♡ PARK JIMIN ♡
"Eomma..."
my heart sank. I had completely forgotten that my parents were coming over for dinner. They had missed my birthday and couldn't come, so I wanted to make this evening special for them. But with all the rumors and discussions from yesterday still fresh in my mind, all I could think of was curling up in bed with Y/N and getting some much-needed rest. Just then, Y/N's head snapped towards me with a look of surprise and concern in her eyes.
"why are you standing here?" Appa asked as he approached Eomma but stopped mid-sentence once he spotted me. Our eyes were immediately locked. "Let's continue this conversation inside," he said, placing his hand on Eomma's shoulder and leading her indoors.
As soon as my parents stepped inside, she shut the door behind her with a definitive click. I couldn't help but notice her shirt was all rumpled, likely from the cuddling we had just indulged in. I had my hands inside her shirt, which may have contributed to the state of her clothes. Her hair was an absolute mess - the wildest I'd ever seen it. Her cheeks were slightly puffed from sleep, making her look all the more adorable.
I advanced towards her, my legs trembling with nervousness. I took her dainty hands in mine, feeling the softness of her skin. I turned my head towards our parents, who were seated on the couch, observing our every move. Eomma's gaze fell upon our intertwined hands, and she looked at me with a mixture of feelings.
""Eomma, Appa...um...We'll be back in a minute. Give us five minutes," I said, her hands tightening.
"Go ahead," Appa said, while Eomma's eyes scrutinized Y/N's clothes, making the situation more awkward.
I walked into my room and closed the door. Y/N released a breath she seemed to be holding since seeing my parents.
"Jimin,"
is it okay if I want to burst out laughing right now?
I walk and stand in front of her as she sits on the bed with her legs folded in a crisscross. "yes, baby I'm right here." I said as I approached her.
"How can you be so calm?" she asked. "They are thinking so wrongly about me! Just look at my clothes right now! And look at you! Shirtless! At least wear a shirt now, Mr. Park Jimin!" With that, she threw my shirt at me. I caught it before it hit my face and smiled, putting on the shirt.
"I'm in a messed up situation! How the fuck do I make myself end up in this situation? How? How? How?"
I was so damn ready for this! Her chattering.
"Because of me, because of me, and because of me!" I smoothen her messy hair from my hands. "I have the power to make you end up in this situation where you would be a messy girl standing in front of my parents." I couldn't help but burst out laughing, feeling the thrill of the unknown.
"Do you understand that sounds so bad!"
"I know. I'm sorry." I hug her tightly as she clings to my torso.
"Can you please help me leave this place?" she pleads, gazing up at me with her big, innocent eyes.
"I'm not sure how I can help you leave," I reply, confused. "The only way out is through the living room, but my parents are in there. Do you want to leave without saying hello?" I gently hold her face in my hands.
I asked her sincerely because I didn't want to pressure her into doing something she didn't want to do. In the afternoon, she mentioned that we haven't been together for long, and I think that she doesn't want things to progress too quickly.
I give her a quick kiss on the lips, and every time my mind wanders to the ridiculousness of our situation, I feel the urge to draw closer to her. I know these thoughts are just part of the journey we've embarked on together. We may have started early, but I'm eager to introduce her to my parents.
Seeing the look on my parents' faces earlier, I could tell Eomma would need some time to process everything, but Appa seemed cool with it. As long as I have him on our side, we'll be okay. He can handle Eomma, and Y/N is easy to love. Once Eomma gets to know her, she'll love her too.
"I'm not sure about this," she hesitated before speaking. "Don't you think it's too early? I'm not saying that I don't want to meet them, but we've barely gotten to know each other and now this. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
I let out a sigh.
"I understand, my baby. And regarding our few dates, mind you that you have repeated a lot of times since you came which I'm not like" I said, taking her hands and sitting beside her on the bed. "If it's bothering you that much, we can go on more dates." She immediately shook her head.
""I didn't mean–"
"I know you didn't," I nod as I speak, looking into her eyes.
It was a quiet moment, and we were both lost in our thoughts. She rested her head on my shoulder, and I could feel her breathing slow down. I couldn't help but smile, feeling content and happy.
