So if I thought that Zen was acting weird before, his behavior then was nothing compared to the way he was acting now. All week long he continued to give me that goofy, weird dreamy look, but now that was accompanied by other strange actions. For instance, I'd noticed he'd started to go on more runs, sometimes twice a day. Sometimes he'd come back not even having broken a sweat. Of course, I started to become suspicious. What could he be doing? It didn't help that, when I asked him about it, he got this guilty ass look on his face. Yeah, I was pretty sure he was up to something.
Zen had also started getting protective of his phone. I mean he used to let me use it all the time. Like if I wanted to play some music and my phone was in the other room. Or if I needed to look something up quickly on the internet. He never said a thing. He even shared his passcode, which was 5683 (using the corresponding letters on the phone interface, it spelled "love"). Now, Zen kept his phone on him at all times, except when he was in the shower. One of those times, and I'm a little bit ashamed to admit, but my curiosity got the best of me. I picked up his phone with the intention of doing a little snooping but, to my utter surprise, he had changed the passcode.
Yes, Zen was definitely up to something. At first I thought some of his weird behavior was just a result of having met with his mom. He hadn't seen her in probably almost ten years, so it was totally understandable why he'd be upset. His mother had told him his father still didn't want to see him, so that had to hurt. I thought maybe all the extra exercise was a way of dealing with the sadness and grief… But the phone? I didn't have an answer for that.
I shook my head in dismay. How could I have thought, just last week, that Zen was going to ask me to marry him? He'd gotten that look in his eye while answering a fan's question about marriage on The Viewpoint and I was sure, so sure he was going to propose. Now I felt like I'd be lucky to hold onto him as my boyfriend.
The sound of an incoming message broke me out of my reverie. God, how long had I been sitting here at work doing nothing? I clicked on the messenger icon. The message was from Jaehee.
Jaehee: Do you have that report ready yet?
MC: Not yet
Jaehee: The Chairman needs it by lunchtime.
MC: You'll have it.
MC: Promise.
I sighed. No, I did not have that report ready yet, although I should have by now. I closed the message window and navigated back to report I was writing and sighed. I absolutely had to get my head out of the clouds and get back to work or, in addition to Zen acting weird, I was going to get fired. Trying to figure out what was up with Zen would have to wait until later.
Back at the apartment, Zen was sweating and nervous sitting on the couch and staring at his phone. The slip of paper next to it had a name and a phone number. MC's sister. After a lot of back and forth, which meant a lot of sneaking around on Zen's part to provide Saeyoung and Saeran with the information and details they needed to track her down, the hackers had found her still living in London and working for a prestigious law firm.
Zen sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He knew he had to do this, but he hadn't put much thought into actually doing it, and now the very real possibility that she might say "no" presented itself loud and clear. What if she did say "no"? Zen didn't know what he would do.
"Fuck it," Zen said outloud, finally, as he slammed his hand into the couch. It was now or never. He took a deep breath and then picked up the phone. Someone, likely MC's sister, picked up right away.
"Hello?" she said. Her voice was small and sweet like MC's only a little more business-sounding in tone.
"Uh," Zen said as he began to sweat even more. "Lee Hae? Is this Lee Hae?"
"Yes," Hae said, sounding wary. "And who is this?"
"Um, uh," Zen said, trying to gather his words. He'd practiced in the mirror all morning. "You don't know me, but I'm dating your sister, MC."
"I know who my sister is," Lee Hae said. There was some snark in her tone. "What can I do for you?" she asked, and then suddenly she paused and sucked in a breath. "Oh my god, is MC... is she OK?
"Yes, she's fine," Zen said quickly. "Everything's fine." He heard Hae breathe a sigh of relief.
"OK, then," Hae said, her voice back to down to business. "What did you say your name was?"
"My name is Zen," he said almost automatically, forgetting his script. "Uh, I mean Ryu Hyun…"
"Wait," Hae said, her voice perking up. "Did you say ZEN? As in THE Zen, the actor?"
Zen cleared his throat. "Um," Zen said, wiping some sweat away from his forehead with the back of his hand. "Uh, well yeah, I guess I am that guy."
"Oh my GOD!" Hae cried. "ZEN is calling me!? I can't believe it…"
Zen heard some whispering in the background. Hae was likely relaying this information to whoever was with her.
"Excuse me?" Zen said into the receiver.
"Oh sorry!" Hae said. "I just got so excited… I'm at work and I had to explain what all the commotion was about."
