The Pretend Wife

One.

For a couple of minutes Taeyong stared at his mother inconceivably. His mind was refusing to comprehend what his mother had just said.

"You're not going to disown me, are you?" Taeyong spoke incredulously. His heart was beating erraticly and his breathing was faint and laborious. It can't be done to him by his mother. His whole life was the museum. It was something he was destined to do. He'd been going to be lost without it.

His mother let out a sigh. "Taeyong, I'm not going to abandon or disown you or whatever. I'm simply stating that I believe you should first settle your own affairs before taking on such a large responsibility as the museum." She clarified.

"And you think getting married will help me fix my life?" Taeyong was taken aback as he inquired in disbelief.

His mother gave him a frown. "Well you're not planning to stay single forever are you?"

It was silent.

"You are?" His mother screeched loudly like a rat getting run over by a car.

Taeyong was deafeningly quiet before he finally regained his voice as he squeaked out, "Mom, i-"

"I will give you some time to think through all this. Think wisely, son." His mother cut him off as she directed a stern and an expression of a 'you-better-not-fuck-up' towards him as she stood up and went to grab hold of the huge handleknob of the door.

Taeyong breathed a sigh of relief.
"I want your answers tonight. Meet me back here after my meeting on 8pm." His mother declared loudly before completely disappearing through the door.

And Taeyong froze.

-

"So," Jennie drawled before loudly slurping her noodles. "What was this emergency about that you had to yeet me away from my netflix and chill time?"
Taeyong had contacted his best friend as soon as he exited the museum, trying to clear his mind and escape his mother's mighty ultimatum; after all, he only had 5 hours to consider and make a decision.

"Just." Taeyong let out a long sigh before downing his fourth bottle of soju for the evening. "Some museum affairs that needs to be taken of," He muttered before taking another shot.

"Uh huh." Jennie raised her eyebrows at that. "And what makes you think i'd buy that?"

"I don't know," Taeyong replied sluggishly. "Can't you just pretend to?"

Jennie softly smiles at him as she amusedly watch her stubborn best friend busy himself with ordering more bottles. "And that's your fifth bottle, that's enough young man." She lectured him as she went on her full mode teacher role.

"Ugh. But-" Taeyong grumble before seeing Jennie's raised eyebrows at him.

Thinking it might not be the best decision to face his mother wasted either, he groaned inwardly. "Damn it fine."

Feeling his best friend's gaze on him, he knew she's waiting for him to tell her the matter that got him bothered as hell. Thinking on how to tell her about his mother's life changing ultimatum, he pondered back on their conversation earlier.

How could he tell his mother that marriage was not in his long-term plans for the future? He knew he was his father's son, no matter how much he tried to deny it. Why would he drag some poor sad creature into a marriage that was already doomed? And he had indeed seen how his mother had suffered in the hands of his useless father and he did not want history to repeat itself. It was best to steer clear from it entirely.

"Tae?" Jennie's soft voice snapped him out of his trance as he looked at her to see Jennie blinking at him, her big doe brown eyes staring concernedly. "Are you alright? It's fine if you don't wanna talk about it, you don't have to."

Taeyong inwardly let out a big sigh of relief as he himself did not know how to deliver the news. Oh he'd tell her soon, but just not now. For now he just wanted to forget everything and drink the moment away.

At times like this he was very grateful to have a friend like Jennie. She's understanding and so sweet and caring, his pretty little cute best friend. Taeyong and Jennie were total polar opposites you'd wonder how they managed to be the best of friends.

"Tell me about your day instead." Taeyong inquired. "Got some interesting kid or events occurring?"

Jennie snorted. "If by interesting you mean a kid pooping his pants off without any boxers on and go around announcing he was painting brown paint with his butt, yeah no shit sherlock."

Taeyong laughed as he remembered clearly that one eventful drama. Jennie was a kindergarten teacher at Neo Preschool, where she had been for three years and had thoroughly enjoyed her work. She had always adored children and found tremendous pleasure in caring for them, and becoming a teacher provided her with the opportunity to be around them all of the time which she loved dearly.

Taeyong finally noticed the time when he looked at his watch. It's already eight o'clock. Time had flown by at a breakneck pace, and Taeyong groaned under his breath, still unsure what to say once he will face his mother later.

Muttering a brief goodbye to Jennie, who had plans on her own tonight as well, he hurriedly rushed to his car, revving up the engine as he drove to his impending doom.