Reaching My Star | A Chaennie AU

Chapter 20: Burden of Love (Jennie 25; Rosé 28)

The strain in Jennie and Minwoo's relationship continued to grow, despite their best efforts to hold onto what they once had. The days were consumed by the routine of caring for Hayoon, yet the underlying tension between them became more palpable with each passing day. The love that had once seemed unbreakable now felt fragile, strained by the weight of their new responsibilities and the unspoken fears that stayed between them.

One evening, after a particularly exhausting day, Jennie was in the living room cradling Hayoon in her arms. The baby's soft breaths and the gentle creaking of the rocking chair provided a rare moment of calm. As Jennie looked down at Hayoon's peaceful face, she felt a deep ache in her heart, a mixture of overwhelming love for her daughter and a gnawing concern about the future.

Minwoo entered the room, his expression weary and his steps heavy. He offered Jennie a strained smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "How's she doing, hon?" he asked, his voice lacking the warmth that Jennie used to find so comforting.

"She's fine," Jennie replied softly, brushing a strand of hair from Hayoon's forehead. "Just needs to settle down for the night."

Minwoo nodded and sat down on the couch, his posture stiff and his movements slow, as if the weight of the world was pressing down on him. The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words. After a few moments, Minwoo finally spoke, his voice low and hesitant. "I've been thinking a lot about us," he said, not looking up. "About where we're headed."

Jennie's heart skipped a beat, anxiety tightening her chest. She had sensed that Minwoo was struggling, but hearing him voice his concerns so openly made her fear the worst. "What do you mean?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady, though she could feel the edges of her calm beginning to fray.

Minwoo ran a hand through his hair, his eyes distant, as if he was searching for the right words. "I don't know if we're handling this the way we should," he admitted. "I feel like we're drifting apart, and I don't know how to fix it."

Jennie felt a lump form in her throat, the weight of his words pressing down on her. "I've been feeling the same way," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. She had tried to push those thoughts away, to focus on Hayoon and the day-to-day demands of their life, but the cracks in their relationship were becoming impossible to ignore.

Minwoo nodded, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I hate to admit it, but I think we need to be honest with ourselves. We're not the same people we were before Hayoon came."

Jennie felt a tear slip down her cheek, the sadness she had been holding back finally breaking through. "Yes, but it's not Hayoon's fault," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "We're just new to parenting and overwhelmed by it. I don't want to lose what we have, but I don't know how to fix the gap between us."

Minwoo looked up, and for a moment, the weariness in his eyes was replaced by something softer, more vulnerable. He reached out and took her hand, his touch gentle but firm. "I don't want to lose us either," he said, his voice filled with a quiet determination. "But maybe we need to take a step back and figure out what's best for both of us... and for Hayoon."

The weight of his words hung in the air, and Jennie felt a deep sense of sorrow, mixed with a flicker of hope. She didn't want to give up on their marriage, but she knew they couldn't keep going the way they were. "We should talk to a counselor," she suggested softly, her heart pounding in her chest. "Maybe they can help us work through this."

Minwoo squeezed her hand gently, his expression softening. "I think that's a good idea. We owe it to ourselves and to Hayoon to try."

As they prepared for bed that night, Jennie lay in the darkness, her mind a tangled mess of emotions. She could hear the steady rhythm of Minwoo's breathing beside her, but it did little to ease the storm of thoughts swirling in her head. The love she felt for Minwoo was undeniable, but the challenges they faced were pushing them to their limits. She hoped that with professional guidance, they could find a way back to each other, but the uncertainty of their future loomed large.

Jennie closed her eyes, trying to quiet the fears that gnawed at her. She wished for clarity, for the strength to face whatever lay ahead, and for the love that had once brought them together to be enough to see them through.

The night was quiet, and as Jennie drifted into a fitful sleep, she whispered a silent prayer for the strength to face the challenges ahead and for the love that had once been their foundation to guide them back to each other.

But deep down, in the corners of her heart that she barely dared to explore, Jennie wondered if it was already too late.