The fine glass table in their dining place, Joon Tae had always felt it was unnecessarily long and sturdy. That it created a certain kind of disharmony in the somewhat marble and wood based interior. But today, finally happening to see the whole table full of people, he sighed in relief that he hadn't bargained too much when urging the designers to exchange the table for a smaller, wooden one.
Joon Tae's seat was next to Mrs Kang's right after the head of the table. Across him sat Mujin. When Joon Tae first entered the hall, he just took that single glance at Mujin's position and looked down at his feet, never properly looking up again. All those relatives Mrs Kang introduced to him and him to them, one after another. He mimicked the grins and in return offered some of his textbook pleasantries.
Pitter-patter noises of their forks and knives kept suppressing that of the whispers'. Once in a while the elders would speak aloud among themselves, nothing serious but just small talks. But the younger generation was fine with whispering fruity poisons into each other's ears.
The same went for the circle of friends that centered about Mujin. Speaking to each other in hushed voices God knows what. Joon Tae had better things to do than observe Mujin's friends anyway. Like, ignoring that one fish item put right next to his palate. He exhaled through his mouth hoping for some results, but the fishy smell still found a way to reach his nose and irritate him. Namwoon said he shouldn't have a sensitive nose until nine or more weeks, then why was he so paranoid over a pitiful piece of fried, dead fish? It has been barely five weeks at most.
He slyly pushed that dish away, and as if triggered, a coquettish voice suddenly spoke up aloud, most likely to him.
"It seems the fish wasn't of Joon Tae's liking."
Yes, it wasn't. So, could anyone move this and all the fish based items from the table? Its stench was God awful nauseating.
"It's not like that, actually."
His temperament was extremely polite but without a hint of meekness or superficiality. Somewhat dazzling even. The woman who had wanted to casually pick on him was somewhat dazzled by his smile, losing control over her intentions. But the person beside her jumped in to save the day,
"Then why don't you taste it and say how it is? Your aunt herself made it. She's a really good cook. Even Emily fell for her homemade food even though she's not that fond of Korean cuisine, right?"
Emily Dickinson, who was previously busy with something on her smart watch, snapped her head up at her name being called before blindly nodding with an enthusiastic smile.
"Let's see if Seona can win you over too."
The previously startled Seona came back to her senses and joined in with a modest smile,
"Of course your aunt is just exaggerating, it's nothing that big. I just cook now and then, nothing that grand or some sort."
Joon Tae smiled a little deeper in reply. But before he could come up with variety of well mannered ways to decline the idea, one of Mujin's distant cousin cried out from far end of the huge table,
"How can you be so modest auntie Seona. Your cooking is famous not only among everyone in the family, even my friends liked the pastries that you made for me. They were all over the place with only your praises on their tongues."
The woman at question giggled sweetly and squinted her eyes in a delighted fashion,
"Then I'll bake you some more next time you come home, share with them again."
"Good."
All these intimate conversation, Joon Tae hoped to never resurface again now that he's a foregone topic. But noticing his absolute discomfort, one of Mujin's friend mercilessly hooked his jaw like one does to fish and pulled him right on the top again.
"Don't ignore the fish, Joon Tae. It's actually pretty good. Hurry, eat and rate Aunt Seona's culinary skills."
Joon Tae remembered him as someone from the Wang family. An old Marchant family originating from China that later converted all their businesses into restaurants. (Really how's he so good with Korean?) Now they ran the most renowned resorts and hotel chain in South Korea.
he was something called near Wang Shin, or Wang Qin.
Joon Tae was aware of the horrendous mischief lurking in those upturned eyes, thus knew he didn't mean no good. After all the young master of the Wang family has always been the infamous entity that wrecked havock upon general populace and played around like a wastrel Everyday. With pretty girls and young boys abundant in his two arms.
For business, Tae understood how Mujin might have to maintain proper acquaintanceship with people from all walk of life and people he wouldn't normally meddle with. But when did the two of them got so close as to invite him to such sort of family meetings? Especially alongside close friends like Jiwon, Sana or Jaehyun.
"Yeah, of course."
Joon Tae ate the fish. Smiled and praised the cook like he hadn't tasted something so appetising ever before. Then he threw that Wang kid a rudimentary smile, with an even more fake grin in return.
Like that, the happy and harmonious family had an pretty uneventful lunch. Mrs Kang bade them farewell with an early invitation to come again soon. Like an happy and proud mother who was pleased and content with her son's marriage, finally done with all the requirements for a proper parent, right? Lies.
