XXIII

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She's sitting awfully still, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. Jungkook watches her with worry, unable to cope with the sudden change in her demeanour.

Just then he sees a tear escape her eye, in the darkness of the night it almost looks like a single sparkling jewel against her olive skin, and make its way down the smooth surface of her cheek. He wipes it away with his index finger.

She turns her head to look at him then, a slight tremble in her chin. She looks at him as if she'd completely forgotten his presence. At that moment he wants nothing more than to pull her close and keep her there for eternity.

"Are you alright?" His gentle voice makes it even harder for her to force back the tears threatening to pour out. She simply nods. "Do you think you can tell me the way?" he asks cautiously.

"Straight and then to the left from the junction."

He gives her one long look before starting the car again.

"If I haven't got my left and right wrong this should be it.." Jungkook says as he turns into another lane 15 minutes later.

He kills the engine and unstraps the seat belt ready to get out when he notices Y/N making no attempt to move. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"Why did you bring me here?"

He stares at her dumbfounded.

Why did he bring her here? What was the motive? He had felt his heart twist as he sat on the banks of the Han river listening to her talk about her grandmother and her life before moving to Seoul. The look in her eyes spoke a great deal. He had known then that he would do what was required to make her happy.

He's spared giving an answer when he catches sight of an elderly lady, a bundle of something under one arm, narrowing her eyes at them.

It's only when Jungkook hears the door slam shut that he realises Y/N has got out and is sprinting to the lady. The elderly lady drops the bundle in shock as she is engulfed by her granddaughter in a wide embrace. Jungkook gets out too, suddenly beginning to feel nervous.

"Y/N, my sweet child." She caresses her hair and Y/N's body shakes with each sob. Pulling her granddaughter away she holds her at arms distance, her eyes moving from her head down to her toes. Her wrinkles deepen as the soft look in her eyes disappearing. "Look at yourself!! Don't you get food in that city of yours?"

"Granny!!!" Y/N whines rolling her eyes indicating that this has been a frequent topic of discussion, one she didn't like.

The elderly lady's eyes then shift to Jungkook for the first time that evening, narrowing to form the most intimidating glare he's ever seen. "Who is that?"

Y/N turns around, wiping her eyes. She seems to grow a little uncomfortable pushing invisible strands of hair behind her ear. "Um... He is.. my boss."

Jungkook inwardly winces at the way she introduces him, but bows low in greeting anyway, "Hello. It's nice to meet you."

"Come on in then." She picks up the fallen bundle and walks into the house but not before shooting a disapproving look in the direction of Jungkook's car.

"I don't think she likes me," Jungkook says disappointingly.

"Oh no, it's not that she doesn't like you. She hates you." Y/N's smile reaches her crinkled eyes. He holds his breath realising that it is the first time she's really smiled at him. He finds his own lips tugging upwards.

"Can't you at least lie to reassure me?"

"Let's go." She takes his hand pulling him towards the house laughing.

*****


Jungkook awkwardly sits at the dinner table gazing down at the empty space in front of him. Y/N and her grandma are in the kitchen preparing dinner.

"Stop blocking my way, child. Get out of the kitchen!" he hears a voice say.

"Let me help you." Y/N protests are followed but a defeated sigh.

"Take this food out then." A few seconds later Y/N comes out balancing three large bowls in her hands. Her eyes are fixed on her hands, making sure she drops nothing. He quickly stands up to help her earn another bright smile.

As everyone sits down to eat, Jungkook can't help but gawk at the several varieties of dishes before he fit to feed a dozen people that makes him salivate.

"Thank you for the food!" Y/N sings.

"Aren't you going to eat, boy?" He looks up to see the same look on her face.

"Thank you for the food." He says averting his eyes quickly.

He drinks a spoonful of beef soup and instantly feels the warmth spread through him, easing his exhausted body. He watches fondly as her grandma fusses over Y/N's thin form blaming Seoul and then her employer for overworking her, at which point he feels that the jab was aimed at him causing guilt to stir in his belly.

"So what is it that you do?" He chokes on the food he'd been about to swallow and looks at Y/N for help.

"He's a singer."

"Singer?" She does not look in the least bit impressed. He suddenly feels a sense of disappointment. Why is he trying to gain her approval anyway?

"Yes, and a very good one at that too." He looks at Y/N surprised at her words and sees a light colour appearing on her cheeks.. or maybe he's imaging things.

"What are you even wearing, Y/N?" Her grandma scrutinizes her choice of clothing. Jungkook lets out an inaudible sigh, glad that the topic of discussion has shifted away from him.

"What wrong with what I'm wearing?"

"You young kids, I will never understand how holes are fashionable."

Jungkook finds himself placing a hand protectively over his knee that is exposed. When he reaches for his bowl of rice he realises that the quantity has doubled.

I swear this was almost empty the last time I checked..

"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Is that all you're going to eat?" He hears Y/N snicker next to him and he immediately takes that as an ominous sign.

"Oh, no... I ate a lot. The food is very delicious."

"Of course it is." She reaches across the table and takes his bowl, which he managed to empty with great difficulty, and heaps it with a mound of rice. "Eat up now."

With a nervous gulp, he accepts the bowl back and stares at the white rice grains as if trying to make them disappear magically. He turns to Y/N who covers her mouth hiding her laugh. 'Help' he mouths to her and she moves her hand away giving him a sympathetic yet reassuring nod. He's put to ease.

"Oh Jungkook, look at your soup bowl it's empty" He frowns at her, the ease he'd felt only moments ago fleeting away. "Granny, maybe he'll like more soup."

He feels his jaw drop open. "Oh no no, please. I'm full." He slumps back in his chair when another bowl of soup is pushed his way.

What have I got myself into?

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