Chapter Seventeen - How The Sky is Turning Grey

GD POV

"Hyung, lend me your car," I say, already reaching out."Turn the meeting into an online one."My voice is calm, but urgent.

My manager blinks. "What’s happening?"I don’t answer. I can’t.

He sees it in my eyes, something’s wrong.He hands me the key without another word.

I take it, walk fast, and get into his car.My hands are steady on the wheel, but my chest...My chest is tight.

I don’t know where she’s going.She didn’t tell me anything.But I know I need to follow.

I stay a distance behind her car.She stops at a flower shop.White lilies.My heart drops.

And then she drives again.I keep my distance. I roll down the window, like the breeze can help me breathe.Then… we arrive.Graveyard.

She gets out.The bouquet in her hand looks too big against her small frame.Or maybe she’s the one that looks too small now.Too fragile.

I park far. I don’t want her to see me.I watch from behind the trees.And when she walks up that slope, her shoulders begin to tremble.

And then, she drops.Falls onto her knees like the world just knocked her over.Like the earth gave up on holding her.My stomach turns.

She’s crying.Crying so hard, her body shakes.Like her soul is trying to leave her chest.Like everything she’s been holding in, every scream, every sob, every tear, is finally escaping.

I grip the steering wheel, even though the engine is off.I want to run to her.But something in me tells me this is her moment.She needs this.

I bite my lip hard enough to taste blood.My girl. My strong, silent girl.Crumbling like paper in the rain.It kills me.

She looks so alone.Talking to a grave like it’s the only place left that will listen.

“Eomma... Appa... Oppa...”I can’t hear her voice, but I know those are the words on her lips.I know it like I know my own name.

I lean my head back, close my eyes, and swallow the lump in my throat.Why didn’t she tell me?Why did she hold it all alone?I watch her sob into the dirt like it’s the only thing left that’ll hold her weight.

And I swear to GodIf I could take this pain away from her, I would.A thousand times over.

But for now…All I can do is watch from the distance.Let her break.And be ready to hold her when she’s done picking up the pieces.

After a while…She stops crying.

No more shaking shoulders.No more sobs.No more gasping for breath like she’s drowning on dry land.

She just… sits.Beside the grave.Quiet.

Her arms rest on her knees, fingers limp, head tilted slightly up,Eyes staring at the sky.

But they’re empty.

Not peaceful.Not calm.Just… blank.

That kind of look you get after crying too long.After your whole chest caves in, and there’s nothing left to let out.That numbness that comes when pain burns out all your nerves.I don’t even think she realizes how cold it’s getting.How the sky is turning grey.

There’s a breeze now, brushing through her hair.But she doesn’t move.Doesn’t flinch.Doesn’t blink.

Just stares at that endless sky, like maybe it’ll swallow her pain.Or maybe she’s waiting for someone up there to answer.

--

Mi Yu POV

After I finally calm down,After the sobs fade, and my chest stops aching so loud I can’t breathe,I walk back to the car.My body feels heavy, like I’ve cried out every ounce of strength I have left.But my hands find the wheel, and I start driving.

Slowly.Not because of the traffic.But because for the first time in a long time…I don’t feel rushed.

No deadlines.No crisis.No pressure to prove myself to anyone.Just the quiet hum of the car and the weight of my thoughts beside me.

Halfway there, I pull into a supermarket.I finally check my phone,I almost forgot I even had one.

I type,“Text me after you finish, I’ll pick you up 🖤”and press send.Simple words.But it makes me feel like I still have something to hold onto.

I push the cart slowly down each aisle, letting myself choose without rushing,Vegetables, some ramen, soybean paste, a fresh cut of saba…Even some snacks I used to love as a child.It feels strange,Not buying for work events or deadlines,But just for… dinner.For us.

Back to his home, the silence greets me, but it no longer feels cold.I tie my hair up, play his song in the background, and begin to cook.Saba sushi.Samgyetang.Samgyeopsal for tomorrow, already marinated just the way he likes.And extra side dishes,that he always complains I don’t make enough banchan.

I laugh under my breath.That voice of his echoing in my head.I glance at the reflection on the refrigerator door.I'm smiling.

Like a fool.Like someone in love.Like someone who, despite everything that’s happened, is still soft where he’s concerned.

