Distancing yourself from your cold husband after finding out he only married you to move on from -

The clinking sound of dishes was the only thing filling the silence between you and Junguk as you clear the dinner table. You didn't speak. He didn't either.

That's how it usually went. Married for 4 months now, but it still felt like you were just roommates, strangers who shared a last name. You cooked, you cleaned, you did your part.

He paid the bills, worked late, and said thanks sometimes also help you if you let him. But there was never real conversation. Just polite distance.

You glanced at him sitting at the dining table. Eyes glowed to his laptop. You're working again.

Junk nodded without looking up. There's a meeting in Tokyo next week. I need to prep the numbers.

You bit your cheek. You'll be gone for a week. 3 days.

He didn't ask if you wanted to come. You didn't expect him to. You stared at him for a moment.

Neat hair, crisp shirt, sharp jaw, cold eyes. You hated how handsome he was. It made the lack of emotion harder to accept.

Taking a breath, you walked over to him and placed a glass of water near his elbow. I left the medicine for your back pain on the counter. Don't forget it.

He finally looked at you. Thanks. That was it.

No smile, no warmth, just thanks. You sat down across from him. Can I ask you something?

He leaned back slightly, annoyed, but trying to hide it. What? Why did you marry me?

His brows lifted slightly. Why are you asking that now? I'm just curious.

It didn't feel like you loved me then. It didn't feel like you love me now. Junguk looked at you carefully.

I thought it would work out. I thought maybe with time things would fall into place. You frrawn, so it was just a guess, a chance.

He didn't answer right away. It wasn't supposed to feel this way. You stood up, forcing a small nod.

Thanks for the honesty. He blinked. Wait, but you were already walking away.

You didn't say anything else. You didn't ask what he meant by it wasn't supposed to feel like this. But deep down the doubt had already taken root.

Maybe it was just a choice he made without much thought. And the worst part, you believed it. Because in your heart, the word sounded like regret.

But the truth, the one you couldn't see in that moment, was different. Jungu wasn't someone who romanticized love. He didn't grow up believing in fairy tales or dramatic confessions.

For him, love wasn't loud. It was built with time, effort, and quiet consistency. Whether it started with passion or with arrangement, he believed that patience, compromise, and sincerity were the things that made a marriage last.

So, no, he hadn't married you on a wild wave of emotion, but he had walked into this commitment with the intention to stay, to build something real. It wasn't supposed to feel like this wasn't about recreate. It was about the quiet disappointment in himself that despite his good intentions, things still turn out so distant, so misunderstood.

But you didn't know any of that then. You only heard what your insecurities filtered that maybe you were never truly chosen, not the way you wanted to be. [Music] The coffee shop wasn't crowded.

A quiet corner, warm mug between your hands and a table for two. It was supposed to be a little escape from the silence at home, from Junguk's indifference and from your own thoughts. But fate had other plans.

Why? You looked up when you heard your name and Hana called you. Junguk's old school friend.

She had visited the house a few times after your wedding. polite, warm, the kind of woman who smiled too much and said just enough. Hana, hi.

She slid into the chair opposite to you without asking. I thought it was you. It's been a while, hasn't it?

You offered a weak smile. Yeah, it has. Are you here alone?

She said looking around and you knew she was looking for jungle. You nodded. Yeah, just needed a break.

Fresh air and quiet. I get it. She nodded knowingly.

Married life must be intense with Junguk. You let out a weak chuggle. More like quiet.

He doesn't talk much. Yeah, that sounds like him. He was always like that.

Reserved, especially around people he cared about. He raised an eyebrow. cared about.

She leaned in like sharing a harmless memory. I don't know if I should tell you this. I don't want you to feel bad.

No, please tell me. I I want to know about him. And you have been with him since school days.

She said, "Actually, back in high school, there was this girl Meno. He was crazy about her. Everyone knew it.

You stiffened. " He wasn't obvious, of course, but he changed when she was around. looked at her like she was his whole world.

He never dated anyone else during school only. So they were well kind of an unofficial couple. Your lips parted slightly.

They dated. She nodded confidently. I mean not openly.

You know how Junkok is. But it was clear to everyone. He walked her home, studied with her, even talked about her being part of his future.

Her fingers tightened slightly around your cup. It hurt him when she left. He never really talked about it, but I could see it.

It's probably why he's so closed off now. Why he seems distant sometimes. She reached over and gently touched her hand.

I'm not saying he doesn't care about you. I'm just saying don't blame yourself for the wall he has built. It was already there long before you.

You nodded slowly, managing a quiet smile. Thanks for telling me. Hana smiled kindly and squeezed your hand.

I just wanted to understand him better, that's all. But as she stood up and walked away, a sharp chill lingered in your chest. You looked out the window, the city moving along, steadily, unaware of the storm quietly forming inside you.

So, he already had someone. He loved someone. And I'm just what's left after she was gone.

You didn't realize it then, but that was the first real Craig, and Hana had placed it there perfectly. Dinner was quiet again. The clinking of cutlery, the faint hum of the fridge, all louder than your voice.

You sat across from Junguk at the table, watching me scroll through emails on his phone, the steam from your meal rising between you like a quiet wall. You wanted to ask him directly, but you couldn't. Instead, you stirred your rice and spoke in a tone too casual to be casual.

