Part IV:  In Thy Presence is Fullness of Joy

Baby, to me, it’s only you

Only you have always protected me

A beautiful person

The person who found me

I’ll remember you because you’re my everything

Nothing on You

Nothing on Me

Always be by my side

Smile by my side

Thank you for loving me, for only looking at me

Alright, I remember, when I felt alone

When I was being stubborn out of feeling empty

You always comforted me

Your thumbs up always comforted me

Through that, I became a precious person

Now I even feel that I am special

(Taken from Kim HyunJoong, Nothing on you)

February 12, 2017

 - "Jagiya, mianhae, na would have liked to be with you this weekend, hajiman the drama airs in two weeks and we're behind schedule," YoungSaeng said into the phone.  He had a quick break in between scenes from the drama he was filming.  He just had to remind himself that he was doing it all for her.  "When things calm down, we'll do something special, deh?"

 - "Ara..."  Mina tried not to sound disappointed.  She knew he was busy.  He'd been busy and would only get busier as the year progressed, per the meeting they all recently had.

"Mina-ssi, are we on board with H&M for the spring collection?" Eric, YoungSaeng's manager asked.  He needed to make everyone aware of what was in store for YoungSaeng this year and that was why he had gathered Mina, YoungSaeng, and the coordi's.

 - "Deh, Eric-ssi."  Mina oversaw Endorsements, while Eric handled all the performances.  "Also, ILC has a new contract with a cosmetic company.  They are an up and coming brand with a good product.  Na would like to hire YoungSaeng as the fresh face of their brand."

 - "Will they agree to it?"

 - "Deh..., they already have.  Na was just waiting for this meeting to bring it to your attention."

 - "Choah...YoungSaeng-ah, you're doing well.  Your name and face are now well known in Japan, we need to step up your presence at home.  You'll be starting the 100-episode drama in a few weeks.  Though not as popular as the prime-time dramas, it's exposure and for 100 episodes.   You'll be recording the OST for your drama and you've also been asked to collaborate on two other OST's.  Na have already booked you an audition for the Three Musketeers, on stage, later this year.  Mianhae, Mina-ssi, he'll be busy this year."

 - "Bogoshipo...chinchayo."

 - "Nadu, eottoke?  As president of your fan club, na can't keep you to myself."   

 - "Deh...hajiman...jagiya has the most important place in my heart."

 - "Hwagsiliya (are you sure)?  YoungSaeng-ssi doesn’t tell that to all the yeoja?"  Mina was not the jealous girlfriend type but she was beginning to feel the strain of being so close and yet so far.  When he was in Japan, it was different.  He was in another country and his schedule wasn't as packed.

 - "Jagiya...gwenchana?"  He bit his lip in worry.  He was doing this for her, granted she didn't know it.  But he needed to make money and make a name for himself so he could plan their future together.

Mina shook her head and mentally chastised herself.  He didn't need any added pressure from her.  "Greomyo!  I'm just teasing, mianhae.  Take care of yourself; make sure to drink plenty of fluids and eat healthy snacks.  Rest whenever Orabeoni can.  Remember, saranghae and naega Orabeoni's biggest supporter."

 - "Choah, Na would be lost without Mina-yang."

 - "YoungSaeng-ssi!  We need you!"

 - "Mina-yah?!  Where did you go?"

They were both being beckoned.  "Mianhae!"  They both said.

 - "Saranghae," Mina smiled into the phone.

 - "Naega neoreur deo saranghae (I love you more)," he responded.

 - "YoungSaeng-ah!"  Eric called for him again.

 - "Oh, there you are!"  Ilana had found her missing friend.

 - "Annyeong!"

 - "Annyeong!"  The two quickly terminated their call.

 - "Was that Saengie Oppa?"  Ilana teased.  Mina's blushes answered for her.  "I just took your cookies out of the oven."  GaEul had gathered all the F4 ladies and Mina and Ilana's friends to her annual Valentine's chocolate making party.  Unfortunately, YiHyun was extremely busy with engagement photos and couldn’t make it.  After all, spring and the marriage season were just around the corner.  Ilana, Mina, Emily, and Suzy all agreed to help her out and make extra for HyungJun.  Not to mention, YiHyun had just found out she was pregnant.  Not quite a honeymoon baby, but not for lack of trying.  The girls decided she didn't need to stress about the business and Valentine's Day chocolates as well.

 - "Oh, thanks!"

 - "Is he working?"

 - "Yes...," she couldn't help sigh.

 - "Gwenchana?"

 - "Deh...," she managed to smile.

 - "If I can say anything about Oppa is he's extremely faithful and loyal; if you're worried about him straying, don't."

 - "No!  Of course, not!  I trust him 100%; he's just been so busy.  I haven't seen him since Seollal.  He really wanted to visit HyunJoong-ssi with the rest of us yesterday for his completed military service, but wasn't even able to do that."

 - "I'm sure HyunJoong-ssi understood YoungSaeng's absence.  Besides, he was so happy to see his buddies and all the fans; he was trying so hard not to cry, but failed miserably.  Pabo really wasn't getting his hopes up for a huge turnout.  He thought maybe a handful of fans at best, would be there.  I'm happy we were able to bless the fans with the hot drinks, hotteok, and fish bread while they were waiting for him to come out."

 - "It helps that JanDi's husband and Harabeoji pulled strings to get the permits for us all to set up the food.  The presence of the F4 wives did a lot to silence any foul tongues in the media."

 - "Yes, I guess sometimes it's good to know someone with connections but at the same time, truth eventually prevails and character.  How can his fans and the Republic's wealthiest families stand by him if we had the slightest doubt of his character? "

They had been walking back to the kitchen.  The kids were all being entertained by the babysitter, while Harabeoji had invited the men out for street food and drinks.  "Ilana-yah!"  JaeKyung took her arm in hers.  "The music molds came out so cute!"

 - "Chincha?!  Do you think HaEun appa will like it?"

JaeKyung rolled her eyes.  "Seriously?  Ilana, you do realize yours is the most laid back of all the F4 husbands.  The fact that you went out of your way to make them will make him adore you more than he does already."  JaeKyung generally addressed her in English and very informally.

 - "Ilana-yah is the most fortunate," GaEul overheard the conversation as they entered the kitchen.  "She gets treated to an American style Valentine's day."

 - "Anieyo!  This the first Valentine's day we've ever celebrated.  He did bring me a mini chocolate cake while we were in New York as a thank you for being his admin."  The other F4 ladies looked at each other and grinned.  Jihoo would never participate in Valentine's Day as a friend or co-worker.  They all knew he was already falling for her back then, even if he didn't.  "We're just going to the Art's Center to listen to a Violist, nothing extravagant.  Besides, JaeKyung Unnie will surely have a special day for her wedding anniversary."

 - "That's the following day and Ilana doesn't get it," JaeKyung teased.  "It's not what you're doing; it's that you're doing something."

 - "Ilana-yah knows we don't celebrate Valentine's Day the way they do in the states," JanDi added.

 - "While we will give them chocolates, we don't get the date and the roses, and intimate dinner."

Ilana laughed.  The F4 always liked to and Jihoo; perhaps because they didn't see them for three months at a time.  "Mollah!  How do you guys know I'll get roses and an intimate dinner?  Na can't leave HaEun that long.  The wedding was torture."

 - "Mollah, ara nae Sunbae."  JanDi said.  "While we all need to wait until White day, Jihoo will just do it all on Valentine's Day because he'll want to make Ilana feel special even if she's not expecting anything."

 - "Mollah!"  Ilana rolled her eyes at them, though this was the first date they would go on without HaEun.  They had a family date a few weeks back at Seoul Zoo where they saw less of the animals and more of the water fountains.  Also, Ilana tended to become frozen whenever they passed by one of the 20,000 species of roses.

 - "Arraso, everyone try a cookie before I make a second batch," Mina checked that her cookies were now cool.  Not wanting to get in trouble with Eric for giving YoungSaeng unhealthy treats, she made them sugar-free with a sugar alternative.  But if they were terrible, she would just take the blame for the full calorie cookies.  It was Valentine's Day, after all, and he deserved his treats.

 - "Mina-yah, these are tasty.  You can't tell they are made with a sugar alternative," JaeKyung was the first to cast her vote.

 - "Deh, masheesuhyo," JanDi agreed.

 - "Daeback!  I'm relieved."  They all went back to finishing their confections.

 - "Ilana-yah, are Jihoo and you thinking of the benefit concert?"  Suzy asked.  JungMin thought it would be a great idea for the Su-am foundation to have a mid-year benefit concert, starring Jihoo and Ilana.  Mina agreed and was ready to start marketing.

 - "Mollah...nae have too much on my plate with the new community and the renovation of the inn we just bought in California."  Ilana hadn't given up on the student-run bed and breakfast and remained in prayer about it.  She had received a call from the realtor, just a few weeks ago, the owner was finally willing to meet Ilana's offer.  The building had been on the market for almost a year and he would rather take a loss than continue paying the taxes on it.  Now Ilana had to submit the proposal to the city.  Thanks to the ILC Inn, they shouldn't have a problem obtaining the proper licenses.  If worse came to worse, they could always turn the property into moderate-income townhomes.  $500,000 for a new townhome was completely out of reach for many families.  Just like they did in Seoul, Ilana was sure she could produce an affordable product and still make a profit.  "Not to mention, Jihoo has to begin his new job at the clinic and Suzy's nampyon won't be back in the office until April third."  Neither was taking the full six months leave but would return to work after KangMin's 100th day.

 - "Na wish Jihoo Uissa and Unnie could stay in Seoul until KangMinnie's 100th day," Suzy said.

 - "Deh...mianhae.  We couldn't even be here for HaNa's first birthday and we won't be here for InSo's either."

 - "Gwenchana!"  JanDi came up behind Ilana and re-assured her.  "We know you have to go back home."

 - "Deh!  And I love the special card you made her and the books you sent," JaeKyung hugged Ilana.  Money was also given, that's a standard and expected gift.

Ilana smiled.  "You guys make it too easy.  All the kids are daeback.  Unfortunately, HaEun won't be able to have her cousins with her on her first birthday, either."

 - "We'll see," JaeKyung said.  "It's still a few months away.  Oh, oh...speaking of kids..."

The babysitter was coming toward them with a crying HaEun who had a red mark on her forehead.  "Jwosongmnida...Jeonghee stumbled and fell right on top of HaEun.  Chu-ssi, Jeonghee is not crying at all.  It was her knee that hit HaEun."

 - "At least HaEun wasn't very hurt," GaEul said.  No one knew what to expect when all the babies got together.  Someone usually ended up getting stepped on or knocked on the head.

 - "Vente, mi amor (Come, my love).  I'll kiss it and make it better," Ilana took her sensitive nine-month-old and kissed her forehead.

 - "Pa-pa, pa-pa."

Jihoo was always the emergency services parent and Ilana did her best to soothe her daughter's hurt feelings.  "Appa isn't here, Beba.  It's time for snack.  Should we have some milk?  Mmm?"  She smiled and gave HaEun several kisses.  "I'm going to nurse her; it's almost time for her to nap anyway."

 - "Let me see her bump," Dr. JanDi came over to examine the wounded patient.  No child could resist JanDi's goofy smiles and how she made her eyes cross.  "Gwenchana, ahgi (baby)."  After a little pee-ka-boo, JanDi pronounced the patient, stable.

 - "Say kansamnida, JanDi-Uissa," Ilana did a little bow with HaEun.  "Kaja have a snack and Umma will finish the chocolates for Appa after HaEun takes a nap.  Jamkkanmanyo," Ilana and HaEun went up to the nursery, where JanDi had already told the Mom's to make themselves at home.  Ilana lay down on the floor, nursing HaEun on her side and humming softly.

February 14, 2017

Mina arrived early to the office, she had a meeting with the design team in regards to an account she recently accrued.  She wondered what time YoungSaeng had gotten in the night before, if at all.  Drama's, she was coming to realize were a lot of work.  She had packaged his cookies and chocolates (because she couldn't resist purchasing Otter chocolate molds) in a very elegant blue and black satin box with a gold ribbon.  They did have each other’s key codes, not that they ever trespassed without the other's consent.  Mina was sure he wouldn't mind if she trespassed later, just long enough to place his gift on his bed.  Deciding she should at least wish him a happy Valentine's Day, she sent him a text.  If he was still asleep he could see it when he woke up.

Mina:  Orabeoni, Ballen-tain Chukahaeyo (Happy Valentine’s Day).  Saranghae.

YoungSaeng had worked very late the night before.  Filming these daily dramas is a never-ending task, he thought.  He was up and bumping around.  There was no way he'd have time to make himself something; he asked his manager to bring him food.  Had he awakened earlier, he could have just asked his girlfriend to make him something but she was most likely already at the office.  He sighed, missing her.  It had only been a month of jam-packed schedules and he didn't know how he'd be able to handle an entire year or more?  He'd spoken to his father on Seollal (Lunar New Year), when he and Mina visited.  His girlfriend couldn't have been more excited to wear her Hanbok again.  While Mina and his Mother were in the kitchen, he took advantage of his Father's ear.

 - "Abeoji," YoungSaeng started as soon as they escaped his Mother and girlfriend.  "Na plan to be extremely busy this year and possibly next year.  Na need to secure nae position as an idol before Na can get married."

 - "I see...does this mean you have a bride?  I'm sure Mina-ssi would be hurt to know you've been stringing her along all this time."

 - "Deh Abeoji," YoungSaeng grinned.  "Na haven't asked her yet.  It's just, Na think it's too soon hajiman Na want to be ready when the right time comes."

 - "Eottoke?"

YoungSaeng, sighed.  "There's a Church in Japan we fell in love with, Abeoji."

Mr. Heo nodded his head.  So, their assumption had been right and Mina did visit their son in Japan.  "And...?"

 - "...and it's a very popular wedding destination.  They usually have a year or longer wait.  Na don't want to propose to Mina-yah in a year and then wait another year to have our dream wedding.  Na want to secure the Church once the drama is done and then propose to her officially later this year."

- "Should Umma begin to look for auspicious dates?"  Whether they truly believed in such a thing or not, they weren't exactly sure.  It was tradition though, and kids nowadays took much of their traditions away from their parents.

