Eighteen: The change

The media was again in frenzy after Kai's recent post. He had uploaded the same picture from the interview. The picture had two kids in their school uniforms and in their teens. The boy was grinning mischievously and the girl was glaring daggers at him. Her cheeks were painted red in anger. He had captioned it with.

'Sorry, Min-Soe-ah. I miss you.'

All kinds of speculations were made from them being the best of friends up to them being estranged lovers. Many were heartbroken over the fact that their brother wasn't interested in the celebrity they were shipping him with. Only a few bright ones could connect the dots back to the new crush of the nation's male generation- the reporter/ editor/ natural beauty, Yoo Min-Soe. This speculation turned the wave into huge tide which didn't get any shore to hit as both the parties remained quiet about the whole thing.

The couple in question were leisurely going on about their life as they always would without anyone even getting the hint about the actual fact.

One fine night while they were about to sleep Min-Soe broke the news she had been harbouring in her.

Mel: (yawning) Love?

Kai: Hmm?

Mel: I am quitting my job tomorrow.

Kai: (surprised) why?!

Mel: I am going to join Papa's company from next week as it had been decided a long time ago.

Kai: (looking at her in concern) then what about your career as a journalist?

Mel: it was something I tried out as a hobby. I won't lie but it's exciting and challenging but at the same time, it's tiring too. I don't like to make a huge hill out of others personal life.

Kai: (caressing her cheek) you still feel bad about In-Soo?

Mel: (nodding) yes.

Kai: baby- (giving up reasoning with her) ok, I am here if you need any help.

Mel: thank you Love besides this way is better to stay out of the media fire. We are close to the red area.

Kai: (pulling her closer) I don't like to see you give up ever but I can't see the same passion for your work which was there before. I am with you baby, always.

Mel decided to stay quiet and instead responded by hugging him back. She was grateful about his support than anyone else. It meant a lot to her. She had been under constant scrutiny from media from the time she appeared on TV. Not only the In-Soo scandal but she was getting a lot of attention from the majority of the male population of the country.

She hadn't told anyone about it but the number of her admirers had grown overnight and most of them were brave enough to ask her out on a date every other day. The list included some of the top celebrities to her colleagues.

The most persistence one till date had been her boss- he had been pushing her to go out on a date with his son. He had set this idea in his mind that she was a good match for her son.

Min-Soe knew that Kai would be furious if he got to know about it so she had kept quiet about the whole issue. She was growing tired of all the attention she was receiving and just wanted to give up.

Besides she had taken upon journalism as a hobby but it was becoming a pain in the butt than fuelling her passion.

A month later Kai and his group had released their new album and they were now working hard on the promotions. They had been invited by the broadcasting station where Min-Soe used to work a month back. The shoot went on flawlessly until Kai's post was brought up. The hosts chatted and made jokes on the whole situation and the guys responded in kind.

Host1: this reminds me, we had a programme head, you might know about her.

Host2: ah yes! Yoo Min-Soe. She is currently considered the nations natural beauty.

Host1: Kai there were many rumours about Min-Soe being your childhood friend.

Kai: (nodding) yes, I heard them.

Host2: let's see if they are the same or no.

Vic: (confused) huh?

Host1: (chuckling) we'll just compare both her pictures and see if they are the same.

Kai felt his stomach tightening in anticipation but he just smiled mysteriously and nodded at them to try. The hosts compared both her pictures but they failed to find any similarities. They simply laughed off at their failed attempt. All was good until their elder brother spoke up.

Timo: their eyes are the same, she hasn't changed much.

Mui laughed at the mess they had created while, Vic watched his bro in horror. Ray was still in confusion and Kai's face was blank as a slate- it was as if he hadn't heard him.

Host1: now you say that. Their eyes do look same don't they Timo.

Timo: (smiling awkwardly) yes.

Host2: Kai, are they both the same person?

Kai: (breathing in deeply and smiling) yes, Yoo Min-Soe is one of my closest friends.

Host1: really?!

He only nodded at their question grinning.

Host2: finally the mystery has been solved.

Host1: wait! Wait! Kai I am like your brother right?

Kai: yes-

Host1: so tell me, is the nation's natural beauty Yoo Min-Soe your childhood friend Min-Soe.

Kai: (with a straight face) yes bro, they are both the same person.

Host1: now the mystery is finally solved!

Host2: why did you need confirmation about it?

Host1: (defensively) I couldn't believe it the first time.

They bickered for a while before resuming the shoot.

Host2: you might know this then Kai, Min-Soe no longer works as a journalist.

Kai: ah! Right. She told me about it.

Host1: did she tell you the reason?

Host2: now why do you want to know that?

Host1: I heard a rumour about her being pursued by a new man every day asking for a date. I also heard that she grew tired of it.

