Heedlessly in Love

The sky, which used to be a bright blue, has now turned pale and cloudy, like it's wearing a blanket of mist and fog. It's a sign that rain is on its way. And just as we start to notice the change, raindrops begin to fall gently from the sky, making a soft sound as they land on the ground. It's like nature's own music, calming and peaceful. The air feels fresh and chilly, carrying the smell of damp earth. It's like the earth is getting ready to refresh itself, promising new beginnings.

'Promising new beginnings'

The brunette standing under the shades of the bus stop sighed and kept his bag on his head before stepping into that puddle of water. "I should have brought an umbrella," he muttered to himself, quickening his stride.

Isn't there something special about the melody of rain as it begins to fall, catching us unprepared in its cool embrace? The evening's dampness, a refreshing surprise, becomes even more enchanting when shared with someone dear to us. Together, the rain’s gentle touch and the shared smiles seem to weave a simple yet profound joy, turning a soggy evening into a cherished memory.

The brunette's hurried steps slowed and finally stopped as he approached the wooden gate of a modest, single-story house nestled under the welcoming arms of old oak trees.

The home, with its cozy appearance and flower-lined front path, seemed to beckon him in from the rain. With a relieved smile, he pushed open the gate, the familiar creak mingling with the sound of the raindrops, making him feel instantly at home. As he stepped onto the covered porch, he shook off the rain, expectation of warmth and dryness washing over him just as surely as the rain had drenched him moments before.

He made a beeline for the veranda, where he quickly set his bag down on the dry wooden floor the moment he was under the protective cover of the roof. The relief of escaping the unexpected rain was palpable. As he stood there, the comforting sound of raindrops drumming on the roof filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of wet pine from the surrounding trees.

"Ah, Kookie. Where is appa? Why did you get wet in the rain?" A woman, likely in her late 50s, emerged from the cottage, concern etched across her face as she addressed him.

"I forgot to take an umbrella, mamma" he confessed as his fingers combing through his wet, shoulder-length black hair in an attempt to smooth it down.

"But appa came to the bus stop with an umbrella for you," she responded with a hint of amusement in her voice. She then turned back into the house, reappearing moments later with a fluffy bath towel in her hands. She handed it to him.

"Oh, but I didn't see him. Maybe appa took the west lane and I took the east," he replied, trying to piece together the missed connection.

His mother hummed thoughtfully, then guided him toward the nearest chair after seeing how lazily he was drying his hair. She immediately grabbed the towel from his hands and took over the task, briskly rubbing the towel through his damp locks.

"You will get sick, Jungkook," she scolded him gently, her tone tinged with disappointment and concern. She continued to dry his hair, ensuring not a strand remained wet.

"Mm.. Dad didn't go to the shop today?" Jungkook asked, curious about his father's usual routine.

"Mm. But he came back at noon. There were a few black peppers that needed picking, so he took care of that," his mom replied, her fingers gently combing through his dryer hair.

"Alone?" he inquired, wondering if his father had help. "No, Jinie visited today. So he helped out," she explained, sitting down beside him on the veranda.

"And he left already? Why didn't he wait for me?" Jungkook asked, his eyes scanning the yard for Jin’s scooter.

"Mm. Actually, he came because he needed some money. Namjoon’s business is struggling right now, so they’re having a hard time," his mom shared, her voice lowering a bit as she spoke of her elder son's struggle. Jungkook hummed, listening to her.

"I had some cash on me. Last week, your appa got his pension. Mm. So, I gave that to him," she added hesitantly, unsure of how her son would react. Jungkook hummed again.

"I'll take a bath then," he said, standing up from the wooden chair. He walked inside to his room, leaving the conversation behind as he prepared to wash away the day's stress and rain.

After closing and locking the door behind him, Jungkook hung his bag on the doorknob. He quickly peeled off his soaked clothes and wrapped himself in a bath towel, feeling relieved to be out of the cold, wet garments. As he made his way across the room to the table, a smile spread across his face after seeing several packets of his favorite chocolates spread out on the small table near the window. He lightly brushed his fingers over the colorful wrappers, a tangible reminder of small joys and comforts that his hyung might have left behind.

With a warm smile, he then turned and headed toward the restroom, ready for a warm bath to wash away the chill of the rain and the day's concerns.

Fresh from his bath and feeling refreshed, Jungkook could hear a familiar voice muffled by the walls as he stepped out of the washroom, dressed in a simple tee and pants. It sounded like his dad was back and talking in the dining room. He ran his fingers through his slightly damp hair to neaten it as he made his way to where the voices were coming from.