"Oh, why are you still torturing yourself running around like this? Do we still need to be so proper and formal? You must be exhausted, after all we folks of idle sheeps weren't little in amount. Why are you still alone here fetching us cars?
I always have Syeona do it. You can be the dearest child of your parents, but now you're here in my family, gotta do what you gotta do, right?"
Kang Moon, Mr Kang's eldest sister, probed her wanton nose and laughed as if the set of unethical words worth making one's skin crawl was the greatest joke of her time, it probably was for all she knew. Kim Syeona was her eldest daughter in law.
"Impossible, I'm far from exhausted, Unnie. It's still hundred years before I'm old, okay? I can still pick up Mujin on my shoulder and run about the backyard like olden days, alright?"
They laughed and joked a few more before the guests littering today had all headed out for good, now it was for her and Mr Kang to leave. Her smiling face fell loose, expression sinking with never forgotten melancholy.
She was also hurt when such a sweet, well mannered child like Joon Tae turned out to be someone that betrayed them like that. But that did not mean she was okay with what Mujin was doing either. She has never seen him being so stubborn like he was being now-a-days. But again, they hadn't tried intersecting the lines and boundaries set between them before either. He did what he saw proper. Like he has always.
But it had been the first time that she wished for Mujin to do something for her. And that was to specifically bring Joon Tae in their family. Yes, with some reluctance, but both of the child had agreed. And considering the progressive friendship between those twos, they had all thought it was the best decision they could ever make, to marry them off to each other.
Now that they wanted to not marry them off to each other anymore, Mujin, for the first time ever, demonstrated what length he could venture to gain what he wished for. And their own son's this unforeseen side shook her in her core. If there is no mutual love, why intertwine in such a namesake bond?
Mujin stood hovering over the railing of the second floor while watching downwards where his mother sat with her head tucked in her arms, likely sick of his tactics at this point. Yet, he nonchalantly walked away like he hadn't seen anything and joined his friends who waited for him in his study.
"Mujin, good thing you came, tell him not to smoke."
Sana complained aloud as soon as he stepped in. Her jabbing fingers pointing to Wang Shen who had made himself at home. He lied upturned on the divan with his legs hooked over the backrest. Just about to take the cigarette out of its case.
"Don't smoke in my study, Wang."
"Why, your TaeTae don't like it when you smoke indoors?"
Mujin's lips twitched involuntarily and he looked away, in no mood to reply.
"Okie okie, I'll smoke once outside, fine? You fussy babies."
No one gave him attention as Jiwon scouted Mujin away to talk in private and Sana busied herself with Jaehyun.
"Mujin, did something happen? Is Joon Tae alright? And why's this Wang bullshit Shen invited here?"
Once away, Jiwon burst out with his chest full of questions and Mujin disspiritedly looked around.
"What, is it because of what happened at my birthday party? Does he know about it and is it why you guys fought? You guys are usually all over each other, so the difference is too eye-catching. You two obviously fought."
Mujin furrowed his well trimmed brows and tilted his head a hint,
"Your birthday party?"
Jiwon nodded with a confused expression littering his eyes and lips. Did he not remember anything?
"Yes, a month ago, you, in my room, a one nightstand. Rings a bell?"
Mujin inhaled a bunch load of confusion and once he finally exhaled, he was calmer once again. He had actually forgotten all of that. Especially because that night was so bizarre in his drunken mind, it hurt his head whenever he tried to remember it. He usually is a really good drinker. So when he was so out of it to even forget everything, he thought it was better forgotten. He ignored it to some point that he actually started believing against that night's existence.
On the other hand, such grim expression and gloomy air, with Mujin's face changing hues, Jiwon concluded that this must be it. His dear friend here couldn't even start himself and the problems in paradise have started pouring in.
He needed to at least try pursuing Joon Tae once to have him forgive Mujin. After all, it was his party at where Mujin was so drunk he didn't even remember grabbing someone for the night, let alone the fact that he was a committed man. He knew where Joon Tae's feelings were coming from, being cheated on by your fiance month before wedding must burn hard, but couldn't he forgive Mujin in the name of their newly founded life? He believed Joon Tae would obviously let this time go. As someone who was indirectly related to this, made him feel responsible.
"Don't overthink, Jiwon. There is nothing going on. And Wang, well, it's just temporary. Don't fret. You just wanted to tell me this?"