"Um, I guess you're a fan, then?" Zen couldn't help himself from smiling. What was MC going to think when she found out her sister was a fan.
"Oh my god, YES," Hae said. "I've seen all your shows and own every one except Tei's Tea Leaf, which is out of print."
"Oh, well I could get you a copy," Zen said, amiably.
"You could!?" Hae practically squealed. "Oh my god, thank you!" Hae was silent for a moment and then she spoke. "Wait, what did you say?" she said. "You're my DATING my sister?"
"Well," Zen said, he had sworn to himself that he was going to be honest. The whole truth and nothing but the truth. "We're actually living together…"
"Oh my god!?" Hae squealed again. "My SISTER is living with ZEN the actor?"
"Yes," Zen said. "For quite a while. We're in love." Zen scratched his head. "Don't you read the papers? We've been all over the celebrity publications for months…"
"Oh, I don't pay attention to all that," Hae said. "Celebrity news isn't news… and I'm really busy. I work more than 60 hours a week."
"Wow," Zen said. "I don't know if I could handle that."
"I'm quite proud of my work ethic," Hae said. "And I can support myself independently, which is more than you can probably say about my sister. How is she anyway?"
Zen guessed Lee Hae wanted to hear about what kind of job MC was doing and so he obliged. "She's working for C&R International, a large firm that has its hand in all kinds of industry… She mostly does PR and marketing."
Hae sighed, sounding impressed. "Well, if that doesn't sound just legitimate," Hae said. "I thought for sure you were going to tell me she was in a rock band or something... " she sighed again, wistfully. "Bloody idealistic that girl is… not a practical bone in her body."
Zen smiled to himself. And that's why I love her, he thought.
"Well, Zen," Hae said. "What can I do for you? Why the call?"
"Well, to get right to the point, then," Zen said, clearing his throat again. "I want to marry MC. I want her to be my wife and, well, uh, tradition says I need her family's permission… and well, your parents are…"
"Yes, they're dead," Hae said without emotion. "It's OK, Zen, really." she paused. "OK, so you're after the Eui hon, are you?"
"Yes," Zen said.
"Well, shouldn't your father be making this call?" Hae said.
"Well, er, yes," Zen said. "But my father… well, to put it bluntly, we're kind of estranged… and the truth of the matter is, I do have someone standing in for me, and yes, he will make the formal call, but I wanted to introduce myself first."
Hae sighed. "Well, that's very kind," she said. "Do you expect my sister will accept your proposal?"
"I certainly hope so," Zen said. God, Zen thought feeling all the color drain from his face. What if she did say "no"? Zen squeezed his eyes shut and shook the thought from his head.
Hae started to laugh. "Well, I should hope so!" she cackled. "I'd kill her if she said 'no'... Imagine… having ZEN the actor in our family…"
Zen really wished she'd stop saying his name that way. "So you'll say 'yes' then?" Zen said. "You'll agree to the match?"
"Yes, of course, my soon to be brother-in-law," Hae said. "And you don't really need to get your stand-in to call me, but I bet you will since you sound like such a traditionalist."
Zen smiled. Yeah, he guessed he was that, a traditionalist.
By the time I got home it was well after 7pm. Work had been long and horrible. Jumin and the Chairmen were meeting with potential clients all afternoon and I was running my ass off back and forth, writing proposals, editing proposals, printing proposals in glossy print. I was so looking forward to seeing Zen, perhaps burning off some of my frustration with some hot sex, but when I opened the door, the apartment was dark and silent. What? Zen wasn't home yet? I didn't remember him saying anything about a late rehearsal…
I dumped my bag on the hallway table and double-checked my phone for messages. Nothing from Zen, but Jaehee had called me twice. I sighed. She had me all day, she could wait one friggin' hour...
I ambled into the kitchen to pour myself a glass of wine and see if we had any leftovers. There was a note on the kitchen table. Zen's handwriting was slanted and neat. "Babe, I had to go out and get some things. Be back soon" and he signed it with a big heart.
Get some things? What things? I thought, crinkling my nose in frustration. I opened the fridge. There was some leftover pasta and half a bottle of rose. I popped the pasta in the microwave, poured myself a glass of wine and plopped down in the nearest chair to see who was online in the Messenger app.
[MC has entered the chatroom]
Yoosung: MC! ^^
Yoosung: [happy emoji]
Saeyoung: Yo MC!
