IN MY HEART FOREVER (TAEKOOK/VKOOK)

Chapter 22

Taehyung was engrossed in painting most of the time. Uncle Kang saw them when he visited his room once and suggested that he sell his paintings to make some money.

Kang said selling in the market would result in registration, rent and tax expenditure, so they decided on doing it in the Hanok itself to the guests who stayed there.

Mr. Kang was not necessarily a bad person, but wasn't good either. He placed money first, only then gave importance to other things.

Jisung paid Taehyung's expenses for the first two months, but ran out of savings later, he couldn't pay from the third month.

He requested his uncle not to tell Taehyung about it and to consider the overdue as a loan which he said he will return as soon as he made some savings.

But even after 3months Jisung's still struggling. Mr.Kang however sketched out an alternative plan to get his money, i.e. by selling Taehyung's paintings.

He told about Taehyung to every guest and then asked Taehyung to go to the rooms and show them his paintings.

Taehyung had no say in the price though. Kang fixed them and he fixed it too high that not many bought them. Most of his guests had a strict travel budget that they couldn't afford it.

He was greedy for money, he wanted to recover three months expenses from him plus an interest on it as soon as possible.

In the process, when the Hanok was overbooked, he let Taehyung sleep outside on the raised brick platform. Taehyung didn't mind it though, he loved gazing at the stars in the night and enjoyed sleeping outside.

—

Taehyung visited the cemetery his father's grave was in, last week.

It was his dad's birth anniversary and was Taehyung's first time visiting his father after his death. He was so angry before that he never came to see him.

All this while, he blamed his father for his mother's death, but he no longer does so.

If his mother chose to be strong and continued living, he definitely wouldn't have credited his father for it.

It all came down to his mom's choice. If she chose to live and act strong, take help, she could've. But unfortunately she didn't and left Taehyung alone.

His kissed his father's stone muttering "I forgive you appa" finally granting the forgiveness his father asked for.

—

He remembers his mom say 'Taehyungie, the world is a very cruel place, people keep looking for better options, and if you aren't good enough they'll just dump you'

Those words rang in the back of his mind all the time. They made him insecure.

Insecurity became a part of his personality. Even when he was with Jungkook he used to feel so insecure, what if he's not good enough for him? What if he leaves him? What if he gets somebody better? he feared constantly.

He still needs to work on letting go of his insecurities completely.

Apart from that he feels he's come a long way in his life with respect to his internal battles.

—

Jungkook.

Speaking of whom, Taehyung regretted one thing.

No, He doesn't regret hitting Jungkook, not a bit. But what he regrets is to not have given him a chance to explain himself.

Even the toughest of the criminals get to defend themselves in the court of law before being punished, it was a basic right.