What is love? (Namkook)

26. "I am prepared for this"

Triple update today! Please read chapters 24 and 25 before reading this one.

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"I don't know why I kept this with me all these years, but I never wanted to throw it away."
Fingers brushed over the uncoloured taller boy who was holding flowers in his hand.
"He coloured me and the heart, but didn't get time to colour himself." A small chuckle escaped.

"Just like how he never took out time for himself."
Jungkook turned to find Sang-bin standing behind him with a bouquet of white flowers. He took few steps forward and place it on Hye-sun's tombstone where Jungook was seated by.

"Sang-bin shi!"
"I apologise to disturb your moments with your late grandmother, but I really need to talk to you Mr. Jeon."
Jungkook sighed looking down at his lap.
"He has done wrong, I don't want to talk to him."

"You don't have to. I am going to tell you everything about this man who sacrificed his entire youth for you." Jungkook felt a twinge in his chest but didn't protest further. Sang-bin sat beside him on the grass and started.

"I met boss, I mean Namjoon five years back when he was just 17. I was studying masters in communication in Australia. I still remember that day like it was just yesterday. While studying in the library, I found a boy quite younger than me roaming around the aisle of business books. Out of curiosity I asked him and got to know he was learning business. This was our first meeting, but I kept bumping into him the library and gym. I was very surprised to see such an enthusiastic boy. The age at which boys and girls of his age would date, go to parties and enjoy their lives, he was just studying and maintaining his physical fitness."

"That's how he knows business like a much grown up person?"

"He does! He knows it way too well than most of the people in their 50s. Sixteen hours a day of study isn't everyone's cup of tea. When I was searching for a job, he offered me one in his father's company when he was just 19 and in college. He was working part time in that office too. He is like a little brother to me and gradually he opened up telling about you. He started drinking at young age which was the only bad habit of him, when I asked, he said it's to forget the past that separated you from him and he has to fulfil his promise to avenge the crime done against you. Now his drinking problem is quite reduced ever since you appeared in his life again."

Jungkook's eyes swelled up in tears hearing all about Namjoon's commitment towards his promise. He really did mean each word he said when he was just 8! The guilt of demeaning his love started eating each cell inside Jungkook's body.

"Why didn't he came back as Namjoon?"

"He wanted to, but his aim wasn't just to send Min-gyu behind bars. He wanted to make sure that bastard never gets out of prison in this lifetime. To achieve that we had to dig deeper and get all the details about his illicit business and activities. Kim Namjoon is the brother of Kim Seokjin who happens to be your friend, he wouldn't be able to gain that criminal's trust with his real name. The whole operation was quite risky, he didn't want you to be a target, so kept his identity hidden to you. In spite of all these, they got to you. I cannot forget the face Namjoon had when we found Min-gyu number near your location."

"I don't know what to say Sang-bin shi. I am an idiot to not even give him a chance to explain."
"It's not too late, Mr. Jeon." Sang-bin's tone was softer as he wanted to make Jungkook understand the situation.
"He would hate me now."

"He waited for 12 years to see you smile, he can never hate you. But don't do anything out of gratitude, he won't like it."
"What do you mean?"
"Accept him only if you love him, not just out of thankfulness."

That statement created shivers in Jungkook's body. He never loved Namjoon, but he did love Lee Deok-hwa who is an imaginary character.

Is he though?

"I don't know who he is.

But I love him!

Oh my goodness I love him!

I don't know what's happening!

But I love him!"

Jungkook kept confessing his feelings for Namjoon. His breathing became heavy, the palpitation in his chest was beyond his threshold limit. He wasn't confessing it to Sang-bin, he was convincing himself. The shared moments with the younger felt like a dream and now he needs to chase them. He cannot let this person go who has genuinely showed him what love is!

********

"Joonie, please don't take any decision out of haste."
"I won't eomma, I am prepared for this."
"But why do you have to go back?"
"He asked me to go out of his sight. I want to provide him with a good and peaceful work environment. I will be passing the power of attorney to Sang-bin and I already have everything prepared for it just in case Jungkook hyung rejects me. So, it's going according to my plan, only difference is that this was plan B and I wanted plan A to work where he would accept me as Namjoon."

Deong-eun was confused how to console his son. Everything happened so fast for her.

"Shall I talk to him?"
"No eomma! I don't want to get his heart by force or out of pity."
"Joonie, he might need time."
"Yes, he does! To get over Deok-hwa, not to love Namjoon."

The maturity in Namjoon's words proved to his mother how deep and true his love was for Jungkook. He was still showing his unconditional love to the elder staying behind the curtain. His heart didn't have a single corner left for anyone else, it was just Jungkook and only Jungkook!

"Let him, Dong. He won't be able to stay here. He is just drowned in this ocean of love for Jungkook."

Sung-hoon said putting his palm on his wife's shoulder witnessing their son packing his luggage to leave.

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The luggages were already loaded in the car trunk, the official documents were all packed in the laptop bag. Dong-eun packed some homemade snacks in containers for her younger son who is again leaving for time unknown.

Namjoon was just going through the last minute check when he heard a knock on the door. Dong-eun or Sung-hoon would never knock, so it might be someone from the housekeeping. Without checking he asked them to come in.

"Yes!" There was no response from the other end.
"I said come in." Still nothing.

Forced to turn around, the passport in his hand fell on the ground!