Chapter 227 - Burdens

Somi was reading a new drama's script when Hyun Jung walked in. He was tired and exhausted from the events of the past few days. 

"You alright?" she asked as he slumped on to the couch next to her. 

"Just tired," he muttered. "Ziko is dead." 

"What?" Somi gasped. "Wasn't he under high security? What happened?" 

He narrated the details. Somi listened intently, his words increasing her worry. 

"We think it was Ash," Hyun Jung stated. "He's the one who will benefit the most from Ziko's death." 

"But how did Ash know?" she asked. "How did he know which prison Ziko was being transferred to? Abyss has many prisons! So how did…" 

She bit her lip. "Is there a snitch?" she asked. 

"There must be," he agreed. Even though they did not discuss it openly, the chances of having a snitch amongst them was very high. Otherwise, how else did Ash know? 

"We have to discuss this with Mirae and KJ," he said. "Not with anyone else. And don't tell this to the others." 

His head was aching. So many revelations and they were still nowhere near catching the main culprits. It was getting out of hand. 

Somi pitied Hyun Jung. He was truly trying to help his best friend just like she was. But how will they find a nameless enemy? Was it even possible? 

"Come here," she said, straightening her thighs. "Lie down on my lap. I'll massage your head." 

Hyun Jung sighed and lay down on her lap. Somi gently massaged his temples, easing his nerves. 

"You worry too much," she said. "We came really far. The journey was hard, but I have a feeling that we're nearing towards the end." 

"Who knows," Hyun Jung sighed. "I just want KJ to finally live a happy life. But all these secrets about his parents and now Ziko's death…I wonder how he's taking it." 

"He has Mirae," Somi said in a soothing tone. "She'll take care of him. I can tell. KJ loves her a lot and slowly, but surely she's feeling the same. You should have seen the episode on Sedong's show where he confessed his love for her-" 

"He did what?" 

Hyun Jung was incredulous. KJ was not the type to confess his feelings easily. He was too closed off and masked his thoughts with feigned irritation, which only made him prickly. 

"How come I didn't know?" he asked. 

"Well you were busy rescuing Goo Soo Bin and Eli," Somi pointed out. "There will be a repeat telecast tomorrow. Just watch that one." 

"I will," he laughed. 

He felt a lot lighthearted. He could not wait to tease KJ with his confession. 

"I wonder what Mirae's reaction would be,"  he snickered. 

"Knowing her," Somi giggled. "She would probably go to Tibet and become a hermit." 

…. 

KJ and Mirae returned home very late at night. Jade was asleep in his cot. 

"Did you feed him?" Mirae asked. 

"Yeah…" 

An awkward silence fell between them as they made their way to their room.

"You should wash up," KJ said. He was avoiding her eyes. 

Mirae mumbled "Okay." She hastily picked up some clothes and went into the bathroom. 

KJ sat on the couch, thinking about the events of the past twenty four hours. Not only did he find out about his own mother's dark past, but the murderer of his mother figure was also dead. The enmity which transcended time came to a harrowing end. 

All these years, he thought that Ziko's death would bring him some relief. It would finally free him from a heavy burden. But knowing that his former friend was the one who pulled that trigger, made him feel suffocated. He felt responsible for Ash's descent into madness. 

What if he had not changed the timelines? What if he had stayed back that time? Mirae would not have died in that timeline. Ash would have been a successful idol. EXOTIC would still exist. And if he had let go of revenge, he could have lived a happy and satisfied life with Mirae. 

But with Ziko's death, everything changed. Ash can no longer salvage his life. KJ would have to go against his friend while Mirae would be forced to choose sides. 

Mirae came out of the bathroom to find KJ deep in thought. 

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"I thought his death would free me from a burden," he lamented. "But it only increased the weight of it." 

"Did you really think his death would free us?" she questioned him. "No! His death did nothing to ease the weight we're carrying. It won't lessen our grief nor will we stop our quest! The only way we would have been free was by bringing Ziko to justice. Let him be accountable for all his crimes. But by killing him, Ash made sure that we are never freed. He wasn't punishing Ziko. He was punishing us."

There was a deep scorn for the man she had once loved. The little hope she had for him diminished with Ziko's death. There truly was nothing left on her for him. 

KJ stared at her, wondering what she was thinking. 

"He can't redeem himself anymore," he said softly. 

Mirae turned to look at him. "I know," she said firmly. 

She gave him a small smile. Enticed by her, KJ unconsciously moved his hand to push a strand of her wet hair behind her ear. 

Mirae felt his warm fingers linger on her cool skin. She blushed as she remembered their intense encounter in the evening. 

She cleared her throat, breaking KJ out of his reverie. He realized what he was doing and quickly retreated his hand. His little friend was beginning to get a little too excited. 

"I'll go and wash up!" he said at once, scurrying into the bathroom. 

"Yeah," Mirae croaked. She began to fan herself. The air conditioner was set to really low temperature. Then why was she feeling so damn hot? 

KJ emerged out of the shower wearing only a pair of pajamas. Mirae, who was drinking a glass of water, choked as she saw his shirtless torso. 

"Aren't you gonna wear a shirt?" she gritted. 

"No, it's too hot," KJ said, feigning ignorance. He was aware of how her cheeks flushed upon seeing him like that so he decided to stay shirtless. "Why? Will it be a problem?" he asked seductively. 

"Absolutely not!" she snapped as she piled up pillows in the middle of the bed. "Stay on your side!" 

"I will," he said. "I can't be too sure about you."

Mirae stuck a tongue out at him and laid down on her side facing away from him. All she had to do was not to turn around all night. I can do that, she vowed. 

KJ smirked. He was testing his wife's patience on purpose. He was sure she would be drooling over him the next morning anyway.