30 Reasons Why I Love You

Chapter 8: Reason #23

Reason #23: No matter how angry you are with me, you'll never rob me of your smile 

It's been a week since that fight with Rei. Everything got awkward after that. He started to avoid me, to ignore me and to sleep on the edge of the bed we share. When we were left alone in a room, a minute wouldn't pass before he got up and left me alone. When I tried talking to him, he answered in short replies. And finally the icing on the cake of hate, his obvious effort of sleeping early and far from me. Normally, he'd wrap me in his arms and wait for me to sleep before falling asleep. Now, he'd go to bed early and scoot to the far edge of the bed. Once I tried to hug him from behind, he just shook me off and moved even further to the edge.

I won't lie. I'm furious with him. I hate him. I hate him for making me hate myself for not trusting him. I hate him for making me feel like I have some kind of deadly disease. When he leaves for school, I'd cry. I'd cry so hard my eyes get puffy that no matter how often I wash my face, it wouldn't help. 

I gingerly sat up from the bed and walked toward the twin's cribs. They had gotten so big that they needed a crib of their own. I sat on the chair near their beds, Shin and Shun crawled near me and sat there with confused looks. I smiled bitterly at them before leaning back on my chair.

"Daddy's mad at me. What do you think I should do?" I asked bitterly, thinking why I'm asking two 9-month old babies questions like this. I laughed without humor, wiping a tear that escaped from my eyes.

Ring~ Ring~ Ring~

I looked at the phone ringing on the bedside table. Slowly, I stood up and walked over. 

"Hello. Jin speaking." I said into the receiver as I stared at nothing in particular. Who could have called at 12pm. That was really weird. Usually the house was quiet and uneventful except for the hungry cries of the twins. 

"Hi, baby." I cringed, the shivers ran down my spine upon hearing the voice. "Miss me?"

"You bastard. Where are you?!" I yelled, surpising the quiet Shun and Shin. After a few days without contact, he suddenly calls again. That bastard. He should pay for the shit he's causing to my marriage.

"Don't worry. I'll be showing up soon. Just wait for me, beautiful." Kaoru whispered. I couldn't stop the trembling of my body. The fear leaking out of my pores turning into a cold sweat. He was coming for me. He really was coming for me. I turned around and looked at my babies. Was he coming for them as well? Was he going to take them away from me? From Rei?

"You listen and you listen well, you son of a bitch." I huffed an angry breath, clenching my hand into a fist. "Haru is looking for your stupid ass right now and when he finds you, and he will find you, I'll have the pleasure of blowing up that sick head of yours into pieces." I was seething in anger as I heard him laugh on the other line. How could I have let this bastard go to jail instead of killing him? Why did I let the law do its job? Why didn't I do it all those years ago? And why hasn't Haru found this psychopath?

"Jin. You can't kill me. You know you can't, baby. Just wait for me there with the kids." I visibly froze, my muscles tensing. Did he just say 'kids'? I never mentioned I had kids to him. "I'll be coming for you guys so you don't need to stay that long with that Rei bastard. You're not happy with him. You never were. That's why I'll bring you with me. I'll make you guys happy." Then a long beep was left on the line. 

I placed the phone back and sat on the bed, staring blankly at the wall. This isn't true. He knows. He knows about the kids. Rei.

Rei!

I reached for the phone immediately, my hands shaking as I dialed the familiar number. 

Ring~ Ring~ Ring~ 

"~ut up. Hello?" I released a breath I didn't know I was holding once I heard Rei's voice. I felt my hand open and close as I tried to calm myself down. It wouldn't help anyone if I started to break down. I needed him home, just to see if he was safe and that monster far from him.

"Rei, come home now." I choked back a sob, praying he hadn't heard it. "Please."

A short silence passed as I heard rustling in the background. It sounded like he was stuffing everything in his bag before the sound of a dragging chair invaded my ears.

"Be home in 10." With that, he hung up. I returned the phone to its original place, shaking as I did so, before walking over to where Shun and Shin were. Slowly, I took Shin in my arms before reaching out to Shun who was already waiting for me with open arms. Both wrapped their arms around my neck as I regained my balance. After placing a kiss on the top of their heads, I returned to the bed as I waited for Rei.

"Jin!" 

After minutes, that felt like hours, of staring at the ceiling, I heard a loud bang of a door. I heard my name being called from downstairs and shuffling around as he called my name repeatedly. I breathed in relief as I waited for Rei to show up in the room, gasping at the pain of Shin punching my chest. I slowly sat up, being mindful of the playing twins on my side, while I collected myself.

"Jin!" Rei called once again as he entered the room. He took big steps to where we were, dropping his bag by the door. He crouched down as I felt his hands smooth over my cheeks.

"What's wrong?" He wiped my face, surprising me at how wet they felt. Was it sweat from his hands or was I crying?

I reached my hand to touch my cheek, shocked at the moisture it had. It was wet, still wet. I figured I had been crying when I had relaxed with the twins moments ago. "Baby." I looked at Rei, his beautiful blue eyes swimming in concern. He was looking over at me, seeing if I had hurt myself. I immediately wrapped my arms around him, tightening my embrace once I felt him return it. My head positioned itself to its favorite spot, the crook on Rei's neck, as my tears continuously flowed.

"Jin." I heard him call my name softly as I pulled back to look at him. He wasn't looking any better than I did. Dark circles covered his bloodshot eyes while he sported a stubble. His effort of pulling away from me was sucking the life out of his face and I didn't like it.

Slowly, I saw his lips twitch. Then, a smile formed on his gorgeous lips. The same smile that wiped everything away. The smile that kept me giddy with excitement as he teased me while we made love. The smile that assured me everything was going to be all right when I gave birth. The same loving smile he sported when he yelled the words: "I do".

"I'm here, Jin. I'm right here."