Chapter Text
He meets Taehyung when he’s 13. He had just moved out from the city and into the suburbs meaning a new school in a new place. Which is why Jungkook is running, late by taking the wrong road not once but twice. And then he’s suddenly barreling into another boy and falls flat on his ass. Jungkook looks up in surprise and confusion, before meeting the biggest smile he’s ever seen. The other boy stands up and ignores Jungkook’s apologizes, never losing the smile. And before Jungkook knows it, they are walking to school together.
The boy talks. And talks and talks and talks. He’s two years older, lives a few blocks from Jungkook with his parents and has multiple theories on the consistency of sunshine rays in regard to the full moon.
Jungkook doesn’t understand it but loves it all the same. Every day after that, Taehyung waits for Jungkook so they can walk together to school, and the new place he’s found himself in doesn’t feel as big and lonely as it did before,
One day, Taehyung suddenly asks him
“Jungkook-ah, you never really talk about yourself.”
”Well, there isn’t much to tell, and you do like to talk a lot, hyung”
”Ah, I know, I tend to ramble, you should tell me to stop” the older boy looks embarrassed.
”No hyung, I like it. It’s, you have a lot of thoughts. It’s nice to listen too”
Taehyung stares at him for a moment, that big, wide smile growing on his face before he’s suddenly jumping on Jungkook with a high pitch; ”ah, Kookie!” and clings to him like a koala bear. Jungkook laughs before he manages to push the other boy off.
”Well, you have to tell me something about yourself. The only thing I know is your name, age and that you’re two grades below me”
”One.”
”What?”
”I’m one grade below you, I skipped a class”
Taehyung just stares at him, then he does this weird sound and jumps with a raised fist,
”waah, my smart Jungkookie, such a smart boy!”
”Shut up” Jungkook says, higly embarrassed. Taehyung just laughs and punches him in the arm, but he drops the subject and moves on. They continue to talk, or more so Taehyung. Jungkook thinks it balances them out, him having nothing interesting to say and Taehyung talking for miles at a time. They become comfortable with each other fast, and Jungkook feels like by some stroke of magic, he’s made a friend.
Taehyung is different, and Jungkook is not stupid. Being as quiet as he is means that he’s observant by nature and there’s hardly anything that he misses. Sometimes when they walk to and from school, Taehyungs eyes have this hollow look to them. Some days, he talks and talks and ways his arms and Jungkook can see the bruises. It seems like the days that he talks the most, fills in every second of silence, are the same days that he walks with a limp or holds himself smaller than he is.
Jungkook knows, and he hates that there’s little to nothing he can do. He knows that the older boy will never come to him with it, would never ask for help, and so Jungkook must come up with something himself. Talking to an adult is out of the question, he will not betray Taehyung’s trust and there’s no way to know for sure if it will make things better or worse. So he goes online, searching how to bandage wounds, what depression looks like, how you are a good friend to people that are struggling. He decides to help his friend in his own way and starts to bring plasters and bandages and even painkillers. Taehyung continues to babble excuses and apologizes, like he tripped and fell or ran into a door and all the other cliché things that no one really believes. As time goes on, and they get more and more comfortable with each other, one day Jungkook stops the excuses with a tight hug and soft, whispering words of comfort. Taehyung shuts up, but never ever say anything about it or lets himself crumple like Jungkook thinks he must want to do. He just stays in the hug, for a moment, before stepping back. Those days, when Jungkook feels his friend hug him a little closer than usual, he makes it his mission to make his friend smile before they reach school. On most days, he succeeds.
He can never really forget about the days when he can’t.
One day, a few months later, Taehyungs eyes aren’t just hollow. They are so empty and dark that Jungkook feels his heart stutter before the older boy has even said a word. And he doesn’t, the boys just stand there one the sidewalk for minutes without are word and Jungkook never knew that silence could hurt so bad, be so scary, and he feels panic rising and he tries to say something, anything, but the words are stuck and-
”He hit her last night” Taehyung mumbles to his shoes.
”What?” Jungkook breathes.
”I want to leave so bad, call someone, anything, but” he whispers, voice thick with emotions ”if I’m gone, he’s just gonna hurt my mom instead”
Jungkook’s throat closes up and he feels his eyes water. Wordlessly, he hugs his friend and holds him so close, like he can keep the pieces together by sheer force. He understands his friend’s dilemma, wanting to protect yourself but more so your family, and it hurts. Jungkook vows there and then that someday, he will punch that fucker right in his face and break his nose.
The schoolyear continues, and then Taehyung is bringing someone else to their spot in the schoolyard. Taehyungs wide smile stretches over his face as he introduces the boy behind him.
”Kookie! Look! A new friend!” he exclaims so loud that people around them looks over.
”Tae, stop, oh my god” the smaller boy says embarrassed, ”I’m Park Jimin” he says to Jungkook.
