✔️ 40 Weeks [Book 1] | Jeon Jungkook

Week 27 - Part 2

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"How about this one?"

Haneul held up a hanger above her head, keeping an emerald green gown from dragging on the floor because of its length.

Hyun-Ji smiled politely. "It's a very pretty color," she said, offering no further feedback.

Haneul shook her head and returned it to the rack.
"Ok. That's "Hyun-Jease" for 'I think it's ugly'. I'm starting to figure you out, girlie," she chuckled.

She had forced the reclusive Hyun-Ji out of her son's bedroom, absconding her away to go shopping for a prom dress instead of letting her sit in the house like a sad, lonely lovebird.

With Jungkook away more often, Hyun-Ji made herself scarce. Haneul felt like she needed a friendly reminder that there was still a whole world outside of her son.

"This one?" Haneul held up another, this one cobalt blue and bedazzled to hell. It looked like the inside would feel similar to satan's hairy anus.

Her chin trembled as a giggle threatened to surface. "It's a very pretty color," she said.

Haneul laughed and put it back. "At least you're paying attention. That one was hideous."

Hyun-Ji followed behind Haneul like a baby duckling as she shopped.

"Go take a look around," Haneul prodded, nudging her shoulder. "And don't give me that 'you don't have to do this, Mrs. Jeon' crap. I know. Let me be nice to you."

Hyun-Ji smiled and started to peruse the racks of the boutique, her smile soon falling.

"Spill it," Haneul said, making Hyun-Ji's body seize. Her melancholy hadn't escaped Haneul's watchful eye.

"W-what?"

"This is quiet, even for you. I hear you and Kookie all the time."

Hyun-Ji stiffened, her wide eyes darting around. "Y-you... you do?"

"Yeah! You cackle like a horse at whatever he says!"

The younger's shoulders relaxed. "Oh, that," she laughed nervously. "He's really funny," she smiled.

"Don't avoid the question. What's wrong," Haneul asked, her voice more gentle.

Hyun-Ji's mouth pressed into a line. "I don't think I want to go to prom," she said in a small voice.

"What? Why not?"

"I... don't know," she said, her eyes scanning the floor.

"I think you do," Haneul pressed. "But I'll help you out."

Hyun-Ji looked up at the older woman, biting the inside of her lip.

"You're worried about what other people think of you. You're worried about what they'll say. Right?"

The younger looked at the floor again. Was she really that easy to read?

Try as she might, Hyun-Ji couldn't seem to disregard other's opinions of her. She preferred to be so unremarkable that no opinion could be formed at all. She went to school, kept to herself, completed her assignments on time, and went back home. That was it. That was how she preferred it to be.