Finest Jin

After Party

The concert began shortly after I was reseated. The stage lift raised 6 handsome men from beneath the platform and they jumped right into dance. I caught Jins' form right away and was so proud of that handsome man. Soon, I hoped, I would be able to call him my own. The audience was thunderous, hyped up by the long delay. When the song finished, Cher had returned to her seat, eyes sparkling and cheeks blushing when I winked at her. 

"Where is he?" I asked. 

"Makeup." She replied. Namjoon was greeting the audience and apologizing for the missing brother. 

"Jimin is feeling sick." He explained. People were sad, but the explanation would stand. 

The second song started and the boys moved forward, dancing hard again. Suddenly the cheers grew even louder. Through the deafening din, I leaned over to see what was triggering the reaction, only to see a blonde man, his face freshly done up, falling into step as he approached. The boys saw him one by one and immediately stopped what they were doing to run over and hug him. The big group hug was riddled with tears and cheers, the audience sharing in a moment that they would never know was so hard won. I was crying. Cher was crying. I felt all the pride of a mother seeing our Jimin arise, triumphant again over another difficult battle. His heart may be tender but Jimins' mettle was sheer titanium. 

The song was restarted and the whole line took two steps back, maintaining a careful distance from the stage edge. Other than that, no one would ever suspect any change in the performance. Jimin danced his heart out. His solo reduced everyone to weeping with its' beauty. My sweet SeokJin was on fire, searching the crowd, and, when he saw where we were seated, continuously directing his voice and attention to us. 

When the concert ended, Jin texted me the name and address of a restaurant and we set out, voices hoarse, hearts soaring, to meet them for a meal. The owner was prepared, and ushered us quickly to the private room with a massive long table. I seated all the children in one long line and sat at the last chair on the side. I assumed that Jin and Namjoon would take the foot and head of the table respectively. We visited quietly until the boys came in, boisterous and energized from the phenomenal comeback. Namjoon gave instructions to the manager and very quickly, food began to appear. Time passed quickly with repeated toasts to Jimin and a successful future. Cher and Jimin sat side by side, holding hands and giving each other loving glances throughout the merriment. Jin was beside me, arm around my shoulders, excited to share each new taste with me and have me feed him. Many bites were punctuated with kisses. They were all riding on a performance high. 

Namjoon stood, raising a hand for everyones' attention. We started to reach for our glasses, expecting another toast, but he shook his head. 

"Actually, I do believe that SeokJin-Nim has something he would like to say." All heads swivelled to the dark man seated next to me, his dark eyes holding mine, a gentle smile on his face. 

My heart started to pound. 

Jin stood up. 

"There is, actually. Something that I have been nervous, and also excited to do." He opened up his bag and reached in, fishing for something. His hand must have closed on it, because he paused. "I would ask that you all close your eyes for a moment, while I...prepare." We all shut our eyes and sat silently, my own heartbeat extremely loud between my temples. I could hear Jin move around the room, some shuffling and the clank of a plate. Then he was standing before me again. 

"Open your eyes." He breathed. We all did and I was surprised to see Jin facing the table, instead of me. "Cher, Éowynn, Atticus, and Brigette...in the past year, I have come to know you and come to love you. You are the kind of children that every parent wishes to have. You are respectful, kind and loving. You love to laugh, and you know that I love to laugh too!" At this, everyone giggled. "You already have an amazing mother." At this, Jin took my hand, addressing the children again. It was then that I noticed the little jewelry box seated in front of each child. Jin nodded and the children opened them, each revealing a ring bejewelled with their own birthstone, set between that of mine and also Jins'. "I would like to ask..." Here he swallowed hard, and I could feel his hand shaking. 

"I would like to ask if you would do me the honour of letting me adopt all four of you. I want to be your Appa." 

I am not sure who burst into tears first; me, Jin, or each of the four who slid rings onto fingers and raced around the table to hug SeokJin. Hoseok began to cheer and soon all 6 men were hooting around the table, stomping their feet and banging their hands on the table loudly.

I was sobbing so hard into Jins' arms that I didn't notice the room go quiet. When a man cleared his voice beside me, I startled. It was Jins' father, on his knees, facing me. He made no move to stand so I turned my chair to face him, confusion showing in my eyes. Behind him, I saw Jins' Eomma and Halmonie standing in the doorway. 

"Ay, Telly," His voice was deep and strong. "I misjudged you previously. Since then, I have had the opportunity to get to know the woman that my son loves. I have seen how you treat his family, how you parent your own, and how you love my boy. I was wrong about you, and I am sorry."

"It's okay," I smiled at him. He paused, closing his eyes to catch his train of thought. His face was deeply handsome and I smiled inwardly at the glimpse of the distinguished man that SeokJin would become.

"I even gave you the chance to enjoy a bit of wealth and select a gift for yourself. You unfailingly took the opportunity to think of others first."

My mouth fell open; The test at the jewelry store...The thought had never even crossed my mind that he had meant to select something for me. Why would he, after hours of visiting, buy me jewelry? My assumption had immediately fallen to his asking a womans' view of a gift for his wife. I thanked my lucky stars that my mind had taken that route. 

"You are the kind of woman that every parent hopes their child will meet." At this, he reached into his jacket pocket and drew out a ring box, snapping it open to reveal the beautiful jewel that I knew Jin had selected. I gasped. So did the entire table.

"Ay, Telly, will you marry my son, Kim SeokJin?" Mr. Kim held a sweet smile on his lips.

I spun to Jin behind me, who was sitting, white faced, his breath held, tears glistening in his eyes. I threw my arms around him.

"Yes! YES!" This time his sobs drowned out my own. Jins' arms pulled me tight against him, hiccuping into my hair. I kissed him through the wet faces, disbelief in both of our expressions. We suddenly became the epicentre of a swirling mass of arms and hugs and tear-stained cheeks. Hoseok squeezed us both for an eternity, trying to speak, but unable to for the weeping. He just kept glancing between us, nodding his head, tears rolling over his proud cheekbones, chin tucked in and quivering. Suga slapped Jin on the back before we crushed him between us. V and Jungkook lifted us both up in celebration and we had to stand as Namjoon reached to hug us around the four children and Jimin who had fallen against our legs. When the initial surge eased, I made my way to Jins' parents and Halmonie, who hugged and cried and fussed over the ring, Halmonie slapping Jins' cheeks affectionately while cupping his glowing face. 

"Welcome to the family." Mrs. Kim beamed. I was speechless and just hugged her repeatedly. 

"Welcome, my daughter." Mr. Kim said to me. "And congratulations, my son." I stepped back to allow the two men to hug, my hand falling onto my own sons' shoulder as he stepped towards Jin. 

"Congratulations, Appa." Atticus looked up at Jin. This provoked a new freshet of happy sobs and soon RM had to call for more tissues.

"And I will be Hal-abeoji." Mr. Kim spoke to my son. Atticus threw his arms around the man, both looking blissful.

V had a cake brought out and everyone sat to feast again on a sweet dessert made even sweeter by the occasion.

Jin held up my left hand. 

"See the ring, Yoongi? See the ring?" Suga chuckled and turned his head to wink at Cher. Jimin pulled her against him protectively. We all laughed. 

That night was the most perfect I had ever imagined. I could not help but keep taking inventory of my happy children and the beautiful man who would become their father and my husband. The promise had been made in front of his parents and grandmother and his six brothers, all offering their blessings. I had a healthy baby growing inside of me. I had the most amazing family that I could ever hope to be part of, and they wanted all of us. 

I had a fiance. 

Every dream was coming true.

SeokJin and I were engaged at last.