Day 14

"Hey girlie," Iseul's cheerful voice seeped through the phone speaker as Eunji shifted the device to hold it between her shoulder and ear, sauteing the garlic that she had thrown into the sizzling pan in front of her.

"Hey, how's everything going?"

"Good! Everything's been good, the usual you know, but I've been really curious about how everything's been going on your end. We haven't been able to chat for a few days!"

Eunji tucks her bottom lip between her teeth as she thinks about the events that had accumulated over the past few days, scanning the empty kitchen and living room from over her shoulder to make sure that Jungkook hadn't moved out of his office.

"Well," she starts off, stretching the word as she keeps stirring the garlic, following it by adding gochujang to the pan. She had been waiting to fill her best friend in on the small improvements in her relationship and was glad that Iseul had finally had the time to chat. "We kissed."

A gasp sounded from the other end of the phone, followed by a "No way!"

"Like, three times now actually."

"Girl!" Iseul squealed on the other end as Eunji giggled with a wide smile of her own. "That is way more improvement than I thought there would be. I'm surprised!"

"I guess you could say that."

"So when you say kiss, what are we talking about here? Like a peck, a french kiss, or were you full-on making out?"

Eunji pondered for a moment.

"French kiss?"

"Okay girl, I see you! Not long and you'll be getting some soon, trust."

"Iseul!" Eunji gasped into the phone as her cheeks heated, just as she realized she should have added in the noodles already.

"What?! It's gonna happen sooner or later, and you know it."

"I know it's just weird when you say it like that-"

"Eunji,"

Eunji's head snapped in the direction of the opening to the hall just as Jungkook stepped into the kitchen with his casual home attire. Her heart hammers and she's quickly telling her friend that she will call her back later.

"Yeah?" she responded, putting down her phone and crossing her fingers that he hadn't heard any part of the conversation.

Jungkook gives her a confused stare.

"You called me earlier for help?"

She felt like face-palming herself, having completely forgotten.

"Oh right. Just finish this off for me while I set up the table," she answers, handing him the chopsticks before scurrying out of the kitchen, leaving him all the more confused.

- - -

The doorbell ringing echoes throughout the home, causing Eunji to quickly add the finishing touches to the dessert plate she was working on.

"They're here," she muttered, passing by Jungkook who had been seated at their island, engrossed in his emails like always. He slipped out of his seat and followed Eunji towards the front door, noticing her nervous demeanor.

"Remember," she began, turning to him before she opened the door, "they think we're happily married and very in love, so please just act the part."

Jungkook sighs.

This was nothing new to them. It had been several months now since they had been faking the part of their relationship where they were actually "in love", but it was getting tiring, and he definitely didn't enjoy acting the part. But no matter what he said the situation wouldn't develop into anything good, so he chose to stay quiet and accept that the night was going to be agonizing.

"So Jungkook honey, how has work been?" Eunji's mother speaks in a sweet manner as she glances up at him from across the dinner table. It had been half an hour since they had welcomed Eunji's parents into their home for their planned dinner.

Jungkook momentarily cleared his throat, feeling Eunji's stare burning into him from the side as he placed his chopsticks down, daring him to mess up in any kind of way.

He'd bet that she'd kick him in the shin if he got anywhere near saying something wrong, and part of him just wanted to test the waters.

"It's been a little bit busy lately considering our new game release, but it's nothing I'm not used to," he answered truthfully, and he felt Eunji slightly relax next to him before silently taking a sip of her wine.

" I hope the workload hasn't built up too much after your vacation."

Jungkook's brows furrowed for a moment as he glanced toward his wife briefly.

"Vacation-?"

He feels Eunji's heel jab right into his shin under the table, just as she places a hand on his arm and smiles sweetly.

"Our honeymoon in Busan, remember honey?" she cuts in, her eyes piercing into his. "He's just been so busy with work, it almost feels like it never happened with how nice it was."

Jungkook clears his throat, his eyes lingering on hers.

"Right,"

"Well I'm glad you're enjoying yourselves, but don't get too wrapped up because I want grandchildren as soon as possible." Eunji's father adds in, chuckling as Eunji's eyes widen, and Jungkook, although surprised, struggles to hide an amused smile.

"Dad!" she gasps, embarrassed with the way her father brought up the topic. It was way too soon, and with the way that she and Jungkook were far from having intercourse just yet, it definitely wasn't something to bring up.

But her parents didn't know that.

"Your fathers right honey, we're all only getting older, and you're both almost in your thirties-"

"Mom~" Eunji whines, not wanting to get into the topic of children. For heaven's sake, it had only been two weeks since they had gotten married. Just as she was about to demand to end the topic before things got more uncomfortable, the sound of the doorbell echoes throughout their home, interrupting their dinner.

"Were you expecting someone?" Eunji asks, turning to Jungkook who shakes his head, just as the doorbell rings once more. "I'll go see who it is then."

She pushes back her chair and stands, leaving the dining room and making her way toward the front door of their home, only to hear the doorbell for a third time.

Only growing more confused, she wonders who it could be at their doorstep at 8 PM.

Her heart sinks as soon as she swings the door open and catches her in-laws standing right in front of her.