"I would love to sit with you like this for the rest of my life, baby, but Appa and Eomma are waiting for us," I said to her, breaking the silence. She looked up at me, and I held her cheeks in the palm of my hands. "You want to meet them, right?"
After thinking for a minute, she nodded her head. I smiled, feeling proud of her for making the decision.
"It would be rude to leave without talking to them," she said, getting up from the bed. She walked to the mirror beside the side table. "Let me tidy up a little."
I watched her as she stood in front of the mirror, fixing her hair. She is a beautiful woman, both on the outside and inside. I felt grateful to have her in my life, and I knew that I would do anything to make her happy.
she suddenly sighed. "Ruined my first impression," she muttered, looking down at her shirt.
I quickly reassured her, "You didn't. You were looking pretty."
She scoffed, "It's just the love that's speaking this to me. Ask a random person about how I look and they'll explain to you in detail how ridiculous Joker I was looking." She tugged her shirt down and tried to smooth out the ruffles.
"Why would I bother asking a random person when I'm telling you, you were looking pretty?" I asked with a smile.
But I knew better than to argue with her. She was stubborn, and I had to accept it.
"Let's close the topic," she whispered, her fingers touching her lips. "But first, do you have any lip balm? My lips feel so dry."
I couldn't resist the opportunity to tease her. "I have a natural chapstick, want to try it?" I asked, grinning mischievously.
"I don't care if it's natural or chemically made, I just need something for my lips right now," she replied, looking at me with pleading eyes.
Suddenly, I couldn't stand it any longer. I grabbed her face in my hands, pulled her towards me, and kissed her passionately. Her lips were so chapped, but I didn't care. I ran my tongue across her lips, and she moaned softly.
She tried to resist at first, pushing against my body, but soon she kissed me.
"I can't believe you have no shame! Appa and Eomma are sitting right outside, and you're kissing me like your life depends on it." I couldn't help but smile, feeling giddy from the excitement.
"I told you I could make you end up in this situation where you'd be a nervous mess in front of my parents," he teased.
She pushed me away gently. "We'll talk about this later. We can't just let this topic go. You need to learn some manners."
"I'll never let you forget about this topic," I tease her.
"Jimin, what is wrong with you? Is this funny? This is a serious situation, and all you are doing is showing off your teeth and flirting skills."
I must admit, I'm quite proud of my flirting skills.
"I'm in a happy mood today. It feels so good."
"And I'm in a bad mood. It feels so terrible," she mocks me.
"I'll surely introduce you to Jin Hyung," I said with excitement in my voice.
Her eyes lit up with the prospect of meeting Jin Hyung. "Sure do that, I'll be very grateful to you," she added, her tone turning more serious. "But just to remind your dirty-flirty mind that it's been twenty–twenty-five minutes than your five minutes."
I looked at my phone to check the time. I couldn't believe how quickly time had passed. Panic set in as I realized I had been lost in my thoughts for far too long. "Oh shit!" I muttered under my breath as I fumbled to get my phone back in my pocket.
Y/N strides towards the door confidently, but just before opening it, she hesitates and turns around to face me. She looks up at me with a hint of uncertainty in her eyes and asks, "Do I look okay? Presentable enough?"
I can't help but feel a rush of affection for her as I lean in and kiss her lips once again. I pull back, smiling at her, and say, "You look stunning today. Your extra chapstick is helping to make you look even more beautiful." She rolls her eyes and turns back around to open the door, but I can't help but feel a sense of admiration for her as I follow her out of the room.
Eomma is already in the kitchen, preparing dinner.
After Y/N gives me a signal that she's going to help Eomma, she enters the kitchen and says, "Let me help you."
I smile as she takes the onions from Eomma's hand and starts chopping them.
Eomma looks at me and I smile, silently pleading with her to let her help.
Finally, I walk into the living room where Appa is sitting on the couch watching television.
♡ Y/N MALHOTRA ♡
With the sharp knife in my hand, I carefully chopped the onions and a colorful array of vegetables that she had placed beside the wooden chopping board.
The fragrant scent of the freshly cut vegetables filled the air as my heart pounded nervously in my chest, anticipating what was to come.
