"Some people lose the love of their beloved in the greed of the world."
~
There is that moment when you start to feel so helpless that it makes you frustrated, and this was the moment for Jimin. He stared at the bouquet in his hands as he stood on the porch on the cold winter evening. The sun was long gone for the night.
He clenched his fist as he let the hand holding the bouquet fall back to his side and took a deep calming breath. He had arrived at his house only an hour ago tired after working for about hours. He was happy that he could finally relax when his maid ruins it by informing him of the dinner he is supposed to attend at their family resort with his parents. A dinner with his to-be in-laws.
It would be the last thing Jimin wanted after a whole day full of exhaustion but he had no choice. He never had.
Jimin was pulled out of his thoughts when a black Jaguar came to stop in front of him.
"It doesn't take that long to bring a car does it?!" Jimin hissed at the driver, who bowed nervously.
"Sorry sir, it's just-" the man tried explaining, but was interrupted by his fuming boss.
"Oh, spare me. You are fired." Jimin stated as he casually made his way to his car and settled in the driving seat while almost throwing the flowers on the seat beside him. "Marriage? It's a fucking business contract. And he says it's the best for me and Jeo. He doesn't know shit. Ugh!" Jimin yelled as he slammed his fist against the steering wheel.
If there was something Jimin hated it was relationships. He had his fair share of them. Jimin used to be a playboy in his high school. But that was in his past. He was different now.
He had too much emotional baggage and responsibilities that did not allow him the privilege to be reckless, or let any other human into his life for that matter.
He hadn't even been in a relationship for seven years.
Jimin took deep calming breaths the way he had taught himself. Now was not the time to have a breakdown. Slowly he started the car and pulled out of the driveway. Thinking up ways to get out of this unfortunate situation.
*****
Jungkook:
It was getting dark outside when my phone rang surprising me.
I almost jumped, upsetting a binder full of papers. But luckily there was no one in the office to witness their boss jumping about, the building was almost empty by now.
I sighed as I moved to the more important task and started moving the papers around my desk hunting for my cell trying to remember where I had put it. Finally, I felt the vibrating device sitting in the middle of yet another file I had been reading, the phone acting as my bookmark.
Another bad habit I needed to get rid of.
"Hello dad," I sigh as I settle back in my seat and stare at the file in front of me. Tracing the word, Park Jimin with the tip of my finger unconsciously.
"Jungkook, where are you?" Came father's stern voice that caused me to sit up straighter and frown.
"In the office," I replied.
"No excuses, Jungkook." Father replied in an annoyed tone of voice, "You better hurry up and get home. Didn't I tell you about the dinner with Jungho (Mr. Park) and his family? Home. Now." And the phone call ended just like that. I closed my eyes.
"More orders," I mumbled. And slammed the file in front of me shut and started collecting the pages I had upset earlier. I return all the pages in the binder and then put everything back in the box labeled 'Park Corporates Business History.'
The moment I got home I was handed a brand-new suit to change into. And about half an hour later I was sitting in the car with my parents.
"Dad I hadn't forgotten about the dinner, I just got too caught up in my work that I didn't notice how late it had gotten," I explained for the nth time that night already.
"Seriously? You couldn't notice that it had gotten late or that all your workers had left?" Dad replies with the same answer.
"Dad, why would he try to skip dinner? He was busy. Just leave it be." My brother Seokjin tried to help me like he always did.
"Because he doesn't want to get married! But Jungkook if I get insulted because of you. I disown you. Do you understand? I never said anything about you being gay. I am not forcing you on some women. And this is your last chance to prove yourself."
I opened my mouth to reply when the car stopped. Nobody moved.
All eyes were fixed on me. Dad's stern gaze, Seokjins filled with pity and my mom's gaze was soft.
I swallowed before nodding. "Understood."
But I gritted my teeth as I watched them get out of the limo before following them.
How easy it was for my father to blame me for being gay. It wasn't as if I had a choice. And in the end, being gay didn't matter I was still arranged into marriage.
And that too with the Park Jimin.
My father was a stranger to me. A stranger I was related to.
As we got out we were met by the manager who rushed to greet us before leading us through the expensive and elegant restaurant.
The interior is set with dark wood walls, heavy furniture, blood-red velvet couches, and the same dark red velvet hangings, crystal chandeliers complete with paintings covering the walls.
Vintage aesthetic? At least the interior designers had some taste. I made a mental note to ask them about the interior designer as we got inside the private elevator, my mind half present to the manager explaining the bits about the place.
We walk through the dark-themed hallways and I can't help but admire the place. It was just the way I wanted one of our restaurant chains to be designed. Alas, there weren't many good designers.
We come to stop at the private dining hall and I didn't know what to expect. I was kind of nervous, to be honest, just wanting to run away and have a night out with Taehyung as we used to in the past. Only Taehyung was my ex-boyfriend whom I hadn't met since our break up three years ago and now I was getting married to a person I hadn't even met before.
I sigh in relief when I realize that Park Jimin is not here yet.
Sitting in the lounge are Mr. and Mrs. Park and their youngest son, Jihyun. Dressed in extremely expensive clothes and faces covered in smiles, they greet us as we settle on the sofa set around the table set with coffee and snacks.
I sit on one with Seokjin beside me, who has his charming smile set, while I am busy rubbing my hands on my dress pants to keep them dry. I am analyzing my surroundings when Seokjin nudged me, pulling me out of my thoughts, "So you were busy huh?" he smirked.
I sigh, knowing where this was going. "Not here, hyung," I mumble.
"You okay?" Seokjin asked as he instinctively sensed my mood immediately and reached out to hold my hand, the smirk gone.
I looked over at him, his eyes were concerned. He opened his mouth to speak but I interrupted him, glancing around the room. I mumbled in a low voice, "Not here please hyung."
He squeezed my hand before he abruptly stood up. He mutters out an excuse and pulls me along toward the washrooms.
"Hyung. Calm down." I mumble leaning against the sink weakly.
"Tell me what is wrong, gguk," Seokjin demands. I look up at my brother. His brows furrowed.
Ever since we were kids, seokjin had always been protective of me. And we always had a special bond. He was the only reason I hadn't given up on life yet.
"I don't think I can marry Jimin," I mumble.
"Hyung, have you ever met him in person before? I did. Today, dad forced me into the weekly meeting with the board of directors. And just my luck, Jimin was directing it. He fired a man on the spot because the person was a couple of seconds late. Can you believe that?" I rambled on.
"And I almost left the meeting because of the way he glared at me while I was giving a briefing. It was terrifying. I can't live with him."
When I looked up, Seokjin was watching me with concern. "Don't worry Jungkook. You won't be forced into marriage. Okay?"
I nodded. And Seokjin gently took my hand leading me out, " You just have to survive this dinner can you do that?"
I nod again, feeling slightly better.
Just survive dinner.
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[Edited: 14\11\22]