Muko was sitting on the bed and was already reciting a prayer because of her nervousness. She didn’t know what to do. Micky had already gone to the bathroom to take a shower. He told her that he needed to freshen himself up before sleeping.

“What should I do? …. Why didn’t I think about this before? What if he suddenly wants to sleep with me? How can I say no to him? Hikaru said I should just give in to his demands … since he is already my husband. But… Should I say no to him? I am his wife after all. Hikaru is also right.. It is my duty as a wife to …. to … Aaaaahhh,” she suddenly felt so embarrassed to even think of such a thing.

“Oh why did Hikaru just leave me to handle this all by myself? She didn’t even elaborate on what I should do… I am so stupid. I should have asked her more thoroughly. Hikaru…. Hikaru…” she uttered nervously.

“Why are you calling Hikaru?” Micky asked as he walked into the bedroom.

Startled and worried, Muko quickly looked at Micky. And her heart started beating fast the moment she laid her eyes on him.

He was continuously rubbing his wet hair with a towel. The bathrobe he was wearing was somehow loose in the upper part showing a small portion of his chest.

Cold sweat immediately started to trail down Muko’s face. She then bit down on her lower lip several times due to the tension she was feeling.

Micky noticed the worried look on his wife’s face. “What’s wrong Muko?” he asked.

“Oh… nothing,” she quickly replied as she turned away and looked at a different direction. She was feeling very nervous. She felt like she wanted to just stand up and run out of the room.

Not knowing anything, Micky carefully sat down beside Muko. He then gently touched her forehead to see if she had a fever. He had noticed that Muko was slightly pale and sweating.

It was like a bolt of electricity circulated in Muko’s entire body, the moment she felt her husband’s touch. Suddenly a loud screaming siren started to scream in her head.

Muko couldn’t help but stare at Micky again. This time she felt a warm and unfamiliar feeling. As she gazed upon him, she couldn’t help but think that Micky looked so tempting, with his wet hair shining as the light reflected on it, and his white and soft skin slightly damp from his cold shower. Then her eyes fell down to his wide and bare chest. It was then her imagination started running wild.

“Muko, are you all right?” Micky suddenly asked, snapping her back into sanity.

Hot blood quickly rushed to Muko’s cheeks. She felt like a child suddenly caught doing something forbidden.

She hurriedly stood up and moved herself far from where Micky was sitting.

“No… nothing,” she tried to answer. She felt like just a little more and she was really ready to walk out of the room.

Micky smiled sweetly. “I know what would make you feel better,” he uttered.

“What?” she asked curiously.

“A shower to freshen up yourself before we go to bed,” he answered fast and straight.

Muko suddenly felt like something was stuck in . A loud warning bell was already ringing in her ears.

“A… a shower?” she uttered back to check if what she heard was right.

Micky smiled and nodded. “Yes, a shower. Don’t tell me you’re going to bed without removing your make-up.”

“Oh,” she said as she tried to hide her nervousness.

Micky slightly laughed. “Would you like me to help you get undressed?” he suddenly teased.

“What?” she shrieked in total horror.

Then Micky gave her a smile so sweet, enough to totally seduce a saint.

It was then Muko decided to rush to the bathroom. Micky’s charm was beginning to be too much for her to handle. At least in the bathroom, she was safe. She quickly locked the door and sighed heavily.

“I will pretend to take a bath… until he gets tired and falls to sleep,” she suddenly thought.

Only minutes passed… and she quickly felt so hot that she decided to really take a bath. As she slipped out of her dress, Micky’s words echoed through her mind.

“Would you like me to help you get undress?”

She shivered after remembering what he had said. “Snap out of it, Muko. Get yourself together,” she scolded herself.

She then started to bathe herself slowly. She was going to take her time in cleaning herself up. She was going to make him wait until he gets tired of waiting. She knew her plan was going to work.

As she slowly rubbed her skin with the soap she was holding, she couldn’t help but wonder and fantasize about Micky… what it would feel like to actually have him hold her passionately… to kiss her lovingly… to touch her intimately….

“Aaaahhhh….” she shrieked after realizing what she was doing. She was thinking about Micky in the most obscene way. Again she felt so embarrassed. “Oh God… please forgive me. I don’t know what I am doing. Please give me strength and guidance… I didn’t mean to do it. I know it’s a sin to think of a man in such a way,” she uttered as a prayer.

She continued to bathe herself. Then she unexpectedly looked at the wedding ring she was wearing. And it was then that she realized something.

“I’m already married to him. And even if this is only an arranged marriage, he is still my husband and I am his wife. No matter what I do I can never change that fact,” she said to herself with a low voice.

Minutes passed… She finally understood and suddenly accepted everything. She was now willing to surrender herself to the man who had taught her a different meaning about life…. and about love.

She slowly put on her night dress and her robe. Then she took one last look at herself in the mirror before she went out. She knew she would never be the same again after tonight. Everything will surely change and she will never be able to return to her normal self… ever again.

She smiled. She then arranged her hair. She needed to look perfect for him. She wanted to make him see her real beauty.

Tonight… her life was going to change forever.

She quietly went into the bedroom… expecting to see Micky patiently waiting for her on their bed.

But….

It was like a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head the moment she stepped into the room. Micky wasn’t waiting for her on their bed but instead was already lying down comfortably on the couch… reading a book.

“Eh? What are you doing there?” she suddenly asked out loud.

Micky looked at his wife and smiled. “Did you have a nice bath? I told you a shower would make you feel better.”

Muko still couldn’t believe what she was seeing. The image of Micky romantically waiting for her in bed was still lingering in her mind.

“What are you doing there?” she again asked.

“Oh, just reading a book. This is what I do to make myself sleepy,” he answered innocently.

“No… I… I mean you’re sleeping on the couch?” she was finally able to ask the real question.

“Yes, of course. I’m sleeping here. You didn’t expect me to sleep on the same bed with you… did you?” he asked back in return.

Muko felt like the ground she was standing on suddenly cracked open and swallowed her whole. She felt so humiliated and confused, both at the same time. She had been thinking and worrying about so many things, when the truth was…. she didn’t have to.

“Go to bed… It’s late already. We’re meeting up with our friends tomorrow remember,” he reminded her.

“Are you sure you’re sleeping there… on the couch?” she still tried to give him a hint about what she wanted.

Micky lightly laughed. “Yes, I’m sleeping here. Don’t worry about me. I can sleep anywhere.”

“You’re tired and…. your back might hurt if you sleep there,” she tried to make up excuses.

“Don’t worry… Go to bed,” he uttered again.

Muko didn’t know what to do. “You know… the bed is big enough for the two of us. You can sleep here if you want. I won’t mind… It would be more comfortable for you,” she uttered.

Micky looked at Muko seriously. “It’s not right for a man and a woman to sleep on the same bed. So stop worrying about me and just go to bed already… You should rest.”

“It’s not right for a man and a woman to sleep on the same bed? But we’re already married! I am your wife and you’re my husband. What’s wrong with that?” Muko suddenly said to herself. She wanted to voice out everything that she was thinking. But then just decided to turn around and quietly go to bed.

After Micky finally said good night, it was only then Muko released her tears. “It’s not right for a man and a woman to sleep on the same bed… What am I? Am I a stranger to you? Am I not your wife Micky? What am I? Do I really mean nothing to you?”