MISERY // 심재윤 // SJY

one

[ May 2nd, 2027 ]

"Sim Jihyun, don't go too far!" Jiwoo say towards the 4 years old toddler making her nod before walking to the playground in excitement as Jiwoo brought the girl to a playground near their residence after a long time. Jiwoo isn't jobless, after the case were brought to the court, Jiwoo was punished by paying funds as she was most of the time the victim of the cases, Seungmin lured and she comply but ended up being forced when she didn't want to get engage with the cases anymore.

Jiwoo wasn't force to quit but Jiwoo decided to quit working as a forensic nvestigators. However, Jiwoo was recruited back as a private investigator so she isn't relying a hundred percent onto Jake in terms of incomes. Life has been good to them for the past four and a half years, the birth of Sim Jihyun indeed make them happier than ever. "mommy.." Jiwoo look at the toddler and realize she is pouting as she walk back to her making Jiwoo worry and pull the smaller into her embrace, "why sweetheart? did someone push you?" Jiwoo ask in worry as she caress her daughter cheeks and hair.

"no, i try to make some friends but.. they keep playing with their siblings..." Jihyun pout while the sentence make Jiwoo froze in place, feeling like a lightning struck on her. "aahh.. that's.. well, they have to take care of each other, it's not that they don't want to be friends with you" Jiwoo utter. "i'm not talking about being friends.." the toddler lean onto the mother shoulder making her sigh. "i get it, baby, mommy understand your plea but it's not.... an easy thing.. okay? you've been mentioning that a lot since the beginning of the year" Jiwoo caress the toddler back.

Deep inside, she is still affected about the moment where she almost lost Jihyun on her early pregnancy stage even when it's an unexpected pregnancy. Jiwoo is deeply affected by it but she keep denying it to herself, she thinks that she chose to only have one child which is Jihyun and no more. Jake noticed that too, whenever someone or himself mention about miscarriage, pregnancy, Jiwoo face will change and her body language tells that she isn't in an comfortable position.

"let me talk to daddy first, okay?" Jiwoo caress Jihyun cheeks making the younger nods. "mommy" the daughter call making Jiwoo hum, "I want to go home" Jihyun continue, "you don't want to play anymore?" Jiwoo ask resulting the daughter to shake her head as a no. "daddy is coming home in a few, I want to welcome him" Jihyun answered making Jiwoo chuckles and nods as they start to walk home.

[ 18:20 ]

Jiwoo quietly wash the dishes in the kitchen while thinking about Jihyun's words, she unconsciously continue to overthink about it and flinch as she feel arms sneaking around her waist, hugging her. "hey..you okay?" Jake. Jiwoo look at him in surprise, "when did you came back?" Jiwoo asked making Jake confused, "you didn't heard me? Jihyun was welcoming me loudly but you aren't aware of it?" Jake caress the girl waist as the woman shake her head as she hears nothing, Jake put his head on her shoulder. "what are you thinking about?cases?" Jake asked more, making Jiwoo sigh, "i don't know, maybe" Jiwoo answer resulting Jake to frown before turning her around to face him making Jiwoo gasp in surprise.

"do you have any problem?" Jake caress her hand as he ask. Jiwoo let put an inaudible sigh, "Jihyun has been complaining about being an only child.." Jiwoo answered, almost whispering. Jake bite his lower lips as he is now clear on the problem, "are you scared? by the idea of it?" Jake asked making Jiwoo nod, "I almost lost Jihyun back then, our profession make it hard for me to think about this.. anything could happen" Jiwoo reply as Jake hug her and caress her back.

"don't worry about that.. we'll do everything to protect our kids, but if you're uncomfortable with it.. we can talk with Jihyun, she'll understand, she's smart like her mother" Jake comfort Jiwoo making Jiwoo reply with a hum, "I'll think about it.." Jiwo mutter making Jake nod.