what did you think of the last chapter??

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After many more eventful discussions of the venue and the wedding type, themes, etc. the Kims finally made their way back home. The time being 11 at night. Later than yesterday. He attempted to start a conversation with his parents then. The earlier he voices his opinions out, the better it would be after all.

"Mom, Dad, I have something to say." He started as he took in a deep breath and let it out. His parents turned to face him. But before he could continue, his mom yawned indicating that she was tired. And he couldn't bring himself to hold them back from their much-needed rest. And so he shook his head and said, "Nothing. I guess I will talk about it tomorrow. Please take a good rest." And went back to his own room.

He changed back into his night wear as he made his way to the desk. The desk with papers that required his immediate attention. He had to sort the papers out before tomorrow morning after all. And the stack had papers of at least ten different classes. He had to start now so he could finish in time for some sleep.

A message bringing him out of his plans. He pulled up his phone. Suddenly excited on the thought of it being from Jungkook. But it wasn't. it was from his cousin. Baekhyun. The one he was going to marry soon. The one who was going to tie him down from every ounce of freedom and he just knew it.

Baekhyun

Hi sweetheart. Wear something fancy tomorrow. It is our engagement after all. 😉😘

11:21 pm

The message read. He was astonished to say the least. Engagement? His parents hadn't said anything about it. and sweetheart? He cringed at it so hard. So hard that he almost curled up into a ball on the chair just for disappearing from the world. One text was all it took for the man's day to become worse.

And in one week, his entire life was going to start going in the same direction as well. He knew he wouldn't be able to handle it. with a new found determination to talk to his parents, his set his mind into walking through the papers and sorting them out accordingly. He sighed as he thought back to the message again. The thought leading him to Jungkook.

The Jungkook who had always saved him from trouble was now nowhere because he uttered a single word to the other. he had to say it to him. The boy was like a shoulder to lean on for him. He had to say it and get it off his chest. Maybe, just maybe, his bunny would have good plans to help him escape from the wedding. He just hoped that the other would try to at least.

As he finished sorting them out, he pulled his phone out to text his bunny best friend. Just in time to receive one from him as well.

Gukkie Bunny 🐰

Good night my love. ❤

1:02 am

A smile twirled itself onto Taehyung's face as he read the message. He read it over two times to make sure he read it right. Sure he did cringe at Baekhyun calling him names. But he never felt that way when it came to Jungkook. It was rather that Taehyung enjoyed these names. It was initially used to tease one another. but eventually it became habitual to them.

Taetae Tiger🐯

Good night darling❤

1:02 am

He tapped send as he kept his phone on the side stand and completed his night routine. It was 1:30 by the time he got onto his bed and decided to close his eyes. He had to wake up at 7 after all. So at least 5 hours of sleep he would get if he slept immediately. And so he did. As soon as he shut his eyes, he was out cold until the time he had to wake up.

The morning came about and Taehyung walked around looking like a zombie. he had slept peacefully but 5 hours of sleep was apparently not enough to keep the teacher fresh. His parents snickered at his state while his sister sympathized with him. Her being a student was also facing this type of sleep pattern. Where you get sleep every night but it is never enough.

"Baby, didn't you have something to tell us?" his mother asked him. And Taehyung's eyes immediately lit up as he nodded his head. He was going to talk himself out this wedding for sure. He radiated all the confidence he could muster as he faced his parents. He still had time to spare before reaching the campus.

"yeah." He said as he ushered them to the couch in the living room. His parents, being surprisingly calm about the talk that was awaiting them. It wasn't like they knew what he was going to talk about. But I guess, you could say they had an idea about it. it was definitely about the wedding. That they knew. But what about it? they had to find out.

"Mom, dad, about the wedding..." he started off as he watched his parents reaction intently. Their faces immediately beamed with joy as they turned out to be right. They smiled at Taehyung as he also shot a nervous smile back. They were so happy about this. How was he going to say that he wasn't interested in it? he had to shoot his shot to see though.

