Chapter 185 - EXOTIC (XVII): Married...Again?

The media gathered around the hospital the next day as they waited for Mirae's discharge. They were eagerly anticipating her appearance, waiting to pounce on her since the news leaked that the new couple were planning to marry that same day.

KJ was waiting inside a limo. The reporters were swarming his car, trying to get a glimpse of him. He ignored them. During the last timeline, their marriage was a lowkey affair and they had just finished off his grandfather's final rites. There was no media and just the two of them along with Butler Shina as a witness. 

But now the presence of the media irritated him. But what he really regretted were the circ.u.mstances of the marriage. He was not able to give Mirae a proper wedding ceremony in either of the timelines. He came to regret this. The security guards hired by Abyss were struggling to push the media back but the pesky reporters were persistent for the story.

"Aren't you nervous?" Hyun Jung asked. He was acting as KJ's witness.

"No he's not," Jinhyun cut in before KJ could answer. "His face looks as if Christmas came early!"

KJ shot a look at him.

"His poor exes must be furious," Dasom commented as he scrolled through his phone. "The fans are definitely trending your name worldwide. Half a million tweets in thirty minutes. Wow."

"Why are you two here again?" KJ asked sourly.

"We're not gonna miss your wedding!" Jinhyun exclaimed.

"Yeah," Dasom chimed in. "Who thought we'd attend your wedding someday? With your commitment phobia and all?"

"It was kind of a shocker when we heard that you agreed to this," Hyun Jung admitted in a serious tone. "I'm just surprised that…"

"What?" KJ frowned.

"I'm just surprised that your ex girlfriends did not start a petition against you," Hyun Jung said, nodding seriously. "After all the things they say against you, they should have banded together and marched at you with anti-KJ slogans."

The three of them burst out laughing. KJ's face soured. 

"Why did I have to wear this silly tux?" he complained.

"What else did you expect to wear?" Dasom shot at him. "Please don't tell me that you were planning to wear one of your ridiculously colorful clothes."

"Thank god Somi had texted and ordered us to make you wear that tux," Jinhyun chuckled. "Otherwise you'd have worn your frilly clothes and ruined the wedding pictures."

"Wedding pictures?" KJ choked. "Are you guys forgetting that this is a marriage of convenience?"

"Uh huh," Hyun Jung rolled his eyes.

"Sure," Dason said sarcastically. KJ grumbled and looked outside. As soon as he glanced out, he felt his heart stop.

Mirae stepped out of the hospital, wearing a simple white knee length dress. It perfectly complimented her pale skin. Her hair was held up in a loose bun and she wore minimal makeup. Her cheeks gave a rosy glow and she looked absolutely radiant. 

As she emerged from the entrance, everyone held their breaths. She looked like an immortal fairy who had landed on the realms of mankind. For a moment, the reporters were mesmerized by her natural beauty as she walked elegantly, with her head held high. 

The cameras flashed to take snaps of the beautiful girl in front of them. The questions the reporters had died in their lips as they scurried to capture the moment as Mirae walked towards the car. The security guards pushed them back as they made way for Mirae to reach the car. 

KJ, as if in a trance, stepped out of the car. He stood tall, towering over her as she came closer. He held out his hand which Mirae took with grace.

"S-shall we go?" he stammered. Mirae smiled widely at him. 

"Yes," she said, giving him a friendly pat on the cheek. The cameras around then clicked away madly as the couple got into the car. The image of the beautiful couple made it to all the media channels. The fans who were hostile suddenly started to praise the visually stunning couple.

"They look so cute OMG!"

"Look at how he looks at her! That's true love!"

"I've never seen KJ look like that!"

"She's so beautiful! Perfect for the Nation's Idol!"

"Ideal couple?"

"They went through such a big tragedy and are still madly in love!"

In less than an hour, millions of tweets emerged, praising the new couple. Quickly, the fans began to label them as the Nation's Couple.

"The tweets are wild," Dasom whistled as he scrolled his Twitter feed. They were on the way to the Family Court to register the marriage. Mirae did not comment but kept on staring outside.

"Are you two really okay with this?" Jinhyun asked. His question was directed more towards Mirae.

"It's too late to back out," Mirae replied with a small smile. "Besides, it was the only way. Otherwise the Cartel would have ruined KJ's image. It was KJ's immense fame and public image which kept him protected all these years. If he falls from grace, then he'd be vulnerable to their attacks."

