AGUST D HAEGEUM (2023)

AGUST D HAEGEUM (2023)

haegeum | myg | teaser. | m

pairing. yoongi x female reader

genre. crime au , smut , thriller (?)

w. (M) mentions of smoking, k*lling, blood and guns ( teaser )

wc. 0.6k for the teaser

main fic

She knew something was wrong when she looked at him in the CCTV footage frame by mind numbing frame,for the first time.

However, she her doubts were confirmed when she saw him in the alley, for the second time—skinny, hunched,coated with crimson, smoking— and realised he was the danger rather than being in danger himself.

And the third time she saw him, was in her own custody, but she knew something about this man never changed ever since she first laid her eyes on him.

“ didn't mean to kill the president, my bad. ”

His bloody wrists remains cuffed— she wonders silently if the cuffs burnt into his skin, for why his flesh seemed to be more than bruised, injuries were spread all over. But once again, that particular glint in his eyes told her that it was nothing new for him.

“ You didn't? ” her reply comes back as a question, implied with a cool sentiment. His eyes rest somewhere down the table she's seated on, particularly on the gun that rests atop. However, his eyes slowly travels up to her own, and she is surpirsed to see how dark they are. The last time she saw them, they were…brown?

“ Remember to always have the lock on your gun always, officer. ”

“ Beating around the bush won't free you from here, D. ” a small laugh, a displeased one. A light exhale, and once again his eyes trailed down to anywhere but away from hers.

“ I always get away, officer. ”

His eyes flick to hers own, a certain hue of coldness flashing across. Maybe she was an officer, but the slightest of the shivers which ran down her spine was undeniable.

There was a thing to argue on : he was pretty. A criminal with a pretty face was dangerous, for why she sensed him as the danger in the first place. From the ridges of his brow to his feline shaped eyes, and the smooth skin had something to do with the carnal impulses this man had.

“ And how is that, if I may ask you?” No sardonic reply came back, not even a chuckle. His curled hair fell elegantly around his neck and forehead, and you wonder again if he knows how beautiful he is. You ponder that he does, the reason he's so cocky about himself in the first place.

“ You're rather nosy for a cop, officer. ”

“ It's my job to interrogate, D. ” And maybe this reply coaxed a small, harsh laugh at you, almost like a hiss. The atmosphere feels rather compelling for you, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out that the atrocious behaviour has a single intention, and that is to piss the system off.

His eyes suddenly dart up to your own, and you see the malice behind them, floating in subtle threats. His face, slowly comes your view, dried blood sticking to the corner of his mouth.

And his lips quirk upwards so full of amusement, that it did feel like a laugh, but it perplexed you, because a rather alarming siren within a distance was heard.

A single commotion had your whole office premises in shambles, because this notice meant a single thing.

Red alert.

230417 - jimin on weverse: 💜

JUNGKOOK for Calvin Klein

𝐀 𝐏 𝐑 𝐈 𝐂 𝐈 𝐓 𝐘 — 𝟎.𝟏

banner by @itaeewon 🌹

pairing. min yoongi x female reader (oc)

genre. arranged marriage au, angst,fluff,eventual smut

contains : overthinking , toxic parenting , angst but nothing too serious. not edited, maybe is full of grammatical mistakes

wc : 5.8k

chapter index | next | taglist

Yoongi never really cared for seasons.

Or, the weather, in particular.

For his part, he was often told that he's an observant person, and often wonders if he's really observant; when now he hears a couple, or maybe, a couple to be, for he assumes, bickering about the how chilly it is. He's seated beside them in a considerable distance, and in his peripheral vision, he could see how loving they seem to be.

Their small bickering doesn't really bothers him or irritates him at this point, surprisingly, even after the day he had. And now he feels, or rather observes, unknowingly, that the couple bickering is really a married couple.

He normally would've not payed two straws, but he really wonders about the weather now within their small, yet in hushed tones,

"Its really not normally this cold in autumn, agh!"

" pah, dont be so dramatic. You're just making excuses to lay your cold ass feet on my warm tummy to warm yourself up!"

" Its not my fault that i'm naturally freezing and youre a furnace, hubby."

" Blame your anaemic ass for that,wife. Not the weather…" the guy rolles his eyes and he sees the lady purse her lips and snort angrily, much to the guy's amusement. However, his pleasure seems to be only small, as now Yoongi now amusedly himself watches the lady stick her tongue out and quip back,

" Ah, then how 'bout you lend me your trench coat then, love. Since its not so cold for you, so it maybe is not much use for you, no?" , and Yoongi is aware of the ghost of a smile that hangs on his own face as he watches the guy visibly become pale and shake his head, suddenly squirming away from her hands which are on the coat's lapels.

