Chp 38- The First Holi Together #3
This was him. The Bogum. Standing beside his wife, close enough that their arms were nearly touching, laughing together like old friends, like people with history, like people who had called each other before showing up at each other's houses
A waiter passed close by, carrying a tray of bhaang glasses.Taehyung stopped him without looking. Lifted a glass off the tray. Brought it to his lips.
And stood there.
Watching.
His jaw was set. His free hand, hanging at his side, had closed slowly, without him deciding to into a tight fist.
------
Across the mandap, entirely unaware of being watched, Bogum handed Jungkook's phone back and pocketed Yoona's number with a satisfied expression.
Jungkook shook her head at him fondly and went back to filling glasses.
Completely, blissfully unbothered.
Which, somehow, made it worse.
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Meanwhile, on the other side of the mandap entirely, Tzuyu was navigating the crowd with a thali of red colour balanced carefully in her hands when the universe decided to send Minho directly into her path.
She stopped short.
"Ah!" The thali wobbled dangerously. "You scared me! What kind of way is this to stop someone?, do you not have a brain?"
Minho pressed a hand to his chest with theatrical sincerity.
"I do have a brain, actually. What I don't have is a heart.... because I gave that away a long time ago...... To you, specifically."
The colour in Tzuyu's cheeks deepened to something that rivalled the red powder in her thali.
"W...what nonsense are you saying?!" She stepped to the side. "Move. I need to go."
He moved with her. Effortlessly.
"It's our first Holi together," he said, entirely unbothered by her expression. "I can't just let you walk past me without putting colour on you first. That's my right."
"Your right my foot, let me go or else I'll call my brothers here"
"Call your brothers if you want." He put his hands behind his back, the picture of calm. "I'll just ask them for your hand while they're here. I've already started the process, you know. You're going to be my wife sooner than you think."
"Shut up" The words came out sharper than she intended "I have absolutely no interest in becoming your wife. And you are not putting any colour on me. Move."
She took a step forward and her heel caught the edge of a stone.
The world tilted.
The thali left her hands.
Tzuyu's arms windmilled and then Minho caught her. Both arms around her waist. Solid and immediate, pulling her upright before she hit the ground.
For one suspended second the thali seemed to hang in the air above them like a small, cheerful disaster in slow motion.
Then it came down.
Red. Everywhere. Both of them. Head to toe.
The world went quiet for exactly one moment.
They were very close. His arms were still around her. She was looking up at him. He was looking down at her. Red powder settled over them both like the world's most inconvenient snow.
Then the thali, completing its journey, bounced off the top of Minho's head with a hollow clang.
"Ow!!"
He released her instinctively, grabbing his head.
Tzuyu hit the ground.
"Ah!!"
Two voices. One complaint.
"You idiot!" Tzuyu scrambled upright, furiously swiping red powder out of her hair. "Why did you drop me?! If you were going to drop me, why catch me at all?!"
"The thali hit my head"
"I don't care about your head"
She stepped forward anyway. Her hand reached up before she'd made a decision about it, brushing the powder away from his hair, fingers checking the spot where the thali had landed with quick, practiced efficiency.
"Did it hit hard? Does it hurt?"
"A little" Minho said.
Tzuyu's hands stilled.
She looked up.
He was already looking at her.
Both of them completely, magnificently red. Standing close enough that the powder from his hair was dusting onto her fingers.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "Did you fall hard?"
"No. I'm fine."
A beat.
Then Minho looked at her, really looked at her and a slow smile broke across his face, helpless and delighted.
"You look like a red tomato."
Tzuyu's eyes narrowed.
Her heel came down precisely, deliberately on top of his foot.
"Ow!!"
"And you look like a red monkey." She stepped back, smoothed her outfit with what dignity remained, and turned on her heel. "You ruin everything you touch. Stay away from me."
She walked away.
Minho stood there foot throbbing, head aching, completely covered in red and watched her go.
The smile didn't leave his face.
"Haye..." he murmured to no one in particular, pressing a hand to his chest. "I need to make you mine. Soon, my jaan. Very soon."
------
Meanwhile, on the other side of the mandap, the moment Jungkook spotted her parents among the crowd of villagers, her face lit up with happiness. Leaving all her work behind, she hurried toward them without a second thought.
As soon as she reached them, she respectfully bent down to touch their feet before pulling both of them into a warm embrace.
"Eomma! Appa!" she exclaimed with a bright smile. "How have you both been? And where's bhai?"
Mrs. Jeon smiled affectionately and gently stroked Jungkook's head.
"We're doing perfectly fine, sweetheart. And your brother is probably somewhere around here."
She looked at her daughter with loving eyes.
"But enough about us. Tell me, how are you, my child?"
Jungkook smiled reassuringly.
"I'm doing well, Eomma."
She then turned toward her father, her expression immediately becoming serious with concern.
"And Appa, how's your health? You're taking your medicines on time, aren't you?"
She pointed a finger at him, pretending to scold him.
"I don't want any excuses. You have to take your medicines exactly on time, understood?"
Mr. Jeon laughed heartily.
"Yes, yes, my little doctor."
He smiled fondly at her.
"I take all my medicines on time every single day, so stop worrying."
He then looked around before asking with curiosity,
"Now tell me, how is everyone in your in-laws' family? And how is our damad ji?"
"They're all doing well, Appa. And he's doing well too."
She glanced around the courtyard.
"You haven't met him yet? Wait, he must be somewhere nearby. I'll go and call him."
"That won't be necessary."
A deep, calm voice interrupted from behind.
All three turned around to find Taehyung standing there.
He held a silver tray carrying two glasses of fresh juice along with a plate of sweets.
Without another word, he politely pulled out two chairs for Mr. and Mrs. Jeon.
"Please have a seat."
After they sat down, he handed each of them a glass of juice before placing the sweets on the table in front of them.
Mr. Jeon looked at him with surprise and smiled.
"Damad ji, there was no need to trouble yourself with all this."
Taehyung shook his head gently.
"There was."
His voice remained calm, respectful, yet firm.
"You're my parents too. How could I not take care of you?"
He folded his hands behind his back.
"Please sit comfortably. If either of you needs anything, just call me once."
Both Mr. and Mrs. Jeon exchanged emotional glances.
Mrs. Jeon raised her hand and lovingly placed it on Taehyung's head, blessing him.
"May you always stay happy, son."
A faint smile appeared on Taehyung's lips.
He gave them a respectful nod before quietly walking away...
Without looking at Jungkook even once.
Jungkook's eyes remained fixed on his retreating figure.
Something about him felt different today.
There was a strange distance in his behavior.
A small ache settled in her heart.
Is he... angry with me?
She lowered her gaze shyly.
Is it because... I still haven't kissed him?
Her cheeks flushed at the thought.
She had no idea...
That wasn't the reason at all.
The truth remained hidden from her, and she was still completely unaware of what was truly bothering him.
Just then, Mrs. Jeon's voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
"Beta, haven't you applied Holi colours to your husband yet?"
Jungkook looked at her mother before quietly shaking her head.
Mrs. Jeon's eyes widened.
"What? This is your first Holi together as husband and wife!"
She smiled warmly.
"The first colours of Holi should always be exchanged between the husband and wife before anyone else."
She gently nudged Jungkook forward.
"Go on. Apply colour to your husband first... and tell him to colour you as well."
A shy smile spread across Jungkook's face.
"Yes, Eomma. I'll be back in a little while."
With that, she turned around and walked away, her eyes instinctively searching the crowd for Taehyung, unaware that the colours of Holi were about to bring much more than just celebration into their lives.
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To be continued
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