HERE COME THE REGRETS

F O U R

Minghao found herself looking at the horizon as she sat on the long wooden bench on the terrace of their bedroom, allowing thoughts to run freely into her mind letting it overwhelm her for a moment just to consume her building anxiety. She was a worry-wart, Junhui and Zeren knows that by heart; but this matter at hand has been bothering her at a whole new level. No, she is not panicking, but something is just not right – her motherly instincts have been telling her that something was waiting for her in the beyond, and she has no idea what it was.

Korea. A country that rings a bell in all corners of her head; a place where some memories take her back subconsciously, most especially that one person that she knew and had her heart for years before this amazing man, now her husband, came to her life like a hurricane. That man who she undeniably loved for years was coming from that country, but it's been around 15 years since they last saw each other, the last time they talked, the last time she felt his embrace, and the last time they kissed.

She was at a loss when she lost him for so many reasons she cannot recall anymore, but the pain was like a few scars being scratched. It was nothing more but a memory, she tells herself.

The curtain near her moved and showed a Junhui wearing his pyjamas, with a concerned look on his face. "Hao, what are you doing here? It's almost midnight, you still have class tomorrow." He said.

"I-I can't sleep," she said in a low voice, barely audible for him. He sat beside her and allowed her to lean on his chest and continued her talking. "There are things running in my mind lately: maybe it's because of the stress at work, or the upcoming conference in a few months, or maybe Zeren's first international camp. I don't know what to do anymore, all of them are just coming at the same place at the same time – "

"There, there," Jun said, comforting his wife as he rubbed her arm with his hand, and resting his chin on her crown. "I know you're stressed and it's overwhelming. I saw the pile of papers on your desk and it's worse than what I deal with at the hospital. Don't worry, we'll get through that soon."

Her heart heaved as she breathed. It was Korea – it was where both of their histories were connected, and whatever they had back there made a significant toll on their lives. How was she going to tell him about her worries without thinking of so many possibilities?

She took a deep breath and nuzzled at her husband.

"You know what, Hao?" He looked at her and held her tight. "I know going to Korea means something to you, and so does it for me too. It's a place where a lot of memories are waiting for us to recall, so many places that hold so many memories, even the streets, not to mention the people we once knew before we had each other. That place contains a lot of answers as to why we are now like this, what we become, and," he tipped her chin and looked deeply into her sad eyes. "... how we ended up having each other. I don't regret that part of my past, Hao. Without it, I wouldn't have met you, I wouldn't have loved you, and I wouldn't have found home with you."

"What if... just if," Minghao said airily, emphasizing the last of her statement. "... you'll meet her again. You'll see each other again. What would you do?"

Junhui just smiled as he looked at her meaningfully, "I'd tell her we both did the right thing... it was hard for both of us but every tinge of pain was worth it because it led me to the woman I loved the most."

This made Minghao smile despite her worries; heart heaving in overwhelming feelings – sadness and joy.

"And what about you?" Junhui asked. "If ever you should meet your ex, what would you tell him?"

She gave him a meaningful smile amidst the glass eyes, "I'd say... someone saved me from ruining my life, and that man is Dr. Wen Junhui, the only one I am bound to forever."