𝑬𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍 | m.yg. ✓

열여덟 :: facade

Present

Park Jimin sighed as he gave the older male a gloomy look to show his concern and worry. It had been about an hour after the two friends entered a local bar, where consecutive open mic performances by a rock band were being sung.

The two weren't tipsy nor drunk but they had drank a few bottles of beer to kill their night off. However, the younger couldn't fail to notice the indifferent behavior of his friend, who had been staring far away into space.

"Yah, hyung." Jimin lifted his shot glass and nudged it in front of the older male's face in hoped to grab his attention. "Did you call me to watch you stare into nothingness while you ignore my presence?"

He tried his best to make his words sound cheerful and lively.

"No," the other simply replied.

He took his own shot glass then mindlessly clinked it to Jimin's then drank it. The latter could only blink in confusion as to why he had done that but he realized that he thought his intention was to clink their glasses together to cheer. So Jimin rolled his eyes before placing his glass down on the table, the appeal and energy of drinking no longer there.

After a few minutes of silence, Jimin couldn't handle the deafening silence between them any longer so he tapped the older male's arm a little bit hard just enough to catch his attention and make him look at him.

"Hyung, is there something wrong? You've been really quiet the whole time. I'm starting to think I'm not even supposed to be here." He let out a humorous scoff at the last sentence.

"No...no. It's nothing. Sorry, I've just been zoning out. Alot of things are in my mind, you know."

That was probably the longest thing he had said to Jimin and it made the latter crack a smile a bit at the progress.

"Well, why don't you talk to me about it? You know, I'm right here to listen to you, right? Now tell me what's on your mind." He scooted closer to him.

"This is different, Jimin." The other sighed, though he still showed his appreciation towards the younger's concern. "I should solve this myself."

"How so?" He insisted. "Is it too private that the duration of our friendship can't match it?"

Though he had no intentions to make his words sound bitter, the older male frowned.

"It's not like that." He forced out a small smile.

"Okay, but it's about a girl, right?" Jimin wiggled his eyebrows at him. "I can't think of any other reason other than work and a girl. So which one is it?"

"Yeah, you're right." A small gummy smile formed on his lips. "Sorry that I'm only telling you now but I'm married."

Jimin's jaw dropped to the floor.

"And she's the most bitter sweetest thing that happened to me."

•  •  •

"So, Bora," Taehyung began while he chewed on his steak. "Are we gonna waste our time and money on this fancy restaurant or are you gonna speak up?"

The mentioned female shrugged, avoiding the gaze of the rich man as she occupied herself into eating her pasta. Kim Taehyung was beginning to lose his patience, so despite of being hungry and loving the taste and aroma of his dish, he opted to abandon his food, placing the two utensils back on the plate before leaning forward.

"Are you really not gonna tell me the real reason you're paying me to reject every single story she's writing?" He sighed. "You know, it was fine, until I came to know that she's actually your sister."

"She's not who you think she is. That's her facade to appear pure and innocent," Bora abruptly replied whilst her eyes were fixed on her food.

"It doesn't seem that way. If you won't tell me the real reason you're doing this, I will stop treating her badly—"

"Oh please, Taehyung," the woman cut him off instantly. "You can't because the money you're earning is coming from me. Both from my books and my payments for you to continue rejecting her."

"But do you understand that any time now, she could move to another publishing company?" Taehyung questioned her, ignoring the money part because that was a different story.

"She won't." A sly smile made its way to her face.

"How do you say so?" He raised an eyebrow.

"She's completely head over heels her husband and I know that she would choose him over her career because after all, you're the only publishing company here, Taehyung."

•  •  •

Byeol continued to kick the small pebbles in hopes to ease her boredom. Yoongi was outside hanging out with a friend which left no choice for the girl to wait until he got home. She didn't want to appear the possessive, strict, and jealous wife to everyone especially him because he still had his own life.

His life didn't entirely revolved around her.

Luckily, their house had a garden where they could hang out sometimes and tend to their plants. But at the moment, Byeol was sipping a canned beer while still busying herself into kicking and counting the pebbles.

Once she got tired of it, she let out a deep breath before taking a long sip of the beer and making her way back to the wooden bench, positioning herself on it. The canned beer she was drinking was already empty so she put it aside, with the others she had already done drinking, on the wooden table before opening yet another can.

The sun that was shining brightly above earlier was already disappearing, indicating that it was around five in the afternoon already. Byeol didn't notice how long she had been drinking already.

She was about to set aside the thought of being unproductive all day when she heard a familiar engine of a car pulling up in front of her house, so with eyes wide open she grabbed her documents splayed across the table before dashing back in her house to keep them in her study room.

She felt the tipsiness in her actions but focused first in hiding away her papers. She let out a sigh of relief since she was on time before the door opened and the clinking of keys resonated throughout the house. Slowly, Byeol made her way downstairs and saw her husband slipping out of his shoes.

Byeol eagerly went down on the rest of the steps, catching Yoongi's attention. Before he could open his mouth and talk, she jumped on him, causing them to almost lose their balance.

"Hey, Byeol—"

"You're back!" Byeol exclaimed before letting him go. "How was your hangout with your friend?"

Yoongi blinked at his wife, weirded out by her behavior. Instead of responding to her question, he slowly leans his face closer towards her until their lips were only a few centimeters away from each other.

"Are you drunk?" He questioned.

Byeol tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear before letting out a short chuckle. "No, just a little bit tipsy."

"Were you drinking?"

Byeol swallowed before nodding slowly.

"Why?"

The girl did her best to stop the tears forming in the corners of her eyes to fall down, refusing to show weakness to Yoongi because of the soft tone of his voice.

Why does it hurt so much?