𝓑𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓫𝔂 𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓲𝓼𝓮 (𝓙𝓲𝓴𝓸𝓸𝓴)

chapter 7

Jungkook's POV

"Jungkook-ah, I want you to marry our Jiminie."

I froze, staring blankly at her. My mind couldn't process what she had just said. It had to be a joke, right?

"Eomma, it's not the time to joke around," I said, my voice laced with seriousness, hoping she would laugh it off.

But she didn't. Instead, her expression hardened, and her voice was resolute. "I'm not joking! You are marrying Jimin, and that's final."

My blood ran cold. "Are you kidding me? Eomma, how can I marry Jimin? He's like a younger brother to me!" My voice rose, a mix of disbelief and anger. "How can you even think about something like this?"

She met my outburst with a steady gaze. "Don't you dare shout at your mother!" Her tone was sharp. "I promised your appa... I promised him you would marry Jimin. That man survived death's door because he wanted to see you married to his best friend's son. It's his dying wish, Jungkook. Please, for our family, marry Jimin. You don't have to do it now-after you finish your work in Canada, we can arrange everything."

Her voice softened at the end, and her eyes filled with desperation. I could see her trying to appeal to my sense of duty, but my heart was breaking.

"Eomma... I have a girlfriend," I whispered, feeling the weight of the truth finally out in the open. "Ava... She's waiting for me in Canada. She's an orphan, mom. She has no one but me." I watched her face, hoping-no, praying-that the news would change her mind.

Her face did change, but not in the way I had hoped. Her expression turned cold, emotionless. "Break up with her."

I stared at her, stunned. "What...? How can you say that, Eomma? Do you even understand what you're asking?"

"Jungkook, I said break up with her. This is about family-about your father's last wish. Jimin is the one you are meant to be with."

The sheer audacity of her words filled me with rage. "HOW CAN YOU BE SO COLD? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THIS MEANS?" I yelled, not caring about the consequences.

"DON'T SHOUT, JUNGKOOK! JIMIN IS SLEEPING!" she snapped, her voice rising to meet mine.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "This isn't right, Eomma. You're asking me to destroy two lives-mine and Jimin's! He's just a kid! How can you even think of doing this to him?"

She didn't flinch. "You're marrying him. Tomorrow, I'll talk to the Park family, and you'll be staying here until the wedding is arranged."

My heart shattered. "Mom, think about Jimin. He's innocent in all of this. He doesn't deserve this-neither do I." I sank to my knees, my voice breaking as I begged. "Please, Eomma, don't do this to us."

She knelt beside me, pulling me into her arms, her tears mixing with mine. "I'm sorry, my son. I'm so, so sorry. But I can't go back on my promise. You have to marry Jimin, or I swear, I'll leave this world with your father." Her words were a dagger to my heart.

I felt utterly helpless. My mind reeled, thinking about Ava's smile, her laughter. How could I leave her? How could I betray her after everything we'd been through? Our love was still so new, so precious.

And Jimin... my sweet Jimin. How could I drag him into this mess? He was just a boy, innocent and unaware. He deserved to be free, to love and be loved by someone who cherished him.

I didn't sleep that night. I just sat there, numb, lost in thoughts of Ava, Jimin, and my father lying unconscious in that hospital bed. The weight of responsibility crushed me, pulling me deeper into despair.