VEIL

{17} COLD

"Sometimes, the spaces between words speak louder than any conversation."

In the early days of their marriage, a subtle chill settled between Jiah and Seungcheol, marking the onset of what felt like a silent conflict. The warmth that had once filled their moments together now gave way to a quiet tension, each adjusting to the nuances and expectations of married life.

Seungcheol, consumed by the responsibilities of his family's business empire, found himself immersed in strategy meetings and late nights at the office. His thoughts often gravitated towards market fluctuations and expansion plans, leaving little room for the emotional connection Jiah yearned for.

Meanwhile, Jiah delved deeper into her legal career, channelling her energy into building a foundation for her future law firm. Long hours at the firm and intense courtroom battles became her refuge, offering a sense of purpose amidst the growing disconnection at home. Her determination to establish herself in the legal world drove her forward, even as it unintentionally widened the rift between her and Seungcheol.

Their once spontaneous outings and shared hobbies gave way to separate pursuits and unshared moments. The evenings that were once filled with animated discussions and laughter now lingered in uneasy quiet, punctuated only by the occasional polite inquiry about each other's day.

Small misunderstandings, once easily resolved with laughter and understanding, now simmered beneath the surface, unresolved and festering. Their attempts at communication often felt like tiptoeing around unspoken grievances, each hesitant to confront the cracks that were spreading in their foundation.

As the weeks turned into months, their home became a landscape of unspoken tensions and unmet expectations. The intimacy they had once taken for granted now felt like a distant memory, replaced by the weight of unaddressed issues and unfulfilled promises.

In the heart of their shared space, where love had once thrived, a cold war of emotions began a silent struggle to navigate the complexities of married life, where the battles were fought in the quiet spaces between their words and the shadows of their unspoken fears.

Jiah and Seungcheol found themselves increasingly reliant on messaging each other through their public numbers for urgent matters. What had once been spontaneous conversations over meals or lingering discussions in the evenings had slowly faded into silence, punctuated only by brief exchanges of practical information.

One afternoon, while Seungcheol was in a board meeting, his phone buzzed with a message notification. He glanced down to see Jiah's name on the screen, a name that had once brought a smile to his face but now elicited a twinge of guilt. The message read: "Seungcheol, we need to talk about our plans for next weekend. Can you let me know when you'll be free?"

He sighed inwardly, knowing he wouldn't be able to respond until after the meeting. With a quick nod to his assistant, he refocused on the presentation at hand, mentally noting to reply as soon as he could steal a moment away.

Later that evening, after the meeting had ended and Seungcheol finally found himself alone in his office, he took a moment to reply to Jiah's message. "Hey Jiah," he typed out, "I'll be home late tonight. Can we discuss this weekend's plans tomorrow morning over breakfast?"

He pressed send and leaned back in his chair, the weight of the day settling on his shoulders. He couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment at how their communication had changed. What used to be spontaneous chats about their day, hopes, and dreams had become utilitarian messages about schedules and logistics.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Jiah's phone lit up with Seungcheol's reply. She unlocked the screen to read his message and felt a mixture of relief and resignation. "Okay," she typed back, keeping her response short. Setting her phone aside, she couldn't shake the feeling that their messages had become a substitute for the meaningful connection they once shared.

As she sat at their dining table that night, eating dinner alone while Seungcheol worked late, she couldn't help but reflect on how their relationship had evolved. The silence between them had grown deeper, filled only by the occasional buzz of their phones and the echoes of unsaid words.

In the quiet of their home that night, the glow of their phones cast shadows on the walls, silent witnesses to the conversations left unsaid and the yearning for a return to the closeness they had lost.

"In silence, we discovered the echoes of our love."