Poem of Tears

7

"Why, Seokjin?" The old lady stared at him. "Why are you doing this?"

Jin looked down and hesitated. "I...

I understand what Taehyung did is wrong, but why did you bring those boys into my house?"

"Please, don't say that," Jin implored. "That boy is only 15 years old. He's responsible for his family, and he..."

The old lady interrupted sharply. "Enough. Just give him some money, and they will leave."

"I can't do that, Mom," Jin responded. "He's carrying a child."

"A child!" The old lady gritted her teeth. "When did you find out? You should have kicked him out or... Kill him. He must have seduced my Tae."

"No, Mom," Jin explained. "Tae was drugged by his friends."

"That's what I said," the old lady conceded. "Get that boy out of the house now."

"I can't," Jin pleaded. "Please, Mom, please."

"Once, I told my son not to marry you," he recalled bitterly, "but he never listened, and I lost him. Now, my Taehyung... No way. I will get those boys out of the house."

"Mom, please," Jin implored again, dropping to his knees. "No, I'm begging you. Please." But the old lady had already left the room.

Meanwhile, Jungkook stared at his brother's photograph, wiping his tears repeatedly. Suddenly, the door burst open, startling him.

An elegant yet furious old lady entered the room.

She clenched her teeth. "You, you wretch! How dare you! Come here!" She grabbed his hand and pulled him out. Jungkook struggled behind her.

"Mom, please, no," Jin begged as he followed them.

"Shut up," she snapped. "What kind of relationship did you create that this boy is staying in my home? Do you want to ruin my grandson's life, just like you did with my son? Oh, I forgot, Taehyung is not your son, but I know what I must do for my grandson." She handed a blank cheque to Jungkook. "Take the money as you need and leave. Otherwise, end your own life. If I ever see your face again, you will regret it." She closed the door firmly.

"Lock him up," she ordered the maids, pointing at Seokjin.

"No!" Jin desperately tried to leave, but the maids apprehended him and led him into a room. Jin continued to beg for mercy.

********

Jungkook gazed at the closed door, wondering where Jin had gone. Slowly, he walked outside with bare feet. The cold breeze stung him as he caressed his stomach. "You are the unluckiest child in the world," he whispered. "More unlucky than me. No one wants you or me." Suddenly, a car's headlights make him stop.

"Hey, Taehyung rushed towards him and covered him with an overcoat. "Where are you going? Come, let's go home."

"No... Leave me... I will... I will go home."

"Which one? You burned two, three days before..." Taehyung stared at him. "Come..."

"Don't touch me!" The boy screamed.

"Jungkook!" Taehyung shouted and pinned him to the door. "Obey me now." He gently made the boy sit in the car seat and drove somewhere.

Jungkook looked at the familiar place—the cemetery where his mother and father were buried.

"Come," Taehyung said and walked into the cemetery with Jungkook.

Jungkook stared at Taehyung, who was lighting candles on a tombstone. "I'm sorry for what I did to your son, but I promise I will take care of him and his brothers, no matter what happens. I'm taking your son as my husband, not out of sympathy, but because I love him."

"No..." Jungkook said. "Never... I hate you... Please leave me alone..."

"Hate me as much as you want, but I don't know what else to do except this." Taehyung placed a ring on Jungkook's finger. "No one is going to take you away from me, from our home now." He removed an old ring from Jungkook's hand and put his own on his finger. "I'm sorry. I know you may never forgive me, but I will protect you and our child."

The old lady glared at her grandson. "Why did you take him back?

"I can't leave him like that," Taehyung replied.

"I did it for your betterment, Taehyung," she retorted.

"Where is he? Where is Mom?" Taehyung asked..

"Mom? When did you start calling him 'Mom'? " the old lady was surprised.

"I asked where he was. Or did you kill him like you did my father?" Taehyung's voice was filled with concern.

"Tae, my son, my baby, what are you talking about? You are my son..." she began.

"Enough. Where is he?" Taehyung turned to the maids. "Did you lock him up? How dare you? Open the door!" He ordered, and the maids obeyed.

"Jungkook!" Jin rushed to the boy. "Are you okay? I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he hugged him tightly, and Jungkook found solace in his embrace—a sense of security.

"Taehyung, my decision is not going to change anyway," the old lady stated firmly. "You don't have any relationship with this boy."

"I have. He carries my child," Taehyung declared, embracing Jungkook to his chest. "I love him, and now he is my husband. I married him."

"You're only 17 years old, Taehyung. Do you want to spoil your life like this?" she questioned.

"It's my decision. Who dares to question me?" Taehyung asserted.

The old lady locked eyes with Seokjin. "You've changed him a lot. I will show you what I can do," she gritted her teeth.

"Get out," Taehyung said sternly to his grandmother.

"What?" She looked at him in disbelief.

"I said, get out of this home, Grandma," Taehyung reiterated.

She looked at him. "I will..." She slowly walked outside, acknowledging that no one could question him because his father had granted all the rights to Taehyung.

Jin took Jungkook to the room, and on the way, Jungkook glanced back at Taehyung.

"Maybe someday everything will be alright," Taehyung stared at the boy, holding onto hope for a better future.