Chp 43- My Safe Haven #3
"This is your husband's room. Just sit tight and wait for him, he'll be up soon. I've raised my boy with good values, but if he ever raises his voice or gives you any trouble, you come straight to me. I'll teach him a lesson myself!"
Tzuyu looked at Mrs. Jeon, touched by her motherly warmth. "Maa, what about my clothes?"
"Oh! Don't worry, I'll have Minho bring your suitcase up when he comes," Mrs. Jeon replied, setting a glass of warm milk on the nightstand.
"Drink this milk and get some rest. I'll leave you to settle in."
With a soft pat on Tzuyu's shoulder, Mrs. Jeon stepped out and closed the door behind her.
Left alone, Tzuyu took a moment to look around her new surroundings. The bedroom was admittedly smaller than the room she had back at Kim Mansion, but it felt warm, cozy, and thoughtfully designed.
As she leaned over to adjust the glass of milk, a small picture frame on the side table caught her eye.
It was a photograph of Jungkook and Minho as children, with Jungkook laughing merrily while sitting atop Minho's shoulders. Right beside it was another photo of the two siblings wrapped in a tight, affectionate hug.
A sharp pang of grief hit Tzuyu's chest as memories of her own brother, Woojin, flooded her mind. Tears welling up in her eyes, she reached out and gently touched the glass frame.
"Bhai" she thought bitterly to herself as tears began to slip down her cheeks.
"You failed as a son, you failed as a brother, and you failed as a decent human being. Why did I have to end up with a brother like you? If only you had been a good person, if only you had loved me...maybe we could have had memories like this, too.
Jungkook is so truly blessed to have such a wonderful family, a devoted husband, and a brother who would do anything for her."
She was still lost in these heavy thoughts when the soft sound of the door clicking open startled her. Minho walked into the bedroom, carrying her heavy suitcase. Tzuyu quickly wiped away her tears before turning around.
"Here's your suitcase," Minho said gently. "Take out your clothes so you can freshen up."
Tzuyu nodded softly as he handed the bag over to her. As she retrieved a comfortable pair of clothes, she hesitated before calling out "Listen"
"Yeah, what is it?"
"I... I'm allergic to flowers, so--"
"I'll clear them out right now," Minho cut in immediately, not letting her finish. "You go ahead and get freshened up."
Without another word, Tzuyu headed straight into the washroom.
Left alone, Minho got right to work. He stripped the bed of every petal, gathered all the floral garlands decorating the room, threw them away, and swept the floor thoroughly.
When Tzuyu finally stepped out of the washroom, her eyes were slightly red and puffy, a clear sign she had been crying secretly in the bathroom
"You're back," Minho said, setting the broom aside. "You take the bed. I'll sleep down on the floor. Don't worry, I swept the entire room and cleared out all the flowers."
Tzuyu gave a soft nod and sat on the edge of the mattress. "You don't have to sleep on the floor," she murmured quietly. "It doesn't feel right for me to sleep on the bed while you're on the ground."
"Th-Then where should I sleep?" he asked, caught off guard.
"On the bed," she replied quietly. "I'll just place a pillow between us."
"Alright, sounds good. I'll be right back."
Minho grabbed his clothes and went into the washroom to get changed.
When he stepped back out, he opened the wardrobe to pull out a small velvet box, a wedding night gift he had bought for her. But as he turned around with a hopeful smile, he saw that Tzuyu had already drifted off to sleep, utterly exhausted.
A faint sigh of disappointment escaped his lips. Setting the gift box back inside the wardrobe, he quietly walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.
Reaching out with the utmost care, he gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, taking extra care not to wake her up.
He knew how much emotional turmoil she had endured today. One look at her pale, weary face was all it took for him to understand her pain.
"I know this isn't the marriage you wanted," Minho whispered softly into the quiet room.
"But what could I do? My heart couldn't let you go. Once Taehyung Sir knew the truth, I couldn't bear the thought of losing you, nor could I turn down this wedding. I know you might not want me right now, but I promise I will love you and cherish you so much that one day,
you won't ever want to be apart from me. I love you, Tzuyu."
Leaning down gently, Minho pressed a tender, lingering kiss to her forehead before settling down beside her for the night