𝓑𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓫𝔂 𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓲𝓼𝓮 (𝓙𝓲𝓴𝓸𝓸𝓴)

chapter 1

Jungkook's pov

"You have to do this, Jungkook-ah. You have to do this for your family. You have to fulfill your father's promise."

My mother's words echo in my mind as I stand here, frozen in front of the altar. My heart feels heavy, my breath shaky, and my mind clouded with conflicting emotions. I look around at the grand hall, filled with smiling faces—people who think they are witnessing a joyous occasion. But inside, I feel hollow. My hands tremble slightly, though I keep them clasped together, trying to appear calm, composed.

I glance to my side. My father, sitting in his wheelchair, looks more content than I’ve seen him in years. His face glows with pride. Next to him, my mother dabs at her eyes, smiling softly as if this day is everything she’s ever dreamed of. I wonder if they know what they’re asking of me. I wonder if they feel the weight they’ve placed on my shoulders.

The doors at the back of the hall creak open, pulling me from my thoughts. And then he appears—Park Jimin, my soon-to-be husband, walking down the aisle with his father, Lee Dong Wook. Jimin looks… ethereal. Almost too pure for this world. His delicate features glow under the soft lights, his lips curved in an innocent smile, and his eyes—bright, hopeful, completely unaware of the storm that brews inside me.

I feel a lump form in my throat as he approaches. He’s only eighteen. Barely an adult. How did we end up here? His father places a gentle hand on his shoulder, guiding him down the aisle with such tenderness, it breaks something in me.

He deserves better than this… better than me.

Dong Wook looks at me with a kind yet piercing gaze. "Take care of my child, Jungkook," he says, his voice thick with emotion. But his eyes betray something deeper, a silent warning—hurt him, and you’ll regret it.

I nod in response, though words fail me. I can’t promise to take care of Jimin the way he deserves. I can’t promise to love him the way he deserves to be loved. Because in my heart, I know I’m not the man for him.

The priest’s voice pulls me back to reality, steady and calm, though every word feels like a dagger to my chest.

"Do you, Jimin, take Jungkook to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for as long as you both shall live?"

Jimin looks up at me with the brightest smile, eyes sparkling with joy. There’s an innocence to him, a pure, childlike excitement that tugs at my heart. His voice is loud and clear as he says, “I do!”—a little too loud, actually, making the guests chuckle at his eagerness.

Everyone laughs. But I don’t. I can’t. My chest feels too tight to breathe, my heart too heavy to feel anything but guilt.

The priest turns to me, his voice resonating in the silent room.

"Do you, Jungkook, take Jimin to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for as long as you both shall live?"

I close my eyes for a moment, trying to gather the strength to speak. I wish I could say no. I wish I could walk away, but I can’t. The weight of my family’s expectations, the promises made—it's all too much to bear.

When I open my eyes, Jimin is staring at me with those wide, expectant eyes, full of love and trust. He looks so happy, so excited. How can I shatter that?

I force a smile, though it feels like a lie, and say the words that will bind us together forever.

“I do.”

The priest announces, “You may now kiss your husband!”

I lean down, pressing a soft kiss to Jimin’s forehead, as the room erupts in applause. I glance at my mother from the corner of my eye—she’s beaming, motioning for me to smile. So, I smile. But it’s hollow, forced. My heart isn’t in it. I wonder if anyone can see through the facade.

As the night drags on, I barely register what’s happening around me. People laugh, drink, and celebrate, but I feel like I’m watching it all from a distance, detached from the world.

Jimin, however, is the center of attention. His youthful energy never falters, even though I can see the exhaustion in his eyes as the party wears on. He bounds over to me, throwing his arms around my waist in a tired hug.

“Hyung, I’m getting tired. Can we go home now?” His voice is soft, laced with exhaustion. He’s still so young, so innocent.

I nod, patting his head gently. “Yeah, Jimin-ah. Let me just talk to our parents first, okay?”

He nods, slumping into a chair as he fights to keep his eyes open. I walk over to where our parents are seated, trying to keep my emotions in check.

“Eomma, Jimin’s tired. Where should we stay tonight?” I ask, knowing I don’t have a place of my own here. In two days, I’ll be heading back to Canada—Jimin coming with me, of course.

“You two can stay with us tonight,” Jimin’s mother, Park Min Young, replies sweetly, her eyes full of warmth.

I smile, though my heart aches. Just then, Dong Wook speaks up, his voice laced with humor but carrying an underlying edge.

“No funny business, Jungkook. My son just turned 18, and he’s still very innocent.” His words are met with laughter, but I can only muster a weak chuckle.

“Of course, father-in-law,” I reply, trying to match the lighthearted tone, though inside, I feel like crumbling.

As the night finally comes to an end, I scoop Jimin into my arms, carrying him bridal style as the crowd watches with admiration. They think this is a moment of love, but for me, it’s bittersweet.

We arrive at his house—no, our house now. I lay him down gently on the bed, carefully changing his clothes while he sleeps soundly, unaware of the turmoil inside me. His breathing is soft, his face peaceful. I sit beside him for a moment, watching him, my hand brushing through his soft hair.

I feel a pang of guilt deep in my chest. Guilt for him. Guilt for myself. Guilt for… her.

This isn’t the life I wanted. It’s not the life Jimin deserves. And yet, here we are—trapped by promises, by duty, by expectations.

I sigh heavily, lying down beside him. Almost immediately, Jimin wraps his arms around me, clinging to me like a child. His small frame presses against mine, and I can feel his warmth. I close my eyes, wishing that all of this was just a nightmare.

But as the night drags on, reality sinks in. This is my life now. Our life. And there’s no escaping it.

For the rest of the night, I lie awake, staring at the ceiling, wondering how I’ll ever make peace with this. Wondering if I’ll ever find happiness again. Wondering if Jimin will.

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Thank you so much for reading the first chapter of "Bound by Promise." I hope you’re enjoying the start of Jungkook and Jimin’s journey. There’s a lot more drama, emotion, and love to come, so stay tuned! I’m really excited to see how you all feel about the direction of this story. As always, your support and feedback mean the world to me, so don’t hesitate to share your thoughts!

See you in the next chapter!❤❤