“The saddest thing about love is that not only that it can not last forever, but that heartbreak is soon forgotten.” William Faulkner
"Aera, Jamie, hurry up. Your dad is running late," you shouted while battering the pancake in a bowl. Once the batter has become liquid, you pours into the sizzling pan, letting it sit until you see little holes popping out. You flipped it for a minute before placing it on a plate. You do the same thing with the rest of the batter.
"Morning," a soft, smooth, delicate voice spoke. Glimpsing over your shoulder, you glance at the moderate-height muscular man walking to the dining table, his black tuxedo suit embracing his lean figure entirely, his curly black hair displaying on his forehead, his plump lips pink as ever, his blue eye contact shining in the daylight that glimmer on him from the window side.
"Morning," you replied. He perches down on one of the chairs at the dining table. A light grin shafts on your face, it wasn’t because you felt happy about him being here, you just had to smile, it was the best way to avoid anything from him. This was a daily thing for both of y’all. Him says good morning, and you reply with a light smile. You wished it was different, but this was not those marriages.
"When are you arriving home today?" you popped a question, positioning the now freshly done pancakes on a plate along with egg and bacon. "Um… probably later. Why do you question?'' The corner of his eyes crinkled, your question seemed off, and you knew his schedule, not that he told you, you were simply given access to it by his father.. "Oh… my boss wants me to stay later and get some paperwork done," his eyes gleamed.
"Is he pestering you?" You quickly shake your head along with her hands and a light nervous chuckle escapes. Your boss was/is a friendly and kind man. He has never once troubled you. He was frightened to request you to stay late because he supposed he would be troubling you. Nonetheless, you knew why Jimin was inquiring. The thought of you and your boss working late didn't matter to him.
They just dislike each other with burning passion, especially Jimin. Yoongi says it because Jimin doesn't like cold-hearted people, not that your boss was cold-hearted, but that's how Jimin saw him. A * who he couldn’t stand. However you find that funny, though, because he's the duplicate of what he hates. When you started working for Namjoon, Jimin became even colder towards you. He barely spoke to you. He ignored your presence and the kids. It was his father who placed Jimin back in his place. Not that you told him or anything. But there was a maid that used to work for them and she would tell Jimin’s father. You fired her though, but Jimin still hated you. You knew why, but you couldn’t change it even if you wanted to.
"Mommy, Daddy," you veered to see two miniature figures rushing down the stairs. Both Aera and Jamie run toward their dad, with a smile radiating with a warm bright smile. It was as though they just saw him for the first time. "Daddy, are you picking us up today?" Ask Aera as Jimin picks her up and places her on his lap. He also picks Jamie and sits him on his lap. He plants a kiss on each of their cheeks. Aera chortle, she loves when her daddy did that to her. It reminded her that he loved her. Despite the way he acted towards her and her brother, she loved her father and would give anything for him to do the same thing.
"Daddy can't. But next time, I promise." Aera quivered her head; the smile that had lived on her face now twists into a scowled. This was one thing she didn’t understand about her father. He acted cold and distant even though he was near. She was in his arms but yet felt as though he was elsewhere. "You always say that, but never do it. Daddy," Aera wails as Jimin flashes you a glance, he doesn't know why he always looks at you whenever Aera acts like this.
You pressed your lips into a delicate line, shrugging your shoulders. He rolls his eyes. You expected that reaction from Jimin, he wasn’t that sweet man you meant at the bar. He wasn’t the man who you knew. This man was someone completely different, someone you never expected in a million years. But this was your punishment, for mating with someone you barely knew, only because he treated you with love, which you always wanted.
“Okay, tomorrow I will take you. And bring you back. And we will also drive for ice cream," Jimin kisses cheeks. This was the best thing to do, Aera loves his kisses, so he thought. "But daddy, I want you to pick us up today," she whimpers. Jimin sighs at the tiny figure that sat on his lap, he didn’t know what to do. He thought Aera would give up. He really wanted to go to work. He looked at you again, a light frustrated sigh came out, gazing at the little one on his lap. You smile sweetly and look at your baby.
"Aera, tomorrow Daddy will pick you up, okay?" She shakes her head.
"Mommy-."
"Aera, I said tomorrow." her mouth snarled shut as she saw your mother's face. You didn’t want to unleash that mommy, the one that put Aera in her place, but she left you with no choice but to do so. As much as you know that Aera is right, you don't want to argue with Jimin about this. He doesn’t even care about their health, at least that was how he made it seem. Jimin stares at Aera as she hides her face in palms, her action made his heart ache, he hates seeing his baby girl cry, he knew he cost this but he didn’t like the tone you gave her. He glanced up at you. "You don’t have to be hard on her; she is young."
"And you don’t have to be a * to her." He sneered at her reply. He hated the way you always reply with a snarky comment. He already hated your present. You ignore him and place the plates on the table. You could care less about how he felt. Both Aera and Jamie get off Jimin's lap and sit in their respective seats.
