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venusorbits · 2 years ago

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Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before, unafraid to reference or not reference, put it in a blender, shit on it, vomit on it, eat it, give birth to it.

FIC RECO BY JASMINE🪐

the other woman; wonwoo x fem!reader // mingyu x fem!reader

request: Hey do you write seventeen angst? Idk if you are still doing requests but I was hoping you can write a dramatic angst using either Joshua, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Mingyu, or Minghao, Vernon but two of them as leads. Idk why I’m a sucker for cliche stuff like cheating or betraying kind of stuff and a touch of sadness.

synopsis: you're married to wonwoo, but his parents desperately wants him to have a child - which you cannot have. he gives into his parents wishes and meets the other woman, whom he eventually agrees to marry as well. you're left heartbroken for a few years, seeing the man you love build a family that you had always wanted, but happiness is on the horizon as you meet someone new.

a/n: obviously, this is fictional - but i just want to make it clear that i don't think that his dad is an asshole.. and please do tell me if you want a part two!!

cw: swearing, implied smut (no smut actually written)

genre: angst, fluff, found family

word count: 9.5k

the characters are aged up for plot reasons :)

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the blinds were closed, but morning light still found it's way to peek through. the sun rays managed to hit your face, peeling your eyes open. as your eyelids fluttered open, you found yourself looking at your gorgeous husband laying in front of you. the covers were secured under his arms, but his bare skin still showed. you reached your hands out to him, wanting to get as close as possible. after a quick peck to his forehead, you looked at him again. his hair wasn't as messy as it used to be when he woke up. you assumed it was because he had time to let his hair dry after his shower before getting into bed last night. there were deep circles under his eyes. he had been working late frequently this past week, but today you had him all to yourself. "good morning, love.", he muttered and pulled you closer to his chest. you said it back with a content smile. he smelled of laundry detergent, and the body wash you told him you liked once - ever since then he's been using it religiously. wonwoo kissed the top of your head and gently squeezed your body with his arms. "would you mind getting me my glasses?", he asked kindly. wonwoo let go of you, letting you reach for the bedside table and getting the round frames for him. he put them on as soon as you gave them to him, and looked at you. "now i can properly see you...", he chuckled, "thank you, beautiful." you leaned down and gave him a kiss before getting out of bed. he had gotten home late last night, as usual, and hadn't seen the night gown you had put on. it was the short silk slip he had bought you a few weeks ago. you could feel his eyes on you. "wait no, come back!", he laughed and grabbed your arm. he pulled you back into bed, his arms embracing your torso from behind. his strong arms had yours locked in place, and he took the chance to plant as many tickling kisses along your neck as he could. "you didn't tell me you were wearing this...", he smiled against your skin. "i never got the chance.", you answered with a grin, "do you like it?" "of course i do...", he kissed your cheek again before letting you go. you sat down beside him, looking at him lovingly. he stole another kiss from you before getting up. "do you want coffee?", he asked. "always.", you nodded and followed him out to the kitchen.

you sat on the kitchen island, watching your husband work on making you the perfect cup of coffee. he was wearing the pajama pants that you loved so much, and a shirt you had gotten him for his birthday a few years ago. "you don't have to go to work today either, right?", he asked. "i called them last night to tell them i wouldn't be.", you nodded. "i bet the kids will be disappointed.", he looked over at you with a small smile. you were a kindergarten teacher, and happened to be many kids' favorite teacher. there was no need for you to work if you so wished, as wonwoo made enough for the both of you. however, you had been working there since before you met him and quite enjoyed it. maybe one day you would quit, but not any time soon. "i'm sure they can go one day without seeing me.", you said. wonwoo walked up to you and gave you a cup of coffee, just how you liked it. you took a sip and instant relief flooded your body. "is it any good?", he asked. "it's perfect.. thank you, baby.", you muttered and gave him a quick kiss. he smiled against your lips, and went back to make himself a cup.

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the day went on quicker than it should have. when you were preparing to go to dinner with wonwoo's father, you found yourself trying to find every excuse to make it take a bit longer to get ready. just as wonwoo was doing the same. "we don't have to have dinner with him, you know?", he said as he buttoned up his white shirt. "but we should.", you said and brought him his tie, "you don't meet your parents very often." "you don't think there's a reason for that?", he chuckled. you shook your head at his comment and helped him tie his tie. you hadn't even gotten in your dress yet, you were still in one of wonwoo's t-shirts. wonwoo grabbed your wrists and got you to stop helping him tie it. "thank you, sweetheart, but i think you should get going with putting your dress on.", he said with a knowing smile. you nodded, pressing a kiss to his cheek before moving on. wonwoo looked himself in the mirror, realizing that you had left a red lipstick mark on his cheek. you giggled as you ran over the the closet. "... where do you keep your make up wipes?", he sighed. "bathroom.", you said as you reached for your dress.

after he came back from the bathroom, you had finished putting your grey dress on. it wasn't what you were used to. "could you help me zip it up?", you sighed and turned your back to wonwoo. he gently helped you with the zipper in the back of the dress, trapping you in the uncomfortable piece of clothing. your slight frown didn't go unnoticed by your husband. "i know you don't like it.", he said calmly, "but it's just for a night." his dad wasn't very fond of you, and so you resorted to dressing as he would want you to dress whenever you saw him. your usual colorful closet turned into monotone fabrics. "it's fine.", you lied, "at least he won't comment on my clothes tonight... thanks for helping me find this." "anything for you.", he smiled at you in the mirror, "although i do like your colorful dresses more." you turned around to face him with a mischievous grin. "i'm wearing the light blue lingerie set.", you said with a giggle. "you're telling me that before we even go out?", he groaned, "you'll be the death of me, y/n."