And the bickering goes on for a few more minutes, Yoongi watches them with a silent air,laughing and snuggle onto eachother, and the lady speaks up,

" I wish if I could unmarry you."

" Ah, sorry, love. You're struck with me, and I love you."

The confession seems to melt her, resonding back with an eager I love you more, idiot, as he watches them both with wide smiles, cuddle closer for warmth.

Suddenly Yoongi feels the autumn wind flush against his cheeks to be cold.

Yet again, the strange feeling, or rather the sudden pang in his chest returns; and there's a faint thought inside him. He tries burying it inside him but however fails, as he himself desires that warmth, that protection from the cold. Not only the cold of the weather; but maybe also the cold Within which sometimes is scarier than the freezing cold.

And there's again the irrational thought bubbling inside him…Would that ever be you, that woman to him he's now made to make a match with; the woman whom he's yet to see or talk to; but hthe strange feeling in his heart won't fade from his system as he tries to shake any thoughts, yet its surprising how the faintest of the irrational of thoughts can turn into full time, disturbing thoughts which refuse to leave your head.

He cannot stop thinking about you. The person whose name he heard some few hours ago, the name which hasn't left his thoughts since then. Is that weird?

"_____." is his thought at present, and he still hasn't spoken out your name out loud. Is that weird?

He'll meet his fiance, for the first time.

He releases a breath; glances at his wrist watch. 5:30 PM, it reads. Alright, so he and gets up from the seat, because the time has come; and his troat slighty feels dry.

He prays that nothing weird or out of way goes by in the later hours today, for his heart feels that it's in a greater rush than he was ( he wasn't. nope. ) and fly out of his ribs.

As weird as that was, he prays that he didn't look like a creep of some sort; and walks out of the park.

Okay, now saying that out loud makes it weirder. Stop that, Yoongi. You can do it, he encourages himself and to his own surprise, turns back to glance the couple, maybe out of genuine curiosity, with whose curious eyes he met instantly, and Yoongi feels the hot rush of blood to his whole face. He doesn't know why did he do that, and turns back instantly.

Autumn this year indeed feels cold, Yoongi thinks.

Not only because its cold: so cold that it feels like a december when he's supposed to be wearing a crappy and itchy Christmas sweatshirt, dealing with the little rascals, his nephew and niece, and the viusal in his head makes his release a short breath; those two little kids, they don't..they maybe don't really know how much do they mean to him, and he hopes the little affection he shows to them can be enough for them, he can only hope.

And he hopes, almost with a desparate wish, that Christmas this year goes the same without any idifference in any part.

Yes,he was maybe exicted in this before as he had started but instaneously, a text on his phone washed off everything from his mind.

5:45 PM : received

min : "Don't try to squeeze your mind into something when its something not of your buisness, remember that "

He didn't open the text thread, and the notification was enough to make his lips press to thin line of annoyance.

Was this his marriage or his?

However, he cannot expect anything else from his father,so..

Here goes nothing, he thinks and enters his car, exiting the supermarket with some packets of gifts, a " token of love and promies ", something he couldn't get a grasp on, but however, he was told to do so, or maybe rather instructed to do so.

" Take some gifts with you. Eatables, mostly. Don't go on using that head of yours and buying somethimg that shall highly disppoint rather than pleasing, son. You have to impress, and so with a small token of love and to promise there's more in the future coming by".

His voice was full of what ' all that glitters isn't gold ' , and the word 'son' leaving his lips made Yoongi lose his mind totally, for he wished not many things, but to just not hear that word coming out of his lips and remind him that he was inherited of that awful man's blood within him.

It all began when his secretary, Jungkook entered his office, but not with his usual jouvial exprssion nor with his air of humor around him. Its once agin one of Yoongi's observations, that even if the young man tries his best ro remain professional within the office hours, he's never faking anything; doesn't need to.

Apart from being his secretary, he's his good friend, someone who shares his hot hotteok with Yoongi during lunch time and occasionally reminding him of him being a human and not a machine who just stays and works; accompanying him to his tours and making him smile the widest with his own. Interaction with someone younger often reminds Yoongi he isn't really that old as he thinks himself to be. In general, work with his friend isn't as terrible as without him, and even if he doesn't and won't admit that out loud, he looks forward to the young face of Jungkook.

Today, his face was nothing sort of what Yoongi is often used to, for the edges of his pierced eyebrows seem tense; showing that he's tense, though he tries his best to hide that behind that professional facade. Yoongi knows that its just the pretence and a sign of something not right.

