K.H
"Right, like I'm just supposed to believe that," I said as I completely shifted my attention to her.
"How am I supposed to believe that, there are so many reasons for me to doubt your intentions," I said with a different anger, an anger I have been holding back for a while.
"First you made me feel like a thorn in Jungkook's side back in college, Secondly, you send me very vulgar messages every time you and Jungkook have a lover's quarrel, blaming me for problems that are happening between you," I said with a tone growing louder.
Telling her off honestly felt cathartic. It felt good but I was far from done.
"Lastly, you invited me to your wedding when we're not even friends, we're barely even acquaintances," I added, "So do, pray tell, reveal to me your actual intentions when you should really be complaining about how your husband is not joining you for your honeymoon."
I thought I had her all figured out. I presumed she would have dissolved into a scowl at this point but instead she just gave me a look filled with regret.
She deeply sighed as if she had something she wanted to say for a long time but couldn't bring herself to say anything.
"I.....," she said but it was clear she was nervous. She looked at Jungkook and sought for solace. He gave her a reassuring nod and she took another deep breath.
"Haewon....you have every right to hate me......I've been selfish, I've been rude, and I've been especially harsh on you but....," she said as she closed her eyes to steel her nerves.
Eventually she opened her eyes and said, "Recent events have put me in a different perspective and there's no point bringing about our frustrations in our relationships because that's not going to save anyone....and for the record, I didn't want a honeymoon because I wanted to get right back at work."
"I...suppose your right but...don't you have a degree in foreign affairs?," I questioned and she just chuckled and said, "Well, it is very clear that we're barely even acquaintances, I have a double degree, you already know my first, my second one is in molecular medicine."
"Oh....well...ummm," I said but really, the whole situation was awkward.
Then suddenly my stomach grumbled and I realized that time has passed to the point that I could really use a late breakfast to replenish.
"I guess that's a cue for breakfast?," Lisa asked and I nodded in agreement to which she added, "Don't worry, the bill is on me, consider it part of my apology tour.....oh and Jimin you should join us, you are their doctor after all."
He nodded and I said, "You guys go on ahead and wait for me in the lobby...I'll just have a word with my husband."
All three of them nodded and left the room. I turned to look at Eunwoo but I really couldn't read the expression on his face.
But I didn't want to waste time trying to play a guessing game. Despite my better judgement I asked him, "Do you think I love you because I have to?"
"Well....from how I see it...Yes," he said without hesitation and my heart sunk with his response.
"Well.....I see that taking my feelings for granted has become a part of you now hasn't it?," I said and his eyes widened as if I insulted him.
"Oh don't take this as an insult, it's really shallow of you to think that my feelings are fake, if it really were I would have divorced you before our marriage even lasted a year," I said and somehow, despite my doubts, he understood what I meant. I saw it in his expression.
"And if you're wondering, yes, I am furious at you, I really want you to choke on your hospital food and just die in your bed filled with regret with what you've done........," I said but I pursed my lips to stop myself from going too far.
"But somehow, even when you betrayed me and put our son's life at risk, I still want you to get better," I asseverated like it was a truth set in stone, "I hope this makes you realize how true my feelings for you are."
"Haewon I......I'm sorry," he was barely able to croak out, it was clear that he was being consumed by his guilt.
"Your apology will mean nothing if Hajoon doesn't wake up," I said as I left him to his own struggles.
I hastily made my way to the lobby and saw the three of them deep in cheerful conversation. Once they noticed I was there, the laughter died down as if they didn't want me to feel left out.
I shook my head and said, "Don't hold back on my expense, and besides, it's good to hear laughter."
Jimin gave me a once-over and said, "You know what, now that I've been able to really get a good look, I just noticed that this is the first time wearing a flannel shirt and skinny jeans."
"You truly are embodying the simple mom get-up," Lisa casually said and I raised my brow at her, unsure if that was supposed to be an insult or a compliment.
My dead-pan stare made her cough nervously and say, "That was supposed to be a compliment, like you matured and really became an adult."
"Right....look, don't take it personally if I don't know how to react to what you say," I explained, "I just take words from people with a grain of salt especially when I'm not that acquainted with them."
"That's totally understandable," she said as we walked out of the hospital then she continued to say, "There's a nice breakfast place just down the road....It's been around for a while so I thought it might be familiar to you."
She pointed and I audibly gasped. I never thought I'd be hit with a wave of nostalgia again but it seemed like life had its surprises.
Jungkook shared the same shocked look and Jimin furrowed his brows then said, "Ummm???? It's a regular breakfast place??? Unless Girl's Generation was standing right in front of it, I have every right to question why you look so shocked."