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"i'm just suggesting an alternative.", wonwoo's dad said calmly. you had been zoning out ever since he decided to talk about you with wonwoo right in front of your face. sadly, his mom couldn't make it to the dinner - she was a nice woman, who most of the time took your side. however, she was a busy woman, so she couldn't attend and help you tonight. it was no secret to the jeon family that you couldn't have children. many attempts had been made, and you had gone to an immense amount of doctor's appointments. in the end, it led to nothing. that is the reason why wonwoo's dad disliked you. it wasn't because of your colorful wardrobe, he didn't mind that before knowing that you couldn't make them an heir. the jeon family's business had been passed down through generations. if wonwoo didn't get an heir, the family company stops at him. "an alternative? like adoption?", wonwoo asked. "no, not adoption - then it's not our genes.", his father said. usually you would interject at these sort of statements. working at the day care had made you witness many different family situations, including ones were the child was adopted. therefore, you couldn't stand it when people spoke in that manner. however, this was different - because he would certainly not listen to you. "i mean... you get a mistress who can birth the child for you.", the dad shrugged as he continued eating. your heart sank. "a surrogate, right?", wonwoo asked and took your hand under the table. "well...", his dad started, "... i was thinking thinking... maybe this relationship wasn't meant to be if y/n-" you stood up, the chair falling down behind you. this was enough. "i'm sorry mr. jeon, but if you are going to speak of me, could you at least acknowledge my presence in the room?", you spoke with a cold tone. "oh, i didn't mean to offend-" "but you did. i'll take my leave.", you said, "i hope you have a great rest of your evening." there was nothing more you could say, especially not when you felt tears welling up in your eyes. you grabbed your bag and stormed out of the restaurant.

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"y/n, please could we just talk about what happened.", wonwoo tried to reason with you as you went into the apartment. "he wants you to officially cheat on me, wonwoo.", you sighed as you took off your heels, "and then had the guts to say that to my fucking face! there's nothing more to say!" "my father just wants me to have a child-" "oh my god, are you siding with him right now!?", you stopped dead in your tracks and stared at him, "i'm so fucking sorry that my body can't produce a fucking son for you." "that's not what i'm saying, y/n...", he sighed and pinched his nose, "maybe we should talk this over later." "wonwoo.", you were almost crying out of frustration, "i have been trying to get pregnant for almost two years now. it is hard for me, and him saying that hurts. i want to make a family with you, more than anything - but i can't, okay? his 'suggestion' is not on the table if you're going to stay married to me. we've tried to convince him that we could get a surrogate, but he didn't want that. it is so fucking obvious that he just wants me to leave you, so if you even try to reason with him... i don't know you anymore." you started walking to the bedroom and gathered a few of your things. "where are you going?" "i'm staying at my mom's place for a few days. i need to be alone.", you sniffled. "but we should talk this out-", he tried to reach for you. "don't touch me!", you shrieked, "... i don't want you to touch me right now... i just have to be alone."

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you were lucky enough that your mom lived within a train ride from your apartment. after texting her on the way there, she welcomed you in with open arms. she made you a cup of tea and asked you to sit down on the couch and tell her everything. once you did, she was practically fuming. "that is the most heartless thing i have ever heard!", she exclaimed. "it's alright mom...", you said, "i'm going to talk it through with wonwoo later, and then we could speak to his father about it." "he's being a jerk too, you know.", your mom sighed. "wonwoo?", you scoffed, "what? no... he hasn't done anything." "that's the problem, honey.", your mom said, "he should've stood up for you when his dad said those things." "... i'm sorry, i kind of just want to go to bed now.", you excused yourself from the situation and went to sleep.

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after a few days of being at your mom's place, still going to work and acting as if everything was fine, you decided to go back home. you called wonwoo before leaving. "y/n?", he spoke quietly. "i'll be home when you get off work.", you answered coldly, "we should talk." "yes, of course... we should.", he sighed, "i'll see you at home." "bye, hon-" he hung up before you could say another word. there was no doting, no nicknames, no sweet talk. you felt a dark pit grow in your stomach... this couldn't be good.

it wasn't good. when you met wonwoo again he spoke to you in his professional voice, the one that was only used for clients and his employees. he put out his suggestions of what to do next: take a break, hear his father out, and maybe even get a divorce. when you started crying his character begun to break. "i'm really sorry y/n.", he said sadly, "... this isn't what i want either." "then why are you doing this?", you sobbed. "i'm doing it for my mother.", he admitted, "my acting out will only affect her image, considering she's seen as the one who raised me." "what about us?", you asked, "was this all for nothing?" "no, y/n.", he put his hands on top of yours, "i'll get an heir - a legitimate heir - and then i'll divorce their mom... so that i can come back to you." you took your hands away from him and rested your head in your palms. "you're absolutely insane if you think that'll work.", you sniffled. "i'm only insane about you.", he said and took away your hands from your face.

