Emi takes a sip from the glass of orange juice she'd freshly ordered after she'd woken up in the hotel suite alone. She'd gone to bed alone, too and had it not been for the note beside the bed, she wouldn't know whether her husband came home at all.
She'd had a lovely time with Jara when they ditched the shops for a trendy wine bar followed by a karaoke room, where the wine continued to flow. Emi didn't have a sister but it was what she imagined it would be like if she did. Emi's sister-in-laws were busy women and they got along well but it was a different relationship
Jara relayed texts from Kyong as the four men moved from the Signiel to a brewery just around the corner from the hotel. The two women didn't want to join them, they were having far too much fun on their own and Kyong had told Jara that the atmosphere was a little tense at times and the women were too merry and didn't want their mood dampened.
Emi told Han-Shik to stay out and have fun when he called her as she arrived back at the hotel and she was asleep not long after that.
Gone to the gym.
H x
She reads the note again and smiles at the kiss after her husband's initial. It was a subtle, possibly unconscious element but knowing Han-Shik, she doubted very much that it was habit so it meant a lot.
When Han-Shik returns, he asks her if she's okay and whether she's eaten breakfast before going for a shower. Emi orders room service and by the time Han-Shik is showered and dressed, the timing of the door chiming is impeccable.
"How was last night?" she asks once they've uncovered their breakfast and poured some coffee.
"It got better."
"Was it awkward to start with?"
Han-Shik puts the mug of coffee to his lips and blows gently as the steam swirls from the piping hot flat white. "Very. My brothers don't trust me and they've had to make the decision to believe me when I say that this whole situation isn't a set-up."
"They think Nuri is behind it?"
Han-Shik nods his head, "Uh-huh. It makes us all equal because I have to trust that they're telling me the truth."
"Do you believe them?"
His shoulders rise as Han-Shik shrugs, "I don't have a lot of choice, do I?"
"You do. You have a choice. I think you should question why you don't believe them? If it's because of something your mother told you then maybe those are the times you should try to believe them?"
"Do you have any idea how hard it is to have everything you've believed made out to be false? I've spent years believing that my little brother stole money from us then left. I saw the devastation on my mother's face and saw what I thought was a breakdown. I walked on eggshells for as long as I can remember until I found ways to cope which mostly involved staying out of the way."
"I understand that..." Emi starts to say as Han-Shik startles her by standing abruptly.
"No! You don't! How could you possibly understand?"
The petite Japanese woman gets to her feet and goes to her husband. She takes hold of Han-Shik's forearms that are crossed over his chest and is pleased when he allows her to move them so that she can stand in front of him, minus the arm barrier. She places her hands on his waist and looks up at him. "I can't relate to what you've been through but I am learning. I am starting to understand your viewpoint. I've also seen the many acts that Nuri displays so I can imagine what it was like for you."
Han-Shik relaxes his arms a little as they hang tensely at his sides. He reaches up with his right hand and tenderly pushes some of his wife's hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry..." he sighs, "... you are the one person in my corner... I shouldn't lash out."
Emi's eyes fill with tears as the words perforate her heart. She told Jara last night all about the difficulties she faces when Han-Shik retreats and snaps. She knows that it's never aimed AT her personally and she can handle it but at times like this, it reinforces why she perseveres. It's obvious to her now that her husband has built a fortress around himself, designed to keep everyone out and attempt to keep himself safe but he doesn't know how to let people in... he doesn't know who to trust and he probably has learnt so many habits as coping mechanisms that anything outside of that is scary.
Yet, there are tiny rays of light that break through the darkness and this moment is one of those that gives Emi hope. "I won't tell you that it's okay because it isn't... BUT I accept your apology... that means the world to me..." she pushes up onto her tiptoes and leaves a feather light kiss to her husband's lips, "... I'm always in your corner."
"Wherever I am, whoever I'm with... I feel like the outsider."
"Even with your brothers?"
"Especially with them. They've put the past behind them and they've forged a friendship... even Taehyung is closer to them than I am."
