Chapter 19：Ninteen: The end

The 'we'll talk tomorrow' part came after five long months.

The following morning when Kai went back home to get some sleep and put some sense into his wife he was shocked at not finding her in their home. He made a bee-line for the fridge i.e., after wandering around the whole house- where he found her note as usual.

'Mom called after you left. Papa had a stroke. Don't wait up for me. There is food in the fridge, get some sleep and have your breakfast. I might be back around noon.'

Kai: Mom, I just found Min-Soe's note. Where are you all at now? How is Papa?

Cerise: (tiredly) Kai, we are at City Hospital. Min-Soe has gone out to bring some medicines. I'll tell her you called. Min-Soe's Papa is stable now.

Kai: yes, mom I'll be there in an hour.

After that, he didn't bother freshening up and made a straight bee-line for the hospital.

After that incident, the couple became busy with their careers. Kai had to tour different cities around the world with his group and hold shows there- the result of the new album and the need of his fans. On the other hand, Min-Soe became busy with extending her father's business in foreign countries. They both came back home just for a bath and change of clothes. Kai had late-night concert rehearsals while Min-Soe had long hours of gruelling meetings with people she couldn't remember. They were living like two room-mates in the huge house.

The proof of each other's existence was Kai's video notes and her handwritten notes. The situation became like as it was at the start of their married life.

He sent her video notes and messages, telling her about where he was, what everyone was doing and how much he was missing her. He made the others record messages for her too. Sometimes the guy's didn't hold back and sent their own recorded videos to her involving Kai who was caught off guard by their rapid-fire at him involving her or all of them just being a crazy bunch.

Min-Soe too didn't hold back and sent pictures of her having a great time of her own during her free hours in the different cities she was visiting as a part of her business expansion tour. To top it off, she also left him her handwritten notes on their fridge door. Which mostly included scolding's from her when he didn't take good care of himself and also telling him how much she loved him.

The notes were a great source of hope for Kai who was coming back to an empty home week after week. Some days he found piles of notes stuck to the fridge. Usually filled with all the chores he was supposed to carry around the house while she was gone.

The five months of their separation came to an end finally and one fine night the couple sat on their porch in silence just enjoying the noise of the night. The stars shone brightly in the dimly lit area which made their moment much more meaningful.

Kai: (breaking the silence) do you remember that one of our talks is pending?

Mel: (leaning her head on his shoulder) um- so how did you find out about my previous CEO?

Kai: (glaring in the distance) the hosts on the show I was shooting there were loudmouths. Also, we did some research.

Mel: (looking up in his eyes) you want to say something?

Kai: Min-Soe I was really angry with you back then. I couldn't understand why you didn't tell me such a big thing.

Mel: (casting down her eyes) at first I thought that it would die down but it just went on becoming worse. (Shuddering at the thought) I considered telling you but then I couldn't understand how you might react so I kept quiet.

Kai: (softly) don't you trust me?

Mel: (looking in his eyes) I do trust you.

Kai: (pecking her knuckles) sometimes you do make me feel like an outsider you know?

Mel: (bowing her head down) L-Love I-

Kai: (placing a finger on her lip to silence her) I know baby, you want your space in certain situations even I do, the feeling is mutual but I am your husband too. You need to understand that I worry for you. It's my duty to worry about you. I am not saying that you should tell me everything but I do feel like I have the right to know if something is bothering you. I would appreciate it if you tell me rather than I hear about it from others.

Mel: (nodding in understanding) I understand Love, I'll try not to hold back. It won't be easy and I may slip up sometimes but you have to know that old habits die hard.

Kai: (pulling her closer) I know it and I am also aware that our jobs don't make it easy for us either but we have promised each other that we will work hard for our relationship and for our love. For that promise to be fulfilled I want you to be with me by my side not just as my support system but also as my everything. We have promised each other that we'll be for each other in sickness and in health; it won't be fair if only you get to keep your end of the promise.

Mel: (slightly smiling) no Love, it won't happen again. I promise.

Kai: (kissing her forehead) I hope so. (Picking her up bridal style) let's get you in bed now.

***

On their anniversary's eve, the couple had luckily got another free night in between their busy schedules. Kai sat on a stool playing his piano checking out different melodies which were making way into his mind one after another. Mel sat beside him absently going through her phone looking for one or another update.

It had been a month ago when they had made it public, revealing that they were dating- rather than coming out with the huge bomb of being already married.

Kai had posted a few pictures of both of them in his private social account to share them with his closest friends and family but someone had hacked his private account and leaked those pictures for the whole world to look at. It sure did cause a huge uproar as many hearts were broken but many even admonished the hacker for being a big-nosed prick for doing something shameless as putting his long nose into someone's private life.

The couple had been quiet in the beginning but once Kai's president approved for them to come out as couples who were dating they had agreed and together released an official statement to confirm what the general public already knew. Their relationship got mixed reviews but they could care less about it. They were partly relieved about the fact that the news had seen the light of the day. Truth be told keeping the whole thing a secret was becoming tiring for both of them.

