relaxed - ksj

Violet: purple flower, modesty and virtue

___

Violet smiled as she looked at the group of women her age entering the restaurant. They were dressed up very elegantly from head to toe, earning looks from all the customers and staff in the restaurant she worked in.

They spent their time giggling and laughing as if they didn't have the slightest concern in life.

She sighed as she glanced at her dull black uniform that had food stains on it, unconsciously hiding her nails under the long sleeves of her uniform. She was slightly ashamed of her nails that were short and not manicured. Her hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail and her face was flushed from all the running she had to do.

Working the night shift didn't give her the time to apply anything on her face, she just cared about looking presentable, but she couldn't help but compare herself to the ladies strutting in looking like models. She glanced at the watch that signalled her that her shift has ended. She fetched her bag from the staff room, ready to go home after saying bye to all the staff.

At home, Violet took her worn-out sneakers off and plopped down next to her husband with a groan.

"Hey, how was your day," he asked as he flipped through the channels. He sat on their beige couch wearing grey sweatpants and a simple white t-shirt, his eyes fixed on the tv.

"It was fine, the usual" she answered pressing her lips into a thin line, fumbling with the end of her uniform. Her husband turned his attention to her, he knew from her body language that something was bothering her. She would always chew her lips and fumble with whatever she was wearing when she was bothered.

He turned his whole body to her and took her hands in one of his and the other hand lifted her head to look at him.

"What happened?" he asked softly, his eyes full of concern.

"Nothing, I'm just tired from working the whole day." She whispered, he raised an eyebrow, not believing her, but he decided not to press further knowing that she would tell him when the time was right.

Her monochrome aura took over their living space, the twinkle in her eyes that he loved was dull as she glanced everywhere but in his eyes. Her voice that usually filled the apartment died down to something slightly louder than a whisper.

Violet and Kim Seokjin had been married since high school, while people their age were spending money recklessly and partying, both were struggling to make ends meet. They went through their shares of fights and disagreements which affected their marriage in many ways but both of them managed to talk everything through and understand their differences. Both of them knew each other so well that no words were needed.

"How about ordering fried chicken today?" she suggested with an excited smile, sadness still lingering in her eyes.

"We have food in the fridge just heat it", Jin dismissed the idea even though he knew that fried chicken was her comfort food on sad days.

"Fine", she huffed in annoyance, the pillow that was on her lap was thrown on his face harshly. Violet then marched to the bedroom.

Jin threw his head back as a soft chuckle escaped his lips. He found her angry state adorable, the way her short legs were stomping on the ground to her glare that he couldn't take seriously.

"Stop weeping like a willow and just spill the beans already," he told her as he leaned on the bedroom door, his broad shoulder blocking the light coming from the living room. Jin crossed his arms over his chest, looking at her demanding an answer.

Violet was the optimistic one between the two, she always insisted that there was a rainbow after the storm, but today she was the opposite and Jin could sense it.

She sighed, her worries felt so stupid and childish, but they were pulling her down, she tried shoving them away, but it didn't work. She looked at the tired posture of her husband and she felt the shame crawling under her skin for making him worry about her self-conscious self. He walked to their queen-sized bed and sat next to her, his eyes tired but determined to know what was bothering his wife.

„I just feel like my youth is rotting away" she started avoiding his gaze, " I feel so ugly whenever I look at my reflection, my hair is a mess and my face is full of stupid pimples! Do you know what makes everything worse? Every day I see girls strutting into the restaurant looking gorgeous and then I can't help but compare myself to them. It's as if they walked out of a fashion magazine and then there is me in the corner looking like a freaking potato", she rambled about her insecurities to him with sad eyes.

"But you're my favourite potato," he told her lovingly, but she couldn't miss the teasing glint in his eyes. She slapped his chest, the sound echoing through their room.

Jin widened his eyes at the strength, who could believe that this girl had it in her to hurt a man almost twice her size with a slap. He hissed and tried to subside it with rubbing his chest.

"Easy for you to say, you still look hot as fuck, while I'm ageing faster than the average person", Violet grumbled.

Jin's face had the words love-struck written all over it. Her little tantrum left an amused smile on his face.

"I'll take that as a compliment." He shrugged. Somehow through all the years Jin still looked like the high school student she fell in love with years ago and the idea of her ageing faster than him made her nervous. His sun-kissed skin showed no signs of age, his brown hair fell messily on his forehead. His soft cheeks could trick someone to think that he was a twenty-year-old man.

"Go away, your handsome face is making me feel worse." she threw the covers over her face blocking Jin's attempts to pull them away.