Jungkook can tell that the new boy is nervous, so he just smiles and nods, grasping his outstretched hand,
”I’m Jungkook”.
Jimin lives close by Jungkook, and soon joins them on their walk to school. The boy is soft spoken and shy, but it doesn’t take long (how can it with Taehyung in the mix) for Jimin to show his true colors.
His true colors are very, very clingy. And kind of whiny, too.
”Jungkooook-ah, please carry me to school! I can’t walk anymore”
”Sorry Jimin-ah, I have to carry all these books”
”Yah, what do you even have does for? To look smart?” the boy sniffs.
”Haven’t you heard about Jungkookie the Genius? He skipped a grade just because of his brain. He is very smart”
”Oooh” Jimin says with an awed look on his face and clings to Taehyung and as they stare at Jungkook like fangirls would over an idol.
It’s all highly embarrassing for the youngest boy, to say the least.
Jimin’s parents are some type of rich business people, that control almost everything that Jimin does. Including his hobbies and how the spends his time. Despite of this, he is kind, soft, and never says a bad word about anyone else. He doesn’t like conflicts and always want everyone to like him. What Jungkook likes the most about Jimin, is that he seems to know when to push and when to hold back, so when he sees Taehyungs bruises for the first time, he doesn’t ask any questions. Jimin just hugs the boy and tell him that it’s alright, that he is cared for and that is that.
The three of them stick together. They study together most weekends. Jimin, just like Jungkook, actually enjoys school and helps Taehyung who would rather do anything else. Being brought up in a house as turbulent as Taehyung’s, he always skidded along the lines of doing just well enough in every subject. With the help of his friends however, his grades go up so much that he might dare to dream of college. But Taehyung was born belonging so close to the bottom step that even looking up seems scary.
***
”I’m probably just going to end up being a janitor or something, like my dad” he says after a particularly hard math test that wrung the boy dry.
”You can do whatever you want to do, hyung” Jungkook says as they walk home from school.
”Dreams like that are for rich kids, like you and Jimin. Me? I already have my path laid out for me”
“That’s bullshit”
“What?” Taehyung says, stunned.
”Shit gets hard and you’re just going to quit? That doesn’t sound like you”
Taehyung stops in his track and Jungkook almost take back his words but, well, he doesn’t really want to.
”You don’t know what you’re talking about, Jungkook” the older boy says with a flat tone.
”Maybe not, you’re right. I was born with money, and that does make some things easier. But you were born with strength hyung, strength that me and Jimin don’t have. You get up with a smile everyday no matter what happened the night before and it would be a fucking shame for you to let all that go to waste”
Jungkook breathes harshly, staring into Taehyungs big, almost black eyes. The other boy says nothing, just turns around and keep walking. But the next day, he shows up with the result of his math test, a big B in red marker. He never talks about being like his dad ever again.
***
The days move on, and some are harder, and some are easier. They become more open and honest with each other and closer than before. They don’t keep many secrets from each other and in turn, the secrets they share gets bigger and bigger.
” What should we do about Taehyung?” Jimin asks one day. It’s just the two of them, Taehyung never showed up at their corner. Which usually means that his father got him in the face, and he doesn’t want to go to school like that.
” I don’t know, just be there for him, I guess. I’m going to stop by his house later, come with?”
”What if his dad is there?”
”We’ll go around midnight, usually his dad is passed out drunk by then. Taehuyng will know to look for us”
”You’ve done this a lot, then?”
Jungkook just shrugs, unsure of how much is his place to tell.
”I’m in” Jimin says,” I don’t think it will be hard to sneak out, my parents usually don’t pay too much attention to what I’m up to”
He says it with a smile, but Jungkook can see the way the corner of his smile tightens. Jungkook knows that Jimin’s tendency to be clingy and why he likes to hug so much and so tight, is because he lacks that at home. That Jimin’s rich parents’ values work and social events before dinners at home with their sons. Jimin has a little brother away at boarding school, but Jimin is allowed going to a public if he keep his grades up. And that’s lucky, because going to public school means less supervision and he can get away with things that his parents wouldn’t approve of. Like being friends with Taehyung, who lives in the poor neighborhood. Or choose dance when they get to pick at PE, when his parents refuse to let him take lessons because “dance is a waste on a boy”. Luckily for them all, Jimin’s parents are most of the time out on business meetings or whatnot. Jungkook can relate to some of it. His own parents passed away and the uncle he lives with, is more often away than at home. The difference is, Jungkook doesn’t mind that much and gets to choose things for himself most of the time. Maybe it’s because his uncle is not his parents, and Jimin’s parents have more at stake with family name and a business he could potentially take over some day. Jimin often complains about being controlled, while Jungkook is mostly left to his own devices. Would he have liked a parent figure at home, telling him what to do? Sure. But now, he’s independent in ways that his friends haven’t learned yet, and he counts that as a blessing.