"Ah, Jungkookie. I waited for you at the bus stop. Were you heavily soaked?" his dad asked with concern, the moment Jungkook entered the dining room.

"A little. I took the east lane. Since the path was filled with trees, I didn't catch much rain," Jungkook explained. "Mm. Did you eat something?" his father inquired, his brow furrowing slightly with parental concern. "Not yet," his mom answered for him, stepping into the conversation as she placed a mug of steaming coffee and some snacks in front of him. She also laid down a brown envelope, which seemed out of place among the casual fare.

Jungkook's attention was instantly drawn to the brown envelope his mother had placed alongside the snacks. "Mom," he said, indicating the envelope with a sigh. "Just see it. The agency sent them today," she explained, her voice tinged with a mix of excitement and anticipation as she sat down next to him.

Jungkook hesitated and pushed the envelope back slightly, more interested in the comforting warmth of his coffee. He blew gently on the steam rising from the mug, trying to avoid the conversation he sensed was coming.

"There are a few good matches. One is even a doctor," she continued enthusiastically, hoping to pique his interest.

"Doctor? Do you think a doctor would choose a simple receptionist?" he replied, his tone almost mocking the idea as he shook his head at what he considered his mother’s unrealistic matchmaking.

"Then leave that. Look at the rest," she suggested, not willing to press the point, as she started to pull out photographs from the envelope.

Jungkook took a deep breath, picked up his mug, and moved to the living room. He settled onto the couch and turned on the television, trying to create a distraction from the impending discussion about marriage prospects.

"Do you love someone then?" his mother’s voice followed him, full of curiosity and a hint of concern. "No," he replied shortly, his gaze shifting from the TV to meet hers. "Then, what's the problem?" She sat beside him again, persistent.

"Ah appa, do you still want her? I am going to throw her into that canal," Jungkook joked half-heartedly to his father, trying to lighten the mood as he gestured towards his mother. His dad just smiled, used to their banter. "At least, see it once, Bun" he advised calmly, encouraging his son to at least consider the options.

"Mm." Jungkook sighed, the resignation clear in his breath, as he finally took the photographs from his mother’s hands, agreeing to look through them, if only to appease his parents’ concern for his future.

As Jungkook held the first photograph in his hand, an excited smile spread across his mother's as she started to detail each potential match, her voice filled with a mix of hope and anxiety as she described the first candidate.

"Cha Eunwoo, a government clerk. He works with the water department. He is the youngest in the family. Isn't he handsome?" she asked, taking the photograph from Jungkook's hand and studied it keenly and showed him. Jungkook glanced at it briefly and set it aside without much comment.

"Next, Kim Mingyu. He works as an accountant at Care well hospital. His family consists of four members like us," she said, hoping to draw a parallel that might appeal to him. But Jungkook seemed disinterested and placed that photo aside as well.

"You didn't like Mingyu? I liked him. Ah. And This.. This is Lee Min Ho, a teacher. He only has his mother. His father died a few years back. He is an only child," she explained, smiling gently as if to soften the somber details looking at the next photo her son was holding. Jungkook acknowledged the information with a nod, but again, he set the photo down.

"Kim Taehyung," she continued, her voice slightly hesitant as Jungkook picked up another photograph. "Actually, Joon's mamma brought this. We have already rejected it." Jungkook looked at the photo longer this time, perhaps curious about the previous rejection. "He is a civil contractor. He has a mother and a sister. His appa died a few years back. But the thing is," she paused, her voice lowering, clearly uneasy about what she was about to reveal. "He was previously married and has a six-month-old daughter." Jungkook took another glance at the photograph.

The weight of his mother's expectations and the complexities of each prospect's background seemed to hang in the air. He finally looked up at his mother, whose brows were knotted with concern, likely pondering how her son would react to these revelations, especially the last one.

"His first wife passed away during childbirth," she remarked, her voice fragile with grief. Jungkook merely hummed in response, his expression unreadable. He gently placed the photograph on the table, his fingers lingering on the edges as if he could touch the past of that person. The silence that followed seemed to hold the weight of the unspoken words between them.

"Leave it," she said, her voice tinged with disappointment. "This is Park Chanuel. He's a homeopath from a respected family. He has a small clinic in the town. Actually, we were considering this match. His family is father, mother, a sister who's still in school, and a brother who's already married and living separately with his own family. I showed Jinnie this photo early, he also liked this proposal." She smiled, hoping for approval by looking at her son with puppy eyes and hands clasped together in her lap.