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the plan started out smoothly. you signed divorce papers and got the whole ordeal settled. wonwoo let you keep the apartment, promising to come back there as soon as it was possible. was this plan morally correct? hell no, but it was the only option you seemed to have.

wonwoo met up with the woman that his father had arranged for him. her name was gyeong-hui, she was a nice woman at the age of twenty-seven and looked great. you obviously got nervous at these details, but wonwoo tried to assure you that it wouldn't change a thing. but of course it did. your hour long phone calls every night got shorter and less frequent. after their wedding, a few months after your divorce, they almost never happened at all... and when they announced her pregnancy, another few months after the wedding, you got your last call. "i'm sorry, but i think it's for the best... i wouldn't want the baby to grow up in such a complicated situation and... and i don't want to hurt gyeong-hui.", wonwoo had told you. he let you keep the apartment, as they moved into a house in the suburbs. wonwoo had always told you how he hated the suburbs, and how he'd much rather live with you in a city apartment than have to raise a big family in a big house in a boring neighborhood. was all of it lies? was all of it just a circumstance? you would never know, he stopped calling.

you wanted to be happy for him. he had always wanted to have a child... a small, but happy, family. although you thought that dream was only possible with you. maybe this was your fault, that you let him go. you couldn't get over it, your heart couldn't take it. you were taking more sick leaves, spending more time at your mother's house. eventually you sold the apartment. you couldn't stand to look at it anymore. as wonwoo had given it to you, you got all of the money for yourself - and it was a lot, since it was an expensive building. it didn't matter in the end, since you never got around to spending it. after that you quit your job, and moved back in with your mom. you never thought that would ever happen again.

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"here.", your mom handed you her phone. you were at the kitchen table, eating breakfast in the form of cereal. after a quick glance at her phone you looked back at her. "a cottage?", you asked with a slight chuckle. "it's your aunt's cottage.", she sat down in front of you, "it's in a beautiful forest, with a running, clear, lake... i think you should go there." "you're kicking me out to go see nature?", you kept digging in your bowl of cereal. "... y/n, you know i love to have you home - but not under these conditions.", she sighed, "you're falling apart, i want you to try to enjoy yourself." "and a cabin in the woods will help me do that?" "it's not the only cottage there, you'll definitely meet other people.", your mom explained, "and if you don't want to see anyone, you have the cottage to yourself - your aunt isn't using it at the moment." "i don't know.", you walked over to the sink to do the dishes. "think about it, honey?", she asked. "i will, mom."

that's how you ended up in the middle of a forest. you thought you were done with sulking, and that nature would bring you peace. you thought wrong. nature only brings you bugs. however, you didn't want to go home because you sensed that the reason your mom sent you here is partially because she needed to be alone. so you had to live here for two weeks. at least the cottage looked nice. it was made with yellow brick and had a dark roof. you assumed the roof was originally black, but time had taken it's toll. ivy had made it's way up the yellow walls, and it fit in nicely with the well-grown garden. the windows were big, and some of them were with painted glass. you would definitely get use of your dreamy fairytale-dresses by simply walking around the premise of the home. the lake your mom spoke of also seemed amazing. the water was clear as day, and you could even see the bottom. the two-story cottage would maybe suffice for two weeks.

your presence in the cottage didn't go unnoticed by your neighbors. the forest apparently had a large population of old people, who lived out their retired dreams here. the first day, while you made yourself at home, three elderly people came knocking at your door. you greeted them nicely and promised you wouldn't disturb, as well as telling them that you would only be staying for around two weeks. the next day you got two new visitors - and you started growing tired of the chit-chat. so when a third person came to your door on the second day, you opened it with a tired expression. "hi, i'm mingyu.", it was the most gorgeous man you had ever seen. he was tall, golden-tan skin, black, thick, hair, and he had the sweetest smile. "y/n.", you shook his hand with a smile, "you... uh... you live here?" "oh, no- i'm helping my parents fix up their cottage." he explained, "i didn't recognize the car, so i thought i would stop by." "right, right... you probably know my aunt, this is her place, and i'm just staying here for two weeks.", you explained, "i guess you could call it vacation." "you guess?", he questioned with a confused smile. "well... i don't feel like getting into it, i'll probably bore you to death.", you chuckled, "just know i won't bother you, i'll probably just stay in here for the two weeks. "oh, i don't think you could bother me.", he said with his charming smile, "actually... if you're feeling a bit claustrophobic in here later, my next-door neighbor is holding a small barbecue." "they don't know me, so maybe not... i would feel like i was intruding.", you tried to get out of going to this dinner, even though he was very handsome you still didn't want to mingle. "not at all! you know what? come with me, and then i'll just say that you're my plus one.", mingyu seemed to insist on you going. damn you for being so handsome... "... alright.", you nodded, "when is it?"

so there you were, getting ready in the mirror. you hadn't made yourself feel pretty in a while. whenever you used to dress up it would be for an event with wonwoo... now it didn't feel the same. however, you didn't want to give your aunt a bad rep for having a lazy niece, so you decided to put in a little effort. you wore a long, light blue, linen dress with small flowers on it. it was simple, but it was all you could muster.

when mingyu knocked at your door you were quick to open it. he was wearing a light blue linen button-up and light-brown pants. "... we match.", he commented. "we do.", you agreed with a chuckle, "you look great." "so do you.", he smiled, "shall we?" "yeah, let me just grab something...", you walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of rosé that you had been planning on giving the neighbors, "do people still give gifts to the host?" "i think it's sweet.", mingyu looked closer at the bottle, "and this isn't bad stuff either." "well, you can thank...", you started, but stopped when you realized that it was wonwoo that gave you your current taste in wine. "who do i thank?", mingyu gave you a curious look. "... the girl in the store.", you said, "sorry, i zoned out. let's go!"

