Chapter 10
Min woo turned to his side and stared at the peacefully sleeping figure facing him. He lightly traced Angel’s face in affection then quickly retreating when she stirred slightly. He didn’t expect them to go so far last night and nothing was as planned yet it all seemed so right. He felt entranced in her undisturbed serene persona that he felt the urge to cherish her, forever.
A strange feeling rooted itself in the pit of his heart and the bloom or not of this seed in his heart was up to him. With everything that he’s been through, maybe he would finally realise that happiness was only a grasp away.
“Min woo?”
“Hey....did I wake you?”
Angel’s eyes were now open and her voice broke into min woo’s thoughts. He smiled so liberally at her without any constraint and it made her heart jump to see him so happy, and she could only hope it was because of her.
“Don’t you have to go to work? What time is it.....?”
“I still have a little while....don’t worry about me.”
Pulling her close, Angel rested her head in his bare chest and could smell the cologne and sweat mix of his body. She felt so secure in his arms that she never wanted to let go. Today should have been the first day of their honeymoon but because min woo’s company was at the peak of it’s busy time of the year, Angel made up an excuse and pushed their honeymoon back. Min woo knew she only said her café needed her because she wanted him to attend to the company so he promised to make it up to her.
“Angel....?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. I have a feeling everything is going to work out just fine. Thank you so much....”
“It’s nothing really.....”
Min woo suddenly sat up and pulled Angel with him. He took both her hands in his and stared at her gravely.
“Angel, I want you to know that no matter what happens, you’re my wife now and I’ll always be true to you. I promise.”
She only nodded and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Min woo acted fast and wanted to pull her in again but she learnt her lesson. She jerked back quickly and smiled cheekily like a child.
“Come on you big baby. Get out of bed and go to work.”
Min woo pouted and pretended to look angry.
“No. You’re being mean to me Angel.”
“Aww....”
She laughed and whacked him on the head. He proceeded to grabbing her arm and not letting go until she kissed him on the head to make the pain go away. At first Angel would not give in but one look at the bedside clock told her min woo was going to be late. A quick peck led to min woo’s smiling face and he finally got up to take a shower. Angel shook her head, she had never seen this side of min woo before and she was amazed at how different he really was. Sure he places a never changing mask on in front of people and half the time people respect him only because they were scared of him but that wasn’t the real him. Just his stare could send a company employee out the door to write a resignation letter. He still had to learn to relate to other people and Angel took it upon herself to teach him. That mask had to go.
* * * * *
While min woo was in the shower Angel picked out his attire for the day and placed them neatly on the bed. Min woo walked out only a few minutes later looking refreshed but extremely grumpy. He hastily changed into his grey BOSS suit and tie before turning to the dreaded task. Blow drying his hair. From afar, Angel watched him struggle and the expressions of fury at his hair. She at last got up and led him in front of the dressing table and got him to sit down. Plugging in the blow dryer to the side, Angel started on min woo’s untamed hair. Within minutes his hair fell to his face like silk and looked so professionally done min woo’s eyes widened at his change of appearance all of a sudden.
“Hey...you’re so good at this.”
“Of course....I worked in a salon couple of years before in
She turned off the blow dryer and gave his hair a last brush through before allowing him to stand up. Min woo turned around to gaze at her face, searching in her eyes.
There’s so much I don’t know about you......so much I want to know.....
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, nothing. Are you going to be alright at home? Don’t worry about dad okay? He’s like that sometimes.”
Angel’s happy face faded at the mention of min woo’s father. It was only a couple of days before when Angel came to ask for permission with min woo for their marriage. Thinking back, Angel couldn’t say she was hurt, maybe just disappointed that min woo’s closest family member despised her.
“What? You want to marry this girl? Who does she think she is? What about soo jin?? Min woo!! I forbid you.”
“Dad.....Angel’s a great girl.....why won’t you give her a chance?”
“I said NO. I’m only going to accept soo jin as my daughter in law. I don’t care what you say or who she is. How can you do this to soo jin, min woo? How can you?”
Angel never showed any sign of annoyance that day because she knew his father only acted out of love. The man did not understand the twisted story they were each living out, entwined with the other. She didn’t blame him.
I know how you feel dad.....how I wished soo jin was the girl today with min woo.....but.....she doesn’t want him......she doesn’t want him dad......I wish as much as you do that she was here because I know how happy min woo would be.....but.....nothing works out the way you want them to be sometimes....for better or for worse...I don’t know.....but I promise you......if one day min woo wants to let go of our marriage.....I will not speak one word and retreat from his life in silence......if there is any sign soo jin regrets her choice.....I will step back into the shadows and let them live out the fairy tale destined for them.....I....will let go.....
“Angel....? ANGEL?”
“Huh? Oh, sorry I was just thinking.”
Min woo pecked her on the cheek and squeezed her shoulders in support.
“Don’t worry about father. He’s being childish and nothing can change our marriage now. I’m sure he’ll come around, he’s not really that much of a prick usually.”
She nodded and saw him downstairs to the door and waited until his company car faded into down the street. Sighing she walked back upstairs to get herself ready for work.
I was never worried about your father min woo.......it was you all along giving me insecurities but I think I’ve finally learnt.......the more hope I have.....the more it will hurt when you throw those hard cold reality daggers at me....maybe it really is time I started to protect myself.....
Chapter 11
Placing the last plate delicately on the table, Angel pulled a chair and sat down with the family for dinner. Before she could even touch her chopsticks, min woo’s father spoke up.
