JuminMC Week: Day 4
Prompt: Jealousy/Insecurities
In general, Jumin’s wife is a rather self-confident woman. She is soft-spoken, and quiet, but one must have a certain level of self-confidence in order to survive a marriage with the intense Jumin Han. She knows who she is and how to work around her husband’s occasionally overzealous nature. She may be gentle and sweet, but she is not a small person.
However, in spite of all that, Jumin’s wife still has her moments. After all, her husband has quite a few female aquaintances.
Assistant Kang, she knows she can trust her life with. Jaehee is loyal to Jumin, wanting nothing but the best for her boss, and his wife is definitely the best. Their marriage is safe in the hands of Assistant Kang. So, it is not Jaehee that Jumin’s wife worries about, but the parade of beautiful, rich, and famous women that Jumin constantly meets.
It isn’t every woman that she wonders about. She knows her husband; she knows that she is the only woman that he has ever had eyes for.
…only living woman, anyway.
But sometimes, Jumin will meet a lady who does charity work. Sometimes, Jumin will smile unusually warmly at a blonde woman. Sometimes, his laughter sounds more than polite.
Assistant Kang will assure her that Jumin’s warmth and sincerity is nothing more than friendliness. Friendliness that his wife taught him.
And yet, sometimes, Jumin will turn around to see his wife’s eyes all but glow with insecurity.
She never says anything. That isn’t her way. She tends to keep such feelings to herself. She never wants to burden her tangled husband with emotions that she knows will fade and pass with time.
That does not change the fact that Jumin sees her heartache.
So, as soon as they are alone, Jumin pulls her into his arms.
He holds her close, cradling his most beloved against his heart.
“I trust you. You can trust me,” he will murmur, stroking her hair.
And like magic, her eyes clear and she smiles at him. Because beyond her flawed confidence, she believes in her husband. So, she trusts him, and her heart is light, again.
And she never forgets that there is one particular thread in his mind that she is still untangling.
Jihyun Kim tends to spend more time with Jumin’s wife, than Jumin himself.
Before the wedding, while the young CEO worked, Jihyun helped Jumin’s fiancee plan their wedding.
After their honeymoon, young Mr. and Mrs. Han came home. Someone managed to convince the young photographer to go through with his eye operation. And it was not Jumin Han.
Working from home, Jihyun’s professional hours are much more flexible than that of a businessman. Often, Jihyun will call upon the Han household for personal visits.
They were good friends from the beginning, naturally getting along with each other. Jihyun likes her innocence, and her genuine trust and goodness. These are all things that Jihyun admires and values in a woman.
Jumin knows that these were the things V loved most about Rika.
As much as possible, Jumin tries to ignore the negative feelings that arise with these observations. He’s had plenty of experience with such practices before. Surely, he can repress even more emotions.
But one day, Jumin all but chased V out of their home.
He had come home to find the two of them sitting in the living room, laughing over wine. It was reminiscent of a scene that Jumin was quite accustomed to walking in on.
And there was a warmth in Jihyun’s eyes that Jumin could not ignore.
Once upon a time, the girl had chosen the artist over the businessman.
Something in Jumin knotted tight.
Once upon a time, the businessman was left alone.
There was a glass dropping.
Raised voices.
A door slamming.
And before he knew it, Jumin had thrown his oldest friend out of his home.
He stood with his back to the front door, panting slightly, throat sore.
What had he done? Had he really just done that?
He was made aware that his wife was standing before him. She was silent, but watching. He couldn’t meet her gaze, at first. He knew what he did was shameful. And he felt so very exposed. Losing control was not like him.
First, he regathered his composure. He could not lose his temper with her. Not ever. The damages would be too great.
With some chagrin, he realized that he could stand to lose Jihyun, but not her.
Cautiously, Jumin’s gaze lifted to meet hers.
She was looking at him with reproach in her eyes.
He glanced away as if burned. Shame corroded his skin. He had done a very bad thing. And for a very small-souled reason.
However, as usual, she was too good to him.
Rather than scold him, Jumin’s wife took his face in her hands, gently drawing him down to her level. Tenderly, she rested his forehead against hers.
“I trust you. You can trust me,” she soothed, softly touching his face.
Jumin’s heart clenched. He knew he did not deserve this. But one of the knots in his head loosened.
By way of replying, Jumin wrapped his arms around his wife, holding her against his chest.
She was right. She was always right.
He would have to apologize to Jihyun in the morning.
-fin-