Chapter 16

STILL SHORT CHAPTERS ALERT!

Taehyung grabbed her hand to get out of the restaurant. Luckily, their lunch place only across the courthouse makes Taehyung and Jennie just run shortly to go back. Jennie is still oblivious of what's going on but she just goes with the flow. She just let Taehyung drag her down the stairs to enter the courthouse.

Suddenly, they're in the waiting area of a courtroom. Jennie stares at the door and turns her head towards him. "Tae, what are we doing?"

"Making me your husband." That's all he said with his boxy smile. Jennie's eyes get bigger. How come she got here this morning to win a case to get married. She said yes recently in the restaurant not just be joking, but now looks like he's the one who joking about it because how come they'll get a license right here, right now just like that

"You're joking right? Don't you think we have to set a date to get a marriage license?" She said,

"I know a guy. So, what do you think? We have had all the haste about marriage since the beginning. Why don't we do it right now? Or. . . You want a wedding reception and ceremony? Of course you want all of that! How dumb am i?! I'm sorry i should consider your inner feminine side let—"

"Tae,tae! You're blabbering! Let's do it now. I just couldn't believe we're going to do this right now. I am just so excited yet it's thrilling for me but all of this is so romantic, I don't need that. Let's do this now." She cupped his cheeks, and smiled.

"Okay, wait here. I arranged it right now for the administration. I knew a guy there." He pecked her lips and ran away.

Jennie takes a deep breath and sighs. She still couldn't believe what just happened. They're going to do this, aren't they? They will commit to each other for the rest of their lives. Is she ready? But when will she be ready? All of this haste makes her feel the real love she deserves. Taehyung is all she deserves.

She let out her phone and thought about who she should call. Lisa? But she will be upset there isn't going to be a wedding. She always nudged to be her maid of honor ever since she was dating Yoongi. Okay, let's skip that because if she has to go through all her whining, Jennie will re-consider her marriage right now to do it next year for the sake of an expensive reception. Anything could happen in one year and she doesn't want to take a risk of it.

So, she dialed another number. After a few rings, somebody on the other line picks it up.

"Hello?"

"Mom?" Jennie calls her to make sure.

She decided to call her mom in LA. Her mom might be furious because there's no notice or wait for her to come to New York but this is just so romantic for her and of course she wants to share it with her one and only family, her mom.

"Yes, dear. What's wrong?" Jennie can sense her mom is worrying her. 'Sorry mom, what i'm about to say maybe will give you a heart attack'

"I'm getting married today!" She said in excitement but she gritted her teeth to gather herself hearing her mother scream and yell.

"Oh Taehyung proposed to you? I'm so happy for you guys. Maybe this weekend I can go to New York to celebrate with you guys." Oh the irony of her mom's words. She's not just being proposed to but she's about to get married right here right now.

"Mom, I'm in the courthouse right now to get married here. I'm getting married right now." Suddenly she only heard silence, she was already ready to hear what came next but she heard a sob coming from the other line. Her mom is about to cry.

"Mom? Are you sad there'll be no wedding? I'm sorry! I just-i will cancel it if you want! I will tell Taehyung we're going—" but her mom cut her off.

"No, no. It's just-it's so romantic because you're both lawyers and you guys get married in a place you work for the rest of your life. He proposed to you and right away went to the courthouse is so gentleman. I like him." She said between her sobs.

'Okay, my mom is a weirdo. Is marriage in the courthouse romantic?'

"Oh thank god! But mom, if you want we can celebrate just the three of us in the plaza, what do you think?" She suggested. "That's great, I'll book a flight. By the way, can I talk to him?"

"Uh, he's in the administration office to set the time for us to get married." She replied. "Oh okay, let's just talk this weekend. Happy wedding sweetheart. If this is all you want, that's fine. You deserve what you really want. Telling me this just makes me so happy already. I love you." Her mom said.

Somehow, Jennie still feels guilty about letting her mom know over the phone. "Mom, do you want to watch our wedding? I can video call you once we get into the courtroom." She can hear her mom gasping. "Of course honey! I would love it too! I'll wait for your call, okay?"

"Okay, he's here, see you soon. I love you." Jennie hangs up right away when she sees Taehung do a little run to her. "Hey, who were you calling?" He said.