She could hear his windshield laugh, it was one of the things that attracted her to him, but now she wanted to stuff her dirty sock in his mouth.

____

The next day Jin was surprised to see his face on the employee of the month poster, he jogged to his boss room.

"Excuse me, sir, what happens-" Jin's words were cut off by his boss.

"Congratulations Mr Seokjin you've been crowned as the employee of the month and if you keep up the good work you can look forward to a promotion!" The bald man in a grey suit beamed at him.

Seokjin had a wide smile on his face as he heard the news, he had to wait for his lunch break to inform his wife.

"Take this as a reward for your hard work. I'm giving you the day off now go home to your family." the boss extended a red envelope to Jin and patted his back.

His light steps excitedly rushed home, wanting to deliver the good news to his wife.

When he arrived at home his wife was wrapped in a grey blanket on the sofa watching the rerun of her favourite show. Her black waves dangled over her shoulders and glasses rested on the bridge of her nose.

"Guess what honey" he sang as he rushed to her side.

Violets face snapped to her husband, surprised to see him coming home so early.

"Why are you home so early? What happened? Did you get fired?", she asked panic filling her voice.

If Jin got fired that meant that the income they had would be reduced by 70% since he had a full-time job and she was only working part-time.

"No, no I was appointed as the best employee of the month, my boss told me that I can look forward to a promotion!" he said excitedly, relief ran through her body.

"Really? Oh, honey, I'm so proud of you!" she clapped excitedly her heart welling in pride. She knew how much effort her husband put in in the projects and reports, she used to pack 5 lunch boxes for him because he spent most of his days in the office.

"This calls for a celebration! I bought our favourite snacks, just give me a second to change into something comfortable." He squealed, then walked over to her cupping her chubby cheeks in his hands, he stared at her for a while, taking in all the details of her face. It was a simple gesture, yet the look in his eyes stole her breath away, his hands were strong yet gentle on her skin, he leaned down softly pressing a gentle kiss on her lips.

"I love you" he whispered and walked away before she could answer.

She pouted when the warmth of his lips left hers, she watched him walk to the bedroom, his suit hugging his board shoulders and strong arms. He wore an ordinary black suit, but he still looked breathtaking.

Violet's cheeks were flushed as she grabbed the chips to distract herself from the kiss they shared. As she was about to open it Jin's voice stopped her.

"Don't start without me!" his head poked out of the room as he eyed her.

"Yeah, Yeah, just hurry up," she demanded, putting the chips back in its place. When Jin finished, he sat on the couch pulling Violet into his embrace.

"How about watching a movie?" Jin suggested, Violet nodded deciding on a horror movie.

The aroma of fresh popcorn and hot dogs tingled their noses as they prepared for their movie night. All types of drinks and snacks sat on the table ready to be consumed.

Half an hour into watching the movie they were sucked into the plot, both of them had their eyes fixed on the plasma screen hanging on the wall. The volume was turned loud enough to hear the softest breathing of the characters in the movie. They didn't notice the sea of stray popcorn on their laps as they moved to the next snack, opening it and stuffing it in their mouths.

Jin glanced at Violet as the movie was taking a creepy turn, her hands were balled into fists as she bit her lip nervously waiting for the murderer to pop out of any corner.

Prank ideas were simple for Jin to come up with, seeing that any movement could make her scream he started leaning closer. The music shifted to an intense beat and he saw her clutching the pillow next to her tightly.

"Boo," he whispered into her ear.

A high-pitched scream escaped her mouth as she jumped to the other side of the room, her eyes wide in fear.

The shock on his face was replaced by a smirk and then the room was filled with his laughter, Violet crossed her arms annoyed. She could tell from the way he bit his lips trying to suppress the fit of laughter that he wasn't done. His shoulders were dancing to the tune of his laughter and his hands were slapping his knees repeatedly. Jin's laugh would always begin like the typical father laugh only to evolve into a windshield wiper laugh.

Violet grabbed the pillow on the couch and was about to throw it at him, but his happy expression made her stop. The way his face twitched, his eyes filled with joy. How the sound of him gasping for air was similar to the sound of the windshield.

She bit her lip trying to remain poker-faced, but the moment his throat released a snort, her straight mouth twitched upwards and a loud laugh escaped her lips.

Jin doubled over with laughter, pointing at his wife with a shaky finger.

"Your laugh sounds like a dying donkey." he managed to breath out between laughter as he wiped the fallen tears away.

Violet and her husband rolled on the floor, laughing uncontrollably. Tears rolled down their faces as they stayed like that until they felt the non-existent six-packs appear.

The movie playing in the background was long forgotten.

[Edited: 17/10/2019)