Unbinding Tradition

11. Who's the little girl? 🤔

DO VOTE AND COMMENT....

Jungkook stormed back into the room, his face still flushed with anger, and slammed the door open with a loud bang.

The force of it made Tae flinch where she sat on the edge of the bed, her heart pounding in her chest. Her ghunghat, which had fallen back, no longer covered her face, allowing Jungkook a full view of her delicate features.

Despite the storm raging inside him, he couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked-her soft eyes, the graceful curve of her lips-but that beauty did nothing to calm the fire burning within him.

Their eyes met, and Tae immediately sensed the anger in his gaze. She knew something had triggered him, and she suspected it had to do with whatever had happened after he left the room.

Dadi-sa's words, though spoken elsewhere, still seemed to echo in the room, fueling Jungkook's rage. He couldn't stand the idea of anyone, let alone his grandmother, referring to the girl as an orphan. Dadi-sa had knowingly poured salt into the wound, and now that wound lingered in the air between him and Tae.

Without breaking eye contact, Jungkook began to unbutton his kurta. His fingers moved quickly, the tension in his body visible with every sharp movement. He never looked away from Tae, his eyes cold and intense.

Tae's breath hitched, and she tightened her grip on her lehenga, her knuckles turning white as fear began to creep in. Her heart raced as she watched him undress, unsure of what was coming next.

Jungkook threw his kurta to the floor carelessly, leaving his chest bare. He then took slow, deliberate steps toward her, his presence looming larger with each step.

Tae felt her pulse quicken, the fear inside her growing as he moved closer. Her palms were damp with sweat, her breathing shallow as he stopped in front of her, standing so close that she could feel the heat radiating off his bare chest.

Tae shut her eyes tightly, preparing for what might happen next. She was afraid his anger would explode, that he might take out his frustration on her. The silence was overwhelming, with only the fast beating of her heart filling her ears.

But then, unexpectedly, the tension broke.

Jungkook didn't touch her, didn't utter a word. Instead, she felt him move away from her, the pressure of his presence lifting.

Tae's eyes fluttered open cautiously, her breath catching in her throat as she saw him stepping past her. He walked to the small table behind her, his face still set in a hard, unforgiving expression.

Without saying anything, Jungkook grabbed the packet of cigarettes that lay on the table. He lit one with a swift flick of his lighter, the small flame momentarily illuminating his face before he took a drag, the cigarette smoke swirling around him as he exhaled deeply.

Jungkook stepped outside, feeling the cool night air on his face as he took a long drag from the cigarette. His tense muscles started to relax with each exhale of smoke. The cigarette became his way to release the anger still boiling inside him.

Tae watched him from the bed, her heartbeat slowly returning to normal. She exhaled deeply, feeling a wave of relief wash over her.

He hadn't hurt her. He hadn't done anything other than smoke in silence, lost in his own thoughts. For a moment, she allowed herself to relax, though the uncertainty of their new life together still lingered between them.

~~~

Tae, feeling emotionally drained and exhausted from the day's overwhelming events, quickly removed her heavy jewelry and changed into a simpler dress.