Chapter Text
Jungkook had been ecstatic a month ago when he entered college and in all honesty he thought he’d love college once he was in, but no.
Of course he was not one to give his dreams up over something so simple like hating a few things about his college life… though honestly he was starting to hate it all. This was not his idea of having fun while doing something he loved.
He had thought he’d be truly happy once he was far away form Busan and in Seoul surrounded by people that enjoyed the same things he liked, but no… he despised how everyone here thought of themselves as artists just for the fact they attended an Arts School.
Even then he had to admit they were all artists because not just everyone entered this college and he should be grateful he had talented people as his classmates and not the clueless people he had met back in high school.
Jungkook was about to endure years of solitude in college because he was not able to socialize with anyone, he hadn’t been able back in high school and that was not about to change anytime now. He was still socially numb and awkward with people.
Maybe that was the main reason his father had wanted him to study medicine, he didn’t have to be social to read a book, but music was different and he understood the struggle when one of his teachers said he was assembling a choir and that he actually wanted the very same students to decide on who should be there.
A month! It had just been a month since classes started and Jungkook had already managed to be on everyone’s ill side. He didn’t care at all… he didn’t care that everyone surrounded that other student with the huge ass smile while they chatted about who should be in the choir.
He could almost picture his father’s quirked eyebrow as if to say ‘I told you’, but that was not something that ever stopped Jungkook from doing what he wanted. Music was what he loved and would be for the rest of his life. In any case, his father was not the one paying for his expenses…
It was his uncle… his father’s brother that never actually amounted to anything and only enjoyed playing the guitar in some bars every other night. He had a nice voice and knew a lot about music, but had never truly compromised to get better and actually make it big.
Again, Jungkook didn’t care as long as the man sent him the money every month.
Jungkook liked to sing more than anything, but he was also blessed with an amazing brain and hands that could play any instrument with little instruction. He loved to dance as well, but now he wasn’t so sure about anything on which he had thought he was good.
For instance, he was taking on Composition, course that was making him try his limits of creativity and even though his teacher had praised his writing skills a few times, there was this guy, Kim Namjoon, that was the best, but he was a rapper. The man was on his third year, but spent a lot of time in Jungkook’s class helping out.
Jungkook hated him.
He was taking a Lyrics and Poetry class and he had been doing well, actually he had been doing excellent until this other guy appeared, the teacher’s assistant took the stage and made them all look like apes on trees. Kim Seokjin was the king.
Jungkook hated him.
When it came to dance, Jungkook had been very confident in his knowledge, but when the class started and this guy walked in front and started a dance, he was speechless… Jung Hoseok was a complete ace. He was on his third year, but had a soft spot for his first class ever, so he liked to attend it.
Jungkook hated him.
And last but not least… Vocal Studies had been his final hope.
He had been really sure that no one would rival his voice and his teacher had been so impressed that she clapped along with the only other guy in the classroom that openly admired Jungkook’s job… he had crazy orange hair and the most stupid eye-smile he had ever seen…
Jungkook had returned to his seat, quietly and satisfied with his performance, but he was not prepared to the voice that another guy cracked, so deep and rich that it caused him shivers.
Honestly, he had seen the idiotic face before and how was Jungkook supposed to know that a guy with such a stupid face would pull that kind of voice…?
Really, his rectangular smile made him want to puke, but Jungkook somehow found solace in the fact that at least their vocal registers were not the same. Kim Taehyung had low and deep voice and he owned a high and perfect tone. He was on his second year, but had decided to postpone this class.
Of course Jungkook hated him nonetheless.
But, please… amongst all these idiots that thought them as artists there was Park Jimin: the fucking idiot that stood after Taehyung and somehow… somehow managed a higher note than Jungkook’s. Jimin’s voice was beautiful and unlike Jungkook’s sort of raspy and nasal tone, his was pure, sharp and clear.
Worst of all and what hurt Jungkook’s pride the most, was that Jimin dared to sing the same song Jungkook had picked and when he hit the high note, Jimin had the nerve to look at him with that stupid ass eye-smile.
Everyone in the classroom had clapped excitedly, everyone but Jungkook. He had waited a few more minutes and then excused himself from the class, so as to not make it too obvious that he was pissed.
That had been on his first week and ever since then, Jimin became his own personal demon; Jungkook loathed him with all his might and wanted nothing more that rip his throat open and pull out his vocal chords and maybe have them implanted in his own throat.
