Promise • 전정국 (DISCONTINUED)

31 | Discover

"I will let you hear my story, let you hear it."

•••

As the day wore off, I began running out of things to occupy myself with and Jungkook still hasn't returned. I did help Mrs. Jeon with caring for some of the flowers but she didn't want me to do anymore, using the excuse that giving out chores was no way to treat a guest. So I wandered upstairs, opening the door of Jungkook's room.

I'm sure he wouldn't mind me coming in here.

I walked in, my eyes darting over to as many objects as they could. A set of pictures in multiple frames that stood on a shelf caught my attention. I walked towards the shelf, lifting one of the photo frames. Jungkook wore a yellow suit, holding what seemed like a diploma. This must have been a graduation. He looked much younger but I can see that he still has that baby face to this day. His mother and father stood on the sides of him with proud smiles on their faces. I moved onto another picture, placing the current frame I held, back onto the shelf. The next one I looked at was him as a kid, stuffing some noodles into his face. I thank whoever took this picture of him. There were a few others of him dancing.

I moved on from the pictures and started to look around more. I walked over to his desk where there laid a bunch of papers and envelopes. I know I shouldn't be going through his things. However, I can't help the urge to open this one notebook that is a tannish color with a small sticky note on the cover saying 'DO NOT OPEN'.

Of course, me being the nosy person I am, I open it.

I was expecting words. Journal entries. Paragraphs. Secrets.

But instead, there were drawings.

Of a girl.

I flipped through the other pages. It was filled with other drawings. All of the same girl. In some of the drawings, she would be holding a drink, writing in a notebook, playing with her hair or just simply facing forward. She was also very pretty. I had no idea Jungkook could draw.

"You're quite keen, dear."

On instinct, my hands immediately let go of the notebook, having it close shut. I turned my head back to see Jungkook's mother standing behind me.

"Mrs. Jeon, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to invade his personal stuff like this. I just looked at this notebook and a few pictures, that's all."

"No need to explain yourself, it's quite alright. I would be interested in my boyfriend's belongings too." She smiled and walked over to the desk, picking up the notebook I previously observed. "I wish he would get rid of this thing."

"Why? I think the drawings are quite beautiful."

"Oh, I don't necessarily mind the drawings. I just mind who the drawings are of. This only brings back bad memories for him." She sucked her teeth and plopped down the notebook back onto the table.

"Wait, who are the drawings of?"

She looked at me with what seemed like shock. "Oh, you don't know? I would have thought Jungkook told you already."

I shook my head. "Jungkook has never told me about any significant girl before."

She wiped her tongue over her lips. "Well, I'm sure one day you would have been bound to find out. She's his ex."

My eyes widened. I never recalled Jungkook telling me about his ex. My mind began to rewind to any conversation which he spoke of a girl and that I might have forgotten about. The closest I came is to when we spoke while sitting at the spot where my dad used to take me.

[FLASHBACK]

"But is that why you didn't want your brothers knowing about me? Is it because you thought I'd end up becoming closer to them than I am with you?"

"No, there's actually a different reason. I don't exactly like talking about it but let's just say that there was once a person that I really cared about and whenever my brothers find out that I'm talking to a girl, they bring up that one person, so I decided to keep my friendships with girls private, that way I don't have to hear about that person."

"That person must have done something really bad to you."

"I guess you could say that."

[END OF FLASHBACK]

Could it be?

Was the person he once cared about his ex? Well obviously.

It had to be.

I nodded. "Oh, yes, he's spoken of her before. He wasn't too specific about it though. He didn't seem the most comfortable when talking about it."

"I can understand that. I remember the boys telling me about how he shut himself out from the world for a bit. Thankfully, they were very supportive of my son, giving him the emotional support he needed."

"The boys?" I quirked my head to the side, confused on who she was talking about.

"You haven't met them yet? Jin, Yoongi, Jimin-"

"Oh! Yes, yes. I've met them. They're quite the bunch."

She nodded in agreement. "I consider them all like my own sons."

"That would be a handful to deal with." I laughed, causing her to join in with me.

"It sure would." She patted my back. "I'm glad you're with him. I know my son very well and he seems genuinely happy with you. I had a completely different vibe when he brought that girl here."

Due to her kind words, warmth passed through my gaze as my face softened into a smile which invaded my eyes. "Thank you, Mrs. Jeon."

"All I ask is that you please look after him. Care for him. Love him. Support him. Help him decide right from wrong when he acts stubborn. Lastly, don't take advantage of him. I know he wants to act like a big boy at times but a mother knows when her child is sensitive at heart."

Although 'love' was a word I haven't brought into Jungkook and I's relationship, I knew what context Mrs. Jeon meant it in.

"Of course. Both of you, including his father, have my promise." 

"Thank you, Y/N. Also,"

"It might be better to keep this a secret between you and me. This whole—going through his notebook thing." She gave a sly smile.

I nodded. "Of course."

I heard the front door closing downstairs, followed by some light footsteps. Jungkook's mother heard as well as she looked out of his bedroom with a puzzled look, her forehead crinkling between the eyes.

Jungkook was finally home.

It wasn't long before he had made it to the top of the stairs and in front of the doorway. I can tell he wasn't expecting to see the both of us in his own bedroom.

"Uh,"

"What are you two doing in my room?"

His mother and I looked at each other and then back at him.

We could only give him a nervous smile.

•••