FALLING CLOSE

It's been a week and they're as much strangers now as they were before. It had to change. Or at least, he had to try and change things. Just a little. Just enough so that he won't be discarded. He hoped he doesn't have to go through as many divorce as his older and only sister did. Of course he's happy that she finally settled down with Gwangseok-shi but he can't imagine being married to one man after another like that. Jaejoong had always been a hopeless romantic after all. His only dream is to be married to someone who'll protect him and grow old with him. He'll do anything to realise that wish.

Exhaling loudly, Jaejoong knocked on the door and slowly entered once given the permission. Like every other night for the week, the man he married to didn't bother to look up from the documents he's perusing even when Jaejoong carefully placed the tea and this time, remained standing in front of the table awkwardly.

"Yunho-shi." Jaejoong softly tried after a while, eyes fixed on his husband's figure for any change.

"Yes?" The man finally looked at him but he remained the same stranger, his tone and expression not giving Jaejoong anything. Blank.

Despite his worry, Jaejoong pressed on. "Can I- Can we... talk?"

His husband frowned and Jaejoong hurriedly apologized. "I'm sorry for bothering you! I- I'll go to sleep first. Good night. I'm sorry!"

"Jaejoong."

Jaejoong's already reaching for the doorknob when he heard his husband's call. Sighing, he turned around and braced himself for the worst. It's his fault for troubling his husband when the man's obviously busy in the first place. He knew some punishment is in order but he's still a little terrified. His husband had yet to enforce any rules in their marriage so Jaejoong had no idea how far the man would punish disobedience. He must be stricter than Jaejoong's father though. Jaejoong's father always acknowledge his existence but his husband, he never even smiled or talked to Jaejoong after their ceremony, most of the times treating Jaejoong as if he's invinsible and other times he made Jaejoong feel as if he's just a maid here. It's been like that for the whole long week. Jaejoong's honestly scared if his husband had some dissatisfaction about him. After all, the man had not even claimed his virginity yet. He wondered if his husband thought Jaejoong's not worth his time at all. Maybe he's not enough for the man's pleasure. Jaejoong had to rectify that soon. He doesn't want to risk his marriage.

"Jaejoong."

"Yes?"

His husband sighed and Jaejoong winced, clasping his hands tightly behind him to show submission when he heard the chair screeched as his husband got up and walked towards him. Jaejoong unconsciously closed his eyes when the man stopped in front of him.

"Look at me."

Jaejoong bit his lips and forced himself to raise his head, expecting a slap at the very least. His brows instead furrowed at the sight that greeted him and the lack of pain that usually come after every mistake done in his household. 

His husband doesn't look mad at all. In fact, he looked a little... concerned? Jaejoong blinked. "Yunho-shi?"

"You're trembling." His husband offered and Jaejoong quickly hugged himself, as if the action could stop or hide his fear. "Are you okay?"

Jaejoong frowned, no longer trembling as bad simply because he's not comprehending the situation at all. "I- You- You're not mad?"

His husband stared, confusion written all over his face. "Why should I be mad?"

"I- You- I-" Jaejoong's not used to this. His father never asked him for any reason. Jaejoong doesn't know how to give an explanation at all.

"Hey, calm down. Calm down, Jaejoong. It's okay. Come here." Jaejoong stopped instantly, eyes wide when the man helped him sit down on the sofa and kneeled in front of him. His husband had one hand comfortably heavy against Jaejoong's knees while the other rubbed his arm. "Okay?"