Desk Affair✓

24

Chapter 24: The Decision

Namjoon sat in his lawyer’s office, staring down at the stack of papers in front of him. His hands were steady, but his heart pounded in his chest. The divorce had been inevitable for a long time now. For two years, his marriage had been little more than a formality, something he hadn’t addressed because neither he nor his wife had cared enough to push for a resolution. But now, with YN in his life, he felt an urgency to finally close that chapter.

His wife sat across from him, calm and composed as always. They had agreed on this separation a long time ago, but even as the finality of it settled in, Namjoon couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. She gave him a small smile, and for the first time in a long while, it wasn’t strained or bitter.

"I hope you’re happy, Namjoon," she said softly, her voice free of resentment. "You deserve that."

Namjoon looked at her, searching for any hint of anger or disappointment, but all he found was peace. "Thank you. I never wanted things to turn out this way, but…"

"But this is what’s right for both of us," she finished, nodding. "I knew long before you did that it was over. I could see it every time you spoke about her."

Namjoon blinked, his throat tightening. "Her?"

"YN," she clarified. "I’ve known about her for a while now."

He felt his pulse quicken. "You don’t…hate me for it?"

She let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "No, Namjoon. I don’t hate you. I actually think you two might be good for each other. I see the way you’ve been lighter, happier even though you’ve been trying to hide it. I think you’ve found someone who brings out the best in you."

He stared at her, stunned by her understanding. "I don’t even know if she’ll come back to me," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

"She will," his wife said with quiet certainty. "She just needs time. But when she’s ready, you’ll be there. And this time, it’ll be different."

Namjoon let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. Hearing those words from his soon-to-be ex-wife felt like a weight lifting off his chest. For so long, he had carried the guilt of their failed marriage, but now, sitting here, it was as if they had both finally found closure.

"Thank you," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I didn’t expect you to be so supportive."

"You’ve always been a good man, Namjoon," she replied. "I hope you find the happiness you’ve been searching for."

---

Later that evening, Namjoon sat in his apartment, staring at his phone. His mind raced with thoughts of YN. He hadn’t spoken to her in a few days, and now, with the divorce papers signed, he wanted nothing more than to tell her everything. He dialled her number, his heart racing as he waited for her to pick up.

After a few rings, her familiar voice came through the line. "Namjoon?"

"Hey," he said, his voice soft, a smile tugging at his lips. Just hearing her voice made everything feel a little more bearable. "How are you?"

"I’m…okay," YN replied, though there was a hint of something in her voice, hesitation, maybe. "What about you?"

"I have news," Namjoon said, leaning back against the couch. "I…I signed the divorce papers today."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, he wasn’t sure how she would react. But then she spoke, her voice filled with cautious relief. "You did?"

"Yeah," he confirmed, running a hand through his hair. "It’s done. And…I wanted to tell you because, well, you’re the person I care about most."

He heard her exhale softly, and though he couldn’t see her, he imagined the conflicted emotions playing across her face. "Namjoon…I don’t know what to say."

"You don’t have to say anything right now," he assured her. "I just wanted you to know. I’m not tied down anymore. It’s just…me. And I’m hoping that when you’re ready, we can figure out where we stand."

Her voice softened, and he could almost picture her sitting on the edge of her bed, looking down at the floor as she spoke. "I’m happy for you. Really. I just…I still need more time."

"I know," Namjoon replied. "I’m not rushing you. But can we talk for a bit? I’ve missed you."

"Yeah," YN agreed, her tone lightening slightly. "Let’s talk."

---

They spent the next half hour talking about everything and nothing. YN told him about her job, how the city was growing on her despite how different it was from Seoul. Namjoon shared updates from work, the projects he was working on, and how things had been without her in the office. Their conversation flowed easily, as it always did, and for a little while, it felt like nothing had changed between them.

But there was still an underlying tension, the unspoken uncertainty that lingered between them. As much as they tried to keep things light, the distance between them was palpable, and Namjoon knew that no amount of casual conversation could fully bridge the gap.

"Hey," Namjoon said suddenly, an idea forming in his mind. "Do you want to do a video call? I…just want to see you."

YN hesitated for a moment before responding, "Okay, let’s do it."

Namjoon quickly set up the call, his heart pounding in his chest as he waited for her face to appear on the screen. And then, there she was YN, looking as beautiful as ever, even though her eyes held a hint of weariness.

They didn’t speak right away. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the silence stretching between them as they took in each other’s presence. Namjoon felt a lump rise in his throat, his emotions overwhelming him as he saw the woman he had been missing for so long.

"You look…" he began, but before he could finish, the screen froze.

"Wait—" YN’s voice crackled, and then the call dropped, the screen going black.

Namjoon stared at his phone, frustration bubbling up inside him. Of all the times for the network to fail, it had to be now. He tried calling her back, but the connection wouldn’t go through.

Sighing, he leaned back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. Even the universe seemed to be keeping them apart. But as frustrating as it was, Namjoon knew he couldn’t give up. Not when they had come this far.

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