And he was just right.

" Mr. Min, your schedule is, uh, disturbed. " I saw that coming, Jeon. But he bites that back, and motions him to speak further by a suggestive nod.

" Your, uh, er, father Mr. Min is coming to visit you.."

" Today? "

" Yeah, er… within twenty minutes."

Yoongi can tell how hard he's trying to not to stammer himself, knowing that maybe Yoongi and his father don't really share the best relationship, or even a relationship if to be called so.

" How did that happen? "

" A phone call. He approached me in that dry tone, asking about your schedule. I really didn't wanted to give it to him at the brink. Guess he read my hesistance and flipped me saying that he could get the access to it from his server himself , and this call was just a formality so its not suspected that he hacked into your systems or..er,.. I had to bite back a scoff, and.." At this he trails off and sighs, and Yoongi nods, knowing the young man's dislike towards his father and he was glad he didn't have to feign eitherwise.

" Its alright. Jeon. don't even expect anything better than that from him, and thanks for not pressing on it." Jungkook barely nods, almost as if still guilty.

" But what the fuck is he coming here for?"

" Dunno that. Laughed like a wolf when I sent him your schedule, almost as if it really was a formality and told me that he'll be here within 30, and the meeting would take " 10, or maximum 15, and would then vanish into thin air, not needing to see the " sickening" face of yours. As if his own face can make a dead man alive. The opposite, I beleive." At the sickening part Jeongguk makes inverted commas in the air with his pointers, with a scowl on his face. Yoongi didn't know if he should laugh at this, not only because the young man's usual patience seemed to be running low and was equally irritated, but because the situation was tight, and he bit back his thoughts of amusement. But the manifest of the terrible presence of his father made his head throb already.

maximum 15 minutes, ha? Let's see.

The " meeting " took way more longer than 10 or 15 minutes. So here now, he was, three days after the " meeting " with his father took place.

The traffic was surprisingly less as of today, or maybe he wonders why, is because of the different path he's taking. His phone gps shows that he's going the right path, and it would take him nearly more 20 mins to the red arrow on his screen.

And he doesn't miss the way his pulse has a visible change, again.

Alright, now as he tapped on the steering wheel as he waits for the traffic to be cleared. He thought, hah.

So to distract his mind, his sight trails off to his side seat, and Hershey's kisses, three boxes of them lies top on eachother and some chocolate bars packed neatly with a bow.

Shit, was he supposed to have the boxes packed too? He didn't know.

How could he? He never really.. had any sort of alliances with females except employees and his once used to be assistant before jeongguk.

For his male friends, a nice treat to drinks till they had passed out on the bar counter was enough for what he perceived as " gifts " , and yeah. His nephew and neice, were happy enough with treats of pizza's and chocolates. Well, maybe even some occasional toy sets, too.But he had never gifted them packed chocolates.. And for a part he thinks he's alright with chocolates as gifts…

But what if you didn't like choclates?

WHAT IF?

Ah…ha..ha.. maybe you did, because there had to be reason why Jeongguk had suggested him to..seeing he had quite experience with women, comparatively much more than Yoongi's himself. No wonder he had caught ladies staring or rather ogling at the younger man who drank carelessly and was so confident with them at all occasions, unlike Yoongi who had to pretend he didn't care, or rather was like..he didn't know how to be confident with them.

But one thing he didn't know is, that he was the centre of attention for ladies too, but nevermind that.

Nevermind the way that woman in the cash counter at the supermarket had such wide eyes, when she realised who indeed was infront of the counter, the same man who stood in the cover page of Vogue magazine this week. Nevermind the lady's whole crimson face when Yoongi shot her the faintest of smiles when the transaction was over, nevermind her trembling hands as she handed him the confectionaries. Nevermind her thoughts as she faintly wished that the chocolates were rather for her as she watched him leave. Nevermind.. all the times when Yoongi had not only women, but also men staring at him, he never really thought of it.

" Food is a way to one's heart, a thing I'd hate to agree with your father. " Jeongguk had said that with a confident nod, and continued,"..Ladies really like chocolates, you know? I know, I know.."

" But what if she doesn't like it? " Yoongi was typing an email, but his mind was on the coversation with jeongguk: He wouldn't be in peace till he gets to the roots of it. And he doesn't miss the way the younger cocks a brow with him with his lips turned up of what he can call as a smirk, and insolently had passed a laugh.