"But that was the point of coming here... so that you CAN build a relationship with them. Did you speak about the past?"
"Yeah and it didn't go down well when I told Jungkook that I didn't know what or who to believe."
"About the safe money?"
"Yeah... but he had an idea to prove to me that he didn't take it and he showed me his bank transactions for that period of time. He opened an account so he could pay his school fees and have somewhere for the diner wages to go."
"And? How do you feel now?"
Han-Shik looks away from his wife's face and puffs out a small breath. "That doesn't really prove that he didn't steal the money though, does it? It just shows me that he didn't pay the cash into his account IF he took it."
"That's true. IF Jungkook stole from the safe he could've used it for other things so you're right, showing you his bank account doesn't prove anything BUT if he was running away and thought he would never be found... why would he think about not putting it into the account that pays his school fees? He couldn't know that seven years later he'd need to provide evidence to back up his claims. What do you know about Jungkook's life after he left? I mean, the story you believe and have proof of?" Emi really wants her husband to think about the situation from Jungkook's perspective, from a fact based viewpoint... from any angle that doesn't involve the tales that his mother has fed him. She doesn't know whether Jungkook stole the money or not but what she does know is that the brothers can't be a rio again until Han-Shik starts to step outside of the Nuri bubble that has kept him captive.
"I know he moved in with the orphan boy, Ash and that he enrolled at university where he did dance. I know he paid his fees two days early every semester and I know he had a small regular wage coming in from the diner. I know he used to go busking in the subway."
Emi thinks for a second. This is the first time she's been able to have such a detailed conversation with her husband, where they aren't pushed for time or where he can run off to the gym. She thinks he's calm but knows that he could end the conversation and leave at any point, which is his way of dealing with anything and everything when he's had enough. The bright side today was that IF he stormed off, he would have to return to their suite and they were meeting with the group in a few hours so he'd have to come around.
"What did he do with the busking money?"
"It was deposited into the account once a month if he made enough. He said he kept cash in a pot under his bed."
"So... hypothetically.... He DID steal the safe money... that is the only cash that he didn't deposit?"
"Yeah, it looks that way."
"Do you know the timeframe of when he set up the account and when he enrolled in school?"
"I could find that out easily."
"I'm not going to tell you what or who to believe but please give it some serious thought. Look at the person that Jungkook was and is and come to your own conclusion. Did you know that Taehyung's friends tried to pay him off to get him to leave Taehyung?"
Han-Shik frowns, "Umm... no... I don't think so?"
"They thought he was a gold digger and was after Taehyung for his money so they paid him to leave. Jara told me all about it last night. Apparently most of the disagreements that Jungkook has with Taehyung are about money. Kyong has tried to reason with Jungkook a few times and get him to see Taehyung's point of view."
"Which friends? What happened?"
"Don't take this as word for word because I have a fuzzy wine head..." Emi admits, "... I think it was Jimin who gave him a bag of money and told him to leave... but I can't be absolutely sure. Jara said that Taehyung was out of his mind searching for Jungkook because no one knew where he was. When he found Jungkook, that's when he found out what his friends did."
"When was this?"
"Before they were living together, I think? Jara only knows what Heeju has told her. They are all friends now because of Jungkook... apparently he was the one who got everyone talking again."
"He didn't accept the money?"
"No. Taehyung threw it at his friends."
"I trust my brother more than I trust Taehyung."
"Do you truly believe that Jungkook stole that money when he was eighteen, given everything that you now know? He ran away on his birthday after he heard his father accept money to disappear. I know you haven't asked what I think but if you ask me... it doesn't sound like he would have been in the right frame of mind to open a safe and take the money."
"I don't want to believe that he stole the money but there's a part of me that feels like it's a can of worms if I really believe he didn't. The level of deception by my mother... that's a lot to accept... that feels like a massive leap... and what else would that mean? If I think about everything she's told me... I then have to consider that those things aren't true either and..." Han-Shik tears up and steps back to put some distance between him and his wife, "... that includes whether she cares about me and... I just... I'm not ready to deal with that."
