Mel was shocked by the sudden proximity. She didn't know what to do when he had suddenly hugged her. Her arms lay limply at her sides and her mind was doing salsa in pleasure at the close contact. After a beat or two, Mel pulled away and she could see that his eyes were shining with unshed tears before he turned away from her.
Kai: I a-am-
Mel: (red in the face) I'll j-just-
They both burst out laughing at the awkward atmosphere in the room.
Mel: (looking at the cup) Oh! The tea has cooled down.
Kai: (picking up the cup) its ok, I am fine with it.
Mel: Are you sure? I could pour you another cup?
Kai: (gulping it down in one go) no, I'll leave now. You should get some sleep.
Mel: o-ok.
Kai: (turning around to face her) are you free tomorrow?
Mel: not in the morning. We'll be wrapping up our work here. I'll be free after lunch.
Kai: (thoughtful) are you leaving for home tomorrow?
Mel: (shaking her head) day after tomorrow.
Kai: you won't be staying for the show?
Mel: I would've loved to but duty calls.
Kai: (nodding in understanding) will you have lunch with me tomorrow? I'd love to introduce you to my members.
Mel: (shocked) Really!?
Kai: Are you fine with it?
Mel mutely nodded once. Kai just chuckled and once again pecked her cheek before leaving her with a stunned and scrambled brain.
***
Next afternoon found Mel breezing through their footages at the location of their shoot. All around her in the centre of the market were people buzzing around, some even stopped when they saw the camera in her hand. Her focus was broken by a gentle tap on her shoulder. She looked up to see her assistant Tae-hee smiling at her. He was a young man of 23 and he definitely was good looking. If he wasn't interested in men then Mel was sure that most female population at their workplace would have already been pining for him.
Tae-hee: so, boss is it done?
Mel: (nodding) yes these clips look fine. We are good to wrap it up.
Tae-hee: (whistling) finally all the hard work has paid off.
Mel: (smiling) you are just glad that you are free to go home to your boyfriend.
Tae-hee: (smiling) you caught me but I am not the only one right boss?
Mel: (rolling her eyes) I really shouldn't have told you about my date yesterday.
Tae-hee: (chuckling) we are friends before you are my boss. So it's natural that you share things with me.
Mel: (checking her wrist watch for time) Oh my! It's already time.
Tae-hee: time for?
Mel: I promised to accompany him for lunch today. Since I'll be leaving tomorrow.
Tae-hee: you could've left with us tonight, (wiggling his eyebrows suggestively) why did you book your tickets for later?
Mel: (elbowing him lightly) I already told you that his visit was a surprise to me too and I booked a later flight because I am in Shanghai. There are a lot of things to do and see here.
Tae-hee: (putting up his hands in surrender) you win. Where are we going now?
Mel: To the public bath.
Tae-hee: (confused) why?
Mel: I've learnt my lesson from last night and I knew that I wouldn't have time to go back to the hotel and get ready but I still have to wash up.
Tae-hee: then what about your clothes?
Mel: don't these look fine?
Tae-hee looked up and down at her attire. She had her long hairs in a plait which rested on one of her shoulders. She was wearing a pair of shorts with straps and a tucked-in button-up white shirt. The whole attire was professional but sexy at the same time.
Tae-hee: your legs do look juicy in these.
Mel: (turning red) should I wear the slacks then?
Tae-hee: (smiling) no you look just fine. I've never seen you worry about something like this so much in all these years I've known you.
Mel: shut up.
***
Mel came out of the public bath minutes later looking refreshed.
Tae-hee: (looking at her ringing phone) he has got impeccable timing I must say.
Mel: (nodding) that he does. I'll meet you back at the hotel in the evening.
Tae-hee: what? Won't you let me meet him? You aren't even telling me who it is.
Mel: (rolling her eyes) you know why.
And she parted ways with him just like that. This time Kai had chosen to text her instead of calling her.
'Kai: are you free now?'
'Mel: yes, I just wrapped up.'
'Kai: send me your location, I'll pick you up.'
'Mel: no, it might not be a good idea.'
'Kai: why?'
'Mel: I am in the middle Xiangyang market. Where shall we meet?'
'Kai: Alright, then I'll pick you up from Jinshajiang station.'
'Mel: Ok, I'll inform you when I get there.'
Tae-hee: So what did he say?
Mel: (jumping out of her skin) Oh my! You scared me. I thought you went back.
Tae-hee: I was going back but aren't you forgetting something? We are travelling using subway here.
Mel: (rolling her eyes) right! I'll be taking a different train this time.
Tae-hee: hey! Min-Soe! What are you hiding?
Mel: (giggling) something juicy.
Tae-hee: I hate you right now.
Mel: this time don't follow me.
Tae-hee: (sarcastically) yes boss!
It took just ten minutes for Mel to reach the decided location. She looked around the busy station after getting down from the train. She pulled out her phone to send a text when she felt someone placing a hand on her shoulder. Startled she turned around to look at a guy dressed in black and most of his face covered. She looked more closely and recognised his eyes.
Mel: You scared me!
Kai: (chuckling under his breath) let's go!
Just like that he pulled her out from the busy station and back into his black tinted sedan. Once back in his car he removed his extra disguise.
Kai: it is more crowded than usual.
Mel: yes it is and it's not even the weekend. So where are we going?
Kai: let's have some lunch first then we'll be going to our concert venue.
Mel: (biting her lip) o-ok.
Kai: are you alright?
Mel: (nodding her head) yes.
Kai could see that she was feeling nervous about the idea of meeting his friends but he chose to keep quiet about it as he was certain that they would be smitten by her in no time. He had intended to keep it a secret from everyone but the guys had been with him from the start and through every up and down of his. It didn't sit right with him to hide something so big from them. He placed his hand reassuringly on her fidgeting ones and it did the trick almost instantly. He saw from his periphery that she was smiling up at him and it made him happy.
Half-way through their lunch, Kai broke the silence.
Kai: I've been meaning to ask you something.
Mel: what?
Kai: Since it's already been decided why not make it official in the proper way.
Mel: (confused) huh?!
Kai: (feeling embarrassed) I tried out so many ideas and scenarios for this in my head but everything seemed too cliché considering our situation-
Mel: Kai, I don't understand-
She immediately shut up when one of the hosts walked in holding a bouquet of red roses which they gave to him. After the host left Kai turned to her smiling and handed her the bouquet. Mel was surprised at the gesture but she gladly accepted the flowers. She gasped when the next second Kai went down on his knee in front of her.
Mel: (flushing red in shocked surprise) Kai?
Kai: Yoo Min-Soe, I know that you deserve a much grander proposal than this but given our situation I knew you would've been embarrassed by a grand gesture. I also know that we were pushed into this relationship for the sake of our parents but it's now our responsibility to make it work for our happiness. Would you promise that we'll make it work no matter what and (taking a deep breath) will you marry me?
Without her notice, a lone tear escaped her eyes at his proposal. Of course, she would've been embarrassed by any grand gesture but this personal and intimate proposal did mean a lot to her. He didn't sugar coat things like they usually did in the movies, instead, he asked her to stay with him and help him to shape their future together. She never expected anything less from him, considering he was a song writer. She did admire his choice of words.
Mel: (wiping away her tear and nodding) y-yes. I'll marry you.
Kai smiled at her acceptance and still on his knee pulled out a simple platinum band lined with sapphires from his pockets. Then he took her hand and put the ring on her finger, making their relationship official.