Chaebol Fate

THE SHOPPING TRIP

***TRIGGER WARNING: DEPRESSION, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS

After giving him time to get ready and helping him conceal his black eye with makeup, we set out for a day of shopping. It was just what our parents wanted, too, considering they asked us to be seen together in public more often. Jimin helped me pick out a new phone, and together we tried on a variety of outfits and got each other's opinions on them. We headed to Jimin's favorite cafe for lunch, both of us smiling and holding hands. Our friendliness didn't feel like an act for me anymore. I wondered if it still did for him.

We were talking about his latest projects at work as we waited for our order to arrive when my phone rang. It was Taehyung. He wanted to know if I was available to meet for lunch sometime next week to discuss the case he had mentioned the night before.

"Sure, I'd love to! Let me check my schedule. Hold on." I quickly scrolled through my calendar and saw I was available on Tuesday. "Will Tuesday at noon work? Great! Text me the restaurant details. I'll see you then!"

I hung up and took a sip of my water. "Sorry about that. Where were we?"

"Who was that?"

"Taehyung."

"Why does he have your...Wait. I just remembered why."

Jimin leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. He immediately shut down.

"Jimin?"

Nothing. He didn't acknowledge me.

"Jimin, let's talk about this."

"There's nothing to talk about."

"My having lunch with Taehyung bothers you."

"No, it doesn't"

"Yes it does, otherwise you wouldn't be acting this way."

"It doesn't"

"Jimin, Taehyung's interest in me is the reason why you smashed my phone."

"I don't like the idea of my friends hitting on you."

"Why?"

"Well..."

"Did it bother you when your friends hit on the women you dated in the past?"

"No. None of them were stupid enough to try."

"Not even after you dumped them?"

"No. Not even after."

"Okay, then does it bother you to see your exes with other men?"

"No."

"Then what makes me any different?"

"You're not my ex."

"But I'm going to be your ex someday, aren't I? I mean, we are just waiting this out until our parents finally come to their senses and let us divorce, aren't we?"

"I can't believe you still think that's a possibility. It's not Ji-Hye. It's time to face reality."

"Divorce or no divorce, it's not like you love me. You have no feelings for me whatsoever. You've made that very clear."

Just then our food arrived and he used it as a reason to stop talking with me. I gave him time to eat and process what I had said. Our conversation was far from over. As we both ate in silence, I tried to figure him out. When we were almost done eating, I spoke up.

"Jimin, do you want to stay married?"

"Don't be ridiculous. Of course, I don't want to stay married."