Even when he’s not here,he still finds a wayto bring warmth into this home.And into me.

I tidy up everything in the kitchen,wiped the counters, sealed the leftovers, stacked the dishes neatly.A strange peace lingers in the quiet hum of the fridge,the soft scent of dinner still in the air.A kind of peace I haven’t felt in a long time.

I make my way to the bathroom,pull off my shirt,and slowly sink into the hot bath.The heat wraps around my sore limbs like a hug I didn’t know I needed.

I tilt my head back against the cool edge of the tub,eyes fixed on the ceiling,but I’m not really looking at anything.Just blank.Empty.Tired.

GD’s voice begins to echo softly from my phone,the speaker turning this little bathroom into a personal concert.The familiar lyrics float around me,fill in all the silent spaces I didn’t know were hollow.

His voice,so close,so far.

Every note he sings,feels like it was written for this moment.For me.

"Jebal dan han beoniradoNeoreul bol su itdamyeonNae modeun geol da ireodo gwaenchanaKkumeseorado neoreul mannaDashi saranghagireul

Jigeum i shigani jinagagoDa ijeul su itdamyeonGeu gieokdo haengbokhaetdeon chueokdoAni daeum saeng edo neoreulManna dashi saranghagireulYejeon geudaero"

I close my eyes.Let the music soak deeper than the water.And for once,I let myself feel nothing.

And everything.All at once.

"You gonna fall asleep again?"His voice echoes from the bathroom door, low, teasing.I jolt, water splashes out, soaking the floor.I turn my head and glare at him, half-embarrassed, half-annoyed. He press stop to the music on my phone.

He’s leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, eyes locked on me.He chuckles, that soft raspy sound,then without a word, he pulls off his shirt and steps in.The water shifts, surrounds us both,and I instinctively lean into him.

His bare chest is warm, steady, like an anchor.I rest my head there, eyes closed, listening to his heartbeat.It’s calm.It’s the only thing that doesn’t feel like it’s slipping through my fingers.

His arm wraps around my shoulders, holding me there,not asking anything, not needing words.

Only this.Only us.In the quiet, in the warmth, in the middle of all the mess.I finally feel like I’m allowed to breathe.

I traced my fingers over the taut skin of his thigh, a quiet, intimate gesture. My fingertips brushed against the familiar script of his "inhale" and "exhale" tattoos, following the rise and fall of the letters etched into his skin. Each stroke was a silent acknowledgment of the calm that now settled between us.

His thumbs, meanwhile, moved in a slow, tender dance across my bare shoulders, a soft, comforting caress. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of my head, a sweet warmth spreading through me.

"You like it?" he murmured, his voice a low, contented rumble. I simply nodded, the subtle movement of my head against his shoulder conveying everything words couldn't. This quiet comfort, after the storm of passion, was its own kind of bliss.

The peaceful quiet of the bath was soon joined by the soft clink of glass. He reached for the bottle of wine on the edge of the tub, uncorking it with a practiced ease.

The rich, deep aroma filled the air as he poured a generous amount into a glass, raising it to his lips.Without a second thought, I turned in the water, splashing a little onto the tiled floor around the tub, my eyes locked on his.

Before he could react, I leaned in, my lips meeting his, and I drank the wine directly from his mouth. His eyes widened, a flicker of surprise, then amusement, dancing in their depths.

He hadn't expected my mischievous behavior, and the slight, startled gasp he let out only fueled my grin. The taste of the wine, mingled with his essence, was intoxicating.

I looked at him, a mischievous smile playing on my lips. He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound in his chest, and cupped my face, stroking my cheek with his thumb.

I leaned in, my lips lingering in the air between us, just a breath away from his. Then, with a playful twist, I turned around, settling back against his bare chest, letting out a soft laugh.

He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer. "You want to tease me?" he murmured, a hint of challenge in his voice, followed by a soft laugh. I just laughed in response, my palm stroking his thigh, a silent promise that the teasing was far from over.

My laughter mingled with his, a warm, playful sound in the steamy air. But the teasing was far from over. In a swift, fluid motion, he reached up and grabbed my neck, his touch firm yet gentle.

His thumb hooked under my chin, turning my face to meet his gaze. His eyes, dark and knowing, held mine for a breathless moment before he leaned in and kissed me.

