Fated Foes ||toptae||

64

The next morning, Taehyung woke up abruptly, his determination from the previous night still burning strong. He quickly went through his morning routine, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of unraveling the mystery behind his family’s feud with Jungkook’s. Without wasting any time, he headed to the university and made his way to the dean’s office.

Knocking softly, he stepped inside, finding the dean engrossed in some paperwork.

“Good morning, Dean,” Taehyung greeted politely.

The dean looked up with a smile. “Ah, Taehyung, good morning. What brings you here? Don’t tell me you’ve gotten into trouble again,” he joked, his tone lighthearted.

Taehyung chuckled nervously. “No, sir. I actually wanted to ask you something. You once mentioned that my father studied here. By any chance, do you know if he had any close friends?”

The dean leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “Hmm, why the sudden interest in your father’s past?” he asked curiously.

“It’s... it’s personal, sir. I just want to understand him better,” Taehyung said, trying to sound casual.

“Well,” the dean began, tapping his chin, “your father was indeed one of our brightest students. He had a small circle of friends, and if I recall correctly, he might have had a girlfriend too. She wasn’t from here originally—her mother was from France, and her father was Korean. Quite a stunning young woman with brown hair. She stood out.”

Taehyung’s curiosity deepened, and his heart began to race. “Do you remember her name, sir?”

The dean frowned, thinking hard. “It’s been so long… Wait! I believe I have an old photo somewhere. Let me check.” He stood up and began rummaging through a cabinet filled with dusty folders and albums.

After several minutes, he pulled out a slightly faded photograph. “Here it is,” he said, handing it to Taehyung.

Taehyung’s eyes widened as he stared at the photo in disbelief. It was unmistakable—his father was standing with a woman, smiling warmly. That woman, however, wasn’t his mother. It was Jungkook’s mother.

His grip on the photo tightened, his mind reeling. What is this? How could this be? Were they together? Is this why our families hate each other?

He handed the photo back with trembling hands and forced a polite smile. “Thank you, sir. This... this was really helpful.”

The dean gave him a curious look but didn’t press further. “If you have any more questions, you know where to find me.”

Taehyung nodded and left the office, his mind spinning with questions. Back in his dorm room, he sat on his bed, clutching his phone tightly.

Should I ask my mother about this? Will she even tell me the truth? What really happened between them?

~~~

Taehyung couldn’t wait for the day to end. Every minute felt like an eternity as the weight of his discovery pressed heavily on his mind. As soon as his classes were over, he rushed home, his thoughts racing. When he arrived, he noted that his father wasn’t home, which made things easier for the moment. Without hesitation, he went straight to the kitchen, where he found his mother preparing dinner.

She stood by the stove, her focus on the simmering pot in front of her. Taehyung quietly approached her from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin lightly on her shoulder.

“My pretty mother,” he said softly, his voice playful but with a hint of unease.

Mrs. Kim stiffened for a moment, then sighed, still stirring the pot. “Oh, so you remember you have a mother now?” she said, her tone laced with mock annoyance.

Taehyung grinned, knowing her words held no real malice. “How could I ever forget? You’re the best, after all,” he replied, tightening his hug slightly.

Mrs. Kim shook her head, trying to hide the smile tugging at her lips. “Flattery won’t work this time, young man. Do you know how worried I’ve been with all your antics lately?”

Taehyung leaned back slightly, turning her around gently so he could look at her face. “Come on, Mom. Don’t be mad at me. You know you can’t stay angry with me for too long.”

Mrs. Kim let out a small laugh despite herself, brushing a stray strand of hair from his forehead. “You’re impossible, Tae. But you’re right—I can’t stay mad at you. You’re my weakness, you know that.”

Taehyung gave her his best puppy-dog eyes. “Then prove it by answering a question for me?”

She frowned slightly, her maternal instincts kicking in. “What is it, Tae? You look... troubled. Did something happen?”

He hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to phrase his question. But he knew he couldn’t beat around the bush any longer. “Mom, I need to ask you about Dad’s past. About... someone he knew when he was younger.”

Mrs. Kim’s expression immediately changed, the warmth in her eyes dimming as her hands paused mid-motion. “Why do you want to know about that?” she asked, her voice cautious.

Taehyung swallowed hard, trying to keep his tone casual. “I heard something at the university. Something about him being close to someone... someone who wasn’t you.”

Mrs. Kim froze at Taehyung’s question, her grip tightening on the ladle in her hand. She turned off the stove and set the ladle aside, her back still facing him.

“Why are you suddenly asking about this, Taehyung?” she asked cautiously, her voice low.

Taehyung hesitated for a moment, then decided there was no point in hiding his intentions. “Because, Mom, I found out something today. The dean showed me a photo… a photo of Dad with someone else. He said she was his close friend or maybe more. I don’t know what it all means, but I need to know.”

Mrs. Kim sighed deeply and turned to face her son, her expression unreadable. She leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. “You’re right. I’ve never mentioned anything about your father’s past because I don’t know much about it myself. Our marriage… it was arranged by our parents. We didn’t fall in love before we married.”

Taehyung’s eyes widened. “So, you don’t know about… anyone he might’ve loved before?”

She shook her head slowly, her gaze drifting to the floor. “Your father and I didn’t talk about those things. We were strangers when we got married, and over time, we built a life together. But the past… we never brought it up.”

Taehyung frowned, his mind swirling with confusion. “But, Mom… why would Dad hate someone else’s family so much? Why would he hold a grudge for this long if it wasn’t personal?”

Mrs. Kim’s brows furrowed, her face clouded with unease. “Taehyung, what are you trying to say? Are you saying this has something to do with you? Or with Jungkook?”

Taehyung’s throat tightened at her direct question. “I… I don’t know, Mom. But there’s something between our families. Something that’s making all of this harder for me and Jungkook.”

Mrs. Kim studied her son’s face for a long moment, her expression softening when she saw the frustration and pain in his eyes. She reached out and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Taehyung, whatever this is, it’s something only your father can explain. If there’s a reason for his feelings toward Jungkook’s family, it didn’t come from me. But… I’ll support you, no matter what.”

Taehyung nodded, his jaw tightening with determination. “Thanks, Mom. I just… I need to find out the truth. For me. For Jungkook.”

Mrs. Kim gave him a small, sad smile. “Then go to your father when he’s home. Ask him directly. But, Taehyung… be prepared. Sometimes, the truth isn’t easy to hear.”

Her words sent a chill through him, but he nodded firmly. Whatever the truth was, he was ready to face it. For Jungkook. For them.

"I didn’t want to rush the story, but I need to complete it before I lose interest in this book."
My mood swings are no joke.