Emotion

The trial date was set—both Yubin’s father and Yubin herself. But with the timing of everything and how excellent their justice system was, the trial date wasn’t for a few months. Despite how high-profile everything was, no one could guarantee a speedy trial.

Minji knew she had gone to bed while snuggled up to Bora. But when she woke up at four in the morning, the bed was cold, the light in the hall was on, and she could hear the muffled talking. She sat up, straining to listen, only to hear Bora’s voice.

“Of course… Of course…” Bora’s tired voice could be heard.

Minji made her way down the hallway, seeing the more petite woman seated on the couch, listening to whoever was on the other line.

“Yes, I understand completely. Things… Shouldn’t happen… Correct…” Bora muttered.

Minji had a feeling as to who she was talking to. The stressed look on her face was a dead giveaway that it was Dong’s father.

“Yes, sir, I understand… But you have to also understand the legal system isn’t what it used to be… We have to wait for these dates. We can’t expedite them… In all honesty–” Bora stopped abruptly, letting out a soundless scream before biting her fist. “Sir, with all due respect if we made a motion to expedite the trial we would see the trial date before the return date of the motion,” Bora explained. “No, I’m not lying to you. Our legal system in the criminal sector is garbage,” She muttered.

The older woman leaned against the wall, letting out a huff to catch her attention. Bora held up a finger, pleading with her to just give her a few more moments.

The call ended a few minutes later, causing Bora to throw her phone onto the cushion next to her. The frustration and anger were practically oozing off of her and now it was filling the room.

“What happened?” Minji frowned.

“Sit.” Bora pointed to the couch, watching the woman move closer to her before sitting. “There was a huge riot in the prison… Yubin’s dad is dead and Yubin is injured. She’s not dead and it isn’t anything serious,” She sighed. “My fucking client is dead,” She muttered.

Minji barely had a moment to process what she had said. The father-in-law that was actually kind and genuine to her? The man who actually loved talking to her about everything and entertained her to no end? He was dead? And Yubin? Her beloved wife was injured?

Why didn’t she feel more?

Minji frowned when she felt only a slight pang. A slight moment of sudden grief at the words of her wife being injured… She was more upset at the fact that her father-in-law was dead than the fact that her wife had gotten hurt…

“Minji… What am I going to do?” Bora whispered, dragging her out of her thoughts.

“I… I don’t know…” Minji frowned.

The two stayed up, talking about their new game plan while waiting for the sun to come up. Bora didn’t have a client to represent which meant the case would then drop down to Yubin. A merging of sorts to have some kind of justice brought. Some kind of peace in the city. But only if the judge allowed it. And this judge so far was an asshole but Yubin’s judge so far wasn’t… Maybe they wouldn’t allow it. Maybe the father’s case would get dismissed since justice had been served by divine intervention…

Siyeon woke up a few hours later, walking out with puffy eyes and sniffling. Bora caught onto the change of demeanor quickly, frowning the second she saw her.

“Did you have a nightmare?” Bora whispered, watching her nod her head.

It was a hectic week. The following protocol was hard, but everything was beginning to grow tighter. The detectives were breathing down Bora and Minji’s backs, questioning their every move and conversation when they could. What made things harder was Minji visiting Yubin in prison after she knew she was back from the hospital.

Minji watched as her wife sat down in front of her across the metal table with Bora seated next to her.

“Why is she here,” Yubin grumbled, not bothering to look at Minji.

“I… I thought you would want to see her?” Bora scoffed.

“I honestly don’t want to see either of you,” She spat. “And you’re fired.” She glanced at Bora, watching her face turn into shock.

“Excuse me?!” Bora gawked.

“I was met with some lovely detectives… They told me everything. Everything you two have been doing. Sleeping around with each other? Not even bothering to really figure any of this out?” She chuckled darkly. “Here I thought you were attempting to be faithful, unnie,” Yubin spat the last word with venom, finally glancing in Minji’s direction.

“Yubinnie… We… We’ve done things with Bora before… And Dongie… Which was why we got Yoohyeon together…” Minji whispered.

There were the feelings. The shaking feelings. Not because her wife was injured. But because her wife was hurt. Her wife felt betrayed and hurt by everything that was going on.

“You broke your promise. You lied to me. You told me you felt nothing for her. That it was only sex to relieve the itch you had.” Yubin growled. “Not to relive your old memories and start to play house with this… this…” She wanted to say so many names. Call her multiple different, disgusting words, but she couldn’t do that to Dong’s wife.

Not like Bora cared that she was Dong’s wife in the first place.

“It isn’t like that…” Minji’s lip trembled at the thoughts. How could Yubin know what was going on behind closed doors?

“Oh? It isn’t? Tell me then… Why… Why are you still playing house with her? Why are you still fucking her as if you love her?” Yubin had tears in her eyes as she spoke.

She really did love Minji and Minji never entirely loved her back.

“Yubinnie…” Minji sniffed.

“We’re done here… I want a divorce. I would rather rot in prison for every single little wrongdoing I’ve done… If it meant I never got to see your face again.” She stood up from the chair, the sounds of the metal shackles jingling and shaking against each other as she left the comforts of the visitors' room.

Minji did her best to hide the tears, keeping them in until they got to the beach house. She wasn’t sure why she was crying, but she had to keep everything in. Everything needed to be perfect. They were so close to ending it all.

“We’ll… Figure it out… Once we talk to Dongie…” Bora whispered before parking the car in the driveway.

