"Marry me." Na Rae blurted.
She felt nervous but at the back of her mind, she was hopeful. He would never allow his reputation to be ruined, would he? People would criticize him and it will only be a matter of time when he'll lose everyone else's respect. Na Rae inwardly smirked. He could try and think of other options. But she was confident that they won't be as convenient as her offer.
There was silence between them. Na Rae waited for his response because his expression was unreadable. He seemed to be thinking about it carefully. And so with every second that was passing, her anxiety grew. Finally, Min Jae turned to look at her and after a few moments, he scoffed. Na Rae's brows furrowed as she scowled.
"You must be f****** out of your mind." Min Jae spat. Ridiculous! It was one thing that she was pregnant. But marriage? That night was a mistake. It never should've happened! Min Jae pinched the bridge of his nose out of frustration. "F***. This... this should not have happened." He muttered almost inaudibly.
However, Na Rae heard this clearly. "So what? That's it? Just because you think we made a mistake this child's going to grow up without a father?" She challenged. He should've just agreed! Why did he have to make things complicated when they could be as simple as that?!
Min Jae didn't reply. Instead, he stared absentmindedly at the empty plate in front of him. Seeing that he seemed unconcerned, Na Rae grew more frustrated. "It's because of her isn't it? That woman you were living with?" She said out of the blue.
Min Jae didn't need more clues to know who it was. He knew instantly that she was talking about Eun Young. With this, Na Rae saw that she finally got his attention. "I knew it." She bitterly retorted. "I thought you knew better. If you were satisfied with her, then you wouldn't have hooked up with me. I didn't think you would really chose to still be with her! Aren't you just heartless?!" She exclaimed.
"You don't know anything." Min Jae calmly replied but Na Rae was having none of it.
Crossing her arms, she glared at him. "Is she that good in bed that you would rather pick her? When I was with you, where was she? You picked me before and you can certainly do it again." Na Rae boldly claimed.
"Shut up." Min Jae warned. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"What else is there to know?" Na Rae wasn't backing down. That b****! She thought for sure that they'd be on their separate ways by now. Who knew the b**** actually still stuck around while she was away? "I met her once before and she threatened me. I was just shopping with my sister that day when all of a sudden, she was making a scene in the shop. She wasn't even embarrassed in front of her child! Are you seriously telling me that you're choosing that person?"
Finally having enough with her nonsense, Min Jae abruptly stood up. "I will support the child but as for your proposal, I cannot accept it. I'm drawing the line here." He impassively said. After all, he came only to tell her that. If it were only possible, he'd want nothing else to do with her but for the sake of the unborn child, he could only risk as much. Min Jae turned to his heel to leave but Na Rae spoke again, stopping him in his tracks.
"Why don't you ever pick me?!" She screamed. Na Rae approached him and began hitting him with her fists. She was so angry! "Why her?! Why is it always her?! Why are you picking that f****** b**** over me?!"
Min Jae caught her hands in mid-air. When she looked at him, he noticed that there were now tears streaming down her cheeks. Na Rae's face was beginning to redden as she vented out her emotions. She struggled to break free from his grip. However, Min Jae's hold on her remained tight.
"First of all..." Min Jae began. "Who are you for me to choose?" He asked upon meeting her eyes.
"I am the mother of your child! Isn't that enough?!" She answered immediately. "We can be a family, Min Jae. This child I'm carrying... your blood runs in him too! He will grow up to become an intelligent person like you. He will grow up to become someone successful... someone who will make us proud!" Na Rae defended.
Remembering the child, Min Jae slowly let her go. But then Na Rae immediately turned to look at him with hatred. "But you're choosing that woman and I can't f****** understand why! What changed, Min Jae? You were already satisfied with me before! Damn it that b****! Who is she really to you? Huh? Who the f*** is she--"
"That woman is my wife!" Min Jae exclaimed, cutting her off all of a sudden. "And don't you f****** say those things about her because you're not even an inch better than she is! Because of you--Because of my f****** stupid decisions I'm gonna lose her forever! Are you happy now?!"
Na Rae was left silent with his words. On the other hand, Min Jae breathed heavily after letting out his frustrations. He was bound to lose her from the beginning. It was inevitable. He thought it would be simple--as simple as turning the next page of a book. But what he didn't expect was that everyday, as he waited for that day to officially come, it would cause him pain too.
Without another word, he stepped out of that suffocating room.
---
Eun Young pulled the breaks as soon as they got to the house. She didn't bother to properly park the car anymore since they weren't staying for long anyway.
"Stay right here kids. Mommy will just get a few things and then we'll head out soon." Eun Young said as she turned to her children seated at the back.
"But mommy, little Hye Soo and I wanna go inside the house too!" Her son pouted.
Eun Young thought about it for a while. She was really in a hurry and to have the kids come with her, it would be risky. "Please mommy! It's been days since I last saw Mr. Dooley. I didn't get to bring him over when we went to grandmother and grandfather's house so I really want to bring him along today. Pleaaaasee!" Little Jung Hyun insisted.
Without wasting anymore time, Eun Young ended up agreeing. "Okay. Fine. But you have to be quick and you have to help mommy, okay? And no playing! Or else mommy will get mad." She conditioned. The little ones nodded and soon after, the three of them were inside the house.
At the same time, in the subdivision's security post, an officer dialed a number. He had just finished his lunch and after making the call, he'll definitely take the opportunity to slumber. The phone rang for a few times. Before the fifth ring, another man answered from the other line.
"Good afternoon, sir." The officer greeted. "Mrs. Lee had just returned to your residence."