“WHAT one earth is this? You don’t call this FOOD do you? Soo jin cooks much better than this!”
“Uncle Lee.....”
Soo jin looked away embarrassed.
“What? I’m telling the truth.”
“Dad...the doctors said you need to eat healthy food from now on. No more grease.”
Angel answered while eating away peacefully.
Min woo’s father bloated his face in anger and bellowed.
“WHAT? Who are you to say what I can or can’t eat!! MIN WOO?”
He looked towards his son who was also eating away happily for support. Without even looking up from the food, he replied almost bored.
“It’s true. You should stop eating all the oily food from now on. The doctors said the chance of a stroke for you is very high.”
“Yeah uncle Lee, and you know Angel unnie’s cooking is fabulous. It’s just your food that she didn’t put a lot of flavour into. I could never cook like this.”
Soo jin went on eating happily along with min woo and Angel. No one took Mr Lee too seriously because they knew he didn’t mean anything. He loved to bellow and shout but they just brushed him off all the time.
“HMPH”
Min woo’s father sat there with his arms crossed refusing to eat until his stomach gave a loud grumble. He picked up his bowl and started on the food that was specially prepared for him.
“Oh yeah, I booked you in for yoga lessons too. The doctor suggested it would be good for your temper which affects your health.”
Angel reported watching him make weird faces whilst gulping down the food.
“WHAT??? YOU can’t do that! Min woooo???”
“I think it would be good for you dad.”
“SOO JIN???”
“Yeah, I agree with oppa.”
“HMPH! All you people are against me now. Taking her side.....I’m going to lock myself in my room....after I finished eating...”
He went back to his food after a final glare at the three kids who were talking and eating joyfully among themselves.
Min woo.....she’s a great girl....but.....I can’t help but think...you’re heart does not belong to her......please prove me wrong.....I’d hate to see her get hurt.....
* * * * *
“Hey, are you okay?”
When they both entered their room Min woo immediately wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on her shoulder.
“You’re so heavy and yes I’m fine.”
She joked carelessly and fell onto the bed in a thump.
“I’m so tired. Go have a shower min woo, I’m going to rest first.”
He looked at her adoringly and moved a few strands of hair off her face before proceeding to the shower.
Dad will come around.......thank you so much for taking care of him....sometimes I forget how much I neglect him when I get busy......
Min woo....what are you going to do when I’m not here......dad’s been having serious problems with his health.....I can take care of him now....but......who’s going to be here with him when I go.......?
She sighed before tucking herself under the bed sheets and voided the world where she was thinking too much.
* * * * *
She gave his hair one last brush over before pushing him out the door. It was like a daily routine and min woo would not step out of the room without Angel blow drying his hair. She knew he was being childish but she didn’t mind, she wanted to do something for him.
“You go down first, I’ll be right down after I change.”
“Okay.”
He walked down the stairs looking extremely serious as he carried his briefcase and files in one hand.
In a few moments Angel walked out of the room and came down to where min woo was. She picked up her bag and kissed him on the cheeks before she wanted to walk out to the car but min woo immediately blocked her way and looked severely at her.
“You can’t go out looking like that.”
“What? What’s wrong with me?”
She inspected herself, a short dark green skirt and a jade green halter top. The outfit complimented her skin colour and wrapped around her body, showing her figure to almost perfection.
Angel was confused at min woo’s words as she wasn’t exactly sure what was making him angry.
“Go back and change.”
“Why?”
“I refuse to let you go out like this.”
“But...min woo, I’m late. Come on, let’s just go.”
She made an effort to pull him away but he would not budge.
“Go back and change now. I don’t care if you’re late. If you don’t change, don’t even think about going out today.”
Angel’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You wouldn’t dare...”
“Oh yeah?”
With that min woo sat down on the couch and set down his briefcase as if to say he wasn’t about to go to work and watch the door the whole day.
Angel finally gave up and glared at him in a major amount of irk.
Whilst trudging up the stairs to change she met soo jin who was coming down.
“Hey unnie. Aren’t you late? What are you doing?”
“I’m going back up to change. CAN YOU BELIEVE that brother of yours???? He’s not letting me dress the way I want. I mean he never cared before. EURGH!”
Angel let out her stress but soo jin, to her surprise only laughed until tears spurred to her eyes.
“Oh my god, really? Don’t worry about it. He does that to me all the time. I didn’t think he would do that to you too! You better go change. Last time I had to stay home with him watching over me because I refused to change. This is so funny.”
Soo jin bounded down the stairs laughing.
Angel stared after her in awe, a small feeling of unexplainable contentment found its way to her. Somehow, the idea of changing didn’t annoy her so much.
Is it because......he cares....?
* * * * *
Min woo refused to admit that it was jealousy pulling at him. When he saw her perfect figure coming down the stairs, anger immediately overtook and he didn’t care if Angel would get annoyed, he just had to keep her away from all the guys he knew that would buzz around her like flies. If he could have it his way, he would lock her up in the room and keep her to himself. He denied the fact it was blatant jealousy because he found this feeling so unfamiliar but as soon as Angel walked down again, still angry, but dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, the tugging feeling at his heart loosened its grip instantly and he could breath with ease now.
Without another word, min woo took Angel’s hand and led her outside. He was feeling considerably happier now.
“Let’s go, you’re going to be late.”
“OH! You noticed??”
She smirked and made her way to the front seat next to the driver, leaving min woo to be at the back by himself but Min woo only smiled all too happily. Something was changing but he didn’t stop the change because.....he liked it.
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