Suddenly, she turned to me and asked, "What is your name?" Her voice was calm and collected, but my nerves only heightened. "Y/N Malhotra," I replied, trying to steady my shaky voice.
As the aroma of the delicious soup filled the room, she turned to me and asked, "What do you do for a living?" I could see the steam rising from the pot as she stirred the broth, and my mouth started to water but it was nonvegetarian.
"I'm a doctor," I replied, feeling proud of my profession.
"You must be doing pretty well for yourself then," she said, taking a spoonful of the soup to taste it.
But then, as she spoke those words, a sudden pang of emotion hit me hard. My heart felt as though it had been wrenched out of my chest.
If I said yes, was she going to tell me to leave Jimin?
But if I said no, she would think that I was with Jimin because of his money.
I should be honest, right Y/N?
Yes.
"Um..yes but I want Jimin anyway." I couldn't believe what I said, so I quickly slammed my hand on my mouth to prevent any more of that useless shit from coming out.
What did I just blabber?!
That too in front of his Eomma.
I'm never getting over this embarrassment.
As she turns her head to face me, I can see a look of disbelief in her eyes.
"Could you please pass me the bottle of vinegar?" she asks, and I quickly glance over at the bottle sitting on the chopping board.
My hands shake a bit as I grab it and hand it over to her. "Looks like you came prepared," she remarks, causing my eyes to widen in surprise.
I told you I'm never getting out of this embarrassment.
She poured some vinegar into the soup and tasted it again. Judging by her expression, it seemed to be perfect this time. I remained silent as I was unsure of what to say.
Out of nowhere, she said, "I don't allow Jimin to bring girls home." I stood there in silence, watching her work.
"I-I'm not a one-night stand," I stammered, trying to muster up the courage to speak.
Why is it so difficult to talk to her?
"I never said you were a one-night stand. I trust my son. He's not that type," she said in a flat voice. I closed my eyes and wished I could turn back time.
I promised God that I would do better this time.
"He's not allowed to have a girlfriend either. You must be aware of his job," she said, probably checking if I knew the advantages and disadvantages of dating her son.
"I know," I replied.
"Then why are you here at his home?"
"Huh? W-We didn't do anything."
It's getting more challenging by the minute.
Please bring Jimin, out of nowhere, just like in a drama, where the main lead comes to help his girlfriend get out of this interview.
"I'm sorry, but can you please explain to me what's happening here? Or do I have to interrogate you like this? Could you tell me who you are, what your relationship is with Jimin, and how close you are to him that you feel comfortable coming to his house? I don't want to miss anything important, so please feel free to share anything you think I should know." The woman finishes her sentence with a smile, which puts me at ease. "I don't know how to do this, anyway." She muttered.
I take a deep breath before responding, "Jimin and I met at the airport when he was unconscious. We started dating a month ago, but we've known each other for three months. I know it's a short period." I glance down at my sweating hands, feeling a bit nervous.
Y/N, you don't have to be subconscious about the time. It's okay.
The same things happen in arranged marriages where you don't even have one month to know each other sometimes and this is so common in India.
"Relationships don't always depend on the length of time. Some last for years, others for just a short while. What matters is the connection between two people. It's important to focus on building that bond, rather than worrying about the clock."
I nod in approval. That's a fact.
"Don't be happy. I still need to talk to Jimin and you together. We will talk after dinner."
"Hm?"
"Me and Jimin's appa will talk to you both after dinner."
"Yes. Okay."
Is it still not over?
"Come on, don't just stand there and admire me. Help me with the chores that will make you get my approval," I laugh as I notice the similarities between her and Jimin.
There's no denying that Jimin looks more like his father, but his charming flirting skills and smile are so similar to his mother's.
.
.
.
.
Have you ever encountered someone who possesses an innate ability to captivate others with their mere presence? I am in awe of his Eomma, who has a unique gift for making everyone follow her instructions without uttering a single word.
I made an excuse to leave, stating that I had some urgent work to attend to at home. However, she is one of the most headstrong and determined individuals I've ever met. She refused to let me go and insisted that I stay. I was taken aback by her unwavering gaze, which conveyed a sense of authority that was hard to ignore.
