The winter enveloped the country, South Korea in her chilly winds and frosty air. Breaths from nostrils and lips became quite lucid in visible puffs and warmth was first priority to the citizens of South Korea. Due to information from weather forecasts and the nude branches on trees, everyone expected the first snow.

I stared at the city of Seoul through the glass paned slide doors in Kim Tae Min’s home. Another weather forecast predicting a heavy snowfall echoed from a radio in Tae Min’s study. The radio was loud but I enjoyed it with the warm feel from the hot cup of coffee in my hands.

I reminisced on the white blanket over buildings and naked trees the first time I arrived at Seoul. A smile grew on my face. It was hard to believe a year had gone by. It was the most amazing year of my life and more than anything I wished my life to stay that way. Peace, serenity, fulfilment by doing what I truly wanted and the most wonderful achievement of all, being in love.

“Hey Pree, would you like to follow me to the airport?” Tae Min asked.

He wore nothing but a white Egyptian cotton towel. Streams of water strolled over his pale skin. They rode down his shaven chest and made his abs glow. Drops of clear liquid fell from the slipped silvery strands of hair on his head. His lashes glued by water’s blessed viscosity made his almond eyes more than beautiful. I blushed.

“You really hate a dry floor don’t you?” I asked trying to overcome the hasty pace of my heartbeat.

“What?”

“How many times have I told you to dry up properly in the bathroom?”

“Oh! I often forget but it’s cool since I always achieve my goal.” Tae Min said with a captivating smile. He was hot.

“What could you possibly gain from being all wet in the living room?”

“Looking sexy and making you blush.” He blew a kiss. My heart skipped more beats after a chuckle.

“Show off!” I grabbed a throw pillow from one of the chairs and flung it at Tae Min. He ducked and we both laughed until our eyes met. We smiled.

It was the simple moments like that morning that deleted the worry and troubles in my heart. I wished the chapters of my life to stay still like that morning. I needed nothing else.

“You should get dressed if you’re tagging along Pree. It’s almost time to leave.”

“Sure I will.”

“Okay. Let’s meet outside in ten minutes.” Tae Min said and left the room. My smile disappeared. I let out a loud sigh.

I wanted my life with Tae Min to remain still, but that morning I had to prepare for a factor that disrupted my desire. Kim Tae Min had to leave Seoul and I had to put a pretend smile on my face while I got ready to follow him the airport.

Tae Min’s new Korean ballads and English romance songs had become more popular than his rap albums and his fan base grew quickly.

The Yoojin Agency prepared a tour schedule for Tae Min across several Asian countries. The tour was supposed to start on the spring season of the coming year but the agency changed it. Rather, Lee Jun Ho changed it.

Lee Jun Ho had realized that Tae Min was no longer a clueless fifteen year old boy who’d sit quietly and watch just anyone take over his mother’s company. Jun Ho knew about Tae Min’s connection with lawyers he had no information on. Also the ledger and original copy of Judy Stone’s will in Tae Min’s possession had put Jun Ho in a dilemma. The only way he could take Tae Min’s sight off his activities was to get him out of South Korea and the tour was a perfect idea.

It had only been a week since Seo Hyeon’s death and I still felt cold every time it came up on the news. I recalled Lee Jae Hyun’s eerie smile and the fact that I got drugged. Those terrible things happened while Tae Min was with me.

That morning he was about to leave Seoul for two weeks and the thought of worst things that might occur at his absence frightened me. I was terrified but for Tae Min’s sake I decided not to show it. A smile was all he needed to see. A smile was all I showed him whenever he asked how I felt about the tour.

Tae Min had taken off his mask completely and like a hypocrite I wore mine instead.

The thought of being alone for two weeks stabbed my soul and my heart felt hefty. Tears hung on my eyelids but I kept my eyes wide open as I tried my best not to let them out. I had Tae Min’s family to worry about and my family only made things worse.

My phone chimed loudly and after my finger scrolled down the screen, true happiness seemed farfetched and my wish seemed like a delusion.

The message was from my father and it read;

'Priya, how are you doing?

Your mother and I haven’t heard from you since the last time we spoke via Skype.

Natasha claims to be in touch with you and she says you’re fine. We’ve decided to believe her but we hope you’ll be coming home soon.
The Singh family are growing impatient and I’ve run out of excuses. Priya your actions can strengthen my bond with the Singhs or destroy my relationship with them. This is more than just a marriage. It’s a business deal and you’ve been aware of this since you were a child. It’s not just for me, but for our family and you’d benefit the most out of it.

Priya I need the Singhs influence to build up the pharmaceutical company and foundation I’ve always wanted. You’ll become the head of my assets and an in-law to one of the richest families in the United States.

You’ve always been the mature one but I don’t understand you anymore. This is something Natasha would do.

I spoke to Rajesh and he promised me that he’ll talk to you soon. Expect his call and when he does contact you, answer him. His family and ours have arranged a video call date for the both of you. I’ll send you details on the date and time.

Please Priya, for the sake of our family, remember the responsibilities you have as a first daughter. Don’t embarrass our family and come home. Make me proud like you used to. Remember who you are. You are Priya Kapoor, heir to my possessions and family name.

It’s for your own good.’

-Your Father (In case you’ve deleted my phone number).

My hands shook violently while I read the message. My father claimed his actions were for my sake. As a parent he might be right but as a man who was also forced into an arranged marriage, he was wrong and just mean for making me go through the same thing.

All I wanted was to love whomever I chose. All I wanted was to stay in Seoul with Tae Min. All I wanted was happiness. My father just wanted more money.

Being a first daughter, I was more than just a child. To my father I was one of his assets. I was a representative of the principles stood for and a possession he showed off to his business partners and friends who had sons for first born. 

