𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐆𝐄

e i g h t e e n

Jisoo woke up to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. Her mind was still foggy from sleep, but the sound of movement in the apartment pulled her out of bed. She quickly freshened up, her heart racing as she realized it was already morning.

She rushed out of her room and into the dining area, only to find Jungkook fully dressed, standing by the table with a glass of water in his hand. He looked calm, but seeing him already up and ready made her panic.

"I'm so sorry!" she blurted out, her hands waving in the air. "I'll make breakfast right away. It'll only take a few minutes!"

Jungkook raised an eyebrow and shrugged. "It's fine. I don't usually eat breakfast this early. I'll just grab something at the office later."

Jisoo blinked, letting out a small sigh of relief. "Oh... okay." She bit her lip, embarrassed by her unnecessary panic. "I'll just make something for myself then."

She headed to the kitchen, trying to ignore the awkwardness hanging in the air. Jungkook didn't seem too bothered, finishing his water and grabbing his things. As he slipped on his jacket, she peeked at him from the kitchen, still feeling out of place in this strange new routine.

Jungkook didn't say much else before heading out. "See you later," he mumbled before closing the door behind him.

Jisoo stared at the closed door for a moment before letting out a deep breath. The apartment suddenly felt very quiet, and for the first time since the wedding, she felt truly alone. She shook her head, trying to focus. She couldn't let this situation get to her.

After eating her breakfast, she sat down with her laptop, searching online for job opportunities. Her degree in business had always been something she was proud of, and now that she was in Seoul, she was eager to find work and prove herself. But as she scrolled through listings, doubt crept in. Will Jungkook let me work? She didn't know much about his thoughts on the matter, and it made her anxious.

Jungkook, on the other hand, was making his way to the office, his mind racing. Today was a big day—he was officially stepping into his role as the CEO. He'd grown up surrounded by the company, often visiting the building with his father. But today felt different. This wasn't just some intern position anymore. This was his company now.

As he parked and stepped out of the car, he took a deep breath, trying to shake off the nerves. The staff greeted him as he walked in, their eyes filled with curiosity and respect. He nodded back, offering polite smiles here and there.

His new assistant, Huh Yunjin, met him in the lobby. She was new, but already known for being friendly and efficient. Her warm smile made him feel a little more at ease.

"Good morning, Mr. Jeon," she said, extending a hand.

"Good morning," Jungkook replied, shaking her hand.

"Let me show you to your office," she offered, leading the way.

As they walked through the building, memories of his college days flashed in his mind. He had interned here several times, learning the ropes under his father's guidance. But now, the weight of responsibility felt much heavier. His father's shoes were big to fill, and Jungkook wasn't entirely sure if he was ready.

But as the day went on, Jungkook started to settle into the rhythm of work. Meetings, reports, and decisions filled his day, and slowly, the doubt started to fade. He could do this. He had to. For his father, for the company, and maybe even for himself.

Meanwhile, back at the apartment, Jisoo had been staring at her screen for hours, feeling more and more frustrated. She wanted to work, to have something of her own in this marriage. But the thought of asking Jungkook for permission made her stomach twist. What if he said no? What if he wanted her to just stay at home and play the role of a perfect wife?

As she wrestled with her thoughts, the doorbell rang. Jisoo quickly got up and opened the door to see Jungkook standing there, looking visibly tired. He barely glanced at her as he walked in, heading straight for the dining table to grab a glass of cold water.

"Hey," she said softly, feeling a bit awkward. "How was your first day at the company?"

Jungkook downed the water and let out a sigh. "It was fine," he said simply, then walked toward the bathroom to shower without saying anything else.

Jisoo watched him go, feeling a mix of emotions. She wanted to connect with him, but it was like there was a wall between them. Sighing, she turned back to the kitchen to heat up some lunch. She had made extra food earlier, but hadn't been able to finish it all.

Jungkook emerged from the bathroom after about 25 minutes, freshly showered. He quietly sat down at the dining table and began eating, his expression neutral. Jisoo sat across from him, her mind swirling with questions.

"How was the staff?" she asked, trying to make conversation.

"They were fine," Jungkook replied, not looking up from his plate.

Jisoo pressed on, asking about his assistant and how his first day went, but his answers remained short and distant.

Frustrated, she bit her lip, hesitating for a moment. She had something important to ask, but she wasn't sure how to bring it up. Jungkook seemed to sense her unease and finally looked up, his sharp eyes observing her closely.

"What is it?" he asked, his tone flat but curious. "If you want to say something, just say it."

Jisoo swallowed, gathering her courage. "I was just wondering... would you let me work?" she asked cautiously, her heart pounding.

Jungkook blinked, setting down his fork. "Of course," he said, as if it was obvious. "You can do anything you want."

Jisoo felt a wave of relief wash over her, but a playful thought crossed her mind, and she couldn't resist teasing him. "Even if I asked to start an OnlyFans?" she joked, trying to lighten the mood.

The air in the room instantly shifted. Jungkook's expression darkened, and he gave her a cold, piercing look that made her heart skip a beat.

Jisoo's eyes widened in panic. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean it!" she stammered, feeling embarrassed.

For a moment, he just stared at her, his gaze unreadable. But then, to her surprise, he chuckled, flashing his signature bunny smile.

"I wouldn't allow that," he said warmly, his tone softening. "But don't worry, I know it was just a joke. Let's keep it that way."

Jisoo let out a small laugh, feeling both relieved and startled. She hadn't expected him to react like that, but it was the first time since they were teenagers that he had smiled at her like that. It was strange, but comforting in a way.

For the first time since their wedding, Jisoo felt like things might not be as bad as she'd feared. Maybe, just maybe, they could make this work.