♡ ̆̈ 𝐀 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞
Author’s Note: Hey everyoneeee!! 🫶 What a quick update compared to before lmfaoo. Please feel free to comment your thoughts and opinions! 💬💗 Enjoy! ✨📖
word count: 6k
🏠︎ ⬅ ➡
🔔 Chapter Six— Bells
“I didn’t know we still had this…” you said softly as you looked down at the dress lying across your lap.
Your mother's wedding dress.
Your fingers traced the lace around the neckline and sleeves, noticing the small stitches that had come undone over the years. Being compressed inside a suitcase had done its own damage to what had once been a beautiful white gown. Now, the dress that had probably cost hundreds, if not thousands, was covered in a light yellow discoloration.
A part of you felt bitter. How could a dress that was as expensive as it was end up like this? Being packed away shouldn't have caused it to discolor... right?
“Sweetheart... it's a beautiful dress, but I'm sure your mother would have wanted you to get a new one,” Mrs. Jeon said softly, placing a gentle hand on your shoulder.
Mrs. Jeon had brought the dress out for you to see. She wanted you to know it was still there, hoping it might inspire you while searching for your own wedding dress. Every dress you tried on the other day wasn’t it. Too tight, too long, too loose, too folk like. Nothing fit, nothing worked and you started to feel helpless.
Mrs.Jeon could tell you were tired and so she wanted to show you the dress, see if it could bring any ideas to what you want in mind.
Seul couldn't take her eyes off you. She could tell you were struggling. Old memories had resurfaced, pulling you back to a place that should have felt light, yet somehow only felt heavy.
“My mom would want me to get a new dress. I know that for sure,” you said quietly before letting out a single chuckle. “Her dress... isn't my dream, and she never wanted me to build myself around who she was. She wanted me to be my own person.”
She had always encouraged you to embrace who you were and never feel limited by life.
Which was a little ironic, considering hers had been cut so short.
Again.
There it was.
That bitter thought.
“But my parents aren't here on my wedding day...” you continued as your eyes slowly filled with tears. “It's stupid, but I feel like... wearing this dress would make me feel like she's here.”
Silence settled over the room, broken only by the quiet sound of your sniffles.
“I think we should custom make a dress.”
Seul's voice interrupted your thoughts.
Mrs. Jeon and you both turned to look at her. Your eyes were already filled with tears, while Mrs. Jeon's were fighting to keep hers from falling.
“It's such a beautiful dress, but... I don't think it's you,” Seul continued. “I think you should use this dress to make a new one. One that's you, but still has Aunt Haeji with you. Maybe use the lace and some of the silk.”
She knew you well enough to know that this idea was perfect for you.
But why hadn't you thought of it?
“That's perfect,” you said, looking over at Mrs. Jeon before offering an almost fragile smile. “I think I want to do that.”
You hoped she wouldn't mind you altering the dress.
“Yeah... I think that's a wonderful idea,” Mrs. Jeon replied softly before getting to her feet. “I actually have a tailor I can call to get everything started.”
You quickly wiped your tears before looking down at the dress again.
But this time, only one thought filled your mind.
"Hah..."
The quiet sound caught Seul's attention.
“You okay?” she asked, leaning forward.
“Yeah... it's just...” You turned toward her before continuing. “I went through all the clothes and... I never saw this dress. Where was it?”
You didn't really expect her to know the answer.
The surprising part was...
She did.
“Well... that day we were all packing, Jungkook found the dress in one of the suitcases. He took it to Mrs. Jeon. He thought maybe you'd want to consider wearing it.”
You blinked.
“But... Why not just show me? Or ask me? And how do you know this?”
Questions spilled out one after another.
“I'm not sure why he didn't tell you,” Seul admitted. “But I know because I saw him carrying the suitcase out. I asked him what it was, and he said it was your mom's wedding dress. He thought it'd be safer here.”
She gestured around the large house.
You hummed softly as you thought back to that day.
To his quiet gestures. To how naturally considerate he seemed. In a strange way, it warmed your heart. He had put the dress aside for you. Because if you really thought back to that day, you probably would have donated it.
Not because you didn't love it.
But because every time you looked at it, it reminded you that while your parents had chosen each other freely, you never felt like you had been given that same choice. Now that the idea of your choices settled, you could look at the dress more clearly and want to keep it. Even the remnants that will come after you create your own.