you and mingyu approached a red brick house, with a neatly taken care of garden. there was a wonderful smell of somebody making something on a grill, that you hadn't smelled in forever. you wondered if wonwoo's new family held barbecues like these... "you okay?", mingyu asked. "oh... yeah.", you nodded. mingyu opened the white gate for you, and you stepped inside. in the garden sat a few elderly couples, as well as some younger along with their small children. you felt like you were about to puke... this was a bad idea. "you know what? maybe i should go.", you told mingyu, who was still holding the gate open. "but you've only just gotten here.", he raised his eyebrows. "i'm so sorry... i think i ate something bad earlier, please give them this bottle for me.", you gave him a painful smile and hurried back to your cottage.

in the tiny cottage, you made some instant noodles and sat down in front of your computer to watch a movie. the dress was laying on your, awkwardly big, bed and you had instead changed into pajamas. the room was a weird green color, and the wooden floor creaked as you walked across it. you were uncomfortable, and this was a horrible idea. it didn't matter that your neighbor was the hottest guy you had ever seen, you wanted to go home... which is why you decided to pack after you finished your mediocre dinner.

your car's trunk stood open as you put in your baggage into it. it was early morning, that was when you thought nobody could watch you leave... you were, of course, wrong. "hey there, neighbor.", mingyu jogged by. "you jog?", you asked in disbelief. "i try to do it every morning here, it's really beautiful this early in the day.", he flashed you a smile, "are you leaving already?" "i am.", you sighed. "you didn't even get to take a dip in the lake. is it something urgent?", he asked. "you ask a lot of questions." "you make me want to ask more.", he said flirtatiously, "why are you leaving?" "because i can't stand to see happy people.", you said as you put in another bag into your car. mingyu raised a quizzical brow, and an amused smile played on his lips. you gave up on trying to be mysterious and keep quiet about your life. he looked more than happy to hear you out, so why not? "... you know what, i haven't gotten to talk about this with anyone but my mom...", you turned to him with a sudden confidence, "if you want to keep asking questions you could come have some tea, i'll tell you whatever you want." "sure."

you spilled your guts to a stranger. you told him of your relationship, wonwoo's dad, the plan, the divorce, and the fact that his new wife was so nice that you couldn't even hate her. "that's a lot.", his eyebrows were furrowed. "and when i saw those happy couples i guess i couldn't take it.", you said and finished your tea, "so that's all you need to know." "i see.", mingyu nodded, "and now you're leaving?" "yup.", you took your mug and put it beside the sink, "my mom thought this would be therapeutic, it was just a nuisance." "... but therapy is a bit uncomfortable in the beginning, isn't it?", mingyu said, "and therapy doesn't help unless you actually want to try it." he was right, and you hated it. "well, i don't want to be uncomfortable.", you sighed. "but you want to get better." "of course." "let me help.", he offered, "you're supposed to be here for two weeks, right?" "how would you help me?" "i guess... just make sure you have a nice time.", he gave you an innocent smile. "... fine.", you nodded, "... would you mind helping me bring my bags back inside?"

that day, mingyu offered to take you swimming in the lake. he said it was the most therapeutic thing he had ever done. you questioned if he really knew how therapy worked, but didn't say anything to him. you met with him by the beautiful lake later in the day. it was a bit further away from all the houses, and shielded by many big trees. you wore a swimsuit you hadn't gotten the chance to wear in a while, but you felt a bit exposed and opted to put a t-shirt over it. "you swim in clothes?", mingyu asked as he walked up next to you. of course he's ripped... he was only wearing swimming trunks, showing off his very muscular torso - that was just as golden brown as his face was the first time you had seen him. there was no way you could keep your eyes off him. "eyes up here, lady.", he chuckled. he definitely knows what he's doing. "i just didn't walk over here half naked.", you explain yourself and look away from him, with much effort. without another word, mingyu started walking into the lake and looked back at you expectantly. with a sigh you took off the shirt and got in yourself. the water was cool, but not freezing. you took a deep breath and felt every muscle in your body relax. "it's nice, right?", he asked with a grin. "so nice.", you kept your eyes closed, "i feel like i'm breathing for the first time in a while." it was quiet for a while. you heard bird song, the wind rustling the leaves, the low noice of some people talking far away, and the water ripple. like the softest silk, the lake gently caressed your bare legs. you took another deep breath. "i'll show you a nice spot, c'mon.", mingyu broke you out of your thoughts.

the two of you swam towards some rocks, where a waterfall had formed. hanging in a tree, was a wooden swing, right above the waterfall. "i made that when i was a teenager.", he pointed at it, "if we're lucky, it's not completely ruined with age." "wait, how old are you?", you asked. "i'm twenty-eight.", he said. "really? you look much younger.", you said, "i'm twenty-eight, too." "we already have so much in common, y/n.", he joked.