" There's no harm in trying, hyung. You're strangers, for now, and maybe that would be a way, a chance to know eachother better? "

So now he has reached the destination he was supposed to, cause the mentioned address seems this one and the same is shown in his screen of GPS. His heart feels like its on his throat now, and even in the faintest of the coughs may have the organ out in his hands. Almost. Its basically throbbing now, and Yoongi winces at the feeling: he's not used to this, because never in his life has he felt so nervous like this. Not even at the tightest of situations he has ever been, and now he can't tell if its one of them; it shouldn't be, because it apparently was just a meeting. He filled in deep inhales, and reminded himself of all what he was told to. He didn't want to; but maybe that was the human nature, to find solace in the matters which makes them feel even shittier. Or maybe that was Yoongi's nature, because all the siuations he had been nervous in, had all turned shit in the end.

No matter how hard he tried to keep everything at bay and work hard to be confident and tell himself that it shall be okay.

Not always hardwork brings success, he thinks.

He didn't want to overthink; he really didn't want to. He wanted this meeting to go totally plain as his father wanted it to be, without any "show-offs"..and the faintest part of him, throbbing with his impatient heart wants it to be eitherwise.

Only if his heart hadn't had reminded how irrational that smaller part iis, and how wrong, how painful, how utterly shit it had been the last time when he chose to choose that path, the path who wannted to feel, the part who wanted to be loved.

So he shuts down every thought inside him, and taking the boxes in his hands, gets down the car.

Alright Yoongi, alright. What worse can happen? Fighting.

He really hopes the worst doesn't really happen.

Outfit? check.

Hair? Double check.

Shoes? Check.

Breath? Deca-check ( not that he really had to do anything with it, nor his breath stank like garlic , but it matters anyway and was important. Very important. Thanks to the mint he was chewing. Thanks, bud.)

Chocolates in his hands? Check.

Despite his check list, a quick peek at the rear mirror and a shake to this long, flowy hair which parted so beautifully at his forehead and curled slightly about his nape makes him a bit more presentable. But he wasn't really thinking about his pretty hair or his way of presenting himself. He didn't absolutely know why was he so nervous, its just a goddamned meeting.

Yes, with the girl with whom he was getting married to.

Well..

Everything in order? All check.

Whew… here goes nothing again.

**

His surroundings for what he felt from his senses, was just fine art.

Artworks hung on photoframes of different cultures,and if possible he could even tell for some of them- all of them vulnerable enough to be held in a gallery or a museum. All of them finished with varnish, oil paintings, canvases, pieces of crafts which he knew, was a fine representation of the Korean culture; and such artworks which held significance to cultures around the world. Thick, beige curtains, fine Indian tapestry with bright colours, vermillion and corn yellow. Flower vases, beautifullyy blue with strokes of fine Chinese strokes. A statue of the Tree of Tenere, a Turkish rug on which his feet was placed on, he felt quite inferior to be placing his feet on the artwork: if he could, he would sit on it and observe the symbols and the colours woven so tactfully with geometrical patterns.

He felt quite, or maybe..really stupid, that even rotating his head to a full 360, it felt that it was not enough, and he ought to pay to watch such fine artworks as one does in a museum. Holy moly, he wasn't a much of an artistic person, but his enthusiasm was raised above the radar. And he could name the cultures of only a few, and couldn't name most of them; but he feels utterly, or somewhat in a bigger part, comfortable.

He was told that you were an artist, but fuck… were these all of your tastes? Were you really such an artistic person?

A happy thought had struck him the moment he thought about this, because he could have some help from his cousin Taehyung,who was just the right person to be seeked out, and with his help, he could engage in conversations all day long about artworks and maybe can even befriend you. That won't be weird or awkward.

He was currently seated on a soft tan sofa and his cheeks hurt from smiling so much.

The smile would've been a bit more natural, only if the presence beside him wouldn't have been there with his arms around Yoongi's shoulders, making Yoongi feel much stuffy and all more nervous. He didn't expect his father to be already seated in the humble house of Park's ( Though he has been here for only ten minutes, he felt that humble was the correct word to describe the house. ) with a saccharine smile plastered on his face, the smile which Yoongi knew oh, so well. The smile which at anyone's first glance would seem like a sweet, elderly smile, but Yoongi knew better. If not sweet, or elderely, a hellish bound intention was always behind that smile, and he at this moment prayed that let it be once, once, that his smile, if not genuine, be it not the one with its real meaning.

He wasn't afraid of it; he has never been; but he's scared for someone he is bound to.

The one sitting opposite to him, between Mr. and Mrs. Park, and within the sweet caresses of a comparatively little girl seated nearby, a soft smile adorning her cheeks; the apples of her cheeks slightly rising at every comment her little cousin makes, an occasional laugh leaving her lips.

