Two days had passed, and now, the air in Daegu was thick with anticipation. The Kim and Jeon families were gathered at the grand Kim mansion, a place where tradition and opulence met in every corner. The high ceilings, the ornate chandeliers, and the elegant decor were all just the backdrop for the serious discussions taking place in the drawing room.
The engagement was set for tomorrow, and both families were here to finalize the details. Mr. Kim, his face serious as ever, sat at the head of the long mahogany table, reviewing the plans and documents in front of him. Mrs. Jeon, ever the perfectionist, was busy outlining the schedule for the event, making sure every moment was meticulously arranged.
Taehyung sat off to the side, his posture straight and composed, although his mind was far from the conversation unfolding in front of him. His fingers drummed lightly on the armrest of the chair, his gaze flicking over to Jungkook every so often. The younger man, sitting across from him, seemed to be in his own world. The two had barely spoken since the heated argument over the phone, but the tension between them was palpable.
Jungkook, as usual, seemed unfazed by the tension. He leaned back in his chair, occasionally picking up a snack from the platter in front of him, his gaze shifting between the adults and the ceiling as he hummed a soft tune. Despite his casual demeanor, there was something about the way his eyes darted over the room, his lips pressed in a tight line as if he was trying to grasp the weight of the situation. The engagement tomorrow would officially bind him to Taehyung, and though he’d never voiced it aloud, part of him still wasn’t entirely certain about this arrangement.
"Tomorrow is important," Mr. Kim’s voice rang out, breaking the silence. "We need everything to go smoothly, from the ceremony to the afterparty. This union isn't just about two families, but two legacies coming together."
Jungkook's gaze flickered to Taehyung, who hadn’t responded yet. He was aware of the weight behind his family’s expectations and the pressure they were placing on him. But he couldn't help but wonder what Taehyung was truly thinking. His face was a mask of calm, but Jungkook could see the slight clench of his jaw whenever the topic of their union was brought up.
"I trust the preparations are well in hand," Taehyung finally spoke, his voice steady. His tone was polite, yet distant. "But if there’s anything further to discuss, I’m all ears." He glanced over at his parents, who seemed content with the arrangements.
Jungkook shifted in his seat, suddenly aware that the room had grown too quiet, too still. The adults were lost in their own discussions, but his own unease was growing. "Tomorrow... everything will change," he thought, fingers curling into his palms.
The quiet hum of the mansion seemed to echo in his mind as he caught Taehyung's gaze once more. Despite the planned ceremony, the carefully laid-out path, there was one thing Jungkook couldn’t shake — the uncertainty of his own heart, and whether the man sitting so composed beside him could ever truly be the one to calm the storm inside him.
Taehyung stood up, his posture immaculate, and glanced at the family with a confident, almost playful smirk. The room seemed to pause as the sound of his voice cut through the heavy atmosphere. "So, let's go?" His gaze lingered on Jungkook, his eyes a mix of warmth and mischief.
Jungkook blinked, momentarily caught off guard, his gaze drifting from Taehyung to the others in the room. "Huh?" he asked, a puzzled expression knitting his brows together. His voice was soft, as if trying to decipher the subtle shift in the air.
Taehyung chuckled, a low, amused sound that felt almost like a release of the tension that had built up between them over the last few days. "To buy rings," he said, his tone light and teasing, though there was an undeniable undertone of something more serious beneath it.