Host2: yes, even our CEO wanted her to marry his son.

Kai couldn't believe the things he was hearing. He hadn't gotten the wind of the torture Min-Soe went through but now hearing the host go on and on about how she had been pressured was making his blood boil. He wasn't sure how he managed to sit through that shoot without causing a ruckus in his uncontrollable anger.

He marched into their waiting room and the rest of the quartet followed behind him warily. He furiously dialled Min-Soe's number but couldn't reach her.

Kai: (running a hand through his hairs) why didn't she tell me?

Timo: (placing a hand on his shoulders) you know that you won't accomplish anything by getting angry right?

Kai: (nodding) I just feel-

Mui: -left out. We know but if you ask me I'd say sis-in-law probably didn't tell you knowing how you lose your temper sometimes.

Vic: (looking around warily) bro, we should take this somewhere more private.

The guys agreed to their little bro's advice. It wasn't an ideal spot to discuss delicate matters. They headed together to the 'forest home'- they jokingly had named the couple's haven as it stood alone in the middle of the forest.

Once back in their den the guys all sat around to look more into the matter before Min-Soe arrived. If she even got the wind of their scheming then they were sure that she would give them hell for it.

Ray: (being the voice of reason) let's face it guys, it had to happen considering how gorgeous our sister-in-law is.

Kai: (gritting his teeth) that doesn't mean I'd sit quietly if someone makes a pass at my wife.

Timo: (agreeing with the leader) ok, so what is our plan of action?

Kai: Vic-

Vic: (nodding fiercely) already on it bro. We will soon get to know about the exact situation.

Mui: (amazed) Kai would be a scary father to his daughter's future boyfriends.

Kai: (paling) Oh no!

Timo: (laughing at his brother's expense) clearly he never thought about it.

Ray: (adding his own cents) and he always wanted a daughter. He's going to have a pretty hard time.

Kai: (gaining his composure back) I'll see about it when the time comes besides that boyfriend would have to cross four uncles before facing me.

Vic: hey! Bro! Quit it now! You are all getting off-topic here.

A few days later Min-Soe got the news that her previous workplace had been undergone several major changes. She had been out to grab a cup of hot beverage with Tae-hee when she got the news from her gossiping friend.

Tae-hee: did you hear that CEO Shin was suspended.

Mel: (surprised) Oh! Why?

Tae-hee: (suggestively) I heard that some new shareholders forced him into early retirement.

Mel: do you want to say what I think you want to say?

Tae-hee: (nodding) yes, it was the youngest among the five-member, super talented and super-hot group.

Mel: b-but w-why?

Tae-hee: (rolling his eyes) you used to be bright as a reporter, sitting in front of that computer has dulled your IQ.

Mel: (rolling her eyes) I was shocked that's all. I should've known, they've been acting strange around me from several days. I brushed it off as their stress due to the new album.

Tae-hee: so now that is cleared will you come back?

Mel: (sighing and leaning back on her chair) I don't think so Tae, even Kai hopes that I go back but I am starting to like my new job and when I saw it with my own eyes, Papa really does need my help with his company.

Tae-hee: the guys are actually heartbroken you know?

Mel: huh?

Tae-hee: every guy in the country is heartbroken as you've quit your work after such a short time. Do you really wish to not come back?

Mel: (nodding) yes. Besides you know how careful I should be for Kai? One small error and he would be in huge trouble.

Tae-hee: you know that he won't like your reasoning right?

Mel: I am not doing this for him entirely. I've just lost my passion for it.

Tae-hee: (putting his hands up) ok I give up.

Mel returned home that evening with mixed feelings. She saw Kai already present but almost ready to head out for his shoot that night. She completely ignored him and went straight for the bathroom.

Kai: (calling after her) Min-Soe I'll be out until morning. Don't wait for me.

He went to check on her but he found the bathroom door locked tight. He grew worried and knocked on it a few times until he faintly heard.

Mel: yes, Love. Give me a moment I'll be out.

As promised she came out a moment later in nothing but her bathrobe. Kai's lips dried up at the scene in front of him. He wanted nothing more but spend some good time with his exquisite looking wife.

Mel: (frowning at his blank look) what did you call me out for? I was going to take a shower.

Kai: ah, ok. Shower. (Shaking his head) I'll be back in the morning.

Mel: (nodding) ok. Have a nice shoot with everyone.

Kai: why do I feel like you are happy with having me out of your hair tonight?

Mel: (smiling) I just have a lot on my mind and without you here I might be able to sort things out.

Kai: (sourly) you realize that we are both together in this relationship right?

Mel: (kissing him on the cheek) we'll talk more tomorrow after you've slept.

Kai: (nodding in agreement) ok then I'll come soon.