You.

He was scared for you.

He has seen plrentiful of faces round his years of youth, and can read them like open book pages. The creases or the intensity of their eyes told him enouugh he needed to, and he knew enough. You, you held a bold, but a humble air around you,which he knew was necessary; which came with an innoncence. Not the innocence one would perceive at the first lance, because, the struggles of life evident within couln't affect the sweetness, the tenderness of your face; the innocence, which he feared, at the first glance, was unaware of everything and anything the man seated beside him was capable of. You were beautiful, unlike all the other women he had ben set up to or had seen: proudly buzzing about their wealth and indignance at the liberty. Who don't take a no as an answer.Those women, who didn't have simplicity as their cup of tea; All the bashful, prideful women.

You, were just the opposite. He has seen for only for some quick minutes, but he already knew that you are so, so different from all those people. You don't hesistate to laugh out loud; which he just loved, because you were aware how beautiful your laugh sounded. You didn't pretend for anything, you were just as you were. Your eyes told him a lot about you which even you yourself might not know; Even he was sure with the secretive, warning nudges of your mother at your side to behave, and Yoongi knows just as he was, you were told to be decent, too.

But you didn't pretend, and just were as you were.

" The more humble the heart is, the softer the head stands at the neck, " he remebers seeing that quote in the instagram story of Taehyung, but he's unsure if he remebers the exact one and has forgotten who had quoted that.

Within the soft ringing sounds of laughter he felt his father's hand twitch on Yoongi's shoulders, and he didn't give a fuck if it was a signal or some sort, and he couldn't care less. Just as he had expected, Mr Park and Mrs.Park were such kind people, their elderly love adding more to the humbleness of the house that Yoongi himself felt so much at ease and their behaviour towards them was so, so genuine and sweet that Yoongi had already developed a liking towards them ( and their fondness to the chocolates too, waah ) But however, there was something fishy indeed going on with his father.

When was it not?

And his suspicions were roused even more when his father groaned lightly, and removed his hand on his shoulders trying to be not much showy of his discomfiture. He guessed he's not used to meetings like these, with such hospitality, such kindness within and no facades on and meetings which actually aren't meetings and are something warm, something which a brute like him couldn't understand. Serves him right,Yoongi thought.

Presently, or apparantly, Mrs. Park was evidently aware of his father's actions and asked him if he was alright and if he needed him to whhich he answered so sweetly which made Yoongi shudder in cringe, " Ah, no, Mrs. Park. Old age has begun to tell on me, haha. If these children are growing up, we're all growing bckwards, ah. " Yoongi never particularly understood this statement, but it presently made the elderly couple smile and his father shift a bit. All the while, he could see whenever he peeked down to grab his cup of steaming tea, in his vision, that your eyes secretly were on him.. Almost as if you had something to tell, but your expressions devoid of such each time he actually looked at you; but eyes speak enough. The longing in your eyes were evident that you wanted to speak, but so far, he had only heard you intoducing yourself with a small smile and tall to your little cousin now dozing off to sleep in your lap.

And he doesn't miss the way your smaller hands stroke the child's hair as she sleeps profoundly.

And now his father with a small hum, began " Ah. Enough of us oldies speaking. If we don't let the youth speak together, that won't be fair at all!! " And with an equally cringing laugh which Yoongi hated, so much. " The new generation says, ' communication is the sole way out. Oh dear me, if you were only fifty years older!" Which was again returned with soft laughters and here now Mr. Park speaks up, his attention diverted to you, and with a small pat on your head md nods. nods, " Go, my honeybun. Young Mr. Min is a nice man, and talk to him as long as you want. " He didn't really liked to be called so by someone older than him and his sooon to be relative, but he hoped he could read your eyes which were on your father. But for your father, there was a certain hint of gratitude filled within.

" Ah, uncle….Yoongi, please call me Yoongi. "

And as he got up, he felt the demanding eyes of his own father burn through the back of the skull, seemingly wanted to him to look back, or make a signal, but he did nothing and got up to walk towards the far end balcony, as he saw you advance towards it with a slow pace so that he could catch up with her. Surprisingly, his pulse wasn't nearly so quick as it had been before, and he can only blame that despite not talking to eachother directly in any ways, he kinda felt at ease with you, and could even tell about you being on his head for the rest of the week. Well, not that he would actually say you that.

But however,he didn't miss the immense sense of satisfaction which filled his insides with his small rebellious act.

