Myeong Jo slowly felt something. She after a long time, felt the feeling of being alive. She very slowly tried to open her eyes. It was difficult but she managed to do it.

She found herself in a familiar room. On the same king-sized bed, blankets tugged inside. The same ceiling over was white in color. The temperature around was temperate for her as always. In a word, she felt so easy and comfortable and familiar and dear.

She smiled inside her mind, knowing she is inside her room.

Her hand felt strange. She smiled a bit, already figuring out what was happening. She turned her neck to her right slowly and saw that familiar scene. Again.

Jimin was holding her hand, his head laying on the edge of the bed, sleeping. She wanted to smile just. She felt like she time-travelled to the past. To the very first day, she met this amazing creature. The day when her happiness began. The day when she began feeling loved and cared. She began feeling special.

Unlike her first time, she didn’t remove her hand away due to surprise. This time, she even tightened her grip with his. Her heart felt a different type of joy to hold Jimin's hand.

Jimin immediately woke up. He was surprised at first to see her awake. His eyes travelled every part of her body. His mouth was slightly open.

Myeong Jo was just smiling. She wanted to. She was so happy to wake up and find him waiting for her always. She was really happy that this man was her husband.

“M-Myeong Jo-ah?” his faded sweet voice calmed her down.

He got on the bed and like always, took her inside his warm embrace. Myeong Jo didn’t hesitate like the first time. She had no strength to hold him back so she just smiled and closed her eyes.

Jimin thanked the Almighty and held her tightly. He kissed on her forehead many times then looked at her. She also looked at him.

“D-do you remember........me?” he was still afraid if she lost her memory again.

Though she had no energy, she still managed to let out a small chuckle before nodding her head slowly.

Jimin let out relief sigh and smiled at her.

“You are awake after a week and 2 days. You must be feeling so weak.” he laid her head down on the pillow again. He held her hand and intertwined with his. Then he kissed their joint hand.

Myeong Jo kept her gaze only on him. She wanted to picture his beautiful face inside her mind. So even if she closes her eyes, his face always flashes.

“H-ho.....w.........”

Jimin was a bit startled that she wanted to talk.

“H...ow.....have...you been?” she asked.

Jimin finally got the question he wanted to answer for a long time. His eyebrows furrowed.

“How have I been?! You ask me this? How does it feel to find his wife somewhere far away from where she is supposed to be? And how does it even feel when you see all on a sudden, someone stood in front of you to save you and later you find out it was your wife?!” he literally screamed at her.

Myeong Jo frowned and moved her gaze away.

“Most of all, how hard and painful it is to wait day and night for your dying wife who laid her life to save your life because of her limitless Love?” he kept scolding her.

Myeong Jo felt like she was a first grader who was getting scolded for not doing her homework. She pretended like she was hearing but she actually closed her ears.

Jimin kept on blabbering more and more for hours about her stupid action and stuff. Then he finally closed his mouth.

Only to open it again, “You didn’t pay attention, did you?”

Okay, she got caught. She smiled nervously.

“Aish.....Min Myeong Jo! You're so mean, adamant, stupid, idiot, cute and beautiful!” he whined.

Was that a compliment or.......

“Look, you cannot do something like that. You cannot risk your life to save me! That's ridiculous! You cannot and I mean absolutely you will never ever do it again! I'll....really hate you if you repeat this stupidity of yours again!”

Myeong Jo smiled, she found his scoldings amusing.

Jimin sighed deeply. He was scolding her and she was smiling? How nice!

He stared at her and put her hair behind her ear, “Why did you do this?”

His voice sounded serious. He was asking and wanting for an answer.

Myeong Jo answered with little energy she had,

“I-I.....love you......& I w-wanted to protect.....you.”

Her two reason made Jimin shook in place. He was so moved by that. He knew she loves him but is love so deep that she can die for him? His chin trembled a bit and his eyes blinked against his wish.

Myeong Jo immediately fell asleep. She was too tired. Jimin stared at her as the seconds on the clock ran so quickly. He somehow felt another feeling inside him other than love.

Deep Love.

He realized this girl right here is a blessing in his life. A light of happiness in the disguise of a human. He never felt so special and different whenever he was with her. He realized no matter what comes, he must protect her from the world. He must keep her safe always. And he must make sure the smile on her lips never fades away.