He shook his head to get rid of the gory thoughts… he had been watching too many horror movies this past month and even though it had been only a month, he was already thinking of ways to torture Jimin and his friends, but mostly Jimin.
He was at a small coffee near the Dance facilities, trying to get some homework done when his phone started to vibrate on his pocket. It mostly stayed there because he didn’t have friends that would call, only his family would, but his parents were not particularly concerned with him anymore… so it was his…
"Hello uncle. How are you doing?" He asked while he stared at his book; it was not that he didn’t like his uncle; it was just the fact that he had never expected the man to say he’d pay his tuition.
"Hey, Kookie! What’s cooking?" The man laughed at his lame joke and Jungkook silently rolled his eyes.
"Not much. I am doing homework now..." Jungkook said, as he flipped a page not truly paying attention to what he was reading.
"Yeah, I won’t take much of your time…" The man said, dragging his words… a habit that Jungkook despised, but refrained from pointing it out. "I am marrying Haneul. Remember her?" He asked and Jungkook frowned. He had met the woman on few occasions and had honestly thought she was smarter, but if she was marrying his uncle then…
"Congratulations?" He said a bit unsure and heard his uncle laugh loudly.
"Just like your father when I called to tell him." He explained and Jungkook took a deep breath at the mention of his dad. "Anyway… thing is… she said it was okay to help you with tuition, but… I cannot keep on sending you money for your personal expenses." He said and Jungkook tightened his jaw already hating the woman.
"Oh…"
"So, it’d be good if you got yourself a job to pay for your apartment and other expenses…" He said and Jungkook refrained form yelling.
"What kind of part-time job would I find that pays for a rent, food and tuition." He couldn’t help the bite. "You know, uncle… why would you say you’d help if later on you’d retract and leave me-"
"Jungkook-ah, listen to what I am saying." His uncle cut him off with annoyance that actually made the younger sigh. "I already paid for the year’s tuition in advance, you only need to find a job by the end of the month so you can keep yourself from starving and a place to sleep. You don’t need an apartment, Jungkook. A room would suffice." His voice sounded unusually mature, like his brother’s. "Do you understand?" He asked.
"I do." Jungkook replied with a tight jaw, feeling like a kid once again. –When are you guys getting married? – He asked to change the subject because even if he was shitting himself in fear of not finding a job and dying of starvation, he didn’t need his uncle worrying.
"Oh! Thought you wouldn’t really mind… Next week. I’ll send you some pictures. She already bought the dress." He said happily and Jungkook sighed.
"Yeah, well… good luck." He said though he didn’t really mean it; he honestly hoped she realized her mistake soon enough and left his uncle.
"Yeah, thank you… I’ll call you later, Kookie. Take care." His uncle said and then the call ended. Jungkook placed his phone on the table and sighed heavily.
"Fuck my life." He said not really knowing how to start; it felt almost like a nightmare because he was too damn young to be responsible.
He hadn’t even made a friend that he could crash even for a night if by the end of the month he hadn’t found a place to stay. He was a failure as a social human being. He could only think about reaching his dream and because of that he forgot about making friends to count on when times like these hit.
The first week passed and one part of him really wanted to think that his uncle would call to say it was all joke and that he’d keep on sending money, but no… he did receive the photos of the wedding and had to snort at the actual face of pure boredom his father had on most of them.
The choir was still forming and he hated how much times students were taking to analyze who deserved to be in it and who didn’t. Of course he didn’t. People would sit around Taehyung and Jimin to discuss and Jungkook simply stared as if trying to kill both of them with his glare.
The second week, he was too busy with homework to think about the impending outcome of his irresponsibility. He was too tired to even search the communal board for any vacant jobs.
On that second week he caught Jimin looking at him and even nodding his head in some sort of greeting and Jungkook had been tempted to reciprocate, but his pride didn’t allow it so he often averted his gaze and pretended not to notice. He didn’t want pity and was certainly making his mind about not being in the choir.
The third week he decided to move around in search for a job, but while he was on it he realized he also had to look for a new place to stay, his apartment was too expensive for a part-time job… he knew he couldn’t afford another one and would have to settle for a room somewhere.
It became quite obvious that no one cared he’d be homeless in less than two weeks, but he should’ve known no one would care. He had never made an effort to make people like him and his mind was often invaded by Jimin’s wide smile… what would happen to Jimin if he were in his situation?
