Our Long Ending Story

Chapter 32: Boundaries and Compromises

Jungkook was already awake, lying on his side as he watched Lisa sleep beside him. She looked peaceful, her features relaxed in the soft morning light, and for a moment, he allowed himself to just appreciate how beautiful she was. He hadn't seen this side of her in what felt like forever.

But beneath that serenity, Jungkook knew, was a storm. They had been through so much. Too much. And today, they needed to talk.

He was lost in thought when Lisa stirred beside him, her eyes slowly blinking open. She turned her head and smiled softly at him. "Morning," she said, her voice still heavy with sleep.

"Morning," Jungkook replied, his voice gentle as he brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "How are you feeling?"

Lisa let out a small sigh, stretching a bit before sitting up against the headboard. "I'm okay. Just... a lot on my mind."

He nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. There was no avoiding it now. The time had come to face everything head-on.

They both sat up, and the comfortable silence between them gradually became filled with the weight of unsaid words. Jungkook finally broke the silence, his voice firm but filled with emotion. "Lisa, I... I need to be honest with you. About everything."

Lisa glanced at him, her gaze steady but guarded. "I know. We can't keep pretending things are okay when they're not."

Jungkook swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. He'd rehearsed this conversation in his head countless times, but now that it was happening, he felt vulnerable and exposed. He took a deep breath and began.

"We both know how and why the affair happened. And I don't want to talk about that again because I know it would just open back your wounds. But now I have one more explanation to give, about why I didn't want you to work again. It's because... I was scared." He glanced at her, searching for understanding in her eyes. "I was insecure, Lisa. After you gave birth, you... you looked different. Not in a bad way, never in a bad way. You were more beautiful than ever, but also... sexier. Curvier. And it terrified me." He hesitated, the words catching in his throat. "I didn't want anyone else to see you like that. You're the mother of my child, my wife, and the thought of anyone looking at you in a sexual way... I couldn't handle it."

Lisa listened carefully, her expression unreadable. "So, that's why you didn't want me to work?" she asked quietly, her voice tinged with hurt. "Because you were afraid other people would see me?"

Jungkook nodded, guilt washing over him. "Yes. It sounds stupid, I know. But when I saw you getting back into shape after the delivery... I caught a glimpse of you in the shower one morning, and it just... it triggered something in me. I couldn't stand the idea of anyone else seeing your body. I wanted to protect you, to keep you all to myself. I thought that if you stayed home and focused on the baby, I could keep you safe."

Lisa let out a slow breath, processing his words. She looked at him, her eyes softening a little. "You know that's not fair, right? You can't keep me locked away just because you're afraid of other people's thoughts. I've worked hard to get to where I am, and I deserve to keep chasing my career."

"I know, I know," Jungkook said quickly, his hands running through his hair in frustration. "I was wrong, Lisa. So wrong. I was selfish, and I see that now. But... it wasn't just about jealousy. I was also scared of losing you. Of you moving on, of you outgrowing me. That's why I acted the way I did."

Lisa's heart clenched at his words. She could see the vulnerability in his eyes, the fear that had driven his actions. But she also knew that they couldn't keep going like this. They had to set boundaries and make promises—real promises—to each other if they were going to move forward.

"You're not going to lose me, Jungkook," she said softly, reaching for his hand. "But you can't control me either. I need my independence, my career. And you need to trust me."

Jungkook squeezed her hand, nodding. "I do trust you, Lisa. I do. I'm sorry for how I've been acting. I'll do better. I promise."

Lisa smiled faintly, appreciating his sincerity. But she also knew this was going to take time. "I want to work again," she said firmly. "But we need to find a balance. I don't want us to end up like we did before—drifting apart because we're too focused on our own lives. We need to be a team, Jungkook."

"Agreed," Jungkook said, nodding. "We'll make it work, Lisa. Whatever it takes, we'll find a way to balance it all. I don't want to lose you, and I don't want you to lose yourself either."

Lisa leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder as she sighed. "But you have to promise me one thing," she said playfully, her tone lightening. "No more trying to keep me hidden away in baggy clothes or long skirts. I'm still going to be me, whether you like it or not."

Jungkook chuckled softly, wrapping his arm around her. "Fine. But don't be surprised if I still get a little possessive from time to time. It's hard to turn off, you know?"

Lisa laughed, shaking her head. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Mr. Jeon. But remember, I'm not just yours—I belong to myself too."

Jungkook pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head. "Understood. I'll work on that too." He pulled her closer, the warmth of her body against his bringing him a sense of peace he hadn't felt in a long time.

As they sat there together, the weight of their conversation hanging in the air, they both knew that this was just the beginning. There would be more tough conversations, more difficult moments ahead. But they also knew that as long as they faced them together, they could make it through anything.

And that was a promise they were both willing to keep.