Chapter 1: Chapter 1. My Wife is the Idol
"Babe, are you doing a live stream?" Another woman's soft voice can be heard in the background from their favorite YouTubers' online streaming.
"Yes, I'll be coming soon." The woman on camera responded softly, then returned to the screen to engage in further conversation with her followers. "Sorry, my wife is around."
The viewers then start teasing her, as it has been a few years since the YouTuber announced that she's marrying a woman after telling them about her relationship a few years prior. However, the wife in question has never been shown in the recordings or during live streams. The viewers can only hear parts of her voice and catch glimpses of her legs or hands, but never more than that.
"You've got a clingy wife there, Harp!" one viewer comments.
"You should let us see your wife!" another suggests.
"Don't be too possessive!" a third viewer chimes in.
"No woman likes a possessive woman!" a fourth viewer adds.
Harper laughs as she reads the comments from her loyal YouTube followers, some of whom have been with her since the beginning. She launched her channel in 2009, a couple of years after working on a cruise ship and a year after her wife's debut in the K-pop industry.
Harper has never revealed her wife's identity because her spouse is a well-known K-pop idol from the second generation. If people were to learn about their marriage, it could potentially ruin Harper's wife's career, which she has been nurturing since she was 13 years old and is now 34 years old. Harper's wife has decided not to renew her contract with her previous agency after working for them for fourteen years, opting to focus more on acting and her solo career. She has also been spending more time in the United States than in Seoul over the past ten years, and three years ago, the two of them were officially married.
Only close family and trusted friends—less than twenty people—were present at their small and sacred wedding ceremony three years ago. The relationship between Harper and her wife has been fraught with fights, jealousy, and more fights.
These challenges have not driven them apart or out of love. Harper and her wife believe they are soulmates, meant to be together in every lifetime—in the past, present, and future.
"Calm down, guys," Harper says to her viewers, a gentle smile on her face. "When she's ready, she'll show herself."
Though the viewers are eager to catch a glimpse of the elusive partner, they can sense the deep respect and love Harper has for her wife's privacy and well-being. The YouTuber has built a strong rapport with her audience over the years, and they don't want to force their beloved, beautiful YouTuber to feel uncomfortable.
Over the years, Harper has developed her career in the cruise ship industry by building her own YouTube channel. She toured the world, working from one cruise company to another, until she felt she had seen everything and decided to live on the road in her big, beautiful campervan, traversing the USA, Canada, Europe, and even spending years in South Korea, exploring the country with a small camper van.
People love to hear her captivating storytelling, whether it's about her daily adventures, the sights she's witnessed, or the colorful characters she's encountered. They've heard tales of the white dog in her South Korean neighborhood, which has since had more than ten puppies, or the lonely lady living on the hills who misses her son, who has gone missing. Harper takes her viewers on an adventurous journey, cracking mysteries and discovering new wonders.
"You know, some theory said her wife is Rachel Lee," a viewer comments.
"Rachel Lee? The Rachel Lee?" another exclaims.
"The sunny smile, Rachel Lee?" a third viewer chimes in.
"Yes, you guys should see the proofs," the first viewer responds.
"Where?" a new viewer asks.
"They have a lot of comparison videos and photos!" the original commenter explains.
"Yes! I think the hand is the same as Rachel's, right?" another viewer points out.
"But we know that Harper is the biggest simp for Ambrosia, right? Especially Rachel," a seasoned fan states.
"Yeah, she even has a whole page dedicated to them," a viewer confirms.
Harper can't believe what she's reading in the comment section, but she has never wanted to correct any of the assumptions. Even her wife lets them do everything.
"Isn't it like Rachel Lee's hand? It's Rachel's hand," her wife says softly, chuckling after seeing Harper close her live stream video.
"You love all the assumptions, don't you, baby?" Harper says there is a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Of course, and I love how you've tried to restrain yourself from touching me in public for years!" her wife replies, her tone playful and affectionate.
Harper smiles, knowing that their carefully guarded secret has sparked the imagination of their devoted audience. She and her wife have weathered many storms to get to this point, and they're content to let the speculation continue, as long as it doesn't jeopardize her spouse's hard-earned career.
She joins her wife in their bed, snuggling close to her chest. Hugging each other tightly in the silence isn't awkward at all for them; they're used to these moments of comfort when they simply want to be in each other's presence.
Letting each other enjoy each other's company without any need for comment, they listen to each other's steady breaths and the strong beats of their hearts.
"Are we going to move into our house?" Rachel asks softly.
"Soon, my love. I'm in the middle of building it," Harper replies, a smile spreading across her face. "What should I do after we're finally settled down?"
"We can also try to find more activities to do together," Rachel suggests.
"You're right. Maybe I should tell them that my wife is a picky eater," Harper chuckles. "But, didn't your acting career just start?"
"Hey, that's not fair!" Rachel playfully chides her. The two women take pleasure in the warmth and security of their embrace, their bodies intertwined as they savor this quiet, intimate moment.
"I hate when I can't claim you in public; I mean, I want to tell those bitches that you're married to me! Rachel Lee! So, fuck off!" Rachel exclaims, her voice tinged with a hint of frustration.
"Aren't you also the one who has to kiss those men when you're doing those musical stage performances?" Harper pouts, teasing her wife.
"Baby, that happened when I was in the early stages of my career! It was just a peck! Plus, you've kissed other girls! Plural!" Rachel retorts, her eyes sparkling with playful accusation.
"Damn, she remembers it more," Harper laughs, leaning in to kiss her wife, effectively silencing her.
After a long moment, they part, and Harper looks at Rachel with a pleading expression. "You know, can you not kiss anyone else? I mean, for your acting roles? Just a peck or camera angle, but not a full-blown make-out kiss? Please?"
Rachel considers her wife's request, understanding the vulnerability and insecurity that lie beneath the surface. "I'll talk to my manager about it," she says, her voice soft and reassuring.