The Unwanted Husband

Chapter Four

Two months had passed since the argument between Taehyung and Jin. Both men had become cold towards each other, their relationship seemingly deteriorating with each passing day. It was as if they were strangers, coexisting under the same roof. However, Jin had limited his late nights and had not been seen with other women. Taehyung silently thanked the change in situation, though he remained outwardly indifferent. Jin buried himself in work, while Taehyung continued his duties as a hardworking art curator. Despite the lack of warmth from Jin, Taehyung performed his role as a husband, albeit with a nonchalant attitude.

Jin began to notice Taehyung's change in demeanor and found himself warming up to him, although he never showed it. They only spoke when necessary, maintaining an awkward coexistence.

One evening, Jin met up with his friends, Yoongi and Namjoon, at a bar. As they settled into their drinks, Jin opened up about his frustrations.

"This arranged marriage is taking a toll on me," Jin confessed. "But I find myself starting to warm up to Taehyung."

Namjoon, always the voice of reason, advised, "Maybe it's time to let your guard down and try to connect with him. Communication is key."

Yoongi, on the other hand, offered a more blunt perspective. "Stop overthinking it, Jin. If you like him, show it. Otherwise, you're just wasting both your time."

They continued drinking, trying to lighten the mood, when Yoongi suddenly noticed someone across the bar. He squinted, realizing it was Taehyung, who was with a group of people, possibly coworkers. What shocked Yoongi was seeing Taehyung holding hands with another man—Park Seojoon.

Yoongi nudged Jin. "Hey, isn't that Taehyung over there? And who's that guy he's holding hands with?"

Jin turned in the direction Yoongi indicated, and a surge of jealousy and anger washed over him. He couldn't take his eyes off Taehyung and Seojoon. Taehyung, oblivious to Jin's presence, was having a great time, laughing and enjoying himself.

Without thinking, Jin marched over to Taehyung, hauled him up from his seat to the surprise of Taehyung's coworkers. Seojoon was about to intervene, but Jin, being Jin, held up his forefinger as if to tell Seojoon to back off and shut up. Seojoon hesitated, then stepped back, watching the scene unfold.

Jin dragged Taehyung outside the bar. Taehyung was shocked to see Jin, who wore an expression of barely contained rage.

"Get in the car," Jin ordered, his voice cold and commanding. Taehyung, frightened by Jin's demeanor, complied without a word. Jin got in the car himself and drove away, the tension between them palpable as they left the bar behind.

---

When they arrived at the mansion, Taehyung silently thanked the heavens that they had arrived safely despite Jin's almost reckless driving. Jin opened the car door for Taehyung and dragged him out. He opened the door to the mansion, entered, and yanked Taehyung onto the living room couch. Taehyung winced, feeling pain in his arm.

"Who was that man you were holding hands with?" Jin demanded, his voice sharp. "What was that all about?"

Taehyung, trying to stay calm, explained, "That was Park Seojoon, my boss. Whatever you're thinking, it's not like that."

Jin scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "Not like that? You expect me to believe that? You're whoring around and making a fool out of me!"

Taehyung's eyes widened in shock. "How dare you accuse me of that? I've done nothing wrong!"

Jin's anger continued to boil over. "You're a liar, Taehyung. I won't be made a fool of."

Taehyung's frustration reached its peak. "And what about you, Jin? You've been with other women, coming home late, drunk. I kept silent because I love you, despite being hurt."

"Don't twist this around on me!" Jin shouted, his face red with anger. "You're the one parading around with another man, acting like nothing's wrong."

"I'm not parading around, Jin. Seojoon is my friend and colleague. You're jumping to conclusions because you're insecure about this whole marriage!"

"Insecure? You think I'm insecure?" Jin's voice was laced with contempt. "You're the one who's been cold and distant. Maybe you're the one who regrets this marriage."

Taehyung's voice trembled with emotion. "I've done everything I can to make this work, Jin. But you keep pushing me away. You don't even try to understand what I'm going through."

"What you're going through?" Jin laughed bitterly. "This is exactly why I didn't want this marriage in the first place. It's nothing but a burden."

Taehyung felt a sharp pain in his chest at Jin's words. "Fine. If that's how you feel, then let's get a divorce. I'm done with this."

Jin's eyes flashed with fury. "You want a divorce? Fine!" He slammed Taehyung against the wall, his anger palpable.

The room fell silent, the weight of their words hanging in the air. Both men were left to grapple with the reality of their fractured relationship, unsure of what the future held. The intensity of their argument lingered, leaving both Taehyung and Jin emotionally drained and lost in their turmoil.

Each man retreated to his own room, the anger and hurt of their argument echoing in their minds. Jin, still seething, paced his room before eventually collapsing onto his bed, burying his face in his hands as the tears began to fall. The emotional toll of the evening broke through his tough exterior, and he cried silently, the weight of his actions pressing heavily on his heart.

In his own room, Taehyung lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. The pain and frustration he had felt throughout their argument bubbled over, and he too succumbed to his emotions. Tears streamed down his face as he curled into a ball, the sobs racking his body. The love he still harbored for Jin made the situation all the more unbearable, leaving him to cry alone in the darkness.

____

What the heck was that?