Jiwon pitied him, guy lost his first time to some unknown dude and now even his husband didn't let him in. No wonder recently Mujin as been acting rather tight.
"Yep, let's go."
Mujin took them and proceeded to go to his room like any other days. But Sana refuted with a startled face,
"Hey, we better hang out here. And let's rather invite Joon Tae to join us. We shouldn't go to your room, you know? You are married now. Married couples, especially Joon Tae who's new to us, he should need his privacy, right?"
Privacy? Respect? Why should Mujin give him that? Would he even know to compliment these attributes? Does he still know these values?
Mujin, you are no better. You slept with someone and didn't tell him. You sick liar, stop being a hypocrite, you cheated him too.
Mujin gasped at his inner monologue, halting infront of the bedroom doors. After a few seconds of awkward silence, he finally calmed again, looking back at Sana.
"Ignore him. If he got some issues with my friends around, he can leave."
"hey, what's with that tone, man? "
Mujin opened the door and entered without even knocking. Leaving behind a frowning Sana and a flabbergasted Jimin.
"What happened? He-..."
Sana clicked her tongue at the provocative Wang excusing himself after pushing her aside to follow Mujin in and asked Jiwon about Mujin's strange behavior instead.
"They fought."
Jiwon words proved he knew everything. And Sana didn't question either.
"So fast? Even such sickeningly sweet love birds fight after marriage, what will Jay and I do?"
Her voice carried slight juxtaposition but her Jaehyun immediately fought back,
"Baby, I'm not gonna fight a word with you, alright?"
"Hmm. I know. Unless you want to lose few of your front teeth."
Inside the room, it was clean and neat to the T and smelled slightly of chocolate. The lit washroom said Joon Tae was there, but the room wasn't yet lit, as if ever since he came up after dining, he has been in the washroom. It was a long period to stay in the washroom.
Before the host could tell him to be at home, Wang Shen self invited himself and laid on the couch like he was an over indulged king visiting his concubine's palace. Sana grimaced once and plopped down on the couch opposite. Jiwon sat fidgeting with the armrest of the loveseat. When there was still no sign of Joon Tae from the washroom, Mujin thought he might not necessarily even be there.
But the next moment, as though exclusively proving him wrong, noises of someone retching came through the cracked door. It wasn't just someone dry heaving, it was Joon Tae chocking like he'd die anytime now.
The people in the room awkwardly glanced at each other.
"Bro, you fast."
Wang Shen made a joke when the rest was worrying for Joon Tae, Sana venomously glared at him, then looked at Mujin. As though asking for him to scold or kick him out.
But the latter could barely notice her gaze, he was left startled by Shen's words; a joke wasn't a joke when there were bits of truth lingering to it after all. And the painful absent part was that, unfortunately the child wasn't his.
Seeing Mujin wasn't likely refuting, Wang Shen was even more enthusiastic while making his vulgar jokes,
"Bro, share some of your secrets too sometimes. I'm fighting with my old man about these petty issues regarding heirs and you here even made a man go preggo."
Mujin snapped his eyes at him and he innocently held his hands up like he was but a wronged child.
Amidst the commotion, Joon Tae walked out just to be hit with a strong wooden cologne drifting from all over the place. He almost vomited his inner organs out right then and there and retched a few more.
"You alright, Joon Tae?"
"Don't come closer, whoever it is that used the cologne. Please stay outside. I-.. I think I'll vomit again-.."
Joon Tae actually ran inside and started puking again. Jiwon, who had yet to take back his upheld, inviting arms, stood there in awkward silence before sniffing his own clothes.
"Guys, do I smell that bad?"
Sana sincerely came closer, checking if he really did, only to make a disgusted face and skip backwards,
"Shit, slightly."
"No, he's just sensitive recently."
Mujin's words had Wang laughing again.
"Apparently."
Mujin glanced at him with a narrowed eyes before telling him to take his tuxedo top off.
"Why? You wanna appreciate the muscles I pack? Should I undress to my very skin for you, bae?"
He spewed nonsenses, but surprisingly took it off without any further question. But the sudden obedience did not melt Mujin's heart. He took the piece of clothing and threw it off through the window. Straight to the muddy garden down there. The rest of them needed time to even get startled on reflex or give any other reaction.
"Hey,...hey hey hey, that was a limited piece of shit you just threw away there. What the fuck, dude?"
Mujin didn't answer him but spoke aloud for Joon Tae inside to hear,
"It's gone, the smell. Now can you stop making noises like that for God's sake? Simply disgusting."