The Escort S2

Part 17: That woman

Jin's POV

 I blow out an exhaustive breath after putting the twins down for their midday nap when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I don't recognize the number, looking at the display as I walk into the bedroom.

"Hi, this is Jeon Jin." I say as I settle on the comfy sofa.

"Hi cousin Jin!" I'm immediately frozen hearing that recognizable voice. However, I've never heard it in such an upbeat tone. His ass has fallen really low if he's calling me.

"Cousin Jin, are you there?" I'm a bit taken back. This is going to be really fast.

"I'm here, Chanyeol."

"I know my call comes as a shock, but trust me, I mean you no harm."

"Trust you?" I say with an agitated scoff. "Now why the fuck would I do that?" Now he is the one to pause. He's a good target to practice my honesty and being bold because I don't care about him.

"I'm sorry, using the word trust wasn't the right way to start this conversation," he says with a slight chuckle. "Wow, you've changed. I've never known you to be so bold and to use profanity. Good for you" I roll my eyes but there's something different in his tone. Gone was that distasteful condescending arrogance I know him for. Evidently, he wants something. He won't get it here. I trust him about as much as I trust Tae Jin, the office hoe, around my husband.

"Jin, I contacted you to say I'm sorry for how I've treated you over the past years. It was wrong and you didn't deserve it. I'd like to come see you and talk with you about that. I seek nothing from you or Namjoon." How dare he toss a shitty 'I'm sorry,' at me and expect I'd forgive him. That would be pretending that what he did to me never happened. The hell with that.

"I heard you. Now, goodbye." Before I can lower my phone, he shouts out.

"Cousin Jin, please! I'm being sincere." My skin tingles with agitation and heat runs under the surface of my skin. There is no one more than Chanyeol that I dislike. Always with his thinly veiled comments about how I was not worthy of the Jeon name. My family was new Korean money mostly made in Europe and America. To him, to be part of an old family with centuries of history like the Jeon's was an abomination. Nope, sorry wasn't going to do it.

"There you go again, Chanyeol, using words that are so disconnected from who you are. Sincere, now that's laughable."

"Your right, Jin. I was pretty deplorable, despicable, arrogant, rude, obnoxious, and other related words." Now that's the Chanyeol I'm familiar with.

"Jin, you probably heard through the family grapevine that I've hit bottom." I sneer.

"Yeah, the bottom of your trust fund."

"You're right. I know you all are having a good laugh."

"Yes, many are, and you deserve that, Chanyeol. But I don't find that funny. I find it sad. Also, there's not one goddamn thing funny about what you did to me, Kookie, and this family. Don't fuckin get me started on that evil witch you called your mother. Why the hell would I care about you, your bottoms, or your troubles?"

"Jin, I'm not asking you to forgive me. I haven't had a drink in many months. I'm looking to do something useful with my life." Useful, is he kidding? Rage fills me.

"Oh so, that last career choice of international playboy and gambler didn't work out for you? How shocking." He surprises me with a barked laugh.

"That's funny, cousin. No, it didn't work out." He puffs out a quick breath. "Now that I'm not drinking, all the messes I've made, relationships I've destroyed, and people I've hurt are loud and in my face. I can't keep it out. Alcohol, gambling, and whoring helped me not to face who I was. I didn't want to see all the wreckage I created. I can only start by saying I'm sorry. There is no defense." His voice softens but I'm not falling for his words. There's no connection to any vulnerability. I know real vulnerability when I see it.