Chp 35- The First Outing
A few minutes before five o'clock, Taehyung arrived at the Kim Mansion right on time. The moment he stepped out of his car, he spotted J-hope walking down the path. As usual, he was casually humming a song while enjoying his favorite lollipop, completely carefree and lost in his own world.
Looking at him, no one would ever guess that he was the owner and senior doctor of Hope Hospital, the largest and most prestigious hospital in their village.
J-Hope had two completely different sides to his personality.
At home, he was cheerful, playful, and carefree, almost like a child who had cast aside all the worries of the world.
He lived each day with a bright smile, spreading laughter wherever he went and filling every room with warmth and happiness.
But the moment he stepped into the hospital, he became a completely different person.
The playful smile would disappear, replaced by a calm and commanding presence.
He was strict, disciplined, and professional, so much so that he often reminded people of Taehyung himself.
It was as if the spirit of his elder brothers awakened within him whenever he wore his white coat.
He tolerated no negligence in his work and devoted every ounce of his energy to saving lives, treating every patient with unwavering dedication and responsibility.
The moment J-Hope's eyes landed on Taehyung, all the color drained from his face. His favorite lollipop slipped from his fingers and fell to the ground.
"B-B-Bhai!....Run!!"
Without waiting another second, J-hope spun around and took off at full speed.
"Yah! J-hope! Stop right there!"
Taehyung called out, trying to stop him.
But it was completely useless.
Within moments, J-hope had vanished from sight, disappearing so fast that it seemed as if he had sprouted wings.
Taehyung could only watch in disbelief before letting out an exasperated sigh and shaking his head.
"How long are you planning to keep running from me?" he muttered, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "One day or another, I'm definitely going to catch you. And when I do, you'll learn that messing with your older brother comes with a very expensive price."
With that, he adjusted his coat and continued toward the mansion, already plotting the day he would finally get his revenge.
Just as Taehyung stepped inside the mansion, his gaze instinctively drifted toward the grand staircase.
And there she was.
His beautiful wife, dressed in an elegant saree, gracefully making her way downstairs.
The entire family was gathered in the living room, yet Taehyung seemed oblivious to everyone else.
He didn't say a single word. He simply stood there, watching her descend the stairs.
It was as if his eyes had become fixed on her alone, unable to look away, while his feet remained rooted to the spot.
For a moment, the world around him faded into the background.
Jungkook carefully walked down the staircase and noticed that everyone's eyes were on her. Feeling shy, she tightly clutched the end of her saree in her fist.
Just then, Jihyo walked up to her and lovingly kissed her forehead.
"Oh my, look at you! My bahu looks absolutely beautiful today!" Jihyo exclaimed with a warm smile. "But tell me, where are you going all dressed up like this?"
Jungkook lowered her gaze, her cheeks turning pink.
"W-Well, Maa... I'm going out with him... to buy a few things, so..."
"Oh, that's wonderful!" Jihyo beamed. "You're going out with your husband! And that too for the first time after your marriage. Go, go! Have lots of fun together."
Jungkook shyly looked down, unable to hide her embarrassment.
But before anyone could say another word, Dadi's stern voice echoed through the entire house.
"Where do you think you're going, bahu? And without informing anyone in the family?"
Jungkook immediately looked at her with frightened eyes. She tried to speak, but the words got stuck in her throat.
Seeing her struggle, Jihyo spoke on her behalf.
"Maa, Taehyung is taking his wife out for the first time. Please let them go."
Dadi's expression remained unchanged.
"Have you seen what's happening outside? You know very well how much tension this family is under right now. Despite all that, you're thinking about going out?" she said coldly, her eyes fixed on Jungkook.
"Taehyung is a man. He can go wherever he wants without worrying about these things. But you're a woman. How could you even think of going out at a time like this? We're all sitting here worried about Woojin, and all you can think about is going outside and having fun?"
Her voice grew even harsher.
"Go back to your room. No one is going anywhere."
The words struck Jungkook like a slap.
Tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
Jihyo's heart ached at the sight. She gently wiped away Jungkook's tears before turning toward dadi.
"Maa! If Taehyung is taking her with him, then please let her go. Why are you stopping them?"
"Don't argue with me, Jihyo," Dadi replied sharply. "I've already made my decision. I'll speak to Taehyung myself. Tell her to go back to her room."
