LOVE YOU TO DEATH | TAEKOOK

16. Goodbye, Goodbye

*trigger warning for discussion of trauma, depression, violence, and substance misuse. Nothing surprising based on last chapter but wanted to give a heads up*

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TMZ: Sources say a bomb was dropped today at JJK's trial. Park Jimin was seen exiting the courthouse alone and vomiting on the sidewalk. Later, Kim Taehyung was seen entering the Palace flagged by Min Yoongi and director Jung Hoseok.

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When Soomin arrived back at her apartment, she was alone and puffy-eyed. She dragged herself into the dark penthouse in defeat, settling on a stool in front of the kitchen island. She put her head in her hands.

"Mom," Jungkook murmured, appearing out of nowhere to put a hand on her shoulder. His hair was wet and his cheeks were still pink from the shower

Soomin startled, sitting upright, "Honey, oh, I didn't realize you were here. That was silly of me," she gasped, voice quivering with uncertainty.

Jungkook tentatively patted her upper back, a knife twisting in his gut.

"You okay?" He asked, studying her face. She looked like she'd witnessed an act of God. And not the good kind.

Soomin gaped at him, seeming confused and hurt. She pointed to her chest, "Me? Honey, you never need to ask me if I'm okay. I'm the mom, you're the kid," she rambled off-kilter.

Putting his half-empty vodka soda down, Jungkook sat on the stool next to her, saying silent for a moment as he listened.

"Mom, I have a lot of problems, but ignorance typically isn't one of them. I could see you today and I can see you now," he gently countered, offering a tiny smile.

"Plus, I know you're the mom but I'm a whole adult. As determined by a court of law," he cracked, lip curling into a droll half-smile.

Soomin put her hands over her face and shook her head.

"Oh honey," she resisted, sounding well past the point of composure.

Jungkook lightly drummed his fingers on the counter, averting his eyes from her, "Mom, it's okay. That was a lot of new information today. I get it," he attempted to smile at her, voice soft.

"It's totally reasonable for you to be upset," he allowed, taking a sip of his drink.

Soomin jerked her chin in the direction of the lowball glass, "I see you found the stash," she said, sounding half-accusatory, half-amused, "Jimin and I hid everything that could be detrimental."

Jungkook tilted his head in acknowledgment, "Sorry. To be honest, today was a lot. Most of the stuff I said today, I've never even tried to say out loud before. So, yeah...I kinda figured you guys had ransacked the house when I couldn't even find nail clippers or tweezers in the bathroom," he chuckled.

Soomin stood and walked behind the counter to pour a glass of wine.

Jungkook tried again. He felt so guilty, clutching at anything he could find to try and make it better.

"It's okay to ask questions, you know. I'm okay. A little shell-shocked maybe, and even though it hurt to say that stuff out loud, I've been living with it in my head for a long time," Jungkook reminded her with a gentle shrug.

She shook her head, "Kiddo, I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am. It's not about me so I won't make it that way but I should have known. I knew things were bad for Jimin so I spent all this time and energy trying to be a stand-in parent to him but-," she trailed off, eyes glossy.