A/N Disclaimer: I do not own Mystic Messenger.
Last chapter before the epilogue. Sexual content ahead, and I changed the party speech quite a bit.
"Okay," Mun-Hee begins, surrounded by papers and notes and an open laptop. "Looks like we have enough information for the press conference this evening. You're just going to go with the truth of what happened?"
"Yeah," Zen replies. "I don't really think going for drama is a good idea, no matter what the jerk says."
Mun-Hee just rolls her eyes at his moniker for Jumin, knowing that he doesn't mean it with the same venom as he used to. "Let me go ahead and compile these coherently into notes for you to read up there, and we'll be done."
"Good. I just want this to be over," Zen laments.
"It'll be over soon. Are you nervous?"
"Not really," Zen shrugs. "You'll be up there with me, so there isn't really anything to be nervous about."
"Right," Mun-Hee squeaks, nerves finally hitting her at the imminent prospect of being in front of a large crowd.
Zen looks at her and raises one silver brow. "You're still coming up with me, right?"
"Um, I'm not sure if that's a good idea," she argues, scratching at the back of her neck. "On second thought, I'm not great with crowds and cameras. I might just make things worse for you."
"But I need you," Zen responds, pouting just a little bit and giving his best puppy dog eyes.
Mun-Hee can feel her resolve crumbling. She really doesn't want to have stand next to someone as attractive as Zen in front of cameras. It'll make her look so much plainer than she already is. But then that sense of righteous fury rises up in her when she remembers what the conference is about, she finds herself rising up to stick with their original plan. "Fine. But be prepared for people to be confused why someone that looks like me is next to you."
Zen levels a stare at her. "Babe, I saw the dress you're planning on wearing tonight. Everyone is going to be wondering why I am with you."
She giggles at his ridiculousness. "If you say so."
The hours of the day pass much quicker than she would like, and it's time to get ready for the press conference. Zen has already been in her bathroom for over an hour trying to further improve on his flawless appearance. Mun-Hee isn't going to take that long. There's only so much she can do to make herself look more attractive. And she'll be standing next to Zen; there's just no hope for her.
Looking in the mirror, she smooths out the knee-length dress. It's backless and long-sleeved, but she left her hair down to not be too indecent. The last thing to put in place is the pair of diamond studs her dad bought her before she left for South Korea. There. As good as it's going to get.
Zen bursts out of the bathroom in a cloud of cologne and hair products, looking every inch the perfect male specimen that he is, and her approval of her own look deteriorates into nothing. Why does he have to look like that all the time?
"Oh my," he sighs when he sees her, stalking over like an animal and its prey. "You're going to have to stay right next to me tonight. Everyone is going to want you in that dress."
Mun-Hee lets out a nervous laugh and flushes at the compliment. "You're exaggerating, but I'll stay right by you. You know I only have eyes for you."
"Likewise, babe. Let's go and get this over with."
"Sure," she answers with a shy grin, grasping his outstretched hand and exiting the apartment.
The hall is packed for the press conference. Even though it's the RFA party, more people are interested in what Zen has to say in response to the allegations against him than they are about the actual point of the party. Still, RFA should be able to raise money off of the real guests.
Getting out of the car is another feat entirely. Reporters scream at them as they step out of the sleek black car. "Why don't you respect women?" "How do you defend yourself against this?" "Who's that woman with him? Another one?"
"Just ignore them," Mun-Hee directs, checking that her sunglasses are in place and helping Zen push through the crowd. The security guard at the door recognizes them and grants them entry into the building.
Jaehee and Seven find them first followed by Yoosung. Mun-Hee would be lying if she says she isn't a little intimidated when she meets Jumin for the first time. He's as tall as Zen and just has an imposing presence. Still, she likes him for his level-head in Zen's unfortunate situation. And his help has been invaluable.
When it's finally time to ascend the podium and speak to the press, Mun-Hee thinks she might throw up. But this is for Zen. She has to support him.
And if she's being honest, it's a little about her too. She can't keep from being angry when she thinks about what Echo Girl did. It's just so disgusting to real victims. She follows Zen up to the podium and stands a bit behind him. She's only really here for moral support and to quickly corroborate his story.
Zen picks up the microphone and places his notes on the podium. Clearing his throat a bit, he begins to speak about what happened with Echo Girl. He goes through what happened that day, about his broken foot, about her finding him at the goldfish bread stand. The man from the stand comes up to speak as well. Mun-Hee's heartrate has calmed down significantly, and she feels like she can finally breathe again.
That is, until the reporters start asking questions.
"Zen, don't you find that having a press conference to address these allegations and defend yourself is antagonizing a female singer?"
…what?
