Our Family

The Lore

"So, did you tell her?" Seungmin asked as the waiter passed by their table.

Jessica shook her head.

Seungmin looked at the ceiling in a half eye roll. "You said you would tell her."

"I know, but I just don't know how. Maybe she shouldn't find out yet." Jessica said.

"You're always saying: "I don't want Alex to find out. She can't find out. She'll be upset." But, babe. She's gonna find out if you don't tell her." Seungmin said with frustration.

"I know that! It's just that... She's already mad at me. When her dad left us, it was so hard on her. And I mean... She's 12. She's got a lot of big changes going on. I just. I'm nervous because she already feels like she wasn't worth her dad staying for her. And what if she feels like I'll love her less now?" Jessica explained.

Seungmin sighed. "It should be a criminal offense to leave your child."

"Well, YOU would think that. Because somehow you missed the part of life where your moral compass gets destroyed. You don't even laugh at the dirty jokes the guys tell at work." Jessica said.

"It's beneath me." Seungmin said, rolling his eyes.

Jessica laughed. 

"It's actually because of my dad, who, again, you would really love to meet if we ever come out in the open about our relationship." Seungmin prodded.

She sighed. "We will. I'll tell Alex on Sunday."

"That's tomorrow."

"Next Sunday."

Seungmin sighed. "Fine. But I wish you'd stop worrying about it. I already care about her just from hearing you talk about her. I will be really careful. And you'll see. Eventually, she'll trust me."

Jessica raised her eyebrow. "We'll see. I think you're underestimating the damage that her father leaving did."

"I'm not underestimating it. It's just that I can't do anything, and I'm stuck in this place until you let us move forward. I know that it's a big deal.  I know that she's hurt. My family talks about this kind of psychological stuff all the time. I understand more than you think." Seungmin said.

Jessica sighed nervously. "Alright. But if she hates you when you meet her -"

"It's okay. I'm not going to pressure her to like me. I'll just wait. She's already important to me. So I won't give up. You'll see." He assured.

"Well, if you insist." Jessica said.

"I do. I strongly insist."

She sat with her thoughts for a while.

"I feel bad. You know? I was 18. I was in love. We got married because of the baby. I thought we could make it work for the baby. But he just. Didn't want to try anymore. But maybe it wasn't his fault. Maybe he just didn't want this life anymore." She whispered.

Seungmin groaned internally. "It's his fault."

"But really, is it? Because -" she started.

"You're too forgiving, babe. It IS his fault. Listen, my brother was also in the same situation, but there was a key difference." Seungmin said.

"What?"

"There is not a single person in our family that would let him live if he left his wife and kids. I mean, my dad would kill him. I don't mean like the expression. I mean, actually kill him. If my brother ever decided, "Oh. I don't want this life anymore because I was young and dumb when I had this baby." My dad would find him, and dismember him, and throw his body parts into Lake Ontario." Seungmin ranted. "Your ex's family defends him, and they've gaslighted you into believing it's your fault. They baby him. He's never had any standard to live up to. If it were my brother, my dad would NOT be like, "Oh, but I understand him because he's my precious son." No. My dad would be even more furious and be like, "How dare MY kid, that I raised, act so disgusting?! Prepare to die." And then he would kill him. And honestly, I kinda wanna dismember your ex and throw him into Lake Ontario because it doesn't seem like anyone else is going to do it. And because he doesn't even care about the impact that this has had on you or his own freaking child!" 

Jessica gulped. "Well, don't dismember him, please. I don't want you to go to jail."

Seungmin let out a huff. "If you insist. I won't."

A/N Sorry for misleading you guys with the last chapter. It had to be done. It was kinda fun too. Now you'll have to go back and re-read it, knowing who it's actually taking about.