Mrs. & Mrs. Kang | DAERIN

From Colombia to Forever

Present Day

"Okay, I'll go first," Haerin says with a nervous chuckle, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. "Let me say, we don't really need to be here. See, we've been married five years–"

"Six."

"Five, six years," Haerin brushes off Danielle's correction without sparing her a glance, "and this is like a check-up for us. Chance to poke around the engine, maybe change the oil. Replace a seal or two."

"Stop rambling."

This time Haerin does shoot Danielle a glare and the therapist is the one to shift uncomfortably.

"Very well, then," Minseok loosens the tie around his neck. "Let's pop the hood."

Danielle rolls her eyes, "I sincerely doubt either one of you know your way around a car engine."

Haerin narrows her eyes and scowls, "What exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"It means your metal coffin on wheels was retired for a reason."

Haerin frowns thinking about the custom storage shed in their back yard which was expanded in size to fit tools for the gardeners and her old yellow Volkswagen. Danielle had voted for demolition but the shed was their compromise.

Seeing he needs to diffuse the situation before an argument can start three minutes into their session, Minseok interrupts.

"On a scale of one to ten, how happy a couple are you?"

"Eight," Danielle answers immediately.

"Ten being perfectly happy and one being totally miserable, or–"

Danielle sighs, "You're stalling."

"Just respond instinctively," Minseok amends with a kind smile.

"Okay."

"Ready?"

Haerin nods and Danielle stares at him blankly.

"Eight," they answer in unison.

"How often do you have sex?"

Danielle flicks imaginary lint off her skirt, "I don't understand the question."

"Yeah, I'm lost." Haerin doesn't sound lost, just evasive. "Is this a one to ten thing?"

"Is one very little, or is one nothing? Because technically speaking, zero would be nothing."

Haerin would like to point out that her wife is now the one rambling, but she doesn't really want to answer the question either.

"How about this week?" Minseok suggests.

Haerin squints, as if trying to recall. "Including the weekend?"

"Sure."

"I don't understand the relevance," Danielle interrupts suddenly, nervously twisting her wedding band around her finger. "Can we discuss another topic?"

"Describe how you first met."

Danielle's lips curve up forming a small smile for the first time since the session began, "It was in Colombia."

Haerin smiles as well, "Bogota. Five years ago."

"Six."

And just like that the spell is broken and they both return to their impassive expressions.

"Right. Five or six years ago."

Flashback — Colombia, Five Years Ago