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"pick your poison, babe. i'm poison either way." - imgonnagetyouback by t.s.
There was something about mornings.
A promise of something new, something hopeful. When the sun beamed brightly, it gave people a sense of energy. Well, not for one particular Baek Saeon.
Mornings meant shit to him. It could go to hell and back, and he wouldn’t blink an eye. He woke up, thinking about the day ahead of him, and he was already exhausted. Sneaking a look at the alarm clock beside his narrow bed, the red lights read close to 5 a.m. Way too fucking early, even for him.
With a groan, he stretched and tried to bring back life to his dead limbs. He was sure he didn't sleep the night before. Tossing and turning on his bed, the persistently deprecating voice in his head finally allowed him some sleep at around 2 a.m.
"You sly dog, you did this for your own benefit."
"Stop making excuses for yourself, pervert."
"She is not your wife but a hostage."
"Stop deluding yourself. You don't deserve a happy ending."
Thinking he could go back to sleep, he closed his eyes, when a sudden noise from the other side of his bedroom door startled him.
Crash. Followed by a muted gasp and scurrying footsteps.
Saeon was awake now. He sat up on his bed. He gingerly hopped off his bed, his feet feeling the cold hard floor. Walking carefully towards the door, his heart started beating incessantly against his chest. Creaking open the door slightly, he saw a shadow in his kitchen. The shadow of the woman he just couldn't stop thinking about. Hong Heejoo.
Hong Heejoo, who was sitting alone on the bride's chair, surrounded by a garden of pink and yellow blooms.
Hong Heejoo, who looked ethereal in a bride's gown that hugged her body like a glove, as if it was specifically made for her.
Hong Heejoo, who defiantly refused to stand up, forcing him to kneel in front of her and slide her wedding band into her ring finger.
Hong Heejoo, his bride, his wife, his hostage.
Saeon closed the door gently. Leaning against it, he closed his eyes in defeat. Now that they're living under the same roof, how could he stay away from her? It was already difficult to not think about her when he was away for college, his single photo of hers tucked away in the pages of his favorite book. When he almost died during a mission in Argan as a young soldier, and his only prayer was to stay alive, so he could get another glimpse of her beautiful smile. When she was almost married off to a psychopathic businessman who had too much money and ego to last him a lifetime, Saeon almost lost his mind, throwing away his carefully-laid plans to save Heejoo from her own mother's doing.
And now? How could he not touch her when they're expected to sleep on the same bed as a newlywed couple? When Heejoo woke up in the wee hours just to cook breakfast for him? And he expected himself to be righteous, stay away from her, and prepare for work?
No, he could not just simply do that. He made up his mind. There was too much distance and too much time away from each other that they had suffered. He didn't know the right words, but he would let his actions speak for himself.
Throwing away caution, Saeon opened the door and strode decidedly to his wife. Hong Heejoo, like a deer caught in the headlights, turned her head to see a determined Baek Saeon. Before she could wrongfully make a sound of startle, her husband beat her to it.
"Hong Heejoo, do you like being married to me or not? If you don't hate it, how about we slowly get to know each other better?"
Heejoo's thoughts were running a hundred miles. She couldn't even bring herself to feel shame that she was caught preparing breakfast for her husband like an obedient, diligent wife. All she could feel at that moment was confusion. Is this real? Am I dreaming? In front of her was her husband, who pathetically just offered her the most backward of plans.
Her quiet assessment of his offer drove him to the edge. Baek Saeon was sure that he just made things worse. His tried to blink away the sting in his eyes but to no avail. His voice quaked in desperation.
"Nod or shake your head. Don't just stare at me. Do you know how long I've thought of this? You might think I'm just saying this because we just got married, but I've known you for a long time, Heejoo," Saeon's words and tears raced against each other.
"Twenty years ago, when your evil mother cared more for appearances than her own daughter, I was there to comfort you."
"When a dog almost bit you to pulp, and you couldn't even scream, I was there to save you."
"When your pathetic sister just stood by and let you carry the burden of your brother's death alone, I was there to speak for you."
"I watched you grow up. I watched this world treat you the worst, and I know I'm no different from your family, and I don't deserve you, but won't you look at me? Really look at me?"
Heejoo stared at Saeon in disbelief. No one could have prepared her for this childlike display by her new husband. As he spoke, memories of the past flashed in her mind. Those memories that tormented Saeon were the same moments that comforted Heejoo when Saeon decided to just walk out from their friendship. That despite having a traumatic childhood, the silver lining in her sunset-draped clouds was Saeon. Saeon and his quiet kindness. Saeon and the gentle touch of his hand against hers. Saeon and the secret tears he would shed for her when he thought she was looking away. Saeon and his attempts to save her from her mother's schemes.
Heejoo in brief strides reached Saeon. Stretching her hand towards his handsome face, she wiped his tears away.
"Thank you," her voice hoarse from not speaking her whole life, Heejoo quietly thanked the man in front of her.
"You spoke?" Saeon questioned in bewilderment.
"All my life, I've hated The Little Mermaid. I believed that no prince charming could bring me back my voice. But you did. Ina told me why you wanted to get married."
It was Saeon's turn to lose his voice. He couldn't even form the words inside his mind. His Heejoo, the only thing that could keep him sane and insane at the same time, in her vulnerability, spoke to him.
"You have the most beautiful voice, Heejoo," Saeon mutters under his breath. Heejoo graced him with a smile.
"And you have the most beautiful heart, Saeon."
Not willing to lose any more time, Heejoo stood on her tip-toe and caught Saeon in an embrace, pressing their lips together. Outside, the sun began to rise, warm and hopeful. The morning after marked the beginning of a beautiful journey for two lonely people whose hearts spoke only to each other.