Decoupled • KTH : Book 1✔

Chapter 49

Taehyung

"So, Jang-Mi has agreed to having joint, shared child custody after your divorce. Let me take a moment to clearly explain what this means," Attorney Cha glances at us, and we nod in silence.

"Joint legal custody is where both the parents have equal rights in making decisions in important matters concerning the welfare of the child, and this includes education, health care, and activities outside school. You should arrive on a consensus that doesn't affect the child, however, in case of emergencies, a decision can be made independently, and later informed to the other parent. Is that clear?" He questions us, and we both answer him positively.

"Alright," he nods a little and continues. "So shared custody is where the child gets to spend equal time with either parent, unlike single parent custody with visitation rights for the parent without custody. This will be beneficial for the child in every aspect, giving her much deserved equal time with both parents. It is also beneficial for the parents who get quality time with the child, and also time for themselves when the child stays with the other parent," attorney Cha speaks in one stretch and exhales slowly.

"To start with, you can work out who will have the child for how long because we don't want the child to be too traumatized. But eventually, it should be equal time, and there are no hard and fast rules for this. It totally depends on the comfort level and mindset of the child. However, as per the papers, it is two weeks with each parent," he sends us a small smile and proceeds to talk again.

"And another modification to the original terms of separation is the child support plan. Since it is joint, shared custody now, the child support will also have to be split equally," attorney Cha flips to the end of the bunch of papers that he is holding in his hands, and then he looks up at us through the top of his glasses.

"This was the only thing which you both didn't agree upon during our last session. Now that this is sorted, is there anything else that we need to address?" He questions us in a very solemn tone, as if mourning our separation.

"None," I confirm, and Jang-Mi does the same.

We only share a few brief glances now and then while attorney Cha organizes the paperwork and asks us to revise the papers once before we put in our signature of closure.

Ten minutes later, I sign the papers after reading through the agreement once, and Jang-Mi attests it as well, and there isn't a hint of hesitation that either of us exhibit while we sign the papers.

This is it.

We have moved a step closer to attaining freedom from this marriage which was chaining our feet all these years. The marriage might have ended, but it has taught me some mighty big lessons which will surely stay with me until the end.

After thanking Mr. Cha, Jang-Mi leaves the office first, and I follow her outside after a little while, noticing that she is standing just outside the entrance of the complex building. When I get closer, her gaze falls on me, bringing my steps to a halt.

"Hi," she gives me a tired smile as she tucks some strands of hair behind her ears. But her smile, though exhausted, doesn't seem forced at all.

Ignoring the awkwardness, I return her smile with mine which also looks weary.

"Hi," I don't know what else to say.

"We have to talk to Areum," Jang-Mi arrives straight at the point without beating around the bush or giving any of her usual sarcastic comments and comebacks.

"Yeah, we have to talk to her. When?" The awkwardness that I'm feeling still doesn't ease out, but I'm able to maintain steady eye contact without feeling anything at all—a tell-tale sign that it's all over between the two of us.