AAE2 BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Written by: Margie Lim (MY)

*****

Walking towards his bride's bedroom, he hesitated. He did not open the door. He merely stood there and listened. The quiet sounds of sobbing have since ceased, but just in case she was still awake, he tapped lightly and called her name softly.

There was no reply.

He opened the door and walked into her room -- or rather, their nuptial room.

She was asleep.

He looked at her still form -- still in her wedding finery. Her white satin wedding gown was badly crushed. He picked up her veil which was lying near the door. Probably, she had torn it off her head and flung it there. She was lying on her stomach with her profile towards him. Part of her long hair fanned her face, so he gently smoothed it away.

He stepped back when she stirred slightly but did not wake. He looked at her tear-stained cheek and smudged makeup and felt a stirring of anger within himself.

Earlier she had told him that she had not wanted to marry him as she was in love with his cousin, Sang-min. In fact, they had gone out together while still at university but Sun-mi has never told her uncle. She knew her uncle has never liked Sang-min, often describing him as irresponsible and unreliable.

"Uncle has always liked you, even when we were children," Sun-mi had revealed to Hyung-chul. "I was sure you would never marry a woman just because of parental pressure and told Uncle so."

Then she looked at him with sad eyes, "But I was wrong, wasn't I?"

He caressed her cheek lovingly. "If you only knew -- you weren't wrong at all."

That night he moved his things into the guest room.

****

After that night, he has never heard or seen Sun-mi weeping. It was as if she had decided to accept that, like it or not, it was her fate and she was now a married woman. Nevertheless, many times, he caught her sitting in front of television -- staring at the blank screen.

One thing Hyung-chul had kept from her was his subsequent meeting with his cousin. He was surprised and angry when his cousin denied there was anything more than a platonic friendship between them.

"Sure, we went out," Sang-min admitted. "But we were always with two other friends or in a group. I had not even known she was in love with me."

"How could you not have known?" Hyung-chul retorted angrily. His fists were just itching to connect with his cousin's jaw.

"Hyong, I like Sun-mi," Sang-min stressed. "I invited her out because frankly, I like the attention she showers on me. She's like an adorable little puppy who is fun to have around but that's all."

"You've never led her on?"

Sang-min answered with a question. "Think I would want to give you a chance to beat my nose to a pulp?"

"What would I do that for?"

He patted his cousin's shoulder. "Let's just say I have perfect vision!"

"But she's in love with you."

"So? Make her fall in love with you instead. I can't believe a tenacious prosecutor like you will not try to fight for what he wants." Then he leant forward and whispered conspiringly, "If you don't want her to leave, I'd suggest that you'd better consummate your marriage. That way she'll be shackled to you forever."

How could that scalawag have known about that?

***

As Sun-mi declined Hyung-chul's suggestion for a honeymoon, both of them returned to work one week after their marriage. When close friends asked about their honeymoon plans, both of them would just laugh and dance around the question. In front of family and friends, they would be the most loving of couples but when they're back in their apartment and away from prying eyes, they hardly communicate. It wasn't that he did not try to entice Sun-mi to talk, but she would always reply to his questions in monosyllables. So he decided to give her time to get used to their life as husband and wife.

The guest room has become a permanent fixture for him. Sun-mi had offered to take the guest room but he insisted on her having the master bedroom. He teased her that she would never be able to fit her entire wardrobe in the closet. She had smiled weakly at that and accepted his decision.

***

One morning while having breakfast prepared by is wife, Sun-mi told him that she will be late coming home that night.

"I have a dinner meeting with some major clients."

"Oh, is that so?" He was immediately concerned but faked a bland expression. "Pass the pepper, please. Anyone else from your company?"

Sun-mi handed him the pepper and sipped her coffee.

"I thought you do not like pepper."

He shrugged. "You did not answer my question."

"About anyone else joining the dinner meeting?" Hyung-chul nodded.

"No, it would be just I and the Japanese clients."

"Really?" He forked a bit of fried eggs into his mouth and gagged on the peppery hotness.

Sun-mi got up and handed him a glass of water.

When his throat had cooled down somewhat, he asked again, "Isn't anyone else free to accompany you?"

She leant back in her chair and folded her arms. "Why do you do that all the time?"

Without looking at her, he picked up the morning paper "Do what?"

She answered crossly, "Cross-examining me and treating me like a defenceless little girl who can't go anywhere without a bodyguard!"

"Come on, I don't do that!"

"Yes, you do!" She got up from the table and angrily picked up her briefcase. "I'll save you the trouble of asking the next question, Mr. Prosecutor. The clients are all men!"

That night, he waited anxiously for her return. He had wanted to call up her secretary to find out where the dinner will be held but he knew she would be livid if she found out. So, he has had to hold his anxiety in check and hope that she returned home safe and sound. As the minutes on the clocked ticked by, he paced up and down the living room. Several times he went down to the car park, hoping to catch a glimpse of her car.

