Forbidden Love ➸ Taekook ✓

- Fortieth -

When Jungkook arrived at his parents' house, he found it unusually quiet. Although he would have preferred to have his reassuring presence by his side, he couldn't have justified it, so Taehyung had stayed home. After all, they were, officially, nothing more than good friends. However, the man hadn't been able to hide his concern when he'd heard the call of the two brothers, so he'd made Jungkook promise to keep him informed.

He made his way into the living room, and the sight that presented itself to him was no more reassuring: his parents were seated at the large table, his mother with her hands on her forehead while his father visibly tried to reassure her; Jin was standing with his back to him, as straight as a post, his arms crossed against his chest; and finally Jongsu had moved a little further away, leaning against the wall, watching his parents with confusion. His mother's condition was just as Jin had described, which continued to worry Jungkook. Hyeri had a tendency to exaggerate everything, but most of the time she managed to keep everything under control. Showing such weakness, even to her own family, wasn't like her. It was all the more suspicious.

His footsteps echoed against the tiled floor, drawing all eyes to him. And he could see a look of relief in Hyeri's eyes, which quickly faded and was replaced by deep anxiety.

"Jungkook, you've come..." sighed the woman, sitting up a little.

Her complexion had paled, giving her an almost sickly look. His father didn't look much better. Jungkook had no idea what had happened, but it must have been serious.

"Jin hyung told me there was a problem." Jungkook said. "He said you wanted to see me."

Mother and son exchanged a brief glance, the first since a long time.

"It's true..."

Her voice was weak too, and everyone around her frowned. Jungkook was getting seriously worried, which didn't often happen when it concerned his mother.

"What's happened?" he asked, as neither of his brothers seemed prepared to ask. "Was it something to do with the company?"

Jdesign had been experiencing financial problems for some years now. Nothing that could radically affect their living conditions, but the family situation had become a little strained. Jin had refused to succeed his father as CEO, so Jungyung had to turn to the twins: Jongsu's health was too unstable, he was not a reliable successor, despite the fact that he was the oldest after Jin, so his choice was Jungkook. Jungkook didn't want the succession, but his father forced him to sign, and that was the final trigger for his break with the Jeons.

"Not directly." replied Jungyung.

"What do you mean, 'not directly'?"

"You broke off your engagement." intervened Hyeri.

The room fell silent as Jungkook's eyes widened.

"Is that why you called me? For some fake fucking engagement?!"

"It wasn't fake."

"I would never have married him, and you know that."

Hyeri banged her fists on the table, making her husband instinctively take a step back.

"Why did you do that?! Huh?!" she exclaimed. "John's perfect, he's got all the qualities you need: he's kind and caring, handsome... He'll bring you love and stability!"

"But I don't love him! And I'll never be able to!"

The woman shook her head frantically, like she was listening to a stubborn child who wouldn't listen to reason.

"You have to give up this futile childhood love, Jungkook." she sighed. "It was cute at first, but now it's... pathetic. Taehyung's an adult, you don't live in the same world anymore. He'll never reciprocate your feelings, so let him go. It'll make you unhappy, whereas John... John will make you happy, yes, he will..."

Jungkook took a deep breath, biting his cheek to keep from answering. He didn't want to feel hurt. But he did. So this was what she thought of him. That he was pathetic. She'd never put it into words. And it was... hard."

He felt a hand press down on the back of his neck, stroking him tenderly to calm him. Jin had moved closer, offering him a look of compassion and support: whatever he was planning to do, he would be with him.

"You don't know anything..." Jungkook hissed at his mother. "You think you know everything, but you're the most ignorant of all..."

Hyeri frowned.

"What are you talking about?"

"Taehyung and me. We're-"

He was cut off by the ringing of a phone. All eyes turned to the object sitting right in front of the Jeon couple, and Hyeri stiffened. It was only a message, but it came as a sentence of which only she knew the full extent.

"Jungkook, please. Call John and tell him you're going back on your decision." She said, more coldly, her gaze still riveted on her mobile.

Jungkook's eyes hardened, filling with deep anger.

"I won't do it. I'd rather die."

"Don't say those words lightly. You don't know what they really imply."

This last sentence sent another chill through the room. Jin and Jungkook exchanged a look that was both confused and a little terrified. Hyeri suddenly looked... frightening.

"I-I'm not going back on my decision." Jungkook finally replied. "I won't marry John."

"Except you don't have a choice."

Hyeri raised her head, taking her eyes off her phone to look into her son's eyes.

"I don't need you to marry John. I have no other choice. You're going to marry him, whether you like it or not."

"You can't force me to marry a man I don't love!" Jungkook exclaimed, so angry that his face had turned red.

Hyeri shook her head again.

"You don't understand... It's not my choice, it's out of my hands..."

Jungkook didn't understand. He was increasingly confused, and anger wasn't helping him think. Why was his mother so insistent? What was she talking about? Why didn't she fucking want to listen to him?

"Mom, this story goes way beyond a simple engagement, doesn't it?" Jin suddenly intervened. "What's all this about? It's time to be honest with us."

Jungkook was surprised to see the guilt in his parents' eyes. So Jin had been right, this wasn't just a simple engagement. Maybe it never had been. The whole thing was, in fact, much more serious. Jungkook felt the world crumble beneath his feet.

What had his own parents gotten him into?

"It's complicated..." said Hyeri in a whisper. "I don't have time to tell you everything..."

"You're not going to have a choice." Jungkook cut her off. "I'm already this close to jumping down your throat, so if you don't give me what I want, I'll carry out my threat."

Fear passed through Hyeri's eyes, before it was replaced by immense guilt.

"You... You have no choice but to marry John. You've already signed a contract to that effect."

~🍁~

I'll let on that👀