CONTRACT MARRIAGE ||KookV||

5

Within the study, three people sat with not a word exchanged between them. In such a large room the only sounds that could be heard, were the trickling of the poured tea, and the soft clicks of chess pieces against their board.

After a while, grandpa Jeon suddenly called, "Child, come here and accompany this old man for the next round."

Upon hearing his request, Taehyung unconsciously stood up, but he did not go over just yet. 

"Why are you just standing there?" Jungkook asked when he noticed Taehyung just stood there, dumbfounded.

"Huh?" Taehyung softly exclaimed, lifting his head to look at Jungkook who was now standing beside him, then to grandpa Jeon who still sat where he was. Could it be when he called for, child, he was actually referring to Jungkook?

Jungkook was very amused by his reaction, "Don't tell me you're thinking such a silly address as, child, was really intended for me?"

To the "Are you stupid or something" expression on his face, Taehyung turned a blind eye, then whispered, "He's your grandfather, why wouldn't he be calling for you?"

Who could've known that the instant he finished those words, grandpa Jeon would put down the chess piece onto the board with a clack, lifting his head," How could you say that? Since you're together with Jungkook, why wouldn't I be your grandfather?"

"......" Taehyung stood awkwardly beside Jungkook, at that moment, he was unable to refute those words. Jungkook on the other hand, as one would expect, looked delighted by his helplessness.

What is this? Your own grandson brings home a man and says he wishes to marry him. Shouldn't he face strong opposition from his family? Even though the same-sex marriage law was passed, it's still new, and a good number of families are still not truly accepting of it.

After all, as a cock[rooster] he was unable to lay eggs.

Um, please forgive him for that self-description, the situation was proving to be beyond his abilities to comprehend.

"Just get over there first." Seeing him still staring off blankly, Jungkook just pulled him towards grandpa Jeon and sat him down directly across from the old man, then said indifferently, "Keep Grandpa company in the next chess game."

Taehyung sat stiffly in his seat, with neither his hands nor feet quite knowing where they should rest. Only after noting the gentle expression adorning grandpa Jeon's face, was he able to finally relax, if only just a little. Perhaps this situation wasn't as bad as he thought, at least it was nothing like he had expected–him being cursed then driven out.

"Do you know how to play?" Grandpa Jeon disrupted his original game then began separating the chess pieces. Seeing this, Taehyung quickly started sorting the pieces with him, politely replying, "Yes, a little."

"Relax a bit, I won't eat you. Just play a round with me," Grandpa Jeon said.

Suddenly, Taehyung recalled the times when he and his Grandpa also sat around playing chess. Simply thinking of that old man who loved him dearly made him, little by little, unable to help the joy-filled expression that arose on his face, allowing the restlessness within his heart to calm. If he just regarded the old man who now sat before him as just an ordinary old man, it'd probably be okay.

With this new way of thinking, he nodded, "Okay."

"What's your name?" Grandpa Jeon casually asked as he arranged the chess pieces.

"Kim Taehyung," Taehyung replied.

Taehyung knew for certain grandpa Jeon definitely wouldn't not have known his name beforehand. With that kind of family, he guessed from the moment he and Jungkook's relationship began, his entire past was thoroughly investigated and delivered to the old man.