Jamie sat at the table quietly. He didn't say a word and observed the room. He watched how his dad sent deadly glances at you and how you just looked away with pain in your eyes. Then he saw his dad staring down at his phone smiling. He never really saw his father smile that brightly at anyone except his grandmother. It was a hard thing to see the man he called father smile like a fool. But here he is sitting across from him, the smile is bright and genuine, which makes Jamie suspicious, he pouts. This makes you uneasy. You knew Jamie was a reserved child, but this startled you.
"Jamie, are you okay?" You asked. Perking his head from his father's direction, he nods. He didn’t want you to worry about him. Jamie loves you more than he did with his father. You show him love and affection. You care for him like a true mother will. But you aren’t convinced, Jamie was someone who barely talked, he was quiet. He was your younger self, and you hated that. It was never something that you liked, especially because of the household you grew up in.
"Jamie, is anybody troubling you at school?" From the corner of your eyes, Aera instantly looks up from her meal and peeks anxiously at her brother, she doesn't know what is going on with him. He barely played with anyone, spoke to anyone, and cried most of the time. She wanted to tell you, but Jamie was afraid that you found out you already had enough on your plate. Butterflies enter your stomach, and this feeling makes you uneasy. It wasn’t good at all and you knew that. Aera only gazes at her brother with such expression when she is deeply concerned about him.
"Kids go in the car and wait for Daddy," you say. Aera and Jamie obey as they stride away to the car. You gape at your husband. Who is glancing at his phone with so much joy, smearing on his face. "Jimin, I think we need to go to Jamie's school," you interrupted. Jimin glances from his phone and scrutinizes your worried gaze. "Is something wrong?" His tone is insensitive and unconcerned, he really doesn’t care especially when it comes to you, he could care less, but he knew you never talk about yourself or tell him anything about yourself. Your sight dilates, as much as it hurts your pride to know that this man could care less, you put aside and say what you wish to say.
"Jimin… didn't you see Jamie? He doesn't seem well to me. He wasn't even feasting and kept playing with his food." Jimin scans the meal that Jamie is eating and notices that nothing was touched, unlike Aera's meal, it concerns him a little, after all it’s his son, but he doesn’t want you to know that. "So, what do you suggest I do?" You take a deep breath. "We," you correct.
You want to know why your son was not talking lately; he has been avoiding everyone. He is just six; you are worried that there is something happening that you're not aware of. What if he's getting bullied? You shake your thoughts away and glimpse at Jimin. He is staring at his phone once again. From the corner of his mouth, you see a twitch, like a light, genuine grin. What could he possibly be smiling at in this situation? You glower at him suspiciously.
"That we visit the school and speak to his teachers or principal." Jimin immediately put his phone away when he heard your voice, being quite startled by it. "When do you want us to go?" he asks. "Tomorrow, I don't have work." Taking the plates from the table, you set them in the sink.
"Okay… I'll have to take off work," he says, he doesn't mean it, but if that helps you sleep at night he doesn’t mind lying. He rises up, grabs his belongings, and walks out. You pursued behind him, not to see him off but the kids, you wanted to make sure they were secured and safe, you couldn’t trust Jimin. You stood next to the car, supervising the kids as they buckled in.
Jimin, who sits in the driver's seat, gazes at you, who is standing next to the car. Even though he doesn't see you in that way and would never, he somewhat admires the person you are. Primarily towards the kids. You are a tremendous mother, his mother was never like that, she didn't give him this. "Bye, kids," you wave. They wave back smiling and blowing kisses towards you, you giggle, they were your joy, the reason you are in this situation, you wanted to leave but Jamie and Aera wanted to be with their father. They loved him. The car drives out of the parking lot and vanishes into the distance. You wander back into the house and start to prepare yourself for work.
☆
After dropping the kids off, Jimin goes directly to work, he was dying to see her, the only person which his heart accepted and cared for. As he enters his office, he catches the sight of a figurehead pop from his chair. He's frightened at first, thinking it’s his father, but after taking a glance at the person in the seat he rolls his eyes. The man in the seat had thick eyebrows and eyelashes. His skin was smooth, as he smiled a box square smile appeared. He has beauty marks/moles. His lips are slightly plump and swollen, his lips are heart shaped cupid's bow. He has broad jawline, tall and a slimmer body that still holds some muscle
"Taehyung," he breathes slowly. The man behind the chairs veers around and begins to crack up, he loves whenever he does this to Jimin. Even though Jimin is vex, he smiles, seeing Taehyung's warm smile, something he cherishes about his friend, it was hard to also see Taehyung smile due to his break-up, but unlike him Taehyung didn’t hang on to something that already fell. He let it go, it was better then to hang on to it and get hurt. "Did you assume I was your father, huh?" Rolling his eyes furthermore, Jimin sits in the chair across from him.