        YoungSaeng thought about it.  His wife to be was staunch Catholic, she wouldn't approve of 'lucky' wedding days.  He thought though, there was no harm in it if it was just for fun.  "Mollah, Abeoji, just pick a date without visiting a shaman."

 - "Adul is sure she'll agree to this wedding?  Don't wait until the last minute to ask her and then surprise her with a wedding venue.  We will need to meet her parents and discuss wedding gifts and such."

 - "Deh Abeoji, deh.  Hajiman we've only just let our chingu and Eric Hyeong know we are dating.  When Na have saved enough, then I'll propose."

 - "Just don't make her or us wait too long.  You can never save enough.  Ara adul is a Maknae in the industry and needs to establish his career first hajiman have you discussed this with her?  She should know what to expect."

 - “Deh Abeoji, Na have told her exactly what she means to me and though it's too soon to talk about sinbuwa sinlang (bride and groom), nomu choah if we had that end.  Na promised to work toward that goal and be worthy to be her sinlang.  That's wae Na will be working hard; for Na future with Mina Rodriguez in it."

 - "Arraso, adul.  Just don't lose sight of wae adul became an idol and who adul is working so hard for.  Adul doesn't want to end up getting burned out and neither do you want her to lose hope.”

YoungSaeng wasn't quite ready to go when Eric knocked on the door.  "Deh Hyeong," he opened the door.  “Na just need to put on my jacket."

 - "Na brought you soybean paste stew.  You should eat before you go.  You don't know when you'll be able to sneak in a break."

 - "Deh, kansamnida, Hyeong."  YoungSaeng sat at the counter with his stew, while Eric made himself at home on the couch with the TV remote control.  YoungSaeng noticed his phone blinking and grabbed it while taking a large spoonful of soup that was now the perfect temperature.  His heart did strange things whenever his girlfriend called or texted when he least expected.  "Aigoo...she should be working...," he mumbled.

 - "Mworago?"  Eric asked.  "You didn't finish already, did you?"

 - "A-anieyo," YoungSaeng stammered guiltily.

Eric turned to see the phone in his hand.  "Yah!  Mokega, so we can go, not text Yeoja-chingu."

 - "Deh, Hyeong, deh..."  YoungSaeng quickly returned to his soup.

It wasn't until he was finally in the car that he was able to text her back.

YoungSaeng:  Bogoshipo, nae Mina-yang.  Ballen-tain Chukahaeyo, nomu saranghae.  Na want to see you tonight.  Even if it's for five minutes, arraso?”

By the time Mina was done with her meeting, she was rewarded with her boyfriend's text and quickly responded.

Mina:  Chincha?  Arraso, I'll make Orabeoni dinner.  He can eat it in five minutes.

Mina began planning her Menu.  "Gamjatang?  Ani...Ttukbaegi Bulgogi; it's healthier."  Quickly looking up the recipe, she decided to ask for help.  The only thing she didn't have was the bulgogi beef and ennoki mushrooms.  Perhaps she could call in a favor.  It would most likely be late when YoungSaeng was done with work, but she didn't want to be cooking until nine o'clock at night either.  Perhaps she could get Ilana's housekeeper to buy and marinate the beef for her?

Ilana had spent some time with Chi TaeYoung and the other architects going over the building phases for the community.  The first phase was nearly half sold out in just a matter of months.  It was time to start construction on the second phase.  All their assets were currently tied in the housing community.  If they wanted easy profits, they needed more construction and remodel jobs.  It was good TaeYoung had hired an architect specializing in traditional Korean architecture.  There were very few of these craftsmen and being able to boast of this was good for business.  The old buildings needed to be maintained well to keep their original beauty.  TaeYoung was on his way to getting certified, traditional architecture was a hobby of his.  He hoped to put ILC on the registry for traditional architecture.  That could mean being able to compete for government jobs.

Ilana was leaving an hour early to get ready for the evening.  She would only have time to feed HaEun and herself, before getting dressed.  Her hair, she would just pin up on one side with her comb.  "Annyeong hasseyo!"

Ilana, with HaEun in her arms, inclined her head.  "We'll be leaving first; we'll see you all tomorrow."

 - "Annyeong hasseyo, Ilana Sajangnim.  Annyeong agassi."  The staff all waved cheerfully.  It was unheard of for a baby to come to work in Korea's corporate environment.  In the states, it was extremely rare, but not completely unheard of.  Ilana was the CEO of ILC and could pretty much do what she wanted, her staff reasoned.  But, if you asked them, they would tell you HaEun was not a distraction at all and it made one want to come to work every day if only to see her sweet face.

 - "Oh, Mina-yah, ajumma sent you some things you asked her for?  They are in the car."

 - "Deh..., jankkanmanyo."  Mina retrieved an envelope from her desk.  "Na would have gone to pick it up.  She didn't need to send it.  This should cover it and tell her to buy herself something nice with the extra."

Ilana laughed.  "Aigoo!  You're going to make me get caught between you two?  I'll be bringing this envelope right back with me, tomorrow."  Harabeoji and Jihoo paid the housekeeper very well and she too was as generous as her employers.  Not to mention, it was rude just to accept a gift without a bit of a protest.

Arriving at the car, Mina would find not only the marinated beef she had asked for but all the rest of the ingredients, chopped and ready to cook.  "Ilana, I'll pay Harabeoji back the rest of the grocery money."

 - "Gwenchana...I'm sure it's stuff we already had at home.  Just don't forget to invite ajumma to your wedding."  Ilana winked at Mina and got in the car.

Mina rolled her eyes, "ajumma is going to have to be very patient," she mumbled.  Culturally, long engagements didn’t happen.  The parents met, agreed to marry their kids together and a few short months later, there was a wedding.  "Yah!  You're not even engaged yet!"  She scolded herself for her silliness.  A second later, she was smiling anyway.  He did promise her a future; she grinned looking at the silver ring on her finger.  "I can wait, I hope."  She knew going into this relationship, she would need a lot of patience.  She waited a year for him to even acknowledge her, she could wait at least that long or more for an official proposal, she thought.

Ilana wore the blue taffeta dress that Jihoo loved so much to see her in.  It was one of her gowns that stayed in Seoul and never made it home.  She felt extremely subconscious as it felt tight and uncomfortable.  The dress had been loose on her last she wore it a few years back and now that she was no longer underweight it felt awkward, as did many of her clothes.

 - "Sarang...kaja."  Jihoo had gotten himself ready at the office, while Ilana had come home early with HaEun to nurse her and pump, so she didn't feel like bursting later.  He walked into their room and wrapped his arms around his beautiful wife.

Ilana had been frowning into the full-length mirror of their closet when her husband and his cat-like stealth snuck up on her.  He had wrapped her in a hug, kissing her cheek.  "Goyangi..." startling her as usual, she sighed trying to still her heart.  One second there was no one behind her and the next second, he was there and wrapping his arms around her.

Jihoo smiled, he loved to surprise her.  He looked at her appreciatively in the mirror.  "Ah, so that's how this dress is supposed to fit?  Yippeun."

 - "Anieyo...it's tight!"

 - "Yippeun!"  He laughed.  "Anae's waist looks even smaller, now that it's not hiding under a dress that's at least a size or two too big.  As for the bodice..." he looked right in her eyes in the mirror, with his 'serious' expression.  "Nursing has its benefits."

Ilana turned to him with mouth opened wide.  "Sarang!"

He kissed her reddening cheek again.  "Kaja, before na change my mind and we stay home."  Without sparing her a glance, he slipped her coat on her shoulders.  Only his wife could read the glint of humor in his eyes on his otherwise serious expression.

HaEun sensed something was off, but the pull of playing with Harabeoji and Ajumma was enough to distract her.  It wasn't until bedtime when neither Appa nor Umma were around that she began to protest.  In the end, Harabeoji bundled her up and took her outside to the Koi pond.  It was her Umma's favorite spot and her Halmoni, Jihoo's Umma, so he thought it might be hers as well.  When the baby's howling became soft sniffles and HaEun rubbed her face against his jacket, Harabeoji began to hum.  "Kansamnida," Harabeoji said.  He must have been talking to God, but his wife and daughter in law's face also came to mind.  Sometimes traditions warred with his new-found beliefs but he also thought, how can one love their neighbor or honor their Mother and Father without reverencing one's dead as well.  "Halmoni would have loved our gongju and her Umma hajiman if they were still here, would our gongju and her Umma be here?  Only Yesu knows why he does things, deh?  Perhaps HaEun appa had to suffer so that one day he could know how to help your Umma?  Aigoo...Harabeoji is rambling."  HaEun had stopped sniffling and leaned her covered head against her beloved Grandfather with drowsy eyes.  "Deh, gongju, ja...ja.  For this gongju that Yesu has given us, we joyfully thank our Gracious God."  Harabeoji made up a tune to for this little saying and his princess's eyes began to get heavy.  Since she was wrapped up in her warm winter clothing and Haraboeji's arms were around her, it didn't take long before she knocked out, exhausted from her crying.

It had been hard for them leave their daughter, especially Ilana.  He'd told her he wanted to have an occasional date night with her, but for some reason or another, the date night had always included their daughter.  This was the first time they had had the courage to leave her behind.   Jihoo had enjoyed his evening with his wife; neither had really had dinner, so they started with appetizers and a glass of wine before the concert.  There was an Italian restaurant located on the Arts Center property.  ILC was overseeing the renovations, but there really was no time that evening, to tour the campus.  Jihoo didn't take up the board of trustees’ position he was offered there, because he couldn't run Su-Am foundation, the Arts Center foundation, and be a Doctor in California.  He took a lesser position that would give him a considerable say in what goes on at the Arts Center and that is how his wife's company was doing all the renovations.  It wasn't a lot of work, but it was constant work.  As soon as one item was brought back up to code, there was something else that needed to be done.  The center had been badly managed and for lack of funds, repairs weren't being made.

The violist was very good and Jihoo was very happy that his wife had thought of him and bought tickets.  He never would have thought of it, himself.  Their life was very busy in Seoul and they worked until after seven or later each night at times.  If his wife had her way, they would be going in early and leaving while it was still daylight.  At least their daughter went to work with his wife.  She was happy and lavished with attention all day long.  If she had meetings to attend, he would take her to his office for a while or the babysitter came to ILC.  All in all, they were blessed to be owners of their own company and able to make their own rules.  "Choah?"  Ilana asked as they exited the Jayu Theater, holding hands and smiling like a courting couple.

 - "Deh, kansamnida."  The concert was very good, but what he enjoyed most was watching his wife enjoying herself.  She had a rare appreciation for most music, whether it be a well-played instrument or the beautiful and meaningful lyrics of a pop song.  Most of the time, she was poised forward in her seat as if to hear better or with her eyes closed and a small smile on her face.  Though he could easily play his violin with his eyes closed and often did, he'd never met a listener who did.  He knew that she was watching all the notes play out in her head; she did it when she played as well.  His wife had once used the analogy of dancing squirrels.  Now, he too pictured the scurrying little creatures.  He wondered if their daughter would share their gift and smiled.

 - “Sarang is smiling?”

 - “Mmm, haengbohkae,” he wrapped an arm around her waist.  “Na have spent the last few hours enjoying a well-played instrument and nae anae’s company.”

 - “Nado haengbohkae.  Nae have nampyon at my side.”  She did mentally wonder how HaEun was doing.  Before she could ponder her guilty feelings over leaving her daughter, they stepped out of the lobby.

- “Omo!!  Sarang!!”  About fifty yards in front of them was a huge lighted fountain.  Somehow, she had missed it when they’d come in.  It was -7 degrees out (19 F), but Ilana completely forgot to be cold.  She had untangled herself from Jihoo’s arm and was practically running to the fountain, where others were also gathering.

Jihoo ran after her, grinning.  This was his Valentine’s Day gift for her.  The plaza surrounding the fountain was interspersed with heat lamps and the water in the fountain was heated.  It normally didn’t run after November and didn’t begin again until March.  But, he couldn’t possibly come to the Arts Center without his wife getting to see the fountain.  She had finally stopped and stood in awe at the display of dancing water set to music.  He had also programmed the music score to consist of all her favorite songs.  He wrapped his arms around her.  They were right next to a heat lamp, but any minute now she'd remember it was cold out.  "Haepi ballentain, nae sarang."

 - "Jihoo-yah!  Yippeun!!  Omo!  Omo!"  She suddenly gasped covering in excitement.  "Omo!  Sarang!  It's our song!"  They had many songs that were special to them but 'Love' was the first song that had really struck a chord with her.  It seemed HyunJoong was describing Jihoo.  Hadn't he climbed into her heart to feel her littlest sadness and had made her a part of him?  And now they would always be as one.  "Haepi ballentain, nae sarang," Ilana said softly.  She reached back to cup his cheek with her gloved hand and he turned his head, giving it a kiss.  The next song brought back a wonderful memory from their evening at Carnegie Hall.  That evening hadn't started well, but as Jihoo's plan unfolded, she ended up engaged to the perfect man beside her.  He never let her go, even though she tried to run away.

Jihoo continued to hold his wife, enamored by her smiles.  They were perfectly sheltered by a heat lamp and she comfortably leaned her head against his chest.  "Choah?"

 - "Nomu!"  The third song had begun and either the fountain seemed to be only programmed with Kim HyunJoong songs (not that Ilana minded at all), her first 'bias' as your favorite idols are called but what were the odds that it played all hers and Jihoo's favorite songs.  'U' had just begun and Ilana couldn't help remember Club Eden, where it hit her completely that she was or had fallen in love with Jihoo; that scared her more than anything.  "The exact moment I knew that I loved you," she mumbled.

 - "Oh?"

 - "Anieyo (never mind)."

 - "Sarang is fortunate we're by the heat lamp or she'd have icicles on her face."  He reached into his pocket for his handkerchief to dab at the happy tears that were b.

 - "Deh...Gomawo."

 - "Anieyo..." he hugged her again, pressing his face to hers.  "Saranghae."

 - "Nado Saranghae."  By the fourth song, Ilana turned to her husband, knowing he somehow had his hand in this.  "Sarang!  The intro to Pride and Prejudice?  Chincha?  Not the movie with Kiera Knightly, but this version?  My favorite?"

 - "Ah...deh..." he masked his face to one of curiosity.

