The dinner table is filled with eery silence. The clanging of pots and pans are the only sounds filling the quiet dining room. Even Shaun doesn't make any gurgling sounds. His big eyes roam around the room. It's almost as if he can sense the tension.
Soa enters the room, hair cascading down her back. She meets the eyes of her mother who takes in her untidy state, but mentions no word. Her sharp gaze causes Soa to pull the hair into a makeshift bun. It's still not the pristine hairstyle her mother wants, but it's enough to take her eyes off.
"Where have you been, Kim Soa?" Her father asks, stern expression gracing his features. He looks like Namjoon when he stares at her like that. She ignores his stare, opting to reach for an empty plate.
"With Jeongguk, Father."
His face falls at her response. "Atleast you had the decency to show up at work this morning."
She doesn't reply to that. Her face instead meet the curious gaze of Namjoon. He's sat staring at her, monolid eyes taking in her appearance with question. She smiles at him, not sure what else she's supposed to do. Namjoon is always wary and assuming. His sharp gaze rakes over her face in search of something. She has no idea what he's looking for.
Beside him Yejin eats, but there's no hiding the fact that she'd rather be anywhere but here. She's the only one eating the food and Soa wants to smile at her innocence. It's cute.
"I don't know how you do it," Her mother laughs, throwing her hands into the air. It's abrupt, sharp and catches everyone's attention like she always does. Her ringing voice adding noise to the quiet dinner. "Your father and I were worried sick about you. Yet, here you are, unbothered as always. Reeking of lust and intimacy."
Taehyung mumbles a soft "Lust?" beside his sister. Seokjin loses his bored expression. The baby in his arms no longer his point of interest. Namjoon looks surprised. He thought things, but clearly his mother jumped far ahead. Even his father chokes on his wine, spraying red all over his white shirt.
Soa stills, her head turning toward her mother. "Can we please have a normal supper? Whatever you're smelling is not me. Maybe it's Namjoon."
Her brother blanches, choking on air as if he's still pure. Jin smiles behind Shaun receiving a glare from Fei.
"Soa-"
"You expect me to believe that all you did was sleep last night?" Her mother persists, banging a fist on the table.
It's dramatic really. Coming home to argue with her mother like some hormonal teenager every single day of her life. It's also tiring. She knew the butterflies she had been feeling all afternoon, thanks to Jeongguk, were only seasonal. Being home always chased them away.
"Seohyun, this is highly inappropriate to be discussing at the dinner table." Her grandmother cuts in, sending daggers toward her daughter in law. It's a sight they're all used to. The day the two get along is as unlikely as Jimin choosing a life of celibacy.
"Like I said earlier, Mother, I'm not the one you're smelling. You have three incredibly active sons, please assume the stench of lust and intimacy to be one of them."
-
The siblings are sat in the garden, Jin still nursing his son. Taehyung is picking at random flowers while Namjoon takes sips from a bottle of alcohol. Soa is sat leaning against Namjoon, her hair loosely hanging around her shoulders. If her mother were to see her now, she'd lose it.
"I don't understand how you've managed to make up so easily. You sued him for millions of dollars." Namjoon breathes out, still in shock.
Taehyung hums from his position, "It's company policy. Were we supposed to let it go because he's more than a business partner?"
Jin stands up, bouncing Shaun in his arms, the baby still fighting sleep. "Yeah, I remember Fei suing for a million and you almost lost it. What's changed since then?"
Soa shrugs, nothing has changed. Fei sued for an unreasonable amount. Even now she'd still put up a fight against it. Especially knowing how much money had been lost due to her marriage with Seokjin. One million was milking it.
Besides that, when filing the lawsuit against Jeongguk, it wasn't anything business related. If anything it was purely personal. "Jeongguk deserved it. You didn't."
The statement causes all of them to turn to their sister. Namjoon frowns, "Your fiance deserved a lawsuit?"
Jin laughs, reminding her about all the lessons he's taught her about ethical business practices. Suing people out of revenge was never condoned. Especially not if you were supposedly in love with the person. It's unfair and unethical. "Pure robbery," is what he calls it.
"It was going to happen either way. Company policy and all." Taehyung shrugs to which Jin shakes his head. He plays into his sisters plan, knowing exactly what's been going on.
"She just admitted to doing it for personal reasons! How can you still defend her?" He's loud now, no humour in his face or voice. He's passing them both with his stare like he used to back when he still ran the show.
Namjoon watches the eye contact between Soa and Taehyung. One of understanding and secrecy. He knows that look well enough to know that they're hiding something. They had it when they used to steal cookies as kids, sneak out as teenagers and even now they still have an unmatched relationship of covering up for each other. He knows that look.
Taehyung shrugs, "Maybe I think he deserved it-"
"Cut the crap. What happened?" Namjoon cuts in.
They communicate with their eyes again. Blank expressions marking both of their faces and Namjoon knows they've been trained for years. Conditioned each other into this way of speaking. It's why they've managed to make a success of the company, but it's also why they get away with a lot more than he and Jin used to.
"Is he cheating on you?" Jin jumps to conclusions. Taehyung tells him to take his baby into the house. Something about the air being cold. Namjoon sees through it.
Jin obliges, quick steps toward the mansion.
Now they're only three and Namjoon knows they're going to tell him. Ever since Jin got married, they've kept him out of the loop on a lot of things. This is just another one of those things.
"Jeongguk's parents kicked him out."
It's a simple line, but Namjoon gets it. He'd seen the media rave about it. Heard his parents complain about him losing his wealth in due time. They didn't really care, just mentioned it to try and stop Soa.
"How does that relate to your lawsuit?" He asks, turning to gaze over her appearance again. In search of a reason. Soa just pats his shoulder. He's always been the most innocent and unsuspecting.
"I did it as a coverup. Gloria would've been in my office had I not and Mr Jeon senior needs to pay up. We just lost two affiliates because of his childish actions." She scoffs, throwing her hair back. The light breeze catches it and frames her face again. Namjoon frowns at the calm look marking her features. "I suspect they're firing him in a few days."
"You don't know that." Namjoon cuts in. "And if so, why the hell are you still pushing for marriage? Clearly they're letting him go soon."
"His grandfather thinks he's smart. We just had to sue him to retain the power. His ass deserved it." Taehyung drawls, sighing as he falls back onto the lawn. "They should still get married though. Jeongguk deserves that."
Namjoon stares at the two in shock. "Do you realise how evil you sound conspiring like this? This is so toxic, yet you make it sound like some romance novel?"
Soa flicks his forehead, a sad smile on her face, "We grew up in an evil world. Would be sad if we didn't atleast get to participate in some of it and besides, I'm helping Jeongguk. He's going to need that money."
Namjoon chokes on his spit. Soa being comfortable with evil and unethical behaviour is a first. Where is the girl who tried to stop him from getting married? The girl who always defended being fair and equal.
He's been away for a few months and of course people do change over a period of time, but this is drastic. Both Taehyung and Soa stare at him with solemn expressions.
"You're telling me you did all of this for Jeongguk?"
She hums, "I'd do it for you too. Now stop looking so surprised and don't tell Guk." She stands, pulling her hair over her shoulder.
He watches in awe as she marches into their home, yelling something about heading to Jimin. Of course it's not for Park Jimin. More for the fiance she's out doing illegal business for. Taehyung chuckles, taking the seat beside him.
"Admit it," He laughs, "You're impressed by her brains."
Namjoon nods, "Our baby sister might just be the smartest person I know."
-
Thank you for still being here. ❤️