"I am not ready for it to be this early. I don't even know Baekhyun properly to get married to him. And that too in a week? I have so much going in school with the exams and all. How would I be able to get ready for it?" he asked. His words being chosen carefully. He looked back at his parents face to observe their reaction to what he had said.

But it was something he hadn't expected at all. He expected them to be angry and throw a fit about it to him. Show their authority over him and shove their responsibilities onto his face. Guilt trap him into believing something that wasn't true. and ultimately, forcing him into this so called marriage. But nothing of that had happened. It wasn't like that at all and for once, he saw hope through it. but it turned out to be wrong.

His parents' smile hadn't faltered at it. but only grew as they looked at one another. they nodded to one another as they pretended to understand their son's concern. His dad got off the couch and walked towards him. Held him by his shoulders and hugged him tight before speaking. "Don't worry about it my child. Marriage is set to know one another. you still have a week until marriage, you can obviously go talk to him and get to know him. That is enough time. just like how your mom and I had to talk."

And all the hope that Taehyung had dissipated into thin air. When he saw their positive response, he had thought it was because they understood where he was coming from. But apparently it wasn't so. It was never so. It was his parents after all. They only saw their own benefit from it. it was always what they thought he needed and never what he actually wanted. It was the same here as well.

"moreover, it is uniting two families Taehyung-ah. I am sure you would agree to this one as well. It had been so long since any of our relatives talked to us. And the first time they talk in so long, they ask us something that would double fold our happiness, we should of course take it right?" his father asked him further. He found himself nodding even though he disagreed to it. he strongly disagreed to it and he would say this anywhere needed. Anywhere, except to his parents face. The place that it was actually needed.

"And about your job. You would have to take a few days off. You can go today but when you come back make sure it is with approved holiday." His father said further. He knew this was impossible. Of course Taehyung knew this wasn't possible. He was on exam duty. How would they give him a holiday at this period. It wasn't going to happen at all.

"Actually honey. I think we should call the school and tell them about the wedding so that they would approve the leave." His mother had jumped in. though she thought she was saving him, she had just dug a deeper hole for Taehyung to bury himself in. He hadn't wanted to take leave. He wanted to stay in the campus longer. Long enough to eventually disappear from the actual world.

He found his father agreeing to it as he nodded along. Taehyung having his head held down. His mother walked up to him as she held her son's head up. To look eye to eye to him. "We are proud of you son. I hope you would have a happy family with Baekhyun. Thank you for uniting our family." She said. He wanted to scream and throw a fit right there. He wanted to yell out that they were just being used. but he couldn't. something stopped him.

What was it? insecurity and fear. Insecurity of not being listened to. Fear of abandonment. He had wished for nothing but to stay by his parents side. He had wished for nothing but his happiness. Because he had nowhere else to go. He had no one else to turn to if they also left his hand. He was alone if it weren't for his parents.

"I guess you should just quit your job Taehyung. I am sure Baekhyun earns enough for the two of you and for you to start a small family of your own anyway." His mother chimed in. This swirled around Taehyung's mind as he made a run for the door. He couldn't handle it. he wouldn't be able to handle quitting his job. Not at all. Especially not now when he needed the escape.

"I am late." He muttered as he ran out. Out the streets and right into Jimin. Who had just arrived at Taehyung's door to be able to talk to the other. he held Taehyung as the other collapsed into him and let out a silent cry. And Jimin's heart broke right there. He had never seen Taehyung cry. Not until now.

The boy who had always been a shoulder to Jimin, now required a strong shoulder to cry on. and Jimin was afraid he was not strong enough to hold his dear friend in. he was afraid it was he couldn't protect the other from. something much beyond just their friends. He was hoping he wasn't too late to his friend's rescue.

"What happened tiger" he asked as he watched the other still crying on his shoulder.

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so oblivious...

~ice💙