No… Jimin was more than fine on his own. No one would let the boy die from starvation or let him sleep on the streets. Because Jimin was nice and was always asking people if they were okay, if they needed anything, if he could help them with anything… Jimin was terribly caring and Jungkook hated him for that, but mostly Jungkook found himself hating him for not asking if he was fine.
He tried harder on his fourth week, but no one was hiring him without a recommendation and no one had space for another roommate.
And so his time ended with him taking all of his belongings in his bags as he made his way to the laundry. It was open all night so he was okay to spend the night there in one of the benches, but it’d be embarrassing to go the next day to classes pulling on every other bag he owned.
When his uncle called he had been tempted to say he was homeless and starving, but no… he said he was staying at a friend’s for a while instead. His uncle believed it and he sighed in relief.
He was sitting outside the Laundromat while he waited for his clothes to be ready; it was too late at night to be doing laundry, but he didn’t care. He had his composition notebook on his lap trying to finish some homework, but it was hard with the poor light and his tired eyes.
He pulled his phone to stare at the hour, almost midnight. He noticed his battery was about to die. His charger was lost on the way and he had less then ten thousand won in his wallet. He sighed and retained his tears.
He could always spend the night here, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep at all. He was a difficult person, that he knew, but it came as surprise to know that no one liked him at all…
It always left a void in his stomach to realize these kinds of things. He stared at his phone’s screen without doing much but watch the ticking seconds. He was almost enthralled when he noticed a pair of shoes behind his phone.
He slowly looked up the thick thighs and then the lean form until he reached the face and almost cursed aloud upon seeing Jimin’s face there. For once he was not giving him his stupid ass eye-smile, but he looked fairly surprised to see him there.
Jungkook grimaced and lowered his face again not willing to even acknowledge his presence… honestly, of all people…
"Hi… We have a class together." Jimin said as he crouched in front of Jungkook and the younger swore he’d punch his face if he didn’t leave him now. "I am Park Ji–"
"Jimin, I know. I know who you are. Yes, we have Vocal Studies together. Now… please excuse me; I am kind of busy here." Jungkook said roughly gesturing to his phone.
Jimin stared a bit dumbfounded, but in the end just gave him a small smile and walked away. Jungkook was relieved to be rid of him, but followed him with his eyes until a few stores later… Jungkook knew it was a bar and he saw him enter…
Jungkook returned to his dying phone and then to his laundry and he spent the next hour doing nothing much… he sat outside once again and dared a few looks to the bar… until on one occasion he saw Jimin walk out wearing black leather pants, combat boots, a white and simple t-shirt with the bar’s logo…
Jungkook watched as he delivered some thrash to the cube outside and then went back inside. So he worked there… a job… that’s what Jungkook needed, he pinched the bridge of his nose and decided to ignore Jimin and start to actually worry about his future.
The clock hit three o’clock and he sighed loudly.
Night was long and cold too… Jungkook was about to fall asleep there with his back against the cold window when Jimin entered his range of vision again; he was back to his ripped jeans and jersey. A backpack slung over his shoulder and his bright orange hair almost blinding him.
"Do you have a place to stay?" He asked softly and not going near Jungkook.
"I don’t. So what? Are you here to mock me?" Jungkook bit back and Jimin shook his head with a warm smile.
"No. You can crash at my place… I have a spare room." Jimin suddenly said and Jungkook laughed weakly at his shitty luck. Of course it would be Jimin the one to help him out in this fucked up situation, just because everybody hates him… and because he hates Jimin.
But he hated him even more because he had asked in the end. Jimin should simply hate him more than anyone, but still he was here asking him if he had a place to stay.
"Fuck my life." Jungkook mumbled so the older wouldn’t hear; he stood from the ground and grabbed two of his bags, Jimin grabbed the other before he could argue and started to walk away. "Shit." He whispered again and started to follow while thinking on what he could say.
"You’re lucky… I usually work the early shift at the bar, from four to ten, but one of my friends there had an emergency so they called me." Jimin explained and Jungkook noticed a slight accent to his words. He couldn’t pinpoint it.
"Yeah… lucky." Jungkook grumbled under his breath in complete annoyance; he couldn’t believe this was happening.
Jimin stared at him out of the corner of his eye and wondered if he was okay, he didn’t seem okay, but he wasn’t sure if he should ask.
"Spending the night on the street, even if it is near campus is dangerous." Jimin tried one of his infamous wide smiles and Jungkook looked a bit longer than he’d liked to admit before thinking that maybe he could give Jimin a black eye.