"My mom." When he heard that, his body became stiff. He feels guilty because her mom must be sad that her only daughter got married like this.

"Wh-what? Uh-did-uhm-she's mad at me?" He stuttered because now he's scared this is wrong. Jennie just chuckled and grabbed his hand. "No! She said it's romantic to do this. She thought it's really sweet since we're lawyers and a courthouse is a place where we are working from time to time. Don't worry, she loves you. She said this weekend she came to New York to celebrate with a little brunch date just three of us in the Plaza. What do you think?"

Taehyung felt a little bit relieved when she said that. "Uhm, it's great. So. . . My friend said he came by this courtroom already with our paper, shall we?"

When they're about to go in, Jennie stops him. "Wait! We need to do something." She said as she put down her bag and rummaged something from her bag. She put out her case and ripped the cover.

Taehyung was confused about what she did. "Jen, why do you do that?" Jennie grabs her pen and sits on the bench beside the door. "To write our vow! We need to vow!" Taehyung widens his eyes and smiles. He loves that idea. He kneels in front of her and looks at the paper. "Is it okay to write in there?" He asked.

"That's fine, it's just a cover, I can print it again. Besides, let my first big case of my new law firm be a witness to our marriage." Taehyung smiles even more when she gets the idea like that, it's all impulsive but they both like it and it's really sweet for them. They couldn't ask for more.

"Promise to not any legal practice bleed our love" Jennie said as she wrote on the paper.

"To always fight fair." Taehyung added.

"To be our own judge when things go hard." Jennie suggested.

"Not against each other but to conquer together." Taehyung said.

They both get silent to think what else they should promise to each other.

"No running, always holding each other." She added again, looking at him with a smile. Taehyung shows his boxy smile and nods.

"No running, always holding each other." He said again.

Jennie loves everything they put together on the paper. After she finished, she bent to meet his lips and kissed him passionately. She is so grateful to have him for the rest of her life.

"Jen, I love you so much." He said as they both released their lips from each other. "I love you so much too, Kim Taehyung."

Taehyung grabbed her hand and came into the courtroom. When the judge talks to both of them. Taehyung can only fix his eyes on Jennie. He loves the way his life path takes him right now. If anyone says what he wants to make it better, he won't ask for more. This is just perfect for him. He loves every second of their time being in the courtroom right now. Usually, if he waits to be called to the courtroom, he only gets sweat on his hands, anger around his nerves, and madness in his eyes. But this, for once of his lifetime, he felt a courthouse much more better and comfortable because he stood beside the woman of his life.

Jennie put her phone on the table in front of her, and video called her mom. She leans in on her bag and adjusts her phone camera to the center of the courtroom. Taehyung is confused about what she just did.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"My mom wants to watch us." She whispered. Taehyung just mouthed 'O'. After a couple minutes, the judge who's being their officiant comes from the back of the courtroom. He holds a script and walks to be in front of them. He starts this right away like he usually does everyday, which probably he is.

"We are gathered together to witness the formal joining of Jennie Kim and Taehyung Kim in legal matrimony according to the custom and law prevailing by the Government of the state of New York." The judge said in front of them. And then, he continued.

"Marriage is perhaps the greatest and most challenging adventure of human relationships. No ceremony can create your marriage, only you can do that through love and patience, through dedication and perseverance, through talking and listening, helping and supporting and believing in each other: through tenderness and laughter, through learning to forgive, learning to appreciate your differences, and by learning to make the important things matter, and to let go of the rest. What this ceremony can do is to witness and affirm the choice you make to stand together as life mates and partners." Even though the judge only read a script, for both of them it's a beautiful reminder for them. Jennie and Taehyung smile at each other for the entire time.

He turned his eyes to Taehyung.

"Repeat after me, please. "I, Taehyung Kim, do solemnly declare that I do not know of any lawful impediment why I may not be joined in matrimony to Jennie Ruby Jane Kim."

Then Taehyung repeats the judgment but suddenly he says it with a stutter, making Jennie have an urge to laugh. But still he's the sweetest.

The judge turns to Jennie this time. "Repeat after me, please. "I, Jennie Ruby Jane Kim solemnly declare that I do not know of any lawful impediment why I may not be joined in matrimony to Taehyung Kim." And Jennie repeats him with confidence. Taehyung is jealous why Jennie can say it without a stutter. He wants to have that confidence.