Mel: Love, I'll have to leave tomorrow night for Shanghai.

Kai: (absently) hmm-

Mel looked up at him frowning. She could clearly tell that he hadn't heard a word of what she had said. He just sat there humming to himself and pressing random keys on the piano- well random for her.

Kai: (to himself) I think this melody sounds good.

Mel couldn't take it anymore and bit him hard on the shoulder. He was shocked by the pain that rushed through his 'moments ago perfect arm' and blinked in surprise to see Mel biting him hard. A random scream tore through his lips a beat later.

Mel stopped biting him and met his angry eyes calmly, she patted him once on the shoulder which she had been treating like a loaf of bread not moments ago and got up from the bench to head back to the kitchen. Too bad for her, the luck wasn't on her side because Kai recovered quickly enough to grab her retreating arm and pulled her back to the place she had vacated.

Kai: (glowering) What was that for?

Mel: (flushing red at the proximity) you were ignoring me.

Kai: (licking his lips) well, you have my complete attention now.

Saying so he crashed his lips onto hers before the heated kiss turned to something much more intense and fiery.

Thus, the couple celebrated their first new year's eve in each other's arms before the imminent separation coming towards them the very next night.

Next night, Kai came to see off his wife at the airport. He was holding her hand tightly not ready to let go of her just yet.

Mel: This is the first time you've come to see me off, Love.

Kai: This does remind me, our honeymoon is still due.

Mel: (grinning up at him) I had completely forgotten about it.

Kai: believe me even I had. My tours will end next month baby, will you be free then?

Mel: (nodding) yes. This will be my last trip anywhere for some time.

Kai: (groaning) it's really hard when your wife is one of the young leading tycoons in the country.

Mel: (swatting his shoulder gently) I had to find a way to keep myself occupied when I've got a world star for husband. So where will you be taking me?

Kai: (pecking her forehead) I have several destinations in my mind. We'll pick one when you return.

Mel: (hearing the last call for boarding and sighing) I should probably leave.

Kai: hmm-

Mel: (feeling low) why is it hard this time? You shouldn't come to see me off in future. It's your fault.

Kai: (staring deeply into her eyes) ok.

Mel: I've left notes for you, don't forget to water the plants and take care of my home and my husband-

Kai wouldn't have it if she started to talk about plants at such a crucial moment. He silenced her ranting by pulling her closer and gently kissing her forehead.

Kai: (letting her go) I'll be waiting for you. Come back soon.

Mel nodded mutely but a small smile on her lips made a huge difference, it worked like a charm and lifted the melancholic air around them into the one filled with waiting and love for each other. She made sure to turn around and wave goodbye at him still beaming while Kai stood looking at her retreating back until she vanished from his sight.

Kai spent his days- i.e., a week- reminiscing about the memories they had made together.

The first was about their time spent together working on projects in their middle school. He had been intrigued about her back then when she didn't even spare a second glance in his direction while the whole school swooned at just his single smirk.

The girls around him had labelled her to be an egoistic bitch but he knew better than to believe others words. He had often found opportunities to observe her outside the school environment. She hadn't seemed like a stuck up to him in her natural environment.

Then the day came when the teachers announced them to be the partners for an upcoming project. The whole class population had groaned at the most non-interactive pair of the class. He still remembered how she had taken a deep breath whilst giving herself a pep-talk and found the courage within to greet him for the first time. It was then that he knew she was different from others. When their project was completed and they had developed a pretty strong friendship Mel had broken the news of her moving out of the country. She hadn't told him for how long as she too had zero ideas about it.

Fast-forwarding to a point a decade later that they met again- all thanks to their parent's meddling. He was awestruck when he saw her again for the first time. She had been grown up into a confident and beautiful young woman who lived by her own rules. Although both of them had been wary about the idea of getting married they just knew deep down that it would work.

Kai sat alone in their love seat puffing out the smoke from his cigarette while he doused it out by pressing it hard on the ashtray. He closed his lyric-book as no idea came to his mind in his current lovesick state. He heard the door click open in the silence of the empty house.

He couldn't remember anyone with a key to their home visiting him that day. His wife had told him that she would be coming back the next night as an urgent meeting was scheduled at the very last moment.

He really didn't understand how she changed her priorities so easily. He still had a hard time wrapping his head around the idea that the journalist he had married was now one of the most sought out youngest entrepreneur- adding beautiful to that list too.

Curious about who could have been visiting him he made a beeline to the front door. To his shocked surprise, he was met with beaming eyes of Min-Soe who was grinning from ear to ear. His words got stuck in his mouth and he stood there once again surprised by her. Mel chuckled to herself when she saw him shocked beyond surprise before she sprung onto him hugging him tight and whispering that she missed him.

Kai responded not a moment later now completely sure that their decision of getting married when the opportunity presented itself was the best thing that they could have ever done before he inhaled deeply and buried his face in her neck.

The-End