Chapter 5

“Honey, what do you want to do today?” Jaejoong asked lazily, on one beautiful saturday morning & sighed with satisfaction as he clutched his wife closer to him. It was still an upward struggle to solidify their relationship but he felt that he was inching his way closer to Yuri every day. At least, they were now comfortable enough with each other to sleep together. Not that anything else was happening between them, after all, his wife was now five & half a month pregnant.

Yuri felt a surge of anger course through her body, “Jaejoong Oppa, have you forgotten that we were supposed to go see the doctor for my checkup today?” Although, both of them had made a lot of progress in working out their marriage, Yuri was still feeling a deep sense of dissatisfaction. For one, Jaejoong had practically ignored the existence of their baby & the only time he would acknowledge it was when she would bring the topic up, his concern never extended beyond her well being. He wouldn’t even participate in choosing a name for the baby.

“Oh yeah, that’s right.” Jaejoong felt Yuri withdrawing from him again. His hold tightened, preventing her from leaving the bed, “Please don’t be angry? I’m sorry okay?” He nuzzled her neck, physically begging for forgiveness.

As usual, Yuri gave in. She found it hard to remain angry with Jaejoong especially whenever he started to shower her with attention.

“You are forgiven.” Yuri smiled, “How about we go shopping for a crib today after the appointment?”

“I have a much better idea. How about we go to the lake & have a picnic there?”

Again, Yuri felt disappointment, “Oppa, how come you are so reluctant to do anything when it comes to the baby?”

“It’s got nothing to do with the baby. It’s just that it’s so hard to find time to do anything with you that I want to take full advantage of whatever time we have together. You can always go look for the rest of the baby’s things during the week when I’m working.”

He’s got a point there. Yuri gave Jaejoong a kiss & stood up, “You got to get ready too lazy bone or we are going to be late for the appointment.”

Yuri was content for the day. This was actually the first time that Jaejoong could make it to an appointment with her. She was also half-hoping that the more her husband was exposed to the baby’s progress, the more interested he had become to the baby’s well being.

Just then, his cell phone rang, “What is it, Hyoyeon?” Yuri heard Jaejoong say. Tension went through Yuri’s body when she heard the name she was starting to hate. More often than not, the secretary would call with something urgent during Jaejoong’s time off from work, thus disrupting their planned all the time & never fail; Jaejoong would always make up some apology & leave. For once, she would like Jaejoong to place her at a higher priority than work.

‘Here it comes.’ Yuri thought. She watched as Jaejoong turned to her, his expression full of regret. Yuri interjected with ‘I know, you have to go’ before Jaejoong could say anything. Jaejoong cursed the problems from worked & tried to apologize again.

“Don’t. Just go.” Yuri said tiredly.

There was nothing more Jaejoong could say or do. As usual, he told himself that he would make it up later.

“I will just take a cab then.”

“Go ahead & take the car. You don’t know how late you are going to be. I will manage.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“Really Oppa, it’s not like I have never had to do this before.”

Jaejoong bit his lips. Her point was well taken; this wasn’t the first time, “Just be patient with me, things will get better. I promise.”

Yuri turned her head away as Jaejoong leaned in to give her a goodbye kiss, “Just go or your dear Hyoyeon will start calling again.” She felt tears of self-pity starting to well up again, but forced herself to stop it. She had to get used to this for it seemed like this was what life with Jaejoong was going to be like.

This time, her phone rang. She immediately picked it up, thinking that it might be Jaejoong calling.

“Hey there, what have you been up to lately?” Changmin asked in a cheerful voice. He had been trying his best to stay away from Yuri when he found out that her & Jaejoong were working hard on their relationship but he still made it a point to check up on her every once in a while, to reassure himself that she was doing well, “Changmin Oppa. I haven’t heard from you for a long time. I thought you are mad at me or something.” Yuri was disappointed that it wasn’t Jaejoong but was very glad to hear from her friend.

