Can love transcend time? Jeon Jung-kook asked this very question himself when he looked at himself in the mirror as a middle-aged man. His daughter was planning to elope with someone considered not "fit" for the Jeon household. Somehow he heard hims...
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To say that Jung-kook did not realize what he was doing, when he moved cities to be closer to his grandson, was an understatement. After all, they only prevented him from seeing Taehyung, or from stepping foot inside their house. His daughter and her family weren't explicit, though they implied that Taemin was also out of bounds.
But nobody had to find out; Jung-kook was careful. He made sure that his encounters with his grandson were kept to a minimum. At first, Jung-kook glimpsed Taemin from afar, content to be within the vicinity, observing him playing marbles in the school playground when he was little.
Then time passed and Jung-kook's curiosity grew. A few words turned into conversations, but still Jung-kook hesitated. It would become dangerous if his attachment towards Taemin developed more than what was necessary. So he appeared as a caring teacher, instead of a doting grandfather, keeping his grandson at arm's length. Although lately he noticed Taemin seeking his company more frequently than before, often to get some advice, or listen to some stories, or merely just to spend time together.
Despite Jung-kook's fondness for the lad, he realized that the lesser Taemin learned about his life, the better it would be. The last thing he needed was for Taemin to bring him up as a topic of conversation during a family dinner. Then his ruse would be blown, and the only part that tied him to his daughter and Taehyung would be gone.
So when Taemin requested a private audience with him, Jung-kook assumed it would be something serious. He wasn't sure what it was about, but he was afraid to find out.
"You promised last time you'd listen to me," Taemin confronted him now, standing by the doorway to his office.
"I know, Taemin, but if it's something important, don't you think it's better to speak to your family about it?"
"Yes, but they barely have time for me, and I also respect your opinion. You're practically like family."
The irony of that sentence, Jung-kook thought. What would Taemin feel if he knew the truth, that speaking to him now was his grandfather? Usually, people find out about a child or a sibling they didn't realize existed, not a decrepit old man who had been shunned. Would Taemin forgive him for his deceit or embrace him?
Jung-kook mulled over his predicament, but the sad look on his grandson's face persuaded him.
"Alright, come in and close the door."
Taemin flashed a bright smile and threw his weight on the chair across the table.
"So what is it you've been dying to tell me?"
The boy's eyes flickered around the room, but finally settled on an invisible spot on the floor.
"Ssaem, don't get mad when I tell you this, but I think I'm gay."