” I’m mean, my parents are sucky sometimes, with their constant nag about how I should look and who I should talk to and everything. But I know they love me, you know? I can’t imagine my dad ever..” Jimin’s voice fades away and he casts a look at the younger boy,
”Shit, I’m sorry Kook”
”What, why?” Jungkook looks at the boy confused.
”Well,” Jimin rubbs his neck,” with your parents and all. I shouldn’t complain, I must sound like a spoiled brat”
”Hyung, my parents are dead. That doesn’t mean your parents can’t suck” he playfully shoves the boy. Jimin let’s out a shout and pushes him back and soon both boys are chasing each other down the street all the way to school.
***
They don’t talk about it, but Jungkook notice how Jimin is struggling too. It’s in his eyes, the way his smile is just a little too much and then not there at all. Taehyung let’s Jungkook know that sometimes, the other boys in their class can be mean to their new friend. Tease Jimin for being short, for having small hands, for his round cheeks. He’s tried to help but they always get Jimin when he’s alone. When he tells Jungkook, something changes in his young friends’ eyes. There’s an anger there that Taehyung has rarely seen, and he quickly swears the boy to secrecy. Jungkook can’t do anything about it.
So Jungkook goes home, gets on the internet and research. He reads about how bullying can tear someone down, how they need support, how to help someone see themselves as for who they are. Jungkook can’t tell an adult because it’s a secret that he’s not meant to know, and Jimin’s own parents probably wouldn’t care too much. Or if they did, not in the right way. Getting an excuse for putting Jimin in a private school is just something Jungkook isn’t willing to give them. Maybe he’s selfish. He probably is, but he knows that neither he nor Taehyung can be without their kind, sweet friend who always smiles just for them. So, does what he can – he tries to show Jimin how much he cares about him. He hugs him more, let’s Jimin hug him, and compliments him every day. Small things like how kind he is, how smart he is, how much he matters. It’s obvious and a little silly but Jimin lights up every time and on the days when his smile takes a little too long to form, Jungkook says all the kind things he can think about.
When it comes to Jimin, it’s not that difficult.
And it’s hard sometimes. There are days when Taehyung will show up with bruises all over his body, and Jimin has a fake smile and empty eyes. When Jungkook must bend over backwards to make them smile, to make them feel safe, to hold them close.
The three boys became attached at the hip and Jungkook feels how nothing can separate them. Most weekends they spend at Jungkook’s house. His uncle is usually not at home so they can watch a movie and eat their weight in candy. One night, Taehyung comes over with Jimin in tow. He hasn’t been to school that day, so Jungkook is surprised to see him.
”My dad went out to the pub, so I thought I could come to you for a change”. Despite his blackeye, Taehyung’s smile comes easily enough, “I got Jimin on the way”.
Jimin’s smile, on the other hand, is stiff and doesn’t reach his eyes. It’s one of those days and Jungkook hugs him and ushers them over to the living room. They order pizza and eats it in front of a movie, and it takes a while, but soon all of them are laughing and hanging of each other. Taehyung to his right, Jimin to his left and Jungkook knows they’re broken and hurting but he can honestly say he’s never been so happy.
”Jungkook-ah”, Jimin says softly, ”you never talk about your parents”
”Well, there’s much to tell”
Taehyung scoffs and mutters a, ”you say that about everything”.
” What do you want me to say, hyung? They died when I was 8 and then I moved in with my uncle. That’s kind of it”
”What where they like?” Jimin asks softly, leaning against his shoulder.
”I don’t really remember them much. But my mom was kind and beautiful, she stayed at home with me before I started school. And my dad was a college professor. Kind of stern, but he smiled a lot. We used to go fishing, sometimes.”
”I’m sorry Kook-ah, it must be hard”
”It was” Jungkook nods, “but not so much anymore. They were good people, and I love them, but you know. Life moves on”.
They don’t say much after that, even though Jungkook can feel how Taehyung wants to say something, but Jimin sends him a look and that’s that. Jungkook appreciates their concern, but at the same time, they don’t get it. His parents died when he had just turned 8, and he’s been living with his father’s brother ever since. Jungkook doesn’t like to talk about it, because there’s really not much to talk about. He lived a normal, privileged life with his parents, who got in a car while he was at a birthday party, and that car that crashed into a bridge due to heavy rain. So now he lives an even more privileged life with his uncle. End of story.
They are gone, and the two boys sitting with Jungkook on his couch, are his new family.