Emi takes a tentative step towards her husband. Han-Shik wraps his arms around himself and steps back. Emi's heart breaks for him, she hadn't thought about it like that. If Han-Shik is to disbelieve everything his mother has said and says... surely everything is fair game? Is it better to pick and choose? Is it possible to be selective when it suits? The damage has been done, regardless of what anyone believes now and it's clear that her husband hasn't been trusting of his mother because he's brainwashed or has been manipulated, he has had to trust her word for his own emotional wellbeing, fearing what it would mean otherwise.
But that was fine when he was fighting his own battles and he only had himself to think about... it wasn't like that anymore.
"Do you want to a relationship with your brothers?" She asks in the kindest tone possible as she feels that Han-Shik is one step away from bolting out of the room.
"Yes, I do... I join them up... me... in the middle... they need me."
Emi walks forwards again and is relieved when Han-Shik stays where he is. She puts her hands out, one holding each bicep and rubs lightly up and down. "Then that is what we have to concentrate on. I don't think that Kyong and Jungkook would've agreed to meet with you if they didn't want to build a relationship. They might not trust you 100% but even then... they are showing willing. They will be cautious, Han-Shik... Nuri has caused a lot of hurt to all three of you. When they realise that you aren't reporting back to her, it will be one step closer to them trusting what you say."
"Jungkook told me about the phonecall... what he said and what Eomma said. He said that he didn't believe her and wanted to hear my side. He said that when she came to Seoul, he bought into everything she was saying because he wanted to trust his mother but for him, the moment that changed was Eomma telling him that Taehyung shouted at her... or raised his voice or something like that? Jungkook said he knew that Taehyung would never shout. I told him the real reason that you went to the hospital and that's when Kyong said eomma did the same to Jara..."
"Yes, Jara told me all about that. Han-Shik... did you know that Nuri physically hurt Jara?"
The look of sadness said it all, "Kyong told me. I knew that eomma was cruel to Jara sometimes because I was there BUT I didn't know it turned physical. I told Ryan that she was never going to treat you the same way she treated Jara... she... hasn't hit you... has she?"
"No."
Han-Shik breathes a sigh of relief and finally opens his arms so his wife can take a step towards him. "I see that eomma is dangerous but... if I turn my back on her... she has no-one and I've stayed for nothing..."
"I'll be by your side whatever you decide."
Emi wants her husband to walk away from Nuri and she doesn't care if they leave with nothing because between them they have enough to rebuild but she knows it has to be his decision. Jara's insight into her mother-in-law has put Emi on guard and she needs to speak to her brothers or parents about the situation so she can have their support, should things turn bad and the couple have to leave suddenly. Emi can only see the benefits to getting away from the woman that no-one has a good word to say about. Both her and Han-Shik have businesses and could make it alone without worry, yet she does understand why Han-Shik feels that he deserves something out of all of this. Nuri has and continues to manipulate and scheme her way to forging relationships with people and everyone has had the wool pulled over their eyes at some point. It's only now, through conversations with those that have escaped Nuri's rule, that the truth is coming out and Emi hopes that her husband is strong enough to hold on.
***
"Shower or coffee?" Tae asks hopefully.
"Coffee... we had a shower already." Jungkook answers, fastening the belt that holds his Calvin Klein jeans in place, low on his hips.
"That is the reason that I suggested another one..." Tae adds, slightly less hopeful after his husband's choice of coffee, "... Do I have to get dirty so that we can shower again?"
Jungkook laughs, "What? No, Tae and if you do get dirty, it will only be you needing a shower." He looks at the puffed cheeks and pouted lips of his husband and walks over to where he stands close to the bedroom door, "You could argue that we got dirty IN the shower."
"I don't want to argue, Kookie."
Jungkook melts and he's sure it's obvious that he's internally swooning. Tae often claims that it's Jungkook who's mean but in reality, the dancer feels that it is the CEO who is mean because he knows exactly what to do to play him. The use of the pet name and the way he pushes out his lips... the sheer look of innocence... the fact that this whole situation is purely because Tae wants his husband... it's a lot to digest.
