Chapter Text
Jimin arrived at his parents’ house expecting a quiet dinner and a brief escape from the pace of his everyday life. The familiar scent of garlic and sesame oil drifted from the kitchen as soon as he stepped inside, wrapping around him in a comforting wave that felt like childhood. His mother greeted him with the same warm fussing she always did, smoothing imaginary wrinkles from his sweater and asking if he had been eating properly. The house looked exactly the same as it always had, which made the evening feel reassuringly ordinary.
For about ten minutes.
They had barely finished setting the table when his father cleared his throat with a dramatic gravity that immediately made Jimin suspicious. The man had retired only a few months earlier, which meant he now had endless time to develop new ideas about his children’s lives. Jimin had noticed this pattern the last few visits. His father had begun approaching family discussions with the same intensity he once reserved for boardroom meetings.
Tonight’s agenda revealed itself quickly.
“Jimin,” his father said, folding his hands on the table with solemn determination. “I’ve been thinking.”
Jimin paused halfway through lifting his spoon. That sentence never led anywhere good.
His father leaned forward slightly, studying him with a serious expression that suggested a major life decision had already been made without his involvement.
“You’re thirty now,” his father continued.
Jimin blinked slowly. “That is unfortunately true.”
“And I am retired.”
“That is also true.”
His father nodded, as though confirming a series of logical conclusions that could only lead to one inevitable outcome.
“I would like a grandson.”
Jimin stared at him.
Across the table, his mother quietly continued arranging side dishes as if this conversation was perfectly normal.
“A grandson,” his father repeated with confidence, as though he had just proposed an extremely reasonable household project.
Jimin set his spoon down carefully. “Appa.”
“Yes?”
“That is not something I can just… produce.”
His father waved a dismissive hand.
“You are creative,” he said firmly. “You will figure something out.”
Jimin closed his eyes for a moment. This was already worse than he expected.
“Appa,” he tried again, keeping his voice patient. “I cannot get pregnant.”
His father considered this information for exactly two seconds.
“Then you will find another method,” he replied calmly.
Jimin pressed his fingers against his temple.
“That is not how any of this works.”
His father sat back in his chair with the satisfied expression of someone who believed he was offering helpful encouragement. Retirement had not softened his determination in the slightest. If anything, it had made him more focused.
“You are successful,” his father continued thoughtfully. “You have stability. You have a good home. There is no reason you cannot start a family.”
Jimin opened his mouth to protest again, but his father continued speaking.
“If you are not going to date Taehyung again,” he added with pointed emphasis, “then you should at least start meeting other people.”
Jimin froze.
The mention of Taehyung landed squarely in the middle of his chest.
His father sighed heavily.
“That boy was perfect,” he said, shaking his head. “Polite. Responsible. He made you laugh all the time.”
Jimin stared down at his plate.
“Appa,” he said carefully. “We broke up years ago.”
“Yes,” his father replied. “A mistake.”
Jimin inhaled slowly.
His mother finally stepped in with a gentle tone. “Your father just wants you to be happy.”
“I am happy,” Jimin insisted.
His father tilted his head.
“Then why have you never dated anyone since?”
Jimin hesitated.
That question had a very simple answer that he could not possibly say out loud.
His father continued before Jimin could think of a response.
“If you are not willing to reconsider Taehyung,” he said firmly, “then I will arrange blind dates.”
Jimin blinked.
“Blind dates?”
“Yes.”
“Appa.”
“Yes?”
“You cannot just assign me blind dates like homework.”
His father lifted his chin slightly.
“I absolutely can.”
The conversation escalated quickly after that.
Jimin tried explaining. His father countered every argument with unwavering confidence. His mother attempted to calm both of them, but the discussion had already gathered momentum.
The pressure built until Jimin felt cornered by the entire situation.
And then he panicked.
“I already have a boyfriend,” he blurted.
The words left his mouth before he could stop them.
The room went quiet.
His father’s eyes lit up instantly.
“You do?”
Jimin stared at the table.
“Yes.”
His father leaned forward eagerly. “Who?”
Jimin’s brain scrambled for a safe answer.
He opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
His mother clasped her hands with excitement.
“Why didn’t you tell us earlier?”
Jimin forced a weak smile that felt increasingly fragile.
“I… wanted to wait until things were serious.”
His father nodded approvingly, already satisfied.
“That is very responsible.”
Before Jimin could recover, his mother reached for her phone.
“Oh, your aunt will be so happy,” she said brightly.
Jimin’s stomach dropped.
“Wait,” he said quickly.
But it was too late.
The message had already been sent.
Within minutes the family group chat erupted with notifications.
Congratulations.
Questions.
Excited exclamation points.
Jimin watched the screen fill with messages while his sense of impending disaster expanded steadily.
By the time he left the house later that evening, half his extended family had already heard the news.
He did not fully process what he had done until he was standing outside Jungkook’s apartment building.
The realization hit him all at once.
He needed help.
Fast.
Jimin stormed through the door without knocking, his mind racing through possible explanations that all sounded equally ridiculous.
Taehyung followed him inside, clearly entertained by the urgency of the situation. Jimin had practically dragged him along after rehearsal with very little explanation beyond the words “emergency” and “family disaster.”
Jungkook was already in the living room.
He looked up from the couch with mild curiosity as the two of them entered.
“What happened to you?” he asked casually.
Jimin began pacing.
“I made a mistake.”
Taehyung leaned against the wall near the kitchen with relaxed ease, folding his arms across his chest while watching Jimin circle the room.
“That is a vague description,” Taehyung said with amusement.
Jimin ran a hand through his hair.
“My father wants grandchildren.”
Jungkook nodded thoughtfully.
“That sounds serious.”
“It gets worse,” Jimin said.
Taehyung raised an eyebrow.
“I told him I have a boyfriend.”
Jungkook blinked.
Taehyung straightened slightly.
“You what?”
Jimin pointed helplessly at his phone.
“The entire family knows.”
Jungkook stared at him for several seconds.
Then his expression changed.
Slowly.
Dangerously.
“Wait,” Jungkook said.
He leaned forward with sudden interest.
“You told them you have a boyfriend.”
“Yes.”
“And you do not have a boyfriend.”
“Yes.”
Jungkook glanced between the two of them.
A grin spread across his face.
“I have an idea.”
Jimin narrowed his eyes immediately.
“That expression means trouble.”
Jungkook ignored him.
“You should fake date.”
Jimin blinked.
“Fake date who?”
Jungkook gestured casually toward Taehyung.
“Him.”
The room went quiet.
Jimin turned slowly.
Taehyung looked perfectly calm.
In fact, he looked slightly amused.
Jungkook watched the two of them like a scientist observing a fascinating experiment.
“Well?” Jungkook asked.
Taehyung shrugged lightly.
“Sure.”
Jimin stared at him.
“You agreed very fast.”
Taehyung smiled.
“You seemed stressed.”
“This is not funny.”
Taehyung tilted his head.
“It will solve the problem.”
Jimin hesitated.
He knew Taehyung was right.
The lie already existed.
This would simply support it.
“This is purely practical,” Jimin said firmly.
Jungkook nodded with suspicious enthusiasm.
“Of course.”
Taehyung’s smile softened slightly as he looked at Jimin.
“Just helping a friend.”
Jimin exhaled slowly, trying to convince himself this was manageable.
Temporary.
Practical.
Completely harmless.
Jungkook leaned back against the couch with a satisfied expression.
He had already reached for his phone.
“Do not text anyone,” Jimin warned immediately.
Jungkook looked up innocently.
“Why would I do that?”
Jimin narrowed his eyes.
Across the room, Taehyung was still smiling.