 - “Pabo never lets me do anything for him!”  Tears were forming in her eyes again.  “I can’t compete with you!”

He tucked her into his chest, chuckling.  “No one is competing.  It cost me a phone call and a media file.”  It cost him a lot more trouble than that, but his wife didn’t need to know.  “Annchoah?”

 - “Nomu choah..., Sarang knows this already hajiman...this is your day.”

 - “If we were in the States, it would be your day.  We don’t need a certain date, between us, to let anae know how special she is and that nae life is so much better because she’s in it?”

Ilana grinned, comfortable in their embrace and not minding anyone else.  “That’s every day.  Na praise God every day that Jihoo and now HaEun came into nae life.  Nampyon and dtal are the two greatest gifts Na have ever received.”  Despite the smile on her face, tears were pooling.  “Na can’t begin to explain what it feels like inside to hear you say, ‘saranghae’ and for me to respond back to you ‘nado saranghae’.  It’s overwhelming...God’s love for us.  He loved me while I was still this sinning...dirty person and yet he was saving all these gifts for me.  All I had to do was a say deh.  He taught me how to love again and demonstrates it every day to me in little ways.  It’s like the song that says ‘…this love is so deep, it’s overwhelming...’  Not only God’s love but your love.”

 - “Sarang, nae sarang, Na praise God that he gave me this job to do.  To love you as much as he loves us.  Naega a poor imitation, inadequate and yet if Na can make nae anae happy; if Na can be your strength and guide; if Na can take any pain or suffering from you; haengbohkae.  Sarang doesn’t believe that she’s given me so much.  Sarang is someone to live for, to do nae best for, because of Sarang nae faith grew immensely because Na couldn’t help you on my own.  Naega only flesh and blood with my own faults.”  His wife, whom thought he was absolutely perfect in every way, laughed.  “Chincha!”  He laughed with her.

 - “Saranghae, saranghae, saranghae!”  She squeezed him as hard as she could over his jacket.  “Kansamnida Yesu for always showing me how great you are.  Sarang must teach adul to be a great nampyon and Appa."

Jihoo smiled, picturing a little boy.  "Sarang wants an adul?"

 - "Na will take another ahgi, namja or yeoja, it doesn't matter hajiman Na can't help think of HaEun having a namdongsaeng that's close to her.  She plays well with InSo and her Unnie-deul, but we can't always be in Seoul and they can't be in California.  Na don't want her to be an only child like us."

Jihoo leaned his head down, giving his wife a tender kiss.  "Whenever Yesu decides to bless us again, he'll find us more than willing, deh?"

 - "Deh!" she answered his own teasing glint with her own.  Laughing, she turned back to the fountain.  It was so cold out she couldn't blush, even though she felt as if she would.  They'd been married almost two years, had a child and not to mention, he'd seen her in every horrible circumstance imaginable, but he could still make her blush.  She leaned back against him again and his arms wrapped around her once more.  As Vivaldi's springtime played, Ilana sighed in content.  "My cup runneth over," she mumbled to the cold air.  If her heart could burst from happiness, it would at any moment.  A steady drum beat in her heart and though she knew Jihoo couldn't feel it over all her layers, she hugged his hand to her heart anyway.  Jihoo understood her actions; his heart was full as well.  They stood warmed by each other's love and the heat lamp and enjoyed the rest of the program."

Arriving home, somewhere after ten in the evening, Jihoo and Ilana checked in on their princess.  She was warm and cozy in her chenille sleep sack.  "May the Lord bless you and watch over you, may He give you a Spirit of power, love and sound mind."  He usually spoke the prayer over her before her bedtime, but in cases where he got home after, he'd stand over her crib, caressing her silky hair.

 - "Amen, in Jesus name," Ilana whispered her agreement.

Passing by Harabeoji's door, Jihoo had a prayer for his Grandfather as well.  "Yesu, give him more work to do so that he'll be with us for many more years.  Yesu, give him back the years he was away from me, let him see HaEun grow into a young woman.  Kansamnida."

Ilana wrapped him in her arms as if she would HaEun.  She didn't usually witness this prayer of her husband's.  He usually paused at Harabeoji's door just before following her to bed.  In her heart, it was also her prayer.  The years Harabeoji's pain wouldn't let him see his Grandchild were never fully returned to him.  Jihoo was studying hard on his medical degree and then left for the army and then New York.  It was only through her and HaEun that Harabeoji finally has his family again.  "Kansamnida," she thanked the Lord for using imperfect her to bless her husband and his Grandfather.

 - "It's a little late," his wife would still need to remove her makeup and wash her face.  It took her longer to get ready at night than it did him.  Not that she was high maintenance..."I want to look pretty for nampyon" was always what she said.  At home, she never wore makeup except for lip balm or sometimes a tinted lip gloss.  He preferred her natural beauty.  So, if it took her a little longer to come to bed in order to preserve that beauty, then that was okay with him, most of the time.  "Mianhae, we keep such late schedules, here."

 - "Gwenchana, we have so much to do in such a little time."  They walked slowly down the hall, to their room.

 - "Deh, it seems they bombard me with more work now that I'm here twice as many weeks in a year."

 - "Ara, it's a little difficult trying to be two places at once.  Gomawo."  Ilana had a team to manage in Los Angeles and a company to run in Seoul.  In either country, she was busy.  Though, she thought of Park JungMin as her right hand and will be sorry, as well as, happy to see him go.  These few months are a test of how well she'll be able to handle things without his take-charge personality.  Jihoo had his patients back home to take care of and still be on top of what was happening at the foundation.  When he was in Seoul, he strictly dedicated his time at the foundation and for 'fun', showed up at the mobile clinic once a week.  He kept all his licenses up to date and they would all be up for renewal soon.

 - "Anieyo, didn't Sarang tell me that home is where I am?  It's the same for me.  Sarang makes it a home, wherever we are.  Ara if Na asked Sarang to leave California and relocate permanently in Seoul, she would without question."  They had entered their room and Jihoo slid the door closed behind them.

Ilana turned to face him and slung her arms around his Neck.  "HaEun-ah, Joy, and na will follow Sarang to the end of the world if he asked.  Ara if nampyeon has too make that decision one day, it's because it's important and he's been in prayer about it; not coming easily to that decision."  She pulled him to her and kissed him tenderly, grateful for his love and leadership over their family.  "Nothing's changed; my home is with you, Yoon Jihoo."

 - "Saranghae," he leaned in for another kiss fully intending to take advantage of this quiet time.  Kissing her slowly and tenderly, without hurrying, he gently led her further into their room.  They were both still in their coats.  "Palli, get ready for bed," he told her.  "Na want more of these."  He tapped her lips once and then kissed her again.

 - "Arraso," she laughed.  "Give me your coat, I'll put it away."

 - "Deh," he was removing his coat when something on the bed caught his eye.  "What's this?"  On his side of the bed was a black and white box, decorated to look like piano keys.  It was wrapped in a black and white ribbon.

 - "Jamkkanmanyo, let me hang these up, give me your suit jacket too." Ilana scurried to the closet, hanging up their coats and the jacket.

Jihoo admired the box, it was a plain white lid and block bottom, but it had been decorated with piano keys.  The white ribbon had 'Saranghae' written in black fabric pen and the black ribbon had it written in white.  "Sarang, wae?"  He loved her handcrafted treats.  Usually in the form of notes folded in his pockets.

 - "Pabo, it's Valentine's day.  Open!"  She pouted.  Her husband was just staring at the box with a smile on his face.  She sat on the bed next to him.

 - "Deh...gomawo, the concert would have been enough."  He began to slide off the ribbon.  Opening the box, he immediately smelled the chocolate.  "Kansamnida, Sarang.  Choah!  Chincha."  Inside were milk chocolate violins, with dark chocolate painted neck, strings, chin rest, etc.  He held one in his hand, admiring her work.

 - "Chincha?  Try one!"

 - "Yippeun, how can I eat them."

 - "Sarang!"  She playfully swatted him.  "The chocolate hearts are from dtal."  They had little pink fondant ribbons.

 - "Ah...deh...she made them?  Dtal is so talented."

He was laughing with his eyes while keeping a straight face.  "Deh, she even put her stamp on each one." grinning, Ilana picked up a chocolate heart.  "See?  Ahgi fingerprints on the back of each one."

Jihoo laughed out loud.  "Sarang has so many talents, she's nae blessing."  He decided to try a violin.  "Masheesuhyo," he bit into half of one.  They were about two inches in height.  "Did Sarang try one?"

 - "Anieyo, I tasted the chocolate they were made with."

 - "Open," he had left the neck part of the violin.

 - "Anieyo...they're for nampyeon.”  He insisted until she gave in.  "Oooh!  Masheesuhyo."

 - "Gomawo," he said again.  He kissed her again in gratitude.  "Gomawo...gomawo...choah..." each peck was longer than the previous one until a peck was not enough.  The chocolates were set aside and Jihoo leaned her against the pillows, deepening their kiss and stretching out beside her.

 - "Masheesuhyo, nampyeon tastes like chocolate," she said when he ended their kiss and looked lovingly at her.  She gave him another peck, pulling on his tie.  "Na have to remove my makeup."

 - "Shiro...," he grabbed her waist and secured her with his leg over hers.  They made love with their lips and tongue.  She loosened his tie and top buttons, while he caressed her sides and back.  "Saranghae..." with much emotion in his voice, he caressed her face.  "Sarang knows na thank Yesu daily for bringing you back to me.  Without his promises that you'd be back, Na don't know if I could have kept Na faith.  He tested me, giving me a reason to turn only to him.  Sarang and dtal are nae blessings, nae encouragement."

Ilana caressed his cheek and wiped the happy tear that leaked from the corner of his eye.  "Mianhae, Na added to your pain.  Huhoe hajianhayo (I'm not sorry) that Yesu chased me and wooed me during that time.  Na do thank him daily for teaching me what love is and bringing me back to you and Harabeoji.  Na can hardly believe Na was once an orphan, with only a house full of people, scarcely a family.  Now...we both have family everywhere."

Jihoo smiled at her, they were both the loneliest people on the planet at one time, but the Lord used them in each other’s lives to get to know him better and his will for their lives.  For both, a life full of meaning and joy awaited them if only they placed their trust in God.  "...show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins," Jihoo quoted.  Their kids would one day try and rationalize themselves out of punishments with that verse, but it would always be a reminder of their commitment to each other.  Jihoo was going to give her a frame with those words written in Hangeul as an anniversary gift.  This way they would never forget as the Bible says:  'You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.'  "Sarang was so cute when she kept mumbling that verse in her sleep."

 - "When did I?!"  He laughed at her as she sighed.  "Deh, Sarang; he loved us first so that we know how to love each other."  Ilana brought his face to her lips and kissed his eyes and cheek.  "Chincha, I need to remove my makeup."

 - "Chincha?"  He tightened his hold on her again and kissed her tenderly.

 - "Deh..." she smiled against his lips.

 - "Jeongmal?"  He kissed her again, a little more persuasively.

 - "Mmm..." he could really make her weak.  She gave in to his kisses and matched his fervor.  He entwined his hands in her hair as did she, bringing their bodies as close together as possible.  The humming in the back of spurred him on and his hands caressed her back running up and down to her bottom and back up again.  Ilana had loosened his tie and most of the buttons, enjoying running one hand over his chest while the other was still buried in his hair, not letting him stop.  This went on for a little while, their kisses getting more demanding.  She parted his shirt and began to kiss his chest and he desired the delicate flesh of her neck.  He pulled her on top of him, moving her hair and began nibbling on her neck and caressing her legs encased in tights.  "Sarang...," Ilana murmured into his chest.  It wasn't difficult to know that he desired her and given a little persuasion it could be said she desired him too, but it was late.

 - "Nae Sarang," he murmured in her ear, making her shiver.  If it weren't for her tights he would have made love to her quickly and passionately, but his patience would not last long enough to remove them.  "Nae Sarang, just lay like this for a little," he brought her head to rest on his chest.  She adjusted herself carefully, so as not to upset anything beneath her.  His breathing was deep and as always, the rise and fall of his chest was a comfort.  "Does Sarang feel my heart beating for her?"

 - "Deh..."  It was fast and strong.

 - "It beats for nae Sarang; it has cried so many tears for nae Sarang in the past; it has even bled for her hajiman now it's nomu haengbokhae.  It can hardly be contained; this joy Na feel in my heart is spilling over."

 - "We'll have to give all this overflowing joy between us to dtal," Ilana said.  He brought his hand to her heart and they lay quietly, listening to their love.

Jihoo caressed her hair, knowing he was making her drowsy.  He gave the top of her head a kiss.  "Sarang, let’s get ready for bed."

 - "Arraso," instead of getting up, she gave the handsome chest under her several kisses.

 - "Sarang...get ready for bed or Na won't let you up until morning."

Smiling, she slowly slid off him.  "Sarang needs to help me with my gown," she smiled a little apologetically.  She didn't mean to , it was late and they had to work.  HaEun didn't have a snooze button, either.

 - "Greomyo, Sarang."  He unclasped the hook on the back of her dress and brought down her zipper, nuzzling her neck and upper back.

 - "Sarang...Na said help, not help yourself!"  She mock-scolded him.

 - "Same difference."

 - "Aiiishh...," Ilana shook her head as she walked to the dresser for a nightgown.  Coming to a decision, she grabbed one.  "I get the bathroom, first!"  She blocked her choice with her body.  They had an unspoken code.  Depending on what she wore to bed, she was open to making love.  Of course, even if she wasn't at first, a little persuasion could always change her mind.              

Jihoo changed into a pair of black pajama bottoms and waited patiently for his wife to be done in the bathroom.  When she knew he wouldn't let her get ready in peace, she locked him out.  Hearing the bathroom door, he stood up expectantly.  He only needed five minutes and then they could go to sleep.  Expecting one of her usual gowns, he couldn't help freeze with his lips parted, just a little.  His wife stood in front of him, wearing her wedding negligée.  She had only worn it one other time after HaEun was born.  He had his preferences on what she wore to bed and she obliged him, always wanting to please him.  "Sarang...jeongmal?  It's late."  He'd finally unfrozen and slid his hand down her arms; she hadn’t bothered with a robe.

