Chapter 87

Yuri placed the nicely wrapped presents underneath the christmas tree & smiled. Taehyun was beside her, squealing in delight for getting another present. She brushed a lock of her hair away from her face & stare intentionally at the small wrapped present again. She had gone to Donghae’s house to pick it up just a few hours ago. What surprised her was that he had set up a fancy dinner table. She hadn’t intended to stay at his house for that long but with Taehyun’s sweet tooth craving for a piece of pie, she couldn’t decline & she had to admit; he is a good cooker.

She had apologized again, for her way of acting when she was drunk. He had looked disappointed but then, lightened up as she had frown.

“Can I open one, mommy?”

She averted her head with the smile still on, “I don’t want to spoil you. Wait until christmas day alright?”

His expression didn’t change & he nodded. Just as soon as the phone started ringing, he darted for it. His little feet tripped over the rug but he giggled & got up quickly before his mommy could chide him,”Hello.” He squeakily answered.

“Guess who?”

“Daddy.”

Yuri’s heart couldn’t help but trip over an imaginary rug. She pressed her lips together & turned away as if nothing had happened. Taehyun’s joyful voice rang in her ear as he chatted with his daddy. Yuri folded her hands to & stared at one particular blue light. She took in every word Taehyun said, trying to context what Jaejoong was saying to him & it was the same again, as Taehyun’s voice turned low with a broken heart. He wouldn’t be home for christmas.

Ha. What had she been wishing for? The opposite. She brought her knees up, placed her chin on top of them & folded her arms around her legs. The christmas song to her ears now feels more like a jarring yell. She closed her eyes & rocked back & forth, humming her own music. Merry christmas should sound more like dispirited christmas.

“Mommy.”

“Hmmm.” She hummed, with her eyes still closed.

“Daddy want to talk to you.”

She groaned. It hurts too much. Talking to him while not seeing his handsome face was worst than a dispirited christmas. She had already gotten over the night when she had gotten drunk & she wasn’t ready for more. He might still be angry with her but she was drunk for god sake.

“Tell him I’m busy.”

Taehyun’s little brows met in the middle. He pressed the phone to his ear again, “Mommy busy, daddy.”

“Tell your mommy I won’t hang up without speaking to her first.” Jaejoong said patiently.

Taehyun held the phone away as he repeated what his daddy had said. Yuri grumbled under her breath, took the phone from Taehyun & told him to go to brush his teeth. She watched him walked away before cursing in a small voice.

“Hey, sweetheart.”

She tightly compressed her eyes, “You called again.”

“Because I miss you. Why are you so grumpy?”

“I’m not.”

He hesitated, “Is this about yesterday?” She didn’t answer, “I’m sorry, baby. I...I wasn’t thinking. I never was. I’m sorry I yelled at you. I made you cry & I was stupid enough not to be there to wipe your tears away. Every second without you isn’t what I want & I know you don’t want me to be away. You want me home for christmas; I will come home & love you. I...I will come home right now. Wait…”

“Don’t.” She quickly interrupted, with her eyes opening.

He frowned, “What do you…?”

“You went away for a case. Stay there until you complete it. I don’t want you to come home just for me. I’m having a blast.” She managed a laugh, “See? I’m laughing like crazy. I’m having a merry christmas just like you want me, too. Aren’t you happy?”

“Stop lying.”

A boil of temper raised in her veins, “Are you having fun, Jaejoong Oppa?”

“No. I’m coming home.”

“No, you won’t!” She exclaimed, averted & stare angrily at the blazing fire.

“Yes, I am, Yul.”

Her breathing tripled. Her grip on the phone hardened. She closed her eyes, took in a deep breath & let it out. Opening her eyes back up again, she calmly but madly said, “No, you won’t, Oppa. I won’t let you come into this house no matter what. Finish your job.”

“I have the keys to the front door & the back door.” Jaejoong remarked tightly.

“Let’s see if that will stop me from going to a hotel.”