──────────────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───────────────────
“Hey... Dad's asking if you want eggs.”
The voice that pulled you from your thoughts belonged to none other than Seul.
Yesterday, you had decided to stay at Uncle Jae's house. It made the most sense. He would be walking you down the aisle today, and Seul was your maid of honor. Being close to them felt comforting, and somehow, spending the night there had helped you slow down and breathe.
You thought the nerves were gone. You were wrong. The closer today came, the more nauseous you felt.
“Yeah, sorry. I'm coming,” you replied, getting to your feet before making your way to the dining table, where your aunt and uncle were already waiting.
You smiled at them before taking a seat and reaching for the kettle in front of you, pouring yourself a cup of tea.
“Big day today...” Aunt Nina said as she sat beside you, placing a few slices of toast onto your plate.
You couldn't help but laugh, shaking your head as you looked down at the table.
“Yeah... a little too big,” you joked.
“Listen... I know all of this is nerve wracking, but it'll go well. I'm sure this marriage will be one of the best things to happen to you,” she whispered softly as she stroked your hair before placing a gentle kiss against your temple.
You turned toward your aunt and smiled warmly.
You knew her optimism came from experience. She had arranged to marry your uncle.
Well... somewhat.
Their story had always been a little gray.
The two families had known each other for years, and everyone understood they were meant to marry one another someday. Naturally, feelings developed. After all, who else were you supposed to like at ten years old when you already knew you were expected to marry your father's friend's son?
“Thanks...” was all you managed to say.
There simply weren't any other words left.
At this point, everything you had been feeling had already been shared with someone else. You were exhausted from the emotional back and forth, from feeling okay one minute only to spiral the next.
“And if things don't work out, then I can just move in with you and Jungkook,” Seul joked as she placed the eggs in front of you before sitting down beside you. “I'll create the divide.”
You rolled your eyes playfully before taking a bite of your breakfast.
“Besides all the joking, we have a lot to do today,” Uncle Jae said as he took the last remaining seat at the table. “We have a wedding to prepare for.”
“Yes, but sweetheart, you focus on yourself,” Aunt Nina added encouragingly. “Getting ready. Making sure everything is okay.”
You nodded in response before taking a bite of your toast.
“So... is Mrs. Jeon coming today?” Seul asked, choosing her words carefully. “To help you get ready?”
“I don't think so,” you replied with a shrug. “I mean, I told her I didn't need help getting ready. I have you guys, so... yeah.”
You weren't entirely sure whether Mrs. Jeon planned on stopping by.
You were like a daughter to her, and everyone knew it.
While everyone felt a little uneasy about the arrangement and the circumstances surrounding your marriage, Mrs. Jeon seemed almost over the moon.
At least, that's how your family saw it.
Not in a bad way. Just in the sense that she had never hidden how excited she was. You didn't mind.
Seul did.
Ever since you returned home, Seul couldn't shake the feeling that Mrs. Jeon unintentionally acted as though you no longer had family.
Yes, your parents have passed away.
But you still had people who loved you.
They were sitting around this very table.
To Seul, it sometimes felt like her family was being overlooked, as though they weren't an important part of your life.
“You okay?” you asked, noticing that Seul had drifted off into her own thoughts.
“Huh? What?”
She blinked before quickly shaking herself out of it.
“You're the one zoning out this time.”
“Yeah... sorry.” She smiled sheepishly. “I guess it's just nice having you to ourselves today.”
“That is true,” Aunt Nina chimed in with a nod.
You knew everyone was on good terms.
But there was still a quiet bitterness lingering beneath the surface, simply because you had been placed under Mr. and Mrs. Jeon's guardianship all those years ago.
If there was one thing you were grateful for, though, it was that no one had ever taken those feelings out on anyone else.
They accepted the situation for what it was and chose to move forward with grace.
Which was exactly why you encouraged Mrs. Jeon to stay with Jungkook today.
To focus on her son instead of worrying about you.
Because you were home too. You were surrounded by family.
And somehow...
Both places still felt like home.
──────────────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───────────────────
“Now remember, son, you need to finish organizing all the files by tonight and email me the presentation for the conference, alright?” Mrs. Jeon said as she grabbed her keys from the side table in the Han house.
Your house.
