Unbreakable bond?

8

MEET

As they neared his house, Jungkook gently woke Tae, reminding her she had mentioned wanting to freshen up before meeting his parents. She quickly touched up her makeup while they made a brief stop at a nearby fruit shop to buy a basket of fruits, a gesture of respect for her first meeting with his family.

Upon arriving, the tension in the house was palpable. Jungkook's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jeon, and his brother were already seated, waiting for them. His sister was at her in-laws' house. Tae greeted everyone warmly, handing the fruit basket to Mrs. Jeon, and took a seat on a single couch, facing Jungkook's parents who were seated opposite her. Jungkook and his brother sat on a couch beside hers.

Feeling a rare bout of nerves under their scrutinizing gazes, Tae took a deep breath and began, "To get straight to the point, the reason I wanted to meet you all is that before I agree to the marriage, I have some conditions. If you agree to them, we can proceed further; if not, then we won't."

Mrs. Jeon, holding an air of authority, responded, "Don't you think it should be us setting the conditions, given the traditional way things are done?"

Tae smiled confidently. "Of course, Mrs. Jeon. You're right, it traditionally should be you setting the conditions. If I were an ordinary girl or from a middle-class background, I wouldn't dare to say anything. But I'm neither of those, and I won't hesitate to state my conditions because I want to ensure a harmonious future with your family."

Mrs. Jeon, impressed yet masking her feelings, nodded. "Very well, let's hear these conditions."

Tae began, "Firstly, I request that we do not discuss our meeting with my mother. Now, my conditions: One, I will continue to work after marriage. I am the CEO of my company, and I won't back off from that. However, I will also not neglect my duties towards my husband and my responsibilities as a daughter-in-law."

Mrs. Jeon replied, "I have no issue with you working, but you must not neglect your responsibilities towards your husband. As for the household, we have staff to handle those duties, so you needn't worry."

Tae smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. "Thank you. My next condition is about my mother. She is my only parent, and I can't leave her just because I'm getting married. I request let me bring my mom with me here because we can't live without each other."

At this point, Tae's eyes reflected desperation and hope, silently pleading for understanding.

As Tae finished speaking, the room fell silent, everyone absorbing the weight of her story. Mrs. Jeon, visibly confused, finally asked, "What do you mean by single parent? What about your father?"

Tae sighed deeply before explaining, "He left us when I was barely a year old. My mother left her in-laws' house too, because my father had accumulated so much debt. He was addicted to gambling and wasn't educated. Whenever my mom tried to talk sense into him, he'd accuse her of being arrogant and trying to control him. After multiple futile attempts, he left. My mom stayed behind, hoping he'd come back, but her in-laws were cruel. They mentally tortured her, accusing her of infidelity whenever she tried to get some fresh air. She was just 18 then and couldn't handle it anymore, so she went back to her parents. But even there, things weren't better. Her younger brother threw her out, fearing societal shame. Our only refuge was my aunt's house. We stayed there for three months before moving to a rented house. My mom worked as a lab technician, and though her salary was meager, my aunt provided us with basic necessities. My mom also took up tailoring to make ends meet."

By the time Tae finished, there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Mrs. Jeon asked, "Didn't he come back after that, especially now that you're a CEO?"

Tae nodded. "He did come back when I was around 11 or 12, but he still didn't have a job and wanted us to leave with him. We sent him back and cut off all contact, moving houses and changing phone numbers."

Mrs. Jeon, with newfound respect in her eyes, said, "Good, you did the right thing. As for your mother living here, I don't have a problem with it, but do ask her if she's comfortable with a new environment."

Tae thanked her. "Mrs. Jeon, my mother is a tailor and also now she owns her laboratory near XXX Road. I'd also like to ask if she can continue her work, otherwise, she might get bored."

Mrs. Jeon smiled warmly. "Of course, she can continue her work. And does she still do tailoring?"

Tae nodded, confused. "Yes, why?"

Mrs. Jeon's eyes lit up. "I've always wanted to learn tailoring, but with my possessive husband and sons, I never got the chance. Maybe now I can learn from her." Tae smiled at the idea

she took a deep breath before making another request.

"There's one more thing," Tae began, looking directly at Mrs. Jeon. "I want my mother to be the one to do my Kanyadaan at the wedding."

Mrs. Jeon smiled warmly, understanding the depth of Tae's love for her mother. She knew that Tae's mother had played the role of both parents in her life. "Of course, Tae. It makes perfect sense for your mother to do your Kanyadaan. She has been both your mother and father."

Tae's eyes shimmered with gratitude. "Thank you, Mrs. Jeon."

Mrs. Jeon nodded, appreciating Tae's sentiments. "Now, is there anything else?"

Tae hesitated for a moment before speaking again, her voice soft but steady. "Mrs. Jeon, if it's alright, I would also like to bring a few of my housemaids with me. They are like family to me. Just three members: my cook, who is like a sister figure to my mom and treats me like her daughter; my personal driver, who also serves as my bodyguard; and my PA, who is like a little brother to me. We all live together."

Mrs. Jeon chuckled, finding Tae's request endearing. "Do you make everyone your family, Tae?"

Tae scratched her neck, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Well, they have been with us through thick and thin. It would mean a lot to me."

Mrs. Jeon nodded, still smiling. "It's fine, Tae. They can come too."

Tae let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you so much."

Mrs. Jeon made Mr. Jeon stand and asked Tae to sit beside her, making everyone laugh and Mr. Jeon sulk playfully. Mrs. Jeon patted Tae's head affectionately. "You are as pure as I heard. I just hope you and Jungkook bring light into each other's lives."

Tae nodded, feeling deeply touched. "Thank you."

Mrs. Jeon then said, "Now that your conditions are over, can we talk about the marriage?"

Tae nodded and said, "Mrs. Jeon, if you want to talk about the dowry, you can discuss it with me directly, not with my mom."

Mrs. Jeon shook her head. "Let me talk first. About the dowry, we don't need anything. We have everything we need. And why do you keep insisting not to tell your mom?"

Tae sighed. "I don't want to pressure her with anything."

Mrs. Jeon smiled. "You really love your mom, don't you?"

Tae nodded. "Yes, I do."

Mrs. Jeon said, "And about the wedding arrangements, we need to discuss the dates and all, so let's meet your mom as soon as possible."

Tae agreed. "I'll ask her when she's available."

Just then, Tae's phone rang. It was her PA, Jun, informing her about an urgent meeting at a restaurant near her company. Tae quickly informed Mrs. Jeon about her departure.

"It was nice meeting you all, but I have to go now," Tae said politely.

Mrs. Jeon asked her to stay for dinner, but Tae respectfully declined, explaining she had a meeting. Mrs. Jeon frowned but understood. "Alright, but do come over for dinner once you're free."

Tae promised she would and bid farewell to everyone. Jungkook offered to drop her off, but she insisted her bodyguard was waiting for her outside. He hugged her tightly before she left.