Garden Days

So What

They're kind of OC
*Irene pov*

Irene was hesitant in asking Sehun to stay for dinner. So many times he had rejected her plans and desires to hang out that it has become almost okay; now that he was here after months of denial, it was a frightening question. "Sehun?" She cleared her throat and pulled his stare away from Jin. "I was wondering if you'd like to stay for dinner...please."
Sehun hung his head, laughing. When he looked up at her again, smiling with dirt on his face, he said: "I guess that's enough time to gather all my things."
Irene felt all the stress fall from her shoulders. "Thank you."
"It's the least I could do." The young carpenter admitted. "I've been an idiot. Can I...explain?"
Rosey lips curved into a grin.  "Let's talk about it after dinner." She looked at Jin, who was waiting patiently for them on the patio. "Please be nice."
Sehun paused in his words and winked. "Rennee, please, of course! I'm a nice person." He took her arm and pulled her towards the house where Jin waited for them.
"Don't play dumb. I know you're a nice person. A very nice person. But sometimes you can be...a little too much." Irene pinched her thumb and forefinger together to emphasize her point.
"You talk like I don't know how to act around other people." He rolled his eyes and put on a smile.
"That's because you're so child-!"
"Jin!" Sehun said happily when they approached the man. Jin turned around, looking as though he felt he didn't belong. "Do you want to hear a joke?"
The latter calmed down at this, feeling more welcome. "A joke?"
"Dinner is probably getting cold- let's go!" Irene cried nervously as she hauled both men inside. Sehun could be enthusiastic- almost too enthusiastic- when meeting someone for the first time and she didn't want to spare the embarrassment. Jin gave a puzzled look at her outburst but complied anyway.
As they entered the house and made their way to the dining room, she watched him. He kept his eyes ahead with an occasional glance to his surroundings, most of those brief looks at her. Irene felt her ears turn red each time, every stare different from the last: curiosity, happiness, nervous, loving... Jin was feeling a lot of emotions and she was the reason.
They entered the room and took their respective seats at the table. "My father will not be joining us tonight." The young woman informed from the head. "He wanted to let us catch up," A look from Sehun. "And get to know each other better." Jin and Sehun shared a glance.
"If that's what your father wants, then I'm alright with it." Jin replied. Why was he so anxious? Sehun, perhaps?
"I like that idea." Sehun agreed from her left. He paused when the side doors opened, a woman entering with a pitcher of water. "So Jin," He started and turned his gaze to the farmer boy. "What do you think of Irene?"
"What did I tell you, Sehun-?"
"She and I just met," Seok-jin answered politely. "So there's not much to think but," He smiled charmingly in Irene's direction when she looked hurt. "I know she's the loveliest woman I've met and deserves the best a man can give her."
Said woman moved her hands to her lap and clenched them into fists, trying not to turn red in embarrassment.
"She is." Sehun agreed, falling into silence shortly afterward to take a sip of water.
"May I ask...how you feel about this marriage?"
Irene stared at Sehun, wondering what was going through his head to make him ask such rude questions.
Jin's eyes darted behind her and he pulled out his napkin to place on his lap. "I'm more interested in what you think, Sehun." He retorted as their meals were placed in front of them.
"Why is that? I'm not the one who's getting married."
"Doesn't this look great?" The tension was getting thick and Irene wanted it to stop before it got any worse. "Let's eat before it gets cold-."
"She's your friend. You must have some thoughts."
"Oh, I do, but why should I share them with you when-."
"Stop!" Irene yelled, looking back-and-forth between the two men, upset. "Open your mouths one more time and you're leaving this table, understood?" Two silent nods and they turned to their plates. She put down her fork and knife, sighing and leaning back in her chair. "I told you Sehun- and Jin, I expected better from you. Gosh, am I your babysitter or your friend?"
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"Care to explain yourself?" Irene asked Sehun with crossed arms. They stood out in the garden, the young woman ready to scold him.
Sehun rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged. "He...he isn't good enough for you..."
"Are you serious right now? That was why you attacked him?"
"That's not why!" He protested loudly, making her jump in surprise. "When you told me about your marriage to him two years ago, I was shocked. I never expected you to be okay with marrying a man you'd never met, but I- I was also jealous. Why is a complete stranger allowed to spend the rest of his life with you? Why is he allowed to love you when that's all I've....I've ever wanted." The young man was struggling to keep a steady voice, struggling to keep his tears back. "And knowing all of this, I thought if I ignored you, it would go away, my feelings for you would disappear. I don't want to be the bad guy, Irene. I love you so, so much."
Irene reached up and gently cupped his face, swallowing her own tears with a smile. "You are a wonderful man, Sehun." She wiped away a tear. "Even if I loved you in return, we couldn't. It wouldn't be fair-."
"So you'd put his happiness before yours? It's not your fault he-!" He grabbed her forearms and pulled her closer.
"And it's not mine that he and I are set to be wed!" She retorted.
"So you're just going to resign yourself to a fate decided by people who don't even care about you-?"
"Don't say that." Irene pushed him away, angry he'd even suggest that.
"What would happen if you ran away?" The addressed woman kept her mouth shut. "Are you doing this because for your mother or because you think you have to?"
"That's none of your business, Sehun." She answered and pointed to the trail leading to the house. "Go."
"Renee."
"I said, go!" She yelled, waiting until he disappeared to fall to her knees and cry.