ACT XVIII | SCENE XC

❝GRANDPA❞

JIMIN'S FINGERS RAN a trail down jangmi's hand, drawing weaving patterns on her skin like the veins that ran underneath them. his eyes remained on the road, the lopsided smile he wore never leaving his face. jangmi glanced at him one too many times, enjoying the feel of his warm hand on hers. rosalie sat in the backseat, kicking her legs and singing, fingers pulling at the frayed hem of her jeans distractedly.

"are you okay?" he questioned softly, feeling her eyes on the side of his face. taking a deep breath, she nodded. "yeah, i am." her gaze moved to the window. "i know you're not looking forward to this but-" he began only to be cut short. "it's fine, jimin. i'm not mad anymore... i think." she added on a second thought.

"i'll just listen to what she has to say and try not to say anything offensive." she glanced his way. his expression had become serious, a slight frown causing the skin between his brows to lightly wrinkle. "thank you for doing this, jangmi, really. it means a lot to me."

she smiled sweetly. "it's nothing, besides rosie seems to really love her so maybe she isn't all bad. and mum made me promise not to be stubborn and be the bigger person in this." she rolled her eyes at the last bit. "mrs jung is really the best." he beamed. "of course." she shook her head at him.

jimin laced his fingers through hers lifting their intertwined hands up to his lips, pressing a kiss to the back of jangmi's hand. jangmi pretended to be unaffected by the action until he whispered the same words he had only the night before. "i love you."

her lips parted soundlessly, eyes remaining on their intertwined hands. he was so vocal about his feelings, very demonstrative about them too. it threw her back into the old days, how he never seemed to be able to stop touching her or the constant reminders that she was his world. and she felt like a giddy teenage girl again.

recovering almost immediately, she crinkled her nose. "what a casanova." she remarked playfully. sighing, he glanced up into the rearview mirror to catch a glimpse of rosalie who was still singing a song she, no doubt, learnt from hoseok. "princess, your mummy doesn't take me seriously." he pouted.

the child in question looked up just in time to catch her mother hit her father with their entwined hands, while his eyes glistened with mirth. "ow!" he let out convincingly, the chuckle that escaped his lips betraying him. "but you're laughing so you like it." the four-year-old concluded, eyes jumping between her parents in curiosity.

jangmi chortled, the almost witch like sound accompanied by snorts caused jimin to laugh. her laugh always started out cute and bell-like but usually turned into something else somewhere in the middle. why was he surrounded by people that laughed funny? not that he minded anyway. if anything he found it endearing.

the car slowed as the gates were swiftly opened for him. jimin reluctantly let go of jangmi's hand, putting the car in park. unbuckling his seatbelt, he stepped out of the car the same time she did. he pulled the backdoor open and unbuckled rosalie from her car seat, lifting her up into his arms.

her arms wrapped around his neck, snuggling into him, fingers lightly tugging at the silver chain of his necklace. he waited for jangmi to come round to his side before he began the short walk to the front doors which were already held open for them.

rosalie had resumed her singing, a big smile on her face when she recognised the house as the one her grandparents and aunt lived in. she began to lean forward eagerly, excited to see someone she recognised. "are we going to see grandpa?" she looked to her mother, eyes wide.

jangmi beamed, nodding her head. "yes! grandpa has missed you so much. he's excited to see you." she answered. "mamie joo too?" rosalie continued, her excitement never dimming. forcing on a smile, her mother bobbed her head.

jimin led them to the study, where he was certain his father would be. his knuckles rapped against the large wooden door, listening for his father's low, "come in." when the sound floated through the thick wood that separated them, he twisted the door knob and pushed the door open.

"rosalie!" the old man's eyes brightened when he spotted his grandchild in her father's arms, completely forgetting her parents were there as well. "grandpa!" the overexcited kindergartner lurched forward suddenly, causing jimin to slightly tighten his grip in alarm.

"careful, princess." he whispered softly before letting the child down and watching her sprint the rest of the way to his father. "grandpa!" she repeated when she reached him. the greying man gathered her into his embrace. "hey, dumpling! did you miss grandpa?"

"mhm! very much." her head bobbed in response. the corners of myungsoo's eyes creased with mirth. "well, grandpa missed you too." he replied sweetly, sitting her on his lap. rosalie's smile got even bigger, plump cheeks rounding.

"did you feed her lightning bolts when she was a baby? she shouldn't be able to move so fast." jimin whispered into jangmi's ear. she pressed her lips together, barely holding back the snort of laughter that threatened to escape.

myungsoo finally looked at the pair who bowed respectfully. "nice to see you again, han jangmi." he smiled softly. "pleased to meet you in good health, chairman park." she lifted her head, sporting a smile of her own. "father, do you mind rosalie staying with you while we go see mother?" jimin questioned. the older man waved a dismissive hand. "of course not."

"thank you, father." jimin bowed again, jangmi following suit before he gently led her out of the study. as the door shut behind them, they heard myungsoo's soft voice speaking to rosalie.

"want to go smell flowers with grandpa?"

☀️☀️☀️

what do you think is going to happen when they meet jimin's mum? and how do you think think it'll go? horrible or nah? and you guys we're ten chapters away from the end :''( i've planned most of it out so i know what i'm doing with the rest of the story. but i AIN'T READYYY