"We aren't arguing... please can I have a coffee?"
Jungkook was less nervous and more excited about getting together with his brothers today. There were some sticky moments yesterday but he was glad that Tae was with him and he was looking forward to meeting Emi today, as the wives would be joining them.
Tae wasn't going to get anywhere with his request for another shower so he'd given up and made hot drinks in the kitchen. He wasn't enamoured about the day that lay ahead and would much rather have been staying at home all day, in and out of the shower with his new husband. He didn't trust Han-Shik and if he was completely honest, he wasn't a fan of his at all. Tae thought that the middle brother was dislikable, less approachable and definitely more stand offish than he'd ever seen Jungkook or Kyong be. By the end of the evening, the CEO had been thankful that he was wrong about Nuri showing up but equally thankful that they could go home after an evening where he felt most of it had been spent on the defence and glaring at Han-Shik.
When they arrived home last night, Taehyung was ready for Jungkook to analyse the time they'd spent in Han-Shik's company but that wasn't the case and they'd watched a movie in bed instead. Tae considered that there wasn't anything to analyse as there had been a few unsettled moments where tempers flared but for the most part, it was Kyong who acted as mediator. The brothers managed to talk things out each time and Jungkook appeared happy enough as they left but Tae couldn't say the same because he was all too aware that the middle brother would be returning to Busan and possibly reporting back to Nuri... he couldn't trust that that wouldn't be the case.
He was ploughing through his emails when Jungkook arrived in the kitchen, looking every bit like the model that the dancer repeatedly says that Tae looks like. "I need an alarm fitted in the new house so I get a warning when my sexy husband walks into a room."
Jungkook swallows but laughs and shakes his head at the same time as his cheeks turn a deep shade of pink. "Isn't that a bit extreme?" He says, then it registers what his husband said, "wait... what new house?"
"The one you are house hunting for."
Jungkook sighs with relief. For a split second he thought that perhaps this was one of Taehyung's surprises that he seemed to think was a good idea. The definition of 'surprise' to the CEO was a whole lot more extravagant and over the top than anyone else he knew... which wasn't strictly true because with hindsight, Jimin was much, much worse and Jungkook could quite safely say that he couldn't be in a relationship with Jimin or Yoongi because aside from the obvious reason that there was a lack of attraction, their 'gifts' and expenditure on each other made Jungkook's toes curl.
"I haven't found a new home yet." he dancer informs his husband. He had been looking but it wasn't a priority right now, unlike Tae who had decided that his sole purpose was to find them a holiday home to escape to and was constantly showing Jungkook photos or locations.
"I think I might've found our 'get-away' home." Tae says proudly.
Jungkook thinks back to their conversation a few days ago when his husband bombarded him with emails and texts about some villas that he'd found in various places from the Caribbean to the Bahamas to the South Pacific. "Was it one of the ones you sent me?"
"No..." Tae shakes his head, "... I found this one after sending you those."
"Are you going to send me the one you like? Or show me pictures? Where is it?"
"Would you be against the idea of it being a surprise once I've finalised everything?" Tae asks. He would love it to be a surprise even though he may have ulterior motives for requesting that it be kept as a surprise.
Jungkook mulls the question over. He'd expected something similar to the honeymoon house so the ones that he'd seen didn't necessarily surprise him as they were all huge villas with swimming pools, private beaches, too many bedrooms and some even had attached bungalows on the beach for guests. The dancer didn't appear as enthusiastic as Taehyung and he'd admitted that the properties themselves were lovely but he did feel slightly quirky about the whole situation, which was definitely magnified when he saw the costs involved. This was one of those situations where he knew that a ridiculous amount of money would be spent and that was largely because of the nature of what was being purchased. He could accept it and it was his husband's choice... and he knew that he would love it when they had somewhere to spend time together and escape the realms of reality... so he couldn't really complain and he knew that if he did, no one would see his point of view so it wasn't worth trying to.