"Let's just get this over with," KJ sighed. He tried to keep a cool expression but he was failing to keep calm. In all honesty, he was very nervous. And Mirae looking that gorgeous did nothing to appease his tensions. 

Hyun Jung and Jinhyun noticed KJ's nervousness but did not say anything in front of Mirae. There were reporters following their car while fans crowded on the streets to celebrate. 

"What are they doing?" Mirae suddenly asked, pointing outside. A group of fans were standing on top of a building. As soon as the limo passed by, the fans unraveled a six storey long poster.

"CONGRATS TO THE NATION'S COUPLE," it read in bold letters. It was followed by a series of fireworks which blasted through the bright sky. Suddenly, there was a shower of flowers. Fans threw rose petals on the limo from the tall towers surrounding them, covering the whole roads with flowers.

"Nation's Couple! Nation's Couple!" they chanted. 

"The fans are really stretching it," KJ said in a worried tone.

"They want to celebrate," Jinhyun commented. "Even if it's a marriage of convenience, they'd still want to celebrate. They love EXOTIC after all."

But KJ was worried about Mirae. All this will overwhelm her especially after her traumatic experience over the past few days. He glanced at her only to be surprised. She was smiling as she watched the flower shower.

"They are so nice," she said softly. Even if they were lying, the love and support the fans were pouring for them made her feel happy and grateful. 

"Are you okay?" KJ asked.

"I'm fine," she smiled. She really meant it this time. "I will be fine."

She returned her gaze to watch the celebrations outside. KJ felt his nervousness appeasing as he stared at her smiling face.

….

"Sign here, please," the registrar said, pointing at the blank spaces. "And the witnesses sign here."

He handed the papers to KJ and Mirae. Both of them hesitated a little before picking up the pens. They filled up the forms and signed their names on it. Afterwards, Hyun Jung signed his name as KJ's witness while Jinhyun put his name down as Mirae's witness. Somi was still at the hospital and could not make it. But she had insisted on doing Mirae's makeup and even ordered a custom made dress for her.

"You're not getting married while looking like a ghost," Somi had threatened her when Mirae tried to protest. Remembering her friend brought a sad smile on Mirae's face.

The registrar looked through the papers and went inside. After fifteen minutes, he emerged out, carrying a file.

"Here is your marriage certificate," he said. "I now announce you two, married."

KJ and Mirae thanked him and stood up to leave. 

"Congratulations," Jinhyun said, hugging KJ."Although I'm not sure if that's the right word." 

"Thanks," KJ muttered.

"It's fine," Mirae assured Jinhyun. He also gave Mirae a brief hug.

"When are you leaving?" Mirae asked him.

"Day after tomorrow," he replied. "Thanks for asking me to be your witness."

"It's the least I could do," she smiled. 

"Do you really have to go?" Dasom asked. "There are plenty of music schools here!"

"Let it go," KJ said sharply. 

"How long will you be gone?" Hyun Jung asked.

"Two years," Jinhyun replied. 

"Have you packed?" Dasom asked.

"I still have a bit of packing left," Jihnyun admitted. "Let's go and get everything sorted."

"I'll have to go to the precinct too," Hyun Jung said. "Will you two head off to your new house?"

"Yeah," KJ said. Mirae did not ask him where they were going but simply nodded. 

"Call me when you get there," Hyun Jung said. The couple said bye to them and headed back to the limo.

"Where are we headed?" Mirae asked as they got in.

"The only safe place I know of," KJ said. "You'll see."

Mirae was confused but did not voice it out. He was being very secretive about their new living arrangements. They rode in silence for twenty minutes, observing the continuous celebrations outside arranged by the fans. 

They're really happy, Mirae thought. It made her feel a little guilty because she felt as if they were playing with the feelings of the fans. 

KJ could tell that Mirae felt guilty for their lie. He wanted to reassure her but the words would not come out. He, too, felt extremely guilty for playing with fans' feelings but they had little choice. It was either this or let the Cartel ruin their reputation and leave themselves open for attack.

After a while, a familiar scenery came into view. Mirae frowned and shifted in her seat to take a clear look at the place. 

"No way," she whispered. It was a place she had been to in the past but that was long ago. Yet, the place was still the same as it was in her memories.

"Welcome home," KJ stated as he stepped out onto the threshold of Kwon Mansion.