Chapter 12
It had been weeks after their wedding, Angel and Min woo’s relationship was definitely improving. Anyone could see how close they were, the mutual relationship developed over the years led to more understanding and min woo began to experience weird emotions for Angel. He never thought too much about it as soo jin was not completely out of his mind. Much of this would be the work of Angel, if she hadn’t been so understanding, so forgiving, so loving, maybe min woo wouldn’t take her for granted like so.
The more time min woo spent with Angel, the more he did not want to leave her side. Every morning he would demand to take her to work, even if it meant being late and he made sure he finished all the work at work so he could come home and have dinner with her and the family. His father had never seen him home so often. Most of the times, he would bring home mountains of paperwork to do but he liked having Angel by his side and looking over him while he worked. It was one of those guilty little secrets he probably would rather die than admit.
“Angel! Are you ready?”
“Coming....!”
Angel shouted as she bounded down the stairs in the usual jeans and t-shirt for obvious reasons why. She waved goodbye to soo jin and made sure dad went to yoga lessons that day. She threatened him with bodily harm if he didn’t.
If you don’t turn up and I find out.....I’m booking more lessons for you....
Then she rushed out and got in min woo’s car routinely. The driver nodded and smiled at her before starting the engine and the house behind them quickly disappeared.
Angel leaned back on the car seat and sighed. Min woo, noting her long sigh quickly turned away from the window and inquired.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“Huh? Oh, no....I was just thinking....”
“About what?”
“Well......it’s just that.....min woo.....you don’t have to take me to work everyday. It’s way too much trouble and anyway, you’ve been missing so many meetings in the mornings these days.”
“Don’t be silly. I can’t let you get the train every day.”
He brushed off her concerns and smiled.
“But min woo.....”
“Angel, I find it perfectly reasonable for a husband to take his wife to work every day so don’t worry, and anyway I don’t want you to take the train in the morning.”
Min woo said as a matter of fact but inside he knew it was because he wanted to keep her by his side as long as possible. If Angel hadn’t insisted on keeping her café, he would have liked her to stay home every day and wait for him like a traditional housewife. He couldn’t help but think of all the men out there that wanted her. Min woo could still remember clearly the amount of guys that used to come to the café just to see her. Maybe she didn’t care but somehow he took in the all the sights of them with her. Min woo guessed it was because she wasn’t interested in love which was why she was still available until he asked her to marry him but he was wrong. Every girl’s dream is to find her soul mate and spend the rest of her life with him and Angel was no different. She found hers through a little incident two years ago but fate had other plans for her. Her soul mate had the perfect girl already and she could only watch them from afar, wishing them the best. Even till now, Angel never took him for granted. She prepared every aspect of herself for the day when he would leave her. She treasured every minute and second spent with him because she didn’t know whether there would be another minute or second for them. As min woo grew to understand more of his feelings towards her, she was edging away. She had finally learnt how to let go and she was ready.
“Look, I’ll tell you the truth. I can tell you are running late on a lot of your assignments and things at work because of the hours you miss every morning. Even if you deny it, I won’t let you take me to work anymore. Don’t worry about me going on the train, Hye sung oppa will pick me up in the morning.”
“WHAT? Shin hye sung? NO.”
Min woo’s voice and temper rose slightly.
“Why not?”
“You can go on the train then. I don’t care what you say. It’s bad enough he works with you and now he wants to take over my job? Tell him I’ll never let you go!”
He spun his head away to avoid looking at Angel. She rolled her eyes and sighed again.
“Lee min woo.....what are you talking about? Hye sung’s my friend whether you like it or not. Now stop being childish!”
“No seriously. I see the way he looks at you. It’s obvious he-”
“Stop it before I get really annoyed.”
Her toned down voice made him cut his sentence short.
You see the way he looks at me....?
Let me tell you something.....
I see the way you look at soo jin.....
So let’s keep it this way......pretend we don’t know.....I’ll admit it to you, I can’t lose hye sung....because I’ve come to rely on him....I need someone there to knock sense into me when I fall too deep....I need someone to show me the way back to reality when I lose myself in you.....I need someone to remind me.....when to walk away.....
Min woo said nothing at first but came around to apologise.
“I’m sorry Angel....I didn’t....It’s just that-”
“It’s okay.”
“Angel? If you really want me to stop taking you to work....then...”
“Thank you.”
He didn’t reply this time and slumped back into the seat. Soon enough the car pulled in to the front of Angel’s café.
As she opened the door to step out, she turned back to peck min woo on the cheek. Min woo, feeling really bad, pulled her back by the arm and searched her eyes.
“You’re not angry are you?”
“No...of course not...”
She smiled and kissed him again just to wipe the nervous expression off his face. Min woo smiled too and breathed out a sigh of relief. He never knew having her annoyed at him could be so nerve racking.
“Oh yeah Angel, some employees organised a beach picnic this afternoon. I wasn’t going to go but if you want to....then...”
“Sure, sounds like fun. I wanted to meet some of your friends at work anyway.”
“Well....we’re not exactly very close.....I mean....it’s just a boss and employee relationship.....and...”
“Ok,I get the point. Pick me up here?”
