☁️ ☁️

i sobbed my heart out as soon as i got out, kept walking aimlessly. i really don't have much time to care what people think.

i wiped away the tears.

doo-jool, you shouldn't be crying like this even before you're born. since you haven't been born yet, you can't know this, but...crying doesn't change anything.

i still clearly remember what happened that day. twenty years ago. i was sobbing like i was today.

"cut it out! can't you see the kid's crying?" my dad shouted to my mom.

"oh, please! when have you even shown interest in our daughter?!" my mom yelled, giving him the same energy.

"i'm telling you to stop in front of her!"

"you have no right to say that to me!"

i was trembling and did not know what to do other than crying and covering my ears. what should a seven years old girl do when she saw her parents were having a hard time?

crying only makes things worse.

i took care of myself all those years, so why do i feel upset right now?

i must have been leaning on jungkook more than i thought.

i rubbed my eyes. i thought he would follow me...but i guess he's still at home with tzuyu.

i looked down to my feet. ha, i ran out in my house slippers.

i sighed, feeling a lot better and calmer than before.

but...uh...where am i?

i looked around, this alley is very quiet and dark. did i walk around too aimlessly?

i rummaged my pocket, searching for something. where's my cellpho-

i froze. this is the real panic of a directionally challenged woman.

i don't have it. i don't have my phone or my wallet.

oh no...i ran out without my purse!

ah, i think i passed a convenience store earlier. maybe i can ask to borrow a phone there.

i froze once again as soon as i heard footsteps.

what's that? is he or she the person just passing by? are they coming this way? what do i do?

i should head back, b-but i can't seem to move my feet. i was too anxious to move and i was trembling in this position. my heart is beating so fast.

i braved myself and turned back just to see a man was trying to reach for me! and i was surprised when i saw jungkook trying to push away the man's attempt to touch me.

wait, jungkook?!

"wh-who are you?!" the man asked jungkook furiously.

"why are you trying to put hands on my woman?!" jungkook shouted, panting heavily.

jungkook held the man's shoulder to prevent him from escaping.

the man looked dumbfounded, "your woman? do you two know each other? she was crying and looked like she was lost, so i was just trying to help. let go of me!"

the thing is, i just couldn't stop these tears as soon as i saw jungkook. what is wrong with me?

"chaeyoung! are you all r-" jungkook let go of that man and walked towards me.

i cried harder, covering my face using both of my hands.

jungkook became speechless.

"um, are you sure you know him, miss? do you want me to call the cops?" the anonymous man asked me after i cried even harder.

i shook my head, still crying.

"we're married. does that answer your question?" jungkook glared at the man.

"y-you should treat your wife better. with your looks, i would've thought you'd have better things to do than make your wife cry. a pretty wife like that...i would've treated her like a princess." the man casually said.

jungkook shoot him with a glare once again, making the other man quickly walked away and threatened to call the police.

i wiped away the tears.

now it's just the two of us.

"i think that man is calling the police." i said, sniffling.

jungkook sighed.

"yes, it looks like i'll be arrested for making my wife cry. before i get arrested, can you please hug me?"

i looked at him weirdly, "huh?"

"i almost died of worry at the thought of not being able to find you. my legs feel unsteady and my hands are shaking. i feel out of my mind. so please...hug me, chaeyoung."

it took a few seconds for me to process what he's been talking about.

he's sweating.

did he run around looking for me?

i slowly walked towards him and gave him the warmest hug. he hugged me back, secure and comfy.

"i'm so relieved...i'm sorry...it's my fault for hearing that she had recovering and believing it." he said.

"what do you mean?"

-

☁️ ☁️

chou tzuyu.

before she went to france, she was overly interested in me. it got to the point where anyone couldn't even call it interest anymore. my lawyers even filed a suit. it turns out that tzuyu's father was my high school teacher.

i still remember how mr. chou knelt in front of me, pleading for his daughter.

"she's my only daughter. please have mercy..."

that was five years ago.

when i saw her at the wedding, i gave her father a call. but he assured me that i didn't have anything to worry about, that she had recovered well and have received a special treatment while she was in france.

i let go of the hug and softly held chaeyoung's shoulder.

"it's my fault for taking his words at face value. i'm sorry that she must've given you quite a scare. i'll make sure nothing like that ever happens again." i said, looking at her lovingly.

"was it hard for you?"

i was stunned for a while. her face looked so worried about my well-being.

i gave her a soft smile, pulling her back into a warm hug.

"well, it was a bit stressful. i don't think anything can be more painful than matters of the heart."

"agreed."

i landed a kiss on her forehead. how grateful i am to have her as my wife.

"let's go home, chaeyoung."

"no."

-

☁️ ☁️

"i don't want to go back...i think i'll throw up because of the smell. i just..." i lowered my head.

am i too much?

i don't want to go home just because of the unpleasant pasta smell.

"then, let's just stay at a hotel tonight. if you don't want to go back, then i don't want to go back. all i want is to be with you anyway." jungkook said.

the last sentence is making me blush...hardly!

"i think we'll have to walk a bit. will you be all right? do you want me to carry you?" he asked.

"i-i'm fine!"

what am i doing? why am i even stutter in front of him?

my heart is beating so fast.

"then let's get you a proper pair of shoes on the way. shall we go?"

jungkook held out his hand for me. but i hugged him arm instead, making him freeze for a moment.

i am shy, but still...i really want to do this!

just this time, please.

we started to walk.

"are you still worried i might get arrested?" he teased.

"no. well, i just...don't want anything troublesome to happen. aren't you cold? where is your coat?" i said, changing the subject.

i'm even too shy to look at his face.

it's true, the weather at night is very cold. but here's jungkook, only wearing his thin work shirt.

"my heart is so warm that i can't feel the chill."

"jungkook..."

same goes to my beloved husband here, he sure likes to tease people.