mingyu helped you up on the rocks, and you dipped your toes in the small waterfall and watched the water curve around your foot. "do you want to try the swing?", he asked. "only if you try it first.", you chuckled. you watched as mingyu carefully got on the swing, tensing up your muscles for the anticipation that he'd fall off. he didn't. "it's fine!", he looked back on you. his toned back moved entrancingly as he jumped off the swing, into the deep water of the lake below. you gasped, terrified that he had accidentally hit the rocks on the way down. when his head appeared on the surface again, he slicked back his hair and gave you a bright smile. "are you okay?", you asked. "i'm great!", he replied with a goofy grin as he started to climb back up to you, "your turn." "oh no, i'm not doing that.", you chuckled. "but you have to, it's a part of my therapy for you.", he said in a matter-of-fact manner. "how is jumping to my death therapy?", you asked. "well, it's either that or i surprise you by randomly throwing you in the lake at some point during the day.", he shrugged, "the fun part is that you won't know that it's happening." "you're ruthless.", you groaned, "i'll get on the fucking swing."

mingyu helped you onto the swing, carefully holding you by your waist. it felt nice, especially after a little more than a year of no intimacy. "alright, you have to get out a bit before you jump.", he said. you hummed in response. mingyu gently pushed on your lower back, setting the swing in motion. you looked down and found a place where you could jump. after a bit of swinging, feeling the wind in your hair, you jumped - aiming for the safe spot. lucky for you, you managed to hit the water and not a rock. "i did it!", you shouted as you came up to the surface again. "you did it!", mingyu happily shouted back.

after a long day of swimming you sat down by the shore where you had gotten in. you had found your shirt hanging on the branch you left it on, and you quickly put it on as soon as it got a bit cold. the two of you watched the lake go from blue to pink to deep purple. "i had a nice time.", you admitted. "you don't regret not going home?", he asked. "definitely not.", you chuckled, "i think i would just make my mom more disappointed... i'm twenty-eight, living at home." a groan escaped your lips and you laid down in the fluffy grass. mingyu looked over at you with a sad smile. "well, i think your situation is a bit special.", he said. "'a bit special' is code for fucking weird.", you responded. "well, yeah. it is fucking weird.", he nodded, "but so are most things." you looked at him, and he gave you a quick wink before standing up. "i'm going back home, i have some work to get done on the house.", he stretched up his arms, "i'm thinking about having a barbecue in a few days, you should come give it another shot." "i'll think about it.", you said, "thanks for today."

the next day it rained. it was unexpected, but not unappreciated. mingyu was apparently a very hardworking person, who didn't waver when facing rain during a run. you watched him run past while looking through one of the big windows on the cottage, standing in just a night slip. he looked over at you, his eyebrows slightly raised, and waved at you. you waved back, and walked over to the kitchen. maybe you had a bit of a crush on your temporary neighbor.

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a week passed, and there was another week left of your stay. you kept bumping into mingyu no matter what you ended up doing. for that first week he had shown you the lake, taken you on a forest hike, introduced you to all of your other neighbors, and come over to your place to make you dinner. that's where you were at the moment. you were sitting on one of the bar stools in the kitchen, watching mingyu make you dinner. "you're good at everything, aren't you?", you sighed as you watched him perfectly cut up vegetables. L'appuntamento by Ornella Vanoni was playing in the background, and you found yourself wishing that this could happen more often. "well, i can cook", he nodded, "but i wouldn't say i know how to do everything." "what can't you do, then?", you asked. "i can't paint.", he answered, "which is an issue... i need to paint the walls in the house tomorrow, and i think i might just fuck it up." "it's just the walls, i'm sure it'll be fine.", you leaned your elbows against the counter. "i don't think so.", he shook his head with a smile. "let me help you then", you said, "as thanks for this dinner." "go ahead, i won't complain.", mingyu said.

after dinner and a movie, you found yourself in the kitchen again - this time doing the dishes. mingyu was standing right beside you, helping you out. "i hate that this place doesn't have a dishwasher.", you groaned. "doing the dishes can be nice.", mingyu shrugged. his arm was touching yours, but you didn't move. you liked standing so close to him, and you were currently fighting the urge to lean your head against his shoulder. "i think it's tiring.", you said. "not in good company.", he retorted, "like this, this is nice." "i'm glad that i can be good company.", you found yourself smiling at his comment. "you've been good company all week. even if you've distracted me from the thing i was actually supposed to be doing.", he chuckled. "i think it's only fair that i take up a bit of your time", you said, "since your the one who asked me to stay here." you were teasing him, but mingyu didn't react to it like you thought he would. "i guess you're right.", he said, "i'm glad i did." you looked over at him, he was looking at you. there was something in his eyes that seemed different. you put away the last of the dirty dishes and leaned against the counter. it was so quiet, you could hear the owls deep in the forest. mingyu's eyes darted to your lips, and then back to your eyes. you were still so very close, but he leaned in closer. you put your hand on his shoulder to keep yourself stable. one of mingyu's hands was gently placed on your waist, as the other one cupped your face. his eyes kept looking deep into yours as your forehead leaned against his. your noses softly bumped together, before mingyu tilted his head and kissed you. he brought you in closer to him by your waist, and you let out a delighted hum and smiled against his lips. your hands moved from his shoulders to the nape of his neck as the kiss deepened... but just as it got good he pulled away with a big grin on his face. "what was that for?", you muttered as you tried to catch your breath. "i just had to see your face.", he said smoothly and gently caressed his thumb over your cheek. you pushed away a few hairs that were hanging over his forehead, and your hands went back to his shoulders. before he could say another word, you had leaned in and kissed him again. in the middle of your kiss, he brought his hands down to the back of your thighs and lifted you up on the counter. your hands cradled his face as he stood between your legs, with his hands gently placed on your thighs - stroking his palms up and down in slow motions. you pulled away, letting your lips stay a few inches from his face. "i'm not dreaming, am i?", you asked. "i hope not.", he answered, and went back to kissing you. his lips moved against yours slowly, taking his time. you hadn't felt this in so long, and it felt so nice to be intimate with someone again... but in the back of your mind you couldn't help but to think about wonwoo. you pulled away again and looked at mingyu. "i'm sorry...", you whispered. "are you okay? do you want me to stop?", he asked with a worried tone. "no... well, maybe for now...", you put your hands back on his shoulders, "it's just been a while since i did this, i'm sorry." "you have nothing to apologies for, y/n.", he said, "i don't mind, we can stop." "are you sure?" "i don't want to kiss someone who's not up for it.", he chuckled, "we can get back to this another time, hm?" "yeah... yeah.", you nodded.