"But Maa-"
Jihyo tried to protest again, but Jungkook softly grabbed her hand and stopped her.
"No, Maa... please don't say anything."
She forced a small smile despite the tears threatening to fall.
"I'll go back upstairs."
With that, Jungkook turned around and took a step toward the staircase. But before she could climb even a single step, a deep voice echoed through the living room.
"Where do you think you're going?"
The voice froze her in place,Her feet seemed glued to the floor.Slowly, she turned around,Taehyung was walking into the living room.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
Because he had heard everything.
Every sentence.
Every word.
Every insult.
And judging by the cold darkness settling in his eyes, everyone in the room knew one thing- This conversation was far from over.
"I told you we were going out today, didn't I? Then why are you going back upstairs? Come with me."
Taehyung's voice was calm and firm as he looked directly at Jungkook, as though nothing anyone else had said mattered in the slightest.
Hearing his command, Jungkook hesitantly looked at Dadi before turning back to him.
"I said, come with me."
Without waiting for an answer, Taehyung took her hand in his and gently but firmly guided her down the last few steps, bringing her to stand beside him.
"TAEHYUNG!"
Dadi's furious voice thundered through the mansion once again.The entire room fell silent.
Taehyung slowly turned to face her,his expression remained calm, almost indifferent. But only he knew how much anger was simmering beneath that carefully maintained mask.
"When I've already forbidden it, where exactly do you think you're taking her?"
Dadi demanded.
Taehyung raised an eyebrow.
"Her? You mean my wife?"His voice was low, cold, and dangerously composed.
"Yes, my wife. I'm taking her outside. I fail to see what's so wrong about a husband spending time with his wife."
"I know very well you're taking your wife out," Dadi snapped. "But when I've clearly said no, then why are you-"
Taehyung cut her off before she could finish.
"And why exactly should I obey that?"
The words hit the room like a shockwave.
Everyone stared at him in disbelief.
Taehyung's gaze never left Dadi.
"With all due respect, Dadi, I think you should focus on your own health instead of worrying yourself sick over people who have nothing to do with you. And who the hell is this woojin?!"
The atmosphere instantly turned tense.
Several family members looked at one another in shock.
Did he really just say that?
After all, Woojin was his brother, But to Taehyung, the man who had betrayed his trust was no longer family. Whatever bond had once existed between them had already been destroyed.
Minjun immediately shot to his feet.
"Taehyung! How dare you speak about my son like that-"
"Shh."
Taehyung didn't even spare him a glance, the single sound was enough to silence the room.
"I'm not speaking to you, Uncle" he said coldly. "So I suggest you don't interrupt."
Minjun's face darkened with anger.
Meanwhile, Taehyung turned his attention back to Dadi.
"What I truly don't understand is why everyone seems so concerned about what I do with my own wife."
His grip around Jungkook's hand tightened slightly.
"She is my responsibility."
His voice was quiet.But every word carried weight.
"I know how to take care of her. I know how to keep her safe. So you don't need to worry about that."
Then his eyes hardened.
"She is going outside, today, and she is going with me."
The room seemed to hold its breath.
Taehyung's gaze swept across everyone present.
"And I'd like to see who thinks they can stop us."
Not a single person spoke.
Not a single person moved.
The authority in his voice left no room for argument.
Then, without waiting for anyone's response, Taehyung turned away.
Still holding Jungkook's hand, he started walking toward the front door,his grip never loosened, not even for a second, and Jungkook...
She couldn't take her eyes off him.The cold, distant man who rarely spoke more than necessary was standing against his entire family for her.
For the first time, she realized something important.
Taehyung's love was not loud,It wasn't expressed through sweet words or grand gestures. But when it mattered most, he stood beside her without hesitation.
And at that moment, as he led her out of the mansion with unwavering determination, Jungkook felt safer than she ever had before.
After getting into the car, Taehyung started the engine and pulled onto the road without saying a word.The golden glow of the setting sun painted the sky outside, streaking it with shades of orange, pink, and crimson.
The sun was slowly sinking below the horizon, casting a warm light through the car windows.
Jungkook rested her head lightly against the window and watched the sunset in silence.A soft smile lingered on her lips , not because of the beautiful view, but because of everything that had happened a few minutes ago, the way Taehyung had stood up for her, the way he had held her hand without letting go, the way he had chosen her without hesitation.