"Mrs. Jeon, father," Eunji greets them as politely as she could with surprise in her tone. "It's nice to see you."

"Are you not going to welcome us in?" Jungkook's mother speaks, her nose held high as she glares her down. Eunji swallows caught off guard.

"Sorry?"

"Your in-laws show up at your door and you stand there staring as if you have just seen a ghost."

Eunji blinks, utterly confused about why they were standing at her doorstep anyway, especially the one night when she had her parents over. But having no choice, she stepped aside and opened the door further to let her in-laws into her home and later trailed behind them as they made their way further inside.

"Mother? Father?" Jungkook stood up from his seat shortly after catching his parents walk into the dining room where he had been with his in-laws, waiting for Eunji's return. "What are you doing here?"

He sounded just as surprised as Eunji.

"You told us there was a family dinner, and we decided to invite ourselves since our own daughter-in-law didn't want to do so herself." Jungkooks mother spoke, her tone cold.

Jungkook locked eyes with Eunji for a moment, noticing her discomfort. But before anyone else could say anything, he watches his mother step forward and take one of the empty seats at the table, making herself comfortable even with everyone's silent stares.

- - -

"What are your parents doing here?" Eunji whisper-yells as soon as Jungkook walks into the kitchen once seeing her text, telling him to join her there.

"I don't know," he mutters as he watches her stir the soup she was reheating for his parents. "She called me earlier today and I mentioned that we were having your parents over, that's all."

Eunji squeezes her eyes shut and groans at his answer.

"Why would you tell her that!"

"I didn't think she would actually invite herself here," he whispers back, brows furrowed.

"For fucks sake Jungkook, of course she would! She hates my guts already, and then you tell her that I invited my parents over before yours?"

"It'll be fine-"

"No, it won't." Eunji cuts him off sternly, glaring up at him. "I don't feel comfortable with your mother anywhere near mine. You know what happens every time, and they'll break out into some stupid argument any chance they get."

"You can't expect me to kick them out, Eunji." Jungkook responded lowly, and she sighed in frustration.

"I know," she grumbled, filling her in-laws' bowls with the warm soup. "But just so you know, I'm not happy with this situation."

"I'm aware."

"Good."

Eunji serves the reheated food she had previously made to her in-laws, Mr.Jeon thanks her politely while his wife didn't bother at all. Eunji finally takes a seat next to her husband and unconsciously watched her parents-in-law as they took their first bite.

The entire table remained completely silent, only the quiet sound of utensils being used filling the room as Eunji prays that nothing breaks out.

If only her prayers weren't ignored.

"Can I get you anything else?" Eunji built up the courage to ask her in-laws from across the table, noticing that they had finished their soup. She felt like she was walking on ice with them around, just so nothing would stir. But it didn't matter how careful she was, the problem wasn't on her end.

"Only if you have cared to leave us anything else." Jungkooks mother responded cooly, causing her daughter-in-law's heart to sink to her stomach.

"Of course," Eunji responds, standing from her seat quickly and making her way to the other end of the dinner table to take their empty plates before heading towards the kitchen. She plates the warm chicken and noodles she had made onto new plates for her in-laws and notices the rising voices coming from the dining room just as she picks up the plates of food to bring back.

"You will respect my daughter in her home." she hears her mother exclaim and picks up her pace to witness the scene unfolding.

"Oh please, your daughter wouldn't even be living in this house without my son's money! She's a gold digger that's all she is-!"

Eunji gasped as she witnessed one of the plates fall out of her hand just as she momentarily lost her balance going down the two small steps going into the living room while in a hurry. Hearing the plate crash onto the floor and break into multiple pieces as the food splattered everywhere, everyone's attention at the dinner table turned to her, silence falling just for a moment.

She suddenly felt tears building up for an unknown reason as she lowers her gaze, silently crouching down to attempt to clean the mess she made, hearing a scoff.

"She can't even get one job right." Mrs. Jeon scowled, and Eunji only felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment.

She was tired of being told off by her mother-in-law as if she were a child or someone of lesser worth. She didn't even want her respect, just to be accepted as a person.

But apparently, even that was too much.

"Mother, I believe it's time for you to leave."

The sound of Jungkook's stern voice caught Eunji off guard, causing her to look up and catch him standing from his seat before she came to stand as well.

"What?" Mrs.Jeon responds in disbelief, her brows furrowed.

"You heard what I said, mother." Jungkook looks down at her, his features showing no expression at all.

Eunji's heart pounded.

"I can't believe you," his mother gasped in anger, glaring up at his son with rage before standing as well. "How dare you kick out your own mother from your home!"

"Mother."

"Soyoung."

Both Jungkook and his father spoke sternly at the same time, only to watch her huff and grab her purse and begin making her way towards the door without another word, Mr.Jeon following behind and thanking Eunji for the food briefly. Moments later they hear the door swing shut behind them.

"Honey, are you okay?"

Eunji watched as her mother neared her to make sure her daughter was alright after the mess that had occurred. She nodded in response to her mother, her eyes catching Jungkooks from where she stood, hoping that he could see the gratitude in her eyes.

_ _ _

Heyyy everyoneee! I know its been quite a while, but here's an update after half a year. I'm truely sorry for the wait.

I hope you enjoyed the read!