ACT VII | SCENE XXXV

❝PROPOSE❞

THE DIAMOND GLISTENED in the golden light shining from the crystal chandelier that hung over myungsoo's study. jimin stared at it and then his father who held it, perplexed. "what is this for?" he asked, voice low and wary. "ask her." his father responded.

"ask who what?" jimin's brows knitted together in confusion. the older man sighed, gesturing for his son to have a seat. he complied, sitting in the comfortable plush brown chair on the opposite side of the large mahogany desk in the coffee coloured room.

he waited for myungsoo to speak, resting his hands on his lap. "take this." the man placed the ring back in the soft bed of the sapphire velvet box, sliding it across the desk towards his son. he picked it up, waiting for his father to elaborate. "use it to ask han jangmi to marry you."

in his shock, jimin dropped it back on the desk like it had suddenly caught fire. "what?" his voice came out breathy. "i heard what happened. everything." myungsoo replied. "i've spoken to your mother and warned her against repeating such acts especially in public. you can propose to her. you have my approval."

"but father, i told you i don't want to marry her." he mumbled out. "what do you mean you don't want to marry her?" myungsoo yelled. jimin winced at the outburst. "you broke a very expensive vase over this woman and didn't return home for a whole week and now you're saying you won't propose?!"

jimin bowed his head, twiddling his thumbs. he didn't know what to say to his now frustrated father. "do you want to remain single for the rest of your life, huh?" myungsoo grunted. "dad, i'm twenty five." he mumbled. "yet, i feel like i'll be having this same conversation ten, fifteen years from now." the man adjusted in his seat.

"tell me, jimin, what's the matter? is there something wrong with the woman?" he clasped his hands together on the desk. the younger man shook his head. "there's nothing wrong with her. i just don't love her in that way."

his father cocked his head to the side, scrunching his face. "you threw a fit because of this woman. you must feel something for her." his eyes turned even more serious.

it felt strange to be discussing his feelings or lack thereof for the mother of his child with his father. yet, he'd always felt more comfortable telling his father about girls than his mother. he remembered she used to ruin it by asking what family the girl was from. bora and taehyung were however his usual go-to people.

"i was only thinking of her running with rosalie." his eyes moved to the box that held the ring in it, feeling his heart beat faster just at the sight of it and at the prospect that his father had gone through the trouble of picking out a ring because he thought he needed to propose.

"is that it?" myungsoo eyed him suspiciously. "your mind didn't even drift to jangmi and how she might have felt?" he queried curiously. jimin pursed his lips. he wasn't sure how he felt about his dad playing love doctor with him. it was quite discomforting to say the least. especially with him pinning jimin with his scrutinising gaze.

he cleared his throat. "of course that crossed my mind. but the thought of losing my daughter was what made me act so irrationally." he glanced down at his hands, face heating with embarrassment. "you have to apologise to your mother. even though she did wrong, you should never disrespect her in that manner." myungsoo chastised.

jimin nodded his head, letting another apology leave his lips. the old man grunted, looking at the velvet box again. "you should ask her. now that no one has yet to catch wind of this news. rosalie shouldn't be tagged as an illegitimate daughter because of you two."

"neither of us want a marriage of convenience, father." jimin stated. "even when it is for the sake of the daughter you both claim to love so much?" the man stared at him questioningly.

his son paused, unable to find the right response to that on time. "sleep on it, son. and do not forget that if the board gets to know of your...situation, they would be less inclined to let you take control of the business. if you can't take responsibility for your private life, then how can they put the business and the lives of the several people that work for us in your hands with confidence?"

jimin's eyes blinked furiously, casting downwards as the words settled in and danced around in his head. he realised he would be thinking of that question for a while. the effect he was sure his father had hoped to have.

"you may leave now." myungsoo dismissed, eyes moving back down to the open file in front of him as he slipped his glasses back on. "and take it with you." he gestured to the engagement ring as jimin got on his feet. pausing and staring at it for a moment, he picked it up, slipping it into the pocket of his black slacks.

he bent in a respectful bow and left the study, his mind feeling cloudy with thoughts.

☀☀☀

double update because it's the last day of this sucky year. might post a third at 00:00 over here