Chapter 4: Please Excuse Us
~Jumin~
Jumin's grip on you knee rouses you from the pleasant day dream you'd been enjoying. Blinking your wanderlust thoughts away you refocus on the situation at hand- a family dinner to celebrate Christmas. Or at the very least that's what Jumin told you before you'd agreed to go, calling it a small get together; he was massively wrong. As it were you sat around a large banquet table lined with unfamiliar faces. Jumin was seated to your right, the only thing anchoring you to this dull existence as business talk continued. Mr. Chairman was a conniving man- not in a mean spirited sort of way but definitely manipulative. He was always able to wrangle a messy situation into one that benefited either him or the company- in this case it was both. Neither Jumin or him had said it explicitly but you could knew- now that Jumin was married and the constant rumors and publicity scandals about him had decreased it was a perfect opportunity to use this as a selling factor for the company. A sort of 'look how responsible and grounded my son is with his new wife, wouldn't he be a great business partner? Now that he understands both family values and economics- what a worthy investment'; that's the look that seemed to monopolize Mr. Chairman's bland face.
Another squeeze of your knee, drawing you attention again. Jumin was looking at you curiously, his grey eyes watching you inquisitively. "Is everything alright?" He asked gently to avoid disrupting the others.
"I'm fine," you whispered back, pretending to cough gently into your napkin. "Just bored is all." You confessed from behind the kerchief, not wanting to be heard.
Jumin's expression relaxed marginally and he leaned in, not quite close enough to brush your shoulder but so his mouth could hover alongside your ear. "Hold out a little longer, I'll make it worth your while later tonight."
This time you actually coughed out of shock, spluttering into the napkin as you fought to remain composed. You notice a smug smirk find it's way onto Jumin's face as he took a measured sip of wine. Unfortunately, due to your outburst the conversation paused and the numerous businessmen became quiet and were now looking at you.
"So, Mrs. Han how did you and Jumin meet?" One asks, folding his hands so they rested under his chin. "There must be an amazing story behind it all."
Stilling, you almost laughed aloud as the memories came flooding back. There was a story, a rather interesting one. But you doubted he'd like the truthful answer- "we met because a crazed hacker who stalked me, brought me to a strange apartment, then after just a few days I went to Jumin's where he told me not to leave, ever. This lasted four days all while Elizabeth the 3rd was missing.'
You could sense Jumin's unspoken panic, so you just smiled gently and said, "we met through some friends of ours."
Disappointed with your vague reply, another man chimed in next. "You two married rather quickly, didn't you? How did you know he was the one?"
Jumin tensed in his seat, grey eyes flashing and teeth grinding within his set jaw. It was your turn to reassure him, under the table you took ahold of his hand, brushing his knuckles with your thumb.
"From the beginning he fascinated me," you told them truthfully. "At first it was just curiosity, he is an heir after all and I wanted to know what made him tick. After that though, when we began to talk more familiarly, I realized how similar we were. His views on philosophy, and his gentle kindness it warmed me. I began to see a man who was equal parts compassionate and driven."
A pause, as the business executives shared a look with one another. "Jumin Han . . .kind? You must be playing us for fools, I've known Jumin for years. The man's practically a robot cased in human flesh."
A splash of rage trickled through your blood and you clenched Jumin's hand tightly, pursing your lips before continuing. "Well obviously you don't look very closely then. If you even listened to him speak for one moment you would see it. His empathy towards animals, his willingness to help his friends despite not understanding their position, his unyielding trust in others-" Inhaling, trying to catch your breath you went on. "It's not Jumin's fault you're all blind to his true self, not able or willing to look past a well constructed shield!"
Silence, everyone was left gawking, eyes all wide and unmoving in their respective seats. Your blood still screamed and you knew if you sat there any longer you'd only continue ranting, standing, throwing your napkin on the table you briskly said- "excuse me, I need to use the bathroom." Turning on your heel you storm off, hands clenching at your sides.
Inside the bathroom you pat your temples with some cold water and levelled your breathing, knowing that upon your return you'd have to apologize for your outburst. You didn't regret it, you were almost disappointed you couldn't berate them further, but for Mr. Chairman's and the company's sake you stopped. Sighing lowly, you pushed open the bathroom door and ran into a tall figure.
Looking up you flounder in surprise, "J-Jumin?"
In the dim hallway lighting Jumin's eyes found yours, a tight expression you hadn't seen before clouding his usual stoic face. "Ah, I found you." He says softly, but offered no further explanation.
With his hands on your upper forearms you scrutinize his face, not understanding the conflicted expression. "What's the matter? Did my outburst upset you?"
A low exhale, "no it's just-"
"Just what? If you're going to tell me what I did was foolish I'll have to disagree. Those assholes don't know you and I couldn't stand hearing them say those things about you. As if they understand you- I was so angry I was about to-!"
"Thank you." Jumin mumbles softly, interrupting you.
Before you had a chance to ask, 'what for', his arms wind around your back and he crushes you into his chest. Burying his nose in your hair he repeats it again, "thank you, thank you, thank you." Over and over he says it as you reciprocated the hug, smiling as he held you.
For several prolonged moments you stand there in each other's arms, before Jumin pulls back, his face slightly warm but composed once again. "No one has ever talked about me in such a way. It meant everything to me."
Fighting back tears you nod, "I meant every word."
A soft, foreign smile. "I know."
"Should we go back then?"
"Only because we must." He breathes, taking your arm.
When the two of you return most of the businessmen had left for a cigar in the parlor, yet Mr. Chairman remained, watching your approach.
"I wondered when you two would be back," he says softly, setting aside his barely touched champagne glass. "That was quite a scene you put on back there, dear."
Flustered, you bow your head in apology. "Forgive me, Mr. Chairman I shouldn't have lost my head."
Mr. Chairman's eyes warm and he raises a hand to stop you, "don't misunderstand dear. I approve. Never have I heard anyone so passionate in their defense of my son. I was impressed."
Taken aback by his words you bring your gaze to his face and the look you saw there surprises you. It's subtle and perhaps a little more controlled but the joy etched into his normally calm features was so similar to Jumin''s own- you had briefly melted the Chairman's mask!
You repeat the same words you'd said to Jumin, "I don't regret a single one of them, sir. I meant all that I said."
Jumin's hand within yours twitches and from the corner of your eye you spot it, the glimmer of happiness in his eye, the tug of his lips.
Mr. Chairman nods, acknowledging your intertwined fingers. "I know dear, Jumin is lucky to have you."
With a soft laugh you shook your head in disagreement, "we're lucky to have each other."
There it is! Hope you enjoyed, please drop a review if you did~ Zen next~~
3 Suicidal
