On Thin Air

The Seeds of Doubt

The haze of innocence was so strange about him. Confused about where he had been invited to. Who these people are? But when his eyes landed on her, Namjoo choked up with guilt. Yearning. Remorse. Regret.

Lee Jinho didn't know about her.

Her background.

Her family.

What she did for a living.

Where she was now.

Who she was married to.

Or that...she was having someone else's baby.

"Namjoo?" he took a step toward her.

Sehun edged himself in front of her. "Who are you?"

Jinho stared at the taller man. Namjoo's heart thrust painfully into her ribs.

"I'm..." Jinho looked at her lost then back to Sehun, "her boyfriend."

"What?" Sehun asked bewildered.

Jinho gave Sehun a once over. Still confused. Unable to piece everything together. Trying to smile but unable to, because he was becoming anxious. "Namjoo, what are you doing there?" Nervous, but still willing to call for her, "Lets go."

Lee Jinho, who she wanted to be just like. The man that had everything she would never have.

Freedom.

Options.

His own will.

A good, loving family.

Namjoo felt her eyes burn. Regret, because once upon a time she had really cherished his presence. For a few hours he granted her the power to let go. And she had been no one and nothing special.

"Namjoo," Jinho nervously called again, "what are you doing? Lets go."

She felt Sehun's eyes on her. Most likely wondering why she wasn't saying anything. She could not look at him. Afraid that he would see in her eyes she could be unfaithful. Wavering for a love long gone.

Deciding she wouldn't Sehun dropped the bomb, "She's my wife."

"What?" shocked, Jinho stared wide-eyed at Sehun. Then his eyes slid to her.

So much remorse rattled through her. Her dishonesty to him. The lies she fed him. Gripping her hand into a fist at her side, Namjoo teared up. The flush of liquid trickled down her face. Unable to witness the disbelieving expression shoot across Jinho's face.

His frown turned grim. Glancing at everyone in the room one by one. The hushing silence of shame that he had latched onto a married woman. Realizing at last that he was here to be made a clownery of. Those brown eyes she loved narrowed. Pivoting on an angry heel he burst toward the front door.

The emotions shot loose through her. Namjoo cried out painfully. Shoving Sehun aside as she chased after him. Hurrying down the stairs toward Jinho's receding back. Desperate to catch him. Clinging onto his arm a quarter of the way into the front yard.

"Don't go," Namjoo pleaded. "I'm sorry."

He stilled. Tilted his head back to stare up at the pink sky, as if trying to draw out his patience, which she didn't deserve. Touching her hand, he removed her grasp.

"I couldn't get in touch with you," Jinho told. The voice gentle. The tone almost affectionate. Soft, sad. "I looked for you everywhere." Then angrier, "Did you know that?"

Namjoo blinked back her tears. A useless attempt. "I'm sorry." Now she was starting to sound like Seoyun.

Huffing, he tilted his head to stare at the sky again. Running his fingers up through his hair. Sighing. "You left me hanging. Do you know how unfair that was for me?! And you're – " he thrust his arm back to the house. His breath quaked. Breathing harder, "You're married?"