Just thinking about it made her heart feel strangely warm.
Meanwhile, Taehyung kept his eyes on the road, his hands steady on the steering wheel. His expression remained as unreadable as ever, as though nothing unusual had happened.Yet the silence between them didn't feel awkward.
It wasn't the kind of silence that demanded conversation, Nor was it the kind that made them uncomfortable.
It was their silence.
A silence that carried unspoken emotions.
A silence filled with understanding rather than words.
The gentle hum of the engine, the fading sunlight, and the occasional rustle of the evening breeze through the slightly open window blended together, creating a strange sense of peace.Neither of them felt the need to speak, because sometimes, words were unnecessary.
Sometimes, simply being beside the person you cared about was enough.
Jungkook stole a glance at Taehyung.
The sharp lines of his face were softened by the golden light of the sunset.
For a moment, she wondered if he realized how much his actions meant to her, how much they had touched her heart. As if sensing her gaze, Taehyung briefly looked at her.
Their eyes met.
Only for a second.
Then he looked back at the road.
But not before Jungkook caught the faintest hint of softness in his usually cold eyes, and somehow, that tiny moment spoke louder than any words ever could.
Outside, the sun continued to sink below the horizon, inside the car, silence remained between them,yet neither of them felt alone. Because that silence was no longer empty. It was filled with feelings they weren't ready to say aloud.
Taehyung pulled the car over near a bustling marketplace and switched off the engine.For a moment, neither of them moved,then he turned slightly toward Jungkook.
"We'll have to walk from here," he said. "I could have taken you to the mall, but it's closer to the city, and it's already getting late. By the time we'd get there and come back, it would be well past nightfall."
His gaze drifted toward the crowded market outside.
"So I brought you here instead.....If you don't like this place, we can go somewhere else. Or we can visit the mall tomorrow."
Jungkook blinked in surprise, then a small smile spread across her face. The fact that he was genuinely worried about whether she would enjoy herself made her heart soften.
"Ji When did I ever say I wouldn't like it"
she asked gently, Taehyung looked at her.
"I've always been more used to shopping in markets like these than in fancy malls." Her smile widened. "Now come on. If we're late, all the good things will be gone."
A light laugh escaped her lips before she quickly stepped out of the car.Taehyung watched her for a second before getting out as well.
The moment he looked around, he noticed the sea of people moving through the marketplace.
Families, children, vendors, shoppers,
The entire place was overflowing with life.
"There are a lot of people here" he remarked.
Jungkook nodded.
"Well, Holi is almost here. Of course everyone is busy shopping."
The streets were decorated with colorful powders, festive decorations, and bright lights hanging from shopfronts. Excited voices echoed from every direction.
"That's why I told you we should hurry" she said playfully. "Come on!"
She had barely taken a single step forward when she suddenly felt something warm wrap around her hand,Jungkook stopped, her breath caught.Taehyung had taken her hand in his.
Not loosely.
Not carelessly.
His fingers had slipped between hers, intertwining with them naturally.
He glanced at the crowd ahead.
"It's crowded."
His voice remained as calm and matter-of-fact as always.
"So don't let go of my hand."
Jungkook stared at their joined hands for a moment, then at him, a smile slowly appeared on her lips.
"Okay."
Taehyung simply nodded and started walking. As they moved through the crowded market together, people brushed past them from every direction, yet Taehyung's grip never loosened.
Not even once.Jungkook found herself walking half a step behind him, quietly looking down at their intertwined hands.
The evening lights reflected softly against his fingers wrapped around hers.
A strange warmth spread through her chest.Perhaps Taehyung didn't realize it, Perhaps he thought he was simply making sure she wouldn't get lost in the crowd, But for Jungkook, it felt like much more than that.
Because every time someone came too close, his hold tightened slightly.
Every time the crowd pushed forward, he instinctively moved her closer to his side.
And every time she looked at their joined hands, the smile on her face grew a little wider.
The market buzzed with noise and celebration around them.But for Jungkook, the only thing she could focus on was the hand holding hers.
Firm. Steady. Certain. As if silently promising that no matter how crowded the world became, he wouldn't let her get lost.
They continued wandering through the crowded market, stopping at different stalls along the way.At one shop, Taehyung quickly picked out a gift for Yoongi. True to his nature, he didn't spend much time debating. He saw something he thought Yoongi would like, paid for it, and moved on.
