Fated by 'I Do'

Chapter 41 :Back to Usual

The holidays had finally come to an end, and it was time to return to their usual routines. The house was a flurry of activity as Taekook, Yoonmin, and Hoseok with Yoonji packed their bags, preparing for their journey back to Seoul. Despite the cheerful farewells, there was a bittersweet air hanging over the Kim household.

Bo-ah stood near the doorway, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief as she watched everyone gather their belongings. “I can’t help it,” she said, her voice cracking slightly. “After so many years, the house was finally full of laughter again. My children and their wonderful spouses—it felt so complete.”

“Eomma,” Taehyung said softly, stepping forward to hold her hands. “We’ll be back soon. We’ve decided—Daegu is officially our vacation spot now.”

“That’s right,” Jungkook chimed in, smiling as he hugged her. “This house will always feel like home to us.”

Bo-ah’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she nodded, pulling them both into a warm embrace. Meanwhile, Seokwoo, trying to mask his emotions, placed a hand on Hoseok’s shoulder and gave his son-in-law’s hair a playful ruffle. “Take care of each other in Seoul, and don’t forget to call often.”

“We will, Appa,” Hoseok said, grinning as he adjusted his now-messy hair. “And next time, prepare some more dance moves. I’m expecting a showdown!”

The family burst into laughter at Hoseok’s comment, easing the heavy emotions in the air. Yoonji, always composed, stepped forward and hugged Bo-ah and Seokwoo tightly. “Thank you for everything, Eomma, Appa. This has been a vacation to remember.”

Yoongi and Jimin joined the group hug next, Jimin whispering a quiet promise to visit more often while Yoongi nodded in agreement. “We’ll come back sooner than you think,” Yoongi said, his usually stoic tone laced with warmth.

Finally, the entire Kim family and their in-laws gathered for a group hug, Bo-ah standing in the center with a radiant, tearful smile. The promise to return soon and keep Daegu as their go-to vacation spot filled her with hope and joy. As they pulled away, Seokwoo chuckled and said, “Alright, enough with the emotions. You’ll all miss your train if you don’t hurry.”

With one last round of goodbyes, the group loaded their bags into the van. As the vehicle pulled away, Bo-ah and Seokwoo stood at the gate, waving until the van disappeared from view. Their hearts were heavy yet full, knowing that the love and bonds shared over the holidays would carry them through until the next gathering.

~×~×~×~

With the Shin family having left the previous night, it was now time for the Kims and Jeons to bid farewell to Daegu. The atmosphere at the station was calmer than the previous day, but the goodbyes were still heartfelt. Bo-ah and Seokwoo hugged everyone tightly one last time, their warmth lingering even as the train arrived at the platform.

Once aboard, the group settled into their seats. The long journey back to Seoul stretched ahead, but the excitement of returning to their routines mingled with a tinge of nostalgia for the time spent together.

The rhythmic hum of the train quickly lulled some of them to sleep. Jungkook leaned against Taehyung’s shoulder, his soft snores bringing a smile to Taehyung’s face as he scrolled through his phone, occasionally brushing Jungkook’s hair back. On the opposite side, Jimin had curled up with his head on Yoongi’s lap, dozing peacefully while Yoongi absentmindedly tapped on his phone, occasionally glancing down to check on his sleeping husband.

Hoseok and Yoonji were seated next to each other, both engrossed in their phones. Hoseok scrolled through photos and videos from the picnic, chuckling softly at the memories, while Yoonji replied to work emails, her focus unwavering even during the journey.