Saeyoung: [dancing emoji]
MC: Hello to you both ^^
Jaehee: Oh MC… good you're here
Jaehee: Did you get my messages?
MC: Hi Jaehee
MC: I haven't listened to them yet
MC: I just got home
Jaehee: Well, it's about you taking off next week
Jaehee: I need you to sign some forms
Saeyoung: Whoa! Hold it right there boss lady…
Saeyoung: Respect that the work day has ended, plz
MC: What? What forms?
MC: I'm not going anywhere
MC: [confused emoji]
Jaehee: Oh you're not? But I thought…
Saeyoung: Silence boss lady!
Saeyoung: NO talking to MC about work right now
Saeyoung: MC, got any plans for the weekend?
MC: Nothing special, but so far it sucks
MC: Zen isn't even here.
Yoosung: No? Where is he?
MC: I don't know. Probably on one of his mystery dates.
Yoosung: [confused emoji]
Yoosung: Mystery dates?
Saeyoung: Oh come on, MC…
Saeyoung: That guy loves you through and through
MC: I know…
MC: It's just he's been acting so weird lately.
Yoosung: Weird how?
MC: Well, he disappears a lot, like now, for instance
MC: ...and he goes on more runs…
MC: Maybe he's getting sick of me
Saeyoung: Zen is NOT getting sick of you
Saeyoung: Trust me on that one
MC: Seven, do you know something?
MC: You better tell me if you know something.
Saeyoung: I know lots of things.
MC: You're avoiding the question.
Saeyoung: Isn't it obvious?
Saeyoung: The guy gets googly eyes every time you walk in a room.
Yoosung: He totally does T-T
Jaehee: I can also verify that statement
MC: So you think I'm being stupid?
Saeyoung: So stupid.
Saeyoung was right. I was being so stupid right now. What was I so worried about? Zen loved me. He really did. I was just thinking about how much I really, really wanted him home when I heard a key in the lock. Zen!
MC: Ohhh… I got to go.
MC: Zen's home!
Saeyoung: Go get him, tiger
Yoosung: Bye, MC^^
MC: Bye!
[MC has left the chatroom]
I jumped up and ran to the hall to meet Zen at the door.
"Zen!" I said as the door pushed open. Zen looked surprised to see me and quickly pulled the door back shut to a crack.
"Babe!" He said, sticking his head through the crack in the door. "You're here!"
I wrinkled my forehead. "Of course I'm here," I said. "I LIVE here."
Zen smiled. "Of course you do, Princess," he said. "I just thought… Jaehee said you'd be working late."
"Well it IS late, it's after 7pm," I said. "What are you doing? Why are you standing out there? Why are you talking to me through the door?"
"Uh," Zen stammered. "Uh, well, uh… Shit."
"What is it?" I said. I was getting worried. More of this weird behavior. What the hell was going on?
"Look, Princess," Zen said. "It's a surprise, OK?"
"A surprise?" I said. "For me?"
"Yes, for you," Zen said smiling. "I've got some stuff out here for it, so it's kind of less of a surprise now, especially if you see it."
"Oh," I said, getting more curious by the second. "Sorry."
"Don't be sorry," Zen said. "I didn't realize how late it was… I thought I could maybe get back before you got home…" He paused. "Hey, do you think you could go into the kitchen? So I could bring this stuff in and preserve as much of the surprise as possible?"
"Yeah, ok," I said, retreating down the hall and back to the kitchen. I got my pasta out of the microwave, smiling to myself. Surprise? What surprise? Could he be…? I shook my head. Nah, Zen was always surprising me with stuff. The necklace on the night of the party. A picnic lunch at the park during my lunch hour. That special chocolate on Valentine's Day. Yes, surprises were, in essence, Zen's second nature. This surprise was likely no big deal and probably fun.
"Looks like it's going to be a special weekend after all," I called to Zen in a teasing voice. My back was to the hallway, but I could hear him rustling around in the closet.
"Look, NO going in the closet," Zen said using a warning tone. "You got that?"
"OK," I said, pouting. "Fine."
"Promise?" He said.
"Yes, I promise," I said.
You know, in general, I really didn't like surprises, especially the jump-out-and-scare-you kind, but I had a feeling I was going to like this one. A lot.
Zen did not say another word about the surprise all night, and every time I asked him about it, he'd silence me with a kiss. That kind of backfired, though, because after a while I turned it into a game.