“And remember to finish your book report and essay too, okay? Good grades will take you a long way,” she added as she slipped on her heels and headed toward the door after saying goodbye to your mother, Haeji.
Jungkook was staying over at your parents' house for a few days. He would be sleeping in the guest room while his parents attended a work conference alongside your father, Jihoon.
“Yeah, I'll make sure everything gets done,” he replied, as respectful as ever, before bidding his parents goodbye.
Haeji walked over to Jungkook and placed a gentle hand on the sixteen year old's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze before waving goodbye to her husband.
“Ugh... those two,” she muttered, rolling her eyes.
Jungkook turned toward her with a small smile, already knowing exactly what she was about to say.
“It's too much, son. All this homework you have to do, and they're piling company work on top of it? Come on, let's get dinner ready,” she said, leading him toward the dining table where his textbook and laptop already sat open.
“Y/N! Come downstairs!” she called toward the second floor as she set three plates onto the dining table, which was already covered with small side dishes waiting to be eaten.
“Coming!” you yelled back.
Haeji brought over the bowls of rice, the bulgogi, and the kimchi jjigae before helping Jungkook close his textbook and laptop. She carefully carried them over to the kitchen island to clear some space on the table.
“It looks really good, Mrs. Han!” he said, looking down at the food, his stomach practically rumbling with anticipation.
“Well, you better eat a lot! Growing boys need lots of muscle, so eat plenty of meat, okay?” she said as she placed a generous serving of bulgogi onto Jungkook's plate before serving your own.
“Oh... you're here?” you asked as you walked into the dining room, taking a seat beside your mother.
“Yeah. My parents and your dad went to a conference, so I'm staying here for a few days,” Jungkook replied before taking a bite of the bulgogi with some rice.
“Cool! Where's Junghyun?” you asked, looking around as if expecting him to suddenly appear from another room.
“He's at university sweetheart. Remember?” your mother reminded you as she finally took her seat.
You nodded slowly, not really remembering, but accepting that your mother had probably told you at some point.
“Hm... I forgot.”
Haeji smiled to herself before turning back to Jungkook.“Jungkook, I can help you with your book report after dinner, okay?” she offered.
It wasn't really an offer. She already knew what his answer was going to be. Just as you were like a daughter to Mrs. Jeon, Jungkook had become like a son to her.
“It's okay, Mrs. Han. I don't want to bother you,” Jungkook replied politely, exactly as she expected.
“Nonsense,” she dismissed with a wave of her hand. “It's only a book report. It'll go by much faster if we do it together.”
Jungkook couldn't help but smile.
“Thanks, Mrs. Han.”
“You're welcome, sweetheart. Now eat before everything gets cold.”
He nodded obediently before taking another bite, earning a satisfied smile from Haeji as she finally began eating too.
"How many hours did your mom give you today?" Haeji asked as she scooped another spoonful of rice into her bowl.
Jungkook thought about it for a moment. "I have to finish the presentation, organize the client files, write my essay, and my book report."
Haeji finally took her seat, setting her bowl down as she looked at Jungkook, one brow raised.
"You're sixteen."
Jungkook blinked, unsure how to respond.
"You're supposed to be stressing over exams and after school programs, not presentations."
He let out a quiet laugh. "Dad says it's better to learn now."
"Your father means well," she replied gently. "But don't grow up too fast. Focus on making the basketball team. I know how much you love playing."
Jungkook smiled to himself.
"Actually... I made the team last week."
"You did?" Haeji's eyes lit up.
"And..." he scratched the back of his neck, looking a little embarrassed. "They made me captain."
You looked up from your bowl immediately.
"Captain? Really?" you asked, your eyes widening. Even though sports had never been your thing, you knew that was a big deal. Especially after you hadn't made the soccer team and spent weeks pouting about it.
Haeji's face broke into the proudest smile.
"Jungkook, that's wonderful!" she said, genuinely excited. "Congratulations, sweetheart."
He couldn't help but smile back.
"Did you tell your mom and dad yet?" she asked.
The smile on his face faded just a little.
"No." He looked down at his bowl, pushing his rice around with his chopsticks. "Dad doesn't really want me doing too many extracurriculars. He wants me to focus on my grades, so... they don't even know I'm playing basketball."
The table fell quiet for a moment.
Haeji reached across the table and gently patted the back of his hand.
