Keys to Happiness

32. Aliah(1)

SHINee's comeback in Japan was finally over and KiBum and I had made it through together despite our long-term separation. In fact, I thought we were stronger than ever before. Our love could handle his busy schedule, my own full one and his desire to be active in work. In no way did I want KiBum to choose me over his career, and even with his sometimes-hectic agenda, I found that I could and did love him more when he was away. Life had a way of working itself out and I was ecstatic that everything had gone so smoothly between us.

On the day that KiBum came back to Korea, he had come to stay at my place and I made sure he only left it when he had something important planned for his day. Otherwise we had two months' worth of catching up to do and I didn't want him far from me. For those reasons, KiBum hadn't even gone back to his own apartment since he'd come back to me except to bring some more of his clothes over.

I was happier than I had ever been before and it seemed like together we were invincible. Nothing got on my bad side; even the always irritating calls from my mother who still believed that KiBum was mooching off of me didn't damper my mood. By now I had explained that we were still very much together and she had declared plainly that him living at my house was just another way he was exploiting me; as a musician he was likely to be a starving artist.

I had only snorted at that ridiculous statement and after telling her I loved her, hung up the phone. I still wasn't ready to tell her who KiBum was, sure that while this would change her mind about his reasons for being with me, she'd still have a problem about something.

As for KiBum, he also seemed to be receiving some flack of his own from his members, but only because they insisted he was keeping me all to himself. JongHyun was determined to get his rematch in karaoke and TaeMin seemed to keep saying that he missed "his Aliah noona". KiBum had looked super pissed as he told me about TaeMin's words and I couldn't help but laugh at the sour expression on his face.

Even though SHINee wasn't currently promoting, KiBum had been excessively busy doing his own projects. A new play, photo shoots for numerous magazines, and even a writing gig were just a few of the things he had going on at once. Not to mention that he was also taking classes to earn his graduate degree as well as hosting a music broadcast, KiBum was hardly ever home before ten at night. In fact, most nights wouldn't get in until well after two in the morning.

It was on just such a night, around a month after his return, that KiBum came in the door. I was already asleep but at his footsteps I woke up instantly with alertness. I didn't make a sound but soon I felt KiBum sliding into bed beside me and I let out a little sigh as he pulled me in closer to him, his body flush against mine.

"If I had been some strange ahjusshi off the street, would you have let me in your bed?" He asked with gruff voice as he pushed his nose into my hair.

"Of course not dummy. Why are you even asking?" I said with a giggle.

"You didn't get up to make sure it was me," he reasoned and scoffed at his rebuke.

"I was pretty sure it was you; you've been coming in at the same time for the past week."

"You noticed? I thought you were asleep... But still you need to be careful, you never know. Always check the monitor to see who's outside before you open the door; I noticed you never do that," he continued, worry coating his voice even as he rubbed my arms, his fingers lingering at the thin straps covering my shoulders.

"Yes Dad, I'll check. But it doesn't matter, I can tell when you're beside me; I never have bad dreams when you're holding me at night."

"Then I guess I'll have to sleep here every night then."

KiBum had said it jokingly, but I turned to him, my hands going to his face. My heart had started beating faster at his words. I hadn't wanted to ask him to just stay here all the time, but Lord did I want him to.

"I can feel the stubble on your cheeks," I said instead, moving the palms of my hands in a circle, feeling the short strands tickle my hands.

"It's been a long day," he answered with a sigh.

"Then let me make it better," I whispered and gave him a kiss that I hoped would take his mind off work or anything else but me, at least for the next hour or so.

KiBum had left early the next morning and even though he'd left me a note saying that he'd have his phone turned off while SHINee was recording, I desperately wanted to call him. I had gotten used to having him all to myself and it was hard for me to think past the want that I felt inside. All this week I would have a break from teaching because of the holiday and in place of KiBum, HyoWon was coming over to keep me company.

I was excited to plan for the coming Spring, a time when KiBum's schedules would ease somewhat and we could possibly take our first trip together. I had plenty of ideas and HyoWon had promised to help me pick the best one. I was so excited to see my friend who had been busy in her own way at the company she worked at, that when the bell rang I jumped up to answer the door, buzzing her in instead of looking at the monitor.

The person who walked in though, wasn't HyoWon.

"Hello Aliah," a deep voice said at my door, and I held back the scream of alarm that tried to escape. A tall figure was slouched within my doorway, a vision from the past come to haunt me in my new life.

"Marcus, what are you doing here?!" I was able to gasp out past the shock.

"I came to see you," he said, moving forward into the room. I stepped back automatically, trying to get him out of my space. I shook my head at his words, my mind not believing what I was seeing.

"Marcus you need to leave now. I don't want you here."

Despite my words, he continued forward towards me, and I became slightly afraid now that he'd pushed his way into the apartment. I looked around and spotted my phone on the sofa. Could I get to it fast enough?

A/N: Ah! Omg, hurry to the next chapter! I hope you guys are enjoying <3