"You just want me to kiss you again," Zen said, laughing as he touched his lips to mine for, I don't know, maybe the thirtieth time that night. "You know you could just ASK me for a kiss."
"It's more fun this way," I said.
The night had passed normally, no surprises, and the morning had, too. I had almost forgotten about it. Almost. Then Zen came up behind me while I was drying my hair with a towel. I had just gotten out of the shower. He wrapped his arms around my naked waist and planted a kiss on my shoulder.
"OK," he said. "Get ready. It's time."
I spun around to face him. "It's time?!" I squealed. "For my surprise?"
"Yes, Princess," he said, smiling. "Get dressed."
I cocked my head to one side, eyeing him curiously. "What should I wear for this…" I paused. "...surprise?"
"Nothing special," Zen said. "Something comfortable. We'll be outside."
There it was, my first clue. We'd be outside.
"OK, you got it, babe," I said as I hurried past him to get dressed. Not twenty minutes later I emerged from the bedroom in jeans and an eyelet cotton top.
"Ready to go!" I said. I know I was beaming ear-to-ear.
"Wow, that was fast," Zen said, getting up from the couch. He crossed the room to meet me, taking both my hands in his. "You look…" he sucked in a breath as he surveyed my body. "...gorgeous." I noticed he had that goofy, dreamy look in his eye again.
"Well, I had to get ready fast," I said. "I'm dead curious."
"Let's go, then," Zen said, walking to the closet.
"Wait, wait!" I said as he reached for the door handle. "There's stuff in there! Remember? I'm not supposed to see."
"It's OK, Princess," Zen said, smiling. "I moved it." When he opened the door, sure enough, the closet was just full of the normal stuff.
"You moved it?" I said. "When?"
"I just did, OK, Princess?" Zen said, handing me a helmet. "You don't need to know."
"But I WANT to know," I pouted.
"You're so cute," he said, touching me on the chin. "You know that, right?"
I smiled and stood on tiptoe to kiss him on the lips. "I try," I said.
Zen grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the door. "Let's go," he said.
We got onto Zen's motorcycle and sped out of the neighborhood, through the city, then over a bridge and, finally, up a winding hill I recognized.
"I know where we're going," I said, squeezing Zen around the middle. "We're going to your Special Place, right?"
Zen nodded. "That's right, Princess," he said. "...and we're almost there."
My stomach did a double flip. A surprise picnic! Ever since the first time I'd been to Zen's Special Place, which started off as a not-so-nice experience and ended as a very nice experience, I'd wanted to go back and make a new memory there. Now was my chance. My heart beat wildly with excitement and anticipation.
Finally, in what seemed like a totally random spot, Zen pulled off the road and stashed his bike in the trees. It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny, but not too hot and, every once in a while, there was just a slight breeze. Zen held out a hand.
"Come on," he said, pulling me down the nearly invisible path through the trees. It was a short walk to the clearing Zen called his Special Place. It looked out over the entire city. Even though I'd been here before, it still took my breath away. I sighed.
"Wow," I said. "So gorgeous."
"Turn around, Princess," Zen said, and so I did.
"Oh my god," I said. Zen had set up a picnic blanket and basket. On the blanket were real dishes, including two champagne flutes.
"Wow!" I exclaimed. "When did you do this?"
"This morning," he said. "What, did you really think I went on TWO runs?"
I nodded. I knew he was up to something, but honestly it wouldn't take a week of sneaking around to organize this picnic, would it?
"What are we celebrating?" I said, pointing at the champagne flutes. I was joking around, but Zen's face suddenly got very serious.
"Oh god," he said. "I just can't wait any longer, damn."
The serious look on Zen's face made the color drain from mine. "Is something wrong?" I said, my voice catching in my throat.
Zen shook his head "no" and I watched in slow motion as he slowly got down on one knee. My heart skipped a beat. Oh my god, I thought. This is it. He's going to propose.
"MC," he said, taking my hand. "You are literally the girl of my dreams. Ever since that first night you appeared to me in that dream, I have loved you, have been in love you, and I know beyond a doubt that I will continue to love you forever." Zen paused, his red eyes searching mine. My heart was beating so hard and fast I thought it might pop out of my chest. I braced myself for the words.
"MC," Zen said, looking so beautiful and so perfect down on one knee in jeans and a tee-shirt. "Will you marry me? Will you make me the happiest guy in the world and be my wife?"
