Chp 27- Storms and Soft Smiles
"Mr Woojin, you're under arrest"
Officer Jackson said holding the handcuffs out
A suffocating silence fell over the room. It felt as if the very air had been ripped from everyone's lungs, leaving them frozen in shock.
The relatives gathered in the hall began whispering among themselves, their murmurs spreading like wildfire.
Suga stepped forward, his voice firm yet tense.
"Officer, what are you saying? On what grounds have you come to arrest my brother?"
Officer Jackson turned his gaze toward him, his expression unreadable.
"Mr. Suga, at the location where the crime took place, we found evidence against Mr. Woojin. That is why we are taking him in for questioning."
"What are you trying to imply?"
Minjun snapped angrily, stepping forward. "How dare you come into my house and say such things about my son?"
"Sir, please allow us to do our duty"
the officer replied calmly. "We are only taking him for questioning."
"No! You cannot take the son of this family away like this!" the dadi shouted, slamming her walking stick against the floor in fury.
"I refuse to believe my grandson was even present at that place. You people are spinning false stories."
Jackson looked at her respectfully but did not back down.
"Maa-ji, we do not arrest anyone without evidence. We have found proof against Mr. Woojin, and we will proceed with his arrest. We request you to cooperate with the police. Officers, arrest him."
As Jackson gestured toward Woojin, the constable moved forward,but Sana and Minjun immediately stepped in front of him.
"Maa, papa, I swear I didn't do anything " Woojin cried wanting sympathy from his parents
"We know you didn't do anything beta" sana said in her crying voice
"We won't let you take him!" Minjun shouted, rage burning in his eyes.
"My son is innocent." Sana cried, tears streaming down her face.
"He could never do something like this."
"We are trying to handle this peacefully,"Jackson said firmly. "Please do not force us."
With that, he personally fastened the handcuffs around Woojin's wrists.
Minjun tried to rush forward, desperate to stop them, but Suga and J-Hope held him back.
"No! You can't take my son away like this! Let him go!"
Minjun screamed.
Ignoring the chaos, Jackson dragged Woojin out of the house.
The mansion echoed only with Sana's sobs and the hushed whispers of the guests.
"Did you see that?" a woman murmured to another guest.
"I always knew there was something wrong with this family. Today, it's finally been proven."
"Yes!, i didn't know this family was raising a monster,chii!"
Dadi looked at them with piercing gaze
"I'm sorry to say dadi,Ever since Taehyung's wife entered this house, trouble has followed one thing after another."
Jihyo glared at them and opened their mouth to say something but yoona held her hand
"Exactly! Just look one calamity hasn't even left this house yet, and that Jimin has already brought another disaster in her womb.
We only just found out about it, and look at what's happened already.
I swear, both that child and Taehyung's wife are nothing but bad omens for this family. " A woman in her late sixties said
Jimin's eyes got filled with tears after listening to their venomous words, she palmed her stomach as tears streamed down on her cheeks
Suga's eyes got filled with anger, he roared at them
"Get out!!, all of you, and don't you dare to say a word about my baby or my bhabhi!, i won't tolerate it"
"Wow, how convenient,every rule favors you" one woman scoffed. "First, a son from your own house commits such a grave sin, and you expect us to stay silent?"
"Exactly!" another chimed in. "You people should drown yourselves in shame."
"Come on, sister, let's leave this place"
A third woman said, disgust lacing her voice. "Just standing here makes me feel sick and scared."
"Yes, yes, let's go. After all, the entire village needs to hear about this."
Dadi collapsed onto the sofa in anger, her mind racing.
"Maybe they're right" she thought bitterly.
"Ever since this Jungkook and that child entered this house, they've brought nothing but calamity with them.
I knew it from the very beginning, Taehyung's wife is unlucky.
She has brought disaster upon our home. God knows what else is yet to come. "
All the village women left one by one, muttering among themselves as they went.
Minjun came towards dadi and held her leg
"Maa, do something, call taehyung, i want my son back,even if he did something, i won't let my son rot in prison"
Minjun said crying bitterly making everyone in the room disgusted of him
Tzuyu looked at her father in shock
"No... my brother could never do something like this. Papa, what is he even saying? If my brother had really done something like that, then he would be dead to me in my eyes. But no, my brother simply cannot be like this. I refuse to believe it. He cannot commit such a heinous crime"
Tzuyu thought in her mind, she just refused to believe what's happening but she had decided that if her brother was found guilty he'll be death in her eyes
Otherside
Taehyung and Jungkook was once again walking towards the field, there was an awkward silence between them, so Jungkook decided to break it
"H-how was the breakfast?"
