"Taehyung, what are you doing? You're going to get shot!"
"So you do care about me."
The very second he turns to say that, the gun goes off and he makes a run for it. Haneul starts wailing, Taehyung is on his knees clutching his side and I'm in shoc...
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chapter fifty: my parents, a kimchi recipe and a proposal
TAEHYUNG'S EXPRESSION CHANGES. "What did you just say?"
"Do you really need me to say it again? I said that the last thing we're going to have to do is speak to my parents."
"No," He says, shaking his head. "I'm not doing it."
"Come on, Taehyung! We're just a step closer to finally ending this back-and-forth-"
"Aera, I don't care! I can't do it, okay? I can't face them. All they are to me is a living reminder of my past that still looms over me like some type of dark shadow. You may not know what I struggle with, but it will certainly get worse if I face them." He shudders. "Especially your mother."
"I'm so sorry," I say quietly, stepping towards him.
He holds an arm out. "It's fine. I'm fine. So, stop it."
"Stop what?" I ask with slight, nearly undetectable amusement as I continue moving toward him.
A small, silly smile breaks out on his face. "Aera, stop. Stop it!"
His voice is filled with playful panic when his back hits the wall. "Stop, you know I'm not a hugger."
"And you know that's not going to stop me," I say, wrapping both of my arms around his big, broad body.
He stiffens but eventually leans into it. "Thank you."
"You don't have to come along if you don't want to. I promise this will be the first and the last time I'll be communicating with them."
"It's honestly okay. Maybe this is the closure I need." He says.
"Are you sure? I don't want to force you."
"It's honestly fine." He repeats. "I want to be there for you."
-
My stomach churns. I'm practically sick with nerves and anxiety. Almost every major event that's happened in my life over the past three and a half years has led up to this very moment.
I pull over, right in front of the gates where the intercom is and I answer it. As I drive in and start to park, I see Taehyung's knuckles gradually losing their hues as he grips the life out of the leather seats.
Once I'm done I rest a hand of my own on his with the intention of comfort.
"It all ends now," I say. "I'm no big fan of this 'revenge' thing. I think of it as vicious and dangerous. But I'm also not my parents' biggest fan either. I also want them as far from me and my son as possible."
As he was previously facing the window, he turns to face me with a look of extreme discomfort. "And your point now is?"