I didn't pause or hesitate. I just simply began to bob my head "yes" until I finally found my voice. "Yes," I said with tears in my eyes. "Yes, yes, YES! I will marry you, Ryu Hyun."
The words barely left my mouth and Zen jumped up, grabbed me around the waist and spun me around. Then he was smiling and kissing my face all over.
"Oh god, babe," he said. "I love you so much. You don't even know."
"I love YOU so much," I said, sniffling back the tears. "I can't believe this… I mean, I knew it… or thought I knew it or whatever…" I paused. "Oh Zen, is this why you were acting so WEIRD?"
"I was acting weird?" he said, looking at me puzzled.
"Yes," I said. "Very." Then I went on to tell him about all my suspicions, including the phone.
"Well," Zen said, laughing a bit. "I couldn't risk you finding out what I was doing… Saeyoung and Saeran spent a lot of time looking for your sister…"
"My sister?" I said.
"Yeah," he said. "I had to get Jumin to do the Eui hon because, you know, my parents…"
I put a hand on his arm. "Oh Zen," I said. "I'm so sorry."
"It's OK," Zen said. "My mom granted her blessing, at least, and oh…" Zen started rummaging in his pocket and, when he pulled out a ring, I caught my breath.
"I can't believe I almost forgot about this…" Zen said. He reached out for my left hand and slid the ring on my finger. I gasped. It was a simple white gold band with a tiny diamond. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen and it fit perfectly.
"I hope you don't mind, I stole one of your rings for a bit to get the size," Zen said. No, I hadn't noticed. I guess that was one "weird" thing I didn't catch.
"Oh, Zen!" I said, sucking in a breath. "I LOVE it."
"It belonged to my grandmother," Zen said. "It's a family heirloom."
"Oh!" I said, not able to take my eyes off the shimmering stone. "I'm so glad that part of your family is here, at least."
Zen reached for my hand and brought it to his lips. "Damn, Princess," he said. "I am so fucking happy right now. I don't think I've ever been this happy."
I shook my head up and down in agreement. I was also bursting with happiness, so much so that I thought I might explode from the inside out. I almost couldn't wrap my head around it. Zen and I were getting MARRIED. I was going to be his WIFE. I couldn't help but picture Echo Girl's face when she heard the news, her lips twisted and ugly. I smiled. Yeah, take that, Echo Girl!
"Come here, Princess," Zen said, pulling me down on the blanket. "Let's make a toast…" He reached into an ice bucket I hadn't noticed before and pulled out a bottle of champagne. Then he poured the pink bubbling liquid into two glasses. He handed me one. "It's a good one, too, apparently," Zen said. "A gift from Jumin and Mi-Sun… Jumin insisted."
"Of course he did," I said, smiling.
"Well, he certainly can't have you now," Zen said, smiling. "Now that you're Mrs. Ryu Hyun-to-be."
Mrs. Ryu Hyun. I liked the sound of that.
"Damn straight," I said, giggling. "Do you think he'll get over me?"
"I don't think that arrogant prick will ever get over you, Princess," Zen said, raising his glass. "But who cares? You're mine." I raised my glass, too.
"To US," Zen said.
"May we be happy and healthy forever," I added.
"Yes," Zen said. "And have loads of sex."
"Loads of sex," I echoed, and we clinked glasses.
Zen's eyes suddenly got very heavy as he reached for the glass of champagne and took it out of my hand.
"Speaking of…" he said in a raspy voice. Zen set the two glasses on a makeshift table piled high with fruit and cheese. Then he leaned in and put a hand on my cheek... let his fingers slide down the side of my neck… down my bare chest... and finally to the top of my blouse, where the fabric was tied in a neat bow.
"May I?" Zen said, grasping one end of the bow with a thumb and forefinger. I nodded and he pulled. The front of my blouse fell open exposing the tops of my bare breasts. I wasn't wearing a bra. Zen's eyes seemed to get redder, hotter and larger.
"God, I love your tits," he said, sliding his hands all over my body, feeling me up through my shirt. Then he leaned forward to peak down my top.
"Let's just take this off," Zen said, grasping the hem of my shirt and lifting it up over my head.
"Aw man," Zen said. His voice was low and dreamy, like seeing me topless had put him in some kind of trance. Slowly, he crawled over and on top of me as I laid back on the blanket. When his lips found mine, I got greedy, immediately crushing my lips to his. Our mouths moved together in tandem, tongues tangled in their own sort of lovemaking. Thoughts of Zen as my husband filled my brain and the images made everything hotter. God, this guy, these lips... I was just the luckiest girl on earth.
