Context: In which Wendy and Irene are married. Inspired by a particular tweet and uhm... discussions

Warning: Mundane marriage life.

When one speaks of love, they speak about the fantastical side of it. The joy of writing their first confession card, receiving their first bouquet of roses, celebrating their first monthly or yearly anniversary. Yet, rarely do people narrate of the tribulations of love.

Irene knew these tribulations well, as well as the placement of moles on her lover’s, Wendy’s, body. Love, is an endless process of practising, refining, and sustaining. Tribulations were an inevitable part of it. From the simple quibbles of whose turn it was to take out the trash to large quarrels about the plans of a child’s education. Irene was all too familiar with them.

That night, after dinner time, was no different. Irene had found her seven-year-old daughter’s report book that was purposely hidden from her and already signed by Wendy.

Angrily, Irene confronted their youngest daughter, “Yerim, what is this?”

Sooyoung, their eldest daughter, scuttled back to her bedroom after sensing an impending storm.

“My report book, ReneMom,” Yeri replied sullenly and without remorse.

 Wendy had just walked into the situation after taking a bath.

“Wendy, how could you endorse this?” Irene asked angrily.

Wendy smiled weakly and replied, “our Yerim was having a fever during the day of exam. Right, Yerim?” 

The seven-year-old nodded her head rapidly. “WenMom is right, I was not feeling well.”

“I did not mean your terrible grades, I was referring to you hiding your report book from me.”

“I did not hide it!” Yerim argued.

Wendy shook her head at their daughter as a danger signal and paused when Irene shot her a glare.

“Then why did you not let me sign it?” Irene demanded.

“I only needed one signature,” Yerim mumbled, loud enough for Irene’s sensitive ears to pick up.   

“What?!” Irene raised her voice. “Wendy, is