wttcs 22
Chapter 22
“Excuse me, can I have some tea?” asked Ji Hyun with eyes shifting back and forth between the two.
Chae Gyung stepped back and lowered her head while Shin curled his hand into a fist and closed his eyes upon hearing Ji Hyun’s voice.
“Go up to your room.” Shin looked at Chae Gyung once more before turning to Ji Hyun. “I’ll go get your tea.”
He went in to the kitchen to get some dried tea leaves. Chae Gyung’s tears made him weak inside as he put some into a cup and poured hot water in it. Shin could still feel the shivering in his hands as he slowly stirred the cup. It was a moment he wanted to go back to, but he reminded himself to take a hold of his heart. Scaring Chae Gyung was the last thing he would want to do now.
An hour later
Chae Gyung rose from her bed after hearing some knocks.
Mrs. Kim opened the door and peeked inside. “Can I come in?”
She nodded.
“Shin asked me to get Ji Hyun ssi’s things.” said Mrs. Kim who walked in and gathered the pieces of clothing and bag on the couch, then turned to look at Chae Gyung’s direction and asked, “Anything wrong?”
“No, ajumma. Don’t mind me. I’m just sleepy.” She walked to the table and picked up the wristwatch. “This is hers too.” Chae Gyung handed it to Mrs. Kim.
“I’ll go ahead. Go back to sleep.” The housekeeper smiled and closed the door behind her.
After a few minutes of sitting by the window, Chae Gyung saw Ji Hyun assisted by Shin to the car and together they drove out again. She could not deny it anymore. Pain was overpowering her mind and wreaking havoc inside her heart as she walked back slowly to the bed and cried herself to sleep.
The lights were already out in Chae Gyung’s room by the time Shin came back. He went to the dining room and found food neatly covered on the table. An urge to see Chae Gyung crept inside and prompted him to go up to her room. He gently knocked but there were no answers. He gently turned the door knob, pushed the door open and entered. The room was dimly lit, and her breathing was the only sound that can be heard. She looked so peaceful in her sleep, Shin thought. Suddenly a flow of guilt poured into his heart as he quietly sat by her bedside.
The draperies were swaying to the rhythm of the cold wind. He stood up and carefully shut the windows when he noticed something has changed in this room. Shin turned around to take a better look at the wall where the portrait was previously hanged. His eyes searched for the picture frame by the table and the canvass that was left undone. Realizing she has kept them all away, a smile slowly curved on his face while his heart rejoiced in joyous euphoria. With eyes still wide shut, Chae Gyung tossed and turned to his direction with her face coming into full view. It made Shin appreciate her loveliness all the more. Though his attraction for her has not waned a bit, he found it hard to stay unaffected by her presence lately. Shin sat beside her again, this time leaning closer to her. He softly touched her left hand and gently fitted into his. She wasn’t wearing the ring anymore. After a few minutes of sweet silence, he bent over wanting to plant a kiss on her forehead when his mobile phone suddenly rang. Shin immediately went out and answered, “Ji Hyun?”
Chae Gyung slowly opened her eyes and heaved a deep sigh. She was awake all along.
In a swimwear shop
“I bet this is going to blow his mind away.” Janny boldly made a forecast while holding a two -piece red bikini swimsuit.
Chae Gyung covered her mouth with both hands in horror. “I can’t wear that.”
“Oh yes you can, especially if you’re going to use it in your private pool.” Janny replied while turning to Anne and winked mischievously.
“I don’t have the guts to wear it.” Chae Gyung kept on shaking her head. She has never worn skimpy attires before, and she doubted herself if she could muster enough courage to face Shin wearing almost nothing.
“You mean to tell me you’re going to let the competition eat you alive?” Janny raised her eyebrow with one hand on her waist.
“If you’re not comfortable wearing the red bikini, how about this?” Anne held out another pair, a dark blue mid- rib top with horizontal- striped boy- leg cut bottom.
Chae Gyung fixed her eyes on the blue swimsuit. “I like it better.”
Janny snatched and threw it aside. “Believe me, girl. If you want to catch his attention you’ve got to wear this one.” She shoved the red bikini to Chae Gyung’s chest. “Try it on.”
Chae Gyung took the red swimsuit and wallowed in deep thoughts.
“What are you waiting for?” Janny asked once more.
“He might take it the wrong way. He’d think I’m out to seduce him.”
“Aren’t you?”
Chae Gyung felt like disappearing from where she was standing. Her cheeks were flushed in heat while she tried to hide her embarrassment from her friends by lowering her head.
“There’s nothing wrong, for pete’s sake. You’re married. Don’t married couples play games?” Janny was stretching her patience to persuade her friend to go along with the plan. She has been vocal about her fondness for Shin since the night he came in and rescued them at the bar, and seeing Chae Gyung softening up was something she has wished and seriously waited for.
“We’re not like any other couple.”
“But you’re still married, so why be shy?”
“He might think I’m fighting for his attention.”