mingyu helped you off the counter and gave you yet another reassuring smile. as the two of you walked to the front door, you started feeling worse about stopping him. maybe this was all you needed to feel better and you just ruined it for yourself? "oh, and don't feel bad about this.", mingyu said as he was putting on his shoes, "i really liked it while it lasted... and this just means that i have a reason to do it again." you let out a small laugh at his comment, but you weren't even able to look him in the eye. this was embarrassing. "are you still up for helping me paint tomorrow?" "oh, right.", you nodded, "uh... yeah, i'll come by your place some time after lunch." as soon as he closed the door behind him, you crumbled to the floor. there was a part of you that really believed that you had ruined this now. a black hole was growing in your chest. you really liked him, but you still couldn't get the image of wonwoo out of your brain. maybe this was your life now, finding new people but being cock-blocked by someone who wasn't even in the room... someone who didn't care about you anymore. if he had been able to move on, why couldn't you? it had been a year since you took off your wedding ring and signed the divorce papers. it had been half a year since wonwoo last called. you had deleted his contact from your phone, afraid that you would give in and call him on a whim. you couldn't sink so low. there was nothing more to do than accept that you had been the other woman. if alternate dimensions existed, you wished that at least one of them let you stay with wonwoo - or that the plan could've gone through. you wished that you never got to know that gyeong-hui was a kind and gentle woman. you wished that she would've been a bitch... but she wasn't, you had no reason to hate her - she didn't drag your husband away from you, she was just a pawn in a game. you got up from the floor and made your way to your bedroom.

the next day you dressed up in clothes that you didn't mind if they got paint splatters on them. you had decided to just forget about the night before and get this paint job over with. when you got to mingyu's cottage he had already started painting, which was evident by the white paint all over him. "you know you're supposed to paint the wall and not yourself, right?", you laughed as you walked inside. "very funny...", he sighed and closed the door behind you, "i got paint on my face when opening the can, the rest is just brush accidents." "give me a paint roller, picasso.", you chuckled.

together, you got the job done quicker than expected. it was hard work, and in the small and warm room you were sweating buckets. if you could jump into an ice bath right now, you would. "do you think we're done?", you asked. you looked over at mingyu, who was also sweating profusely. he was lifting up his paint roller for one last missed spot on the wall. you watched as his toned arms flexed. the tank top that he was wearing didn't help your thoughts from going absolutely wild. "i think so.", he nodded, "... now we just have to clean up." he was looking at the many newspapers on the floor, protecting it from white paint, but you were still only staring at him. any sentimental thought you had the day before had flown through the window. you were too hot, too tired, and too turned on to think about anything else other than mingyu. "y/n, are you okay?", he dragged you out of your daydreams of him taking you on the couch in the corner of the room. "i'm just tired.", you stuttered out. "do you want some water or something? you look flushed.", he approached you, and you did your best to not back up against the wet wall. mingyu held the back of his hand against your forehead. it was much colder than your skin, and you felt like you could melt against it. you closed your eyes, and a pleased sigh escaped your lips. "are you sure you're okay there, darling?", he asked with a small smile. "you know what... i was going to act like nothing happened yesterday, but i need us to resume whatever we were doing back then right now.", you looked him dead in the eye. "but i don't want to push you-" "you're not pushing me...", you took a deep breath, "please?" you didn't have to say another word before his lips were on yours again.

mingyu was laying beside you in his bed, you had your head on his chest - his heart beat was finally calming down. "so...", he trailed off. "yeah.", you breathed out. the two of you laid there in silence. despite having shared a very intimate moment together, there wasn't anything to say. "do you need anything?", he muttered. "... maybe i should go to the bathroom.", you nodded and sat up, "you... it was... nice." you stared at each other for a while, before breaking out into awkward laughter. you pulled the sheets up to cover you chest. suddenly you felt so vulnerable. "do you want me to get you a shirt or something?", he asked. you hummed in response. mingyu got up and handed you a shirt from his closet, which you quickly pulled over your head. "thanks.", you got up and went to his bathroom. "y/n.", he said before you could go inside, "do you want to stay over for dinner?" "... sure.", you nodded.