***
They live like this for two more years. Two years filled with heartache, sorrow and so many laughs Jungkook can’t remember them all. A lot of things happen at the same time: Jimin’s parents forgets about his birthday one too many times and he throws a fit during dinner. It all happens as his parents, once again, shots down his wishes to attend dance classes and Jimin just loses it. When he re-tells the story, it leaves his friends both laughing and crying. Let’s just say, there was a lot of broken plates and thrown food. Jimin’s parents were horrified, and he’s grounded for two weeks, but afterwards the boys (with the help of Jimin’s little brother) plans the best birthday party at an arcade with ice cream and balloons. They can’t replace his parents, but Jimin is so appreciative of his friends, that it almost makes up for it. And when the boys finds out that Jungkook’s birthday came and went without any celebrations at all, they get decisive. From then on, the boys celebrate their birthdays without regards of their parents (expect Taehyung’s mother, who always makes him a birthday cake). Jungkook doesn’t really care about birthdays and celebrations, but he can see how this was just a step for Jimin to become his own person. He watches how Jimin slowly stops carrying the weight of his parents expectations, becoming more self-confident and even though he has a big heart, he doesn’t let just anyone take a piece of it.
The best thing, however, is Taehyungs mom. After a vicious beating that left Taeyhyung visiting the ER with a broken nose, and she finally had enough. In the middle of the night, they took the car and left for a small two-bedroom apartment that she had managed to rent without his father knowing. Taehyung says that it feels good, being away, but the fear of having to go back never really leaves him since his parents are still married.
And so, the three boys spend all their free time together – studying at Jungkook’s or Jimin’s houses, movie nights, and night where they push the living room furniture out of the way and dances like idiots. Even a few parties that Jimin drags them to but Jungkook hates. But he will go to make sure the boys are safe and happy, and if by some miracle Jungkook happens to bump into the boys that are still tormenting his Jimin-hyung, well, that’s just a coincidence. He thinks that the bruised knuckles are worth it, even if he can’t tell his friends what happened. From that day on, Jimin no longer has to fear for his bullies and even though he doesn’t know what happened, it’s even more weight that leaves his shoulders. His smiles always reach up to his eyes and there’s a joy in him that Jungkook has missed.
That is worth everything for Jungkook.
Graduation comes and Jimin and Taehyung prepares to leave for college. Jimin to study psychology and Taehyung got a scholarship with a full ride to earn a bachelor’s degree in English. He wants to become a teacher. It’s one of the best days, when Taehyung got the letter from the same school Jimin got accepted too. Without a scholarship, there was never any chance for Taehyung to educate himself further and Jungkook hugs his friend and tells him how proud he is of all their hard work. Taehyung in turn tries to thank him for sticking by him and literally pulling his ass through school but Jungkook won’t have it. This could have happened with or without him, all the potential was already there.
During graduation, Jungkook screams and hollers alongside with Jimin’s little brother. He’s so happy and proud of his friends, even if it hurts to think about how lonely everything will be now. It’s just a year, and the college is about two hours away, but with them moving into dorms and having classes of their own, they can’t spend time together like they used too. And Jungkook’s heart ache just by the thought alone, of dinners by himself and movie night in his too big house and only talking on the phone. They will try to see each other on the weekends, but Jungkook still feels left out. Left behind. Which is silly but,
they are the only friends he’s ever had.
The next year is the longest in Jungkook’s life. Every day is like the one before day. He rarely speaks to his classmates, who early on took decided that he was just a spoiled know-it-all, because of Jungkook skipping a grade and living in a nice house in the rich neighborhood. He doesn’t care though. When he meets up with his friends on the weekends, he can feel how laughter makes its way back into his chest, a smile on his face, something warm floating under his skin. And he’s happy seeing his friends happy. How Taehyung lights up when he talks about the TA in his class who questions everything while holding all the answers to the world. How Jimin slowly start to really, really love himself as he finally takes some evening dance classes which is the first time he goes strictly against his parents wishes. Jimin can’t stop talking about that, or the new friend that he made in class, who he says light up the sky with his smile and energy. Jungkook can’t imagine it, because no one can be brighter than his childhood friends.
When he meets Jung Hoseok, it’s like staring straight into the sun.
***
One thing about growing up in an empty house most of the time, is that Jungkook has a lot of free time. More so now that Jimin and Taehyung has moved away. Every night after his homework is done, he either draws or dances. His house has a great sound system, and he practices dance routines in front of his big tv. So, when Jimin tells him about his new friend who is a dance major and has thought Jimin a few moves, the younger boy is eager to meet him. And when they get to the dance studio, Jungkook stares in awe. It’s big, bright and the boy moving in the center of it to a heavy hiphop beat is so amazing, Jungkook can feel himself blush just by looking
.
“Hyung, that was so good!” Jimin yells as soon as the track stops and the boy in the middle of the room is panting.
“Jimin-ah! Glad you liked it, thought we could do something like that next class”
The high squeak Jimin let’s out makes Jungkook flinch and ultimately draw attention from the other boy. When they lock eyes, the boy smiles and Jungkook is blinded.
Hoseok is talkative, almost at Taehyungs level but easier to follow, and he is bright, happy and bubbly. Jungkook feels twice as shy and small around the boy, he just shines too bright. But he is drawn to Hoseok, and Hoseok with his easy-going attitude takes Jungkook under his wing and demands to exchange number immediately. After seeing the younger boy dance, he practically begs him to drop out of high school and start college right away (how that would work, Jungkook is not sure).