"Good" taehyung replied in a monotonous tone
"Umm l-listen, i want to talk with you something important " Jungkook said getting nervous all of a sudden
Tae looked at her and nodded
"Say, I'm listening "
"Umm actually, i wanted to talk to you about my job" Jungkook said looking down playing with the edge of her saree pallu
Tae frowned and asked stopping on his way making Jungkook stop too
"What?, job, you were doing a job before our marriage?"
Jungkook for a second looked at him and then down nodding her head
"Yeah, i did"
"What job?"
"I'm a medical student, I was as an intern doctor in hope river hospital"
"What?!!!, a doctor?!!"
Kook flinched at his loud tone, and here tae was looking at her in astonishment
"Y-yeah, a d-doctor "
"Then why the hell did you never tell me?, you could have told me in these past four days"
"I-i thought, y-you and your family didn't like girls working, so I chose not to tell you."
"Seriously!!?, when did i ever say something like that?
, i would never stop my wife from becoming independent, and heck our family women, tzuyu,siya they all work too, tzuyu runs her own clothing boutique.
And soya owns a beauty parlour, they're my sisters I never stopped them from working then why would I stop my wife? "
Tae asked in confusion, hearing his words a small smile crept on jungkook's face
"That m-means, i can continue working too?"
"Yes, is that even a question, and the hospital you're working in, i and jhope own it, it's Kim family's hospital "
Now it was jungkook's time to be shock, what in the world is she hearing
"What?!!, really!?, it's yours?, i never knew"
"Yes, and jhope is one of the top doctors there."
"Woww, I heard his name several times when I worked there, but never paid much attention to it"
They were so busy talking that they didn't even realize when they had reached the fields. Tae looked around and nodded
"Your Village is beautiful"
"Just like her" taehyung's inner voice said to him
"Shut up" tae murmured in his mouth
"This is the place I used to visit often when I was a child. Appa would carry me on his shoulders and walk around the village, while Minho oppa would sulk and complain that Appa loved me more."
Jungkook giggled, a small smile also tucked on the edge of taehyung's lips but it vanished immediately
"My oppa is your secretary right?" Jungkook asked planning a dangerous-naughty web in her mind
"Yes"
"So tell me... does he actually perform well? Does he even show up on time? Or does he just throw tantrums all day? And let me guess, he flirts with the women in your company too, right?" Kook asked in curiosity
Tae shooked his head as no
"No, that's all false. He doesn't flirt with anyone. He's good at his job. Yes, he's sometimes late,one minute, five minutes,but he still performs well."
Jungkook made a face and looked away, she was actually planning on manipulating her husband but turned around that her brother is really good at his work.
"Why did you ask?" Taehyung asked quietly, his expression unreadable, as if nothing could ruffle him.
"Nothing... really" Jungkook said with a small, teasing smile.
"I was just curious. Come on, let's go home now. You've seen the fields already, right?"
Taehyung nodded once, silent, but his eyes followed her closely.
"Yeah....But you said we'd visit Lata aunty and... steal mangoes from her tree." Taehyung asked
Jungkook looked at him in surprise her mouth widened a little with a small smile tugged on her lips
"You...you remember?"
Taehyung paused for a moment, then let the corner of his lips twitch slightly.
"I remembered. But we're not stealing. We'll talk to her and buy the mangoes."
Jungkook pouted and stamped her foot softly, just like a little child.
"But... stealing is more fun!"
Taehyung's eyes softened imperceptibly, though his voice remained calm and measured.
"Stealing is wrong. We go, ask politely, then take what we need."
Jungkook tilted her head and let out a small sigh, pretending to be sulky.
"Fine... if you say so."
Taehyung didn't say anything, but he fell into step beside her, his hand brushing against hers. Jungkook's heart skipped, though he didn't notice, as usual.
"Let's go" he said simply, his tone steady. And Jungkook skipped ahead a little, smiling like a child, but stealing quick glances at him, trying to catch even the smallest sign of warmth.
.
.
.
Taehyung and Jungkook now stood in front of Lata aunty's house. Jungkook knocked on the door, and soon, Lata aunty came out.
Jungkook and Taehyung greeted her politely.
Seeing Jungkook, Lata aunty smiled warmly and beckoned them inside.
She offered them tea, and as they sat down, she said cheerfully
"Arre, Jungkook! You've changed so much in just a few days! You look just like a grown-up wife now."
Jungkook blushed and looked down shyly.
"And this must be your husband... such a handsome young man! May you both always stay happy together."