Ilana nodded and stood on her toes, wrapping her arms around his neck.  "Palli," she placed a damp kiss just under his ear and ran past him.

Jihoo let out his breath and hurried to wash his face and brush his teeth.  He was walking back to the bed in less than five minutes.  Climbing into bed, he quickly entwined his legs with hers and buried her face in his chest so he could bury his own in her neck.  "Sarang..." he nuzzled her cheek with his and gave the top of her head a gentle kiss.  "Sarang...doesn't have to...chincha."  It was late and he didn't want to tire her out or take the chance that he would be the only one receiving any pleasure.

 - "Gwenchana..." she nipped at the smooth chest in front of her.

 - "We won't take long, arraso?"  He was already caressing her through the thin nightgown.  He had been ready since their passionate kisses a little while ago.  But he needed to make sure she was ready to receive him.  He never wanted to hurt her physically or emotionally by making her feel violated or disrespected.

 - "Saranghae, sinroe (trust you)," Ilana reached his for his face and kissed him passionately in the way she knew he very much enjoyed.

 - "Nado, saranghae, nomu, nomu saranghae."  He rid the bed of the pillows, making her tremble in anticipation.  He nipped at her legs and teased the sensitive pearl.  Their kisses had had some effect on her as well and it wasn't long before he positioned her in a way that would be pleasurable for the two of them.

February 15, 2017

YoungSaeng arrived home just after midnight.  The day's shoot had not gone well and none of his fellow actors left in a good mood.  Everything that could go wrong went wrong, ending up in a lot of wasted time.  He didn't even get to see Mina, which had him the most upset.  He'd called her many times over the evening.  She didn't let on that she was upset, mostly because he was upset enough for the two of them.

It was past ten P.M. and no sign of YoungSaeng yet.  Mina cringed when her phone rang.

 - "Jagiya, mian.  We aren't done yet and everyone's upset.  Na can't believe this is happening today of all days.  Guerae, ara things like this happen...hajiman...they're happening entirely too much."

Mina smiled sadly into the phone.  "Gwenchana, Orabeoni...alguesubnida."  Really, she wanted to cry.  She missed him so much.

 - "Na don't know what time I'll be home.  Ja (sleep), Na don't want to keep you up any later.  Jagi has her own work to do in the morning."

 - "Gwenchana...Orabeoni can make it up to me later.  Na will break up with Orabeoni if he doesn't."

 - "Anieyo!  Don't even joke like that.  Na will quit being an idol before I let nae Mina-yang break up with me."

 - "Anieyo!  Na came to Seoul to meet idols, remember?"  She liked to .

 - "How can na forget," he answered dryly.  "Jagi likes to remind me every chance she gets.  Don't think that I'll let any of nae idol chingu try and take you from me."

 - "Hokshina na can just ease your stress by hanging out with one of your chingu, that has some free time, until you’re done with your drama.  Then Orabeoni doesn't have to worry about me."

 - "Yah!  If jagi thinks that's funny...Omo...," he knew she was joking, but it still made his blood boil.  He couldn't take care of her right now.  What if she wasn't joking and really felt dissatisfied with him, idol or not?

 - "Orabeoni!  Mianhae!  Chincha!"  The line had gone quiet after he practically growled at her, making her cringe.  She regretted going too far, pushing his jealous buttons.  "Mian, jebal nal yongseo haejwo (please forgive me)?  Orabeoni?"  She spoke nervously into the phone.

YoungSaeng took a deep breath.  "Na will lock jagi in nae apartment before she ever gets to go out with another namja.  Naega not joking," the annoyance at her joke was evident in his voice.  He heard her intake her breath and cooled himself off very quickly.  "Saranghae," he said tenderly.  "Ara you're teasing your jealous namja chingu.  Get your rest, deh?"

Mina suddenly thought of something.  "Orabeoni, what if nae take a morning off and we can spend it together, deh?"

 - "Aww, jagi...chincha?"

 - "Deh."

 - "Arraso, Na will get my schedule from Hyeong and we'll plan for it, deh?  Saranghae."

 - "Nado, saranghae."

Eric had then gone to the car to fetch his idol.  "Saranghae, Mina-ssi!"  He had overheard his idol when he opened the door.

 - "Yah Hyeong!"

 - "Jalja Mina-ssi!"  Eric closed the door and shouted.

 - "Deh Eric Oppa!"  Mina said.  "Jalja Orabeoni."

 - "Deh..." YoungSaeng mumbled.  He terminated the call and stepped out of the car in a huff, followed by a laughing manager.

Mina put down her phone, grinning.  "What am I going to do with this Otter?"  She paused to think of a response.  "I'll just have to love him to pieces."  Sitting on her couch, she yawned.  "Might as well put the food away.”  She had only eaten a small amount while waiting for YoungSaeng to arrive and though she was a little hungry, it was too late to eat.  "Orabeoni will be starving," she thought.  The sides were all still in the containers Ilana's housekeeper had sent them in.  The soup was in a good-sized clay pot on the stove.  All she had to do was pack up rice and find a bag big enough to carry everything.  She had changed into leggings and a long sleeve tunic on her arrival but hadn't washed her face yet.  After about thirty minutes she was letting herself into her boyfriend's apartment.  Surprisingly it was tidy.  "Poor Orabeoni, he doesn't even have time to make a mess."  She wondered if she should take his laundry home and then laughed at herself.  She was making him dinner, waiting for him to get home and now she was doing his laundry.  "Might as well be his wife!"  She looked fondly at the promise ring on her hand.  "One day; he promised."  For now, she had to be the best supportive girlfriend and not make him worry about her.  Having set everything in the kitchen she made herself at home on the couch, wondering if she waited just a little longer would he be home.

Closing his front door a little harder than he intended too, YoungSaeng hoped he hadn’t disturbed the neighbors.  He was completely shocked to see his girlfriend's shoes at the door and a delicious scent parading in front of his senses.  It sure wasn't the take-out food he was carrying.  "Jagi?"  He poked his head in the kitchen and saw the food on the table and stove and the blue and black box.  "Ahh...jagi!"  He'd completely forgotten she planned to make him dinner and he never expected a Valentine’s Day gift.  Tempted between devouring the food and seeing what was in the box or looking for his girlfriend who had to be in his studio somewhere, he opted for the later.  Stepping into the living room, there she was on his couch, fast asleep in a very uncomfortable position.  "Jagi..." he gave her lips a light kiss.  "Na told Jagi to rest, not bring me food and fall asleep uncomfortably," he scolded her in a whisper.  His girlfriend cracked her eyes open for a second, smiled and closed them again.  Looking up to the loft, he thought it fortunate he hadn't made his bed that morning.  "Kaja, jagi.  Na won't let you sleep on the couch."  He managed to get her on his back and took her upstairs.  He sat her gently on the bed and tucked her in.

Mina felt movement in her subconscious and thought this was a very vivid dream, "Orabeoni?"  She mumbled.

 - "Shh...ja."

Mina nodded and rolled over, disappointed that she was just dreaming.  YoungSaeng couldn't resist her pouty lips and kissed them a little more firmly this time.  There was a hint of a smile on her face, when he ended the kiss.  His stomach growled just then.  "Aigoo, what if Na eat, my Mina-yang instead."  He was very tempted to forget food and brushing his teeth.  His coordi's had removed his makeup, but he hadn't had any food since the mid-afternoon.  He decided to eat a small bowl of Ttukbaegi Bulgogi and then brush his teeth so he could get into bed with his girlfriend.  He had forgotten to even peak at what was in the box; his girlfriend in his bed was his only focus.

Fifteen minutes later, not bothering to change, he was crawling in next to her.  He moved her hair out the way and gave her delicious neck a few kisses.  Wrapping his arm around her waist, he tucked her in firmly against him.  She was so warm and the scent of her perfume, the one he'd given her, was intoxicating.  He wanted to rip off her shirt and devour her with kisses.  He couldn't remember the last time they'd spent the night together.  Not since New York, he thought.  They had made a commitment to each other and God that they'd avoid temptation.  "Well, perhaps just a little temptation," he thought.  "Jagi, you drive me crazy, deh?"  He devoured her neck and then her lips, moving his hand just under her shirt, feeling the smooth skin underneath.  "This is enough, jagi."  Na want to sleep like this.  In her sleep, she had arched her neck to receive his kisses, he happily obliged, while his hand climbed further up her shirt.  He was a little disappointed to find her bra in the way but didn't expect less from her.  He traced the edge of her bra anyway, teasing the skin underneath and the soft swells over it.  Mina let out a contented sigh in her sleep and unconsciously settled herself even closer to him.  YoungSaeng had to stop and take a deep breath, exhale, and move his bottom half just slightly away from her or he would definitely give in to temptation.  Either he'd be dead at that point or she'd give in with him and then they'd be in trouble.  "Jalja, jagiya.  Kansamnida.  Na can't wait to have you in nae bed every night."  He lifted his head and caught her lips tenderly, before settling her in his arms again and closing his eyes.

Ilana mumbled in the early morning hours, "nae jani neom chi naida (my cup runs over)."  It was a Bible verse that had been on her mind a lot lately.  The Lord had done so much for her and had blessed her exceedingly beyond what she could think of that her cup or her love was overflowing with blessings.  Jihoo woke at the sound of his wife's voice.  Ever since he woke to find her gone that one day, he was extra sensitive to her presence.  He didn't catch what she said.  It'd been a long time since she talked in her sleep.  He kissed her cheek, assuring himself she wasn't ill and wrapped his arm around her waist, settling her against him.  "Kansamnida, Yesu."  Jihoo smiled at the memory of their earlier lovemaking.  He was thankful that she gave all of herself freely to him.  After the trauma she had been through as a teen and was still deeply scarred up until two years ago, she thought that would never happen.  She too must still marvel at it, he thought.  The way she looked at the moment of their joining, was usually a bit surprised, but also happy.  She'd never expected to be able to share in the beauty and pleasure of becoming one intimately with him.  Even tonight when she knew he couldn't last long or be very controlled, she didn't mind and let herself go with him.  "Nae jani neom chi naida," he said to her.  "Sarang, is that what you said earlier?  We do have so many blessings between us, it seems to overflow, deh?"  He continued his one-sided conversation:  “we give freely as we have received, Sarang.  And it comes right back so we can do it all over again."  They could have their accountant try and calculate a strict 10% of their income for the church, but it wouldn't come from their hearts.  They gave their 'tenth' from their pay and gave generously whenever the occasion arises.  They both had foundations to contribute too and his heart had been the establishment of the mobile clinic, while hers was with the youth, establishing work for them, or providing affordable housing for young families.  "Deh, Sarang, Na suppose that's where it overflows."  Their blessing overflowed into those projects, the work of their hands, and, to those around them.  "Maja?"  He asked her.

 - "Mmm," she sighed back.

Grinning, he turned her face, giving her lips a soft kiss.  "Saranghae, nomu, nomu saranghae.  Na can’t put a limit on it, Sarang." Jihoo closed his eyes and went right back to sleep.  It was a talent most Doctors had.  Their princess would be waking them up in several hours.

The Yoon Princess had woken up at her usual time and was now snoozing in her co-sleeper with a belly full of milk.  Jihoo had gotten up to get her and change her diaper as his wife was playing a sleepy possum.  He could see her lips twitching, while she pretended to be asleep.

 - “Arraso, hajiman...don’t think anae fools me for a second.  Ara the sound of your breathing while you’re asleep.”  This led his wife to take a deep breath.  “Gwenchana,” he smiled.  There were plenty of times she was up and out of bed at HaEun’s slightest whimper so that he wouldn’t wake up.

Having fallen asleep again in their cuddled-up position, that’s where they were when their real alarm went off.  Jihoo reached for the alarm one-handedly and then slid his pouting wife off him.  “Annyeong hashiminika…,” he gave her sweet lips a slow good morning kiss.

 - “Annyeong…” she buried her head in his chest and gave it a little nip before wrapping him with her arms and legs in a tight hug.

 - “Sarang…” he gave the top of her head a quick kiss.  “Sarang needs to get in the shower.  Na don’t want you going out with wet hair.  Granted you’re going straight from the house to the car to the office, but still."

Ilana groaned; she didn’t want to get up.  She wanted more of him, more of last night.  Their high-spirited lovemaking from last night left her lazy, but playful.  The skin ship and the kisses hadn’t been enough to satisfy her.  “Anieyo...na want to stay like this all day.”  Not to be selfish, she loved her daughter exceedingly and wouldn’t trade these days for a moment, but at times she missed the beginning months of their marriage, just lounging in bed on their day off.

Jihoo laughed, it was usually him who didn’t let her up in the mornings, especially after an entirely too quick lovemaking.  “Eottoke?  HaEun and Sarang have to go to work and so do I.”

 - “Bpo bpo…” she demanded.

 - “Jageun or keun (big or small)?”

 - “Jageun.”

He pressed his lips to her eyes, then her cheek and then her lips in a sweet and gentle shallow kiss, taking his time throughout.  "Enough?"

 - "Na-ah."  This time, Ilana nibbled on his jaw before kissing it slowly and grazing her lips down to his, where she took her time giving him teasing kisses.

 - "Wau...Anae is wide awake, now."  He punctuated his statement with another kiss and settled her in the crook of his arm.  "Does Sarang know what I miss?"

 - "Ani...?"  Ilana was held in suspense with the playful gaze in his eyes.

 - "Choah...when Na would wake up to Anae's kisses."

 - "Deh?"  Ilana was both surprised and yet pleased with his compliment.  "Mianhae...HaEun takes a lot of nae time."  She did her best to always put Jihoo first, but with HaEun being an infant still, sometimes her needs took precedence.  "Na will do better, I promise."

Jihoo inched forward and kissed her furrowed forehead.  "Pabo...it wasn't a complaint.  Ara, at times, HaEun-ah comes first...Na just remember our quiet mornings with fondness."

Ilana took a second to think while gazing lovingly into her husband's eyes and then an idea formed in her head.  They would end up having to shower together and they'd miss breakfast and have to leave the house with wet hair, but Ilana didn't care.  "Chincha?"  She lifted herself to hover over him.  "How quiet were our mornings?"  She leaned down teasing his lips, just barely nipping at them.