But he thought none of them when he felt, or rather he thought he hallucinated for a sure minute when he felt the touch, a brush of warm fingers. It was so slight, anyone could say it was barely there,or wasn't there, or was accidental. And he didn't want to think what he actually wanted to think. Because a flushed face wouldnt really be something for a great impression, and besides, he swears he felt within his periperhal vision, your innocent eyes, gazing directly at him. Oh, now, he really wanted to think that it wasn't just an accidental touch…

Goddamit Yoongi, focus!

**

" Its an anonymous quote. Or so, the sources have been too old to know who actually quoted that. " You answer softly to Yoongi's curious query when he asked if you knew about that certain quote, and he was slightly { read : v e r y } happy with himself that he didn't had to open the conversation with the awkward hii"s and hello's; moreover the mention of the quote had somewhat brightened your face, your eyes, and you seemed to be at ease more than what he saw in the living room.

" This is why I couldn't remember it properly, I suppose.." was his timid reply, just expectant of you knowing about the quote, he turned to lok at you directly, though you were still facing the sky, your side profile only being visible to him. Your expressions were oeaceful, but Yoongi desparately wanted to know what your thoughts were. He hoped his behaviour didn't make you feel uncanny or some sort..

Yoongi currently stood beside you in the balcony, silently basking in the cold fall winds ,watching the birds depart to their homes after the day's work as the sun finally lowered more and more down the horizon, the sky being a mix of light vermillion-pink with white clouds floating by. some occasional leaves glided swiftly through the soft breeze,it was a soft twilght.

Conversations with you were so easy, and hopefully not as awkward. You were smart, he found out, and just an art enthusiast as well. A confident, voice with tones of softness was how you sounded, and he really felt more and more at ease with you.

However, Yoongi's stomach churned, churned with such a plight of exictement,nervousness(?) and slight anticipation through the small conversation. The queation which bubbled, boiled inside his head since so long, he wanted to ask you, but definetely not in a weird way. You both were surprisingly still not at the topic of your marriage; it was a normal conversation, and as the minutes passed by, the urge increased, more and more, almsot getting irresistable.

And so again, here goes something.

" Do you want this marriage? "

Your eyebrows shoot upwards, and your eyes widen, and he sees,if anything, he can tell his question completely caught you off guard.

With some quick blinks, he sees you prepare yourself and finally turn to im. Your expression is still slightly of surprise, but however, he sees you release a breath.

" Before I answer you, Mr. Min…do you? "

He should've expected that. However, he didn't find it weird , because he isn't going to reply that he was curious to meet you, and didn't really ponder whether he actually wanted it or not, because he didn't really have an option eitherwise; to think and say yes or no. He was just told, as how examination dates are announced…you have no other option but to accept your fate.

Thats the hell of a comparision.

But now as he was asked….

He knows that you might be aware, too.

And so he decides to opt for a slow headnod, rather than any verbal response, because he's unsure of what to say, and he hopes,, through his nod, you can understand, I do.

His nod seems to have roused something in you.

He sees you look down, and waits for your answer. You're avoiding eye contact, not because you're shy, but something eitherwise.

" I don't. "

Oh.

Yoongi doesn't want to linger on it, he doesn't want to ponder on it. You don't want this marriage, and if so, he ought to leave immediately without your wishes. He doesn't wants you to be uncomfortable, and with a tiny nod which he's sure you noticed, turns his back to leave. But just as he moves forward, he feels the warm warm palm catch his wrist and give a tug.

He doesn't cares now about the way his heart struggled to get out of his throat again.

He catches your big, doe eyes staring intensely at him, with a flash of sadness, longing (??) within?

" Oh, Mr. Min…don't leave me alone.."

He now definetely feels the way his breath gets caught in his lungs. What do you mean?

" I don't mean it in such a way that I'm rejecting your proposal, Mr. Min. I wasn't really given an option whether to accept or reject..; I had to accept it, and I suppose it was the same way around you too? "

" It..it was. " he finaly had regained his power of speech, and now he didn't quite understand, but the small tug of his heart had stopped, and he rather felt releived, when he had ought not to, to know that you both were in the same boat.

You release your grip from his wrist, and sees you take a breath again.

“ I just said it because despite having no other options, I don't want to get married……" You muttered something in the end, which he quite couldn't understand, and suddenly a thought strikes him.

" Is it because you despise guys like me? "

And now he really wants to smile the way your eyes widen as big as saucers, and with your smaller palms spread out, you wave immediately,

"No ! no, no, Mr. Min, its not so! its really no so! "

He really didn't like you calling him Mr. Min, but he could drag on for now.

" It was a small jest, ___. I was kidding. "

You look releived, and suddenly the confidence is back in you as you set your eyes firmly to his own.