“I’ll see you at 3 then.”
Angel stepped out of the car and slammed the door close. She watched until the car merged into the street before turning to go inside the café.
What’s.....wrong....with me.......?
* * * * *
“See you tomorrow hye sung! Thank you so much for covering for me.”
“It’s okay, have fun today.”
“I will....”
He watched her run out into to the door and into a dark blue car. He could tell it was Lee min woo’s car because of the expensive brand even though it was a different car from last time he saw him. Min woo seemed to change cars every so often, like 2 weeks or so. He also had very expensive taste. Hye sung shook his head and gazed into a state of nothingness, thinking about nothing in particular. He felt very content and happy these days because every morning when he saw Angel, she would always wear that smiling face. The genuine smiling face he had missed seeing so much. Things finally seemed to look up for her.
* * * * *
“Min woo can we stop by my old apartment for a second before leaving?”
“Yeah sure. Why?”
“Oh, I wanted to get my swim wear.”
“Huh? Shouldn’t that be at home?”
“Oh yeah but I have a couple of them still at my apartment. It’s closer to go there than home.”
Min woo nodded but a rush of confusion and hurt clouded him. He didn’t understand why but the feeling kept gnawing at him as they drove to Angel’s apartment. Within minutes Angel was rattling her keys, trying to open the door that wouldn’t budge.
“Finally....come on in...”
Following in behind her one look at the apartment deepened his worries and discontent. Everything in the apartment seemed to have been untouched, right down to the frames on the table. Even though Angel had not been here for ages and dust was starting to appear here and there, the apartment did not look unoccupied. To min woo, it looked as if it was waiting for its owner to move back.
“Angel, I thought I told you to move all your things to my place after we got married.”
He questioned her while his eyes darted around the apartment.
“Oh yeh but the rent here is really cheap so I thought it would be good to have this as a storing place.” She answered from inside her room. Soon enough Angel walked out with a beach bag and full changed into proper gear.
“Let’s go...”
“I don’t care about the money. Get rid of the apartment and move everything to my place. You only came with one suitcase, I thought you would bring more things over time.”
He pulled free from her arms and stepped back.
“Min woo, does it really matter if I still rent this place? Stop being weird. Let’s go.”
She said nothing more and pulled him outside.
Knowing there was no use trying to control Angel, he let himself be dragged out but his eyes never left the interior of the apartment until she closed the door. The place was filled with Angel’s scent and style that he longed to stay there for a little while more. It seemed so different from their home. When she moved in, only one suitcase was brought by her like he said. She only brought her essential needs and nothing more. Their bedroom did not enclose her style, her colours, her likes, nothing that Angel personally picked out or chose. She reminded him of only a passer-by.
You came with so little.....and now I see this place.....I feel as if.....you are getting ready to leave....but....why? I thought we promised each other.....the vows....they weren’t for nothing......I won’t let you go Angel.......because...because.....
They stepped down the stairs and into min woo’s car. With a last look at the apartment Angel sighed but hid her feelings from Min woo.
I can’t let the apartment go....it’s my last wall of protection.....maybe one day....I will need it.....
Chapter 13
Their spirits rose considerably higher as the beach approached.
“Hey look, is that them?”
Angel pointed at a large group of people when she stepped out of the car. Min woo looked over his shoulder and nodded. He got out their stuff from the car and led Angel down to the sand.
“Hi Mr Lee....Mrs Lee...”
They all chorused in unison politely. Angel made a face at min woo and broke free from his hand. She ran to the group and wore a big grin.
“What’s with Mrs Lee? Makes me feel so old. Just call me Angel.”
They all looked awkwardly at min woo and was scared to speak. Angel saw their looks and threw min woo a nasty look.
“Have you been really mean to your workers?”
She asked with accusing eyes.
“What? No....”
He said, taken back by her question. He felt uncomfortable being so close and open with his workers. Usually he would probably only speak once or twice to them when he absolutely needed to and they were too scared to make conversation with just one look at his face. Not that he was hideous looking but because of his never changing and stone cold expression. The eyes locked behind a barrier, not wanting to reveal his true colours. Obviously he was very good at it too.
“You guys don’t have to worry about him......if he dares to get all business like I’ll whack him on the head for you all....”
Angel caught their expressions of disbelief but with another look at min woo they all breathed a sigh or relief and amazement. A small grin was playing on the corners of their ‘slave driving’ CEO’s mouth. They’ve never seen him so up-close let alone actually be able to view him like one of them. Immediately all the workers cheered and pulled Angel into their circle happily.
“Angel....you’re so pretty! We’ve always wondered what Mrs Lee would look like...”
A girl with a sweet looking smile grabbed her hands and spoke excitedly and then in a whisper to make sure min woo didn’t hear she said something that made Angel laugh.
“....lucky your personality isn’t the same as Mr Lee’s......”
“Don’t worry....he annoys me too.....”
Angel replied and stuck her tongue out.
Without much time Angel was like one of them, chatting and playing happily in the water. Min woo still felt a bit uncomfortable so he sat on the sand and watched her smiling without any restraint from afar. Her sparkling eyes and her laughing face was mesmerizing that he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“Hey you guys...I’m going to go change. I’m getting too wet....”
