the villainess x the soos (collaboration between small_mew and abralhugres)

Part 10

Cale wasn't worried, per say, it was just that her mind was hyper fixating on a current state of things that were outside of her control and that fixation was causing a certain physiological reaction that caused an underlying anxiety inside of her.

That wasn't a worry. It was just... a reaction.

A reaction that she couldn't expel from her mind.

Cale tapped her fingers on the counter before glancing back to her phone for the third time in the last twenty minutes.

They had all left for work roughly two hours ago. Which meant that Jungsoo had been back at work for roughly two hours now. Which meant that he was no longer home where she could keep a close eye on him and make sure he was okay.

He'd looked okay this morning. Still sad and shaky but far more okay than he'd looked a week ago. But she couldn't help but dwell on how he'd been.

Would he really be okay? So soon after everything? Wasn't it too quick for him to return to work? What if something reminded him of his uncle? What if the pressures of having to actually function in society were a bit too much for him? What if he cried and no one was there to wipe away his tears?

Cale wasn't worried.

She was just... rationally concerned.

And it was with that precise rational concern that she unlocked the phone and began messing with the text function.

[Has Jungsoo messaged you?]

Soohyuk was quick to reply to her text but not quite quick enough that she was able to quell the feelings of unease that bubbled up inside of her while she waited.

[no, why?]

Cale struggled with the keys for a minute. Roksu had been teaching her Korean for awhile now and she was starting to become confident in her ability to express herself but there were still some moments where she couldn't help but feel frustrated over the strange characters that she needed to utilize in order to communicate.

[Is he really ready to return to work? What if something happens?]

There was a brief pause before Soohyuk sent another reply and it was frustratingly off topic.

[you're adorable, princess♡]

She was just about to complain about his lack of answer when another text arrived.

[if you're worried about him, why dont you text him?]

Cale scowled at the tiny screen, struggling with the keys to defend her honor.

[I'm not worried! It's just a bit soon, don't you think? And if I texted him, wouldn't that add to his stress?]

Soohyuk took another moment to reply and she worried for a moment that he might be busy. Then she rationalized that it was Soohyuk and if he was busy, he ought to make time for her as her loyal servant. His words, not hers.

[i can assure you, he would never be bothered if you texted him ♡]

Cale was in the middle of composing a scathing reply when she received another text alert. Frowning, she opened it up, confused as to why she was receiving something from Soohyuk in a different chat.

It only took her a moment to understand that Soohyuk had created a 'group chat'.

[puppy ♡♡♡ our princess is worried about you~ say hi]

Damn him. When Soohyuk returned home she was going to make him feel her wrath. She wasn't sure how yet but there was no way that she would let this slight to her pride be tolerated.