Healing (KTH, featuring KNJ)

Chapter 15

By the time they got to Namjoon's parents' apartment Clara had stopped crying and was simply facing the window. She had become so quiet Namjoon thought she might have fallen asleep, but when he had put the car in park she began stirring to make her way out the passenger door.

He had asked her a few times what happened, but abandoned the idea of getting any information from her after each inquiry resulted in a fresh wave of tears. After he got her settled at his parents' he'd return Taehyung's calls and text messages so he could hear from him what happened. He wasn't that excited to talk to Tae at the moment considering something terrible must have occurred to leave Clara in this state. But at this point he didn't even know how to help or what to say. And the one thing he knew was that he couldn't just leave to go back to the dorms without some plan of what to do next.

When they had pulled off to get gas on the way to Ilsan, Namjoon had given his parents a heads up that they were on the way and that Clara was upset and he didn't really know why. He knew they would be ready with warm hugs and a warm meal to try to settle her.

For Clara's part, she simply felt embarrassed and humiliated. She was a fool for expecting to be embraced by Tae's parents, and there was nothing she could really say in response to their indication that she had bad luck. It seemed she really just was.

But she appreciated the warmth of Namjoon's hand as he laced them together as he walked her up to the apartment door. She knew he had plans with friends tonight and he was treating her so kindly even though she had ruined one of his rare free evenings. Thinking about it only added to her upset, leading her to begin to sniffle again.

Namjoon was right, only moments after they opened the door his mother wrapped Clara in a crushing hug, "You did the right thing to come home when you were upset. We are going to make it all better". Nearly dragging Clara to the living room she promised she'd be right back with a warm drink to help her start to feel better. With a weak smile Clara consented, and started to calm down knowing that she could stop thinking for a bit and just allow herself to feel a mothers love.

Quickly excusing himself Namjoon stepped into his bedroom, shutting the door to ensure privacy while he called Taehyung to find out what had happened.

"Hyung! Is Clara with you? She isn't answering my calls."

"Yes Tae, she is with me. What happened?"

"Just tell me where you are. I need to see her. She isn't at her apartment or the dorms."

"Taehyung-ah, what happened?"

"It doesn't matter, what matters right now is I need to see her, please Hyung tell me where you are, I'm desperate. I need to make sure she is OK."

"Tae, I promise she is OK, she is with me right now, really you need to calm down and tell me what happened."

"OK fine. So you know how I went to introduce Clara to my parents at dinner tonight? Let's just say that they didn't take it too well."

"What do you mean 'didn't take it too well'? Exactly what happened?"

"Well, to be honest my mother asked if it was a joke to bring her to their house. And then they proceeded to tell me that she must have an evil spirit following her to have so much bad luck in life, so I needed to stay away. She also called Clara a gold digger and said she was worse than my last girlfriend who almost ruined my career."

"What?!? Tae that is awful!"

"I know. And while I was trying to calm my mom down Clara left. You can see why I need to talk to her to make sure she's OK."

"Honestly Tae, I think she needs a little bit of time. She's with my parents and she doesn't seem like she is ready to talk about it. In the meantime what are you going to do about your parents?"

"What do you mean Hyung? I'm sure when they get to know Clara they will love her just like I do."

"And if they don't?"

"I don't know. I mean they are my parents, they have sacrificed everything for me. What do you think I should do?"

"I think you should figure it out before you even consider seeing Clara again."