jangmi (장미) ● taejoon

e l e v e n .

"... Thank you for visiting me again," His mother softly smiled, the sounds of the heart monitor quiet over her voice. "I was thinking you two forgot about me."

"... We would never forget about you," Namjoon shakes his head, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall.

Jungkook had been rushed home by a very angry Minnie prior.

"I've been busy with work, I'm sorry momma," Seokjin sat beside his mother, holding her small, frail hand with both of his. Reassuringly rubbing shapes on her skin with his thumb. "I promise Namjoon and I will visit more often. No need to worry."

"It's okay sweetheart," She shakes her head slightly. "At least I know you're working hard. I hope your boss isn't too hard on you. How's working at Lotto? I wish I could see your office."

Seokjin pursed his lips before smiling. "... It's great," he says, "I've been getting my work done."

Namjoon stayed quiet, looking down at his feet. Biting his tongue for Seokjin's sake.

"What about you, Namjoon?" She looks at the silent man against the wall. "How's teaching?"

"I'm good, it's good. The kids this year are polite-"

"Are you thinking about maybe settling in?" She accidentally cuts him off, but Namjoon still listens. "... Marrying? Starting a family?"

"Momma," Seokjin doesn't raise his voice, he could never. He only looks at her with wide eyes, "... Momma, please."

"You've stuck around my son for four years," She says, covering her mouth to harshly cough. Her throat dry. "You've done so much more than anybody could do for him even me. You gave him more happiness than I ever saw in years."

Seokjin leaned over to grab a tissue, and Namjoon pours a cup of water beside her bed. The two helped the woman, though she persisted she was fine.

"... So what do you think?" She asks Namjoon.

Namjoon held the cup in his hand. "... I've always wanted to start a family, get married, grow old," He sighs gently, "But you know us. Seokjin and I still have work to do."

She laughs with an after wheeze, clearing her throat. "You two shouldn't be married to work, you should be married to each other."

Seokjin groaned, covering his face in embarrassment as he sat back down in his seat. Namjoon could only chuckle and shake his head.

Seokjin's mother grabbed Namjoon by his hand, and with sudden seriousness: "... You're the only man I trust with him. That man who came into his life before you did, I don't want him to go through all of it again. I don't want my son to be hurt ever again..."

"Please, promise me you'll never let my son get hurt," she says, holding his hand with both hers. "You can't compare to that man who broke my boy's heart. Please take care of my son."

Seokjin glances at Namjoon. "... Momma, leave him be. It'll never happen again. You're scaring him."

Namjoon looked back at Seokjin before facing his mother's pleading eyes, and with a firm nod:

"... I will, I promise."

[unedited]