When Danger Falls In Love

9: Family Dinner

NINE
FAMILY DINNER

SEOKJIN

    I hated going to family dinners — although family dinners and gatherings had always been an important tradition in our world.

    Family was what mattered most in every mafia.

    Family should be the top priority.

    Familia primium.

    I could only count in one hand the number of times I went to one. For example, when my grandfather and father visited us seven years ago in New York, the truth was they were just there for my hyung as they wanted him to go back to Korea with them and learn the ropes of the mafia business as early as possible.

    But I knew my Seojun hyung more than them.

    He never liked the darkness of our world.

    I would run for the hills whenever we were invited to those gatherings — but there I was, seated beside Taehyung and eating quietly while my grandfather and Taehyung’s parents were chatting nonstop about mafia matters and our pending wedding arrangements.

    “Are you seriously hungry?” Taehyung had asked me as I stuffed my mouth with another piece of the grilled meat.

    I didn’t reply.

    My mom taught me it’s bad to talk when my mouth is still full.

    Jimin giggled though, watching our interaction from across the table. I rolled my eyes. I hated Sappy Jimin --- as if he was a matchmaker or something.

    “Here.” Taehyung put another batch of grilled galbi on my plate. I looked at him --- still not talking --- but nodded my thanks.

    I was chewing my food when I heard the elegant and reserved Kim Min-ah, Taehyung’s mother, laughed good-naturedly. All eyes were suddenly trained on her while she was looking between me and her son, amusement lingering in her eyes. “Oh, my tiger cub. You’ve finally met your match.”

    I swallowed, embarrassed, and at the same time a defiant pride swelled inside my chest.

    I could hear the snickers from Jimin and Kim Namjoon, Taehyung's hyung, while Kim Woobin looked at me --- his deadly stares making it known he sired Taehyung --- pinning me in my seat. “Have you decided on a date?”

    NO – “Not yet.”

    My grandfather silently glared in my direction. “Seokjin, you ha-“

    “If I may speak, Sir?” Taehyung uttered, cutting my grandfather off. I turned around to look at him as he continued, “Our wedding date is the least of our worries right now. I know Seokjin has a lot of inhibitions about getting married so soon, and so do I, so I get it if he can’t make up his mind as of yet about this matter.” Taehyung shifted in his seat and faced me, making sure the words he would say next were delivered directly to me. “Also, he’s only gonna get married once in his life. To me. I wouldn’t mind a grandiose, highly intricate-planned wedding or just a simple intimate wedding this year, or the next, as long as he’s going to be my husband at the end of the altar.”

    Okay, ground. If you’re listening to me, swallow me the fuck right now.

    I looked away as I felt myself turned into a human tomato.

    And why the fuck is my heart beating so fast?!

    I reminded myself that this was all just part of Taehyung’s act in front of our families.

    His words were treacherous and venomous to the heart.

    I heard my grandfather sigh, so I turned towards him. What was he sighing for? But my eyes were frozen on the spot when I saw the expression on his face. It was a first --- to see the look of fear… love… fear clouding for me --- as he uttered with an emotion in his tone I had never heard of such from him. “You promise you will keep my Seokjin safe?” The affection felt so unreal in my ears. My eyes began to sting. “I don’t want to lose him, either.”

    He feared losing me?

    Me?

    “I’d like to see them try,” Taehyung responded --- dark, dangerous, deadly.

    I never knew familial affection would feel this way.

    Awkward. Cringe. Outlandish. Profound.

    “I don’t want to lose him as well.”

    He didn’t want to lose me as well as my...

    I thought he blamed me for his death, just like my Dad…

    I thought ---

    I ran out of the restaurant as fast as I could.

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When Danger Falls In Love. © JT Starr, 2024.