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you kept seeing mingyu intimately for the rest of your last week. it was nice to be able to have that relationship with someone again, and you had definitely hit the jackpot in terms of rebounds. it wasn't just that he was insanely attractive, but there was something sweet about everything that he did. through all of his actions, you could tell that he cared for you.

it was the last day of your stay at your aunts cottage. your things were neatly packed up, except for one dress - which you were going to wear at the barbecue mingyu was hosting tonight. it was the same dress you had put on last time, and mingyu had promised to wear the same thing he wore then too - to make it seem like the first time never actually happened. when you approached his gate that evening, you could already hear people laughing and talking in the backyard. you swallowed whatever nerves were keeping you from going inside, and opened the gate. "y/n, hi!", mingyu said happily and gave you a hug. "do i look okay?", you whispered in his ear. "trust me, if it weren't for the amount of people here i would-" you slapped his shoulder before he could finish his sentence. he grinned at you, and you went on to greet the other guests.

at the end of the night, you were the last guest there. you were helping mingyu clean up. much like a few days ago, you were standing beside each other while doing the dishes. "this was nice.", you admitted, "thanks." "it was my pleasure.", he put down the last of the dishes, "it's your last day here, isn't it?" "it is.", you nodded, "are you staying longer?" "just a few more days, i still have some things to finish patching up.", he sighed, "i'll be lonely without you, darling." you looked at him with flirtatious smile before going back to focusing on the dishes. mingyu gently pushed your hair to let it fall over one of your shoulders. he took his place behind you and wrapped his arms around your waist. at first he was only leaning his chin against your shoulder, but then he began placing loving kisses up your neck to your jaw. "what are you doing?", you giggled. "i thought i should give you one last present before you leave.", you could feel him smile against your skin. you dried your hands on a towel nearby and turned around in his embrace. his eyes almost made him look like a lovesick puppy as he looked down on you. your fingertips graced his jaw, and you cupped his face gently before bringing him in for a kiss. "be my guest.", you muttered against his lips.

you woke up to see his bare back facing you. without realizing it, your fingers gently caressed his skin right where his neck met his shoulders. mingyu stirred in his sleep, and you quickly pulled your hand back. you could stare at his back like this all day. the truth is, you were falling for him. every time you kissed him it just felt right, but you still felt the need to try it over and over again - just to see if it was real. he made you nervous, in the best of ways. he made you laugh until you cried. more importantly, he made you feel loved. it felt too much like it did with wonwoo. it broke your heart, but you had to leave. your things were already packed in the back of your car, you had never given him your phone number, and there was no way he could ever meet you again. you recognized this path all too well, and you couldn't be the other woman for a second time. as you kissed mingyu's shoulder, you said goodbye - and you left without a trace.

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you got home to an empty house in the early afternoon. there was no going back now, you had to build yourself up again. the traveling bags stayed in your car, and you started looking for apartments right away. thanks to the amount of money left over from selling your old apartment, you were able to find a nice rental apartment in a good neighborhood. it was smaller than your last, but had beautiful, big, windows - much like your aunt's cottage. there was one bedroom, a kitchen attached to a smaller living room, and a gorgeous bathroom. it was all you ever wanted. of course, the money wouldn't last forever - you had to get a job. you weren't ready to give up your old life completely, and looked for a job at a prestigious primary school that was situated near your apartment. it wouldn't be like the kindergarten, you would have to work a bit harder, but it would be enough. lucky for you, one of their teachers had just quit - and you got the job.

everything was going your way; you had your own apartment, you had a pretty good job, and you had made it all on your own. maybe it was destiny. what if the whole thing with your ex-husband was meant to be? so that you could be independent, so that you could be happy. however, there was no way you could deny the fact that you missed mingyu. you felt bad for what you did, but for some reason you found it necessary.

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after a year of living your new life, you had developed a routine. every morning you woke up around six am. you got up, made yourself a quick breakfast, got in the shower for a few minutes before getting dressed, and then finally leaving for work. there was only one station between you and the school, you could walk there if you wanted to. today it was raining, so you opted for the metro. while standing in the crowded train that morning you heard a familiar voice calling your name. "y/n?", wonwoo whispered out. you looked up at him with wide eyes. he looked tired, new-parent-tired. as you realized that he really was in front of you and that it wasn't your imagination, you quickly bowed your head in a greeting before turning around.

the two of you got off at the same station, and wonwoo stopped you before you could escape up the escalator. "y/n, how have you been?", he asked with a small smile. "i'm good...", you answered, "i got a new job at the primary school around here." "oh, really? i heard it's quite a distinguished school.", he said. "it is, the kids are great.", you nodded, "... how have you been? how is gyeong-hui?" "oh... uhm.. she's great... we're actually expecting again. we've been trying our best to handle her pregnancy while take care of our little girl.", he pulled out his phone, "it's tough, but it's worth it." he showed you his lockscreen. it was a picture of gyeong-hui holding a baby. she looked happy, and the baby was the cutest you had ever seen. "she's beautiful.", you said and looked back up at him, "she has your eyes." "a lot of people have said that.", he nodded with a small smile, "... i wanted to apologize, y/n." "apologize?", you raised an eyebrow. "for how everything turned out.", he looked down at his shoes, "i'm really sorry.." "it's alright-", you suddenly felt embarrassed and the words came pouring out of your mouth without a second thought, "i've actually been seeing someone new." "really?", wonwoo's eyebrows raised as he looked back at you, "good for you. who's the lucky guy?" "his name is... mingyu.", you smiled, "... we met about a year ago." "i hope it works out for you.", he said, "and i hope i get to meet the guy some time." "for sure!", you said, "listen, i really have to get to my students... it was nice meeting you again!" you said good-bye and swiftly left the station with a flushed face. you had no idea why you had decided to lie. there was a very big chance that you would never meet him again, which would mean that you wouldn't have to show him your "new boyfriend". the lie had made you think of mingyu again, and how it would've been if you had waited for him to wake up that morning. maybe he would've turned around and hugged you close, making some comment about how he forgot to close the blinds the night before. then you would've had breakfast together, and before you left to go home he would've asked for your number. then you would maybe be living with him in an apartment now, just the two of you in a cozy condo.