This wasn't a gentle peck, it was deep, demanding, his tongue immediately finding its way, plunging deep inside my mouth. His other hand slipped around my waist, pulling me impossibly closer. Slowly, his hand moved upward, finding my breast, cupping my nipple and pinching it hard. A gasp tore from my throat, swallowed by the intensity of his kiss.

With a powerful surge, he lifted me a little, settling me onto his lap in the bathtub. Water splashed everywhere, cascading over the edges and onto the floor, but neither of us cared.

Using both his legs, he expertly slipped inside, pushing deeper as he spread my legs, letting them hang over the edge of the tub.

Then, his hand, which had been tormenting my nipple, moved lower, his fingers tracing a burning path until they were teasing my clitoris.

"Ahhhhh..."

My breath hitched, my body already tightening in anticipation.

With one swift, practiced move, he slipped his two fingers inside me. My eyes flew wide, locking onto his. He looked back at me, a triumphant smirk playing on his lips, as he applied a soft, deliberate pressure to my neck, choking me gently, just enough to send a shiver of delicious fear through me, ensuring he wouldn't hurt me.

His other hand inside me began to move, slowly at first, then picking up speed, a relentless circular motion that sent sparks of pleasure through every nerve ending.

"Ja......giya"

His grip on my neck tightened just a fraction, a silent promise of the delicious torment to come. "You want to tease me again?" he rasped, his voice a low growl that vibrated through me, even as his fingers inside me intensified their rhythm, moving with a dizzying speed.

"Hhhmmmppphhhh" I can’t find any word.

I could only look up at the ceiling, my body arching, every muscle coiling as the pleasure inside me swelled, hot and overwhelming.

I couldn't take it anymore. With a desperate gasp, I grabbed his hand, pulling it out. I needed more. I spun around, facing him now, and with a powerful thrust, I buried him deep inside me. My hands instinctively clamped onto the edge of the bathtub, my knuckles white as I started to move, finding a desperate, urgent rhythm.

"Oohhh... fuck." he groaned

He watched me, his gaze unblinking, as he reached for the wine glass. He took a slow sip, his eyes never leaving mine, and then leaned forward, passing the glass to me with his mouth. I drank from his lips, the taste of wine mingling with the raw passion in the air.A drop escaped the corner of my lips, trailing down my chin and neck like a tease.

Without a word, he followed its path, his lips brushing gently along my skin, warm and electric, until he returned to my mouth, tasting both the wine and me with one lingering kiss.

He leaned back, a slow, wicked smirk spreading across his face, one hand coming up to cup my cheek, his thumb stroking gently. His other arm rested on the edge of the tub, his eyes burning with pure lust, like a bad boy from a movie, completely captivated.

As I moved, the water around us began to wave, rising and falling with each thrust. The cool water touched my chest, swirling around my nipples, sending shivers through me.

"Oooohhhhh baby...."

He wrapped his arms around my waist, keeping me steady, his fingers teasing my nipples, making my moans grow harder, more desperate.

"Jiyong-ahhhh..."

I looked up at the ceiling, my vision blurring, my own movements becoming more primal, more desperate. I began to make round thrusts, roughly, pushing every inch of me against him.

"Baby..." He groaned, a raw, guttural sound that vibrated through me. I could feel his body tightening beneath me, his own climax building.

"Baby, I'm near..." He rasped, his hands abandoning my waist to grab my hips, forcing me into an even more rough and relentless rhythm. I tightened my grip on the edge of the bathtub, knuckles white, as my moans grew harder, louder, echoing in the steamy air.

"Baby... baby..." He moaned, his voice raw with impending release.

Then, a wave of pure, shattering pleasure consumed me, a glorious explosion deep inside. My body convulsed, and I screamed, my climax ripping through me right there, inside the bathtub. And with a final, desperate groan, he followed, his body shaking as he found his own release, mingling with mine in the warm water.

The water still clung to our skin as he began to rinse all my body with the showerhead, his touch firm and thorough.

Then, he quickly bathed himself, his movements efficient. Without warning, he bent down, easily lifting me into his arms, carrying me straight to the bed."I'll make sure you can't walk," He whispered in my ear, his voice a low growl that sent shivers down my spine.

My eyes widened, meeting his, and there was a dangerous glint in them. "Remember what I said before if you tease me again?"

