Garden Days

Affliction

*Jin*

He felt conflicted. On one hand, Irene and Sehun were too close for his liking but he didn't want to be the villain and separate them. He'd been the bad guy long enough. On the other, they had made it difficult with their sneaking around and lies. He wanted to be happy too but how when he was on edge all the time? Looking to the empty spot beside him, Jin let out an exasperated sigh and hugged one of the decorative pillows. Maybe he should just forget the whole thing.
A knock at the door made him roll over and wonder in anticipation. "Irene?"
"Fortunately not." It was her father. This announcement made him bolt for the door to greet his soon-to-be father-in-law. Why was he here? Since Jin's return, the man had made only one appearance- six days ago to be precise, to observe how he was doing.
"Sir..."
"Don't be disappointed."
"I... It's...unexpected." He stepped aside as Ji-cheol entered and seated himself on the bed, staring expectantly at the younger. On cue, the latter closed the door and stood obediently before the man.
"My wife was not much different from Joo-hyun."
"Excuse me?"
"She was...more open about it, actually." He was musing about the past, a dreamy look on his face. "There wasn't a night she'd spare to parade one of her affairs around the house for everyone to witness in one way or another. And no matter how I loved or begged, she never stayed."
Seok-jin bowed his head. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be." A pause. "I heard what you plan to do about Sehun and you don't have to worry."
"I...don't?" Something felt very wrong in Ji-cheol doing the work for him. "Shouldn't I be the one to-?"
"With your past, I knew you'd make the wrong decision." A smile was plastered on his face, one that said not to question.
In their short time of knowing one another, Jin found it quite hard to believe that Irene would run around with other men. From what she had shown, secrecy was her top priority; company was special and reserved. The only man she knew prior was Sehun and that was...complicated. Taking a quick glance away from the gentleman sitting, he wondered how trustworthy these statements were. However, they had to be more reliable than his own knowledge of Joo-Hyun.
"I know you think I'm making this up and I understand, but please believe when I say trust me."
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He didn't go looking but still, they crossed paths. It was inevitable living in the same house. He was so nervous and curious to see how well she was doing that he'd become frightened to approach her. They met on the stairs- he was going up, she was headed down- the coincidence stopping them in their tracks. She looked exhausted and angst-ridden. Her eyes were bloodshot and wet, widening at the sight of him. Jin didn't know how to react. Had he caused this? If so, he wished he could take back his request.
"You...is this my fault?"
Irene's eyes shot to the floor below. "No." They fell quiet a few moments before she tried to move around and continue her descent.
Jin spun around to watch her go. "If I knew it would cause you this much pain, I wouldn't have-."
"I was an idiot. I never should have told-." She stopped. "I wanted him but not for the reason you think. I thought...he could offer me everything. I mean, he'd been my friend for so long, I dared to think we could be something, even when I'm promised to someone else."
Was Jin the obstacle in making Irene happy? It wasn't meant to be like this. What was he supposed to do? Ji-cheol's words suddenly rung through his head and he took a step back, even more unsure. "Let me fix this."
"Let you?" She turned, distraught and trembling. "I don't...think you can."
"Yes, I can."
"How? You're not the one who-!" She went quiet. A calmness settled over her and she spoke again, clearer and more direct. "Listen to me. I know what I'm talking about and...you can't-. No one can undo what's been done." He was stunned into confusion and forced to watch as she finished her descent down the stairs, movements restrained and body shaking. What had he done?
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Apologies for such a late chapter. I said I would post this a couple weeks ago but I never got around to it. Like, every time I open this app, I feel exhausted for no reason.
Also, since things look so bleak, I'll try to upload sooner. I mean, I have ideas swirling in my head for it rn