“As if I can ever get mad at you. I just want to see how my favorite mommy-to-be is doing?”

Yuri couldn’t stop her voice from trembling as the question invoked the effect of Jaejoong’s abandoning her at the clinic, “I’m okay.”

Changmin, highly attuned to Yuri’s mood, picked up on that right away, “What’s wrong? Are you alright? Where are you?”

Yuri was feeling down in the dumps & couldn’t help but start unloading her woes to a sympathetic ear. Changmin gritted his teeth with anger. Her moron of a husband didn’t know how to appreciate & take care of his treasure! “Cheer up. I’m free today. How about if I come over & pick you up so you won’t have to take a cab & if you want, we can go look for a crib & other baby things together afterwards?”

“Thank you Oppa, you are such a great friend.” After what she went through with Jaejoong, Changmin’s suggestion was heaven sent. At least, she won’t have time to indulge in her blue mood when she’s with Changmin.

Yuri & her doctor were chatting when Changmin arrived at the clinic. Before Yuri could make the introductions, the doctor turned around & saw a handsome young man looking at his patient with eyes full of concern, “You must be Mr. Kim, congratulations, your wife passed her check up with flying colors. Both her & the baby are very healthy.”

“I’m happy to hear that but I’m not her husband.” Changmin corrected right away.

There was an awkward silence but Changmin came to the rescue, “I’m just a friend of the family & Kim Jaejoong called to tell me that he had been detained at work & couldn’t make it in time so he asked if I could pick up his wife for him.”

Yuri managed to contain her laughter until they got out of the office, “Oppa, I never knew that you could come up with a tale that fast.”

Changmin smiled, very pleased to see that Yuri was in a good mood now, “Anything for a lady in distress. So, where do you want to go now?”

“How about to H&M Korea? We can start looking for a baby’s crib there & I need to buy some new clothes. My tummy is getting bigger by the minute. Just look at me, I feel like a duck waddling around.” Yuri laughed at herself as she loving caressed her tummy.

“I think you look wonderful.”

Something with the way Changmin spoke & the way his expression changed caught Yuri’s attention. She was instantly surprised & alarmed, “Oppa, I think we need to talk.”

Changmin wanted to shoot himself for unthinkingly revealing his feelings for Yuri. He knew that it would take something short of a miracle before he could ever get a chance to be with her & he was willing to settle for just her friendship, “What’s there to talk about?” He feigned a light mood, forcing himself to act casual.

Yuri thought she was just reading too much into what Changmin said & let the matter go. They had a great time shopping. Changmin’s hilarious input & opinion during their shopping spree made her day but deep down, Yuri couldn’t help but wish that she was with Jaejoong instead.

“I’m starving. Let’s go to B28 Seoul for lunch & I’m buying.” Yuri suggested, as her stomach began to growl, “I agree. You should buy lunch since I have been acting like your slave & have been carrying your package for the whole day while you dragged me around for hours.”

“Teach you to volunteer for something next time.” Yuri teased.

“But I have to warn you, I’m so hungry right now I had probably end up ordering everything in the menu. This is your last chance to recant about paying for lunch.” Changmin teased back.

Yuri pretended to think hard about this, “Hey, your time is up, you can’t change your mind anymore.” Changmin announced, as they got to the restaurant.

“Oppa, thank you very much for spending time with me. I don’t know what I would have done without you. It seemed that you are always there for me when I need you.” Yuri said seriously, ‘Unlike Jaejoong Oppa.’ She thought silently.

"Unlike Jaejoong." Changmin unknowingly echoed her thought. They entered the restaurant & got a table near the front door.

Changmin wasn’t kidding when he said he would order everything in the menu. In Yuri’s mind, it really seemed like he did. She was still marveling at the sight of all the food being unloaded on their table when she thought she heard Jaejoong’s voice.

Both, her & Changmin looked up in time to see Jaejoong & some gorgeous young lady being led to their own table.