Mel: Kai?
Kai: Hmm?
She didn't speak anything else. Just ran her fingers through his soft hairs. She always wondered, how could a guy who dyed his hairs so much not go bald. Not that she was complaining or jinxing him but it was human nature to be curious.
Kai who was lying down in her lap opened his eyes and stared at her face. Her face held her infamous lost look, it meant she was thinking about something deeply. He couldn't help but tap on her forehead with his forefinger.
Kai: (chuckling) you were saying?
Mel: uh...
Kai chuckled a bit. He still couldn't believe that this beautiful woman was his wife. She was perfect for him in every way.
Kai: you called my name right?
Mel: yes, mom asked us to return home this weekend. Your sister is going to bring her boyfriend home.
Kai: (frowning) didn't they start dating a month ago?
Mel: we got married in a month. It's not such a big deal.
Kai: (shrugging) whatever! We aren't going.
Mel: but why?
Kai: (glaring) look at yourself. The doctor has told you not to move around much!
Mel: (whining) It's your fault that I am in this situation. I don't care! I want to go!
Kai: (groaning) Min-Soe listen here-
Mel: (defiant) no! You listen to me! I am pregnant and not crippled! And you're the one who knocked me up! And it is your responsibility to fulfil all my wishes!
Kai: (rubbing his forehead) Min Soe-
Mel: (huffing) I'll tell mom that you're bullying me! You're trying to imprison me in this house! It's been months since I went out to take a look at the world! And whose fault is that? Yours alone!
Kai: (tying again) Min-
Mel: What did you promise me when you married me? You said that you were going to work with me to make this marriage work. And you reprimanded me so much at the beginning for taking some decision stating that we were now bonded to each other. Now that it's been four years since we married you longer care about me! You hypocrite!
Kai sighed. His words drowned in Mel's unending monologue. He wished that the child would come out soon or else he'd go mad.
During her pregnancy, his clear-headed wife had turned into an emotional being. She would cry, complain or go on complaining. Gone was the level headed human being.
He sighed again thinking how this was their first child and they had wished for it together.
But now- somehow- it was his fault alone. What could he do? If he pointed out the fact that she too worked diligently for the child then he'll be cooked alive. He was put in a tough spot during these nine months.
He rubbed his ears but Mel had yet to stop her angry tirade. He wanted to kiss her to make her stop but he restrained himself from doing so.
Last time he tried the method on Vic's advice and she had cried for hours once again complaining how he only wanted her for her body and almost wanted to divorce him. He had given Vic a good beating for such shitty advice.
Kai: (giving up) ok fine. We'll go.
Mel blinked her watery eyes in surprise. She hadn't thought he would consent to her request this easily. She had prepared a very long speech filled to guilt-trip him into agreeing.
Mel: (doubtful) oh- really?
Kai: (nodding) yes but-
Mel knew there would be a catch. He wasn't the one to give in that easily. After all, she was six months pregnant.
Ever since she had announced her pregnancy her usually laid back husband had turned into a protective maniac. His antics were cute in the beginning but as time passed he started to get on her nerves. And add the trials of the pregnancy on top, she had almost bit his head off and decorated it on the wall. If it wasn't for her stubborn and unyielding nature he would have caged her in their house until the baby was born.
But of course, given Mel's emotional instability she would find ants on the ground annoying and distasteful to the eye.
Mel: (scowling) what is it?
Kai: easy there. It's nothing much. You just have to promise to be careful and we'll come back in an hour or two.
Mel: (thinking) how about you make it four? Not just us, our families are looking forward to this child so it's only fair if I spend enough time with them right?
Kai: (frowning) three is the limit. Take it or leave it.
Mel smiled brightly and nodded happily. Once she enters her mother-in-law's territory, Kai would be disposable. If she hadn't tried to bargain with him now then he would have grown suspicious affecting her plans of going out.
Kai sighed knowing very well what was going through her mind. She was indeed a little minx.
***
As promised before, Kai took Mel to his parent's house. It took them two hours to pass through the traffic.
They had moved back to their apartment in the city three months ago. The set of mother's on both sides of the family had urged them for the move deeming it necessary for someone to be within reach in cases of emergency. Kai had successfully bit the bait and had moved houses overnight.
After sitting in the car for a long time, Mel started to feel restless.
Kai: (concerned) Are you ok, baby?
Mel: (nodding) I am fine. I just wanted to pee that's all.
Being in the sixth month of the pregnancy meant the child was using her bladder for excretion processes. Thus, Min-Soe had a constant need to visit the toilet.
Kai: We are almost there.
In another fifteen minutes, Kai parked the car and helped Mel alight. He held her hand until they entered his parent's home. Once inside Ml freed her hand and ran to the restroom to relieve herself. Kai followed her with his eyes worried.
Ye-Jin: (confused) what happened?
Ye-Jin was excited and when Mel arrived she wanted to share her joy with her but her sis-in-law had bee-lined for the toilet, not sparing her a glance.
Kai: (shaking his head) nothing.
And Mel who had planned a good evening with her family sadly spent most of her time visiting the toilets. It would suffice to say she was in a rotten mood when she got home and Kai got the shorter end of the stick.
Desperate he phoned ray, his only level-headed friend for some solace.
Kai: (almost reduced to tears) Ray, my greatest buddy! Help me!
Ray: (startled) What happened? Is Mel ok? Why do you sound like you're about to cry?
Ray was alarmed by Kai's quivering voice. No one could blame him for assuming the worst.
Kai: (sniffling) I can't take it anymore! I'll snap at my wife at this rate! Please save me from being divorced!
Ray: (confused) Calm down Kai. Tell me everything from the start.
Kai retold the events to his friend without missing a single detail. Ray felt amused the more he listened to kai's narrative. In the end, he couldn't help it and chuckled thus was subjected to Kai's ire.
Kai: (furious) you're mocking me?! I came to you thinking you're my friend!
Ray: no I am not laughing! I just coughed! Coming back t your problem, why don't we plan a girls night-in for Mel? She might feel good after having some company.
Kai: (nodding) Thanks buddy, I knew, I could rely on you.
Kai happily hung up on his friend feeling grateful for the brilliant idea he had suggested. He had found a perfect way to make Mel happy and save his marriage at the same time.
Ray, on the other side of the call, shook his head amazed. Trust this couple to have an eventful married life.