the rest of the day went as it normally did. you taught second and third graders today, helping them with spelling and reading. at the end of the day, you were waiting for their parents to pick them up. the school had a system where a teacher had to make sure that the people who picked up their kids had their name on a list. usually, you would chat with the caretakers of each kid while they got ready to leave. for some reason, it had become your favorite part of the day - except when the parents were rude, of course. there were only two kids left in the class you were watching over now, a pair of twin girls named ji-u and ari - last name kim. they were sweet girls, and were doing very well with their studies. their grandparents were usually the ones to pick them up, but they were always on time so the twins being the last in the classroom worried you. "hey girls..", you sat down in front of them while they were painting together, "did your grandpa or grandma tell you that they were going to be late today?" "our dad is picking us up today.", ari said, as she was the more outgoing of the two. "is he always a bit late?", you questioned with a kind smile. "yeah.", ari nodded, "he works a lot." ji-u was very focused on her painting of a red house, and didn't answer. you asked her about it, and she muttered out that it was of her grandparents house in the woods. you wanted to ask her more about it, but somebody came through the open classroom door. "sorry i'm late, girls." you looked over and your entire body froze in fear. it was mingyu, dressed to the nines in an expensive looking suit. he was looking at his watch, but as soon as he looked up his eyes locked with yours. "daddy!", ji-u shouted happily and ran up to him and hugged his leg. mingyu looked away from you to hug his daughters in a greeting. you watched as they spoke about how their day was and how much you had taught them this afternoon. you approached the small family with your list. you looked through it, and beside ji-u and ari's names stood "kim mingyu". "they've behaved well, i hope.", he said, not looking up at you. "oh, they've been wonderful - they always are.", you managed to get out. "i'm glad.", he looked up at you with an awkward smile, "do you have something else to do right now?" "um... no." "would you mind following me out to the car? i would like to talk to you." you could only nod, and take a deep breath before following them out the door.

"you left without a trace to become a primary school teacher?", mingyu asked as soon as the doors to his car were closed. you were in the parking lot of the school. it was dead silent and you could hear your heart beat a mile a minute. "i left because i couldn't commit...", you said, "and apparently i was right to do so! you have kids? were you married this entire time?" "i'm widowed.", he sighed. you felt like you could faint out of embarrassment. how did this day only get worse? "i'm sorry-" "it's fine.", he interrupted you, "i should've told you about ji-u and ari... i was going to eventually." there was a pause. you could cut the tension in the air with a knife. mingyu reached for your hand, but you quickly stepped away. "your kids are in the car.", you said discreetly, "this isn't the place to be discussing these things." he handed you his phone after he had opened a new contact. "i want to talk to you again.", he said. you accepted the phone, quickly typing in your number before handing it back to him. he looked at you, and you had never wanted to kiss someone so badly in your life. "you should go.", you whispered. "i'll call you, okay?", he said as he got into his car.

when you got home that evening, you didn't know whether you should cry or shout out of happiness. all of these random occurrences really made you believe in destiny. to celebrate, you took a hot shower and made yourself a gourmet dinner, in the form of your favorite instant ramen, only to sit down on the couch to watch some bad show on netflix. you were in the middle of a bite when you got a call. the caller-ID was unknown, but you already knew who it was. you quickly turned off the volume on the TV and put the bowl of noodles on the coffee table. "hello?", you answered. "hi, it's mingyu.. is this y/n?", he asked. "it is", you chuckled nervously, "hi." "i just put the girls to bed and... i just wanted to make sure you didn't give me a fake number.", he let out a small laugh. "mingyu, i'm really sorry about walking out on you.", you sighed. "no, i get it - you had your reasons.", he said, "it's not like i was being very nice by not letting you in on the fact that i have kids." "well, we didn't really spend much time talking...", you muttered, and succeeded in making mingyu laugh. "no, you're right. we should meet up again sometime." "we definitely should.", you bit your lower lip to contain your happiness, "maybe for a coffee or something? so that we could actually get to know each other." "that'd be fun.", he said, "i'll have to look in my schedule, i've been pretty busy lately." "oh, is that why your parents are picking up ji-u and ari?", you asked before thinking. "yeah..", he sighed, "i'd love to do it myself, but i almost never have the time. being a single dad is difficult." "i could imagine.", you hummed, "but if it helps, your daughters think the world of you." "thanks, y/n.", you could hear that he was smiling, "i'll try to pick them up more often... are you always there for pick up?" "don't try to change your schedule to come and see me while i'm at work.", you chuckled. "you caught me..", he said. "... i'm in charge of ji-u and ari's class on all days except mondays.", you said, "and i'll be there for their school play next week too." "shit, i forgot about the school play.", he groaned, "you know what? i'll make time for it - i just have to make a few calls..." "i'm sure they'll be very pleased if you show up.", you said with a smile, "those girls have worked extra hard, from what i've heard." you heard a young girl's voice in the background, crying. "sorry, y/n, ari's had a nightmare.", he sighed, "i'll see you soon." "don't forget about the play.", you said. "i won't."

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END OF PART ONE