Chapter 228 - Angry Kitten

KJ woke up the next day to find himself entangled by a pair of hands and feet. Something soft was leaning against his back. 

He frowned as he glanced back. Mirae was drooling on his back as she slept like a log. After their little tryst last night, she had put up extra pillows in between them, creating a wall. But it could not withstand her kicks and she rolled over to his side, using him as a comfortable pillow instead. 

He smiled thinking back to last night. Despite Soo Bin's revelations and Ziko's death, last night was a big step in his relationship with Mirae. For the first time in many years, he could see a ray of hope. 

She unconsciously moved her leg. It was hanging dangerously on his little friend. He could feel it stiffening up at her touch. 

"How can she sleep so peacefully?" he wondered in dismay. "Oh well." 

He turned around and wrapped her in his arms. She sleepily snuggled close, oblivious to everything. KJ smiled and kept on holding her. 

An hour later, Mirae's eyes fluttered. A familiar musky cedar scent hit her. She opened her eyes to find her hands wrapped around  KJ's staunch body. She gasped as she realized, she too, was being embraced by his strong arms. Did she kick off the pillows' barrier? 

Mirae wanted to run away in embarrassment but his hold on her was tight. He was still asleep, so she could not free herself without waking him up. In spite of her mixed feelings, she could not help but admire him from up close. 

His silky bangs fell a little over his eyelids. There was a slight frown on his forehead, as if he was dreaming of something. Mirae gently smoothed it out with her fingers. Her fingers trailed his sharp jawline. He had a little stub. 

"Woah, idols grow beards?" she snickered. "Wonder what his fans will say?" 

Making sure that he was still asleep, she touched his hair. It was unusually soft and silky. For some inexplicable reason, he felt extremely comfortable. She momentarily forgot her previous embarrassment as she stroked his hair playfully. He always kept his hair brushed backwards since he liked to stay prim and proper. 

"He should seriously keep his bangs down," she sighed. "Look Jiwon, I'm messing up your hair." 

She held back her giggles as she messed up his hair. Unbeknownst to her, KJ was awake the whole time. He was curious how his wife would react, when she woke up. Her reaction was not good for his little friend. 

"Blue hair would look good on him," she was saying thoughtfully. 

"I agree." 

Mirae yelped in surprise when he suddenly yanked her, pressing her below him. His dark eyes staring at her green ones with an intense passion. 

"I-I," she stammered but KJ leaned towards her

She closed her eyes, nervously thinking he was about to kiss her. To her surprise his lips touched her cheek instead. 

"Good morning, wifey," he whispered seductively in her ears before getting off her. Mirae lay there for a few seconds, red in the face. 

"We have plenty of work to do," KJ was saying as he opened the closet. "Planning for Six X's music video. The song is ready but-" 

A pillow came flying at him. He narrowly dodged it, surprised. Mirae was glaring at him like an angry kitten. 

"What was that for?" he exclaimed. 

"Figure it out yourself!" she snapped. She got off the bed and headed for the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. 

KJ was stupefied by her anger. Maybe he took the joke a little too far. 

Inside the bathroom, Mirae was trying to calm her heart. For a moment there, she actually thought he was about to kiss her. And she…anticipated it. But he teased her like that and pecked her cheek instead! 

Mirar touched the spot on her cheek before shaking her head furiously in denial. She washed her face numerous times but the blush would not go away. 

Her conflicting feelings were overwhelming her. She slapped her cheeks. 

"Snap out of it!" she scolded herself. "It's a marriage of convenience. He deserves someone much better." 

Yet, her heart would not listen to her.

….

KJ entered the office alongside Mirae, who was avoiding him. He tried to apologize for his joke but she was pretending not to hear him and instead hurried off towards her cabin.

He sighed and headed towards the studio to meet with the Six X members. Dami, Yuna and Norah were sitting there, looking over at the music notes. They did not look up as he entered the room. 

"Where's Jimin?" KJ asked. 

"She is at an early morning CF shoot," Dami replied. "We'll fill her in late-" 

She glanced up only to be shocked. KJ had his bangs down. 

"Your hair," she said, pointing openly. "You changed your hairstyle." 

"Ohhh KJ oppa, you look cute!" Yuna piped up. "How come you never changed it when we suggested it?" 

"Isn't it obvious Yuna?" Norah cut in before KJ could reply. "His wife must have made him change his style! Not that I mind, oppa!" 

She gave him a teasing smile. Dami, on the other hand, pursed her lips. 

"It's not bad," she said. "The old one was better though." 

"Don't be such a killjoy Dami," Yuna laughed. "KJ oppa looks good in any hairstyle!" 

"Can we please concentrate on our music?" KJ groaned. "Now about the concept, we'll go with a demon concept. The background will portray hell but not the fiery pits. It will be a rather psychological hell…"

He began to explain  the music video's theme. Yuna and Norah were apt with attention but Dami was scrutinizing him. 

KJ had changed since marriage. The aloof playboy had changed into a doting husband. Dami had yearned for years to make him see her with a loving gaze. She wished he wrote songs for her and her only. 

His cold eyes now carried love and care. He wrote love songs from his heart. But not for her. It was for Mirae. 

And it was killing her from the inside.