 - "Very quiet," he pulled her head down to his lips, but she pulled away and kissed only a little corner and then went to his neck and then gave his chest a dusting of her kisses.

 - "Like that?"

 - "More..."  She bit her lip and straddled him, leaning down to give his lips the reward they deserved.  "Sarang...shouldn't be so nice to me this early in the morning..."  Her body under the sheer negligée was at his mercy and as she with kisses he caressed her thighs and bare bottom, encouraging her kisses.

After a few minutes, Ilana took her husband's naughty hand and placed it on his chest, under her head.  "Mianhae Sarang, na didn't mean to tease."

 - "Gwenchana...Na will never refuse Anae's kisses."  Ilana giggled, wondering if he'd say the same thing if he were in a board meeting or in front of the Doctor's at the hospital.  "Sarang is thinking something, naughty."

 - "Anieyo!  Chincha!"

With his free hand, he back, drawing circles up and down.  He suddenly had a thought.  "Sarang, speaking of quiet time...wae don't we go back to Gangwhado Island before we leave?  We can take your pump and leave HaEun with Harabeoji, just for one night."  Jihoo heard his wife take in her breathe at leaving their daughter.

 - "Mollah...Sarang.  Choah the idea, chincha...it's just...mollah..."

 - "Ara...ara...let the idea sink into your thoughts, deh?  If Sarang really doesn't think she'll be comfortable, then we can bring dtal and the babysitter, deh?"

 - "Deh, Sarang..." she brought her face to plant a noisy kiss on his lips.

Jihoo sighed, "arraso, Sarang...we really need to get up.  We only get five-minute showers and Sarang can't even get undressed in that time."  Jihoo sat up, making his wife grab on or fall off.  He got out of the bed with her arms and legs around him and didn't put her down until they were in the bathroom.               

Mina’s alarm had gone off some time ago, but it was still downstairs and neither she nor YoungSaeng heard it.  YoungSaeng was asleep under Mina.  He usually liked to sleep on his stomach with his head in the pillow, while she was usually a side sleeper, this morning she found herself practically on top of YoungSaeng’s back, arms and limbs snuggling tightly against him.  Mina had begun to wake up naturally about an hour late.  She didn't remember what time she'd finally dragged herself upstairs to her bed, but she had slept solid.  Thinking her alarm hadn't gone off yet, she tried to drift back to sleep without opening her eyes, until she realized that the pillow she was cuddling with smelled just like YoungSaeng and was rather large.  Her eyes opened to see someone's back, presumably her boyfriend's, considering she was not in her own room as had previously assumed.  Her first reaction was overwhelming joy at the sight and feel of him.  He'd been so busy and she missed him so much.  When she was about to lean in for a good morning kiss, consciousness kicked in like an electric jolt.  She sat up abruptly.  "What time is it?!"  Her phone was nowhere near her, prostrating her body over the true-to-life YoungSaeng body pillow, she reached over looking for his.

This disturbed the lump under the blankets, making it groan in displeasure.  "Jagiya...do you have to be so noisy?"

Mina startled at his voice but then went back to her panic mode.  "Omo!  I need to get to work!  Orabeoni, where's my phone?  What time is it?"

 - "Call in..." he pulled her down beside him.

 - "Na can't!"

 - "Jagi is a VP; she can do whatever she wants."  His lips were already on hers, possessing them and her.

 - "Orabeoni..." she gave a half-hearted protest, but was seized and his tongue decided to make love to hers.  It'd been so long since she had one of his bone-melting kisses.  All other thoughts fled the scene, replaced by his scent, the feel of his hair through her fingers, the soft cheek under the palm of her hand.  When he satisfied his craving for her lips, he went on to her neck.  He wanted to give in to temptation; he wanted to make sure that she would be his always.  Despite the promise ring already declaring that fact.  He'd snuck his hand under her tunic, enjoying the warmth of her skin.  Likewise, Mina wasn't protesting, their quick lip-locks in the stairwells did nothing for her.  She needed the connection only his passionate kisses and caresses could bring.  He moved from her back to her bottom, pressing her as close to him as possible, regardless of the side effects.  Mina thought she could stop if things got too heated.  It was best to stop now, but he’d begun to move his hips against hers and she didn't have the will to stop.  It was when his hand had begun inching her tunic up and tickling her flat stomach as he went, that something snapped in her and tears began to drip down her face.

It took YoungSaeng a bit to realize, her hold on him had loosened and she wasn’t quite kissing him back.  Then he felt the tears and panicked, thinking he'd offended her somehow.  "Jagi?  Mian...jagi...mian," he pulled her into his embrace.  "Mian..." he kissed her forehead and rubbed her back, gently.  "Nae pabo, nae went too far...mian...Na... wasn’t trying to force jagi into anything...mian...bogoshipo...Na got carried away.  Mianhae...jagi, forgive me."  He was panicking inside.  Ilana's past had unknowingly left an impression on him and to think that he'd deliberately or inadvertently disrespected his girlfriend was enough to shake him.

Mina rubbed her eyes; the emotion had gotten to her.  This y and sweet man was panicking thinking he'd made her go too far, when she had been crying from the joy of seeing him.  "Ani!  Gwenchana!  Nomu bogoshipo!"  Mina couldn't keep her lips away from his, leaving the poor Otter even more confused.  "Haengbohkae!  That's why I was crying."

 - "Aigoo...paboya..." he kissed her forehead and lips with his finger before giving them a lingering kiss.

 - "Mianhae, Orabeoni, na scared you," her boyfriend exhaled in agreement.  "Orabeoni, jeongmal bogoshipo.  Na would have been willing to give Orabeoni just about everything right now."

 - "Jagi...nado bogoshipo.  I'm not strong enough, jagi...Na would have taken just about everything and then Na would have felt guilty and so would you.  Mian...nado was just thinking what Na could do to make jagi mine.  Hajiman...Na just realized she is mine.  These lips are mine..." he gave them a tender, yet possessive kiss.  "This hair is mine," he ran his hand through her it, pulling gently.  "These eyes are mine," he gave them a tender kiss.  "This neck is mine," he gave it a damp kiss, causing shivers to travel down her arm.  "This is mine too," he gave her a gentle squeeze.

 - "Orabeoni!!"  She swatted at his arm.  "Ah!  These hands are mine," he placed one of her hands on top of his head and Mina obediently began to run her fingers through his wonderful mane.  "Let's see...shoulders are mine," he gave a playful bite to one shoulder, "and these legs are definitely mine," he brought one of her legs across his and ran a naughty hand along the length of her thigh.  "As for the rest of you..." he melted her with his gaze.  "It's on reserve for na and no one else, to be opened at later date.  This ring...," he pulled his out from under his shirt “...and this one," he took her hand, "is my witness, there is a future date, deh?  Do you trust me enough to wait for me?  If not, what more can Na do to prove to you that you are mine and I am yours?"

Mina smiled happily and then threw herself on top of him, kissing his face and then his lips.  "Saranghae, nomu saranghae."

YoungSaeng tucked her back under him.  "Now, what were we doing before someone started crying?"

 - "Mollah?"  Mina teased his lips with her finger and suddenly remembered she was supposed to be working.  "Orabeoni!"  She pushed him off her.

 - "Yah!  Wae?"

 - "Orabeoni?!  What time is it?!"

 - "Mollah...where's my phone?"  He looked around his room.  "Na think I left it in the kitchen."

It was about nine, Mina was usually at work by eight.  There was no way she could leave YoungSaeng's apartment right now with people still leaving for work.  "Orabeoni, eottokae?"

 - "Jagi said she'd take a morning off to spend with me," he grinned.

 - "Orabeoni is of no help."

In the end, Mina called Ilana to apologize as her alarm hadn't gone off and she went to sleep late waiting for YoungSaeng.  Ilana thankfully didn't ask questions and told her just to work from home.

 - "It's a waste come into the office for just half day; you'll get more done at home."

 - "That's true.  Okay, I'll be in tomorrow for sure.  I tend not to make the same mistake twice."

 - "You'd better set a backup alarm on nights you wait for Saengie Oppa to call."

 - "Yes, that's a good idea..."  Having said there 'see ya laters', Mina terminated the call with a sigh of relief.  "Kansamnida Yesu."  Mina hadn't exactly lied, but at the same time didn't let her boss know she was stuck in her boyfriend's apartment.

YoungSaeng wrapped his arms around her.  "We have two hours.  In three, nah have to shower and get ready."  He began trying to tug her back to the bed and she resisted.

 - "Begopah?”  She looked in the pot to see that very little was eaten and turned the stove on.  "You hardly touched your dinner?  And Orabeoni didn't even open his gift."

Mina stood there with the cutest frown on her face, according to her boyfriend; he couldn't help placing a kiss on those furrowed brows and pouty lips.  "Jagi is sounding like an Anae, instead of yeoja chingu," he teased.  He saw the worried look on her face.  "Gwenchana...choah.  It gives me a taste of what my life will be with jagi in it."

 - "Orabeoni..." his words filled her with joy and he could see it in her eyes, but she felt as if it was too soon to be counting chickens.  What ifs began to plague her, despite his earlier proclamation?

They were silent as she set the table washed the dishes from the night before and brought out the sides.  YoungSaeng waited for the stew to finish heating, by wrapping his arms around her back while she worked.  Mina didn't complain, just rolled her eyes, smiling at her clingy boyfriend.  After not having but brief moments with him in the last month or so, this was very nice.

When the stew was warm enough, YoungSaeng made her sit down while he spooned out rice and stew into appropriate bowls.  Mina, of course, put up a protest.  "Anja,” YoungSaeng ordered.  "Na didn't get to do anything for jagi, yesterday."

 - "Orabeoni has a month to think of something."  She hoped that for White day they'd be able to spend a little more time together.

 - "Jalmokgetsumnida," YoungSaeng said and dug into his bowl.

Once they'd both had their fill, YoungSaeng eagerly reached for the blue and black satin box.  "Kansamnida..." he gave her lips a peck and untied the ribbon, he opened the box to reveal the neatly packed otter shaped chocolates and a few heart shaped ones and the cookies.  "Choah!  Chincha!"  He'd never had a girl give him handmade chocolates before or any other handmade items.

 - "Jeongmal?"  Mina was relieved.

 - "Deh, jagi.  Nomu choah.  Kansamnida;" he beheaded one Otter.  "Masheesuhyo!"

 - "Ugh!  Orabeoni!  You beheaded him!  Cannibal!"

 - "Jagi can have the other half," he was pressing the chocolate to her lips."

 - "Mm, Orabeoni's family tastes good," she giggled.  Then with a serious face, she admonished him not to eat the entire box in one sitting or she'd get in trouble with his manager.  They both had another two chocolates.  They were very good; she'd even consider them better than Godiva or even See's.  She made them, so of course, she would say so.  "Orabeoni let me wash the dishes so you can get ready."

 - "Anieyo...it's still early, ttarawa (follow me/come with me)," he dragged her to the couch and cuddled her on top of his lap.  She wasn’t petite, but that was fine with him, as her head rested perfectly on his shoulder within kissing distance.  "Na just want us to stay like this for a little, deh?  Jagi is always working at this hour and I come home too late.  Bogoshipo.  I miss you; I miss kissing you; I miss holding you."  He gave her cheek a soft kiss.  He knew it was hard for her.  "Mian if Na was selfish and didn't wake you last night.  Na wanted to keep you for myself.  Finding jagi in my apartment last night was daeback.  Better than dinner and better than the chocolates.  Na would have been happy if it had just been you."

Mina smiled, feeling loved and cared for in her boyfriend's arms.  "Ah...next year, na won't have to make anything for you.  Na will just show up in a giant Bojagi."

YoungSaeng's eyes sparkled with mischief.  "Na wouldn't mind that at all..."

 - "Yah!"  She smacked her boyfriend's head to get it out of the gutter.

 - "Wae?!  Jeongmal!"  He tried to wear his most innocent expression and failed.

 - "Ha!  Na see right through you."

 - "Ah...deh?"  He lay back on the couch and took her with him, making her scream with glee.  He smothered her with kisses and then pinned her half under him.  "Jagi...is it too hard?  Is it not bearable?"  He signed the contract with the agency not even thinking of falling in love; he fell for Mina not even thinking of what her life would be like, dating an idol.

She sighed in response and cupped his face with one hand and the other traced his perfect lips.  "Deh...it's hard.  Ani...it's not unbearable.  Hajiman...it was easier when you were in Japan."  She noticed the confused look on in his eyes.  Mina stared tenderly at him.  "I knew you were far away, I was content with what we had:  texting, phone calls, planning visits.  Hajiman...Orabeoni came home and Na had him to myself for two weeks and then Na had to give him up again.  Like Orabeoni said...our schedules are so different and now we're in the same city and still we can't see each other but for a few minutes at a time."

YoungSaeng held her tightly to himself.  "Mian, jagi...mian.  Can nae jagiya just bear with it for a little while?  Naega working hard for Mina's sake.  Na have already started in this business, Na need to continue making a good name for myself.  Then..." he gave her the 'Otter' smile.  “Na will take what's reserved for me."

 - "Yah...” his look made her flush with warmth.  "Pabo..." he grinned unabashedly.  She gave him a greedy kiss.  "Na can bear it if I get fanservice every now and then."

 - "That's a given..." he gave her one of his possessive kisses that led them to the edge of that fire line but he reigned himself in before she made him.  "Saranghae..." he gave her one more brief kiss.  "Shower with me?"

 - "Orabeoni knows the answer to that.  Stop teasing me, one of these days na won't have the power to say 'no'."  While he grinned widely, she .  "Then Orabeoni will have to marry me the very next second."

 - "Arraso," he called her bluff.  "Kaja," he stood from the couch and stooped to pick her up.

 - "Anieyo!"  She punched his stomach firmly, but not enough to do damage and ran from the couch and temptation as fast as she could.

Mina couldn’t escape the apartment until Eric arrived and after he gave them the ‘I don't want to know, just be discreet' lecture.  She was dressed in one of YoungSaeng's jackets and workout pants, with her hair under one of his ball caps and sunglasses.  At a brief glance, she could pass for a young man.  Their morning would have to hold them until they could steal a few kisses in the stairwell.

