About You: Love & Sacrifice

The Two Who Approach And Away

"May I ask you one thing?"

Mirae stretched her arms after repeatedly apologizing, the gaze that had dimmed a moment ago now turned serious and demanded an answer.

"What's that?"

"After you can make sure that Younha is okay as soon as you get through this, either because Woojin will be there for her or Jihoon will instead come back to Younha, then promise me that you won't go see Younha again." Mirae looked at Jinan expectantly. "I'm tired of having to be prejudiced every day, I don't want to but I keep thinking like that. No, I'm jealous, actually. I'm jealous you're sharing your attention with other women even though Younha is your best friend you've ever loved. Have you ever imagined how I would be in my position to see you talking attentively or hugging Younha right in front of my eyes? I don't know what to do, should let you and feel jealous or forbid you and make your relationship with Younha so bad. Yesterday I may have been more jealous, but now may I exercise my right to forbid my husband from being close to another woman?"

Jinan fell silent. Not knowing what to answer because of sudden dead-end thoughts. Mirae had just asked him to leave Younha and how could he do that? How could he leave Younha who after yesterday said need it and how—how could?

Monolid Mirae begged her husband even though she knew Jinan would not obey her.

"May I forbid you to see Younha again?" Mirae repeats. "Can you obey him?"

Jinan held her breath and blinked quickly, suddenly nervous to be cornered with such a question.

"Mirae, but—"

"I don't want to hear the word but." Mirae shakes. "Just yes or no. If you can't then I should take it upon myself and hold back my jealousy again, right?"

Mirae released her embrace on Jinan's waist and smiled discordantly. Then switch the conversation and throw away your face.

"I'll prepare warm water for you to take a bath." Mirae turned around, again.

He has to give up his own feelings. No matter how great they fought even until Mirae issued harsh words and mockery still she had to be the one to give up. Looking at the position of Younha from Jinan, he felt that he was destined to always hold back jealousy. Don't know, Mirae doesn't know what she's doing right or wrong.

Mirae's fifth step came to a halt as she felt two arms hugging her stomach from behind. Mirae felt her back warm from coming into contact with Jinan's chest. The man now put his chin over Mirae's shoulder.

"I'll stay away from Younha." Jinan's whisper spontaneously made Mirae's tears fall again but was full of relief. It was as if his ego was getting a big pass. "I'm sorry because all this time it's made you sad about my attitude. I love you Mirae-ya."

Mirae nodded softly with tears continuing to flow, her heart completely relieved.

...*****...

Jihoon bit his lower lip to hold back a smile. If the thermometer could measure the happy pressure, it might have exploded so much that it could not hold the feeling in Jihoon's chest. Hearing how Younha invites to talk Seojun with a voice like a child made to—ikut brought Jihoon clingy himself.

Jihoon realizes that he and Younha are over a year old. Sometimes Younha showed more youthful attitude and for Jihoon was very funny. Without feeling, Jihoon carried away in the moments when they spent time together at the beginning of the wedding—enjoy the moment of the newlyweds, just the two. Younha who likes to sulk, Younha who easily feels annoyed, Younha who often whines spoiled, Younha who wants her hair played and Younha who wants her first child is a boy. All of Younha's past portraits filled Jihoon's memory. Short, but short.

"You—"

"You—"

They spoke together and then fell silent because it was awkward to continue. Several times Jihoon glanced at Younha beside him, they had just reached the front of Younha's apartment building and there was no sign of intending to disembark.

"You go first." Jihoon let in after a few seconds of silence.

"You have a show today?" Younha started, but her tone was a little doubtful.

Jihoon fell silent, his fingers tapping the steering wheel while thinking.

Looking at Jihoon's voice that did not immediately reply, Younha could conclude that the man who was the director's status must be very busy. What was he thinking about asking such a question?

Younha immediately interrupted. "Oh, just ignore my question. Nothing important, forget it—"

"certain." Said Jihoon and Younha turned to him. "Of course I have no plans today other than to play with my kids. You're going to ask me to stop by, aren't you?"

Younha's forehead frowned. "Ih, what a pity."

"There's no need to lie because the look on your face shows everything." Jihoon gave an anxious laugh then rubbed Younha's head and made the woman's face redder. Don't know if Younha is acting wrong at the moment.

For a while Jihoon smiled to himself holding back the gegeget. Though it was obvious that she was already fully dressed in the office but Younha still asked like that. Jihoon immediately turned on his phone and called a number.

"Exit my schedule today also cancel all meetings and meetings. I'm on more important business. June."

"But you have a check schedule today, sir."

Jihoon clucked small. "Redirect it tomorrow or the day after. I'm okay anyway."

"Sir Jihoon—"

Jihoon hung up the phone instantly. Then following the steps Younha who had entered the elevator first with her two children.

...*****...

Seojun stood with his little legs while lifting a fairy tale book about the deer, his narrow eyes looking at the Mama as if asking permission in full swing. Younha smiled wryly, waiting for what her youngest child would say.

"Mama, can Ojun have me read a fairy tale to Ojun?" The toddler was waiting for an impatient response, when Younha finally nodded—Seojun directly ran from the kitchen counter and caught up with Jihoon in the living room.

"Dad, read the fairy tale!"

Jihoon laughed and brought Seojun's small body into his lap.

"Seojun is interrupting brother's play with Dad!" Yeonjun said scowling but still coolly composing his own Lego. "Dad's not going home anymore, is he? I want to stay here and play with Yeonjun, right?"

The question that came out suddenly from Yeonjun's lips made Jihoon who just opened a piece of fairy tale book pause for a moment. He shifts Seojun and gives the car toys to forget the fairy tale and play with his own world. How would Jihoon answer such a small, not simple question? What if Jihoon wants to but Younha doesn't allow it?

The man smiled faintly, his right hand raised to comb the strands of hair Yeonjun was staring at him with a hopeful ping pong. "Later Dad will often stop by and play with brother and sister, yes. But for now I can't stay."

"Why?"

Jihoon sighed. "It's like Mama doesn't want to make up with me."

"Mama didn't want to make up with Daddy because of what?" Yeonjun showed a confused look.

"That's hard to explain, brother won't understand."

"Dad done wrong?"

Jihoon became a bit nervous as Yeonjun intimidated him. "Yes, that's fatal."

"Then just apologize, Mama must be sorry because Mama Yeonjun is good." Yeonjun said lightly.

Jihoon gave an anxious laugh then pinched his son's cheeks playfully. Though he has apologized a million times but Younha still difficult to answer.

"What's this about? Why are you so tense?" Younha came with two cups of flower tea and some of her handmade jars. Younha sat on the carpet, behind Seojun who was cool with his cars.

"Yeonjun asked why Mama was angry with Dad, so I replied that Mama was angry a long time ago." Jihoon said carelessly while chuckling, intending to tease Younha into not being too stiff on her.

"I've never been angry except for you. It feels like my hands are itching to see that face of yours, I just want to slap it." Younha glared at Jihoon. "Don't pollute the minds of children with our problems. Don't use them to seduce me, it won't work."

Jihoon sniffing. He shook his head with a frown as he felt a dizzy stab over his head. Younha turned her head, doubting what had happened to Jihoon since it must have been her ex-husband acting in pain or what to steal the show. But as soon as a pale face began to appear with blood flowing from Jihoon's nose, Younha panicked and immediately approached to coincide with the man falling in his arms.

"Mas Jihoon!!"

...*****...