"I'm really proud of you," she said softly. "Not because you're captain, but because I know how hard you've worked for it."
Jungkook looked up at her, surprised.
"You deserve to enjoy being sixteen too."
A small smile found its way back onto his face.
"So..." Haeji said with a playful grin, lowering her voice dramatically. "Until you're ready to tell your parents..."
She made a zipper motion across her lips.
"My lips are sealed."
You immediately gasped.
"Mom! You're helping him keep secrets?"
She laughed.
"I'm helping him celebrate first.
──────────────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───────────────────
People didn't know it, and they certainly couldn't see it, but when your parents passed away, a part of Jungkook died too.
There were many times when he looked at your mother as his own. Sometimes, if he was honest with himself, even more than his own.
Haeji helped him with his homework, reminded him to eat properly, and always asked about his hopes and dreams. She wanted to know what made him happy, what he wanted to do when he grew up, but most importantly, what kind of person he hoped to become. It was a kind of care he wasn't used to.
His own parents loved him. There was never any doubt about that. But their love often came in the form of expectations. Good grades. Company work. Preparing him for the future. The future that was already decided for him.
Haeji simply wanted him to be happy.
When he was home, there was also Ms. Kim, the family's longtime housekeeper. She fussed over him just as much, making sure he had eaten, reminding him to rest, and quietly taking care of him in ways that often went unnoticed.
Jungkook loved his mother.
He always would.
But sometimes he wondered if he would ever have the same sense of comfort and security with her that he felt with Haeji or even Ms. Kim.
When your parents died, Jungkook grieved in silence. He cried when no one was looking. He missed them terribly.
But more than anything, he had to stay strong.
Strong for his own mother.
Mrs. Jeon had stopped eating properly. Some days she barely left her room, and others she simply sat in silence, staring into nothing. Losing two of her closest friends had broken something inside her.
So Jungkook buried his own grief.
If his mother was falling apart, then he had to be the one to keep her together.
Even if it meant carrying his own heartbreak alone.
──────────────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───────────────────
Jungkook took one last look around the house before slipping the keys into his pocket.
It still smelled new.
Fresh paint, polished hardwood floors, untouched furniture. Every room looked as though it had come straight from a catalogue, waiting for someone to finally make it feel lived in.
He had bought the house only a few weeks ago. Not because he needed a new place to live. Because if the two of you were going to start a life together, he wanted it to be somewhere that belonged to both of you. Somewhere neither of you had memories tied to. A fresh start.
His eyes wandered back toward the master bedroom.
The double bed he had originally ordered had been exchanged for a queen. A second dresser now stood opposite his, and nearly half of the walk in closet sat empty, waiting for your clothes.
It felt... strange.
Not in a bad way.
Just unfamiliar.
For the first time in his life, he had to think about someone else's routines. Someone else's belongings. Someone else's comfort. The realization made everything feel a little more real.
He stepped out into the hallway, passing neatly stacked boxes filled with kitchenware, decorations, and little things that still needed to be unpacked after the wedding.
Junghyun was waiting near the front door, scrolling through his phone until he looked up.
"You done?"
Jungkook nodded.
"I just wanted to make sure everything was ready." Junghyun glanced around the empty house before smiling.
"It looks good."
"I hope she likes it. But then again, if she wants to, she can change whatever she wants"
His brother looked at him knowingly. "I'm sure she will. Women always want to add their touch. Or make sure yours isn’t seen" He joked, letting out a laugh.
Jungkook let out a quiet breath and looked back toward the bedroom one last time. "I don't even know if she's going to sleep in there tonight."
Junghyun chuckled. "That's your biggest concern?" He asked, raising a brow.
"I mean..." Jungkook rubbed the back of his neck. "We're getting married today, but we weren’t ever together romantically so... I don't want her to feel uncomfortable."
"So what are you going to do?"
"If she'd rather have the room to herself..." He shrugged. "I'll take one of the guest rooms. There's no rush."
Junghyun smiled to himself. "See? That's why I knew you'd make the right decision."
Jungkook frowned. "What does that mean?"
"You've been thinking about what she needs from the very beginning."
──────────────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───────────────────
“Oh... everything's just...” Sunhee whimpered softly, her voice catching in her throat before she could finish. Fresh tears welled in her eyes as she looked around the familiar home.