March 4, 2017

They did it, Jihoo and Ilana snuck out after HaEun had her early morning snack and cuddled between them in bed for a little while.  Soon after, it was time for a walk with Harabeoji and Umma and Appa made their escape.  Though their daughter was used to only Umma and Appa in her bedtime routine, occasionally Harabeoji would give her a bottle and tell her a story.  It was the mornings where it had to be Umma and no one else would do.  Jihoo paid for two nights, in order to take advantage of one almost twenty-four-hour period.  They planned to sneak back home before HaEun woke for her snack Sunday Morning.

Ilana was biting her lip the entire drive to Ganghwado Island.  Jihoo took her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze.  "Does Sarang want to go back?  Our Birthdays and anniversary are just in a few weeks, we can have a date night when we get back to California."

 - "Anieyo gwenchanayo," she gave him a guilty smile.  "HaEun will be fine with Harabeoji...she won't miss us at all."

Jihoo had to smile at that, his wife would most likely be devastated to find their daughter unfazed by their absence.  "Sarang...let's go back for her.  Harabeoji will be a little disappointed, hajiman we can bring him too."

 - "Anieyo!  Anieyo!!  Gwenchana!  This is good, so she learns that we will come back, deh?"  In the back of her mind, there was the whispered 'what if...?' And she quickly said a prayer for peace and protection.

Jihoo sensed what was going on in his wife's head and prayed too.  "Yesu, keep us safe as anae and I spend some time alone.  Place a hedge around everyone back home."  Their prayers worked, Jihoo focused on driving and holding his wife's hand and Ilana enjoyed the scenery as they headed out of Seoul, toward the Ocean.

They checked in early at the Hanock style hotel they stayed at last year.  It was a rainy day, but that just meant they could spend more time indoors as was Jihoo's plan.  They decided to spend their morning at the Korean market.  His wife had never experienced one and truthfully neither had he.  Ajumma's selling their goods from a chair in the middle of their booths, surrounded by vegetables, fruit, fish, meat, etc.  They had a small breakfast before leaving and would be hungry soon again.  Ilana enjoyed traditional Korean food and Jihoo had acquired a taste for it, thanks to living with his Grandfather; this was a good choice.  They sampled and purchased fresh fruit, Ilana tried her hand at haggling.  "Masheesuhyo!"  Ilana stuffed her face with fresh strawberries.  Even with her haggling, they were extremely expensive but so worth it.  "We've got persimmons and figs to take back to Harabeoji, should we get a few apples or Korean pears for later?"

 - "Sarang, we're only spending the day, here."  Actually, he couldn't wait to go back to the car or anywhere, if it was private and he could taste her strawberry juice coated lips.

Ilana took a bite of another strawberry and Jihoo let his imagination wander.  "Sarang...should we cook or order room...Sarang?"  He'd not said a word, just stared at her face with a secret smile.

 - "Mian..." he coughed in embarrassment at having been caught.  "Na just had a thought cross my head; nothing to worry about."  There were times he surprised himself at how much he desired her.  He'd get these intense longings, suddenly, that he really had never had or maybe they had just been buried waiting for her.  He wrapped his arm around her waist.  The skinship was also very much always in his mind.  He wanted to hold her hand, caress, her face, her hair and even graze her lips with his.  "What did Sarang ask?"  He finally gave her all his attention.

Ilana looked at him in curiosity but opted not to probe.  Either she'd burst out laughing in the middle of the market or he'd make her blush as red as the strawberries.  "Sarang...should we cook or order in?  We didn't bring dressy clothes for the hotel restaurant."  They had only brought the clothes they wore and nightclothes.  They were leaving at four thirty A.M. to be back in Seoul by the time HaEun woke up.  The things he did for her and HaEun warmed Ilana's heart.  He hated waking up early but he wanted to give her a special evening and that would require he wake up early enough to also accommodate their daughter's schedule.

 - "Let's order in and buy sweet potatoes and kimchi; we'll roast them like we did last time."

 - "Arraso."  Walking up and down each corridor, Ilana had to stop at each booth, at least to see what they sold and if it could be stored in the refrigerator in their room, she would allow the ajumma's to persuade her into buying.  Many times, she hadn't a clue what was being said.  Seoul dialect and Ganghwado dialect were sometimes very different.  Being a linguist, she faked it the best she could other times she gave her Husband the 'pleading' look to help her escape from a chatty or scolding ajumma.  If they asked how long they had been married, they would follow up by asking if they had a baby.  After that answer was satisfied, they wanted to know if #2 was on the way.  It was a never-ending cycle.  When she told them Yesu was in control of her life, they would nod politely, a few agreed wholeheartedly, and very few asked her 'why?'.  Her response left them with eyes and mouth open wide.

It was early for lunchtime but it was Saturday and best to avoid the crowds.  "Begopayo?"  Jihoo asked, mentally upset he hadn't hired a driver for the day.  The bags of fruit and other treats his wife wanted to buy were cumbersome.  He didn't want to leave Harabeoji and HaEun stuck.  Harabeoji would just as easily hop on the bus or take a cab; Jihoo wasn't sure if he was ready for Grandfather and Granddaughter to be taking tours in unsecured vehicles.

Ilana was distracted by some sort of fish and took her a minute to answer.  "Deh...should we go upstairs to the restaurants?"

 - "Guerae..."  Many of the restaurants catered to the local specialties and his wife had never heard of most of them and much less tried it.  He too wasn't as well versed in local Korean fare as he should be.  In the end, they tried something familiar and something new.  They settled on Baendaengyi Hweh (raw baendaengyi) with lettuce and kimchi to wrap it with, grilled tide eel and rice soup with chicken and assorted vegetables.

 - "Oh, Sarang...that was masheesuhyo!  Choah the Baendaengyi, hajiman the grilled eel was jjang!"

 - "Deh, almost as good as anything ajumma makes.  We just won't tell her that."

 - "Andwae!"  She giggled.  "Ay, I'm stuffed!"  She took a last sip of the beer they had shared (80% him, 20% her) and couldn't resist the last piece of eel.

 - "Mm... Sarang must not want one of the red bean fried sorghum pancake."  They had passed them as they were trying to figure out what to eat.  The scent alone was tantalizing on an empty stomach.  He had to drag her away with the promise of ‘after lunch’.

It was still raining when they left the market and arrived back at their Hanock hotel.  They both ran with their shopping bags to the door.  The rain had stopped briefly, but his wife made him stop for chocolate at one of the convenience stores.  She wanted to make chocolate covered strawberries later in the evening.  Considering just a few years ago, she had to coaxed, scolded and tricked into eating, he happily obliged her requests for food.  Laughing, they shed their boots and began putting things away.  Jihoo lit a fire in the fireplace and the stereo for classical music.  The temperature was comfortable in the entire unit due to the heated floors, but the fireplace added to the warmth and the illusion that they were indeed alone with just each other.  To ensure that this was the case, he made it known to none of their friends about this impromptu trip.  Thankfully, they didn’t need the babysitter’s services or else it would have been JunPyo renting out the entire hotel for all the F4 families.  As an added precaution against invasion of privacy, he double checked that the door was locked.

Ilana had gone to hang up their coats and use her pump.  She and Jihoo had not discussed when she would stop nursing and she hadn’t even thought that a time would come when her baby would not be nourished by her.  When she returned to the living room area, Jihoo was already sitting comfortably on the couch.  “Sarang, anja,” he extended his hand to her.

She took it and sat, lacing her fingers through his and tucking her feet under her on the couch.  Her husband used his free hand to scoot her in closer.  Enjoying the warmth from the fire and her husband’s closeness, she sighed contentedly.  “Sarang didn’t bring his guitar or violin,” she slightly pouted.  He never traveled without one or both.

 - “Wae?”  Jihoo caressed her neck and then ran his hand through her hair.  “Is anae bored already?”

 - “Anieyo,” he was repeating the earlier process and it felt wonderful.  They were always so busy while in Seoul.  If California was fast, Seoul was faster.  He melted any stress with his simple touch.  “Na just feel guilty sitting here, listening to nice music and enjoying the warmth of the fire..." she smiled.  "...And nampyon."

 - "We'll be going back to Los Angeles this week.  Sarang will be even busier since JungMin won't be back to work for another few weeks.  Dtal is with Harabeoji, she allows him to rest as well.  His heart and mind are always on the clinic and his patients.  Kim KyuJong Uissa and Ron HySu Uissa have taken most of his responsibilities from him, leaving him restless so he's always at the clinic.  Sarang knows he only listens to JanDi."

 - "And dtal..."  Ilana laughed.  “Harabeoji forgets about everything when he's with his Granddaughter.  The two of them will sit and have wonderful conversations.”

 - "I'm sure Harabeoji was overjoyed that we didn't bring her with us."

 - "Deh..." She thought Harabeoji might be reliving when Jihoo was a baby and making up for the years he regrettably abandoned him.  Ilana bit her lip, thinking of their daughter.  She should be napping around this time.  Has she eaten well?  She'll accept a bottle from Appa or Harabeoji at night, but the day gets a little tricky.  Was she wondering where they were?  If they were coming home?  "Sarang?"  She turned to look at her husband with pleading eyes.  "Can we call Harabeoji and see if she's napping?"

 - "Na already did," he pulled her head back down to his shoulder.  "She didn't want to nap, so Harabeoji laid down with her on his bedroll.  They talked about the weather and how when she got older, he’d teach her to build a snowman.  After a while she finally fell asleep and so did Harabeoji.   Na woke him up with my phone call."

Ilana smiled, happy that they could bless Harabeoji with a grandchild.  She prayed a silent prayer that God would grant Harabeoji a long life in order that HaEun might have a conscious memory of her Grandfather when she got older. 

 - "Sarang?  Gwenchana?"  He noticed her eyes closed.

 - "Deh...na was just praying that Harabeoji would live to be a hundred."

The Doctor in him frowned, thinking...…knowing that to be impossible with his Grandfather's unpredictable heart condition.  Yet...his wife should have been dead twice over; once by her own hand and once by a fatal pneumonia.  The Lord had stopped her from killing herself and he brought her back from her death journey.  Could he let Harabeoji live to be a hundred?  The old Jihoo could never consider it, but sitting there with his wife...she was living proof that God still did miracles.  "Amen, Sarang...Amen."  He gave a kiss to the hand that was linked with his, and then rubbed his hand along her arm.  "Is Sarang cold?"  He was thinking they didn't get to enjoy the whirlpool bathtub last time, because of her pregnancy.

 - "Anieyo...it's nice," she turned her face to him and he snuck a peck to her lips, making her grin.  "Goyangi..." she captured his face with her free hand and nuzzled it softly, ending with her lips barely touching his.  He returned her caresses and gave her lips a few sweet kisses, not enough to satisfy any needs, just as one piece of chocolate is never enough.  Smiling, she resettled herself against his shoulder, enjoying one of Jihoo's favorite composers.  Even HaEun enjoyed it.  "Sarang...do you think HaEun will be a musician when she grows up?"

 - "Mollah...Na want her to follow her heart, not because we force her to follow a certain path.  We both chose freely the path we are now on, we should give her the same consideration."

 - "Greomyo."  Jihoo had unlaced his hand from hers and was now wrapping that arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him.  He softly kissed her cheek, nuzzled her face, and placed tiny kisses along her jaw.  "Saranghae..." she loved all his caresses and kisses but somehow, when it was the small sweet and playful caresses, she felt his love magnified.  His love for her was in everything he did.  Inane thoughts played in her head but she thought it was easy to be reckless and give in to passion and desire; it wasn't as easy to be gentle and sweet.  Yet, he was.  She didn't think he forced himself to slow down for her but enjoyed it as much as she did.  There were times where primal need took over, but even then, she let herself get lost in the tumultuous waves with him.  Wherever he took her on the journey of their love, she wanted to go.  Her heart and body were his and she trusted him completely, he would never lead her to get hurt or lost along the way.  She gave his lips a few staccato kisses and beamed at him with eyes full of adoration.

Jihoo drank in her admiration.  That the Lord would use him to heal her internal wounds and by that also remove the locks on his own heart was something amazing to him, still.  That she could look at him not only with love but also receive his passion and desire for her physically and return it.  She had her own special way of pleasing him and he wouldn't have it any other way.  Needing her lips again, he took them leisurely, varying between just grazing and letting his lips very slowly come into contact with hers and pausing, loving the feel of her smile under him.  They had no pressing appointments and no one and nothing to occupy their time, other than each other.  If Jihoo wanted to make love to her until they had to leave, nothing would be in his way.  Who knew, he just might decide on that course.  "Saranghae," he mumbled to her jaw, marking it with the same painfully slow kisses.  When he playfully nipped at her neck, she squealed appreciatively and pulled away.

 - "Only a few more kisses and then we should melt the chocolate and dip the strawberries so that the candy shell will be hardened for dinner."  His face immediately looked stern.  He could not fool her with his sparkling eyes.  "Na said a few more kisses...," she assured him, while sitting up on her knees for a better 'kissing' posture.  While he had kissed her painfully slow, she came at him quickly, catching him off guard.  She settled in for a firm kiss and only came back up to give his lips a slight before descending on them again.

 - "Does Sarang know she has nampyon at her mercy with her kisses?"  She had left his lips for his jaw and at his words, he felt her grinning.  She then swirled her tongue around his earlobe, making him draw in his breath.

While he was at her mercy, she was also at his.  Being on her knees, she was easily moveable; with a quick pull, she fell onto his lap laughing and trying to get away.  He paid her back.  His lips and tongue savored her neck and his other hand trapped her by the hip, while occasionally traveling down her thigh and back up.  After a few more minutes of teasing, he stopped but didn't remove his hold on her.  "Yippeun..." her face was flushed and her eyes bright with laughter and the pleasure of his kisses.  His compliment only served to make her cheeks flush even more.

 - "Sarang has made my hair a mess and my lip-gloss is gone (she still didn't wear a lot of make-up and that was how Jihoo liked her)."

 - "Sarang removed most of it on her own, Na just helped with rest," he told her with his serious face and twinkling eyes that always made her laugh.

 - "Ahniya!  Sarang is yippeun," she reached a hand up and traced his eyebrows and slid her finger down his nose and finished with his lips.  She kissed her index finger and placed it gently on his lips.

