CHAPTER 9

ARIN

Rain dripped down slowly, spreading water all over my bedroom window gallery… I laid down on the bed, with my eyes fixed on the ceiling roof… Hongseok was sleeping beside me in his deep slumber… I tried closing my eyes, but the scene of Iseul killing that innocent bird flashed before my eyes repetitively… What was I going to do to bring her back into normal human form? Was it safe to let her live with us? I'm all used to these paranormal activities but what about Hongseok? To which extent am I going to bother his normal routine life? Wasn't it taking an advantage of his kindness…

I turned around his side and passed my fingers through his hair, tears fell down my eyes. He knew everything before marrying, still, he never thought twice about spending his entire life with a messed up human like me. His love for me was much greater than the powerful influence these Goddesses had over me, what were those good deeds Arisa have done in the past life that I got to meet my soulmate in this life? Arisa… you're listening to me, right? You're still inside me, right? Just when I was lost in my deep thoughts, I felt a tight grip of a hand over my waist. Hongseok was wide awake and looking at me with doe eyes… with a little seductive smile on his face…

"When did you wake up?" I chuckled

"Can't I feel, my wife's soft tender fingers going through my hair?" He whispered softly.

I smiled with a bit of fluster on my face and turned my back towards him.

"Arin, it's been almost a year… why are you still so shy? Hmm?" He pulled me close towards him. I could feel his hot breath over my neck, a goosebump went down my skin…

"Seok… don't you ever feel like… if you would've married a normal girl with no such supernatural messed up life… your life would've been much better now…" I asked while facing him again.

"It might be much better, but it definitely won't be so interesting. And I've never really imagined my life without you… Before our first date, I never had any interest in dating… I really don't know how I suddenly saw walking over that wooden bridge one evening… and the first thought which came up in my mind was, Yang Hongseok… marry her…. That's it." He said while sliding his hand under my satin nightdress.

"Ohh really, Hongseok-ssi? And what is the first thing coming up in your mind right now?" I said teasingly as he moved closer to me.

"This…" and he placed his lips over mine. I wanted to laugh but he didn't let my lips go away from his and pulled me tight in his embrace. I let me go weak for him and allowed his hands to manhandle me the way he wanted… after all the frustration boiled inside, I went hard over him… It was the most passionate love session we had in a long time. All my worries were washed away with his scent and soft touches all over my skin. It reminded me of our make-out at Astrea temple… My body was swaying over cloud nine with extreme love from Hongseok… Not just our bodies but our souls were interconnected with each other…

But suddenly… I stopped feeling his hands over me… I opened my eyes and saw Hongseok sitting up on the bed.

"Seok?" I called him while trying to control my excited pounding heart.

"Arin… are you sure… we can keep Iseul staying with us?" He asked me in low voice.

I came out of sheets and placed my hand over his shoulder, "Why? What happened?"

He turned around, "She was staring at us… just a while ago… with green shiny eyes…"

Things were going the same way as Astrea had warned me… but how could I abandon Iseul? When she has no one in this world other than me….

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The next morning, Seoul Brewery Center.

I had a meeting with the CEO of our beverage company, regarding strain improvement cultures and new product launches in the Korean beverage industry. Yes, I was completely in chaos in my personal life… but never really mixed up these supernatural situations in my professional life, and thanks to Astrea, even Adrestia couldn't play her weird plans over my workspace. It was my dream to achieve a successful career for which I had stepped in South Korea.

"Good proposal Arin-ssi, let's send it to the manufacturing unit in Busan. You will have to join the team there for the next four days so that they could understand your new strain methods." CEO said while approving my new research plan.

"Can't we arrange a virtual training for the unit workers? It's a bit difficult for me to travel to Busan right now…" I couldn't even imagine leaving Iseul home alone without my supervision.

"No, not at all. It would be much informative for them if you personally visit the unit and even take a look at the quality of a product."

"Okay, fine… I'll go to Busan…" I said as there was no option left and it was useless arguing with my boss.

I left the conference room and my phone rang. It was Hongseok,

"Arin, let's have dinner together tonight."

"What about Iseul? She'll be left alone at home…"

"Will you please stop? Can't we just have some time together? Is she our child to always carry her around us?"

"Hongseok… how could you say that? I've told you right, to treat her as our child?"

"But she's NOT a child, Arin!! She's a grown-up girl! A girl who was staring at us last night!"

"Hongseok!!"

"Arin…listen to me… please for today let's just spend some time together… please…"

"Okay, pick me up after 5:30"

I hung up the call and sat down on a chair inside my lab. What does Hongseok mean to imply, by saying Iseul is a grown-up girl? So what if she's grown up? Even though Iseul has turned 19 years old, she still doesn't know about the world beyond Modo island. Seoul is the first place she has ever visited after leaving home. How could I leave her alone in this big cosmopolitan city? Hongseok is being so childish right now…

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9:00 pm. Red Moon Bar, Itaewon.

Hongseok had already reserved a table at our favorite restaurant. We used to often visit this beautiful cocktail bar while preparing for our wedding. We went inside the bar and Hongseok walked near the bar counter to give the order. I went inside the washroom and as soon as stepped in, a girl with a green bag pushed me back and ran outside the washroom!

"Wahhh!! Can't you at least see in front while walking!!" I scolded her from behind

"Sorry, eonni!!!" She shouted while running.

She looked the same age as Iseul, and now that she reminded me of my girl… I took out my cell phone to call her up.

"Iseul-ahh, did you have dinner?"

"Hmm"

"Do you want some drinks? Tell me which cocktail should I get for you?"