Angel shouted over the laughter and ran back to where min woo was sitting.
“Hey, aren’t you going to come and play around....the water feels so nice today.”
“No....I think sitting here by myself will suffice...”
“Party pooper. Come one.....It’s so hot here.....we’re at the beach and you STILL looked overly stressed...”
She tugged at his sleeve but he didn’t even budge.
“Hmph....I’m going to change THEN I’ll be back to bug you...”
She walked off to the car to retrieve her bag.
Min woo’s eyes followed her and waited until she emerged again, walking towards him in......very little material. His eyebrows knitted together and a deep frown cut across his face.
“What’s wrong?”
Angel asked him and she approached. She had changed into her swim suit and was putting on sun lotion. She was wearing a black two piece, bikini suit.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come?”
She asked him once more and when he shook his head she sighed and walked back to the group who were now trying to drown each other in the water.
Min woo watched her go and saw the reaction the male members gave when she walked close. Some couldn’t stop staring while others shouted and whistled. It was true, she looked stunning in the swim suit. The sight made min woo livid and he stood up and ran towards Angel.
Seeing him running to her, Angel thought he had changed his mind and was about to wave when he caught up to her and took off his pure white Armani business shirt.
“Hey...what?”
Before she could react, he placed it over her shoulder and the shirt, fitting min woo’s figure was so large on her it covered most of her flesh. She wasn’t stupid and knew what he was doing....
“Lee...min woo....you....”
His arms pulled her in and she fell into his chest. Min woo tightened his grip and hugged her tightly. There was no reason why he did it, just an urge.
“Min....woo...?”
Whilst Angel was still confused and searching for some type of reason, everyone in the background cheered and splashed water on them both. An inevitable layer of pink appeared on Angel’s face and she buried her face in min woo’s chest, unable to face anyone.
“Lee min woo....wait till we get home.......this is so embarrassing...”
But he only smiled and rested his chin on her head.
* * * * *
“Ahhh....I’m so tired.”
“Who told you to move around non-stop today?”
“I’m no party pooper like you!”
Stretching and yawning, Angel couldn’t keep still in the car on their way home.
“Min woo...let’s do this more often....”
“Okay....whatever you like...”
He replied carelessly but missed the gleam in her eyes.
“Really? Okay then. We’ll do this next Tuesday. I already made plans with them.”
“What??”
Min woo swerved the car but immediately gained control again.
“Hey hey hey! No need to kill me for it.”
Angel commented and smiled.
“I was just trying to scare you.”
“Don’t you think I know you well enough to know what you’re thinking?”
Angel smirked and turned to watch the outside scenery passing by.
“So are we going?”
She asked after awhile.
“Yeah sure. You looked like you were having a lot of fun today.”
“I was, it feels great to get out once in awhile. You have to promise to come on Tuesday ok?”
She looked at him sternly like a child who couldn’t be trusted.
“I promise.”
* * * * *
“DAD? We’re home!! Did you go to the lesson? Argh...If I find out you didn’t....”
She stood at the door taking off her shoes and dusting off sand while shouting. When she received no reply, a quizzical look from min woo sent her bolting in.
“DAD??!!”
Her worried voice was evident but when she entered the living room, her eyes widened in disbelief. Min woo’s father and soo jin sat on the living room sofa, one on each side. Both heads were turned the other way. Min woo’s father looked furious and soo jin was near tears.
“Dad? Soo jin? What happened?”
Min woo entered behind Angel and asked. He had never seen his dad get angry at soo jin before.
“It’s good that you’re back min woo. Go on soo jin, you tell your oppa what you just told me.”
“Soo jin?”
Min woo directed his gaze at the girl with her head down and almost shaking.
“Soo jin? What’s wrong? You can tell me....”
He walked to her and kneeled down in front of her with his hands around hers. Something pulled at his emotions inside.
“Oppa, I told...uncle....that I wanted to go to
“WHAT? No.”
Min woo’s immediate reaction only caused more tears to spurt from soo jin’s eyes.
“Why..??? Danny and I-”
“Danny?”
Raising his eyebrows, min woo gave Angel a look and then turned his attention back to the teary girl in front of him.
“Oppa......Danny’s going to
“Soo jin, do you know how far
He spoke softly and comforted her.
“Oppa......I have to live by myself one day....why won’t you........let me go....?”
Her question sent min woo into a state of shock and triggered many questions in his heart.
Why........won’t I let her go....? How come.....I’m still hanging on.....do....I still....? No.....but......maybe I....have....to let her go now.......after all....isn’t that why....
Angel stood to the side silently in through everything because she had no say in this. She watched her dad’s pained silent stares in soo jin’s way and min woo’s unstable eyes and words. She knew how much they loved her and hoped soo jin understood too. Feeling like an outcast, she turned on her heel and walked up the stairs, to no one else’s awareness. Her legs took her up the stairs one by one but she felt numb, lifeless, tired. Without another thought, she flopped onto the bed and closed her eyes, shutting out all the heartaches, wanting to escape into her dreams, or at least somewhere that’s not here.
Has the time...come....?
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