After that, the judge read again his vows script. "Please face each other when you're repeating these vows." They both face each other and hold each other's hands. Taehyumg's face got all reddened while Jennie just smiled calmly, he didn't understand why he became this nervous like he's about to go to prison.

"Repeat after me, please. "I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, Taehyung Kim do take you, Jennie Ruby Jane Kim to be my lawful wedded spouse."

Taehyung tried to repeat it with confidence again. This time he succeeded. The judge continued, this time to Jennie again.

Repeat after me, please. "I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, Jennie Ruby Jane Kim do take you, Taehyung Kim to be my lawful wedded spouse." Jennie repeats him again while caressing his hands because she can feel his hands sweat, she smiles and chuckles when she sees Taehyung is getting shy in front of her.

"Are there any rings?" They both widen their eyes. They forgot about the rings. Every married couple should have a ring. Taehyung feels it's his fault, he's the one who didn't prepare all of this.

The judge can see by looking at their faces, there's no rings they prepared. "Okay, that's fine. Let's proceed."

"I, Judge Michael Anderson, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Marriage Act, and the state of New York, do hereby pronounce you, Taehyung Kim and Jennie Ruby Jane Kim, to be married. I wish you long life, happiness and prosperity, and may the vows you made to each other today, sustain you forever. At this time, the wedded parties and their witnesses will sign the Official Marriage Register."

And he continue,

"You may kiss the bride."

After that, she can heard her mom scream on her phone. The judge was startled and confused about where the voice was coming from. Jennie immediately grab her phone and show it to Taehyung.

"Hello, Mrs. Kim." He waves to the screen. "Aw, it's mom right now! Call me mom! I'm so proud of you guys! I can't wait to meet you guys this weekend." She said while clapping her hands. Taehyung and Jennie just chuckle to look at her reaction. "Okay. . . Mom, we can't wait to see you." He said.

"So? Who's going to move in to whose place?" Jennie's mom asked. Jennie just gritted her teeth but Taehyung answered her right away. "Jennie is going to live with me. This weekend let's stay with us, mom." He offered. Jennie just looked at him with surprise. 'I'm going to move in? Of course we're going to move in, we're a married couple, stupid!'

"Okay! I will stay with you! Jen sweetheart, I'm going to teach you how to properly cook not just some western food like you live your single life, Korean food! Let Taehyung taste our culture again! I will get my recipe book tomorrow." She said, Jennie just rolled her eyes, "okay mom, i will. We have to go since he said I'm going to move in, I should pack my stuff." Jennie said teasingly as she looked at him.

"Okay, enjoy your moving day! Goodbye! I love you guys so much!" She said and they both hung up.

They both walk out from the courthouse and stand on a sidewalk, thinking what their next moves are. "So." Jennie started. "I'm going to move in with you, let's go, help me to move in." Jennie said as she smiled seeing Taehyung with his happy face for the entire time. "Do you need to pack your stuff? How about just your clothes? I'm thinking of buying furniture that we both like as a married couple. What do you think?" Jennie laughs because right now Taehyung is being like a homely husband. Who knows a cold and cocky lawyer has a soft spot when it comes to a couple things.

"What?" He is confused seeing Jennie smile for no reason at him for two minutes straight. "No, nothing. I just admire this new side of you." She pecked his lips as he put his hands around her waist. Their noses just touch each other, they can't keep their hands off around each other. They're still in front of a courthouse and they just focus on each other like the whole world just belongs to two of them.

All of these compliments he receives are the best thing he gets from a woman. Being cute, soft, and sweet. A nickname he finds odd yet exciting to hear for the first time. He's one lucky husband today.

"So. . . Should we go straight to your place or should we stop by a furniture store." He asked. Jennie cups his cheeks and whispers. "Furniture store." And she pecks his lips before releasing their embrace to turn around to the sidewalk. She raises her hand to call a cab that will pass by.

Taehyung just stares two meters away from her, he sees Jennie's figure turn her back on him and he sees happiness build up in him. Today and days ahead for the rest of his life, he's one of the happiest people in the world.

—————————————Sincerely, Matcha💚