"What are you thinking about?" Zen said, looking at me sideways.
"You," I said, pulling him closer to me.
We'd only just begun and my panties were already soaking, my pussy already burning to be touched. I squirmed underneath Zen, squeezing my thighs tighter together in hopes of rubbing out a bit of the heat.
"Mmmm…" Zen said, breathing hot into my ear. He knew me well. "Already? Damn, Princess…"
Zen's lips left mine to travel down the side of my neck, then to my chest. I let out a sigh when his teeth found my nipple.
"You like that, don't you pretty girl," he purred.
I felt his hand working the button on my jeans, then the zipper. Then, gratefully, I felt his hand slide beneath my underwear. I squirmed and moaned knowing any moment now he would be touching me…
"Oh Zen," I sighed. "Touch me."
I felt his fingers graze my lips, slowly moving up and down. "Damn, you're soaking wet, Princess," he drawled. Then he started making little circles and putting pressure on my clit. I raised my hips up off of the ground and moaned as I felt his fingers slip in and out. It felt SO good..
I let my eyes roll back in my head and gave into the feeling, continuing to roll my hips around in response to his movements. Zen knew my body well at this point and it wasn't long before my climax began to build…
"Oh Zen, oh I…" I blurted. I didn't even get all the words out of my mouth before I started to cum. As I let the rolling sensation sweep through me, my mind filled with colors and light.
"You're so fucking hot," Zen said afterwards. He's told me before how he loves to watch me cum, how I'm different and beautiful every time. I found that a little hard to believe because when I'm cumming I imagine my face is contorted in mangled, twisted mess.
"And you're so fucking hard…" I said, getting turned on all over again. Zen was up on his knees now, and I could see the outline of his cock clearly pressing against the fabric of his jeans.
"That has to be uncomfortable," I said, sitting up. I began to work the buckle of his belt, and then his jeans. Zen pulled his tee-shirt up over his head and I stopped for a moment, just a moment to admire his muscular chest.
"God, you're beautiful," I whispered. I was never going to get over this man-god who somehow ended up to be my boyfriend and now, my fiancé. Fiancé.
Breaking away from my thoughts, I went back to the task of getting Zen naked. First, I helped him wiggle out of his jeans, then his boxers. Then, finally, his erection was staring me in the face.
"That's better," I whispered, sticking my tongue out of my mouth to lap the bit of pre-cum that was pooling at the tip. Zen groaned. Inching closer on my knees I took the whole head in my mouth, swirling my tongue in circles around the tip, sucking ever so gently, ever so slowly at first.
"Oh babe," Zen said as he began to rock his hips forward and backward, pumping himself into my mouth. I responded by taking him in deeper until I could feel the tip at the back of my throat. I kept swirling my tongue and sucking to Zen's rhythm, which was building and getting faster.
"Oh god, oh MC," Zen said as I opened my throat to take in his whole length. "Oh, damn...so good…"
I took a moment to peak up at his beautiful face. His eyes were half closed, rolling into the back of his head and his jaw was slack with pleasure. Me, I was doing this. I was making him feel this good. Zen the actor was utterly and completely under my control.
Zen's hips were beginning to pump faster until finally they began to slow. "Oh god, babe… I'm going to cum…" he said and then I watched as his stomach tightened and he began to quake. "I'm cumming… Oh god, oh MC, MC, MC…"
All at once I tasted the sticky saltiness of him as he shot his load in into my open mouth. I swallowed as I rode him through to the finish. Somehow I still managed to smile with him in my mouth, loving the sound of my name on his lips, the taste of him in my mouth. Finally, as the quaking turn to shivers, I released him, my lips savoring the length of him as he slid slowly out of my mouth.
"Damn, Princess," Zen said, pressing my lips to his. "To think that I'll be getting THAT for the rest of my life… I don't think I can stand it."
"I think somehow you'll manage," I said, running my fingers gently up and down his chest. "...and to think that I get this…"
Zen smiled, a smug, shit eating grin. "Yup," he said. "I'm all yours, babe."
Later, we laid around half dressed, picking at the cheese and fruit and sipping champagne.
"You know I can't help but think about Echo Girl," I said.
"What?" Zen said. "Why?"
"I'm getting a lot of pleasure out of imagining her reaction when she hears we're engaged," I said, sucking on a grape.