" Its not because of who you are or your position, Mr. Min. I do not care much about what the internet says, and I respect you as a person. " You smile lightly as you bite your lips, and Yoongi nods for you to continue further.

" Its because, after years of applying and getting rejected, it was the last chance for me to be finally a visual designer for Valentino,which despite having many limitations,is the star of my dreams; only if I could attend the event at Singapore past this month, which on my presence, would approve me for so in the last streak. But past this month…." you trail off once again, and past this moth was supposed to be the month of your wedding, as what he heard in the discussion back in the living room. He doesn't miss the way your features falter visibly, including your eyes, and there's such dejection in them which hurts Yoongi himself. If anything, he knows your fondness for art,as an artist yourself,your goals were high and this might be really a huge chance for you, and you ought to succeed in it, follow your dreams, and be who you are. Not instead get tied in the marriage alliances at this young age…

" You really want to be in that event, dont you? "

No reply comes back; but the way your lips are tightly pursed, he can tell your answer.

Within the flash of your eyes, he sees a reflection of his own youth age, when he too had dreams like yours; when he too had aspirations full of bright colours, but they all were crushed, one after another, so slowly hard, that it prepared Yoongi to never not set aspirations for himself ever again.

And he definetely did not want the same to happen to you, too.

Setting his jaw firmly that it must not happen, he sets to leave, because he doesn't wants to be the barrier to your hopes, your dreams. He shall talk to his father. And it doesn't matter if he isn't willinng to understand. He shall go immediately and talk about it, and maybe even…

" Mr. Min! " Your brows are now furrowed with a worried look; alsmost a scared look on your face.

" If you're thinking about it, don't, Mr. Min. "

He halted his actions. There was something pulling you back, and he doesn't know what is it. He wants to hear all of it, as he always wanted to.

" You're kind to have considered my situation so quick and I cannot be more thankful to you, Mr. Min. However,if not me, my parents…they..they've never asked me for anything since ever I grew up. Even though they're not really willing towards art, not once did they ever protest or complain about me pursuing a major in arts and not in buisness or biology as I was expected to," he was listening carefully to you, all the while observing your features of your face. From the curve of your jaw, to the apples of your cheeks, the colour of your skin, the bump of your nose, the little moles and your pouty lips, and your eyes, the fluttering eyelashes as you spoke. You're beautiful, he thinks.

Your face had a certain flash of pain within the charms of beauty, as you continue,

" and this is the only thing they've ever asked me. I don't want to run away from it, or deny it. The debt I owe them, is beyond words, and my dream holds little signifcance in light against them; and cannot be ever paid off, but I just sincerely hope it can somehow lift some of it atleast, off my heart. I will try my best to be a good wife, Mr. Min." You look up at him again, the soft breeze making some of your strands flow so gracefully, and a very soft feeling crept up his heart. He silently absorbed your words, happy to know that you're sharing a piece of your heart to him. As your eyes lock, theres's a determintion in your eyes, which he feels is a good omen, perhaps. ' I will, so please I beg you, please don't think about calling off our wedding. "

Our.

And who is he go against your wishes, when you yourself want this? A part of him hopes that your dream won't be totally crushed, and you to fight for it, but if this wedding helps you in something, he would be more than glad but makes no mentions of it. Inappropriately there was no place for words when you had so hopefully asked him to.

He sees a dried maple leaf drift in the wind, and in the darkening shadows of the sky, watched it take homage in your hair, which you're oblivious to. The urge to take it off itches in his palms, and he again ignores the flutter of his heart at your small smile while all looking at his own eyes so deeply, almost as if you're trying to read him, too.

Raising his hands to gently untangle the dried leaf from your hair, he beams off with a small smile seeing your flushed cheeks and surprised face.

" I'll try to be a good husband, too. "

He should've bought a beanie along with him, because damn. Its cold out now.

But he doesn't dare to lift off the shutters of the car, as he thinks he's going to suffocate off the energy which the old man is radiating off at this point. He knows not what pissed him off, and doesn't takes the slihtest of interests to know so. All what he wants to is to get rid of this man for now, lie in bed and think of what hapened today. He's driving silently, but can very well sense the anger of his father, but decides to keep quiet about it. The Parks at their departure were kind as ever, and you had a small smile on your face, even if small, it was genuine.

And your eyes spoke, as if speaking to his own, thank you.

And he had smiled back, or tried to convey it through his smile, always.