It had been two years since the Han family's accident.
A year earlier, you had moved to Toronto to start a new life. Knowing you had no plans to return anytime soon, Mrs. Jeon, Sunhee, had taken it upon herself to begin sorting through the Han house. Donating what could be donated, packing away what should be kept, and slowly preparing the house to be emptied.
No one had stepped foot inside since the day your parents died.
Everything had been left exactly as it was.
The framed family photos still rested on the shelves. Your father's reading glasses remained on the coffee table beside the newspaper he never got to finish. Your mother's cardigan still hung neatly over the back of one of the dining chairs.
It was as if they had simply stepped outside and forgotten to come home.
Sunhee's breathing grew uneven. Silent sobs escaped her lips as she sank to her knees, burying her face in her hands.
Jungkook looked down at his mother while his father gently rubbed circles against her back, trying to comfort her. Junghyun stood quietly nearby, his eyes wandering around the house, unable to find the right words.
Jungkook felt his own throat tighten. He held back the tears threatening to fall.
His mother was hurting. He needed to stay strong for her.
“It... it's all the same,” Sunhee whispered through her tears. “Everything's exactly the same.”
Jungkook closed his eyes for just a second. One tear escaped despite his efforts. He quickly wiped it away before anyone noticed and quietly lowered himself onto the dusty couch.
The silence stretched for several minutes. Eventually, Sunhee managed to steady herself. She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her cardigan, before taking a shaky breath, and giving a small nod.
“Let's... let's start packing.”
Her husband silently opened one of the empty cardboard boxes they had brought with them, folding the flaps into place before handing another to Junghyun.
Jungkook looked around the house once more.
Something about this felt wrong.
His eyes drifted from the boxes to the photographs on the wall. To your mother's favorite vase sitting by the window. To the staircase that led to your bedroom.
His chest tightened. ‘What are we doing?’
He understood why his mother wanted to help. He really did. But ‘Shouldn't this be Uncle Jae's decision?’ His gaze lingered on the staircase. ‘Or more importantly...Y/N's?’
Jungkook stood up, clearing his throat to catch his family's attention before making his way toward his parents.
"We shouldn't be doing this," he said quietly.
Sunhee looked up at him, confusion written across her face. "What do you mean?" she asked.
Jungkook glanced around the house before gesturing toward it."This... isn't our place." He paused, searching for the right words.
"This isn't our home. And as much as they were family..." His voice softened. "There are other people who should be doing this before us."
His father frowned. "Don't be ridiculous, son. If someone else wanted to empty the house, they would have. No one stepped in."
Jungkook knew where his father was coming from. He wasn't being insensitive. He was trying to protect his wife from carrying this burden alone.
"I know," Jungkook said gently. "Maybe they're just... not ready." He looked back toward the staircase. "But forget Uncle Jae." He swallowed. "What about Y/N?"
Silence settled over the room once again.
Junghyun lowered his gaze, unsure whether he should say anything.
Jungkook continued. "I know she's not planning on coming back and I know being here probably reminds her of the worst day of her life." His eyes wandered across the family photographs still hanging on the walls. "But that doesn't take away her right to say goodbye."
His voice dropped to almost a whisper. "Or decide what happens to her home."
Junghyun finally spoke. "Jungkook's right." Agreeing with Jungkook, he stepped towards him and gave a slight squeeze to his shoulder.
"What if one day she comes back?" Jungkook asked. "What if she wants to keep some things? What if she wants to live here? We should give her that choice."He shrugged. "We can't make that decision for her."
Then, after a brief moment of silence, Junghyun added with a grin, "And... I'm pretty sure it's borderline illegal with the whole will situation."
The comment earned a small laugh from both of their parents, breaking some of the heaviness in the room.
Sunhee looked around the house once more. Her eyes landed on Haeji's cardigan still hanging over the dining chair. She slowly set the cardboard box back down."You know what..." she whispered, wiping away another tear. "You're right."
Mr. Jeon looked around the room before giving a quiet nod. "We'll leave everything exactly as it is."
He wasn't preserving a house. He was preserving a memory.
Because if Haeji had left anything precious behind...It was you.
This was about making sure that when you were ready...You could come home one last time. .
──────────────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───────────────────
“You look beautiful…” Jae said, tears welling up in his eyes as he looked at you fully dressed, make up down and hair made.