"Is the one you want, similar to any that you've shown me?"
Tae nods, "Yes. The villa has seven suites and a pool. I thought that seven was a great number as if we had the family out there with us, we would need six suites... us, Billy and Marie, Sukmin, Heeju and Ash, My parents and Kyong, Jara and the boys. If the boys needed a room on their own, then we have seven." I thought it would be a good escape for Christmas one year?"
"Your logic is annoying..." Jungkook admits because his first reaction at 'seven suites' was despair at the size of the villa but then Tae explained his logic and as usual, it made sense. "... and Han-Shik and Emi could use the seventh room if the boys stay in with Kyong and Jara."
Tae wondered if Han-Shik would be mentioned. He didn't include him because the future was so uncertain, as far as he was concerned. "Indeed. That means that seven is as many rooms as we need. There is also staff accommodation and a bar. So... can I surprise you with it?"
"Is it really a surprise now that I know about it?"
"Kookie... please?"
"Yes, yes... you can surprise me."
"Okay. I'm hopefully going to finalise next week sometime and I have a few more things that need to be arranged before then and people I need to meet with... but once I have the documents signed and it is ours, I will surprise you."
"You'll surprise me with the thing that I know about?"
"Yes." He's hoping that semantics wouldn't be raised because on the face of things, he'd requested to reveal it as a surprise and so Jungkook did know about it. It wasn't a life changing situation so he'd followed the advice from his mother... he just had to steel himself as he was sure that his new husband will have a similar reaction to the one that he had when he met Heung-Min Son and he realised that Taehyung had ambiguously told him that he knew him.
"I look forward to seeing the photos then and finding out more about our new holiday home." As far as he was concerned, the holiday home would be lavish and on a grand scale because he'd given his husband free reign and the last time that happened, Taehyung booked them a honeymoon on a deserted island.
But... he could hardly complain about the kind of villa that would soon be his... he adored his husband and when Jungkook decided to propose, he signed up for a lifetime of eye rolls.
***
"I've already ordered you a coffee. I knew you'd be late." Jin says to his friend.
Namjoon hangs his jacket on the back of the white painted wooden chair. "If you were always on time, I would accept that criticism."
"You're the one who suggested lunch. What is so urgent?" Jin asks as the interior designer takes a seat at the small, square table.
"Does it have to be urgent?"
"What's going on? Don't tell me that you and P.J are having problems?"
Namjoon stands when their order is called out, picking up the receipt from the table. "We are good. It's your relationship we need to talk about."
Jin sits back in his chair and looks behind him where his friend is being handed two drinks on a tray. The model rolls his eyes to himself, he presumed that P.J had said something to Namjoon but from his point of view, their relationship was fine at surface level. He'd spoken to Tae about the situation and until he could make sense of his feelings, he didn't see what else there was to discuss.
"I'm not talking to you about my relationship so you can sit there and look at me like that all you like." The model states after a five minute spell of silence.
"Why not?"
"Maybe because you're in a relationship with a guy that is practically the brother of my boyfriend?"
"You think I'd tell P.J?"
"Isn't that why you're here?"
"No. P.J said something about you spending a lot of time at your apartment so I thought I'd see what's up? I know you, Jin. I don't really know Muyeol but I know that there's something going on with you. If it's not your relationship, what is it? Is the new agent fucking you about?"
"It's not work. Things are good with Muyeol... he's a great guy... the gossiping has stopped and the media shit storm has passed."
"Do you want me to tell you that I won't repeat any of this to my boyfriend?"
"You can say what you like."
"Jin, I'm here as your friend, not as the boyfriend of your boyfriend's best mate. You forget that we've seen you go through a lot so if there's something wrong, I want to hear it. Muyeol might be a good guy but that doesn't mean he's right for you and if he isn't then you are the priority. P.J's priority is different but that's something we have to agree that it won't cause issues for us. You know what Moo and P.J are like when they get together. They put you and Mochi to shame with the dramatics. I just want to know how much of it is overreaction?"