To my surprise Jungkook and I simultaneously said,
"Appa used to take me here."
"Ahjussi used to take me here."
Then we both looked at each other, bewildered, like we were recounting the same memory.
"I'm so sorry Haewon if it hurts too much to go there-," Jimin said but I shook my head and said, "The thought of him used to bring me pain but now his memory is somewhat of a happy thing, and besides I'm starving."
"Jungkook...who is this Ahjussi?," Lisa asked and he plainly said, "Haewon's father once worked as my driver, and caretaker.....well, he was a lot of things but he was someone I highly respected and I still respect to this day."
Moved by Jungkook's words, I couldn't help but say, "Thank you....Jungkook, Appa would be thrilled to hear that if he was still here.........now enough with the sentiments! Let's get some breakfast."
L.M
I watched as the dynamic between Haewon and Jungkook unfolded.
As much as I wanted to just deny that there was a hidden chemistry between them because I married Jungkook, I would be burdening myself with another thing.
Conversations between them, no matter how much history there has been between them.......conversations just seemed to flow out naturally.
Maybe that was the reason why it was so natural. It was because of their history.
It was because even if they were not necessarily romantically involved the whole time, they at least knew what the other was going through.
Looking at them makes me feel like the wedding ring on my finger was a sham.
I watched as they perfectly melded into another conversation.
"Remember when my dad used to get so mad at you every time you stole his sunny side up egg from his kimchi bokkeum bap," she said and a happy wash of realization came upon Jungkook's face as he recalled the memory.
He lightly chuckled then said, "Ahjussi was always so dramatic, his kimchi bokkeum bap always had two eggs on it, he can survive without one!"
"Yeah right! Just admit it! You are insatiable when it comes to food," she teased making Jungkook roll his eyes.
"You even stole my order of tteokbokki-," Haewon said but the delighted look on her face faded quickly making Jimin ask, "Hey....what's wrong?"
"Sorry.....umm, it's just that my son really likes tteokbokki, he used to never shut up about it," she said dejectingly and despite it feeling unnatural, I patted her back in an attempt to comfort her.
"And with that, I think we should think about how we're going to get this cure, obviously we have a team of researchers actually but my worry is more on the equipment and resources," Jungkook said in an attempt to swerve the topic into a different note.
An idea popped in my head and I said, "Actually, there's a lab in London that we can for sure use......I have an associate there who owes me a favor so I suggest we get a flight tomorrow night, with the assurance that our assistants can handle things while we're away-"
"What?! No! We can't just leave," Haewon said with a frantic look on her face.
"If this is about your company I'm sure you can still contact your assistant we have phones for a reason-," I said, with an assumption that she was worried about leaving her job.
"What?! No Lisa, I know Jennie is capable...I just can't bring to leave my son......nor Eunwoo even if all I wanna do right now is slap him in the face," she explained and I nodded then said, "I'm sorry about assuming."
I then watched as Jimin put a comforing hand on Haewon's shoulder then said, "Haewon, I'm not going anywhere, they're my patients, I'll keep an eye on them and I'll text you updates."
I couldn't help but be curious about the kind of endearment Jimin gives Haewon. If I didn't know any better, I would've thought that Jimin probably had a soft spot for Haewon like he admired her a lot.
But that seemed like a topic that's not that important with present matters. I watched as she gave Jimin her nod of approval.
A gesture to tell him that she trusted him.
At the same time, I looked at Jungkook to see how he would react and not much to my surprise, he was jealous at the comfortable proximity Haewon seemed to have with Jimin.
To a normal spectator it would've looked like he was calm but I knew Jungkook and I knew how to tell if there was something off with him.
He always had the habit of slightly tilting his head or biting his inner cheek if something didn't go the way he wanted.
I used to get so mad at Haewon for having this control over Jungkook which prevents him from reciprocating my feelings but now I just don't know how to feel.
Blaming it on Haewon is like beating a dead horse.
It really hurts if I'm being honest. I didn't even know what I was thinking when I decided to help Haewon.
But I'm not going to back out.
Maybe my anger towards her before was a way to keep me in denial.
I looked at Jungkook and saw the way he stared at Haewon.
He's known her for years yet he looks at her like he's never seen anyone like her before.
Jungkook and I never quarel about living together. In fact, we worked well together. The only time we ever quarel is when I bring up Haewon and it always seems to strike a nerve.
Maybe my anger was a way to keep me away from the truth I already knew deep down in my heart.
I may be what he needs, but I am not the one he loves.