" What did you two talk about?" Ah, here he goes. Inevitable! He should've known better that Mr. Old Min likes to hear each details till the speaker's jaws froze, but his ears never bled. Despite that, he keeps awfully quiet, enjoying more and more as he observes the old man getting more and more pissed at his silence and finally bursts out with his rage, amplified with tremble of his old age, " You son of a devil, I fucking asked you something!"

" Glad to know you're aware of what you are. "

" You motherfucker, answer me decently. "

" To what?"

"What.did.you.two.fucking.talk.about?!"

" Oh, I forgot. Besides, you're not the one getting married, so chill, father. "

Oh-oh. He didn't really manifest the grabbing of his sweather's collars by his faher, but wasn't in the slightest surprised about that. He can feel the red hot man's anger, but the shield Yoongi has developed over the years is immune to anything.

" Despite telling you all what you were supposed to, you were with her for almost an hour. " The wrath of his anger snorts on his own, but he shoves it off.

" It wasn't an oral exam, I suppose,father?"

His grip on his collar falters, and he hears the man snort loudly. He didn't care about him, and there was no fucking way he would tell his father whatever you told him today. You both were still if more or less, strangers; still, but acquainteces, and you had trusted him enough to tell him much, and he won't by any means would share it to anyone else.

"Before I answer you, Mr. Min…do you?"

He had never thought so; or maybe he did. Since the moment he was told he was getting married, he was unsure. He had dated only like twice,and the experience wasn't really great. This is marriage, a tie of promise forever, which is undoubtedly a very huge thing. People aren't really often so faithful to keep promises, though they promise them like a piece of cake. Some promises, he knew, are hard to keep forever, and he was uncertain of the ties of marriage alliances.

After talking to you, the uncertainity in him has reduced? he feels at peace, but however there is an intruisive feeling in the back of his heart which made him feel obnoxious. Things today went especillly well,, and he was scared that it went too well.

He just hopes that it goes well-

" Its indeed sad that the chick's dreams for her becoming a designer for Valentino would be shattered by you, son. "

Yoongi felt his blood freeze.

He didn't look at him directly;but by his tone could tell that he had that smug look on his face. Indeed, the obnoxious feeling was just right.

" Not me, father. It's you,because you haven't given either of us any options. "

" Whether that chick marries you or not,it'll be easy to lure her. Innocent chick, she is. " He continues almost as if he didn't hear Yoongi. Yoongi already feels his blood boil to hear this old man call you names, and he takes some deep breaths to calm himself down. This old man is doing everything on purpose to rile you up, Yoongi. Don't let him succeed.

" Even if she had this marriage called off or not, she's going to be a boon for the Min Textiles Inc. already, " he leans back, and Yoongi has to grip the steering wheel harder till his knuckles turn white and the cold wind feels like a slap on his face as he tries his best to stay calm. He hates how right he was about this old bitch being fishy, and he can arely tip that off.

" You didn't listen to me, son. So whether you like it or not, that chick would be lured in here to design for us, without any further queries. Yeseul would definetely be upgraded more for the designs the chick would be making. At the firtst glance at her little gallery, I knew this chick had her potential-"

" You'll be using the designs of ____ without crediting her,but Yeseul? Don't you have an ounce of shame in you, old man? "

Yoongi's voice was filled with hatred,but this just was like a hide-and-seek game for the old man.

" And what about it, son? "

You were in your vulnerable state when you spilled your heart out to him, and whatever the hell this man was trying to do, would just be so unfair, that even thinking of it makes Yoongi recoil with anger. He would not let you be used by anyone.

" Even if I had told her what exactly I was supposed to, I just know your intention was the same.." Yoongi breathed out in a fury, wanting to kick this man out of his car.

" Ah, my son has grown up smart. " And the audacity the man had to grin, he nearly wanted to punch those pearly whites out of that disgusting mouth. But Yoongi contained himself in the calm box, as far as he could. If this had to be the plan of this old bitch, and if he's challeging him,

all fucking right.

He will marry you. He will protect you, with all what he has.

But surely at the moment he did not think beyond his words and what meaning do they possibly hold. All what he wanted was to keep you away from the parasitic man, because he knows how is it to be affected by a parasite.

He will not let your innocence, your sparkle snatched away from you by this terrible shit with his terrible ways, he won't get him get away with it.

He would not let him.

Turning on the ignition again, he filled in deep breaths of oxygen again, as the words of the old man filled his ears.

He closed his eyes, and suddenly your smile was almost infront of him. Almost as if you're standing infront of him again.

I'll protect you. _____ and will keep you safe. I will take care of you.

It's a promise.

And he couldn't wait to marry you.

230410 - Yoongi on the cover of May issue of Marie Claire