So that’s how it started, every other weekend Jungkook would visit, and dance the night away with Jimin and Hoseok and sometimes Taehyung if he ever felt like it. And Jungkook would get on the bus back home, still smiling so wide his cheeks hurt, and the week following would be a little bit easier than the last. A few months later though, Jungkook shows up and Hoseok isn’t there.
“It happens sometimes” Jimin said, “he gets sick or something and doesn’t show up for a few days. I’m sure he’s fine though”
They dance just the two of them, but it’s not the same without the boy brighter than the sun, so they stop early and goes home to Taehyung to have a move night.
It’s nice, Jungkook thinks, that his two best friends shares a dorm room and that they can all gather in the same bed to watch a movie on Jimin’s laptop and if he closes his eyes, it’s almost like back home.
But, Hoseok.
Jungkook can’t shake off the feeling that something is wrong. So early Saturday morning, he’s (as usual) the only one awake, and quietly gather his things and slips out of the room. Spending so much time at the college means that Jungkook can navigate it quite easily, and he finds a small gift shop that amazingly is open despite it being the weekend. So, he gets a bunch of stuff, a teddy bear and a small thermos with the school logo and colorful post it notes. Then he makes his way to the nearest Starbucks, order a coffee and borrows a pen from the nice girl at the counter, and then he starts to write. It might be silly, but Jungkook has been dealing with his friends’ low points for quite some time now, and so he might be an expert on how to pick someone up. And if Hoseok is sick, or whatever this is, then maybe he needs some encouragement. When he has written on all the notes, and folded them into the thermos, he buys some scones and cookies and makes his way to Hoseok’s off-campus apartment.
Jungkook’s never been inside, but he and Jimin walked the older boy home on late nights after dancing in the studio, so he finds it easily. Luckily for him, and the heavy bag he’s carrying, it’s only a fifteen-minute walk. Outside of Hoseok’s door, he puts the bag down on the ground and turns around. He doesn’t want to ring the bell in fear of waking the boy up, so he just text him to look outside once he’s up.
It’s later that day, and the boys are just doing their homework, when Jungkook receives a text.
“Thank you Jungkook-ah
Come by tomorrow for lunch?
Bring dumb and dumber with you”
And Jungkook smiles.
***
The next day he’s back at Hoseok apartment and when the older boy opens the door, he has his trademark smile in place. Jimin and Taehyung quite literally jumps on him, squealing in some language Jungkook can’t understand. So he hangs back, and really looks at Hoseok. Takes notice of the black rings underneath his eyes, the way his hair is matted against his forehead and how his smile doesn’t quite reach up to his eyes like it usually does.
“I have a friend here, Seokjin-hyung, the one who owns the café?”
Jungkook doesn’t recognize him, but Jimin and Taehyung looks excited, so he figures it’s someone they’ve heard a lot about.
Seokjin is tall, and very handsome. He comes out of the kitchen with a smile and nods to the three boys. Taehyung immediately shouts a “Seokjin-ssi! It’s so nice to meet you! Hoseok-hyung talks about you a lot!”
“Ah, Taehyungie, just call me Jin-hyung! It feels like I already know you” they hug like they have been friends for ever.
The day is full of laughter and good food and movies. They talk about the oldest café and school and dance and everything. Hoseok is a little bit quieter than usual, but he smiles bright and Jungkook has a warm feeling in his chest. When Hoseok drives him to the bus station later, he gets out of the car and hugs Jungkook tight.
It’s hard though, being left alone. Every other weekend is not enough by a long shot and Jungkook dives into his studies. Christmas comes and Jimin spends it with his family, Taehyung with his mother and Jungkook alone in his house. He didn’t tell his friends about it, just like he never does. New year’s eve however, he spends with the guys in Hoseoks apartment. Seokjin is there with Namjoon, who happens to be Taehyungs TA and idol. He’s a tall boy with a nice, dimpled smile and deep voice. Hoseok’s best friend shows up, Yoongi, the complete opposite to the rest: short, quiet and with a very neutral look on his face. Something about him makes Jungkook instantly trust him, maybe because they’re both on the quiet side and observes rather than entertains. Earlier that day Jungkook, Jimin and Taehyung had celebrated Taehyung’s birthday with lunch and margaritas, leaving Jungkook feeling buzzed and not that shy like he normally would be. There are other people in the apartment, of course, Hoseok being a popular guy on campus. People fill in and out with loud voices and even louder music, and even though Jungkook feels better than he usually does at parties, he soon goes tired and wary of the crowd.
