"About what?"

     "Us."

     "Oh."

     " I think I've been more patient, babe  I don't know any guy who would go five months living in the same house with his wife and not expect her to be, you know, his wife! How long do you think we can keep up this 'look, but don't touch' policy? I love you, hon. And I need you more than I can say."

     Jessica continued eating her oatmeal, her eyes downcast.

     "Are you listening, babe? Am I getting to you?"

     "I hear you," she murmured. "I know it's not fair to you, but I just can't think of you like that, Taeyeon."

     "Like what? Your husband? That's what I am."

     "I know. And you have every right to expect your wife to be. . .a wife. But I don't feel it inside. I can't imagine us being more than. . .friends."

     Taeyeon raked his fingers through his hair. This was the last thing he wanted to hear. The old "just friends" rejection.

     "So what do we do, Sica, if all you want to be is friends? You want to spend a lifetime together just being friends?"

     She looked up at him, her eyes wide and solemn. "No, Taeyeon. I've been thinking about us. And I've made a decision."

     "You have?" That sounded like progress. Usually, Jessica couldn't even decide between brown sugar or maple syrup on her oatmeal. "So what is your decision, babe?"

     "I'm going home to San Francisco."

     His heart skipped a beat. "San Francisco? You've got to be kidding."

     "No, I'm seriously. Our classes will be finished in about a month. It would be perfect time."

     "Perfect for who?"

     "Okay, so nothing's perfect about our situation, Taeyeon. So we have to come up with something that's at least fair."

     Anger and indignation wer