"Excuse me?!" Mun-Hee demands angrily, stepping up to the podium and glaring down at the reporter that had the audacity to ask such a question.
"Babe, it's okay," Zen whispers.
"No! It's not okay!" Mun-Hee argues vehemently. "Why shouldn't he defend himself against an arrogant hussy who can't take no for an answer?"
The only sound coming from the hall is the flash of multiple cameras and Mun-Hee's angry breaths. "I just—" the reporter tries.
"Oh, don't you dare try to write that off! So, what? Zen should have just taken the false accusations and let his career die? Is that what you think?"
"And who are you?" another reporter questions.
"I'm Mun-Hee, the party coordinator for the RFA," she explains and then looks up at Zen. He gives a small nod of encouragement. "I'm also Zen's girlfriend, and I was there when Echo Girl came to his apartment. Twice. I talked to her myself."
Excited murmuring goes through the crowd. "You're Zen's girlfriend?" the same reporter clarifies. When he receives an affirmative answer, he continues. "Can you tell us what happened that night?"
"Zen had broken his ankle the day before, and I had driven to his apartment to take him to the emergency room to get a cast put on. I was taking care of him and staying there since he lives alone and couldn't walk. The next night, she came to the apartment and asked him to sleep with her. When I came into the living room, she insulted me, and Zen asked her to leave. The day after that, I was getting ready to take Zen back to the hospital, and she came back threatening revenge for his rejection. That's what happened. And I cannot sanction anyone spreading false sexual assault allegations. It's disgusting and childish. If you wanted to ask a decent question, it should have been why you are all so keen on villainizing a wonderful person like Zen and believing a vacuous liar like Echo Girl."
Properly chastised the crowd stands there in stunned silence. Jaehee quickly comes up and takes the microphone away. "That will be all. Thank you for your time." She rushes the two of them off the stage. "Why did you say all of that?" she demands.
"I'm not really sure," Mun-Hee admits. "I think I blacked out there at the end." Zen has his hands on her shoulders and is guiding the pale girl down the stairs and back to the rest of the RFA. "I'm sorry, Zen."
"Don't be," he soothes. "It'll all be fine."
Jumin congratulates her on being more dramatic than Zen wanted to be and says it will be the talk of the media for several weeks. Yoosung looks a little scared of Mun-Hee, and Seven just smiles at the chaos that it created with the exiting crowd of reporters.
Zen looks a little uncomfortable throughout the rest of the party, and Mun-Hee is worried that she upset him too much with her outburst. It's not until they are back at her apartment that she attempts to apologize. "Zen, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have—"
Before she can even finish, Zen has her pinned against the wall of her living room and suffocating her with hot, wet kisses. Her eyes slam closed, and her arms snake around his neck as her legs do the same thing to his waist. Just when she thinks she's about to pass out from needing to breathe, he pulls back, panting as hard as she is. "What was that for?" she asks.
"It was so sexy to see you stand up for me. No one has really done anything like that before," Zen admits, his voice husky from arousal.
"I only told the truth," Mun-Hee argues quietly.
"You did more than that," Zen insists. "You never questioned what I said really happened with Echo Girl. You stood in front of a group of reporters and told them to shut up. You stood by me through all of this and cared for me while I was sick. I've only known you a week and a half, and I honestly can't imagine my life without you."
Tears gather in Mun-Hee's eyes. "I don't ever want to leave you, Zen. Of course, I would defend you. I love you."
"I love you too," Zen replies before claiming her lips again. The kiss is hot and passionate and full of unspoken emotions and longings. Mun-Hee has no more reservations about giving herself to Zen. It just makes sense.
Although they start out heated, their kisses quickly turn sweet and loving. Zen can't believe that she, who is usually a bit shy, stood up in front of a room full of reporters and scolded them for their view of him. It's more than anyone—including his family...especially his family—has ever done for him before. He needs her.
Mun-Hee can't believe her luck in finding someone like Zen. Someone precious and beautiful, both on the inside and outside. He's wonderful, everything she could have hoped for. And he's going to be hers now.
Mun-Hee manages to pull her mouth away from Zen's, but he just changes direction and trails kisses down her throat. "Zen, we should probably move this somewhere more comfortable," she suggests, now conscious of the cold wall pressing into her exposed back.
Zen groans in annoyance but understands her request. They wouldn't want to be in an awkward position for what is to come. She's much smaller than he is, so he just removes her from the wall and carries her into her bedroom. He lays her gently down on the bed, removes her shoes and then his own, and crawls over her body to reclaim her lips.
