in a shaky voice, “I happen to be the one who is going to grant your last wishes.”

She closes her eyes and cupped from out bursting a hysteric yet sad laugh. “What would you do if I open the door?”

“I’m going to give the French kiss you always wanted to do. And perhaps when you are satisfied with my skill, we could go to the chapel down the road to get married. Then we’re going to lie down inside the house. I’m going to lock you inside the room and bound you on the bed until we get a baby.” He breathed, “How does that sound, Yuri?”

She chuckles, “It seems that I’m going to get all my wishes in one day.”

“You will…I love you.”

And the rest, as she opens her door, is too deep…too intimate to be kept in an untainted love story.

*****

It is indeed her same bed…but it feels just a little bit smaller now.

It is the same weather…but it feels just a little bit warmer now.

“Hey…” his voice softly blew inside her ear. “I thought you supposed to prepare our first wedding dinner as a Mr and Mrs Choi tonight?”

“Uhum…” she replied lazily.

He teasingly bit her ear lobe in some kind of revenge, “And where that promises goes?”

“It vanished when you decided to keep me awake for two nights.”

Minho bent his head and kissed her lips, their bodies joined, their hands clasped. “And if you didn’t feed my stomach now…I will make sure you stay another night to satisfy my other hunger.”

She turned her sleepy, yet with a tint of anger, face to him. “You are a beast!”

He savagely pulled her face near as he opened with his, moving their lips back and forth almost roughly, “Forgive my lips.” His mouth never left hers, “They find joy in the most unusual places.”

He stopped teasing her when he felt a prickling pain on his abs. He stared down, looking at a small hand on top of his stomach. His brows clutched together, “Mrs Choi, did you just pinch your own husband?”

Yuri smiled mischievously, “I did.”

“Why?”

“Because he failed to realize that his wife is in need of a good long sleep.”

“Oh come on. We only ate a few slice of toast for two days.” He complained, “Plus, we need some more energy to stay up for another few days.”

She groans, “Is this the way it’s going to be all night?” she asked.

“No.” he said with a wicked grin, “This is the good part.”

His eyes looking into hers like some innocent child. She remembers how bad she wanted those eyes to be inherited by their children. She decided that she loved him immensely…and to make simple fried rice for him.

“Oh fine, big baby.” She said as she flips off the bed sheet. “But you are going to be the one who buy the groceries.”

Her shorts already half way up when a pair of hands touches her waist and before it slips down to her hips, she held those teasing hands firmly. “What are you doing?”

He kissed her shoulder, “Thanking you.”

“If this the way you thank me, I’m afraid you have to wait another day to get you meal.”

He chuckles. “And why is that?”

“Let me show you why…” Kwon Yuri was not an inexperienced woman. She knew if she was being teased and she certainly knew how to tease. She began to trail his bare chest with her palms. Slowly and gently, she moves down to his stomach. As she expected, his hand grabs hers before she could advances any further.

“I get your point.” He claimed. “I’m going.”

She pats his hair, “Good boy.” Trying desperately not to laugh, Yuri quickly dresses up and waits for him at the kitchen.

“Here’s the list.” She gave a piece of paper as soon as he appears in kitchen properly dressed. “There’s a small store I used to go at the end of this road but it is closed you can go to Iceland near the gas station.”

Fascinated and impressed, a proud smile begins to curve on his lips.

“What?” she burst out.

“You begin to sound like a wife.” He announced proudly. “Cute apron by the way.”

She looks down to her pink Hello Kitty apron while swallowing a surge of an idiot grinning. She returned the compliment by walking toward him and put her arms around his neck before she gave a chaste kiss on his cheek. “Cute .”

His eyes widened at her bold words but then he pulled her tighter to him and, laughing, kissed her anyway. Minho marched out from the house a few minutes later, leaving Yuri to stand on the kitchen sink, where she began to cut the onions and a few vegetables in preparation. She was absorbed with the cooking that she let the bells ringing a few seconds before she answers.

“You are so late. The lettuce is already wilting.” She babbles as she open the door. But she stiffens at the sight of smaller built man in front of her.

“Nice to meet you again Miss Yuri?”

*****

 

 

Words from the author,

Only half way finish guys but I decided to give it away since it would be long before I could completely finish the chapter. really sorry guys. but here's another hint; the next paragraph is going to be a little bit thriller. not a surprise. hehe. sorry. just enjoy.