To be honest, I had no real intention of working at home. All I wanted to do was get out of their family time which was now ruined by me. But she had a commanding presence that was difficult to resist. Her steely gaze held me in place, and I knew that I wasn't going anywhere.
"you are pure vegetarian?" she said, shock covering all over her face.
"yes," I said forcing a smile. this is awkward.
"so you had to say that when I was cooking." she looked around at all the dishes and separated the non-veg ones. She moved to the refrigerator, removed a box of kimchi, and placed it on the kitchen platform.
"This is kimchi. this is um..made of cabbage and..." I grin ear to ear seeing her struggle to explain to me. "um...whatever. just know that this is veg." she said once she couldn't find the words.
"I have eaten kimchi before. "
"you could have said that before." she turned off the stove and turned to look at me. "you can't have the soup either. I have added chicken stock into it." I nodded. "there are some side dishes, you can eat it with rice."
"that's okay. that will be enough for me. thank you."
"I noticed that you say a lot of thank you and sorry. you don't have to be so easy. alright?"
I nodded, although it didn't make any sense to me.
I'll ask Jimin later about it.
meanwhile:
♡ PARK JIMIN ♡
As I sat beside him on the couch, he asked, "Who is she?"
"Um...Y/N...Y/N Malhotra," I replied.
"She's not Korean?" he asked.
"No, she's Indian. It's a beautiful country with lovely people," I explained.
"Have you ever been to India?" he asked with a straight face.
"Huh? Um..n-no," I replied.
"If she hasn't left yet and she's helping your Eomma, then I suppose the situation is serious?"
"Yes, she is just as important to me as all of you," I said sincerely. "I met her last time I was sick, she's a doctor."
"You're old enough to understand that this is not just a casual relationship, but rather a responsibility," Appa said.
"I understand, Appa," I nodded. "Appa,"
"Yes."
"We haven't been together for long. It's only been three months since we met and just one month since we started dating. Do you think it's too soon for us to be making big decisions?" I wanted to be honest with him now that he knows about us.
"Well, time isn't the most important factor, my son. What matters most is how well you understand and know each other. It's also important to know what Y/N wants, as you can't make all the decisions by yourself. You need to talk to her and find out her thoughts on the matter. She might have a different perspective than you, so it's important to be understanding and considerate of her feelings."
"I will never do anything against her will," I reassured. "Appa, I have noticed that she can be insecure at times due to the same reason."
Whenever we discuss our relationship, I have noticed that Y/N becomes quite cautious. I believe that Appa would be the right person to seek advice from, as I am unsure of who else to turn to.
"That is something you will have to handle yourself. It is common for young ladies to experience insecurities and every young man has to find his way to reassure them. You need to assess the situation and find a solution that suits you both," advised Appa.
As soon as he finished saying Y/N entered the living room with plates and bowls, followed by Eomma who was bringing food. Appa quickly got up from his chair and went to Eomma, offering to help her with the bowl of food she was holding.
Meanwhile, Appa signaled to me to help Y/N who was also carrying plates and bowls.
He said, "Jimin, help Y/N. Why are you just sitting there? You should help them."
"It's okay Y/N. I'll set the table," I said, taking the plates and bowl from her. As I began to set the table, memories flooded back from my childhood. I remembered watching my parents, Appa and Eomma, set the table together. Seeing them still care for each other after all these years warmed my heart.
It had been a while since I last saw them do this. I had been so busy with the upcoming album that I hadn't visited them in months.
After I finished setting the table, we all sat down to eat. Y/N sat beside me with a small smile still on her face. I could tell that Eomma had insisted she stay for dinner and that her meeting with Eomma had gone well.
I knew that Eomma wouldn't be too strict with Y/N.
As I watched Eomma, the warmth of her smile only grew wider. She carefully separated all the non-vegetarian dishes and placed them on one side, leaving the vegetarian side dishes for y/n.
With a motherly concern, Eomma whispered to Y/N, "Don't eat this one," as she added more rice to Y/N's already full bowl. She then asked, "You can't eat eggs, right?"
Y/N nodded her head in agreement, "Yes."
Eomma looked worried as she asked, "Aigoo, where do you get proteins and minerals from?"
