MPK Ch 11
by soapa“…You donated it?”
“Yeah. Back then, it was easier for me to pick myself up by my bootstraps and go it alone. But the donor must have had something good happen to them. I donated it to a children’s rehabilitation center.”
“…….”
Woo Baekyeon stopped his movements and was silent for a long time. Then, suddenly, a long piece of fabric was tossed onto my chest. Pajama pants and fresh underwear.
After picking them up, I saw Woo Baekyeon gritting his teeth and hissing.
“Idiot!”
“Hey, I told you it was a funny story after we fought about money! Don’t scold me!”
Even though I’d made it sound like I was going it alone, I knew it was a rash decision. But even now, ten years later, I still think it was the right decision…. Somehow, it felt like I shouldn’t say that right now. Well, he probably had a right to be angry since I’d flipped out over ten million won after having donated 300 million.
“You…, really…!”
Woo Baekyeon, who had been fuming in front of me as I quietly put on my underwear, plopped down next to me on the sofa.
“Don’t look at me, Jung Hankyung.”
“Huh?”
“Turn around! You said massages are good for sore backs after sex!”
“Uh… o-okay….”
I quickly turned my back, and Woo Baekyeon pressed his thumbs firmly into my lower back. This was the sports massage I’d given him in Jeju Island, right? Although there was some awkwardness from his lack of experience, the movements were precise. When did he practice this?
He was much more dedicated to our marriage than I’d anticipated. The reason for this ten-million-won incident was also because he wanted to help me as family. Constantly being cared for made me wonder if I’d distanced myself too much from him.
Celebrating birthdays together, being touched, fighting, making up, relaxing together in the same house. It had been so long since I’d experienced these things that I felt I’d miss them a lot when the time came to part ways. I’d become quite attached to him.
Sometimes I think it would be less nerve-wracking to live with a fairy tale princess, and other times I’m unexpectedly touched. Either way, Woo Baekyeon always made a deep impression on me. Even now, as he soothed my aching back, it was the same.
“Hey, don’t be too kind to me. What if I get used to it? We’re going to divorce in three years.”
“…Divorce?”
The hands pressing on my back stopped abruptly. His voice sounded chilly. A moment ago, I’d imagined family-friendly music playing in the background, but now it felt like the soundtrack to a survival movie in Antarctica.
“Divorce? What are you talking about, Jung Hankyung?”
“Uh, huh?”
“How… can you talk about divorce right after we were intimate?”
“No, I don’t mean right away, obviously. We have to honor the contract period. I’m talking about after that.”
“What period?”
“The contract… it said three years.”
The warmth on my back disappeared. Woo Baekyeon then held his phone screen in front of me. The contract was displayed.
“It says we’ll maintain this for a minimum of three years. Minimum.”
“…Then, the maximum?”
“Forever!”
“……?”
Uh, wait, was I… under some huge misunderstanding?
“Hey, th-that… forever is a long time. No matter how much you…”
…like someone, feelings can change… we got married on a whim…
Even if you marry someone you love…
Someone you love…
Holy shit, why is my face burning even though I haven’t said anything out loud?
In contrast to me, Woo Baekyeon’s face grew cold.
Glaring at me with wide, furious eyes, he started to reproach me in his characteristically cool voice, laced with anger.
“Jung Hankyung, that means even while we were intimate, you were thinking about breaking up. On our honeymoon, and today.”
“No, that’s not…”
“How am I supposed to interpret this? You even thought I was the one who suggested a contract to get married for only three years and then divorce…!”
“Aaaah, I was wrong!”
I quickly hugged Woo Baekyeon. Even trapped in my embrace, his shoulders continued to rise and fall with his agitated breaths.
“I misunderstood because I don’t know how to read a contract! If we fight again today, I might actually die of a heart attack. Please forgive me just this once, princess. Okay?”
“…You,”
He simply cut me off with a kiss. This won’t do. Please give me back my peaceful life.
Woo Baekyeon flinched and pursed his lips. I hugged him tighter and pressed my lips against his firmly closed mouth. Peck, peck, peck. But this is a serious situation, yet it feels… kind of nice. His shoulders, which had been fidgeting in my embrace, stilled. Then, Woo Baekyeon hugged me back.
“…Fine. Saying you’re afraid of getting used to my kindness means you would feel a great sense of loss if we were to separate.”
Woo Baekyeon stared at me intently, seemingly satisfied with his own interpretation, whatever it was. His expression seemed to say he would let me off the hook… for today.
“I have another question.”
“Yes, yes, ask away.”
“Why… do you keep calling me princess?”
Huh?
“Woo Baekyeon, do you have telepathic powers?”
“You called me that.”
“…….”
“This isn’t the first time either.”
The power of thought is scary. It actually slipped out of my mouth. My princess, that is, Woo Baekyeon, demanded an explanation with his eyes.
There were various moments when I’d called him princess in my mind. When he looked down at others with an aloof, cool gaze, when he displayed his magical wealth, when he charmed animals to an almost supernatural degree, when he disappeared without a backward glance at night.
Among those times, when I was so captivated by Woo Baekyeon that my thoughts slipped out, it was probably because…
“Because you’re pretty…?”
His wide eyes flickered with a mixture of surprise and suspicion.
“…You must have treated your previous partners this way too. Did you give them pet names and then break up with them without a second thought?”
“Weren’t you going to forgive me just this once…?”
“Answer me.”
“No… I haven’t really called anyone anything other than their name, but it just came to mind when I saw you. You’re the first person I’ve… done something similar to dating with. Ah, is it weird to say we’re dating? We’re married. Well, calling someone ‘princess’ is a bit creepy for people who are dating, it’s more fun between family.”
“…….”
“Um… I won’t do it if you don’t like it.”
“So you gave me a special nickname because you find me pretty.”
“…I guess… you could say that?”
“Do as you please.”
Woo Baekyeon sat up from on top of me. His flushed face turned away abruptly as he got off the sofa and headed for the stairs. His steps were faster than usual.
Huh… uh… uh…? What was that reaction?
What?
Really… what?!
Even though Woo Baekyeon’s footsteps faded away, I could still hear my own heart pounding in my ears. I stood there blankly, staring at the stairs where he’d disappeared.
‘Could it be that Woo Baekyeon actually…’
As I hesitated, unable to voice the conclusion, the sound of a door closing echoed from upstairs. At the same time, my face flushed as if bathed in sunlight.