Till death do us part [ j.jk × p.jm ]

chapter 15

As the clock struck four in the afternoon, Taehyung returned home from a meeting with his boyfriend Jungkook. He pushed open the front door with a weary sigh, the weight of the day's responsibilities still lingering on his shoulders.

"Hey, Dad," Taehyung called out, kicking off his shoes and setting his bag down by the door. He found his father, Mr. Kim, hunched over a stack of papers at the kitchen table, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"Welcome home," Mr. Kim greeted warmly, looking up from his work with a tired smile. "How was your day?"

Taehyung returned the smile, though he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. "It was good." He approached the table, curious to see what had his father so engrossed.

"What are you working on?" Taehyung asked, leaning in to get a better look at the papers scattered across the table.

Mr. Kim sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Just some home repairs," he admitted, gesturing to a small device sitting in front of him. "I can't seem to figure out how to fix this darn thing."

Taehyung's eyes lit up with understanding as he examined the device. It was a simple household gadget, but one that seemed to have stumped his father. Without hesitation, Taehyung reached out and began tinkering with the device, his fingers deft and sure.

"Here, let me take a look," Taehyung offered, his voice confident. "I think I know what the problem is."

As Taehyung worked, his father watched with a mixture of admiration and gratitude. "You always were good with your hands," he remarked, a hint of pride in his voice.

Taehyung smiled, a sense of satisfaction washing over him as he finally fixed the device. "There," he declared triumphantly, handing the gadget back to his father. "Good as new."

Mr. Kim's face broke into a wide smile as he inspected Taehyung's handiwork. "Thank you, son," he said, his voice filled with genuine appreciation. "I don't know what I would do without you."

Taehyung shrugged modestly, though his heart swelled with pride at his father's words. "Just doing my part," he replied with a smile. "Now, how about I whip us up some dinner for us? Have you eaten anything yet?"

"Not yet," he admitted, his tone slightly sheepish. "I got caught up in these home repairs and lost track of time."

Taehyung nodded understandingly, recognizing his father's tendency to get lost in his projects. "No worries," he said reassuringly, moving to stand beside him. "I'll take over from here. Why don't you go wash up, and I'll have dinner ready in no time?"

Mr. Kim smiled gratefully, feeling a surge of pride at his son's thoughtfulness. "Thank you," he said sincerely, patting him on the shoulder before heading off to freshen up.

Left alone in the kitchen, Taehyung rolled up his sleeves and got to work, his movements quick and efficient as he took charge of preparing their meal. As he stirred pots and checked on the oven, Taehyung couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction wash over him. There was something fulfilling about being able to step in and take care of his father, especially after a long day.

By the time Mr. Kim returned to the kitchen, the table was set, and the meal was ready to be served.

As they sat at the table and savored their meal, Taehyung noticed a thoughtful expression cross his father's face. "Dad, is everything okay?" he inquired, concerned by the sudden change in demeanor.

Mr. Kim nodded, though there was a hint of hesitation in his voice. "Actually, something interesting happened today," he began, setting down his utensils and leaning forward. "I had a bit of trouble with the lawnmower earlier, but a neighbor named Namjoon came over to lend a hand."

Taehyung's eyebrows narrowed. "Namjoon? Who's Namjoon?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Mr. Kim chuckled softly, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Oh, you haven't met him yet," he replied, his tone warm. "He just moved in next door yesterday as he told me. Seems like a nice guy."

Taehyung nodded, processing the information. "Well, that was nice of him to help you out," he remarked, a note of appreciation in his voice.

Mr. Kim smiled, pleased by his son's reaction.  "After helping me with the lawnmower, Namjoon and I had a cup of tea," Mr. Kim continued, a hint of admiration in his voice. "He's a handsome man and seems quite trustworthy."

Taehyung listened quietly, sensing where his father was going with this conversation. However, he remained silent, allowing his father to talk freely about his encounter.

"That's good to hear," Taehyung finally replied, offering a noncommittal response. He glanced out the window, watching the fading light of the day cast long shadows across the neighborhood.

Mr. Kim smiled, seemingly satisfied with Taehyung's reaction. "I thought you might want to meet him sometime," he suggested, his tone hopeful. "It wouldn't hurt to have a friendly face next door."

Taehyung nodded, though his enthusiasm was feigned. "Maybe I'll run into him one of these days," he replied casually, though the prospect held little appeal for him.

As Jimin wandered through the meticulously manicured yard of the Jeons' estate, a simmering tension lingered in the air, exacerbated by Jungkook's absence. His eyes landed on the room filled with Jungkook's cherished pottery collections, each piece a testament to his passion and identity.

"Interesting," Jimin remarked, his voice devoid of warmth as he surveyed the room, hands crossed on his chest.

The maid, busy tidying up, glanced up with a smile. "Yes, these are Mr. Jungkook's pottery collections. Each piece holds its own story and history."

Jimin's interest was piqued, but his intentions were far from benign. With a calculated edge to his tone, he inquired, "A collection, you say?"

He approached the display, scrutinizing each piece with a cold detachment that sent a shiver down the maid's spine. Sensing an opportunity to provoke Jungkook, Jimin issued his command with icy authority.

"Get rid of these things," he ordered, his words cutting through the room like a blade.

The maid's confusion was palpable as she struggled to comprehend Jimin's directive. "But sir, these belong to Mr. Jungkook. It's his property," she protested, her loyalty to her employer warring with her obedience to Jimin.

Jimin's gaze hardened, his resolve unyielding. "I don't like them. They don't belong here. I have the authority in this house, and you have no right to disobey my orders."

"But sir, Mr. Jungkook treasures these pieces. He would be devastated if anything were to happen to them," the maid implored, her voice tinged with desperation.

Jimin's expression remained stoic, unmoved by the maid's plea. "It doesn't matter. Remove them," he commanded, his words a cold dismissal of Jungkook's sentiments.

Caught in the crossfire of conflicting loyalties, the maid hesitated, her heart heavy with uncertainty. "Sir, I understand your position, but..." she began, her voice faltering as she sought to find a compromise.

Before she could utter another word, Jimin's patience wore thin, his tone sharpening with impatience. "No 'buts.' You will do as I say. This is my decision," he declared, his authority brooking no argument.

With a heavy heart and a sense of resignation, the maid nodded reluctantly, silently acknowledging the gravity of the situation. As she set about the task of carefully packing away Jungkook's cherished pottery collection, she couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that gnawed at her conscience. She knew that her compliance would only deepen the rift between Jungkook and Jimin, further fracturing the fragile facade of their marriage.

As the maid continued her task under Jimin's watchful gaze, a sense of satisfaction curled at the corners of his lips. He knew that he had succeeded once again in provoking Jungkook, his actions serving as yet another crack in the already strained foundation of their relationship. And as he watched the maid carry out his orders with a heavy heart, Jimin couldn't help but revel in the chaos he had sown, knowing that the seeds of discord had taken root deep within the heart of the Jeons' estate.