Meant To Be Together

3.Suprise

 It was a Thursday night and Tae was tired. He had finally wrapped up the project working all through Monday to now and was finally free to go. He only had to go back Saturday as it was an informal sendoff arranged with his coworkers and department head. He had his flight booked for Monday so that should give him enough time to pack all his important stuff and say goodbye to all his friends.

Tae was exhausted and just wanted to sleep so he decided to call his parents as was his routine and then just go to bed. His mother picked up on the second ring, "Taehyungie, you called early today everything's fine right?"

"Yes mom, I was just tired today and going to sleep early."

"ok then. Good timing actually, I was just about to call you"

Tae furrowed his brows in confusion, "Why? Is there something wrong?"

"No nothings wrong. Just some changes to your plans on coming home."

Now Tae was even more confused, "What changes? What do you mean?"

"when was the last time you saw your Fiancé Taehyungie"

Tae blinked not understanding where his mother was going with her line of questioning as she already knew the answer very well, but he decided to indulge her anyway, "When I was 17. The day of our unofficial engagement but you know that, so what exactly are you talking about mom?" he asked suspiciously. She was definitely up to something. He could just tell from the tone of her voice.

His mother laughed, "Well then don't you think that you two should atleast meet and get to know each other before the wedding. You don't even know what he looks like Taehyung-ah"

"Mom what are you saying. There is barely a month left for the wedding. How are we supposed to get to know each other out of blue"

"I met Ha-Eun the day before and we have decided something. Both your fathers also agree that this might be the best" His mother spoke.

Now Taehyung was very suspicious. Ha-Eun was his future mother-in-law. Her and his mother had become very good friends as unlike him they both had kept in contact with each other, it helped that Mr. Jeon and his father were childhood friends. Knowing that both the families had something planned already and him being unaware of what exactly they had cooked up now, was making him anxious. The last time he heard that they had decided something was when they told him he was being engaged.

"What is it this time mom? What have you planned now?" he asked.

His mother laughed at the anxiety she heard in his voice. "Don't be so apprehensive. Its nothing bad I promise." His mother's reassurance did nothing to soothe him.

"Mom just say it already. What is it?"

His mother sighed, "well both our families had a meet up and we were just catching up with the wedding plans and all and where you two should go for your honeymoon to relax and have fun before you start working on the partnership. It was then we realised as Ha-Eun pointed out that you two have never actually spoken to each other till now save for when you were teenagers because both of you are apparently either too stubborn, technologically challenged or just plain stupid, I don't know which one it is.."

"Mom!" Tae yelled sulking at her calling him out like this, but she just continued unbothered, "So, we thought it was better if you two actually properly meet andget to know at least a little bit about each other. We don't want any scandals during the wedding but most importantly we want you both to be sure about this.." she sounded quieter now and Tae knew all his mother's tone too well to pick up the guilt there somewhere.

He knew that although she acted all excited and eager for the wedding she was apprehensive about the way it was decided. Tae knew that both his mother and father loved him and wanted him to be happy. They had agreed to the wedding due to his grandfather's wishes and were happy that he hadn't ever had a problem with it but they still had doubts whether he was forcing himself for their sake.

"Mom..." "Tae I know that this engagement was forced upon you and we're so grateful you're doing this for your grandfather and our company but our first priority is you and we want both you and Jungkook to be sure about this marriage. We don't want a scenario where both of you are unhappy and end up resenting us."

"Mom you don't need to feel guilty. You said so yourself multiple times that I'm stubborn and headstrong. I won't have agreed to the marriage now if I wasn't sure of it."

Tae didn't want them to feel guilty about this as he actually had no problem with it. Its not like he had fallen in love with anyone since the engagement. It is true that he chose not to date but if there was anyone that he actually really liked and wanted to date, fall in love with then he would not have agreed to the marriage now.

"That aside mom we're going off-topic here. Now why don't you spill tea over what you all have cooked up. I really don't trust you to come up with anything good." Tae hears his mother relax as she laughs at his phrasing as was his intention.

"I'm your mother brat have some respect" she says without any heat and continues, "I know that you never complained and from what I have heard from Eun neither has Jungkook. We're grateful that we have such obedient children but we want you two to meet and spend time together before the actual wedding."

"I am going to be back in Korea by Tuesday so we will surely meet before the wedding right? I still don't know where you're going with this.

His mother sighs, "Not like that. When you'll both be here you'll be busy with all the preparations and company stuff. You won't really get to spend quality time together. So we thought 'why not let them meet and spend time together in America itself.' Away from here so that you two can concentrate on yourselves before you get busy with wedding and stuff"

Tae's eyes widened, "What do you mean here?"

"We've decided that Jungkook would go to you in America, now that his graduation ceremony is done with and he's free. He can stay in your flat or book a hotel if you both are uncomfortable just yet and you can show him NYC. You both can spend time together, visit places and have fun while acquainting yourselves with each other."

Tae blinked trying to process all that his mother has dumped on him. "WHAT! He's coming here. When? how come you're just telling me? What about my Monday flight?"

"Cancel it."

"But.. but" He stuttered not knowing what to say, he had given a lot of thought to how he would meet his fiancé again, he had even thought that they might not even get to meet before the wedding. This surprise visit his mother had just now sprung on him was something entirely different.

"Taehyungie we just want you two to be sure. I know you both would be perfect for each other and both of you have been such angels about this wedding never giving us a hard time. We wanted you two to be comfortable around each otherbefore the wedding" she tried to explain sensing his uncertainty.

Tae sighed, "Does Jungkook know about this? When is he coming?"

"Ha-Eun spoke to him yesterday and he agreed, so he'll boarding today evening and be there tomorrow."

Tae's eyes widened, "Tomorrow? And you're only telling me now"

"Jungkook only agreed a while ago. I didn't want to tell you if it didn't actually happen." Tae rolled his eyes, trust his mother to be so nonchalant about this.

"I'll send you his flight number go pick him up at the airport tomorrow would you."

Tae nodded resigned, "Yes mom" "and Taehyungie.." she called, Tae waited for what she wanted to say, "Just give each other a sincere chance yes. I don't want you to end up unhappy in this marriage."

Tae smiled, "I will. I was always going to. Even if this is an arranged marriage I do want it to work out"

"That's like my Tae. Alright then I won't keep you up for long, go to sleep now but don't forget to pick him up tomorrow."

"yeah mom I will. Bye now"

"Bye my baby. Goodnight"