They retain that sweet passion that was present when they arrived, but it's tinged with a little bit of nervousness. Neither of them know exactly what to do, but they'll learn together. Mun-Hee's shaking hands reach up to Zen's jacket and slip the buttons out of their place. He leans back to shed the offending garment and pulls his shirt off for good measure.
It's not the first time she's seen his chest, but there's something about the situation they find themselves in that makes it seem new. She trails her fingers around the defined muscles of his abs, and he sucks in a gasp at the feeling. Mun-Hee looks up at him and smiles, and he returns it. His face freezes, though, when she leans up and pulls the whole dress over her head, revealing that she is only wearing a small pair of panties underneath. He didn't realize that she had no bra on with the dress, but the sudden rush of blood to his groin leaves him light-headed. She bites her bottom lip and grins with mischief, and he can't hold himself back anymore.
The next several minutes are punctuated by increasingly sensual kisses and caresses and the rest of their clothing being discarded. When they are both flushed and naked before each other, they finally pause. "Are you sure about this?" Mun-Hee asks Zen.
Zen huffs a laugh. "Yes, princess. I'm sure."
Mun-Hee beams. "I love you," she whispers, taking the opportunity to wrap her legs around Zen's waist and bringing her pelvis into contact with his. His eyes roll back in his head momentarily.
"I love you too," he returns when his head clears a bit. "Are you ready?"
"Yes," she confirms, only a slight hint of nervousness remaining. It's hard to be scared with Zen; instead, she feels safe and loved.
Zen takes himself in hand and lines himself up. "I'll go slow," he promises, and she nods frantically at his reassurance. As he begins to slide in her, she feels some discomfort. There's a very large difference in their sizes, and no amount of preparation will take away all of the uncomfortable feeling. Still, it's not as bad as she's been led to believe by others in the past. When he finally stills, she opens her eyes and looks up into his crimson ones. His thumb comes up and wipes a tear from her cheek. "Does it hurt?" he asks, concern lacing his quiet voice.
"Just a little uncomfortable," she reveals. "Give me a minute. I didn't even realize I was crying." She laughs breathlessly at herself. "I think I just got emotional." Her own small hand reaches up and cups the side of Zen's face. He leans down to kiss her and waits for her permission to start moving.
It's definitely something that she has to get used to at first, but it only takes about a dozen thrusts for the pleasure to outweigh any other feeling she may have had. Soon, they are gasping each other's names, clutching at any piece of flesh they can to ground themselves. With the last shred of cognizance Zen has in his brain, he reaches one hand down to where they are joined to move in little circles around the bundle of nerves he finds there. Her breath stops in her chest, and she throws her head back and screams his name, her muscles furiously contracting around him and her body trembling in his grasp.
Zen looks at her and commits everything to memory. The way her breasts bounce with each of his thrusts, the way the blush on her face extends all the way down to her chest, the way her hair fans out around her head. He'll never forget this moment for the rest of their lives. He thrusts three more times before he feels his own orgasm upon him, and he spills himself inside her.
She pries her eyes open to watch him. The muscles in his neck tighten, and his eyes clench themselves shut. He sighs shakily, and she feels something warm inside her. She can tell when his body fails him, and he lets himself fall on top of her, gathering her into his arms as best as he can. Mun-Hee finds that she likes the weight of him on top of her; she's consumed entirely by Zen.
"Did you enjoy it?" he chances to ask after a few minutes of catching his breath.
"Yes," she says. "You?"
"Of course, babe. You're perfect," he declares, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
Mun-Hee allows herself a beaming smile. "You're the one who's perfect, Zen. You're my prince."
He rolls off of her and pulls her into his chest, tucking her head under his chin. "I think I might fall asleep."
"Go ahead," she instructs. "I think I'm not far behind you."
His eyes flutter closed, and his breathing evens out. Mun-Hee looks up at him and just sighs in happiness. She never really thought that anything like this would happen, but she's overjoyed that things turned out this way. She has someone to love who loves her in return. She couldn't ask for more.
Just then, her phone buzzes in her purse. She carefully extricates herself from Zen to check it, and sees a text from her mom. Hey, sweetie! Your dad and I just saw the pictures and articles from Zen's press conference. You did great. We're really proud of you, and we can't wait to meet him. You'll have to come visit us soon! Love you!
Mun-Hee breathes a short exhale of relief at her mother's message and types back a quick response. When she's finished, she returns to her place in Zen's arms and lets herself fall asleep next to the man she loves.
Like I said before, the entirety of this story is already written, but I'd like to add a little bit more to the epilogue before posting it. It should be up either Thursday or Friday and will cover the Valentine's DLC and finish up this little story.
I wanted this MC to have a more active role in the press conference. When I first played Zen's route and read that question from the reporter, it ticked me off, so I incorporated that here.