Doctor Demon

Magrod was listening to the detective who just mentioned Cho Sungki. So that is his real name, he thought. He was now alarmed. Cho Baekha was already being stalked by the demon but if what Jiwoon said was true and the demon's real target was her, then it would probably be looking for a vessel to control.

"I'll have to go and stop it," he muttered and vanished in thin air.

Junho was now listening intently. He could read the fear in Jiwoon's eyes and it shocked him to see her in that state. She was trying to remain calm but her voice was cracking and she was hugging herself close in a defensive way. Her hands were clammy as she narrated her story.

"It all started after my grandfather died," she whispered. "The former chairman of the Cho industries, Grandpa Mawon, summoned me to the mansion and told me about the pact he made years ago with my grandfather. I knew that Grandpa Mawon was sponsoring my studies and I was grateful to him.. He asked me if I wanted to marry his grandson and he'll make sure that I was well taken care of."

"I didn't know his grandson but I was indebted to Grandpa Mawon himself," she went on. "So I agreed. And on our first date, I realized that my fiance was the country's Top Idol, Cho Sungki…"

…

*Flashback to 10 years ago*

The stadium is lit up with a thousand bright lights, sparkling like stars. Fans were chanting all around the area, filling it with joy and they eagerly anticipated the arrival of their idol.

"Sungki! Sungki!" they chanted.

"He's so handsome!" one of the fans squealed. 

"I love him! Look at his pretty face!"

"His voice is so soothing."

"I wish he was my husband!"

They are all chanting and screaming for their idol. He is the perfect being in their eyes. Everything Sungki does is perfect. HIs songs, his voice, his kindness. He is the epitome of goodness in the eyes of the fans.

A few feet away from the stage, a girl enters the stadium. She is wearing a cap and a mask to hide her face but she is equally excited. In her hands is a backstage pass which gives her access to the idol's main room. A guard tries to stop her but she shows him the badge and he lets her go.

She steps into a long corridor which leads to Sungki's room. Jisoo is humming to herself as she heads to his room. He is probably waiting for me, she thought. She is so excited that she does not spot a person rushing from the other end.

"Whoa!" 

Both of them collide against each other. Jisoo manages to balance herself but the young assistant who was carrying some clothes in his hands, falls.

"Are you okay?" Jisoo asks and hurriedly helps him to stand up. "I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay!" he reassured her. He takes her hand and stands up to steady himself. "Thank you."

She helps him pick up the clothes and smiles as he rushes away. Unbeknownst to her, someone is watching them from afar. His handsome face is marred by a disgusted scowl and the sight of his fiance with another man is sickening him. She is too bold but he knows he can tame her into submission. All he needs is patience until then.

Jisoo spots her fiance a few feet away and waves at him. She does not notice him glaring at her but he quickly masks his obsession with a smile.

"Jisoo!" he exclaims and is about to hug her but she stops him. 

"Public!" she pointed out. "Let's go to your vanity."

Since Sungki is a public personality, they have to keep their relationship a secret for a while. Grandpa Mawon was against it but he relented after Jisoo requested it. She prefers to stay lowkey and the fans are only going to create trouble for Sungki if they find out about their engagement. Many idols lose their brand reputation once they get married. For the sake of Sungki, she had decided not to disclose their relationship for a few years. Once he is ready, he will announce it.

He pulls her to his vanity and Jisoo takes off her mask.

"Grandpa Mawon told me that we can register the marriage next week," she is saying as she puts the mask on a desk. "And he also showed me a few wedding dresses-"

She turns around only to find Sungki really close. In fact, he is standing too close and she is a little stiff by the intimacy. Jisoo backs herself against the wall but he keeps on inching closer until there is no other place for her to run.

"What…" she began but he put a finger on her lips. He trails from her lips to her jawline until he gently grabs her chins with his strong palms. 

"You look so beautiful today," he mumbles. Jisoo almost feels his breath on her face and even though it feels good to be with him, she is a little hesitant. He was coming closer and closer. She can count his eyelashes as his face comes closer. Her heart is beating but not in anticipation but rather in nervousness. 

"I…" she tries to tell him but his lips are already on hers. There is a strange urgency in his kiss which the inexperienced Jisoo cannot understand. She is still as a rock but he is forcing her to open her mouth and pry his tongue into hers. Jisoo feels suffocated and gasps. He is too demanding and she is suddenly very uncomfortable.

Is this how kisses are supposed to be? She thinks for a wild moment. She read about romantic kisses and how meaningful they are for a couple. Maybe she expected too much? 

Sungki moans against her lips but Jisoo feels nothing. No sense of happiness nor is her stomach fluttering. Instead, she feels cold and stiff in her position. Finally, he pulls away and grins at her. Jisoo smiles back, not wanting to tell him that it was a terrible kiss. Maybe I am the one who is bad at it, she thinks.

"It's time for my show," he murmurs. "But I don't want to go…"

"You have to," Jisoo nudges. "The fans are waiting for you."

He sighs and holds her hands. "Wait for me, okay?" he winks.

She nods and watches him kiss her hands before leaving. As soon as he leaves, she feels a burden lifting off her chest. It was a strange kiss but she brushes it off. Not all kisses are magical or romantic, she convinces herself. I'm just inexperienced. I'm sure he felt it too. He was being considerate.

Jisoo keeps on repeating this in her head until she is fully convinced that the kiss was only a small setback. There are other things in a relationship too. She is yet to know him properly but she will get to know him much better. He is a good and kind person after all. His interviews reflect his kind nature and eloquent thoughts.

She will be very happy with him. Very.