The next morning, Jungkook awoke to a quiet stillness that filled the room, a stark contrast to the chaos of last night. The alcohol that had once blurred the edges of his frustrations was now gone, leaving behind a rawness, an uncomfortable clarity. His head throbbed gently, but it was the discomfort in his chest that bothered him more-the lingering sting of Taehyung's words.
Jungkook sat at the breakfast table, his gaze unfocused as he pushed his food around on the plate, a far cry from the carefree boy everyone knew. The playful spark that usually danced in his eyes was now replaced by a deep, brooding frown. His father, ever the dramatist, noticed the shift in the air immediately.
"Sweetie? What's wrong?" His father's voice, full of concern, cut through the morning haze, but it didn't break through Jungkook's wall of stubborn silence. He could feel the gaze of his father bearing down on him, but he just puffed out his cheeks more dramatically, making sure his pout was as deep as it could get.
For the past half hour, his father had been asking the same question, each time with a little more concern and a lot more theatrics. But no matter how many times the question was asked, Jungkook's answer remained the same-silence and a deeper pout. It was as if the weight of his own emotions was too much to explain, and the words refused to form on his tongue.
His father, as dramatic as always, wasn't about to let it slide. He leaned across the table, putting a hand on Jungkook's shoulder with exaggerated care. "Sweetie, you're not going to just sit there and eat like that all day, are you?" His father raised an eyebrow, as though this were the most pressing issue in the world, his tone a mix of concern and playful mockery.
Jungkook's eyes flicked up for a brief moment, his lips twitching as though he might say something, but instead, he just gave a sharp, frustrated exhale. His father sighed, a small chuckle escaping his lips at the sight of his son's little drama. "Alright, alright, if you're not going to talk, I'll just have to guess." He leaned back in his chair, dramatically placing a hand on his chest as if he were preparing to deliver the most profound revelation.
Jungkook couldn't help but roll his eyes, the familiar antics of his father slowly easing the tension in his chest. Despite his frustration, he couldn't help but let out a reluctant chuckle. His father was impossible-yet in his own way, he was exactly what Jungkook needed in moments like this. Even if he didn't have all the answers, his over-the-top gestures and never-ending questions had a way of distracting Jungkook from his own turmoil.
"Let me guess," his father continued, clearly enjoying the game. "You're upset because Dr. Kim didn't give you the attention you wanted, hmm?" He raised an eyebrow, his voice teasing. "Could it be that little Taehyung has finally gotten under your skin?"
Jungkook froze at the mention of Taehyung's name. His breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, the world around him seemed to blur again. The realization hit him hard, as if his father had pulled the veil off the confusion inside him with that single sentence. He didn't need to answer. His father already knew.
With a deep sigh, Jungkook pushed his plate away and finally spoke, though his words came out in a mix of frustration and vulnerability he hadn't intended to show. "He's marrying him, Dad," he muttered, the words heavy in his mouth. "Dr. Kim is marrying someone else, and I... I don't know how to deal with it."
His father's expression softened, the teasing light in his eyes fading into something more understanding. "Well, kiddo," he said quietly, "sometimes people do things we don't expect. But that doesn't mean you have to give up on yourself, or on what you want. Don't let anyone else's choices make you doubt who you are."
Jungkook looked up at him, his eyes searching his father's face for something-something that would make this pain in his chest go away. "But what if it's too late? What if he's already made up his mind? What if he will marry that potato!?"
