Red String | VMIN

40

Tae and Jungkook are finally home. Tae puts his keys away and takes off his shoes, Jungkook follows.
"So, What really happened between you and Jimin."
"Well we aren't together."
Tae sat on he couch.
Jungkook's eyebrows furrowed.
"How? You guys told each other how you felt and you've been talking to each other ever since you got back from Spain."
"Well, Jimin did tell me his feelings for me, but that's not it. He was still with Dean at the time. It would have felt like he was cheating."

Jungkook rolled his eyes.
"So what? Jimin is with Dean?"
"Uhh, no."
"WELL THEN WHAT IS THE PROBLEM!"
Jungkook says out of agitation.
"It's that, I want him to meet my mom first."
Jungkook closes his mouth and his eyes widen. Jungkook knows how many people Tae has dating before, and never has he taken them to meet his mom.
"Taehyung.."
Jungkook said softly.
Tae looked at him and in a second he was on the floor. Jungkook ran into him and practically pushed him over.
"So you're that serious about him huh?"
Tae smiles.
"Yea. I don't know how he did it but he's the one."
Jungkook smiles.

"So, what happened? Did you guys visit his mom? How did that go?"
Tae froze. He looked at Jungkook. Jungkook wasn't sure why Tae looked at him like that so he arched his eyebrow and tilted his head.
"Well.. about his mom."
Tae puts his head down.
"What happened? Did she not like you?"
"Well the thing is.."
"Wait don't tell me you messed it up and said something you weren't suppose to."
Jungkook puts his hand on his face.
"I guess you're going to have to wait till the boys come over. I won't say anything else till the boys come over."

Jungkook gets up and walks out the room. Tae feels a bit bad, he feels like he might have upset Jungkook.
"Jungkook, wait I didn't mean to—."
Tae was going to follow him when he sees Jungkook making a call. Tae goes back inside and sits on the living room couch. In 10 minutes the door swings open and the boys all come rushing in.
"Tae, honey, we're home."
Yoongi says as he gets in.
"Don't call him honey, that's gross."
Hoseok says following behind Yoongi.
Namjoon and Jin walk in hand in hand and greet Tae. Mark and Tom walk in with some beer. Jackson and Shiloh bring in chips and salsa and finally Jungkook follows in.

-

After twenty minutes the boys are all in the living room huddled around Tae. They all look at him with smiles on their faces.
"Uh, what just happened?"
"Tae, come on. There's no way you're this oblivious."
Jackson whines.
"Hyung, we wanna know the rest of the story."
Jungkook plops right next to Tae.
"Well alright. What you hear might be a bit saddening."
The boys look at each other, unsure what's gonna happen. They all look back at Tae.
"Well, What ever it is, we're here to listen."
Yoongi leans back into his seat.
"Alright, where was I? Oh, right. Jimin's mom. This was the third day. Right after Jimin an I finally confessed to each other, things got a bit awkward."

(Flashback)

Tae and Jimin chose to talk about what happened last night, but none of them knew what to say. They were in the lounge, sitting in chairs, unsure what to do now.
"How about this,"
Jimin sat up ready to prepose his idea.
"We go see my mom, since it's the last day and it's why we came here for. Then after, we have dinner and talk about what's going to happen to us, once we go back home."
Tae was bouncing his leg up and down. He pondered the idea for a while.
"Ok. Let me get ready."
Jimin looked at Tae.
"But, aren't you already ready?"
Tae scoffs.
"Jimin, we're meeting your mother. I have to look my best. First impressions are everything."
Jimin chuckled.
"Ok, go get ready. I'll wait here."

Tae smiled and ran to his room dressing in the most well put together attire he could find. He ran back down stairs. Tae and Jimin then called Julio and they tried their best to avoid the press. Once they got in, Julio drove them to where Jimin instructed him to go.

-

"Close your eyes."
"What why?"
"Just do it Tae."
Tae hesitantly closes his eyes.
Jimin helps Tae out the car and takes his hand.
Jimin holds onto Tae's hand as they wall to the gate. The gate door opens slowly and Tae grips Jimin's hand tighter. Jimin slowly guides Tae, and then they stop.
"You can open your eyes now Tae."

Tae slowly opens his eyes.
His eyes go wide. He looks around the place. His chest starts to hurt. He looks down by his feet.
"A beautiful daughter, a best friend, an outstanding sister, a caring wife, and a loving mother. Here lies Park Luna. Gone, but never forgotten."
A cemetery.

A small tear falls from Tae's right eye. Tae sniffs aggressively, and kneels down.
"Hello, Mrs. Park."

(End of Flashback)

Soft sniffles and small whimpers fills the room. Tae pulls out tissue and the boys all take one. Namjoon looks up.
"Poor Jimin."
Namjoon frowns.
"Poor kid, lost his mother."
Yoongi wipes the small tear from his eye.
"I hope he's doing well."
Mark pushes his hair back.
The boys all look back at Tae who's crying. They all sit in silence as they hear the small whimpers coming from Tae.

"I just- I don't understand how he could still smile so brightly and speak so kindly when everything he's loved has left. He manages to smile every day. And I think he's one of the strongest people I've ever met."
The boys look at each other. They all get up and hugged Tae. They feel like it's time to be there for Tae like Tae has been there for them.
"We have you."
Jin gripped tightly.
"We all have you."
Yoongi grinned.
"We'll always have you."
Jungkook added on.
The boys all tried to comfort Tae. Right now Tae needed support, and that's exactly what the boys were gonna do. They all changed the subject and just started sharing things about their life. Reflecting on how far they have come and how close their friendship has grown.

Today ended on a good note.
Tae was going to need all the support for what was coming next.