Mrs. & Mrs. Kang | DAERIN

Between Us

Present Day...Five Or Six Years Later

Haerin walks to the end of the driveway, sent by Danielle with a cup of coffee to fetch the morning paper. She grinds her teeth, annoyed that her wife sent her out like a dog to retrieve it. Maybe not a dog, but definitely her wife's bitch.

Across the street, she notices Yang Jungwon doing the same, and when he waves at her with a big, friendly smile, she merely nods in acknowledgement before trudging back inside.

She can't count how many times she's heard him say "happy wife, happy life," and maybe it's true because the residents of the Yang estate seem awfully chipper, while across the street in the Kang manor, things are a bit more...icy.

She doesn't know what happened, where the fire went. She used to push her wife's buttons because it was amusing to rile her up, and the passion that came from her lit fuse was intoxicating, but now she does everything in her power just to get a reaction. Anything at all. It seems like her wife no longer loves her, but merely tolerates her presence.

When she'd brought it up, Danielle had suggested couple's therapy, and Haerin suspected it was a ploy to make her uncomfortable enough to drop the topic, so naturally, she agreed.

She leaves the newspaper on the kitchen table and goes upstairs, standing beside Danielle at the double sink in their bathroom as they brush their teeth in silence. She brushes for longer than normal, purposely standing at her sink between Danielle and the hook where she normally hangs her robe before stepping into the shower, so maybe her wife will invite her in, or hell, just be forced to acknowledge her. Danielle apparently decides to go for Option C and simply passes the robe to Haerin without a second glance.

Haerin extends her hand and carelessly drapes the robe over the hook it belongs on, letting it fall and crumple to the floor because she knows how much Danielle hates a mess. Out of the corner of her eye, she watches the vein in her wife's forehead pop out and her jaw clench, but she steps into the steam of the shower wordlessly.

ᯓ★

They both move around one another, silently getting dressed for work in their large walk-in closet.

"What did you think of Dr. Choi? His questions were a bit wishy-washy."

Haerin pulls a soft sweater over her tank top, instantly recognizing Danielle's tone. The brunette is trying to get out of going back, but wants Haerin to think it's her idea. Her back stiffens, but she replies in a bored drawl, "Yeah. Not the most insightful."

"And his office is clear across town."

Danielle is giving her another reason not to go, which is all the more reason why they should return, but Haerin doesn't feel like calling her out on it or doing this little dance right now, so she merely hums in agreement.

She turns then and sees Danielle in her bra and stockings, garter belt visible since she's still holding her skirt on a hanger in her hand. She's got her back to Haerin, standing on her tiptoes to reach a blouse hanging off the top shelf with her free hand. Haerin sighs, knowing it's dangerous to get any closer after seeing her wife in this state of undress. She knows she'll just want to touch her and Danielle will bat her hands away. But goddamn it, she still loves the woman and she still thinks she looks adorable without the height her heels provide.

She moves to stand beside her, momentarily placing her hand on the small of Danielle's back to still her movements before she reaches up and grabs the blouse for her. Danielle looks up at her, and when they make eye contact, Haerin can see a thousand different emotions swirling in her brown eyes. She wants to kiss away the ones that look like frustration, doubt, and pain, not sure why they're there in the first place. When she leans in, Danielle steps back and looks down. She fidgets with the clothes she's holding, awkwardly putting them on.