He was quick to reciprocate the finger kiss and stole one more kiss from her lips.  "Must Sarang absolutely have chocolate on her strawberries?"

 - "Sarang doesn't want any?"  Jihoo laughed at her slightly pouting face.  She loved her chocolate, it was her favorite treat.  "Arraso hajiman...anae needs to take a nap with me after.  It's been a long week for both of us."  This was true, with them leaving on Thursday they worked as late as possible and stayed up later to compensate for the schedule infringements on their family time.  HaEun's schedule was also thrown off.  She had spent more time with the babysitter or with Harabeoji and the housekeeper than ever, this week.

Thankfully, Ilana had bought several packs of strawberries as most of them kept getting eaten before the chocolate even came into contact with them.  The big ones were perfect for sharing.  Kisses, between bites of strawberry and cheeks, smeared with chocolate, it was a miracle their clothes didn't get dirty.  After tidying up their mess, Ilana wrapped her arms around her husband, enjoying the feel of the soft cashmere sweater under her cheek.  "Goyangi," she teased his abs over the sweater.  “What should we do now?"  They had been nonstop the last two weeks.  To have finally stopped, left her restless.

Jihoo turned to face her and took her in his arms.  "Na want a nap.  Someone made me get up early on my day off."

 - "Yah...who's idea was this excursion?"  They were both openly grinning at each other.

 - "Na, therefore Sarang must do what I ask her too."

 - "Deh?"

 - "Deh..." he bent to graze her lips with his, before pressing softly against them.  "Kaja..." he walked her to the bedroom, where he fully intended to take a nap.  It didn't take long before they were both lulled to sleep by the drum-like sound of the rain on the window.

Ilana woke up first, used to HaEun's schedule.  It was about her feeding time.  Her felt a little full, but not uncomfortable and with the quilt over them, their warm cocoon was greedily keeping her in bed.  Stretching with as little movement as possible, she turned to the sound of her husband's gentle breathing.

- "Choah...when nae would wake up to Anae's kisses."

Ilana remembered what he'd told her.  "HaEun-ah...should Umma give Appa the desire of his heart?"  She mentally spoke to her daughter.  "Aleumdaun," she whispered.  He was handsome always, however; when he was asleep and at peace, Ilana could imagine him as the most beautiful angel.  No wonder HaEun was so cute when she slept.  She took after her Appa.  Unfortunately, he was wearing his sweater, so she contented herself with running her fingers gently through his hair.  She loved it when it was clean and free of products, nothing standing in her way.  "Sarang...it's almost been two years since we got married.  Can you believe it?"  He was asleep on his side, his arm under his head and the pillow.  It was a little chilly in the room; there were no curtains to block the cold from the windows.  She slid a little closer and very lightly placed a kiss on the corner of his lips.  It had been a long time since she had the luxury of enjoying him while he slept.  Getting bolder, she nuzzled his face, grazing her lips across his cheek, eyes, and forehead.  He twitched a bit, but otherwise remained sleeping.  The sweater, she decided, was ruining her fun.  Carefully, so as not to fall, she exposed a corner of his neck and gave it a little .  He exhaled in his sleep and repositioned himself to his back.  "Sarang?"  She whispered, wondering if he'd woken up.  She passed a hand in front of his face.  There was no reaction.  She continued her feather-light kisses on his face and a few well-placed damp kisses on his neck.  She lifted a smooth hand and brought it to her lips and held it momentarily to her face.  The quilt had fallen to their waist while they slept.  Ilana had an idea.  She covered them with the quilt and she brought her hand to the hem of his sweater, slowly inching it upward until her hand fit over his perfect abs.  She was straining to keep up her fun and not wake him just yet.  She kissed him a little more firmly, savoring the taste of his lips as she took each one very gently.  He responded in his sleep, almost startling Ilana, but she just smiled, accepting his sleepy kisses.

Jihoo was enjoying his wife's sweet kisses; he continued the tender pace she had begun.  He was in no hurry; although, something didn't feel right.  He wanted to hold her, cup her face, or run his fingers through her hair. Realizing his eyes were closed and thinking it was all a dream, he opened them to see his wife's face as she was leaned over applying damp kisses along his jaw.  He grinned.  "Annyeong..."

 - "Annyeong..." she murmured into his lips and then removed her hand from under his shirt, to snuggle up against him.

 - "Yah...Sarang didn't have to stop."

 - "Sarang is awake now,” was her response.

Jihoo drew circles along her back as she was busy finger writing 'saranghae' on his sweater covered abs.  "It's still raining; ara Anae would not like to go outside."

She shook her head 'no’ and laced her fingers through his.  Turning her head, she gave his covered chest a quick kiss.  "Choah..., na can't believe how busy we've been the last few weeks.  Time has stood still in this place.  Gwenchana, Sarang, we can sit on the porch and watch the rain for a little while."  She tilted her head to look at him and he gave the top of her head a kiss.

 - "Ani..., let's...just stay right here."  He shifted so that he could face her and brought her lips to his.  His lips touched hers, very lightly, yet she already felt that familiar tingling of excitement.  It made her blush, many times, how quickly with just a kiss and that teasing glint in his eyes it made the blood dance through her veins.  "Since Anae isn't protesting, na will take it she agrees."

 - "Pabo..." she tried to recover her advantage and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.  "Kaja...let's go roast the sweet potatoes."  Ilana sat up, only to be pulled back down, landing on top of his chest.

 - "Shiro..."

 - "Wae...?"

 - "Kisseu..."  Ilana inched herself forward, giving his cheek another kiss.  He pointed to the other cheek and she obliged.  He then pointed to his lips.  "What would Anae have done if na was still asleep?"

 - "Na would kiss Sarang very slowly," she demonstrated as Jihoo held her in place with his hands in her hair.  He didn't try to deepen the kiss, he just let her have her way with him.  She moved slowly to his jaw, grazing her lips back and forth.  Moving on to his neck, she gave him the damp kisses that she knew he liked.  Her hand began to find its way under his sweater again and she heard him catch his breath.

They lost each other in kisses and caresses.  Jihoo stomach as she did his all while smiling and gazing lovingly into each other’s eyes.  And when their lips couldn't bear to be a part anymore, they came together again.  Sometimes crashing like a tumultuous wave and sometimes just like the gentle lapping of the water on a lake.  "Sarang..." Ilana pulled away but continued touching his face and hair.  "How can a kiss convey so much...?  It's a greeting, it gives comfort to the grieved, it's in agreement with the happy, it is tender and sweet and passionate all at once?"

 - "Mollah...," he gave a kiss to her curious eyes.  "It depends on the heart of the one giving and the one receiving. Saranghae...," he gave the corner of her lips a light kiss.  "Saranghae..." this time he fit his lips completely over hers, very slowly caressing them.  "Saranghae," he said again, before kissing her boldly, making her melt against him.  She parted her lips in surrender and he caressed her tongue with his.  He could still taste a bit of strawberry on her and it made him not want to stop.  He continued to create little embers in , that spread delicious warmth down her body.  hearing her sweet sigh, he slowed their kisses to sweet and tender until coming to a pause, lest they overheat.  "Did I answer Sarang's question?"

 - "Mollah..., na will consider Sarang's words," she bit her lip, not wanting to giggle and really wanting to 'consider' his actions more than his words.

Jihoo couldn't resist her flushed face and gave it a few tender kisses.  "Sarang feels warm, shouldn't she remove her sweater?"

 - "Sarang too would be more comfortable without his, deh?"

They slowly removed each other's clothing, in between gentle kisses and caresses, like two teens wondering if they'd get interrupted at any moment.  Between work and their baby's schedule, it had been a long time since they could indulge in this type of lovemaking.  One where time was truly of no essence.  They explored every corner of each other's body.  There were things in life that had to be experienced first-hand and couldn't be explained in books.  There was the physical primitive release that came with and then there was the overwhelming joy and pleasure of making love to the one that is bonded to you.  She wasn't an object into which he relieved a need but when he caressed her body and he watched her respond, it sent little shocks of pleasure to his own body.  Their love was mutual, their passion was for each other.  He saw her own eyes sparkle with joy when he delighted in her gentle caresses.  Her smile would light up her face and she would nuzzle his face or neck, sending little warm waves of pleasure down his body.  Pleasure was a feeling but also an action, he thought.  For some time after they were married, her caresses were forced and timid in fear of his displeasure.  He reassured her that he enjoyed all her caresses, because they came from her.  "Areumdaun."  He hadn't touched her most intimate spots, nor she his; the most beautiful part of worshiping your lover's body was that the slightest touch brought pleasure.  With only light kisses and caresses, both were covered in a fine sheen of perspiration.

Ilana flushed red or redder at his compliment.  "Anhiya..."

Jihoo laid her back against the pillows, they had previously been kneeling in front of each other or her in between his legs.  "nomu areumdaun."  He saw her tremble as his eyes and hand swept her body, coming to rest on the little pearl that gave her so much pleasure.  Already eager for his touch, after all the teasing, she bit her lip, stifling a gasp at first contact.  He didn't just tell her she was beautiful; she was.  After giving birth, her body was just a bit rounder in all the right places.  She maintained her thin physique by walking on the treadmill or outside a few days of the week and her upper body with some light strength training, but her hips and her s had a nice curve that wasn't there before.  All the hard lines of malnutrition and depression were long gone replaced with an overall softness.  If he thought her lovely before, how much more so, now?  He leaned down and took her lips quickly and passionately, it gave an outlet to the sighs of pleasures she tried to stifle; she could release them into his mouth.  Deep in Her subconscious, that held side effects from that dark time in her life, made her feel embarrassed or shameful at being so exposed before him but he reminded her that he too was bared before her.  They both exposed their ugly secrets and now they were gone, scattered as far as the East is to the West as the Lord had taken their sins away.  "Saranghae," he murmured into her neck.  "Nomu hanbohkae that you are mine and naega yours."

 -"Na-na-do..." Ilana could barely think, the sensations that rippled through her body made it impossible to gather her thoughts.  She nibbled on his neck and then retraced the spot with her tongue.  She liked to see or actually feel his reaction when she did that.  He would hiss and shudder and then kiss her without restraint, letting her vocal release be muffled in him.  That gave her hands something to do, whether they be in his hair or somewhere on his body.  She lightly ran her hand along his chest and down his abs, grazing his most sensitive area with her thumb.  He gave a small bite to her lip, indicating that was enough and she should move on before losing the carefully maintained control needed for a slow and lengthy lovemaking.  Ilana nipped at his lip in response, slowly moving her hand up his arm.  The other hand joined in on the other side, going from arm to neck to chest.

Jihoo knew she was close to reaching her peak.  Though he thought it cute that she stifled her sounds of pleasure, it was a bad habit he wanted to break.  He had to tear away from her sweet and addictive kisses.  “Sarang, let me hear you, juseyo.”  He spoke into her neck in between trailing kisses and pausing to dance his tongue on her collarbone.  He’d been successfully teasing her and just needed a gentle push and she wouldn’t be able to contain herself.  His lips had reached her sensitive s and he very lightly kissed the generous swells and cupped their weight in his hand, drawing closer to the little rosebud in the center. He consumed it with his mouth and at the same time, curled two fingers inside her very warm center.  The double assault was too much for her to keep herself bottled up.

 - “Sarang...Jihoo-yah!!”  It didn’t take long before she was floating with the pleasure of his fingers and mouth.  She called to him, afraid of falling, but he'd never let her fall.  He brought her back gently, safe within his arms.

 - "Was that so difficult?"  He kissed her face softly.

She nodded weakly and straddled his lap, wanting to feel surrounded by his arms and chest, she gave him back some of the same sweet torture he gave to her.  She loved every second of loving him with her kisses and caresses.  She nipped at his collarbone and neck as her hands passed over his chest and arms, raising gooseflesh as they went.  Shifting herself closer, she teased his lips one at a time, until her own impatience got the best of her and she couldn't keep from consuming them.

March 5, 2016

There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand:  the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a young woman.

Jihoo's mind wandered as he drove them back to Seoul at five in the morning.  They'd had very little sleep the night before, but he wouldn't trade their precious time together for the sleep that they lost.  "Gwenchana?"  He looked over to his wife, who was trying to keep awake.

 - "Mmm," she nodded.

He took her hand and caressed the back of it with his thumb, he could swear she was blushing and he laughed out loud.  "What is Sarang thinking?"  Even more embarrassed now, she turned her head to look out the window.

 - "Amugeotdo (nothing)!"  She was fighting a giggle and he knew it.  He took her hand and kissed it, keeping it prisoner while he drove.  "Nampyon, Na can see that secret smile...what is going through your head."

 - "Pyŏllo (nothing in particular), na would like to repeat more evenings like last night with anae."  Ilana bit her lip, trying to keep her face from flushing like the strawberries they'd consumed.  "If Sarang likes, na can pull over and bite her lips for her?"

 - "Andwae!"  She yelled at him to stop his teasing; no longer able to contain her grinning or her blushing.

She pressed her warm face against the cold window, making him laugh.  Letting her hand go, he tried to focus on driving and not on her.  "Nae areumdaun anae."  They had made love until their bodies couldn't possibly handle any further stimulation, no matter how gentle.  Exhausted and content, they laid cradled in each other’s arms continuing with little kisses and words of love.  Jihoo liked to reiterate how beautiful and precious she was to him.

 - "Sarang is everything that is beautiful in nae life."

 - "If it weren't for Sarang, na wouldn't know what life is or how beautiful it is to live.  Nae chingu may have first planted the seeds of God’s love inside of me, but it was Sarang that watered and took care of those seeds.  Your labor was not in vain."

 - "Choah...hajiman Yesu used Sarang in nae life as much as he used me in yours.  To reach Sarang, na had to move away from the edge of the pit, deh?”

