Arranged✔️ | Ji Changmin

8 - New Step

JI CHANGMIN

it had been slightly more than a month since the wedding. all this while, i was content with everything i had. i had a stable career, a decent house and most importantly - a loved one to go home to. my eyes glanced to my side and i noticed chaewon dozing off in the passenger seat. poor chaewon, she must have been exhausted from handling the kids in school. i frowned at the thought and reached out with my free hand to caress her hair. it was our biweekly visit to our parents and this week's destination was the chois' house. pulling up in the drive way of the choi's residence, i paused for a bit as i observed my sleeping wife. she looked too peaceful that i felt bad to even wake her up. stepping out of the car, i grabbed the gifts from the back of the car before ringing the doorbell. i was greeted by my mother-in-law who welcomed me with open arms.

"hello, dear! oh my, you didn't have to bring gifts!" she embraced me almost instantly.

"yah choi chaewon! even after marriage you're still sleeping everywhere!" i heard chanhee greet his sister, who was still asleep in my car. shortly after, chaewon had stepped inside her house looking for her mother. i let her be as i made myself comfortable on the sofa. choi chanhee plopped himself next to me as he leant closer. "have yall slept in the same bed?" the first thing he asked as soon as i visited.

"you're her brother," i looked at him in disbelief. why would he ask that question? i thought to myself as i felt my ears turned red from embarrassment.

"so? you're her husband," chanhee shrugged.

"stop putting weird ideas into changmin's head!" chaewon smacked the back of chanhee's head after she set the tray of iced tea on the coffee table. i chuckled at the two siblings, before engaging in a conversation with mrs choi. she seemed so joyful that we came to visit. i was glad that she welcomed me into the family quickly but i also felt bad that i had not visited sooner. it was a great time spending the day with my in-laws and we even had dinner together after mr choi reached home from work. it felt nice to have another set of family who treated you as their own.

goodbyes were always sad especially if it was my wife saying goodbye to her family. i shook my head at her, stifling a laugh at how she clung onto her family members. "can't i stay here?" chaewon pleaded. "choi chaewon, you have a husband! now go!" chanhee pushed her lightly towards me which had sent her flying straight into my arms. "we'll visit again soon," i bowed but i was pulled into a bear hug by all of the chois. the gesture had warmed my heart so much. i knew that i had married into the right family.

-

the ride home was quiet. besides, we had used up all our energy enjoying our time with chaewon's family. there had never been a dull moment after we got married. even when it was quiet, it was the comfortable and peaceful silence that we both liked. it was 9pm when i finally halted the car. "we're home~" chaewon cooed as she stepped into the house, holding lighter bags filled with home-made food from mrs choi. i trailed right behind her with the heavier bags.

"i think this can last for a month," chaewon giggled. she was probably happy that we did not have to cook much since the amount of frozen food we received were sufficient. i flashed a smile at the shorter girl in front of me when she stood on her tippy toes, attempting to put the container at the top shelf. towering above her, our hands grazed one another lightly as i pushed the container onto the shelf. "thank you," her voice was quiet as she ducked under my arm and scurried into her room.

-

by 10pm, both of us were ready to go to bed. i decided that i would go see chaewon in her room before i rest. knocking on her door lightly, her sweet voice called out to come inside. she was seated at her dressing table in her pajamas, putting on some kind of skincare products on her face with an adorable headband on her head to sweep her fringe back. the sight made me chuckle as i leant against her door frame. "are you sleeping now?" chaewon asked, looking at me through the mirror. "sort of, i figured i should say goodnight to you first," i shrugged. i swore i could have seen a frown on her face. "alright," she said, a hint of dejection could be heard. i paused for a while, unsure if i should really return to my room.

"actually," chaewon started, she turned to face me," can you stay here tonight?"

just that one question made me feel this fluttering sensations. i gave her a small smile and nodded, returning to my room to switch off the lights and fan before coming into her room and climbing into her bed. it felt strange for a little while. we laid down on the extreme ends with a huge space in between us. for a few moment, only our nervous breathing and the air conditioner could be heard in the room.

"chaewon," i called out to her. i started to recall how she wanted to stay with her family earlier. "hm?" she replied.

"are you happy with me?" i asked, my eyes shifted all around her room, anxious that i had thrown out a risky question.

"i'm beyond happy with you, changmin," chaewon had answered that immediately and it successfully calmed my heart down from all the negative thoughts i had.

"changmin," she called out and i almost hit myself for answering too quickly.

"can you hold me?" her question left me stunned. she was asking me to hug her - how do i react to this? "can you.. hug me, changmin?" chaewon had spunned around to face me. i nodded briefly. scooting closer, chaewon had placed her head onto my arm, snaking her arms around my waist and she buried her face into my chest. i hesitated before placing my other arm around her, patting and rubbing small circles on her back. "thank you, changmin. i hope we'd be happy always," chaewon muttered softly and soon, her soft snores were heard making me smile at her sleeping self.

i hope so too, chaewon - we'll be happy until the end.