Taehyung sits up in the chair; he slant onto the table, gazing at his buddy. He can see how gloomy Jimin is, he feels bad, he knows the cause of this, but he vows not to get entangled because of what had happened to the other guys for involving or speaking about this specific matter. He wishes for Jimin to figure it out on his own; he wants to help, but this is the best he can do. Standing up from the chair, Taehyung strolls to the exit, he had done enough and had work to do. If he stayed here he would get into something or talk about something that might hurt their friendship.
Jimin turns his back and examines his friend. "See you later," Taehyung says and vacates. Taking out his phone, Jimin scrolls through his contacts and finds a familiar number. Opening the chat menu, he messages something on it. He grins as he puts it down before standing up and ambling to his desk, where he sat comfortably skimming at his computer and the paperwork on his desktop.
《 》
You sprint down the hallway of your workplace. Surging to your boss's office, you were told that he wanted to see you. You fall out of puff as you hold the documents tightly, speeding toward his office. Once you get there, you knock on the office door, lingering for an answer. When you hear him articulate to come in, you open the door and walk in. Your boss Namjoon, sitting at his desk, perks up when he catches a glimpse of you rushing towards him, once again he flusters by you, he knows he should keep things professional but with you standing before him he couldn’t help but smile.
"Are you alright, Mrs. Park?" he asks, his gaze slightly showing how worried he is about you, after seeing your panting form. He feels bad about hurrying you up. He wanted to see you so badly that he forgot about what he might make you do. You bop your head and niche the document on the table, those. "Here is the document you ordered," you indicate to the document on the table, a pile lay there. Stretching over, he grabs some of the documents and begins to scan through them, seeing if these were the right documents which he ordered for, he didn’t want to check the wrong on off, he knew you wouldn’t make a mistake, but as the leader and boss he needed to do his job. "Mrs. Park, are you staying later?" he examines you before scrutinizing back at the paper which he stroll through with his eyes.
"Yes, I will be staying," you answer. Your boss smiles; you grin back at him. "I expect your husband won't be incensed." You flutter your head, Jimin didn’t care, he wasn’t that type of husband and would ever care. Sometimes you feel jealous when you see other married couples. "No, he's not."
"That's wonderful," your boss says before positioning the paper down.
"I want you to gladly go through these documents and inspect for any errors." Your eyes widen as you gape at the bundle of documents on the table. These were a lot, you could barely read 1 book in a day or two, how would you be able to go through all of these without getting bored or tired. "Mr. Kim, this is plenty," you grouse. He chuckles, seeing your lips pout like a child, it sparks something in him, no woman or man has ever made him feel this before. "That's why I'm assisting you," he grins, his captivating dimples could be seen from the corner of his cheeks, one of the numerous things that you favor about your boss is his charming dimples, the one that guarantees you that he wasn't the cold-hearted, snobbish boss that everyone deem he is.
Standing up from his desk, he walks up to you. The distance between the two of you is now only a few hair's breadths. You skim up at him, witnessing his brown eyes browsing yours, trying to uncover a hint of defect for him, but sadly, there is none. He frowns. The way he towers over you makes you feel small. He is lofty; approximately 5'11, bulky, you heard that he works out a lot frequently.
"Mrs. Park, am I making you anxious?" he raises a question. You shake your head. It's not like you are agitated or anxious. No, you are surprised that you and your boss are standing this close. He has never been like this, not that he was cold or outlying towards you or anyone. No, it's just that he never crossed the periphery when it came to you and his relationship. It was a permanent boss and assistant, and it was unpredictable for you to see him behaving like this. Mr. Kim was a more keep-to-himself man, leader, and shy man.
He is a person who helps others, but when it comes down to him, he will keep it away from everyone; he doesn't want to be a burden to anyone. You only figure him out when you are paying attention to how he says things, completes things, and how determined he is about this job. You enjoy paying attention to the littlest detail, and that is what he loves about you.
Precise when the others didn't notice his new tattoo on his wrist, you did. To express, you never even saw him with a partner or anybody was an understatement. He wasn't the flirty type, you memorize when he was rumored to be with a famous idol or co-worker but the gossip was ludicrous and blathered on for a year before dying down. So this surprises you.
"Mr. Kim, I feel more awkward than I feel anxious about this. I'm a married woman. So we can't be like this," you express. He stares at you, glimpsing into your eyes it was beautiful just like you. Everything about you made his heart beat. He frowns and walks back to his desk. "Understandable," he licks his lips before sitting down in the chair and leaning back. He gazes at you once again before warding off his concentration to the stack of work on his desk.
"Thank you." He says nothing and takes some of the paper from the piles and darts through them. You seized some of the papers and carried them with you. You open the door and amble back to your office.