"Yeah, whatever." Jungkook mumbled again as they rounded on a corner and he followed Jimin to the stairs of a decent looking building. He knew people that stayed here had money. So, either Jimin had a good salary or he shared the apartment with other people. "Wait…" Jungkook stopped and Jimin turned up on the stairs to give him a curious look. "Do you happen to live with… that friend of yours?" He asked worriedly.
One thing was to have Jimin have mercy or pity or whatever, but he wouldn’t really like to share his space with that idiotic friend of his.
"Taetae?" Jimin asked and Jungkook nodded after tying the knots. "No, he doesn’t live with me. I… live alone." He said a bit unsure and Jungkook noticed how he averted his gaze. "Is that a problem?" He asked after a moment.
"No. I… I don’t really like him. That’s it." Jungkook walked up and Jimin smiled at him with a nod.
"Oh, we know. That you don’t like us…" Jimin said as he continued upstairs; Jungkook grimaced feeling ungrateful, but he couldn’t be a hypocrite. "I am not sure why though… Taetae is really nice, you would really like him if you took the time to know him." Jimin said and Jungkook begged to differ, but remained quiet.
When they finally got to the seventh floor Jungkook sighed as Jimin took the hall that led to the doors and stopped in front of the labeled 707. He made sure to remember it. He stared as Jimin opened it and then made space for Jungkook to walk in with all of his bags and things.
"This place is great. It is near the center and campus as well… you won’t have to get up too early and neighbors are nice too they don’t-"
"Yeah, look… I just need to stay a night." Jungkook cut his speech arrogantly and looked around the clean and organized place; somehow it didn’t look like Jimin had just moved in even though it was his first year.
"Oh, sure… I mean, all the time you need." Jimin replied even if he was well aware of Jungkook’s distaste for his home.
He really admired Jungkook; all of his friends had talked about the talented kid and how impressed they were with him; so much that he became a rival to everyone without even knowing. Jimin liked him a bit too much.
"The room is down the hall on the right." Jimin pointed out and Jungkook looked at the appointed place and then looked back at Jimin.
"I can use the living room." He pointed a thumb towards the couch that could fit him just fine.
"The bed’s bigger." Jimin tried and Jungkook ran a hand through his thick black hair feeling a bit torn. "You’re tall; you should probably use the bed. Really. I’ve slept there before and it destroys your back." Jimin added. "I know I am not as tall as you, but… well… whatever floats your way." He smiled again and Jungkook sighed in defeat.
This was Jimin’s place, so of course it was not as if he could kick Jimin out to sleep peacefully. The living room was too open to sleep soundly and so he ended up nodding and making his way over to the spare room.
Jimin smiled as he trailed behind to show him around; he walked after Jungkook and turned on the lights for him.
Jungkook would kill to find a place this nice when he already had a job. It was pristine white with wooden floors, a big closet, a desktop, a big window and a comfy bed with white sheets.
"Looks unused." He pointed out and Jimin nodded with a smile.
"I used to sleep here, but I moved to the master bedroom." He shrugged with a forlorn look in his eyes. "Yoongi-hyeong said he’d move in at some point, but he… anyway…" Jimin suddenly said looking away while he moved inside the bedroom to show him that everything was empty.
To Jungkook’s ears he sound a bit wounded and sad, but he didn’t give a shit about anything Jimin did, but of course it made him curious.
"You can use the closet, the desk… make yourself at home." Jimin smiled at him and Jungkook sighed.
"Yeah, look… I am tired... I really need to sleep." Jungkook said and Jimin nodded quickly before walking back to the doorframe.
"The bathroom is the next door on the right. Feel free to call me if you need anything. Good night, Jungkook-ah." Jimin said and with one last eye-smile he closed the door of the bedroom.
"Fuck!" Jungkook cursed in a harsh whisper and kicked the air in pure anger and frustration. "Shit!" He pulled at his hair and then dropped on the bed again reaching for his phone only to see it had died. "Really?" He questioned.
In all honesty it wasn’t as if he was expecting a call or anything… He didn’t actually have any friends to talk to right now.
"I don’t have friends." He mumbled staring at the ceiling in his bedroom.
He had never needed them, but now he realized the importance of having even if just one to call when in need. He drummed his fingers on his sternum while he thought of Jimin with his cute eye-smile, calling him Jungkook. Jimin knows his name and knows he hates them.
"Fuck."