Jungkook closed his eyes and stood before the statue of Jesus Christ outside the church, praying fervently. He poured out his heart, seeking strength for the decision he had made—to reveal everything. He would tell the truth about John, Taehyung, and everything else that had been weighing on his mind. Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes and glanced at the statue once more, finding solace in its presence. With renewed resolve, he began walking home.
Kim Taehyung, a renowned celebrity and young iconic businessman, was a figure whose every move made headlines. Jungkook was acutely aware of this. He knew that Taehyung had been using his influence to block certain online media outlets from reporting on their relationship. So, if he gets engaged, that will make headlines too. It must be a usual office gossip. He considered the possibility that Taehyung might be preoccupied with other matters, but above all, he believed in him deeply. With a sigh, Jungkook continued his journey home, determined to face whatever came next.
Jungkook reached home and noticed Mingyu's car parked in front of his house. Curiosity piqued, he walked inside.
"Min!" Jungkook called out to his best friend.
"Hey, Kooki... I really missed you." They shared a gentle hug. "Hi, Mom," Jungkook greeted his mother politely.
She smiled at him. "Where did you go, son?" she asked.
"To the church. I'm really surprised to see everyone here," Jungkook replied.
"You have a lot of surprises ahead, Kooki," Jiya said with a serious face.
"What?" Jungkook looked at her, puzzled.
"First, sit down, Kooki. Then we can discuss," Jeon said with a happy face. Jungkook sat beside them. John and Jiya exchanged glances; Jiya was smiling, but John's face looked sad.
"Actually, we're here to talk about marriage, Jungkook," Mingyu's mother said, caressing Jungkook's hair.
"Whose marriage?" Jungkook asked, bewildered.
"Yours and Mingyu's," Jeon said with a smile.
"What?" Jungkook stared at him, his face falling. "What are you talking about, Appa?"
"Why are you so surprised, Kooki? Didn't they tell you about this?" Mingyu's mother asked.
"No," he said.
"It's okay. We've already talked about it. You like Mingyu, and you've never disobeyed your father, isn't that right?" Jeon asked.
Jungkook looked at him in disbelief. He took a deep breath and glanced at Mingyu and his mother. "First of all, I want to say I'm sorry. Mingyu is my best friend, more like a brother, and that's it. I'm not interested in marrying him."
“Kooki…” Jeon called him.
“Appa…” Jungkook cut him off. “You should have asked me first.”
“Don’t make a scene,” Mingyu interjected. “You should have asked him first, Uncle. And you didn’t tell me that Jungkook didn’t know about this. You simply said he likes me.” He looked at his mother.
She looked down. “I... I’m sorry, Jungkook. It was my mistake.”
“It’s okay, Aunty,” Jungkook replied.
“Why can’t we turn this into a marriage?” Jiya asked. “I mean, both of you know each other and—”
“Noona, this is my life, and I am the only one who decides what’s good for me.”
