Man-Child

Chapter 13: Even Her Husband Hates Her

Monday arrived and I had to go back to work. The idea of Taehyung leaving for the family vacation had been eating at my insides. Besides the fact that I liked him, I couldn't look after Jack without him – as much as it bruised my ego to say it.

I was in the changing rooms, getting dressed in my work outfit when I heard two women talking in the next stalls. I was still a half-decent person and tried not to eavesdrop. You could guess how that went...

"My husband is away on a business trip for a month and he left me all alone with the baby."

"Aw...no. That's so hard. How do you manage without him?"

"I don't. Let me tell you; looking after a baby on your own is no joke. I can't go to bed without a glass of wine."

I practically had my ear pressed against the wall as I tried listening to them. I tried not to eavesdrop...

"Oh...that's terrible. What are you going to do?"

There was a pause. For a split second, I thought that I had been caught.

"He doesn't know it... But I'm going to fly up to him this weekend with the baby and surprise him! We'll have a nice little holiday there and-"

Ignoring the rest of their conversation, I quickly got out my phone and called Taehyung. It rung a few times before Taehyung picked up.

"Minji... Is something wrong?" Taehyung's groggy voice answered.

"I'm really sorry to wake you, I know you don't get much sleep-"

"It's fine. Just tell me what's wrong."

I bit my bottom lip. I pulled the phone away from my ear and my thumb hovered over the 'end call' button. I closed my eyes and brought the phone back to my ear. "Can Jack and I come with?"

"What?" He sounded fully awake now. "Minji, what are you talking about?"

"Like... you can still go see your family and I'll stay away. Nobody needs to know we're even there. We can just stay at the hotel and-"

"Do you know what you're asking me?"

"Do you know what you're asking from me?" I shot back. "You're asking me to look after an infant without help for two weeks."

There was a long sigh from the other end.

"Please, Tae. You can't leave me alone with the baby." I stared at my shoes, waiting in suspense for Taehyung's approval.

Taehyung sighed. "I'm tired, Minji. Can't this wait?"

"You're right... you're right..." I muttered, nodding my head. "Sorry. We can talk at home."

I opened the stall door and walked out to put my clothes in my locker. My two co-workers were standing suspiciously close – most likely eavesdropping.

"You have a baby?" Jennie, one of the two women, asked.

"No." I deadpanned, stuffing my clothes into the locker.

"We couldn't help but overhear you talking about taking care of a baby..." Sumi pried, standing closer.

I forced out a laugh. "Oh, no. I'm babysitting my nephew for a bit."

"So... who's Tae?"

Nosy assholes...

"My sister. It's short for Taeyeon." I straightened out my uniform and gave the two a smile. "Now, if you'll excuse me."

I didn't realize that my palms were sweating until I walked into the lobby to ask Sejun who had booked massages that day. The first client that was booked for me was only showing up at ten, and it was eight.