Arrange Marriage | JC

Chapter 49. The most beautiful one

"Your shirt looks wrinkled..." Jeonghan comments as soon as Jihoon steps into his room for their monthly 'talking session.' He refuses to believe that Seungcheol genuinely wants him to get therapy. After all, it's Seungcheol who needs it the most-that fucking psycho killer.

"Not as wrinkled as your mental health," Jihoon retorts, his voice dripping with disdain. He can't stand Jeonghan, this deranged human signed up for him to mend. A lunatic on the loose, who randomly chokes people.

"Touche," Jeonghan snickers, crossing his legs in a crisscross form, still focused on the puzzle laid out in front of him. Jihoon just rolls his eyes, sitting at his usual place at the far end of the room, as distant from Jeonghan as possible.

Jeonghan picks up a puzzle piece, turning it over in his fingers. "You know, these puzzles are a lot like life," he says absently. "You try to fit pieces together, but sometimes they just don't match."

Jihoon sighs, already weary. "Can we skip the philosophical nonsense and get to the point?"

"Philosophical? Me? Never," Jeonghan chuckles. "It's just, everything has a place, right? Like this piece here," he holds it up, "it's not going to fit anywhere until you find the right spot. Kind of like how your brother ended up in my life."

Jihoon's patience wears thinner. "Jeonghan, this session isn't about puzzles or fate. It's about you addressing your issues."

Jeonghan waves a dismissive hand. "Issues, schmissues. What even is an issue, Jihoon? The word itself is so... mundane. Like, take this other piece," he picks another one, "this one is all jagged. Reminds me of Seungcheol's temper. You ever think about how people can be like puzzle pieces?"

Jihoon clenches his jaw. "You're avoiding the subject."

"Am I?" Jeonghan's eyes glint mischievously. "Or maybe I'm just too complex for your simple therapy methods. Anyway, did you know that when I was five, I tried to build a house of cards and it collapsed every single time? It's funny how some things never change."

Jihoon leans back, crossing his arms. "Your avoidance tactics won't work forever, Jeonghan."

Jeonghan shrugs, placing a puzzle piece. "Maybe not. But they work for now." He smirks, eyes never leaving the puzzle. "And that's all that really matters, isn't it?"

Jihoon stays quiet. No matter how much he hates or despises Jeonghan, he is important to Seungcheol. And people important to his brother are important to Jihoon too. He just can't ignore Jeonghan, even if he once tried to kill him.

"What did you eat today?" Jihoon tries again, grasping at straws.

"Jun watered the plants, actually. The daffodils are starting to wither, and Minghao dyed his hair black again," Jeonghan answers, completely off-topic. He doesn't even lift his head to look at Jihoon, pretending to be engrossed in his puzzle. If Seungcheol insists on these sessions, Jeonghan will make sure nothing productive comes of them.

"Listen-" Jihoon cuts himself off, sighing as he grips his pen. He knows he needs to stay calm, but Jeonghan is particularly difficult to handle.

The silence stretches for a minute before Jeonghan giggles loudly, dropping a puzzle piece on the table. He casually flips the entire puzzle over, scattering the pieces.

"Do you want to see the new lingerie your brother got me?" Jeonghan says, his voice dripping with mockery.

Jihoon cringes internally, feeling a wave of nausea. He swallows hard, fighting to keep his composure. "Jeonghan, that's not appropriate," he says, his voice strained.

Jeonghan smirks, finally looking up from the scattered puzzle pieces. "Oh, come on, Jihoon. Lighten up. We're just having a friendly conversation, right?"