He get his coat and walks out on the balcony and sits on a chair. He breathes in the cold air and huffs out a white puff. Jungkook pulls out his sketch book from his coat, a small thing that’s bent at every corner from being stuffed into his pocket and draws. He knows it’s a cliché, sitting at the balcony with a party going on behind him and sketching random things that comes to mind, but it feels grounding and this way, it won’t be too obvious for his party-loving friends that he feels out of place.
“That looks really good” a gruff voice behind him says, and Jungkook looks up.
Yoongi is standing behind him, watching over his shoulder. Jungkook had been so immersed in the drawing that he hadn’t even heard the balcony door opening up.
“Jungkook, right?”
He nods and looks as Yoongi pulls up at packet of cigarettes to light one up.
“Can I bum one?” Jungkook finds himself asking.
Yoongi looks at him, then shrugs,
“You look a little young to be smoking”
Jungkook rolls his eyes, “I’m a high school senior”
Nevermind that he’s only 16, he thinks too himself.
“Well, it’s your lungs” he says and hands him one.
They smoke together for a while. Jungkook learns that the older boy is a music major, who lives pretty much in his studio. Jungkook talks about how he would like to study something creative, but that he’s unsure. Yoongi just hums and shares that he moved just for school, against his parents wishes, and he’s never regretted it.
Jungkook thinks that Yoongi is the coolest and looks at him with awe. The older just playfully shoves him with a “yah” but Jungkook can see the blush on his cheeks. He likes Yoongi, his quietness and how it somehow gives him the courage to talk more than he usually does. They talk about music and discovers that they have a lot in common.
They smoke for a while before it gets too cold and the two of them gets back in. It’s still packed with people and soon, Jungkook has lost sight of his new friend. When the clock strikes 12, Seokjin doing shots in the kitchen with a bunch of drunk college kids. Namjoon is already passed out on the couch and Hoseok found a girl that he kisses and Yoongi has disappeared a long time ago. Jungkook sits on the couch, smiling into his drink, content, until he hears his friend loud voice screaming “Happy new year!”. A second later Taehyung barrels into Jungkook making him loose his balances and topples over on the floor. Taehyung digs his elbow into his stomach and Jungkook laughs so hard and thinks to himself that this, this is life.
***
Graduation comes, and when Jungkook gets his diploma, he can hear chanting of his name. He looks over and sees his two best friends in the crowd and he’s whole lights up with a smile so big it can rival Taehyungs. After the ceremony, he runs and jumps on them in a tight hug.
“You came! I thought you wouldn’t make it!”
“Pffft, of course your hyungs would come! Who do you take us for” Jimin sniffs but he still smiles.
“But what about classes?”
“You think school can stop us from our best friends graduation?” Taehyuing says and Jungkook absolutely beams at them. The yard is packed with people, families and students who are smiling happy and taking pictured. After a few minutes, Taehyung starts looking around and says,
“Where’s your uncle, Jungkook-ah?”
“He was busy” the boy says.
With a furrowed brow Jimin says,
“Too busy for your graduation?”
Jungkook shrugs, “Someone has to pay for my college, right? Let’s go eat hyungs, my treat!”
The two older boys share a thoughtful look. Of course, they had met Jungkook’s uncle a few times over the years. He was a tall, broad man with brown eyes. Always courteous with a solid handshake to offer, but seemingly busy most of the time. And they thought that maybe he was just busy with every day life, but to busy for his only nephew graduation...
Jungkook sees the look on their face, rolls his eyes and grabs their hands,
“Look, I don’t need my uncle. He’s family and stuff, yeah, but having you here is what really matters”
“Really, Kook-ah?” Jimin says, smile growing.
“Always has” Jungkook replies easily enough, “come on, food awaits”
***
Summer break comes and with that, more change. Taehyung and Jimin move back in with their parents until the fall, when they have put in a deposit for an apartment together. Jungkook prepare to move into an apartment that his uncle owns, just a few blocks from Hoseoks. Taehyung nearly faints when he hears that Jungkook has an apartment ready for him, free of charge, while Jimin takes it in stride. Coming from a rich family himself, his parents had also offered to buy him a place, but Jimin had declined, wanting to move out fully. Since he’s away at school, Jimin’s parents doesn’t really care that much so long as he studies hard.
Taehyung gasps upon hearing this, clutching at his heart, whispering out a “you chose this? This life in a cardboard box?”.
For the summer, Taehyung works with his mother at a cleaning business while Jimin does an internship (paid of course) with his father at an IT-company. He hates it, complains about it all the time, but knows he needs to appease his family. Jimin’s parents, though accepting it, hadn’t appreciated their son deciding to live in a dorm and take on psychology as a major. So for the sake of family image (as he called it, more like because he is a people pleaser Jungkook thought) he also took on a minor degree in business. Even though he does that for his parents, taking the step to chose his own major and where to live, had been a big step for Jimin and his friends where more than happy for him.
As for Jungkook, summer goes fast with the full-time presence of his friends. He doesn’t work, doesn’t really need to. So when he isn’t with his friends, he gets ready and packs everything he wants to take with him to college. He decided to take on a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, surprising both of his friends since he talked about something creative.