"Yeah," Zen said. "She'll probably get pretty upset…"
"You know, I hate to say it, but I don't feel bad for her at all," I said. "Not even a little."
"Yeah, I hear she's still looking for work," Zen said. "Her reputation as a pain in the ass to work with is starting to really affect her." Zen paused to pop a piece of cheese in his mouth. "Who knows? Maybe we'll see HER in an infomercial sometime soon."
Zen suddenly sat up. "Oh!" he said as if he'd forgotten something, which maybe he did. "I almost forgot…. I have another surprise for you…"
My eyebrows lifted. "Another surprise?" I said. "Two in one day? Well, I'm not sure you can top that last one, my lovely Zen."
Zen sighed. "So cute," he said, reaching forward to tickle my sides. "I get so fucking cute for the rest of my life!" He rolled over on top of me and kissed me on the lips.
"What's your second surprise?" I said, loving the feeling of his forehead on mine, our hearts locked together through our gaze.
Zen pulled me up to a seated position. He had a different smile on his face, bigger and prouder than I'd ever seen before. I felt my heart start to beat fast in my chest. Whatever he had to say, it had to be good news.
"You aren't going to believe this," Zen said and then he paused. The suspense was fucking killing me. "I've been offered a part in a musical…"
My mouth fell open and I raised my hands to cover it. "Oh my god!" I said, feeling the glee starting to spread throughout my body.
"...and that's not all…" Zen said. "It's a production on, are you ready for this?" I nodded my head bobbing like a bobblehead doll. "It's a production on BROADWAY!"
I sucked in a breath. "BROADWAY?" I repeated. My eyes felt like they were going to pop out of their sockets. "Are you SERIOUS?" I squealed, leaping into his arms. "You better be fucking serious! Because if you're not..."
"I'm totally serious," Zen said, kissing my face all over. "I'm so serious, babe…"
"Broadway, oh my god," I whispered. I couldn't contain the feelings of joy that seemed to be pouring out of me. Acting in a play on Broadway was Zen's ultimate dream… and now here it was happening to him. I blinked as I felt tears spring to my eyes.
"Oh baby," I said, pulling him close. "I'm so proud of you... I'm so, so proud of you…"
Zen lean back and cupped my face in his hands. "It's all because of you, you know," he said, his flame red eyes searching mine. "You stood by me, you believed in me, you made me believe in me…" I could see his eyes were also filling with tears. "There's no doubt in my mind...I could not have done this without you."
Zen pulled my lips to his and he kissed me so strongly so deeply I could feel his love in my ankles.
"Wow," I said, after the kiss. I was just starting to realize what all this was going to mean. "So we'll be moving to New York…"
"Yes," Zen said, nodding his head. "IF I take the role?"
My eyebrows shot up in shock. "What?!" I said. "What do you mean 'if'? You mean you haven't accepted the role yet?"
"I wanted to talk to you first," Zen said. "This affects you, too, you know. We'll be married… You'll be my wife... "
"Oh Zen," I said, throwing myself into his arms. "TAKE the role!" It was my turn to cup his cheeks in my hands, my turn to look him deep in the eyes. "You know I'd follow you anywhere."
"Will you follow me there next week?" Zen said. "Apparently they want to check me out in person… All-expenses paid trip to New York."
"What?" I said. "And I get to go?"
"It's already been arranged," Zen said. "You even have the time off work."
Oh, so THAT'S what Jaehee was talking about me having to sign those forms. Boy, did she almost spill the beans. I thought back to today's Messenger app chat, how Saeyoung had so vehemently tried to change the subject.
"Zen," I said. "How much of the RFA knows?"
"Just Saeyoung, Saeran and Jumin," Zen said. "I needed their help to pull this thing off…" he paused. "... and I wanted you to have a chance to share the news, too. Now we can do it together."
"Now we'll do everything together," I said. "Officially a team."
"Yeah," Zen said. "A family… Now we can make our own."
The sun was setting, all orange and red on the horizon. The air was getting cooler so I snuggled up closer to my future husband, happier than I had ever been. Together we watched the sun until it disappeared.
Author's note: So that's it, the end! Sorry it took so long to get this last chapter out. It was really important that I get it right, you know? It's the LAST chapter! I am thinking about (maybe) continuing MC & Zen's journey as a new story, the second book, so to speak. So look out for that. Thanks (always) for reading, commenting, reviewing, etc. I LOVE hearing from you.