"If cohabiting makes you sound that sensible and mature, I think I'll steer clear of it, thank you."
"That's what it does to you when you have to have grown-up conversations about paying bills and stuff." Namjoon laughs, "Are you going to talk to me or not?"
"We are hardly the type of friendship group that has deep and meaningful conversations."
"Maybe we should be? Maybe if we'd been like that years ago, we would've spotted the warning signs before you ended up in hospital? And maybe, we wouldn't have had the bright idea to pay Jungkook off?"
Jin rolls his eyes again and takes a sip of his caramel macchiato made with hokkaido milk (one of his many quirks). "I honestly don't know what you want me to say? I'm in a great relationship with a man who is everything anyone could want. He's selfless, caring, kind, approachable, patient, sexy as hell, down to earth, affectionate and definitely one of the best fucks I've had. He's independent, opinionated and accepting of every flaw that I have."
Namjoon is perplexed, "So, what's the problem?"
"I am."
"You are a lot of people's problem... are you going to give me some more details or not?"
"Have you been spending time with Mochi because you really sound like him."
"I saw him briefly yesterday. I've got this bizarre contract where an artist has just bought a property she's renovating and wants my input but she wants to have her wardrobe styled as well as her house. Lucky for her, I happen to know a willing fashion expert. Don't change the subject... why are you the problem? Aside from the obvious."
"Because I don't know if I want all of that. The next step is to declare our love for each other and move in together and I get this instant rush of anxiety just thinking about it. It all feels very serious..." the model shrugs his shoulders, "... and I don't know if I want that."
"What did you think you were doing when you agreed to be in an exclusive relationship with Muyeol? You aren't a stupid guy, Jin. You thought he was poor when you met him and I understood that battle but this? You don't know if you want to be with a really great guy who could give you everything you've ever wanted? Would you rather he was more of an arsehole like your exes?"
"And you don't think there's a level of comfort in those situations?"
"What situations? Being with arseholes?"
"Yes! Between the chef and Muyeol, I've spent my time bed-hopping and I've lost count of the number of guys I've slept with. They knew what they were getting and so did I. No one expects any more of me outside of my ability to make them cum."
"If you prefer to sleep around, why get into a relationship with Muyeol?"
"Because at the time, it wasn't serious. I didn't honestly think it would last... he was a poor guy, or so I thought. Then I found out who he was and we had some points to prove and we had to stand up for our relationship. Think about everything I just told you about him... who wouldn't want a relationship with him?"
"Has something happened like the time you told me that you panicked? Is this a reaction to something that stems from your past relationships?"
"This isn't like that time Muyeol asked me if I should be eating those truffles. My digestive system isn't the concern."
"What's changed? You were literally in Paris last month?"
"I think my feelings changed."
"In what way? You both seemed okay at his place."
"I will tell you exactly what I told Tae... I don't know if I want to be in love. Things were going well, why did it have to change?"
Namjoon places his cup down as he realises what the model had just said. "Being in love is meant to be a good thing?"
"I've got enough evidence to prove otherwise. I've been happy for years without it."
"Are you unhappy with Moo?"
"I don't know."
Namjoon rubs his forehead with his fingertips, "What did Tae say?"
"That I should speak to Muyeol."
"Great advice but I'm assuming that you haven't done that?"
"No. I want to decide what I want first."
The interior designer thinks his friend is crazy but he's known him long enough to understand that for Jin, love didn't equal positivity. Jin's stance on love was altered when the first man he genuinely loved used it to control him and reduce him to someone frail and admitted to hospital. That period in his life shaped him, along with his career that placed emphasis on appearance and the opinions and expectations of others, It was quite obvious to him that Jin had shown genuine happiness and had relaxed considerably since meeting the photographer but maybe Jin was more content in a casual situation? Who says that relationships are for everyone?
What Namjoon doesn't want is for his friend to lose Muyeol because of fear and that's what he tells him. He just hopes that Jin can work it out and talk to Muyeol before it's too late.