"No, it's fine…"

"Why? Forget it…I'll get you the best cocktail from this bar! Happy my baby?"

"Eonni… can you please not call me for a while and also can you and Oppa come home a bit late tonight?"

"What's the matter?"

"No, nothing…I just wanted to stay alone for some time… please, eonni?"

"Hmm... Okay, take your time… we'll be back home after midnight? Is that fine?"

"Thanks…"

She ended up the call. Am I getting something wrong? Am I the only one who's not being able to figure out why Hongseok and Iseul were acting so weird since morning? God knows… No, wait! Not God again… I'm so tired of this other world realm shit… Not Gods and Goddesses again…

I walked near our table, Hongseok was busy fidgeting inside his bag.

"What are digging so much in that bag?"

"I actually…. I brought something for you…." He said while searching inside his bag.

"So… where is it, my gift?"

"It's gone… I don't how, but it's not there where I kept it… But how could he misplace? I was the only person who was holding this bag the whole time!" Hongseok seemed very much upset as he was constantly looking inside the bag.

"It's fine, Seok-ah! It must've fallen somewhere in our way…. Or we can check in our car? It must've dropped mistakenly… it's fine. Don't be upset now… hmm? Ohh! Our order is here!", I said while receiving the tray of cocktails and fried chicken.

We had a good amount of talk with each other after a long while. I told him about my research proposal's success and asked him if he could join me in Busan for four days.

"Four days in Busan?! Yess! Let's go! We'll get some change, Arin… I'll inform in university right away for four days leave." He said excitedly.

"Oh my goodness! What's with this sudden excitement? A moment ago you were so sad about losing my gift!! How moody!" I teased him and both of us burst out laughing at our craziness. Yes, we were mad in love with each other.

As we were finishing up our dinner, a man in expensive branded clothes ran inside the bar and went straight inside the enclosed cabin behind the bar counter. All customers were quite shocked by the sudden rush of staff behind him.

"What's wrong with this bar today? A while ago a girl pushed me inside the washroom and now this man went running inside the cabin… so weird…" I said while drinking my blueberry cocktail.

"Ohh, didn't you recognize him? Shim Daniel! He's the owner of this place." Hongseok smirked while saying.

"What? Ohhh I see… you're done with drinks? Let's leave then."

"Yes ma'am!!" Hongseok said jokingly.

We left the bar and walked near our car, sat inside it. Hongseok started the car and turned on the headlights which lightened up the whole road in front of us.

"NOT AGAIN!!!" I screamed out loudly.

'What happened? What's wrong?" Hongseok got startled by my sudden scream.

"No, no… nothing… just focus on driving… Don't turn around and look behind…. Okay?" I said while tapping on his hands on the steering wheel.

He nodded in yes and kept looking in front while driving.

I turned behind at the back seat. To no surprise, Adrestia was sitting there smiling slyly at me.

"What now?" I asked her softly.

"You both are so cute, I feel jealous Arisa… You were mine before Hongseok entering your life…"

"Please Adrestia, cut with this nonsense and get to the point!"

"There's no point left in arguing with you these days… Arisa…"

'ARIN!!! Arin!! My name is Arin Miyawaki!!" I shouted in frustration.

"Ohh, right!! Sorry I forgot, Arisa… oops… Arin-ssi" she laughed

"If you're here for Iseul, let me tell you…"

"Don't worry about Iseul. Arin-ah… worry about yourself… hmm?" Adrestia patted over my hair but I shook away her hands.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean… hmm… what if I make a sweet collaboration between only two weaknesses... It would be so much fun, right?" she said while laying back over the seat.

"What?"

"You didn't forget that I'm a Goddess… of Lust and temptation… did you really forget?" She said while looking at Hongseok.

A sudden rush of realization hit me hard with those words. The reason why… Hongseok and Iseul both were behaving so strange since morning… was because…

"Of me, Arin-ah, They're behaving like that because of me." She said while lifting up her palms which emitted purple smoke through her veins. She looked at me, my face was covered with sweat droplets…

"Arin, do you wanna try this… Seductress lavender….it's good for your sexual life, you know?" Adrestia brought her hands over my head.

I pushed away from her hand and screamed, "STOP IT!! Can't you just leave me alone with my life? Didn't you promise me to not hurt my husband at any cost? You told me to trust you?? Min-ahhh we were best friends! How did we end up being rivals? Don't you feel any shame for your evil deeds???"

"I TOLD YOU TO NOT INVOLVE YOURSELF WITH ISEUL!!! DIDN'T I? But…see… you've already traveled to the heavenly realm for help from my 'loving' sister…putting my position in Hell realm in danger? Do you think I'll let you do that? I want to take over the Underworld! I want to become Lord Yanluo's most trustworthy person! And no one can stop me from doing that!! NOT YOU AND NOT EVEN THE GODDESS OF PURITY!! I'll steep down to any gross level…to achieve my goal… So, stop worrying about our past life friendship, and start thinking about how could you save your marriage…from Iseul, the fragment of Demon lord…"

Adrestia disappeared after screaming on the top of her voice. I looked in front and realized we had reached home long ago. Hongseok was left unconscious in the driver's seat. I patted his face gently… Adrestia told me to worry about our married life, but I knew it… our love was never feeble or superficial to be broken down with some lowly supernatural tricks… We've trusted each other till now and I am going to completely trust my man for the rest of the life… because he is my soulmate… A soulmate which I couldn't trust in my past life for the sake of Min. But not in this life… I'm going to love him till my last breath…