CHONU

You and Jungwoo got married too early - young, inexperienced, and not even for love. No wonder your parents insisted so much: it was just an agreement, a profitable deal, and not a story about mutual feelings. From the very beginning, your relationship was shaky, like a house of cards. You and Jungwoo often quarreled - sometimes over trifles, sometimes because of his hot temper, sometimes because of your stubbornness. Sometimes it seemed that any word could become a spark that would cause a quarrel.

Tonight was no exception, although you were already tired of the endless conflicts. Jungwoo stayed up late, and you didn’t even know whether to wait for him or just fall asleep so as not to hear the dull thud of his footsteps in the hallway. The clock showed well past midnight, when the bedroom door abruptly opened.

He walked in slowly, like a shadow, and stood there for a moment, as if trying to gather his strength. In the dim light of the nightlight, his face looked tired, his eyes glistening with alcohol. The smell of alcohol hit his nose even before he got close. Jungwoo was drunk.

“How can you sleep peacefully when I’m not here?” His voice sounded low, hoarse, with a hint of resentment, as if he had the right to demand that you stay awake and pay attention.

You remained silent, not turning around, clutching the edge of the blanket with your fingers, and heard him grumble under his breath. The next second, the bed dipped slightly under his weight. Jungwoo lay down behind you without asking permission, and snuggled closer, burying his cold nose in the back of your head. His hot breath slid across your skin, and his hands, smelling of bitter alcohol, hesitantly touched your side, as if he was looking for support.

The silence between you became so thick that it seemed like it could be cut with a knife.