He let out an angry sigh, “Yul, you are being ridiculous. We both know you want me back home for christmas. I want…”

“I don’t care what you want & I don’t care what I want. I’m going to have a merry christmas without you, Oppa. If you want me to have a merry christmas, stay away. That’s the most wanted present I want from you now. You are going to ruin it if you come back home. Hyunnie will be fine. There will be much more christmases. Don’t come home.”

He didn’t answer her for a few dead minutes but listened to her heavy & angry breathing as she was his. When he spoke, it was a giving up dreaded voice, “If that’s what you want for christmas, it’s what I will give you. I hope you have fun playing with it but please, don’t hurt his heart more than you are now. He’s pleading you with a broken heart already. He loves you, remember that.”

Yuri let out a shaky breath, “Merry christmas to you too, Oppa.” She took the phone away from her ear & hung up.

Yuri buried her face into the palm of her hands. Her lips trembled unconsciously. No, she won’t cry. Not now, never for him. She had made up her mind. She doesn’t want him for christmas. She doesn’t want to see his face. She doesn’t want anything to do with him. Christmas will be fine, just fine without him.

“Mommy.”

She gasped a little at her son’s small voice. Pressing her lips together, she looked up & forced a smile on. His face was full of concern, not knowing what was going on. Yuri held her hands out. He pouted & came running into her arms. She hugged him tightly, letting in & out shaky breaths.

“I’m sorry, sweetie. Did I scare you?” She soothed, while raking his hair at the back motherly.

He shook his head, “No. Did daddy make you mad? Daddy yell at you, mommy?”

“Oh no, sweetie. He didn’t yell at me.” She said, pulling back to stare at the face that featured her husband.

“I was the one yelling at him.”

“But daddy made you sad.”

Yuri smiled tightly to not let the tears fall. She cupped his cheeks & shook her head, “I’m not sad. If I have you with me, I’m happy. Your daddy won’t be home for christmas. We will go on ahead, won’t we?”

He nodded, “Hyunnie hate daddy, mommy. Hyunnie don’t want him home.”

She parted her lips in surprises & her brows came together in the middle. She pulled him back into a hug with her heart tightening, “You don’t mean that. He didn’t do anything wrong. He...your daddy just can’t be home for christmas. Now, take that back. You love him & you know that he loves you, too.”

“No. Daddy promise Hyunnie he be home for christmas. Daddy lie, mommy.”

Yuri groaned, pulling back to stare at his face again. She placed a kiss on his forehead, “You & I know he’s very busy. Lawyers are even on work when it comes to christmas day. That’s your daddy. He can’t be home on every holiday but we both know he really want to be with us. He’s a very important man. Do you understand, honey?” He pouted seriously with a small nod. She smiled & kissed his brow, “Now, how about some chocolate chip nutella cookies with hot chocolate? You can help me. Sounds good to you?”

Taehyun nodded again. Yuri got up, took his wee hand in hers & walked out of the parlor, heading for the kitchen with a heavy heart.

Jaejoong finally hung up after the dial tone ringed in his ear for eight seconds. He sighed & ran a hand through his hair. The room was dark. The only light coming in was from the window he was staring down at. Jessica & her family were having an outdoor christmas dinner party. Guests had been staying in the big mansion for days now without even a low laugh. He was sick of being coup up with Mr. Jung’s words of resting the case.

He came here to go through & win a case. Not dance with young ladies & partying without his wife. Jaejoong had suspect Mr. Jung’s plan of ruining his christmas with his family the time he had called. He knew the man better than Mr. Jung thought he did. He had only came because of the incident that night with Yuri being drunk. He wanted to be there with her but he didn’t want to witness her lies of detesting what had happened that night. Knowing that she didn’t mean it would only sent him further away from home.

It hurts to hear her say how dashing another man looks. It hurts to see her hanging on a man who wanted her. It hurts to hear from her own lips that she didn’t love him.