Jungkook, on the other hand, took her time.She stopped in front of a colorful little shop and immediately thought of Jimin.After carefully looking through the items, she chose a beautiful saree, a set of elegant bangles, and a few other small gifts.Then something suddenly came to mind, She remembered a conversation from a week ago, jimin had once shyly admitted that she absolutely loved tiaras.The memory made Jungkook smile.Without hesitation, she picked up a delicate floral tiara decorated with tiny white and pink flowers.
"This one" she said softly.
The tiara looked almost magical beneath the market lights, Jungkook could already imagine the excitement on Jimin's face when she received it.There were still many gifts left to buy, and for Taehyung, navigating through the endless crowd felt nothing short of a battlefield.
The noise, the people constantly bumping into each other, the endless walking.
He hated every second of it.
Yet he stayed.
Patiently following from one stall to another,Because his wife was enjoying herself, and somehow, that made the chaos bearable.
Jungkook was scanning the market for their next stop when her eyes suddenly landed on something in the distance, she froze,Then her eyes widened.
"Panipuri!!"
The single word escaped her lips like a prayer,her eyes sparkled so brightly that one would think she had discovered a treasure chest instead of a simple street-food stall.
Taehyung followed her gaze, then looked back at her.
'Do you want some?"
Jungkook immediately turned toward him and nodded so enthusiastically that she looked like an excited child.
"Yes!"
The eagerness in her voice made Taehyung pause. For a brief moment, the corner of his lips curved upward. A small smile, rare, almost impossible to catch.
"Alright, Let's go."
The moment Jungkook heard that, she practically dragged him toward the stall.
The closer they got, the more excited she became.
Meanwhile, Taehyung simply watched her, the happiness on her face was so genuine that he couldn't bring himself to complain.
Once they reached the stall, Jungkook immediately turned to the vendor.
"Bhaiya, two plates of panipuri please!"
She pointed excitedly. "One extra spicy. Like, really spicy."
Then she pointed toward Taehyung.
"And one with no spice at all."
The vendor nodded, taehyung raised an eyebrow, only then did he realize she had ordered the spicy one for herself and the mild one for him, he looked at her, she was already staring at the panipuri ingredients with complete fascination, a fondness he rarely allowed himself to show appeared in his eyes, because Jungkook remembered, she remembered that he couldn't handle spicy food at all, even the smallest amount of chili would have him reaching for water.
"I won't eat any," he said.
"You can have both plates."
Jungkook immediately turned toward him.
"What?"
"I'm serious."
"No!"
The protest came so quickly that even the vendor looked amused.
"You can't do that."
Taehyung sighed.
"I absolutely can."
"No, you can't."
She crossed her arms dramatically.
"I already ordered it."
Then she pointed at the vendor.
"And I specifically told Bhaiya not to make yours spicy."
Taehyung stared at her and jungkook stared right back, the battle lasted all of three seconds.
Then she delivered the final blow.
"Besides..." she said with a playful grin, "how can I enjoy panipuri alone while my husband just stands there looking serious and stylish?"
The vendor immediately looked away to hide his smile.
Taehyung blinked.
For perhaps the first time that evening, he found himself completely defeated.
And Jungkook, seeing that she had won, looked far too pleased with herself.
....
Meanwhile, at the police station, a major breakthrough had finally been made.
Only a short while ago, Officer Jackson and his team had tracked down and arrested Jinho, the village chief's son along with the rest of his group.
After weeks of hiding from the authorities, they were finally behind bars, the atmosphere inside the station was tense, the suspects were being questioned by the police, who were determined to uncover every detail of the case and identify everyone involved.
Ironically, the information that led to their arrest had come from Woojin himself.
After his own arrest, Woojin had realized that there was little point in protecting the people who had participated alongside him.
If he was going to face the consequences of their actions, then he wasn't willing to shoulder the burden alone.
As a result, he provided the police with the location where Jinho and his friends had been hiding all this time.That single piece of information was enough.
Within hours, Officer Jackson's team organized a raid and moved in on the hideout.The suspects never saw it coming.Now, they sat in separate holding cells, their confident attitudes long gone. For the first time since the investigation began, the police finally had all the key players in custody.
And as Officer Jackson looked over the reports on his desk, he knew that this was only the beginning, and he'll make sure that all of these perpetrators get punished very brutally for their heinous crime.
To be continued