Type Here | KTH ✓

dinner

5/6/18
{third-person pov}

taehyung bikes over to jang mi's place from his hotel room. daegu has certainly changed since he was a kid, and the roads changed with it.

everyone was stranger, more closed off than before. everyone minded their own business, not warm and welcoming like when taehyung was growing up.

even though he wanted to yell at all of the people to be nicer, he didn't.

why? because he's a hypocrite.

he picked up a small bouquet of flowers on his way over. daisies were delicately wrapped up in paper. the florist threw in some lilac and baby's breath to settle the palate.

he clutched the handlebar with his left hand and clung to the right one with the tips of his fingers.

he finally slowed down at the sign of 'dae don pharmacy.'

he mentally prepared himself for what was about to happen. and he knew it wasn't going to be good.

he walked up the stairs gingerly, feeling regret with every step.

he rang the doorbell.

1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds, 4 seconds, 5 seconds, 6 seconds, 7 seconds, 8 seconds...

jang mi opened the door with her apron on. her hair fell past her shoulders, pin straight. a light blue dress was beneath her apron. she had mismatched socks on.

"come in tae." she closed the door behind me.

"mi mi—jang mi, i got you some flowers. i didn't know what to bring, so i brought you some flowers. your favorite, daisies. at least, that's what you told me those many years ago." taehyung offered them out shyly.

she smiled. "just get over here and help me with the plates."

jang mi's apartment was bigger than taehyung thought. it looked more like a luxury house than a meager apartment.

"the pharmacy isn't the only source of income i have," she said, stirring whatever she had on the stove, "i've been acquiring and trading stocks and property. after you left... i realized i needed to be financially independent. i did take the money you sent me by the way. i used it for a college fund for kyung tae."

"makes sense that you would think it didn't use it. you sent cash. you can't trace those. especially when they're put into a protected account."

taehyung leaned against the counter with his head in his hands. "jang mi,"

"don't. i know you're sorry. you've said it in every letter, every birthday card, every contract, every single thing that i read. i saw it all. if you're really sorry, just help me raise kyung tae, plain and simple."

"no falling in love again either." jang mi wagged her finger with a straight face.

"aww darn. really ruined my plan there." taehyung said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

somehow, this banter and interaction felt normal—natural to them. they wanted it. but they denied that they wanted each other.

kyung tae came bounding out of his room. "appa look i put on my own tie! by my self!" he grabbed taehyung's hand and jumped around.

"good job kyung tae. appa is proud of you." taehyung patted his head.

kyung tae beamed. jang mi was getting a little jealous of the cute interaction between father and son. but she let them enjoy it.

"kyung tae, help your appa with the plates."