You looked exactly as your mother did when she was getting married and he felt like he was taken back in time.
You slowly lifted your gaze to the mirror.
For a moment, you didn't recognize the woman staring back at you.
The gown seemed to catch the day light, its layers of soft ivory tulle falling effortlessly to the floor in a full, flowing skirt that moved with the slightest shift of your body. It was elegant without feeling overwhelming, almost as though it had been made to float rather than walk.
The bodice hugged your waist before blooming into the skirt, its sheer illusion fabric embroidered with delicate floral lace that climbed gracefully across your torso and sleeves. Tiny petals and embroidered vines stretched over your shoulders and down your arms, the intricate details making the dress feel timeless rather than extravagant.
Your fingers brushed over one of the embroidered blossoms near your waist. Some of the lace had been carefully taken from your mother's wedding dress.
The tailor had preserved every piece he could, weaving it seamlessly into the new gown. It wasn't immediately obvious to anyone else, but you knew exactly where those pieces were. A section of lace along the sleeves. Tiny fragments of silk hidden beneath the layers of tulle.
“I…yea I look pretty good.” You aligned softly, turning back and seeing your friends smiling widely as Seul realigned the veil, fixing it for you.
Your uncle took a tissue from nearby and pressed it gently against his lower lid as he tried to contain himself. The little girl who he watched crawl, walk, run and had moments of being a menace, she was grown. Getting married and he couldn’t be happier for her. Knowing Jungkook, who he was. Your uncle knew he was right for you even if you couldn't see it yourself.
“Oh my gosh, this dress is stunning and you just look gorgeous” Maya said as came closer to give you a gentle hug and shortly after Jennifer joined as well, making it a gentle and light group hug. No one wanted to ruin the beautiful dress or crinkle it.
“Sorry to interrupt but it’s time!” The wedding coordinator interrupted, as they knocked on the door.
It was time. You were ready. Almost at least.
You took one last look at your dress and thought back, back to your mother.
──────────────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───────────────────
A warm summer afternoon. The smell of freshly cut grass drifting through the open kitchen window. Your mother hummed quietly to herself as she folded laundry.
Then, without looking up, she smiled and said, "Everything happens for a reason, sweetheart."
You had groaned dramatically. "Mom... that's such an old person thing to say."
Haeji laughed. "Maybe." She folded another towel before looking at you. "But when life falls apart, don't spend all your time wishing it hadn't."
She reached over and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear. "Take a breath." Her smile was as gentle as ever. "Then start picking up the pieces."
──────────────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───────────────────
"Sweetheart? "It's time." Uncle jae said, a small smile plastered to his face as the girls behind him smiled warmly in encouragement.
You nodded slightly and hooked your arm with his. Getting ready to walk down the aisle.
──────────────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───────────────────
Jungkook stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve for what felt like the tenth time. The suit fit perfectly. Everything did.
The tie, the watch, the polished shoes.
Yet none of it settled the nervousness sitting in his chest.
His fingers paused over the cufflink. Almost instinctively, his mind wandered back years earlier.
──────────────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───────────────────
"Mom?"
The kitchen was quiet except for the gentle bubbling of doenjang jjigae on the stove. Sunhee looked up from where she was chopping vegetables. "Hm?"
Seventeen year old Jungkook leaned against the doorway, his school blazer slung over one shoulder.
"Can I ask you something?"
She smiled immediately. "When have you ever needed permission?"
He let out a quiet laugh before stepping into the kitchen. "Dad keeps saying that one day I'll be the man of the house."
Sunhee paused what she was doing. "And?"
"What does that even mean?" He shrugged, asking. This was something his father often said to him and Jungkook didn’t quite understand why he kept saying it and what it exactly meant. "Does it mean I have to make the most money?"
She smiled, holding herself from laughing at the naive young boy who was curious but dense at the same time. "No."
"Then... does it mean I have to take over the company?"
She shook and nodded her head at the same time.
"No.. and yes. There’s going to be a day where you'll take over but that’s not what your father means."
Jungkook frowned. "Then what is it?" He asked, sitting down on the bar stool, leaning against the counter of his mothers kitchen.
Sunhee set the knife down before turning fully toward her son. "It means people should feel safe because you're there."
Jungkook looked at her, confused.
