MISERY // 심재윤 // SJY

three

[ 9PM ]

Jake put Jihyun to bed early and walk upstairs to the bedroom as Jiwoo hasn't been talking to him since he came back. Jake slowly push the door open and see Jiwoo laying sideways on the bed, having her attention to her book as she flip through the pages every few seconds. The man release an audible sigh before sitting on the bed, facing Jiwoo, "I'm sorry" Jake apologies make Jiwoo glance at him through her shoulder before giving her attention back on her book.

"for what?" she asked coldly making Jake even more nervous, "for keeping all the undercovers from you" Jake answered making Jiwoo close shut her book and sit up facing the husband of hers. "I'm not gonna be mad with you if you tell me..it's your job, and i've been there too."

"But you kept lying and came home late, you barely spend your time with Jihyun this year and she notice that"

"yes, she chose to understand our profession but she says that you don't have time to teach her things she wanted"

"what am i supposed to feel after hearing that?"

"the time we have to see each other is only while having breakfast, and right before bedtime because you choose to work on most of the weekends"

"do you know why I'm doubting the decision of having a second child? because of this..."

"yes, I am afraid of having a miscarriage but I'm also afraid of you not having enough time for the family, I even thought of quitting because I feel like either one of us need to.."

Jiwoo rants as she look down on her hands, "can't you take leaves for a day or two this month? Jihyun wants to go on a short trip.." Jiwoo continue in a soft and low voicemaking Jake nods vigorously as he go closer to Jiwoo and pull her into a hug. "I'm sorry.. I know it's wrong, I often act like an unmarried man when I know we have a four years old, I'll tell you everything, I'll spend more time with both of you" Jake utter as he caress Jiwoo's back.

"I'll take a few days leave, we'll bring Jihyun somewhere" Jake add as he cup the wife's face making her give him a small smile. "but I'm really quitting.." Jiwoo utter making Jake surprise as he knows how mush she adore her work, "then, aren't you going to be alone? while Jihyun at school and I'm working? you're going to be a little lonely" Jake reply and look at her with a concern gaze. "yeah, but I want to make time.. I feel like it's the best choice.." Jiwoo utter making Jake nod, "okay, anything you want, princess" Jake reply and give her a kiss on her forehead.

[ 1AM ]

Jiwoo stirs awake after hearing a ruffles sound on their shared bed but then see their toddler is climbing onto our bed making me sit up and help her. "why are here, sweetheart? bad dreams?" Jiwoo ask as she pull the toddler into her warm embrace carefully to not wake Jake up. "I saw someone outside my bedroom.." Jihyun reply and pout as she look at her mother in fear making Jiwoo confuse. Jiwoo turn to Jake and see he's peacefully sleeping so she doesn't want to wake him up. "show me" Jiwoo utter as she pick up the toddler and carry her to downstairs.

Jiwoo can feel her heart beating faster as she take each step to go downstairs with their daughter in her arms. "outside of your bedroom you said?" Jiwoo asked the smaller making her nod as the mother walk into the younger bedroom. "where?" Jiwoo asked and Jihyun point right on her window, "he was standing there.." Jihyun whisper as she wrap her little arms around her mother neck.

Jiwoo keep watching the window nervously but nothing happen and she look around only to realize there's a folded paper under the window making her gulp. She slowly walk and take the paper as she put the toddler down.

'To, Kang Jiwoo'

her names are written in red on the piece of paper making her shock. "mommy..isn't that your name?" Jihyun asked making Jiwoo turn to her and smile, "yes, but it's okay, it's nothing, don't worry" Jiwoo assure the toddler as she caress the toddler cheeks. Jiwoo then smell the liquid only to put the paper away from her face, "blood..?" she mutter as she hurriedly pick Jihyun up and walk out of the room with the paper in her hands.

She walk to the bedroom and see Jake opening the door in worry and her gaze change towards the toddler and the pice of paper before meeting the woman eyes again. "where did you go? why are you carrying Jihyun?" Jake asked as he take Jihyun from Jiwoo's arm. Jiwoo lean towards Jake ear, "blood" she whispers making Jake look at her in surprise before turning to Jihyun with a smile.

"I think you need to sleep, baby, you must be tired" Jake utter and bring their daughter to the bed and tuck her in. Jiwoo sit beside them and watch Jihyun slowly fall asleep after Jake sing her a lullaby. Jake then turn to Jiwoo and reach for the folded paper the woman has been holding and open it up then see his wife name written in red that Jiwoo said to be blood.

Jake then sigh and put the paper along with the other letter they have been receiving randomly. "I think we really need to move out.. it starts with empty letters, then an unknown bill and invoice, now your name.. in blood, Jiwoo" Jake caress the wife hand making her sigh, "moving out is not easy, Jaeyun, you have work too..It's okay, if we receive another one then we'll move away, okay? I promise" Jiwoo utter making Jake look at her in worry before nodding, "fine, fine..." Jake reply and plant a kiss on her forehead.

They haven't actually been living peacefully.