I played the role of a faultless daughter all my life. I was often praised by my father for my intelligence and discipline. I recalled the smile on his face the day I gained admission into Harvard.

A tear drop left my eyes.

The chapters of my life had been created my father, but that changed the day I wrote a letter to Kim Tae Min for the fundraiser hosted by the YooJin Agency. I remembered the excitement I felt when Jess and I hit the ‘send’ button together. I remembered how elated I felt when I was selected a winner by the YooJin Agency.

More tear drops followed and I ran into my room. I had to hide my sorrow from Tae Min.

He knew about Rajesh but I had told him that I handled it. Tae Min did love me but if he knew how serious my family was about my arranged marriage and the fact that my heart ached at the thought of it, he might do something stupid.

I feared that he would break up with me. I might have been a strong female model to all who knew me but I had a fragile heart and I was sure a heart break would destroy me. I was a coward to my emotions, so I chose not to tell Tae Min the truth. I kept silent.

Tae Min and I arrived at the airport with a few members of staff from his agency and bodyguards.

Tae Min wore a maxi peach coloured sweater, a denim jacket, a pair of denim pants, a pair of Nike sneakers, tinted sunglasses, a peach beanie and a face mask. His look was styled to hide his identity but his fans already knew about the tour and crowded the airport to send him off.

Due to paparazzi and the number of fans at the airport, Tae Min and I remained at the back seat of a Chevrolet Explorer owned by the agency until it was time for his flight.

Our relationship was a rumour that spread across the world of Kpop but since sources were unsure, Tae Min decided to keep my identity hidden at my request.

A picture of Tae Min and I at the masked ball, ignited the rumours and the YooJin Agency did its best to curb the situation. To the media world I was the lucky fan girl who overstayed her sponsored vacation due to personal reasons related to my job as a photographer.

The YooJin Agency informed the media that I was a professional photographer who was often demanded by Kim Tae Min’s manager due to my skills.

My family was already in confusion and news of my relationship with a Kpop idol going viral on an international scale was the last thing I wanted at that time.

“It’s time for me to go Pree. Are you sure you don’t want to come with? The agency can arrange some kind of disguise for you. Then when we get to Singapore…”

“When we get to Singapore, the agency will have to provide more disguises and prepare more excuses if the public sees us together. We’re keeping our relationship a secret from the public remember?”

“Yeah, right.” Tae Min said. I saw sadness in his eyes.

“Hey, no need for those puppy eyes. It won’t be this way forever. It’s just until you carry out the plan you and your lawyers have against you know who. Until then, we should be careful and patient.” I said while eyeing the guard at the driver’s seat. He was hired by Tae Min but I had to be careful. Anyone could be Jun Ho’s minion.

I told Tae Min that Lee Jun Ho’s unpredictable character was the reason I wanted to keep our relationship undisclosed. I told him that revealing our relationship to the media would mean more eyes on us and restricted access to the things we could do freely. I told him that being questioned by the media would be a distraction from his plans for his mother’s company.

He called me a considerate and wise girlfriend but I knew better than anyone else. I was a liar and a coward.

I told him that I’d walk a thousand red carpets with him as a girlfriend after his plans with his lawyers were fulfilled. Those words were a reminder that I had to do something about my engagement to Rajesh Singh and quickly.

“I’m not just asking you to come with me so I can show the world we’re dating. I need to know that you’ll be fine without me. Lee Jun Ho and Jae Hyun may…”

“I’ll be fine Tae Min. You already hired guards huge enough to scare off any sane person.” I laughed but my heart bled at the thought of him leaving.

“Yes I did. You still have to be careful. The guards would be incognito most of the time and they’ll only follow you at a distance. If they’re around you like actual body guards, you might get the attention of the public and the agency’s efforts to keep you out of the radar will be for nothing. So are you sure you don’t want to come with me?”

“You’ll be late for your flight. I’ll be fine. I promise.” I said. My eyes were fixed on Tae Min’s dark pupils. I was frightened and I missed him so much already. I squeezed the ends of the silk dress I wore and did my best not to cry.

Tae Min hugged me and whispered into my ears “I know you’re not okay Pree. You’re lying to me and I don’t know why? I want you to know that whatever it is you can tell me. I’ll be there for you always. You helped me take off my mask, now it’s my turn to take off yours.”

That was it. The tears poured out.

Someone knocked on the car door.

“I think it’s time Mr Kim.” The driver said.

I stared at Tae Min’s eyes. I did not want him to leave. I wanted to tell him that my parents were the reason I chose to hide our relationship from public eye. I wanted to tell him that I was scared to death at the thought of what Lee Jun Ho and Jae Hyun might do at his absence. I wanted to tell him everything my heart held unto but I was a coward. I kept silent.

I wiped the tears off my eyes, took in a deep breath and smiled.

“I’ll be fine. You should go. Don’t forget to keep looking forward. Don’t turn back. The car windows might be tinted but if you turn back for my sake, the fans out there might suspect something.”

Kim Tae Min stared at me for a while. The gaze in his eyes was sadder. He grabbed me into his arms again and gave me an unforgettable kiss.

“I love you.” He said and after those words, like a bad dream he was gone. I burst into tears.

Word Count; 2444

AUTHOR'S NOTE :

Ballad Meaning;

A slow sentimental or romantic song. Its also the name for poems or songs narrating a story (mostly traditional folklore) in stanzas.

My Ballad Collection (Romantic songs) ;

I shared a link to a collection of beautiful Korean ballads. The video has most of the songs in my Korean ballad playlist. The songs are by some of my favorite Korean singers; Taeyon, Ben, Davichi, Crush, IU and others. A few of the songs might seem familiar because they're Kdrama OST's.

Warning!  You might sleep off 😂 , but I promise you the best dreams. Enjoy!