“Is that what your uncle wanted for you?” Jimin asks one evening when they lazing about. Jimin and Taehyung is lying on the coach in Jimin’s room with Jungkook at his laptop on the floor, looking through his upcoming classes and what books to get.
“Not really, he just wanted me to be sensible” Jungkook shrugs.
“Ugh” Taehyung says with a grimace on his face, “computer engineering. It just sounds so boring”
“Well, I think it sounds fun. I started doing a bit of coding this past year, when you where away at school, and it’s actually fun”
“Aw” Jimin coos, “our little Jungkookie is a total geek no, Taetae”
“Well” Jungkook shrugs, “not like I have much to do when you’re not here, bothering me every second of the day”
“Buckle up Junkookie-boy” Taehyung suddenly says and stands up on the coach like a knight, arm outstretched like a sword, “that’s gonna change real soon! We’re gonna bother you so much at college, you’ll wish you where back here!”
“Fat chance”, Jungkook mumbles and turns back to his computer.
Soon enough, fall is here. The apartment Jungkook moves in to already has furniture, but it’s minimal and without any personality since his uncle mainly uses it for when he has business meetings in town. It doesn’t really feel like home, but Jungkook figures it takes a while to do that.
Classes start. Jungkook, never being a social butterfly like his friends, discovers that college demands even less interaction with his peers and teachers. Which suits him just fine. He goes to class, then he meets up with Jimin or Taehyung if they have time. Or he studies. He still tags along to dance with Jimin and Hoseok some nights, which is so much easier now that it doesn’t have to be solely on the weekends anymore.
One day, after class, Jimin suggest they go to Seokjin’s café for a light dinner. As soon as Jungkook enters the building, he feels warm. The place’s cozy, with a few sofas, armchairs and tables and lights that are dimmed. It’s not packed, but there’s a few students milling around studying and drinking coffee. The interior is dark wood, and the furniture is a warm brown, it feels like a big living room. Jungkook almost expects to see a fireplace somewhere.
“Hi guys! Fancy seeing you here, what can I get you?” Seokjin stands behind the counter, all dressed in black with a big smile on his face. Jimin immediately starts chatting away, and after they’ve ordered their coffees and sandwiches, they take a seat by the windows in some armchairs. During his break, Seokjin comes by and sits with them and offers them cookies on the house.
“So, Jungkook, you finally made it here! Do you like college so far?”
“Yeah, I like it” Jungkook says, and feels a blush spread over his cheeks.
He's never been good at small talk and sometimes it’s painfully obvious, especially around people who seem as confident as Seokjin.
“Our Kookie here is a smart boy” Jimin says with a teasing smile, “he’s gonna be a hacker!”
“Hyuuung” Jungkook whines and shakes his head, “it’s computer engineering. Not hacking”
Jimin just shrugs like it’s all the same.
“What are you studying, hyung?” Jungkook asks, taking a sip of his sweet coffee.
“Oh, I’m not a student. I took a few business classes but then I got the opportunity to buy this place so” Seokjin says with an easy smile, “best decision I’ve ever made”
And sure, it probably is. But Jungkook can see something else.
***
“No hi today, either?”
Jungkook looks up and sees Seokjin standing above him with this one eyebrow raised, arms folded across his chest.
“Hi hyung” Jungkook says with a pathetic little way, the older man not looking impressed by the least.
Jungkook has been coming to the café for weeks but always been too shy to say anything to the man, usually hiding away in a corner sofa.
“That’s it?” Seokjin asks, putting his hands on his hips.
“Sorry hyung, just trying to study”
“Looks more like you’re doodling” Seokjin says and nods to the sketchbook in Jungkook’s hands.
“Well”, the young buy says and just kind of shrugs. Seokjin sighs and plops down next to Jungkook,
“show it to me” he says with grabby hands.
“Jungkook-ah” he says with wonder in his voice, “this is really good”
“It’s just a drawing hyung, doodling like you said”
“No, it’s really good Jungkook. The details and... Is that me behind the counter?”
“Yeah, the light looked really good so I just…” He shrugs.
“Computer engineering, huh? Have you thought about taking art classes?”
“Nah, it’s just a stupid hobby, hyung”
Seokjin looks at him for a long time, until Jungkook fidgets in his seat.
“What?” he asks eventually, and the older seem to snap out of his thoughts.
“Nothing Kook-ah. Keep drawing and hyung will get you some coffee, okay?”
Jungkook just nods gratefully and looks as his hyung goes to back to the counter.
The following week, Jungkook becomes more relaxed around Seokjin and soon he sits at a table by the counter, doing homework or just doodling. Some nights he stays late, not having much to do at home anyways, and helps Seokjin with taking out the trash or unpacking and stacking heavy boxes. Seokjin talks about hiring him, but Jungkook doesn’t need a job, he likes having something to do though and besides, he knows that Seokjin really appreciate his company.
