Chapter 247 - Comeback (7): Her Tactic

"If you're this miserable then stop giving him the silent treatment," Somi said warily. She was at the gym with Mirae. They were given a private space to work out due to their public status. 

Mirae had told her about the fight she had with KJ and how they were not on talking terms for weeks. Even though the media still portrayed them as the ideal couple, they were barely seeing each other nowadays. KJ kept on working on his comeback while Mirae was left behind to look after the company. Sometimes, the big mansion felt too empty for her without KJ but she was determined to teach her husband some restraint. She wanted to see what he does and how he tries to work on his savior complex for her sake. 

To her disappointment, he stayed away from her. She kept on checking her phone every now and then, hoping to see a message or missed call but there was nothing. 

"It's not easy," Mirae said, bending her back in a yoga pose. "If I let him off the hook, some other Dami will come and cause more trouble. Besides, it's not just about Dami." 

"Then what is it?" 

Mirae straightened up and sighed. "At first it was noble but lately, this trait of his is beginning to bother me." 

"Which is?" 

"It's his…tendency to put himself in danger," Mirae said. "He doesn't think about himself at all. He'd put himself in danger instantly if it meant trying to rescue someone. He doesn't stop to think of alternatives nor would he consult someone. He'd just jump straight into the fire pit. At first, I used to think that he was working on instinct but now it seems like it's his habit. It's an obsession. So far, he survived due to sheer luck. But that luck is gonna run out someday and I'm afraid of what will happen once it does."

There was a hint of tremendous sadness and pain in her voice. She had been bottling up her worries for a long time but after the incident with Dami, she was being forced to reflect on the underlying issues of their relationship. 

"I'm not saying that wanting to save someone is wrong. I really admire him for it. It's the very reason I created Abyss, so that I can save people. But he takes it to a degree where he can die despite having safer options. In the process, he endangers other people too."

Somi thought about her words. Mirae was not entirely wrong. KJ's penchant for saving people was a little too excessive when he kept on endangering himself when others are trying so hard to protect him. 

"His past run-ins with the Cartel," Somi counted. "Being shot by Madam Hong while shielding Ash, almost getting himself killed by Ash and Junhyung, getting himself kidnapped by Ziko to save you and being set up by an obsessive lover. I think I know what you mean. It is a habit of his. He never thinks of himself and to some extent nor for others." 

"Exactly!" Mirae exclaimed. "He doesn't even realize how we will feel if anything happens to him! Which is why, I want him to truly reflect and try to think with a clear head."

"How would we feel or how would you feel?" Somi asked shrewdly. 

Mirae hesitated before answering, "How I would feel." 

"Yes, but the guy is completely clueless," Somi pointed out. "He did not even try to talk to you for weeks. I'm pretty sure he's beating himself up in guilt." 

"Well, that isn't going to help him," Mirae sighed as she did pilates. "He'll only be off the hook when he learns some tact and starts to think more about himself. And us." 

Somi snickered. 

"What?" Mirae asked sharply. 

"Nothing," Somi quickly lied. But inside, she was wondering if Mirae truly understood the depth of her own feelings for KJ. She was not angry at KJ's savior complex. 

She was afraid of losing him. 

"You know, you gotta get him on track," Somi said slowly. "Make him really regret his actions." 

She gave a sly grin. Mirae could tell what her friend was thinking. 

"You don't mean…?" 

"I do." 

…. 

KJ returned home very late at night. Even though his shoot had ended early, he had Psycho add additional activities to his routine. Even though it looked as if he was working hard, he was in reality giving Mirae some space. 

Ever since that day, he was unable to meet her gaze. How could he? She was hurt by how he had ignored Dami's advances due to their long friendship. The guilt was eating him and whatever hopes he had for a relationship was dashing away. 

But he was determined to win back his wife. They might not be on speaking terms but he had a plan. This comeback was a gift for him in disguise and he was being patient. He felt guilty for hurting her but he put extra efforts on this particular album. He did not want to make mere verbal promises anymore; he truly wanted her to let her know how he felt about her. That there was nothing more important to him than her. 

He was eagerly counting down the his first comeback stage for this album. With only one week to go, he was nervous yet excited. 

Carrying his notes in his hands, he busily checked them as he walked towards his bedroom. Upon entering it, he briefly glanced up and almost dropped his papers. Mirae was casually sitting on the bed, reading a book and munching on ch.i.p.s. Only that she was wearing a s.e.xy pink negligee. 

Mirae pretended not to hear him and kept on reading her book. KJ was ogling at her as the blanket gingerly brushed up against her smooth legs. Her cleavage was visible and the negligee barely covered the lingerie she was wearing inside. 

KJ tried hard not to look her way but she was making it very difficult. He knew that she was trying to punish him and make him relent. They had not talked for weeks so he was preparing for a very special way to make it up to her. But her tactic was testing his patience. 

Mirae watched from the corners of her eyes as KJ struggled to keep his gaze off of her. He put his notes down on the table and took out a pair of sweatpants from his closet before heading off into the bathroom for a shower. 

He emerged after twenty minutes, wearing the sweatpants. The cold shower did not help him at all and his little friend was in pure agony as Mirae was curled up on the bed in that dress. He was afraid to even glance at her as it will break his resolve. 

Instead, he picked up his workout shoes and exited the room. Mirae, who was holding back her giggle, burst out in laughter at her husband's reaction. Somi's idea was working. "Serves you right dear hubby," she giggled. 

That night, KJ ended up running twenty laps around the garden.