My Lovely Husband || meanie

25. Someone like Me

A/N:
Man! I finally wrote something 😭

Mingyu

"Hello dear," my mom's joyous tone beams over the loud chattering and curious eyes as she sprints past the relatives scattered all over the lounge. They are staring at mine and Wonwoo's intertwined fingers as if they aren't the ones who benefited from this arranged marriage. Despite their scrutiny, I smile warmly as my mom approaches us. "I thought you weren't serious," she gasps, pulling Wonwoo into a sweet hug. "I'm always serious when it comes to you, mom," I reply, my face glowing with happiness.

She playfully gives me a side glance before breaking into a sweet smile, her wrinkles only adding to her charm as she scrunches her face adorably. "Looks like I'm forgotten," I joke, nudging Wonwoo's side, who responds with a tender smile at my feigned complaint. "Let's take a seat on the balcony, just the two of us," my mother suggests, linking her arm with Wonwoo's and gently pulling him away from me. I watch them navigate through the curious glances directed at her and Wonwoo, trying my best to ignore them.

Suddenly, Wonwoo glances back over his shoulder, his smile broadening as he mouths, "Don't worry. I won't forget you," before he follows Mother to god knows where. But his sweet smile warms my heart as if something soothing is flowing through the veins of my heart, leaving a flutter in its wake like the beautiful spring that comes once a year and yet makes everything feel perfect. It is an expression that holds a silent promise, a gentle reassurance that even in his absence, the bond we share will remain unbroken.

I shake my head slightly and run my fingers through the mop of my styled hair as I navigate my way to the bar, hoping to find something that will keep me going for the rest of the day. My eyes scan the various bottles behind the counter before I decide to order a tequila—a questionable choice for my first drink of the day, but who cares when all I want is to escape this place. Just as my drink arrives and I'm about to take a sip, my grandfather, of all people, decides to slide onto the stool next to me. "Great," I groan inwardly, rolling my eyes, already anticipating the inevitable conversation.

"It is nice to see you, Mingyu," he starts, his tone dripping with forced warmth, as I struggle to stifle a scoff at his choice of words. I choose to ignore him, focusing instead on the intricate design of the beautiful tumbler in front of me, running my finger along its edge. "Are you not even going to greet your grandpa?" he continues, less warmly this time, as he casually flicks his finger to signal for a drink. With a reluctant sigh, I twirled on my stool, finally facing him. The distance between us feel palpable, given that we haven't truly talked in a meaningful way in what seemed like forever, despite meeting at family dinners every three months.

"Just be straightforward and say you want to know where Mr. Jeon is. Stop pretending to be an elder figure, which you'll never be," I say, disregarding the formalities I am taught to observe. His eyes harden and his jaw clenches, as though he is tempted to remind me of my place within the family. However, the bartender interrupts by serving his drink, forcing him to tear his gaze away from me. I roll my eyes and take a sip of my tequila, feeling its bitter sting burning through my senses. "If you already know what I want, why don't you just tell me?" he snaps after a long pause, seemingly deliberating over his next words.

"We both know how much I loathe talking to someone like you," he adds, his eyes fixated on the colorful bottle on the shelves, steadfastly avoiding eye contact with me as if meeting my gaze would be the gravest sin he could commit. I scoff bitterly, letting the sound linger in the air as I gulp down the rest of my drink with a sense of finality. Rising from my seat without uttering a single word, I catch his reaction out of the corner of my eye; he snaps his head towards me with the speed of lightning, the suddenness of his movement almost laughable in its intensity.

"Geez, you really need to relax if you want to live a longer," I tease, smirking as I step into his personal space. He looks utterly horrified, like he's about to bolt, terrified that my sexuality could somehow be contagious if I get too close to him. I can't help but scoff softly, lowering myself to his eye level. "Just so you know, Mr. Jeon is just like me. Still think you want to have a conversation now that you know?" I ask with a low chuckle, straightening up with a confident grin as I watch his face lose all color at the sheer impact of my revelation.

"Kim Mingyu," his voice rings over the chatter as I stride out of the room, choosing to ignore him, as well as the curious and judgmental eyes that might go back to tell him how much of a rotten piece of shit I am. I desperately need some fresh air. I inhale sharply, feeling the cool breeze making contact with my skin, offering a momentary reprieve.

I grab a pastry from a passing waiter and take a bite, hoping to find some comfort in the free dessert. The taste is surprisingly bland on my tongue, but I can't tell if it's because of the lingering taste of tequila or the bitterness of my mood. I decide it must be the later even though I know it's not. Leaning my body against the cold, white marble column, I let out a long breath, trying to collect myself.

"Mingyu!" The sound of my name being called out so cheerfully from a distance makes me turn my head over my shoulder, momentarily forgetting my surroundings. My body relaxes as my eyes land on a familiar figure running towards me, causing a smile to spread across my face. "I missed you so much," he exclaims, pulling me into a hug so tight it nearly knocks the air out of my lungs.

"I missed you too," I reply, gently pulling away from the embrace. But as my eyes shift past him, I notice Wonwoo standing a bit farther away, breathless and as still as a rock. His face is blank, devoid of any emotion, as he observes the scene before him. "I'm doomed," is all I can I think to myself.