Prologue

Sunlight drifts in through the window, gently and softly scattering across the hardwood and rugs. Yoona rose gently, taking a small glance at the body next to hers and shifted. He made no movements. Yoona swiped at her eyes slightly and stretched a little. Her fingers reached out towards his shoulder, but they stop short, because she knew that his body is always out of reach, no matter how hard she tried. Instead, she got out of bed and slipped into her bedroom slippers. Maybe, just maybe, she had been dreaming too long.

The house that was once filled with laughter, kisses and hugs was now missing the warmth. Yoona went about preparing the breakfast like she always does every morning – coffee and toast, sometimes with an egg or two. Once Minho was down, he would, like always, sit at the dining table, slowly sipping his coffee while flipping through the daily newspaper. No one spoke and the room was filled with silence, apart from the sizzling of the pan and the flipping of the newspaper. Yoona gently serves the breakfast to him, like the quiet obedient housewife she is. He murmurs a thank you, without looking away from the papers, while she settles at the opposite end of the table, fingers wrapped around a small cup of tea she had prepared for herself.

Once he was done with breakfast, he stood up quickly, grabbed his coat off the edge of the chair and slips it on. His hands start to mingle with his tie to fix it. Yoona followed him and her fingers reaches up in an attempt to fix his tie, but his hands were in the way.

“It’s okay” He mumbled slightly, while her hands drop limply to her side.

“Okay,” she said, casting her eyes downwards. “I’ll see you later then.”

He nodded curtly and exits quickly, but halfway to the driveway, he spun around and she was still at the doorway, looking downwards.

“Yoona?” Her head snaps up in response

“Yeah?”

“Don’t wait for me to eat dinner tonight.”

“Oh… Yes, of course.” As if apologetic, he gives her a small, rare smile before sliding into his seat in the new sports care they (he) picked out the previous month. Once the car drives out of her sight, Yoona shuts the door calmly, rests her back on it and slides down slowly, pulling her knees to her chest. Her eyes were damp again and the tears were falling again.

--

Jonghyun casually entered Minho’s office, poking around at the photographs and books lining the shelves before the latter acknowledges his presence.

“What’s up, Jonghyun?” Minho offered him a small smile and gestured him to seat in front of his desk. With a brief moment of hesitance, Jonghyun took it and settles in.

“Well, I was just asking how Yoona is doing. It has been a while since I’ve seen her.”

“She’s doing okay.” Minho murmured still flipping through the many files on his desk.

“Really?” Minho looked up, eyebrows furrowed.

“What are you implying?”

“Oh, just,” Jonghyun’s shrugged before his tone became more serious. “When Jessica went to visit her the other day, she was a bit out of things. Preoccupied with stuff. Minho, listen, she’s … really hurt.”

Minho’s jaws clenched gently. “She’s fine. She’s just tired lately.”

“Jessica says she saw suitcases packed.”

“She said she was visiting her parents in Incheon the next few days.” Minho sighed.

“That was last month, Minho”

“Look, Jonghyun,” Minho’s tone got angrier. “Whatever happens in my house is between Yoona and I. You have no right to interfere.”

“Maybe you have forgotten that my wife’s sister is your wife. Maybe you have forgotten that I was the very person who introduced you to Yoona.” Jonghyun rises abruptly, his voice trembling. “I have every right to know what is going on, and I know that you are draining the life out of her. Minho, she is hurting, but you don’t even care.”

“You think I don’t know? You think I wanted this to happen?” Minho was already raising his voice, his fists clenched, and his eyes stared straight down at Jonghyun.

“I think you’ve ed it up way too much. You don’t deserve her. At all.”

--

Minho didn’t come home till eleven that night, and when he returned, the house was empty. Yoona’s clothes were gone from the closet, the extra suitcase in the basement disappeared and her favorite shoes were missing. Minho walked through the house, taking in the sight. Not a speck of dirt was in sight. The kitchen was clean, the bathroom was clean, his clothes washed and neatly folded in the drawer. The only thing out of place was a long envelope on the white kitchen table top.

Minho reaches for it and opens it. Out fell Yoona’s ring, the three million won Tiffany piece. And a small note, which he recognizes immediately as Jonghyun’s handwriting.

Yoona is with Jessica and I.

Don’t you dare come looking for us.