Y/N let out a chuckle, "There are plenty of nutritious foods that contain protein, vitamins, and minerals, and they are all vegetarian."
Eomma then said with a hint of playfulness, "Eat more. Look at you, you are so skinny. I don't want Jimin to be with someone skinny." I laughed and she added, "What are you laughing at? Buy her a lot of food and make her chubby."
I couldn't help but smile at Eomma's caring nature towards Y/N as she made sure that she had enough food and was well-fed.
"I will."
Eomma took a bite of rice and some side dishes as she curiously asked, "What were you guys discussing?"
Appa chuckled and replied, "I was just reminiscing with Jimin about how shy you used to be when we first met, but now..." Eomma rolled her eyes at him, cutting him off.
"That's not something to talk about," she countered.
However, Appa disagreed, "That's something to talk about." He turned to Y/N and me and continued, "When I first met Jimin's mother, she was extremely reserved and would only nod her head for yes or no whenever I asked her something. But now, I find myself nodding my head, and she's the one doing all the talking."
Y/N, who was engrossed in the conversation, finally asked, "Um... if you don't mind, can I ask how you met Aunt?"
he looks at Eomma with eyes full of love and says, "Of course, I'm always up to tell people how I met my love and how we fell in love." And there she is, blushing and shy, just like she was when Appa first met her.
I remember the countless times Appa shared his love story with me and Jihyun when we were young. We used to listen to his stories with wide-eyed wonder, not realizing until much later that he was narrating real-life fairytales of our Eomma and him.
"I'm not bragging but you see, I come from a prestigious family and have never really struggled to achieve anything I wanted. The cafe that I own now was once my Papa's. I had always planned on taking over the cafe, so he made me work there whenever I had free time and during summer vacation.
At first, I have to admit, it was boring and made me want to run away. I felt like a servant, and as a boy from a wealthy family, my ego was through the roof. Why should I have to work like a servant when the whole shop was mine? I just wanted to sit in an office, look out the window, and enjoy my time. But life doesn't always work out the way we want it to, does it?
One summer, while I was working at the cafe, taking orders and feeling sorry for myself, a shy girl and her friends walked in. I don't know how she managed to make those friends, to be honest, but there she was. And let me tell you, that moment changed my life forever." He chuckled, looking at Eomma's face.
"I don't appreciate you talking about me like that," she said, turning to Y/N who was looking at them with love in her eyes, a spoon in her hand, and a smile on her face. "Don't listen to him, seriously. I'll tell you my story myself. He's just trying to make himself look like a good and nice boy."
"I told you she was so different when we first met," Appa said with a smile. He loved to tease Eomma.
"What happened next?" Y/N asked curiously.
"Long story short, she fell for me at first sight and wooed me," he replied.
"Seriously?" Emma turned to him with wide eyes, slamming her chopsticks down on the table. "You are such a liar! Y/N, he fell for me first and wooed me. Believe me, he made my third year of high school so difficult. When he found out we went to the same high school, he shamelessly kept asking me out. Who would believe that I fell for him first when he was the one always chasing after me?" She gathered her plates and stormed off into the kitchen.
"Bring your plates yourself!"
Her companion's eyes spoke volumes, though he said nothing to Eomma and let out a hearty laugh.
As they sat at the table, my phone began to vibrate. I looked at Y/N, who was chatting with Appa. When she caught my gaze, I showed her my phone, which was vibrating.
"Take the call. I'll take care of your plates," she said with a smile, and I excused myself to answer the call.
As I was walking towards my bedroom, I overheard Appa's voice coming from the living room. "That's true. I was crazy behind her," he said, followed by Y/N's giggles. The sound of their laughter brought a smile to my face, and I continued towards my room, closing the door behind me.
I saw that it was Sejin Hyung calling. "Yes, Hyung?" I answered.
"Already going against the company?" Sejin Hyung's voice sounded disappointed and concerned.
I let out a sigh. "Hyung, I had already discussed it with you."
"Your career can end within a second. Are you okay with it? Sorry, but as someone who has been with you since your trainee days, I want you to stop this right now. I've received the notice you want to share through Weverse. I'm not letting it go further. I want you to think wisely," he said, his voice filled with concern for my future.
