"The Kim Dynasty: Secrets of the Heart"

37

Chapter 37: The Art of Convincing

Namjoon sat on the plush couch of his household, papers sprawled across his lap as he meticulously sifted through a file, his brow furrowed in concentration. The quiet of the late afternoon was suddenly interrupted by the melodramatic entrance of his mother, Mrs. Kim, who had a glimmer of mischief in her eyes and a bottle of glycerin in hand.

"Namjoon, dear," she began, pouring a few drops of glycerin into her eyes, her voice quivering just slightly. "I’m feeling a deep sense of loneliness. Even your brother-in-law, J-Hope, is feeling the same."

J-Hope, innocent and bewildered, nodded earnestly, fully trusting Mrs. Kim’s words. He had been instructed to agree with everything she said, and he was following his mother-in-law's lead to the letter.

From the side of the living room, Kim Taehyung and Jungkook peered in, their heads popping out from behind the door frame, their expressions a mix of curiosity and amusement. On the other side, Yoongi and Mr. Kim exchanged glances, both keen to see how this family drama would unfold.

Mrs. Kim’s theatrics continued unabated. "You know, this household feels so alone. Don’t you think you should follow in your elder brother’s footsteps and get married?"

Namjoon glanced at her, his expression contemplative. “Joon, I’ll find someone as innocent as J-Hope for you too. You know, Yoongi has thanked his past self more times than he can count for choosing J-Hope as his life partner.” She kept her tone light, hoping to convince the cold hearted mafia king.

Mrs. Kim continued, "But Namjoon, I cannot bear the thought of you being alone! You’re a powerful man, but even the most powerful person needs love and companionship. Don't you want to settle down?"

Namjoon’s gaze hardened slightly as he considered his mother’s words. He had been keeping his relationship with Jin a secret, not wanting to add fuel to the fire of family expectations. "Mom," he replied, trying to maintain his composure, "I will marry, but first, you have to answer some questions."

His mother looked intrigued. “Of course, dear! What do you want to ask?”

“Do you want me to get married?” he inquired, keeping his tone light and teasing.

“Yes! I want you to get married! Marriage is beautiful and exciting!” she exclaimed, with J-Hope nodding vigorously beside her.

“Okay, I’ll marry someone,” Namjoon replied, smirking, “but you have to read whatever is written on this paper in one go, alright?”

Intrigued, Mrs. Kim nodded, and Namjoon slid a piece of paper over to her. She glanced at it, then read aloud the lines he had prepared. "I cannot see you being happy as a single man while your father suffers from our marriage, and your hyung is suffering too."

J-Hope blushed, clearly caught up in the moment, as he recalled the weight of those words.

“Namjoon,” Mrs. Kim continued, “how can you not suffer? I want to see you in a household with a husband who reminds you of your worth every day. And also, I want grandchildren! I want to play with them! I can’t have grandchildren because our sunshine is very innocent; I need you to get married so I can have some grandkids!”

The innocent tone of J-Hope’s agreement made Namjoon stifle a laugh, but inside, he knew his mother was beginning to regret the role she had chosen in this charade. The atmosphere grew tense, as he noted the sudden shift in Mrs. Kim’s expression—realizing her son was cleverly manipulating her emotions.

“You know, I cannot see you as a single person while your father is suffering, and your hyung is suffering too,” she read on, her eyes flaring with indignation. “You will have to kneel before your husband. You’ll never be the most powerful in front of him!”

Namjoon smirked, amused at his mother’s folly. J-Hope, still unaware of the underlying humor, was blushing even deeper as others chuckled from their respective hiding spots.

Seeing this the four peeping heads—Taehyung, Jungkook, Mr. Kim and Yoongi—burst into laughter, Namjoon felt a sense of camaraderie. Mr. Kim stepped forward, embracing his dramatic wife and kissing her forehead gently, his voice warm as he said, “Oh, dear, you are just... unexplainable.”

Then Yoongi turned to J-Hope, pulling him into a loving embrace as well. “How blessed I am to have such innocence in my life.”

Taehyung and Jungkook snapped pictures on their phones, eager to add to their family album. However, Mrs. Kim, not to be outdone, reached for her glycerin again, prepping for her next act.

“Namjoon!” she wailed dramatically, “If you don’t get married, I’ll make sure you never live your single life peacefully!”

Just then, Namjoon’s phone rang, a lifeline at that moment of heightened emotion. “Mom, I have to leave,” he said, rising from the couch and trying to mask his relief. “I have an important call to attend to.”

Taehyung, and Jungkook stood there, enviously watching Namjoon escape the familial theatrics. “We need phones like that,” Jungkook muttered, “so we can avoid moments like this!”

Namjoon stepped outside for his call, the weight of his mother’s pleas still echoing in his mind. He sighed, wondering how he would break the news to Jin when the time came. Would he tell them all about the secret love that had blossomed beneath the familial chaos? Or would he keep it under wraps just a little longer?

As the call connected, Namjoon’s thoughts drifted back to Jin, his heart swelling with a mix of excitement and anxiety. He had always known that revealing his relationship would be a complex task, especially in a family that loved to meddle. Yet, somewhere within him, he felt that love would conquer all, even his mother’s dramatic whims.

Returning inside, he couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of his mother wiping her eyes, convinced she was making progress in her mission to marry off her son. “Alright, Mom,” he called out, stepping into the living room, “let's see what else you have planned.”

As laughter erupted around him, Namjoon knew one thing for certain—family was a beautiful, chaotic mess, and he wouldn’t trade it for the world. The battle for his heart was just beginning, and as always, he would face it with his characteristic intellect and a smirk on his face.