"Thank you, Maaji" taehyung said quietly
"And aunty, how have you been? It's been such a long time since we met" Jungkook asked politely.
"Yes, it has" Lata aunty replied with a laugh.
"You know, damad ji, our Jungkook was such a naughty girl. Always causing mischief."
"Naughty?" Taehyung asked, confused. In the mansion, Jungkook always stayed quiet, barely speaking to anyone.
"Yes, very naughty" Lata aunty said, smiling. "She would gather the village children and sneak mangoes from my tree. And if I scolded her, her cheeks would puff up like balloons."
"Aunty!! You can't say that! I-I wasn't like that!" Jungkook said nervously, hiding her face in embarrassment.
"Is that so? Then let me tell damad ji all about the mischief you caused" Lata aunty teased.
"No, no! Please! I promise I won't steal mangoes ever again" Jungkook said quickly, wriggling and giggling.
Lata aunty laughed. "Alright, alright, fine. I won't tell. So... damad ji, what brings you here?"
Taehyung glanced at Jungkook before answering.
"We... came to buy some mangoes from you."
"Buy?" Lata aunty raised an eyebrow.
"Yes... you see, my wife likes to eat raw mangoes, so we thought we'd buy some"
Taehyung said softly, a little hesitant. Jungkook blushed and looked down.
"Oh, so you're buying for Jungkook? I also know she first wanted to steal them" Lata aunty teased with a knowing smile.
Taehyung rubbed the back of his neck. "No, no... we're not stealing. We'll buy them properly."
"Alright, take as much as you want... but there's no need to pay me" Lata aunty said with a smile.
"No, aunty! That won't do! You have to take the money." Jungkook said firmly, insisting.
"Okay, okay... if you insist, take the mangoes and give whatever you feel is right." Lata aunty said.
Taehyung nodded silently, took out his purse, and pulled out a 5,000-rupee note. He handed it to Lata aunty. Her eyes widened in shock.
"No, damad ji! I can't take this... it's far too much." she protested.
Taehyung looked at Jungkook, who nodded, and gently took the money from his hand, placing it into Lata aunty's hands with a little insistence.
"Aunty, take it. He's giving it with so much love... are you really going to disappoint your damad ji?"
"No, no... don't be upset, damad ji, but it's just too much." she said softly.
"It's not too much. Please, take it." Taehyung insisted, placing his purse back in his pocket.
"I've given it, aunty... see how much he's insisting." Jungkook said, smiling at her shyly.
Finally, Lata aunty relented and accepted the money. She thanked them and led them to the mango tree.
"Here's the tree. Take as many as you like." she said, smiling warmly, saying that she went inside her house leaving them both alone
Taehyung and Jungkook both looked at the mango tree.
"It's a little high" tae said making Jungkook look at him
"You're tall enough, you can reach up there"
"And by how madam?"
Jungkook giggled and said
"By climbing up"
"I don't know how to climb on a tree, never done that" tae said in his monotonous tone
"I have done PhD in this, but I'm wearing a saree, i can't climb up wearing this" Jungkook pouted making taehyung think for a while.
Then all of a sudden taehyung came close to Jungkook, who was looking up at the tree and lifted her up by holding her waist, Jungkook yelps in surprise and hold his shoulders tightly with red cheeks
"W-what are you doing ji?, put me down!"
"I'll hold you, you pluck them"
"But what if i fall down" Jungkook said being scared
"Youre in my arms, I'll never let you fall down" tae said looking up in her eyes
They both held an eye contact for a minute and suddenly a mango fell down from the tree landing straight on tae's head making in yelp in pain
"Ah!" Jungkook's eyes got widened
"Ji, are you okay?"
Jungkook said rubbing and caressing his head where the mango hit him
"I'm fine, just pluck those mangoes fast"
"Yes yes, I'm plucking, hold me tight"
Jungkook reached up, and taehyung's grip tightened on her waist making Jungkook feel a whole zoo in her stomach, ignoring the feeling she quickly plucked four-five mangoes and said
"This much is enough ji,you can put me down now"
Tae nodded and gently landed Jungkook back on the ground, Jungkook lifted her hand and caressed tae's head with a crease on her forehead.
"You're really okay right?, it's not hurting?"
"I'm fine" tae said his hand still wrapped around Jungkook's waist.
"You plucked only this much?"
"Yeah, this much is enough for me" Jungkook said looking at the raw mangoes in her hands.
"Okay then let's go home now?"
"Yes, let's go, eomma and appa must be waiting for us"
Tae nodded and they both headed towards Jeon house
To be continued