Do you think it's possible to love someone and still marry someone else? Junguk didn't even look [Music] up. Happens all the time.

You paused. Your throat tighten. That's what you did.

You asked softly, almost jokingly like it was just a throwaway thought. Junguk's brow fured slightly. Huh?

Nothing. You covered quickly, just curious. But the damage was already done because a few seconds later, he murmured distractedly.

Yeah, I guess so. You didn't say anything after that. You just nodded slowly, your heart sinking beneath your ribs.

You didn't even realize what he had just confirmed. Did anyone notice the way your hand tremble slightly on the spoon? That night, you stopped trying.

You didn't wait up for him anymore. Didn't make extra coffee in the morning the way he liked it. Didn't ask him how his meetings went or leave post-it notes on the fridge reminding him to take his medicine.

You lay on your side of the bed, your back turned to him. The blanket pulled up to your chin. Junguk walked into the room freshly showered.

Towels slung over his shoulder. You didn't read tonight? " he asked, noticing the closed book untouched on your best side.

You didn't [Music] answer. Your breathing was slow and steady, pretending to sleep was easier than facing the ache. You stood there for a few seconds as if wanting to say more, but then turned away and walked to the other side of the room.

The lights clicked off. Next morning, he walked into the kitchen adjusting his tie only to find the counter clean. No mug of coffee waiting.

No toast, no scribbled post-it notes reminding him to take his vitamins. "You were already gone," he blinked, checking the time again. "It was earlier than usual.

" A faint frown pulled at his brows as he poured himself coffee. It was bitter, too bitter. The whole week was like this.

You completely distanced yourself from him and instead of talking to him straight, you decided to let the doubts and insecurities consume you no matter how much Junguk tried to talk because he was noticing. You were sitting on the sofa quietly folding laundry while the TV played something in the background. Junguk entered, jacket in hand, clearly just back from work.

I'm home, he said. You looked up and nodded. There's food in the microwave.

He hesitated. You didn't eat. I'm not hungry.

You stood up with the basket of folded clothes in your hands and walked past him without another word. He turned to watch you go, confusion flickering in his eyes. He entered the bedroom after taking a phone call outside.

You were seated at your vanity brushing your hair. He leaned against the door frame. You have been quiet lately.

You met his eyes through the mirror, then looked away. Just [Music] tired. He stabbed closer.

Did I do something? You shook your head. No.

He waited like he wanted to push further, but your tone made it clear the conversation was over. The silence in the room grew unbearable. You turned to leave, eyes glassy, heart clashed, throat thick with unsaid words.

But before you could step past him, Junguk reached out and gently grabbed your arm. That's not how it works. If there's something on your mind, talk to me.

You looked at him, stunned, angry, tired, wounded. Talk. You scoffed, pulling your arm back.

And do you talk, [Music] Junguk? He blinked, taken a back. Did you ever make me feel like I could talk to you and you would actually listen?

He opened his mouth, but you didn't stop. Why would you, right? I was just a means to move [Music] on.

His brows knit in confusion. What are you talking about? You took a step back, voice trembling, everything.

The girl you loved in school. Men so you remember the one you wanted to marry, the one you lost and tried to [Music] replace. His expressions shifted.

What? You kept going, your pain finally spilling out. The one who got away means so.

You love her. But things didn't work out. So you settled, married me because I was there.

Why stop? Who told you all this? It's not true.

Hana told me she knew everything. She said you loved Minso. That everyone in school knew that you never got over her.

That I was just the convenient choice. Because even after all those years, you didn't able to forget her. That's why you said yes to this marriage.

The silence that followed was thick and deafening. Junguk stared at you. Not angry, not defensive, just stunned.

Then he whispered, "Hana told you that. " You nodded. his jaw lynched.

I never never told Hana any of that. I never dated [Music] Muo. You blinked, but she said she lied.

You went silent. I admired Minso once from a distance, but I never even spoke to her properly. I was just a boy who didn't know what to do with his feelings.

And Hana, she was a friend or I thought she [Music] was. You searched his eyes. She said you confided in her that you told her everything.

I didn't. He shook his head firmly. I never told her about Mu.

I never even had the chance to. She made that up. Your breath hedged.

Why would she lie? He exhailed shakily. Because Hana didn't like that I married you.

Maybe she didn't like seeing me happy. I don't know. You felt your knees weaken slightly and you reached out, not forcefully, just holding your hand.

I'm sorry I didn't realize sooner that you were hurting, that you believed all this. You looked down. It made sense at the time.

He gently tilted your chin so your eyes met his. I may not have said the right words or showed things the way I should have. But I chose you not as a substitute, not because some because of some past.

I chose you because you're you. Your thought tightened. He stepped closer, his forehead brushing yours.

I'm not great at talking mine, but I swear I'll try. Every day I'll listen, I'll ask. I'll learn to show up better.

And about Hana, I'll make her confront the truth. Tears spelled silently down your cheeks. I'll spend the rest of my life making you feel like the only one because you are.

You noded slowly, a soft sob escaping you as you leaned into him, your arms finding their way around his waist. And this time he held you like he understood everything you never said. And you finally let yourself believe him.