---------------

Myeong Jo was getting better day by day. Her health was improving. Though there has been a new scar on her chest. The operation caused her a long scar on her bare chest. How badly she wished if that scar would be on her back! Then she would easily at least be his rightful wife. Sometimes her heart aches physically as the bullet barely escaped her heart. The shock and pain were still there.

Currently, Jimin and Myeong Jo were riding their horses inside the small path led inside the forest. Jimin suggested nature is the best medicine for all diseases so both of them would ride around the forest and chat between them.

Today both of them tied their horses beside a tree and began walking on foot. Walking with your husband/wife is the sweetest thing!

And somehow Myeong Jo began chasing Jimin. Why? Because all she asked Jimin if he could sing or not. Well he got super shy and didn’t want to sing in front of her. So Jimin ran away from her and she had to follow him.

And slowly chasing turned into hide and seek. Jimin began hiding and Myeong Jo was searching for him inside the forest.

Jimin couldn’t stop his giggles from coming out. In his 25 years, this is the first time he's actually playing hide and seek. He felt like an innocent boy again. Back in his childhood, he never could walk or run around the castle freely. So he was deprived of fun and stuff. While other kids play hide and seek with their parents or friends for the first time in their lives, Jimin here was playing with his wife. And he couldn’t ask more of it.

He could hear the crunching sounds of leaves around, feeling she may be was close by.

“Gotcha!” Suddenly Myeong Jo jumped on him from behind; causing both of them to tip over and fall down on the ground.

They began laughing as soon as they fell down. The forest looked unimaginably beautiful today as their giggles filled in the air. Myeong Jo sat upright and looked down at Jimin who was laying on the ground freely. No one was around so they could do whatever they want.

“So I win! You have to sing now....” she smiled cheesily.

Jimin widened his eyes, “I never said I will sing if I lose.”

“Aish....come on, Jimin-ah! I wanna hear your sweet voice....please sing for your wifey....pleasee.....” finding no other way, she began pouting and acting cute.

Which was his biggest weakness.

Jimin immediately sat upright and leaned his back against the root of the giant tree. He motioned her to scoot closer. Myeong Jo didn’t hesitate a second. She wiggled inside his embrace and laid her head over his chest; Jimin wrapped his arms around her waist. Both of them sat still there for some moments.

“Don't make fun of me if I have bad voice. You asked for it.”

Myeong Jo nodded and got ready to hear her husband’s beautiful voice.

Jimin breathed deeply.

“I want you to be your light, baby

You should be your light.
So that you won't be hurt, so that you could smile.”

The sound of leaves rustling along with the summer wind made the leaves fall slowly. Birds' cute chirpings became the music behind his magical voice. Myeong Jo immediately felt in peace as soon as she heard him singing softly. She smiled and closed her eyes.

“I want you to be your night, baby
You could be your night.
So that I could be honest you this night.

Promise now to me oh-oh, even if you feel like you're alone oh-oh...
Several times of the day oh-oh, don't throw yourself away oh-oh.....”

Suddenly he stopped singing and looked at Myeong Jo. She opened her eyes and stared at him. He held his pinky finger out in front of her and began singing,

“Let's stop here for a moment, intertwine our pinkies.

Now promise me oh-oh.....”

His voice became back to normal and he asked with care and love mixed in his voice,

“Promise me you'll never leave me. You'll always stay with me no matter what. And you'll keep that smile in your face until the world ends.”

Her mouth opened slightly to his sudden promise. She smiled a little and hesitantly intertwined her pinky with his. Her heart experienced that same pinch of pain again. No matter how lovely or romantic he becomes, all his love is only for his wife.

And it means the real wife. The real Queen Min Myeong Jo.

She knew right now, she's making this promise; only to break it again. She has to go back no matter what. And she feels terrible about it. She is not even sure if she's gonna live if she leaves Jimin forever.

She smiled nervously and intertwined her pinky. Jimin smiled brightly and kissed her forehead for a long time.

“See? I can sing....” He felt proud while bragging about himself.

Myeong Jo chuckled, “I knew you could. You are just perfect!”

And she buried her face inside his again. She feels protected and loved inside his embrace every time. And she treasures every second she's spending with him. Because one day, they'll be painful memories. These painful memories will help her to live for the next day in the future. Jimin held her and rested his head on hers. Both of them felt the most beautiful inner peace and comfort in the silence of the charming green forest.

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😚☺😗😘