Unchosen

Chapter :01

"Please marry my son, Jungkook."

Wait. Hold on. Did Jungkook hear the right words? That couldn't be it. There was no way his uncle had just asked him to marry his son. For a few seconds, Jungkook simply stared at the man lying on the hospital bed, almost expecting him to laugh and reveal that it had been nothing more than a ridiculous joke. But Kim Han-sok didn't laugh. He remained completely serious, his tired eyes fixed on Jungkook as the faint afternoon light slipped through the half-closed curtains and fell across the white sheets. His body looked painfully thin beneath the hospital gown, an IV line was secured to the back of his hand, and the monitor beside him continued its quiet, steady beeping. It was difficult to reconcile this frail man with the uncle Jungkook had known all his life.

Kim Han-sok was their neighbour and his father's best friend. Their houses stood side by side, and their families had lived together like one extended family for as long as Jungkook could remember. In fact, Han-sok and Jungkook's father had been neighbours and friends before Jungkook was even born. Jungkook had grown up running between their two houses, eating meals at Han-sok's table, playing in his yard, and listening to the two older men argue over the most meaningless things before laughing together moments later. Han-sok had been one of the people who spoiled Jungkook more than his own father ever did. There wasn't a single childhood wish Jungkook could remember that the older man hadn't tried to fulfil. If Jungkook wanted a toy, Han-sok bought it. If he wanted some ridiculous snack his mother wouldn't let him have, Han-sok secretly gave it to him. If he wanted to go somewhere, Han-sok was usually the first person to offer to take him. Jungkook had grown up knowing that if he asked his uncle for something, there was a good chance he would hear yes. And now, lying in a hospital bed with fourth-stage blood cancer eating away at his body, that same man was asking Jungkook to marry his son.

Jungkook slowly lifted his eyes toward his parents. His father stood near the foot of the bed, his expression unusually solemn, while his mother sat quietly beside him with both hands clasped together. Neither of them looked amused. Neither looked surprised enough. That realization made Jungkook's stomach tighten, but he refused to believe what was happening and looked back at Han-sok before letting out a short, disbelieving laugh.

"Stop joking around, Uncle. It's not the time to joke."

Han-sok didn't smile.

Jungkook's laughter died almost immediately. He stared at the older man for another few seconds before his eyebrows pulled together.

"Are you serious?"

"I am."

Jungkook straightened in his chair, disbelief quickly turning into irritation. "Did you lose your mind? How could you even say that?"

"Please, Jungkook."

"That's not possible."

The refusal came without hesitation. Jungkook couldn't understand how the conversation had even reached this point. He had only come to visit Han-sok because the man had been admitted to the hospital a week earlier. His blood cancer had already reached the fourth stage, and the doctors had been honest with the family about his condition. There was no guarantee how long he would live, and Jungkook knew that. He knew his uncle was dying, which was exactly why he had finally come after avoiding the hospital for weeks. His parents had repeatedly told him to visit, but he had always found some excuse-university classes, assignments, exams, anything that could keep him from facing the uncomfortable reality of seeing a man he had known his entire life slowly becoming weaker. Today, however, he had finally run out of excuses. He had come expecting a quiet visit, perhaps a conversation about old memories or his university life, but instead he had barely sat down before being asked to marry - Kim Taehyung.