When he heard the key turn in the lock, he dashed into the bathroom. He rumpled up his hair to make it look like he had just gotten out of bed for a pee. He did not want her to know that he had been waiting up for her. But just after he had flushed the cistern, he slipped on a bar of soap that had fallen out of the soap dish. When she heard the loud thud, Sun-mi ran into the bathroom and found Hyung-chul lying on the bathroom floor.

"Omigod, what happened?" She went to him and tried to help him get up from the floor.

"Don't!" He gritted his teeth as pain shot through him. He was still seeing stars. "I think it's my back."

Her own face was ashen as she witnessed his pain. "Wait here, I'll get help!"

After she had made the call, she went back to him and tried to make him comfortable. As the bathroom tiles were cold, she gently placed a blanket under him. She sat down on and laid his head on her lap.

"My uncle's still at the hospital. He'll be here soon to check on you. Are you still in pain?"

He looked at her worried face and sought to reassure her. "It doesn't seem to be so bad now." He tried to move. "Help me. I think I can get up."

"Don't try to be heroic, okay? Let my uncle check you out first."

"Although your lap makes a comfortable pillow, I'd still have to try." He wriggled his toes and turned slowly to one side. "Give me a hand. I think I can get up now."

"Are you really sure?" She squatted down and gently helped him into a sitting position. She watched his face for any signs of pain. "No pain?"

"No." He held out his hands. "Give me your hands."

Finally, he stood up unsteadily.

"Let me help you." She draped his arm across her shoulder and put her arm around his waist. "Can you make it to the bed?"

"Shouldn't be any problem but you'd have to support me."

Slowly, step by step she helped him walk towards the room.

"You'd better lie down on my bed -- it's much bigger and more comfortable."

He thought it sounded too logical to refuse. The door-bell pealed and she ran to open the door for her uncle. After a thorough check, her uncle smiled.

"He's fine -- no major bones broken. He's just a bit stunned by the fall since he fell heavily." Her uncle patted her hand. "Your husband should be alright after a good night's rest."

At the mention of the word 'husband', Sun-mi felt a peculiar feeling. Even though they had been married for 2 months, it was strange hearing the word. She went back to the room and walked to the closet to get her night-gown.

"Where are you going?"

"I'll sleep in the guest room."

"You can sleep here too. The bed's big enough for both of us."

Her eyes widened. "What?"

"I may need you to help me to the bathroom in the middle of the night." He explained calmly. "Don't worry. I'm in no shape for any strenuous workout."

"What?' She bristled indignantly. "I wasn't thinking about that!"

"I didn't say you were." Seeing her hesitation, he suggested. "Look, if you don't trust me, you can put a pillow in the centre of the bed."

"Don't be silly!" She glared at him. "Just shut up and go to sleep. I'll turn off the lights now."

Pleased that she's not going anywhere, he closed his eyes, a happy smile on his face. At least she has agreed to share his bed and to sleep next to him, that indicates she has taken a step towards him.

***

Waking up, Sun-mi stretched leisurely and snuggled deeper into soft folds of the bed. She loved mornings -- her favorite time of the day. She clutched the extra pillow closer to her chest and smiled. Feeling a breath of air in her face, she opened one eye.

"Hi!" Her husband's face was so close to hers, she could see the hairs in his nostrils. She tried to jump out of bed, but he placed one heavy leg on hers.

"Today is Sunday, so there's no need to get out of bed so early."

"I need to get up, so will you please remove your leg?"

Not complying with her request, he asked, "Why?"

She pushed his leg away and got out of bed. "You have to go to hospital today for a follow-up."

She suddenly found herself looking at his bare chest and turned crimson. Averting her glance, she asked "How is your back?"

He touched his back. "Seems to be fine, so maybe I won't even need to go to the hospital this morning."

"You have to -- at least for peace of mind."

"Give me a hand." He made a great fuss of trying to get up. "I'm still feeling groggy from the medication."

She eyed his face suspiciously. "Put on your shirt first."

"Help me put it on." He pretended great difficulty in putting on his shirt. When she went close to him, he pulled her on top of his body.

"You fake!" She squirmed, trying to wriggle out of his grasp. "What do you think you're doing?"

He held her tightly so she could not escape. "I'm doing my husbandly duty of wishing my wife 'Good Morning.'

And he proceeded with his intention.

Although she did not mean to, Sun-mi could not help responding.

His eyes were dark pools of passion as he said seriously. "I did not marry you out of parental pressure, you know."

She replied softly, "Then why?"

He whispered in her ear the words he had wanted to say to her from way back when. And as she circled her arms around his neck and smiled, he hugged her tight -- immensely relieved and ecstatic that he has finally won the most important trial of his life.

The End!