The Love That Remains

I push Sung Jun away. I want to ask him. If your father suddenly blackmails you with me again, will you leave me?

Because I cannot change what I am. Can I?

Sung Jun looks hurt, but I steel my heart. I walk away from him. On my middle finger, I have a ring which is only visible to me. It was given to me by Reis once. It was supposed to help me control my dark powers and hide me away from the supernatural world. It helped me with my curse. I could not see ghosts or smell them. The ghosts were not attracted to me either.

When he took away Fang Qi's curse, someone had to pay the price. He couldn't take away my curse or didn't want to. I would never know. I had known that he was selfish. But I am also selfish, aren't I?

I chose to go with him anyway. One way or another, he would have taken me with him anyway. But the ghosts were troublesome. Though they wouldn't come near me when he was there because they were afraid of him, they followed me around. At that time, he gave me this ring.

I don't want it anymore. I take it off and throw it on the ground. The ring evaporates before it can touch the ground. I purse my lips. I didn't see that coming.

The air around me turns dark. I can sense the ghosts and the other dark creatures. Good! I need this.

"Woman, you don't know what is good for you." Reis slaps his forehead. "Why would you take it off? It was one of its kind. The ring is summoned back by heaven."

I don't answer his questions. "I will fulfill the terms of the contract, but I need to finish something else first."

"What are you thinking?" Reis steps closer to me. I shrug my shoulder and turn to Sung Jun.

"Let's go home."

Sung Jun is surprised, but he doesn't ask me questions. He takes my hand and pulls me along with him. I look over my shoulder. Reis is standing alone, looking conflicted. Very human and fragile. I don't understand this cat. I guess that I don't care anymore.

I spend the next hours in a daze. We didn't speak a word. I have no idea what's on Sung Jun's head. I should care. But I don't.

At the airport, Wang Mei and Bae Jaemin meet us. I hug Wang Mei when I see her. After some hesitation, she hugs me back. She doesn't ask me questions. On the flight, she sits next to me, holding my hand the whole time. I fall asleep while looking at the clouds.

When I wake up, I am drooling on Sung Jun's shirt. I am embarrassed. I drooled on his shirt during a flight.

He gives me a gentle smile and squeezes my hand. There is laughter in his eyes.

"I am sorry about this." I wipe the drool off with my sleeves.

"Are you hungry?" He asks me softly.

"No." I don't meet his eyes.

"We will be in Seoul in fifteen minutes," He informs me.

"I think you will regret taking me there in the future."

"Will I?" Jun rubs his thumb in a circular manner on the back of my hand. The corners of his lips curl up. "If you are devising an evil plan, you should just tell me. I am a good strategist."

"...." That's not what you are supposed to say. You know that I want to use you for something. Still...why are you taking me with you?

"If you want to overthrow the council, I can help you with that too." He whispers in my ears. "If you want to hunt down Dabria, I can help you with that." Then, he softly bites my earlobe. I catch the eyes of the flight attendant watching us. She turns her head away when her eyes meet mine. Her eyes clearly saying silently, 'get a room!'.

I feel my face burn. We are on a flight. Damn you, Sung Jun!

"Wife, if you hate me and want to kill me, I won't fight you." I feel his mouth sucking my ear. I glare at him and try to push him away, but he puts his other arm on me to stop me from moving. His actions do not match his words. I want to kill him right now.

"I don't hate you." I am annoyed. Super annoyed. This guy is out of his mind. There are passengers on this flight. "But I want to kill you, husband." I grab his crotch and squeeze it hard. He let me go in that instant, surprised.

I smirk at him and whisper, "Behave." I squeeze harder. I can't but feel happy when I see his face contort in pain.