Unambiguous Love

Chapter 3: The Shake Up

Mother is dead.

It was all too sudden. Jungkook heard it one seemingly uneventful day. He started his day and went on until the afternoon like usual. Then, his father's call. She died of cardiac arrest. It came out of nowhere. So unexpected that he could hardly believe it.

He sat in his car tight-lipped, hearing the words over and over again. He refused to acknowledge it. Maybe it wasn't real. Maybe it was a cruel lie. On their way to the hospital, it was the truth he chose to believe in. He didn't vocalize anything. He kept it all in.

Taehyung shared his silence. He held his hand all the way. Jungkook didn't know how he heard it. He didn't say anything to him. Afraid that once he did, it will be true. He just barged in a few short minutes after the call and caged his blankly staring, still as stone husband in his arms.

It didn't sound real. Except for the occasional bouts of hypertension, his grandma is as strong as a horse. She was loud and boisterous just yesterday. The last time the two of them communicated.

But it is. Looking at her, cold, stiff and unmoving, Jungkook cannot dare deny it. It is real. She is gone.

Still, he didn't cry. He left the morgue with sad but dry eyes. They went home, shrouded in a deafening silence. Taehyung was left with no choice but to wait for Jungkook to break. At his own pace. The news brought gloom all over the estate. A depressing dark cloud hung over each one who has known the late lady of the house.

Taehyung was preparing their suits in the walk-in closet when Gukkie arrived from school. He went directly to Jungkook who was in bed.

"Mama, I'm home!" He told him happily.

Taehyung stopped, debating if he should take Gukkie to give Jungkook space.

"Hey. How are you?"

It was the first time he talked since coming home.

"I'm good. I got a badge. See?" He showed him a stamp marked on his hand. "I got it because I cleaned well before going home."

"Good job."

"How about mama? How are you, mama?"

Jungkook sniffled. "Mama is very sad." His voice was already thick.

"Why?" The boy forlornly asked. "What makes you sad?" He cupped his face with his little hands.

"Grandma died, baby. Grandma is gone."

He finally cried.

"Like your mama?"

Jungkook nodded. "Like my mama." He replied incoherently.

"Grandma's body stopped working?"

He bobbed his head as tears continuously stream down his cheeks.

Seeing his mother's tears, Gukkie's eyes also filled. "We will not see her anymore?"

They had previously tried to explain death to Gukkie in the best way they can. He once asked why his papa has Grandma Irene and Grandpa Seokjin but his mama only has his Grandpa Hoseok. They told him that his other grandmother is dead. That's why he doesn't see her. And he won't ever because she will never come back.

"One last time. And then, we won't anymore."

"I will miss grandma."

Gukkie wrapped his arms around Jungkook's neck.

"Me too."

He tightly hugged him as his feelings poured out of his eyes. Taehyung walked to them and sat on the edge of the bed. He lifted his hand to wipe Jungkook's tears with his fingers. He cried even harder. Taehyung inched close and enveloped them in his embrace.