At that point, he had wanted to run away but he didn’t. He just had to follow her out to the creek to make sure she was safe & she was, passed out in his arms afterwards. He had taken her to bed when Mr. Jung had called. That was his only chance to get away, to think & think he did. He was stuck with the Jung’s family for christmas. The wish his wife wants. The only present she wanted. The only way that she will be happy.

The moment he sighed & averted his gaze to the pool, he met Jessica’s eyes. She was sitting on one of the patio chair with her long, slim legs cross. Her black three-quarter sleeves with button tabs gilchrist dress dangled down restlessly. She circled her arms around her waist & smiled. He returned a small smile & moved away from the window gradually. She was still beautiful but she couldn’t make his heart flutter like his wife.

Jaejoong cursed ever so softly & raked a hand through his hair. Why didn’t Yuri want him home for christmas? He knows she miss him. He knows she wants him home. Why was she denying it? The first christmas after they had gotten marry, the second time will be a disaster. Or maybe it is already a disaster.

He turned his head & faced the mirror, seeing his feature looking back gloomily. Was that really his reflection? Dear lord. He wanted to be back home so badly. Why didn’t he rethink before making his move? Now, he really regretted going away from home to think.

“Jae Oppa.”

Jaejoong came back to his sense & stared at Jessica, reflecting with him in the mirror. Was he so much into his own thoughts that he didn’t even hear the door opening?

“Jessica.” He slowly said, while turning around to stare at her, “How long had you been standing there?”

“I just got here.” She walked in without his consent & closed the door behind her. He tried not to frown at her reaction but stood still. She looked around the room but he noticed her eyes mostly on the bed.

“What do you want?” He asked roughly, not really noticing his tone until her eyes widened. He his lips, dropped his arms & turned back to the window, “I’m sorry.”

“Why didn’t you come down? The party had started hours ago.”

He was silent, staring at Mr. Jung. The man’s mouth opened in a roar of laughter. He placed one of his hands on his about-to-explode belly while his other held a champagne cup. Jaejoong squinted his eyes in disgusts.

“Oppa?” Jessica asked quietly, wanting him to answer her question.

He looked at her over his shoulder. When she fidgeted, he walked away from the window & stood three feet away from her, “You were asking?”

“Why didn’t you come down earlier?”

“Oh.” Jaejoong uttered, & moved away to the bed. He opened his bag & searched for a picture frame. A smile came onto his face when Yuri & Taeyeon popped up. He traced his index finger along her cheekbone & worded those three words.

Jessica made a movement. Suddenly, as he if had forgotten something, Jaejoong looked up, “I’m sorry again. I just didn’t want to come down yet. It’s chilly outside.” He scanned the dress she had on, “Weren’t you cold?” She shook her head as her body grew hot from his look on her body.

He half-smiled, “Why don’t you go put on a coat? A cold on christmas day won’t be so nice.”

“I...I’m fine.” Her look turned into curiosity as he looked back down. Whatever that was in the bag had surely caught his whole attention. She moved towards him but didn’t dare look at whatever he was looking at, “Oppa.”

“Hmmm.” He hummed, but didn’t look up.

“You are not going home for christmas, are you?”

Jaejoong looked up then. His look of dreamily turned into a look of uncertainty to her question. Why would it matter to her if he goes home or not? Even if she still loves him, his heart was for his wife only. It makes no difference.

He shook his head after a while, “No, I’m not. The case with your father isn’t finished yet.” He sensed her letting out a sigh of relief & couldn’t help but feel stupid for telling her so.

Jessica smiled, “The refreshment dinner is set up. Do you want to go down there with me?”

Without letting a sign of movement pass, Jaejoong shook his head. He has a job to do. That is, he needs to hold his wife & son close, “I won’t be down tonight. Don’t wait for me.”

“Oh.” She worded discontentedly, “Alright then. Good night.”

“Good night.”

Jaejoong waited until Jessica was out of the door & then brought out the picture frame. He gave Yuri & their son a kiss before popping down onto the bed. A night it will be.