On Thin Air

The Good Husband

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What the heck? He didn't understand what Namjoo just did. To be morbid, dark, and bitter was just like Sangki. He was literally the embodiment of all dark forces. Nothing Sehun hadn't witnessed. He could literally stand in the same spot all day while Sangki ranted everything about his sorry life. Blocking him out was a special ability Sehun had acquired.

He turned when the door opened and Hea stepped out in her pretty yellow dress. Lacing hands at her back she twirled over. Ballet or something. Leaning against the wall and smelling of vanilla, arousing memories of summers on the beach. When his mother used to be well. She'd taught him how to make his first sandcastle.

"I heard," Hea started, "that Namjoo is supposed to be pregnant."

Sehun wished he would left earlier. Followed Namjoo or something.

"But I don't think Namjoo has a weak body. She's always so ferocious. Nothing a lady should be," Hea said. "I'm still surprised you two got married." Shifting to face him she curiously wondered, "So, how is it living with that girl? I can't imagine it'd be anything near easy. Namjoo must run her mouth a lot. When she lived at home that was all she did."

When he said nothing she turned into the wall again. "Dad says he hopes you can tame her. That he hopes you two can have a baby and she'll learn how to grow up, but how is someone like that supposed to grow up, right?" Scoffing, "I doubt you'd want to sleep with her anyway. You would have been better off with me, but then too bad it didn't happen."

Sehun turned to look at her. A faint smile across his lips, "Too bad, right?"

A moment of confusion tore down on Hea. It was all he needed as he left her outside.

The elders passed time gnawing on fruit and the tangerine Namjoo's father brought. He weaved back and forth between them and pretending to oversee dinner. None of which he had any hand in. Kitchen matters weren't his worries. He walked back and forth, venturing outside when possible.

Spotting a speck in the distance. A colored blob under the scorching sun. Namjoo sleeping or awake. He wouldn't be able to tell from so far away. She had walked quite a distance to isolate herself. Sehun watched her. Quietly. Wondering if she had a connection to the earth; if peace rolled over her when she was alone.

This far away no one would be able to touch her. Was that her purpose?

"The table is being set," the door opened.

"I'll be in," Sehun told. The door closed and he stared out into the distance. Exhaling he took his first step forward.

Crossing the rolling green to who had become his wife. The open land seemed to stretch forever. Yawning like the open sky endlessly. Nothing but the wind out here. The woods grew thicker around them but remained a distance away.

Sehun kept a constant pace. Not rushing. Until he was a width away from where her head lay. Namjoo's eyes were closed. Maybe she was dreaming. Of happy times.

"You came far out," Sehun spoke.

Namjoo's eyes slowly opened. Revealing she was awake all along. First meeting with the sky. Then to him.

"Come in. Dinner's ready," he said.

Pulling herself up with a sigh, Namjoo stood. He watched her come to level with his shoulder. Brushing her knees, her back, her hair. Complaining, "We wouldn't have to do this if not for them."

Turning they headed back together. At a steady pace. Not taking wide strides so he wouldn't be ahead of her. Also because he wasn't in a hurry to return.