It doesn’t take long for Jungkook to find out about his oldest Hyung’s family.
They come in to the café once in a while, his brothers, and does nothing more than just simply stare. Every time, Seokjin begins to stumble over his words. His smile is still in place for his customers, but it’s strained, and his hands slightly shakes. With raised shoulders, and eyes downcast, Seokjin goes on with his day under the watchful eyes of his older brothers.
Jungkook hates them. The two of them, with suits and slicked back hair, could have been as handsome as his oldest hyung if they didn’t have a shit-eating grin on their face and cold eyes.
“My parents pretty much disowned me” Seokjin says one evening, when the café is closed and his brothers is long gone, “they didn’t support me dropping out of school and opening a café. A rich boy like me, not following in my father’s footsteps to take over the family business? A scandal” he says with a hand to his chest and wide eyes.
“Yeah, I can imagine the gaps and pearl-clutching” Jungkook chuckles, “rich people are such a stereotype. You should talk to Jimin about it sometime, sounds like your families are a lot alike”
Seokjin hums. He umps the mop in the bucket and begins cleaning the floor, and asks
“How is your uncle, Kook-ah?”
“Well” Jungkook says with the dishcloth in hand as he sweeps over the table, “since he’s rich too, he falls into that stereotype. But I don’t have a family business, so” he shrugs.
“But he still controls your education, right? Is that why you’re not taking any art classes?”
“That’s not really fair, hyung. He has never forced me or anything, and it’s not like I’m that good, I just like to doodle.”
“I think you’re good, and with some classes you might be great” Seokjin says softly.
Jungkook just shrugs and changes the subject.
***
For most of his teenage years, Jungkook has acted like a barrier for Jimin and Taehyung. He’s tried to protect them from themselves, from their families, peers at school. It’s something he’s used to and honestly, enjoys. He likes being able to protect his friends, and with his growth spurt and an all-access gym at in his apartment building, he has the height and the muscles to not be intimidated by Seokjin brothers after they finally notice him. They come in, size him up and all Jungkook can do is stare back. He isn’t afraid of them.
One afternoon, Jungkook sits with Jimin and Taehyung by the windows, homework all over the table. Jimin is silently freaking out about a math test in his business class, so Jungkook tries to tutor him through it. Taehyung has his nose in a book and doesn’t seem to register his friend’s meltdown, too busy reading. Jungkook smiles, in secret, because Taehyung really chose to study what he loves.
“I’m never gonna get this” Jimin moans throws his pencil down on the table.
“Not with that attitude” Jungkook snorts,
“It isn’t funny, Kook-ah, I’m so fucking slow I should just drop out”
“Hey!” Taehyung snaps out of his book, “don’t talk like that”
Jimin doesn’t say anything, just dunks his head still on the table. Jungkook pats his back, “you’re gonna do fine, hyung. Let’s just take a break, and I can go get you some treats from Jin-hyungs secret stash?”
Jimin just hums and Taeyhyung shoots him a thumbs up as Jungkook stands up and goes over to the counter.
“Ah, so where is your guard dog, huh, Seokjin? Did you release him?”
Jungkook is crouched behind the counter, reaching into the cabinet for the colorful chocolate bars Seokjin keeps there. He can recognize the tone of Seokjin’s brother anywhere, and he look up to see how his hyung straightens out, growing tense. Until this moment, he has stayed in the background, being a strong albeit quiet presence.
But not now.
“Are you talking about me?” he says with a sugary smile that only broadens when he sees the caught of guard look in the man’s eyes. “You know, we haven’t actually been introduced, have we?”
He steps around the counter, and he can feel Seokjins eyes on him, but he’s suddenly just so angry. Angry for his hyung who has to live in fear of his own family showing up, angry that people tries to control others while doing whatever they want without any thought. Angry about how people can smile with malice behind it, with evil eyes and taunting laughter.
“I’m Jungkook,” he says and pulls his arm back before crashing right in the man’s face, crunching his nose in the process. The man stumbles, backwards, towards the door and Jungkook almost growls at him,
“Don’t ever come back here”
The café still has some customers despite it getting late, and it’s so silent Jungkook can hear his own, harsh breathing. As Seokjin ushers the younger boy into the backroom, however, he can hear his friends cheering before running after them. Seokjin scolds Jungkook while cleaning the blood of his knuckles, angrily accusing him of being reckless and stupid. Jimin and Taehyung just smiles at him and holds their phones up and Jungkook knows he’s being recorded so that they can probably send it in the group chat with the other guys. Jungkook doesn’t care. He leans forward and puts his head on his hyung’s shoulder, feeling Seokjin’s arm circle around him.“Stupid boy,”
“thank you so much”.
From: Hobi-hyung
To the Boysssss:
“Our hero Jungkookie!!!!”