Janny walked over to her side and gave her a hug. “It doesn’t matter what he thinks. What matters is you get him to notice you. If he thinks you’re coming on to him, that would be better, because that will be your subtle way of telling him you want him and he shouldn’t be hanging around that …err…what’s her name?”
Anne put her arm across Chae Gyung’s shoulders. “Janny is right. You have to make a move, before someone else steals your husband. Besides, if its pride that’s getting in the way, I advise you better put it aside.”
“Seriously, I think you are falling madly in love with that gorgeous husband of yours.” Janny chuckled.
Chae Gyung raised her voice in protest. “I don’t think so.” It was instinct that prompted her to say those words.
“If that’s not love, then what it is that makes you want to buy a set of bikini and makes you take a sudden interest in swimming?” Anne held the blue set of swimwear up high and scrutinized each string and hem. She too, can’t picture her friend wearing anything skimpier than this.
“Have you looked at the mirror lately? Your face is written with Lee Shin’s name all over it.” Janny broke into a loud laugh while slapping Anne’s arm.
Chae Gyung touched her cheeks and turned her back on the two giggling girls.
“Admit it, there’s nothing wrong. It’s time to let go of the past.” Anne hollered from behind.
“You have to confess your love to your husband, wearing only this.” Janny was flashing her wicked smile again.
Chae Gyung turned around and threw the red bikini at Janny and pinched her arm.
“Ouch! Ouch! Now that’s too much! I swear you do this to me again and I won’t shop with you anymore. This is what I get from helping you.” Janny whimpered in pain.
Chae Gyung kept on laughing, not knowing Janny’s words, you have to confess your love to your husband, have subconsciously crawled its way to her heart.
One Sunday morning, Shin thought of spending his time by the pool to unwind after a week of arduous work. The headlines in the front page caught his full attention that he didn’t notice Chae Gyung was standing in front of him holding a glass of juice. “Have a drink.”
He put down the papers and gave her a surprised look. “Thank you.”
She placed the glass on the table and stepped aside with hands held together. “I’d like to ask if you can teach me how to swim?” Chae Gyung asked demurely hoping to calm her nervous heart.
“You want to learn?”
She nodded shyly.
“When do you like to start?”
“How about now?”
Shin nodded.
She raised her hand and pointed her thumb backwards. “I’ll go change.”
“Chae Gyung?” Shin called out before she could take a step.
She paused and looked back at him.
“About the other day. I’m sorry …”
Chae Gyung didn’t want to talk about it anymore. “You don’t have to. Really. There’s nothing to be sorry about.” She smiled brightly, not showing any trace of sadness that gripped her the other night. “I’ll be back.”
Shin patiently waited for Chae Gyung while finishing the article he was reading. He was still thumbing through the pages of the newspaper when he heard patter of footsteps behind him. He turned around and saw Chae Gyung in a pink robe rushing to the poolside.
“Are you ready?” Shin who was wearing a pair of swimming shorts quickly stood up, stretched his arms up high and twisted his body from side to side.
Chae Gyung kept her eyes on the ground as she slowly pulled the tie and took off her robe. There she was, standing beautifully, her smooth ivory skin finally exposed and the two- piece swimsuit perfectly complimenting her slim figure. Having it tried on repeatedly before the mirror for the past few days, she was pleased with how she looks in it. Armed with a new found confidence, she was finally making a statement with this one bold move.
As Shin turned around, shock struck him like a thunderbolt upon seeing her clad in a skimpy swimwear. Instinct compelled him to pull the towel off the chair and quickly blanketed her body.
“What’s wrong?” Chae Gyung forced to stick her arms out from the towel.
“Don’t you have another swimwear?” Shin’s brows were almost crossed as he held both ends of the towel tight.
“What’s wrong with this one?” She asked while still struggling to get free from his clasp.
He shook his head as he loosened his grip.
“We’re having swimming lessons. Am I not in proper attire?” Chae Gyung stared at his face intently, still puzzled with his reaction.
“Go change.”
“I don’t have any other swimwear.” Chae Gyung shook off the towel but Shin grabbed it back.
“Then let’s postpone it and I’ll buy you another set.”
“I look stupid.” She looked away, seemingly hurt from the rejection.
“No.” he said as he stepped back and turned to leave.
“Then why are you acting this way?” Chae Gyung wanted to hear more.
“I’m not comfortable seeing you like this.”
She wanted to grab his hand and tell him to take a good look at her. But she didn’t have the strength to say the words and instead answered him, “And I’m not comfortable with you treating me like a kid! Why is it okay if another woman comes in and wear skimpy swimsuit, but you have this horrified look on your face when I wear one?”
“I’ll call in a lady instructor tomorrow.” He refused to answer her question and walked right back to the house.
Chae Gyung was left standing by the poolside, still unable to fully comprehend Shin’s queer behavior today. She could sense the stinging awkwardness in him but the outright rejection she felt has made a deeper dent on her pride.