"Good," Jungkook acknowledged, placing that last photo on the table before switching to the commercial channel in the television.

As a drama flickered on the screen, his mother turned to him, seeking his opinion. "What you say?" She asked, looking at his side profile of his pretty face. "No," he replied flatly.

"Ah, Jungkook. How much longer will you stay like this? When are you planning to get married? After having wrinkles in the corners of your eyes? You have already turned 28. Don't we long to see your own family?" She asked, lightly slapping his arm, a mix of frustration and concern evident in her tone.

"Ouch, mamma. People won't die if they're not married," Jungkook retorted, rubbing his arm.

"See, see! Why aren't you saying anything?" His mother appealed to his father.

"Think about it, Jungkook. Your mamma's right. We want to see you living happily with your own family," his father added, trying to persuade him. But Jungkook remained silent, his attention fixed on the drama unfolding on the screen, unwilling to engage in the conversation about his future.

After a few hours, Jungkook retreated to his room, closing the door behind him. He flopped onto his bed, hoping to catch a quick nap. However, sleep eluded him as he tossed and turned, unable to find a comfortable position. Eventually, he settled on lying on his stomach, his head nestled into the pillow. As he lay there, his mind drifted back to the photos he had seen earlier, one in particular capturing his attention.

"Kim Taehyung," he whispered, his thoughts transporting him back in time to the days spent in the sprawling, stone-bricked building of his high school. Memories flooded his mind, painting vivid scenes of laughter, friendship, and shared dreams.

...

"Taehyung!

Kim Taehyung!!

Kim! Taehyung!

Jungkook's grip on his bag tightened, his heart racing and breath quickening with each step Taehyung took towards the basket. He watched intently as Taehyung, glistening with sweat, dribbled the ball on the court, his blonde hair slightly frizzy and damp, secured by a bandana.

Jungkook's eyes flickered to the scoreboard, reading 11-11, tension mounting with each passing second. Closing his eyes briefly, Jungkook braced himself as Taehyung leaped into action, his body soaring towards the basket, the ball leaving his fingertips in a perfect arc towards the hoop.

"Yeeeeeeee.. yeaaaahhh.. Taehyung.. Taehyung.. yeeeee.. wowww..waaaahhh.. Kim Taehyung.."

Jungkook's eyes snapped open, a grin spreading across his face, revealing his signature bunny smile. It was a mixture of relief and admiration as he watched Taehyung's shot soar through the air, his skill and determination never failing to impress him.

Unfortunately, Jungkook's admiration didn't last longer as his friend called out, "Jungkook, let's go. We have class in ten minutes." Jungkook tore his gaze away from Taehyung, who was being carried on his team's shoulders in celebration. With a smile, Jungkook followed Hobi, leaving the scene of celebration.

"Yeah, that was intense," Hobi, Jungkook's friends said, a sense of pride evident in his voice. Jungkook nodded at him as if giving a response. "I didn't catch the whole game, but Taehyung's final score was incredible," Hobi remarked as they made their way to class. Jungkook simply nodded again in agreement, feeling a sense of admiration for Taehyung's skills on the basketball.

Later in the classroom, Jungkook's focus wavered from the notes he was scribbling as he heard the distant sounds of loud cheers echoing through the corridor. Curiosity piqued, he glanced out the window and caught sight of Taehyung and his team parading down the hallway, proudly carrying a vibrant bouquet of flowers.

A smile tugged at the corners of Jungkook's lips as he watched the celebration unfold. He leaned forward slightly, resting his hands on the table and propping his head up with his palm, trying to get a better look at Taehyung. However, as soon as Taehyung turned his gaze towards the window, Jungkook quickly dropped his head onto the table, hiding his face from view. He remained in that position until he felt Taehyung move away, the warmth of embarrassment flooding his cheeks. Once he was sure Taehyung had gone, Jungkook sat up straight, taking a deep breath to steady himself, his cheeks still flushed with a lingering blush.

...

Jungkook stretched and yawned as he woke from his short evening nap. Feeling refreshed, he got up from his bed and made his way to the window. Standing there, he gazed out at the moon, its soft glow casting a serene light over the world below.

As he stood there, enveloped in the calm embrace of the night, Jungkook couldn't help but let out a sigh. The name "Kim Taehyung" escaped his lips almost involuntarily, a whisper carried on the breeze, a reminder of the prayer from a time long past.

In the quiet of the night, with only the moon as his witness, Jungkook allowed himself to feel the lingering ache in his heart, a bittersweet reminder of a connection that had once shone as a guiding light in his path.

..to be continued..