𝐌𝐘 𝐔𝐍𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐔𝐒𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐃 ✔

f o u r t e e n

It had been a week since our dinner with Eunwoo, and the tension in our apartment had settled into an uneasy calm. Jungkook and I continued to navigate our lives together, each day a mix of forced interactions and quiet avoidance. The routines were becoming familiar, but the emotional distance between us remained.

One morning, I received a phone call from my sister, Rami. 

"Hey, Jisoo! Auntie and I are coming over to visit you and Jungkook today."

The news caught me off guard. "Oh, really? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Rami laughed softly. "We wanted to surprise you. Besides, Auntie has been missing you two and thought it would be a good idea to check in."

I forced a smile. "Okay, we'll see you soon."

After hanging up, I felt a knot of anxiety form in my stomach. Having Jungkook's mother—my aunt—visit was always a mixed bag of emotions. She was kind and caring, but she had a way of making me feel pressured about our marriage. And with Rami coming along, I knew she would pick up on any discomfort I felt.

Jungkook noticed my unease as he came into the living room. "What's wrong, Jisoo?"

I sighed. "Your mom and Rami are coming over."

His eyes widened slightly. "Oh, I see. Do you want me to prepare anything?"

I shook my head. "No, it's fine. I just hope it goes smoothly."

He nodded, offering me a reassuring smile. "It will. We'll manage."

A few hours later, the doorbell rang. Jungkook opened the door, and in walked Auntie and Rami, both smiling brightly.

"Jisoo!" Auntie exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug. "It's so good to see you."

I hugged her back, trying to match her enthusiasm. "Good to see you too, Auntie."

Rami hugged me next, whispering in my ear, "Hang in there."

We all settled into the living room, the conversation flowing easily at first. Auntie and Rami talked about their recent activities, sharing stories and laughter. Jungkook and I chimed in occasionally, but I mostly stayed quiet, trying to navigate my feelings.

After a while, Auntie turned the conversation toward us. "So, how are you two lovebirds doing? Adjusting to married life?"

Jungkook answered for both of us. "We're doing well, Mom. It's been an adjustment, but we're managing."

Auntie nodded, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. "That's good to hear. You know, I've been thinking a lot about the future lately. I would love to have a grandchild to spoil."

Her words made me tense up. I glanced at Rami, who was watching me closely.

"Auntie, I don't think we're quite ready for that yet," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Auntie waved her hand dismissively. "Nonsense, Jisoo! You're both young and healthy. There's no better time than now. Besides, I love kids so much. It would be wonderful to have a little one running around."

I forced a smile, but my discomfort was evident. Jungkook noticed and quickly changed the subject. "Mom, how have you been? Any new hobbies or interests?"

Auntie smiled, indulging him in a conversation about her latest knitting projects. I was grateful for the diversion, but the unease lingered. Rami caught my eye and gave me a sympathetic look.

As the afternoon wore on, we had lunch together. The meal was pleasant, filled with light-hearted chatter. Auntie continued to drop hints about grandchildren, each comment making me more uncomfortable. I knew she meant well, but the pressure was overwhelming.

After lunch, Rami and I went to the kitchen to clean up while Jungkook and Auntie stayed in the living room. As soon as we were alone, Rami turned to me. "Are you okay, Jisoo?"

I sighed, leaning against the counter. "Not really. Auntie's comments about grandchildren are making me really uncomfortable."

Rami nodded. "I can see that. It's not fair for her to pressure you like that."

I looked at her, feeling a mix of frustration and helplessness. "I don't even love Jungkook, Rami. How can I think about having a child with him?"

She put a hand on my shoulder, her expression serious. "You need to talk to him about how you feel. It's not fair to either of you to keep these feelings bottled up."

I nodded, knowing she was right but dreading the conversation. "I will, eventually. But right now, I just need to get through today."

Rami squeezed my shoulder gently. "I'm here for you, Jisoo. Whatever you need."

We finished cleaning up and returned to the living room, where Auntie and Jungkook were deep in conversation. They looked up as we entered, and Auntie smiled warmly. "Thank you for lunch, Jisoo. It was delicious."

"You're welcome, Auntie," I replied, forcing another smile.

The visit continued with more small talk and laughter, but I couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Finally, as the sun began to set, Auntie and Rami prepared to leave.

"It was so good to see you both," Auntie said, hugging us goodbye. "Take care of each other."

Jungkook and I nodded, watching them leave. As soon as the door closed, I let out a sigh of relief.

Jungkook turned to me, concern etched on his face. "Are you okay, Jisoo?"

I nodded, but my mind was racing. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired."

He didn't push, instead offering me a small smile. "Let's relax for the rest of the evening."

We settled into our routine for the night, but my mind was far from at ease. Auntie's visit had stirred up emotions and doubts that I had been trying to suppress. I knew Rami was right—I needed to talk to Jungkook about how I felt. But finding the right words and the courage to say them was another matter entirely.

As we sat in the living room, I glanced at Jungkook. He was reading a book, his face calm and focused. I wondered what he was thinking, if he had any idea of the turmoil inside me. I knew he was trying his best to make things work between us, and a part of me felt guilty for not meeting him halfway.

But the truth was, I was still struggling to come to terms with our marriage. The expectations, the pressure, the unresolved feelings—it was all too much. And now, with Auntie's talk of grandchildren, the weight of it all felt even heavier.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my thoughts. One step at a time, I told myself. We would find a way to navigate this, somehow. For now, I just needed to focus on the present and take things as they came.