I understand how he feels as he has been with us since the beginning. I am also aware that my decision could end my career, but I have made up my mind. I trust myself and the fans, so I am sticking to my decision. There is no going back now.
I don't want to think about it anymore and I don't want to change my mind.
I've made the correct decision. choosing Y/N is as important as my career.
right, jimin?
I shake my head just as immediately as this thought entered my mind.
Jimin, are you doubting yourself? you've made the perfect dissection.
After all, I'll have Y/N, my family, and members beside me if there's anything going downfall with me. more importantly, I have ARMYS.
yes, I have them.
As I sat in my room, engrossed in a conversation with Hyung, a sudden knock on the door interrupted me. I got up to answer it and was surprised to see Y/N standing there with a plate of apples in her hand. She came inside and placed the plate on the side table while I thanked her with a gesture. She smiled and nodded her head in response.
The conversation resumed and suddenly, he asked a question, "Have you talked to Bang PD about this?". I replied, "Mhm. Yesterday I talked to him. he said he'll support my decision."
After a while, I said, "Hyung, I'll meet you tomorrow. Let's talk tomorrow. My parents are home after a long time. I'll spend my time with them."
"Also hyung, please let it go forward," I added before leaving.
"spend your time with your family, let's continue tomorrow."
I let out a deep sigh, feeling a sense of frustration as I realized that he was not willing to let the news go forward. Knowing that there's nothing else I can do at the moment, I make a mental note to talk to him about it tomorrow.
As I look up, I find Y/N standing in front of me, a warm smile on their face. My phone rests on the bed, forgotten for the moment.
"Thank you," I say.
Y/N shrugs, "Oh, for keeping your plates and bringing you fruits? You don't have to thank me."
I shake my head, "No, not just that. Thank you for meeting my parents. I know it must have been uncomfortable and surprising, given that they came out of nowhere."
"Her hands gently held my face as she looked into my eyes. "Yes, indeed it was surprising, nerve-wracking, heart-wrenching, but uncomfortable. Not at all," she said. Her hands then slid down my cheeks and wrapped around my waist, holding me tightly.
"Did you like them?" I asked, wrapping my arms around her.
"Loved them," she replied with a smile.
As she unwrapped her arms from around me, she looked up at me with a serious expression on her face. "Jimin, please don't confirm our relationship," she said.
I was taken aback by her sudden request. Why was she bringing up this matter again? Did she somehow find out that I was discussing it with Hyung?
"What happened to you?"
I could sense the sadness in her voice. Her eyes were moist, and she seemed upset as she brought her pinky fingers forward, asking for a promise.
"Just promise me that you won't do it?" she pleaded, her voice trembling with emotion. The air around us felt heavy as I struggled to find the words to comfort her.
"sorry that I've had to say no to the first promise you asked me, but y/n, please trust me," I said, trying to reassure her. "It will be fine. Once I confirm our relationship, your sister will be on our side."
But she was having none of it. Her voice rose in anger as she said, "She'll be on our side even if you don't confirm this. JUST DON'T DO IT."
I could feel her frustration and pain, and I wished there was something more I could do to make her feel better.
"We will talk about it later when you're not this hyper. Let's sit with Appa and Eomma for a while."
As I prepared to leave the room, I picked up some apples from the table and walked towards the door. However, when I turned around, I noticed that Y/N was still standing in the same spot. Despite feeling slightly frustrated, I took a deep breath and tried to be patient with her.
After a moment of silence, she spoke up, "I'll go home," and reached for her purse on the table. I could sense her stubbornness and reluctance to stay, even though I wanted her to understand the importance of what I was doing.
My heart started racing as I looked at her. I wished I could make her see that I was making this decision for both of us, but it wasn't that simple. It was overwhelming to think that I was putting my career on the line for this. I couldn't help but wonder if I was making the right choice.
All I could manage to say was, "Okay." It was a difficult moment, and I knew that there was a lot more to be discussed between us. But for now, I had to let her go and hope that she would understand my perspective.
♡♡♡♡
(A/N): took me so long to write this.
It's the longest chapter of the book till now.