KJW POV
I watch Soohyuns face as he slept on his back, the slow rise of his chest, and the soft snore he would casually exhale every few minutes.
I laid on my side, while my hand supported my head with fingers curled against my temple, as I extended my other hand to brush a piece of hair off his face.
He often joked and called me an angel that fell from heaven, but really I think it's him, especially the brightness he exudes and casts against everyone he meets.
The past week has been a murmur of noise, it was the middle of November, and the peace and quiet that the upcoming holidays usually brings now seemed so far out of reach.
Our dating rumors now muted with Sarangs arrest, and the controversy of his very own cousin putting him there.
His picturesque family now mirroring my dysfunctional one, as the matriarch sisters are torn against one another, with Soohyun right in the middle of it all.
As expected his aunt, Sarangs mother, didn't take the arrest lightly, pleading with Soohyun on her knees to drop the charges against her son, while he could only say that he will have to take other considerations first.
The legal proceedings are a lot quicker than I anticipated, especially with how the Korean justice system often catered men, but I figured that the high profile case catching international media attention aided in speeding up the process.
Soohyun and his legal team was actively helping other victims come forward, he dropped his case on his drugging, but was adamant that I continue mine, as he financially backed the victims Sarang assaulted that was still within the statute of limitations.
I could tell it was starting to get to him, the public scrutiny, the pressure from his family, the guilt that ate away at him, the fatigue in filming, especially now that it's about to wrap.
He had bags under his eyes, his cheeks a little sunken, physically he looked tired, but it's in his eyes where I can really see what's going on.
He just... isn't the same.
He stirs a little, while I froze in place, afraid that I wake him up and deny him the little rest he could afford this past few days.
But despite my efforts, I failed. I frowned as his dazed eyes meet mine, while he flashes me a lazy smile, the only other time I've seen him smile this week.
I glanced at the clock, seeing as it was just past 4am.
He scoots closer, closing the cap between us, while he buried his face in my chest, as my hand instinctively wrapped an arm around him, feeling his arms encircle my waist tightly, like a toddler who found it's way in their mothers arms.
"Why are you still up?" He asked, voice muffled, while I let my fingers run over his hair and against his scalp.
"Couldn't sleep. You should catch some more sleep, don't you have a filming schedule later?" I asked, while he nods, his face peeking up at me, a pout on his lips making me smile.
"I need to be on set by 5." He replied, as I bowed down for a chaste kiss.
"Oh, why did Manager Seo pick up your bike earlier?" I asked, curious, while he faced me mirroring my position.
"We have this new kid in our bike group, just turned 19, I lent him the bike for the meantime. I haven't touched the thing in weeks, and I don't think I will be able to any soon." He said, voice solemn.
The recent events has dented our way of living a lot quicker than I anticipated. Soohyun couldn't even, bike, golf, bowl, or hike in peace without cameras or media badgering him wherever he goes, but it didn't help that he was also unmotivated to participate in his usual activities.
I could only nod, while he kept his hand on my waist. I pondered for a second, wondering if it was a good time to tell him about my decision on continuing my case against his cousin, but before I knew it my mouth was already deciding for me.
"I... I think I won't continue with my case against Sarang." I said softly, watching his brows knit together, his mouth unmoving, but his eyes spoke for him.
"I know. I know. But you already have a solid case with the girls, enough to put him behind bars for more than a lifetime. Besides, I.. I don't want anyone else to know." I explained, trailing off at the last part, unsure whether I should say a muddy reason, or the real one.
"It's your decision, but getting justice for yourself is something else entirely, rather than vicariously." He said, rubbing soft circles on the exposed skin on my hip.
I stuttered, realizing with so much already on his plate, he didn't need to hear the truth just yet. "Yeah, I know it's discreet and confidential, but I don't want anyone to pry any longer in our lives with me adding to the list of victims."
"Are you sure?" He asked, concern etched on his face, while I nodded. "Yes, jagi."
"How are the court proceedings?" I said genuinely curious, since his legal team were able to help 8 victims that came forward.
"Victim statements will be presented soon, and they might be asked to reiterate what happened." He replied, as he finally lays on his back, staring on the ceiling as he sighs.
"I still just don't get it." He added, as I let my body mold against him, resting my chin on his chest.
"He's young, he's rich, he's good looking, he could have any woman he wants consensually. Why did he have to.." He whispered, squeezing his eyes shut, while he massaged his temple.
"I read somewhere it's the power trip, to have that control over someone is what gets them off." I said, while he rolled his eyes.
"People literally have kinks and toys now for that kind of thing, he didn't have to take advantage of anyone." He said, the frustration in his voice, evident this past whole month.
His phone chimed, signaling that he had to take a shower already and start getting ready to go, and after a languid kiss he disappeared behind the bathroom door.
I sprawled on the bed, my hand hitting my phone, as I pick it up for the 100th time the entire night, while my eyes read over the series of messages again.
'I told you that man is bad news from the start. I don't care if it's his cousin, but you need to end your relationship with that boy.' 12:03am
'I thought you were smarter than this, you got drugged by his own cousin. Your dad is furious, and if it isn't for your career or any consideration for your feelings that man would be in the bottom of the Han river by now.' 12:05am
