Chapter 295 - Take Me Inside

In the late afternoon, KJ and Mirae ventured outside for lunch. To avoid the public, he took her to an exclusive upscale restaurant owned by one of his acquaintances. It was safer and only a short distance from his villa so it was the perfect place to relax without much intrusion. 

Upon entering, they were greeted by the receptionist.

"Good afternoon sir and madam," she bowed in respect. "Do you have a reservation?"

"Yes," KJ replied. "Under the names of Mr. and Mrs. Kwon."

He was wearing a mask and a cap to avoid detection. Mirae was also wearing a mask since her face was also well known to the public by now. The receptionist quickly checked the database and stated, "You are at VIP room number twenty. Please take the stairs on the right and a server will guide you there."

KJ nodded and turned to Mirae. "Let's go," he said. She nodded and followed him.

The restaurant was shaped like a cottage but the interior was carefully designed to reflect the culture of the island. Since Jeju Island was a tourist spot, there were colorful paintings from local artists hung on the walls while the furniture was made out of bamboo sticks. Potted ferns hung from the ceiling, adding to the environment friendly aesthetics.

"Your friend really has a nice taste," Mirae complimented. 

"Yeah," KJ said. "He built this place specifically for celebs and public figures who look for a quick getaway. The access is restricted but I called him this morning to let us have a reservation and he agreed."

They reached room number 20. It was a private parlor with a comfortable couch and dining table. A server came up to them.

"Good afternoon sir and madam," he greeted. "Would you like to order now? Or should I come back later?"

"Could you tell us about the specialties here?" Mirae asked. "I would like to try some of the local delicacies but I'm not very familiar with them."

"Ahh then I would suggest you try the seafood here," the server smiled. "Our island is very famous for the freshly caught seawater fish. I would suggest you try our fried calamari or the local Gulfweed Soup as an appetizer. As for the main course, if you like fish based food, then I would recommend the famous Okdom Gui with Abalone Porridge. It's summer time so I would not recommend the Seafood Hotpot but it's perfect for the winter season. As for dessert, our special Bingsu is a must! It will cool you down in this heat."

"Everything sounds amazing," Mirae said, feeling awed. She turned to KJ. "What do you think?"

KJ pondered for a while before saying, "Bring all the dishes you had suggested. We would like to try them."

The server bowed and noted their orders before saying, "Please wait patiently sir while we prepare the food."

He then left the room, leaving the couple alone. 

"Have you called Hyun Jung?" Mirae asked. "How is Jade doing?"

"According to Hyun Jung, Jade is enjoying Somi's company a lot," KJ laughed. "After all, he is her biggest fan."

"What will happen to him?"

She was worried for the cat and what KJ would go through if something happened to Jade. They were at their wits end, trying to come up with an idea but it was of no use. The only way was to find that shaman who had sent Jade to them but even KJ had no clue on where she might be. 

"If only we could find the red lady," he sighed. 

"I can try asking SD," Mirae suggested. "If you can tell him the description, he can find her."

KJ was not completely keen with the idea but they had little choice. If SD could help them find her, then maybe she would be able to give them a solution. 

"We'll save him," Mirae promised. "I know we can. Let's keep trying."

She gently touched his palm. A silent understanding passed through them, both determined to find a solution for Jade. Just then, the server appeared with a trolley carrying the food. He placed them on the table. The delicious aroma struck their nostrils.

"Enjoy your food," the server said with a bow before leaving. Both of them dug into the food.

"Mmmm…this is good," Mirae said in wonder, tasting the Gulfweed Soup. The broth was cooked to perfection while the meat was soft and juicy. KJ placed a few calamari into her soup.

"Try it with that," he suggested. "Tastes even better."

He was right. The crispy calamari mixed with the broth was exquisite in taste. Her favorite, however, was the Okdom Gui. She had heard a lot about the famous Sea Bream of Jeju Island which was used to make the dish. The texture was so delicate that it melted in her mouth. She put more food on KJ's plate, who still ate way too little according to her.

"I'm fine!" he protested as his wife put more scoops on his plate but she was not listening. 

"You need to eat well!" she scolded him. 

"I don't want to gain weight! I'm an idol after all!"

"Just burn it off with exercise," she told him. "But don't deprive your body of minerals!"

She looked so crossed that KJ had little scope to argue back. Her 'punishment' was already enough and he did not want to enrage her more. He kept his mouth shut and let her stuff him with food. 

….

By the time they returned back to the villa, the sun was already setting. The red and orange sky was mirrored by the ocean, creating a perfectly symmetrical view. They stood on the beach for a while, watching the sun set.

"It's so beautiful here," Mirae murmured. "I wish we could stay here forever."

KJ put his arm around her shoulder and said, "We'll come back again next year. And the year after. We'll come here as many times you want."

"If we can make it that far," she said, a little sadly. 

"We will," he promised, kissing her forehead. "Let's go in." 

She nodded and they went back inside the villa. KJ changed into his sweatpants and went straight for the gym indoor situated right next to the swimming pool while Mirae curled up on a sofa in the living room, reading a book. 

When she looked up at the wall clock, she realized that two hours had passed already. KJ was still at the gym so she headed there to check on him.

"KJ, it's almost-" she started, entering the gym but her words were stuck in her throat. KJ was lifting weights, his muscles bulging. He was shirtless and his whole body was beaded with sweat. His abs were ripped and he looked like a Greek God, perfectly sculptured. Even though she had seen him n.a.k.e.d many times, there was just something attractive about the view of him working out.

"You're drooling wifey," he said when he noticed her ogling at him. Mirae pouted at his remark. He put down the weights and put a towel over his damp hair, walking towards her. "I'm still being 'punished' remember?" he reminded her, a sly smirk playing on the corner of his mouth. 

"I know!" she scoffed haughtily. He winked at her and sat down on a bench by the poolside, wiping his sweaty skin. Mirae came to stand behind him.

"Let me dry your hair," she offered. KJ shrugged and let her wipe his hair. She gently rubbed his shoulder, her hands slightly brushing against his skin. For some reason, the slight touches aroused her. Her fingers trailed across his toned arms, caressing them. 

KJ grinned as he felt his wife's butterfly teases. Mirae brought her lips close to his neck, nuzzling them on his nape. Suddenly he turned around and pulled her on his lap.

She was so flushed with embarrassment that she hid her face on his chest, her hair covering her blushing cheeks.

"Does this mean I'm no longer being punished?" he whispered against her ears. 

Slowly, she nodded her head and coyly said, "Let's go inside."