Oh, how she hoped to have parked in the garage.

“Well, well, well,” The detectives chuckled. “Both of you are going away for a long time,” He smirked before placing the cuffs on their wrists.

It was a blur. Bora was shouting, explaining that they couldn’t be arrested. That Siyeon needed them. But Bora’s pleas fell on deaf ears, and nothing mattered at that moment.

Siyeon watched from the kitchen, watching them being detained and dragged into the squad cars. She couldn’t help but cry at the scene, her heart sinking further into her stomach the more she heard Bora shouting.

“You did what you needed to do,” One of the female officers spoke. “Now… Let’s get you back home,” She whispered.

Home. Home used to be something she wanted desperately. Now she was afraid. Afraid of what would happen. She knew that there were a bunch of other officers across town at Dong’s home, raiding it to find her. Siyeon knew she would be home in her office. Each individual piece of information was correct.

The officers found Dong seated in her study, already letting out a sigh when they broke through the door, immediately surrendering just like her father taught her. Resist arrest and they make it worse. Give in willingly and he would step in to ensure she wouldn’t get hurt.

The damage was done. The damage of everything had finally come to a startling collapse. It felt like buildings were crumbling and falling on top of them. Nothing felt correct anymore.

“Place your right hand on the bible and state your name for the court,” The court officer spoke.

“Kim Bora.”

“Kim Minji.”

“Lee Yubin.”

“Han Dong.”

Siyeon looked out at her childhood home, smiling at the sight of it. Still small, but it was her safe place.

“The long-awaited trial date is finally here. Notorious crime boss Miss. Han Dong will undergo the first day in court today as the charges seem to be endless…”

She walked down the path and was greeted by the sight of her father and little sister. Gahyeon came running out to hug the older woman tightly, happy to see her sister in this state after years of never seeing her.

“To our understanding, it seems as if Miss. Han Dong’s entire operation to infiltrate the city’s legal system by having a spouse by the name of Kim Bora who is one of the most well-known criminal defense attorneys in the sector…”

Yoohyeon frowned when she saw the news, unsure of everything now. All she wanted was to have a cushiony life… Now she was stuck in a giant mansion… With no money…

“Also being put onto the stand today is notorious assassin Lee Yubin, one of Miss. Han’s most trusted associates. Her cover was blown after a marriage certificate landed in the police’s hands. Her spouse is none other than Mrs. Kim Minji, a family law attorney who claims she had nothing to do with any of the criminal aspects of her spouse’s life…”

She ended up calling her mother, asking if she could come back home. Yoohyeon’s mother was excited to hear from her daughter again, excited that she would be coming home for a while this time rather than just a quick stop by.

The divorce between Yubin and Minji had been slow, mainly due to their own criminal trials. However, Minji was released due to a lack of evidence, allowing her to be freed from everything. Someone who wasn’t given a chance at really anything. She had been Bora’s ex-girlfriend and then thought she fell in love with Yubin…

Yoohyeon met with her a few weeks after she was released, meeting her at the same cafe they first met at all that time ago.

“So… I’m glad I knew nothing…” Yoohyeon whispered while picking at her pastry. “Did you lose your job?” She frowned.

“Yeah…” Minji sighed. “And my license… My certifications… Everything is gone…” She frowned.

“Isn’t that a bit excessive..?” Yoohyeon whispered.

“A lawyer… Isn’t supposed to get arrested… I’m essentially tainted now…” Minji explained. “I’m supposed to abide by the laws of the country… Not… Work around them…” She sighed. “Even if my area of practice was… Nothing to do with that…” She placed a hand on her head, feeling awful about the whole thing. “And I’m divorced…” She sighed. “What a way to go out right?” She chuckled sadly.

“Go big or go home…” Yoohyeon mumbled without looking up at her. “I moved out of the mansion… I live with my mom again…” She whispered.

“That’s great… We… It was taken by the bank,” Minji frowned.

“And… Where are you staying?” Yoohyeon whispered. The silence was deafening. Minji really went from everything to nothing. “You can stay at my place… I’m sure my mom won’t mind… She does need help at the shop anyway…” She muttered.

“Your mom would hire a person who’s been arrested?” Minji scoffed.

“I mean you weren’t convicted so…” Yoohyeon shrugged her shoulders before reaching for her cup. She took a small sip of her coffee before looking back up at Minji. “It’s… Something for now…” She whispered.

“How the tables have turned,” Minji snorted. “Thank you… I’ll take anything honestly…” She sighed.

The two made their way out of the cafe, wandering down the street together and chatting about various things. It was clear there was still a dark feeling harbored in her chest, and Yoohyeon saw it. She hated that she was keeping this dark emotion inside of her.

“Do you miss them?” Yooyheon whispered.

“Yeah…” Minji frowned. “It’s always been us… Now that I’m alone… It’s hard to manage…”

“You’re unhappy…” The younger frowned.

“I am… But why would I try to keep them close and rekindle a light that was extinguished a long time ago?” The older woman looked at her, watching her carefully. “I really did love her… I should’ve loved Yubin the same… But I couldn’t… And now I’m here,” She sighed.

“You’ll figure life out again unnie. You’re smart,” Yoohyeon smiled.

A smile of hope. Something to keep her going.

“Thanks, Yooh… You always know what to say,” Minji whispered while hugging the younger’s arm. She was glad that Yoohyeon didn’t turn her back on her. Happy that she could still keep this one in her life.

Even if her feelings for her were surface level… Maybe she could let it all go and start over.