"I don't mean physically. A man doesn't become the head of a family because he's the loudest. He becomes someone people can lean on."
She smiled softly. "Someone who listens before he speaks."
She reached up, brushing a loose strand of hair from his forehead. "Someone who protects without making people feel weak."
Jungkook stayed quiet.
Sunhee chuckled at the young boy who still and clearly didn’t understand.
"You know..." she said. "Your father thought being the man of the house meant carrying every burden by himself." She glanced toward the living room where Mr. Jeon was reading. "It took him years to realize he didn't have to."
“Well you both seem to carry the burden. You both are stressed all the time!” He said, rolling his eyes jokingly.
She laughed softly and shook her head, “we’re not! But what your father means to say…when you get married” She smiled knowingly. "...don't think your job is to lead your wife. It's to walk beside her."
Silence settled between them.
Before she took a seat next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, continuing "You don't have to solve every problem. You don't have to pretend you're never scared. You just have to make sure she never feels like she's facing those problems alone."
Jungkook sat quietly, letting her words settle. He understood them. At least, he thought he did.
But he was still just a seventeen year old boy.
Marriage felt like something that belonged in the distant future, a life so far away that he could not picture it. His mother's words were comforting, but they were also difficult to grasp when he had never loved someone, never built a home with another person, and had never carried that kind of responsibility.
So he simply nodded, tucking her advice away somewhere in the back of his mind.
"Now, enough of all this." She lightly flicked his forehead. "Go finish your homework before your father thinks I've turned you into a philosopher."
Jungkook laughed. "Yes, ma'am."
──────────────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───────────────────
You walked down the aisle, looked around and saw everyone who loved and cared for you. Except two people but you knew they were there.
You looked down the aisle and saw him. Jungkook, standing there. You could tell he was just as nervous as you and for some reason, that made this easier. Made it easier going down that aisle and meeting him.
Uncle Jae and you stopped in front of Jungkook and the minister. They exchanged a quiet look. No words were needed. In Jungkook's eyes, Uncle Jae saw a promise. In your uncle's, Jungkook saw trust. It was enough.
Your uncle lifted your hand, handing it over to Jungkook as you placed your hand over his and held it softly before stepping up to the plaque where the minister began.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the presence of God and these witnesses to join Jungkook and Y/N in holy matrimony. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud... Love never fails.” The officiant said as he gestured to everyone around them and to the young soon to be married couple in front of him.
"Jungkook, do you take Y/N to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live together in holy marriage? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor her, and keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?” He asked, looking over at Jungkook.
Your eyes locked with him as he took a breath and nodded.
“I do.”
"Y/N , do you take Jungkook , to be your lawfully wedded husband , to live together in holy marriage? Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor him, and keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?” He asked once again but this time, to you.
“I do” You said, your voice gentle and shy.
“I understand the two of your prepared vows.” He said, giving Jungkook the floor first.
“We did…but we dont want to say it out loud. We’d prefer to just exchange it to each other for now. ”
Weird, this was a request that the minister or anyone had never heard of. Jungkook and you decided a few weeks back that for your vows, you would exchange them in a form of a letter because that’s what felt right.
“I think that’s beautiful.” The officiant said, giving the two of you the floor, allowing you to turn around to Seul who passed you your neatly folded letter to Jungkook. While Jungkook took out the almost crumbled letter out of his tux pocked to hand to you.
Looking at the state of that letter, you laughed. It was the most boyish thing you’ve seen and it left weird butterflies in your stomach.
The guests laughed along, Jungkook's mother shaking her head as she wiped her tears.
“Can we get the rings?” The officiant asked, to which Jungkook's distant niece handed them the rings that sat on a soft pillow.
Jungkook picked up the ring that was yours and gently slid it on your finger before you had done the same. Proceeding to hold hands.
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride!”
And there it was, your chest back in your throat. You didn't even know what to expect, so you swallowed the lump in your throat as you leaned in. Jungkook did the same.
Instead of your lips, he simply pressed a small kiss against your cheek.
Applause erupted throughout the venue as everyone rose to their feet. Smiles spread across familiar faces. Some wiped away tears. Others laughed quietly through them. They all knew the circumstances that had brought the two of you here. They knew this wasn't the love story either of you had imagined. Yet, as they watched you walk back down the aisle side by side...It somehow felt exactly like the beginning it was always meant to be.