He threw me onto the bed with a playful force that made me giggle in shock. He then leaned down to press a soft kiss to my forehead, his hand resting beside my head. His gaze deepened, locking onto mine, before he slipped two fingers into his mouth, wetting them.

With a swift movement, he spread my legs, and then slipped his wet fingers inside me.My eyes widened further as he opened the bedside drawer, and grabbed a vibrator that i didn't even know existed.

He turned it on, the low hum filling the air. He grabbed one of my legs, spreading it wider, and then, shockingly, spat on me, before thrusting roughly inside me with the vibrator.

He leaned in, grabbing both my hands and pinning them above my head on the bed, his mouth descending to suck hard on my nipples. There was no mercy in his touch now.

The pleasure inside me was thrashing, a wild, untamed storm.

"Jagiya... Jagiya...." I whimpered, my voice broken.

He was thrusting the vibrator more roughly, faster, his tongue on my nipples teasing hard, sucking relentlessly. My legs began to shake uncontrollably, and then, he stopped.

I was breathless, panting as I tried to catch my breath.

"Jagiya...?" I managed to ask, my voice raspy.

"Hmm?" he smirked, the teasing glint back in his eyes.

"Desperate?" he asked, then pulled the vibrator away, but only to tease my clitoris with its tip.

"Don't come," he whispered in my ear, and my body arched, fighting against the overwhelming tide of pleasure. I desperately tried to hold it back.

Then, he pulled the vibrator away entirely, grabbed my waist, and swiftly turned me around. He smacked my buttocks, a sharp, resounding slap, before thrusting inside me roughly, moving quickly.

He grabbed my hair, pulling it hard enough to make me look up at the ceiling, and continued to smack my buttocks.

"I...." I tried to protest, but his voice cut me off.

"Not. Yet." he stated, his voice hard, unyielding.

"I'll make sure you feel the pleasure until you can't stand up straight," he said, clenching his teeth, each word punctuated by another rough, quick thrust.

My legs were shaking violently, the intensity almost unbearable.

"Jagi... please..." I whimpered, begging harder now. "Jagi... please...." The pleasure inside me increased intensely, my body arching in ways I couldn't control.

He pulled my hair even more, until my scalp was sore, but I fought with everything I had not to climax.

But then, he smacked my buttocks again, and with one final, powerful thrust, I couldn't bear it anymore.

I exploded, a shattering, overwhelming climax that left me limp and spent, falling back onto the bed.He followed moments later, collapsing beside me, a satisfied smirk on his face, as if he had successfully tamed me.

He slowly began to brush my hair, a tender gesture that softened his earlier dominance.

"Next time, I will punish you if you come without my permission," he murmured.

I gathered what little strength I had left, smacked his chest, and pinched his nipple hard.

"YAAAAAA!!!" he shouted, a yelp of surprise.

"Serve you well," I retorted, a triumphant giggle escaping me despite my exhaustion.

We lay tangled in the sheets, breathless and spent, the afterglow of our intense passion warm around us. After a few quiet moments, he sat up, reaching for a small jar in the bedside drawer. The scent of a soothing balm filled the air as he dipped his fingers in.

"Come here," he said, his voice now soft, a stark contrast to the raw dominance from moments before.

He gently turned me, exposing my still-swelling buttocks, and began to carefully apply the balm.I peeked up at him, a thought bubbling to the surface.

"Should I just become your submissive and spend all your money?" I asked, a hint of playfulness in my voice.

He smirked, not looking up from his task.

"No," He stated simply, continuing to rub the balm in with gentle, precise movements.

"Just spend my money as you want, but not submissive. I only treat you like this because you seem to like it, and you let me. If you find that I hurt you, or find it too far, please tell me immediately." His tone was firm, the underlying seriousness undeniable.

I raised an eyebrow, a slight challenge in my gaze. "You don't like it?"

"Of course I do," He said, meeting my eyes, a spark of the earlier intensity returning. "You have no idea how your body losing control because of me, how you try to beg... Of course I do. But if that's going to make you the submissive, then don't. You're my wife to be, not someone I play with." His voice held a clear, unwavering finality.

I sat up, wrapping my arms tightly around him, burying my face in the crook of his neck.

"I like it. All of them," I whispered, my voice muffled against his skin. He kissed my hair, right by my ear, a tender, possessive gesture.