They were lazy until they couldn’t contain their hunger and clad in nothing but their robes, they fed each other bits of sashimi and other Japanese delicacies.  If a dribble fell on their chin, their other half would be quick to kiss it clean.  They teased each other with the chocolate covered strawberries that were so sweet and juicy, it was almost impossible to keep clean; giggling they made a good attempt at mopping each other up.  Inevitably, they still ended up sticky with strawberry juice and chocolate.  This was not unintentional, at least on Jihoo’s part.  Placing their dirty dishes out the door, Jihoo announced they needed a bath.  He picked her up and didn't put her back down until they reached the bathroom and he was filling the whirlpool tub.  It was the first time they'd taken a bath together.  The warm water and her own discomfort made her flush prettily.  It took her a while to get comfortable.  They soaked in the tub for a little while, he caressed her face and gave her nibbling kisses before taking the soap and applying it gently to her body.  He tickled her and kissed her until she laughed and began to retaliate.  He couldn't help being in love with his wife and despite the warm water, it was no match for his desire for her.  He'd never even made love to her in the shower, but suddenly making love in the bath was appealing.  He wanted it for himself, but at the same time, he wanted to remove any remaining subconscious memory that could hurt her.  In this way, all her experiences and memories would be of his love and his touch, giving her pleasure and joy.  Though she was shocked when he brought her to sit on top of him and even more shocked when he began to make love to her again, the gentleness of his touch and movements with the pulsing water, soon made way to a very pleasant experience for both.

Ilana shook her head to dispel these face warming thoughts.  She half glared at her husband; she'd never be able to shower or bathe with peaceful thoughts ever again.  "Gwenchana?"  Jihoo saw her movements from his peripheral vision.  "We'll be home in about fifteen minutes."

 - "Gwenchana, just clearing my head."  It wasn't exactly a lie.

 - "Sarang can take a nap after HaEun has her snack.  Sarang, wae don't we have our own worship service and Bible Study at home this morning."  This was opening themselves to an invasion from the rest of the F4 and his wife's friends, who would attend Church and not see them.  No one had been informed about their overnight plans.

 - "Arraso...if Harabeoji agrees, that would be nice."  Ilana stayed with eyes fixed on her husband and a soft smile on her lips.

 - "Wae...?"  He asked as he exited the freeway.

 - "Gomawo..."

Jihoo smiled, taking her hand again.  "Wae...?"

 - "My cup runs over with blessings, Sarang.  You've anointed me with your love and covered all my sins."

 - "Wae wouldn't I?   Sarang is nae blessed fountain.  Na rejoice in the wife of nae youth.  A lovely deer, a graceful doe.  Her s fill me at all times with delight; na am intoxicated always in her love."

 - "Yoon Jihoo!"  It wasn't that she'd never read the book of Proverbs, she'd just never heard that Proverb in quite such a personal way.  He grinned, but said nothing else, enjoying her sweet blushes.

When they arrived home and checked on HaEun, she must have sensed their presence and suddenly began to whimper, and little tears rolled down her cheeks.  "¿Perdona Mama, Beba (Baby girl, forgive Mama)?"  Ilana immediately picked her up cradling her against her body.  "Umma and Appa just wanted a little time together.  Don't be angry, deh?  Umma will make it all better.  Sarang, na will change her, go; get comfortable and we'll catch up."

 - "Ani, I'll wait for you two."

HaEun was ravenous, as if she hadn't eaten at all.  Ilana didn’t mind as she hadn't emptied her s, since early the previous day.   “Nado bogoshipo, Nena,” Ilana yawned as she nuzzled her cheek against the silky hair.  They were all laying quietly on the bed and getting drowsy.  Jihoo already had his eyes closed.  “HaEun-ah, Appa is sleeping,” Ilana whispered.  “Palli, so we can go back to sleep too.”

Their rest was short lived.  Pastor Victor regretted to call in a last-minute favor, but They needed someone to lead worship that morning.  That was the end of their plans to stay home that last Sunday. 

- "Of course, Pastor Victor, Jihoo and I will do it."  Jihoo nodded at his wife in agreement.

All the F4 families were in attendance that Sunday.  It didn't always happen that way due to work commitments.  Ilana's friends all attended other Church's.  Mina and YoungSaeng (when he wasn't working), attended the Catholic Church on Yeodo Island, while JungMin & Suzy attended in Seoul.  KyuJong and Emily were at the Presbyterian church across town.  HyungJun and YiHyun always worked late on Saturday nights, filming events, therefore getting them up early Sunday mornings didn't always happen.  Most of the time all the friends sat together, today was one of those days.  Ilana smiled at the row where their family sat.  Jihoo said it was her story or now, hers and Jihoo's story that had shown them God was not only real, but he cared about his creation.  "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."  Pastor had been teaching on how God works everything to his purpose.  It was not His purpose that Ilana should be abused and yet she survived to help other girls who'd been in the same situation.  She survived to give God the Glory.  Jihoo survived that dreadful crash after working through his own depression with the help of ministering angels, called friends, and become a beloved and successful Doctor.  God put him on the same path as Ilana to help her overcome her depression and to be that witness for Jesus's love.  Jihoo covered her sins with his love for her.  Together they made a difference in their friends’ lives, their powerful story of how God used their lives for His Glory could not be ignored.  As always, Ilana put all her heart into what she sang.  (Music)

All these pieces

Broken and scattered

In mercy gathered

Mended and whole

Empty handed

But not forsaken

I've been set free

I've been set free

Her friends and Jihoo had found Ilana broken; the Lord found her scattered.  He had mercifully picked her up and mended her torn heart and broken mind.  She was empty, truly believing she was undeserving of love and definitely believing that God didn't love her either.  But He didn't abandon her and neither did Jihoo.  God took her brokenness, healed her, and set her free to find Jihoo once more.  She had been hopeless, miserable, blindly bumbling through a dark and desperate life but the Lord's sweet Grace; his unmerited, undeserved love cast a light into the pit where she found herself and she could finally see.

Oh, I can see you now

Oh, I can see the love in Your eyes

Laying yourself down

Raising up the broken to life

Ilana saw the Lord clearly now, that He would die for her sins, still left her in awe.  She saw Him in her friends and in Nana and Harabeoji and especially in Jihoo.  He used them all to bring her back to life.

You take our failure

You take our weakness

You set Your treasure

In jars of clay

So, take this heart, Lord

I'll be Your vessel

The world to see

Your love in me

 - "Yesu, takes everything that is ugly and broken and makes us his treasure," she said out loud.  "My heart is yours, Lord.  Use me, so that the world will see your love in me."

Amazing grace

How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost

But now I'm found

Was blind but now I see

Ilana thought family was more Important than napping.  Sunday Was always set aside for family and they wouldn't see this family for three months.  Harabeoji agreed and Jihoo only reluctantly agreed to have everyone over for lunch.  That was how the usually tranquil Yoon home was thrown into complete chaos.  InSo and HaEun had just woken from their naps and were still cranky and clingy.  The men, JaeKyung and GaEul, along with the two big kids (InHei and JeongYul) were playing charades and Harabeoji had the two-year old’s (Korean years), Hana and JoengHee by the hand, outside observing the Koi fish and feeding them.

The rest of their friends chose to arrive at that time, adding to the chaos and laughter.  HyungJun and InHei greeted each other like long lost friends.  "Oppa!"  InHei jumped up, with a screech.

 - "Aigoo!  Nae favorite model is more yippeun each day."

 - "Hyeong!"  JoengYul’s formal speech went out the window with HyungJun.  "Did Hyeong bring us anything?"

HyungJun put down InHei and teased the two kids.  "If you can catch me, na might have a treat for You."  HyungJun took off running and the kids after him.  Jihoo and Ilana were slowly being replaced as the kid's favorite.

 - "Junnie Oppa!"  Ilana shouted.  "Don't bother Harabeoji and the girls!"

 - "These brats!"  JunPyo complained.  "We were just getting started."

 - "We'll play!"  KyuJong and Emily jumped in to play.

 - "I'm out," Jihoo said.  "I'll be referee and help stitch up the wounded."

 - "Gwenchanayo, Uissanim," KyuJong said.  "Na won't let them get out of control."

 - "Haenguneul bileoyo (Good luck)!"  Jihoo gave KyuJong a pat on the shoulder and went to greet Mina and YiHyun.  "Annyeong hasseyo," he inclined his head.  "YiHyun-ssi, anjaeyo."

 - "Kansamnida, I will in a little."

There was some hollering in the charades corner that made HaEun jump.  "Sh..sh... nada pasa, Beba (nothing's happening, baby girl).  See...InSo Oppa wasn't scared?"

 - "Adul, give HaEun-ah a hug."  JanDi leaned him over and he reached out to his dongsaeng, not quite giving her a hug; it was more of a reassuring pat.

 - "Aww," Mina cooed.  "He's so sweet."

 - "Kansamnida, Mina Imo," JanDi and InSo gave a thankful bow.

 - "Mina-yah did You get to see YoungSaeng Oppa today?"

 - "Mmm...for about five minutes.  He was late to Mass and had to leave immediately after."  Smiling in resignation, she answered their unspoken questions.  "Deh, it was easier to endure when it truly was a long-distance relationship.  Hajiman...when we are together, he never fails to assure me that naega the only one for him."  Thinking of Valentines night, she focused her attention on HaEun, so they wouldn't see her blush.  "Agassi, don't date an idol like Imo," she offered her arms and the baby came willingly.  "Beso (kiss)?" Mina gave her a noisy kiss on the cheek.  "Imo is going to miss you," she cooed.

 - "HaEun might end up being an Idol!"  JanDi said excitedly.  "Can You imagine?"

 - "Mollah..."  Ilana turned to Jihoo with a grimace on her face, making him laugh.

 - "As for her Imo," YiHyun narrowed her eyes at Mina, surprising her.  "Make sure That Otter behaves around you;" YiHyun turned to sit, leaving Mina blushing again.

 - "Greomyo!"  JungMin, Suzy, and KangMin walked in at this precise moment.  "Mina will beat him up and if there Is anything left, Ilana will finish him off."

 - "You!"  Mina yelled.  "I can't wait until You're back in California."  JungMin was unofficially drumming up business for both of his careers and popped in and out of the office like he owned it.  "YiHyun Unnie, see what you started!"  Mina went off to scold YiHyun some more.

Next, there was a raucous in the charades corner.  "Yah Monkey!"  JunPyo bellowed.  "Whose side are you on?  You whispered the answer to WooBin!"

 - "I won fair and square!"

 - "JunPyo-ssi, na was right next to her.  Ara she didn't," KyuJong tried to reason with him.

 - "Then she gave him a sign!"

 - "Oh, get over yourself, Gu JunPyo!"  JaeKyung shot back.  "Suzy-ah, JungMin-ah!  Come play so we can make new teams!"

 - "I'll hold KangMin," Mina offered.

Jihoo rolled his eyes and sighed.  "HaEun-ah, let's go see what Harabeoji is doing," he picked her up from the couch.  Her two Aunt's had kidnapped her.

 - "Sunbae, that sounds like a good idea.  Kaja, InSo.  Hokshina Harabeoji will tell us a story."  JanDi and Ilana followed Jihoo.

Outside, Ilana wrapped her arms around her husband's back.  "Sarang, isn't this much better use of our last Sunday, than napping?"

 - "Anieyo."

 - "Geojismaljaeng-i (liar)," she saw the humor in his eyes and stood on her toes to give his smooth cheek a kiss.

 - "Maja, Sarang, maja."  She knew him well.  After being alone and lonely for so long and as annoying as his friends were, he'd never want to return to the way things were before the Lord placed Ilana in his life.  He leaned down with HaEun to give her a quick kiss.

 - "Jihoo-yah!  Save your kisses for later.  Right now, bring me HaEun and I'll give these precious ones a story."

HyungJun was passing by, being chased by the two kids and stopped.  "Hajima!"  He shouted back at them.  "Harabeoji is going to tell a story!"  He sat on the deck an exhaled loudly.  "Na need a break," everyone laughed at him.  

Jihoo placed HaEun on her feet and walked her over to Harabeoji.  InSo was standing, while JanDi held him lightly by the waist.  He pointed at HaEun and pouted.  "InSo-ah Wae?"  JanDi asked.

 - "Nnnn...na!"

 - "HaEun-ah?  Did adul just say HaEun-ah?"

 - "Omo!"  Ilana smiled at the cute baby boy.

 - "JanDi-yah...let him go," Harabeoji said.  JanDi hesitated but complied anyway.  "Eeliwah..." Harabeoji waved him over.  "Come to HaEun.  HaEun-ah, call InSo Oppa...O-ppa."

HaEun was all smiles for Harabeoji.  "...pa...pa?"

 - "Maja, InSo Oppa..."  Harabeoji put his palm out to receive the boy.  InSo walked three paces before realizing his Mom wasn't holding on.  It took all Mom’s strength not to jump up and down in excitement.  The baby boy froze and Harabeoji took his little hand.  "Ah...nae InSo is such a good boy."  Harabeoji hugged the two little ones, tightly and gave them kisses.  HaEun tapped InSo's Arm as if saying "good job."  He, in turn, hugged her back.  He would look for her in the weeks to come, when visiting Harabeoji.

As Harabeoji Yoon was the favorite grandpa, HaNa and JeongHee began to complain.  "Bpo Bpo!"  HaNa stood and ran to Harabeoji.  JeongHee did everything HaNa did and followed.

 - "Aigoo, aigoo..." he drew the two little girls into his arms, while the other two sat on his lap.

InHei who had been rocking back and forth with laughter, suddenly had an idea.  She signaled to her partner in crime, JeongYul, and then she had him wrap his arms around Harabeoji on one side and she the other.  "Saranghae, Harabeoji!"  They both kissed a cheek.

 - "Ah...my heart is going to burst, it is so full," Harabeoji laughed in delight with the kids.

Jihoo and HyungJun took pictures of Harabeoji buried under all the kids.  "Majayo, Harabeoji, majayo,"Jihoo said.  Harabeoji had tears in his eyes and so did Jihoo and Ilana.

 - "Arraso, arraso..." Harabeoji tried to compose himself and Jihoo handed him his handkerchief.  "Yesu be praised for these little ones," he said.  "Who wants a story?"

 - "Na!"  InHei and JeongYul both shouted and sat down in front of him.

Harabeoji began to narrate the story of Heungboo and Nolbu.  Ilana wrapped an arm around her husband’s waist.  Like Harabeoji, her husband's heart was also about to burst as was hers.  She peaked at JanDi and HyungJun who both were wiping their eyes.  "Yesu be praised," she whispered into the afternoon.

The Unofficial End

A few epilogues follow, as we see highlights of Jihoo and Ilana’s future.  So, stay with me, deh?