Idolisation (S.Jinwoo x OC)

Chapter 15

"Are you sure?" Ari asked, her bright blue eyes fixed on Jinwoo, as he moved about the room, placing folded laundry into the wardrobe.

"I am." He responded, not looking towards his wife.

Silence.

"You've always despised popularity. Why the sudden change?" Ari asked abruptly.

Silence.

"Nampyeon?" Ari tried again.

Silence.

Ari sighed softly and got up. She stared softly at her husband, whose back was facing as her, as he arranged their clothes. Walking with soft steps, she encircled her arms around him and pressed her cheek against his firm back.

She felt his chest rumble slightly as he let out a deep exhale.

He turned around in her arms. His rough hands came up to cup her cheeks. He looked her in the eye, and gave her a small smile, a smile that did not reach his eyes.

Ari frowned at that. Her husband had been doing that a lot. Those empty smiles. But before she could think about it any longer, he leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Everything I'm doing, is for our future and our family, Naekkeo." He said, not looking away from her blue eyes, "These past weeks have been... Terrifying, to say the least." He admitted, with a little hesitancy.

"So many times... I've almost lost you. I'm close to finding a cure... But I'm just not strong enough." He muttered frowning.

"If I publicly declare myself as an S-rank, then I'll get to participate in different raids. I'll gain more experience. I'll become stronger." Jinwoo's voice grew more desperate and his arms were now on her shoulders.

"I'll be able to right those high rank bosses, and I'll be able to cure you!" Jinwoo said, a tinge of franticness in his voice.

'But what about you? What if you get hurt or worse?' Ari wanted to ask, but she couldn't, she didn't know why. Her throat was all of a sudden very dry.

"And then we'll be the perfect family!" Jinwoo exclaimed.

Ari just stared at him frozen to her spot, this wasn't her Nampyeon...

As if realising that he was spooking his wife, Jinwoo took a few deep breaths and continued, more stability to his voice, "Just trust me on this one, Ari. " He said finally.

Jinwoo opened his mouth to say something else, but at that very moment the door bell rang, catching both of their attention.

Jinwoo gave her a small smile (again), "I ordered a dress for you, this must be it." He said and walked towards the front door.

Ari on the other hand, with her knees shaking, took small steps towards the bed and sat down. She let out shaky gasps, trying to calm herself down. This situation was getting out of hand, and it was affecting both her husband and sister-in-law.

Just now, his mana was all over the place. Ari wasn't ignorant towards mana. Afterall, she lived with a man who basically radiated mana as if he was drinking water.

His mana... was usually comforting. It was strong, it made her feel protected. However, the mana she felt now, was threatening, it made her feel suffocated and it made the walls of the room spin.

She felt sick, knowing that she felt threatened by the figure she found comforting. It made her want to scratch her forearms until they bled. It made her want to claw her neck. It made her want to scream her throat raw.

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Jinwoo stared at the night sky. He was at the local park, taking a breath of fresh air. He thought he'd be able to let out all his frustration thanks to the calming night sky. And he was chilling out, until he realised that his aura was spooking people all over the park.