Chapter 10

“PARK EUNWOO” “KIM JUNGKOOK”

They both stared at each other for seconds. Eunwoo approached him, his gaze intense. Jungkook returned the glare. eunwoo spoke in Italian, his face flushed with anger and irritation. Once he finished, Jungkook glared at him and responded bitterly in Italian. The next moment, Jungkook stopped talking, and eunwoo stormed out angrily, stamping his feet.

Jungkook saw the whole class staring him. He sighed heavily and went out to restroom.

Jungkook looked at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes were red from anger, and he was tense. His breaths were heavy. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. Sweat beaded on his face.

He splashed some water on his face and said to himself, “It’s okay, Jungkook. Nothing is going to happen. All is well. You’re okay. Don’t think about anything. No one will harm anyone. e-e-eunwoo is no one to you. He’s just a c-cl-lassmate, that’s it. Just a classmate. Don’t speak to anyone. Just focus on your studies. It’s good for you. Don’t think about anything, please. Calm down.” Jungkook said to himself. He calmed himself. He didn’t want anyone to calm him. He had himself.

After a few minutes of deep breaths, his breathing evened out. He again splashed some water on his face and went to class.

When he entered, he saw everyone whispering. He sighed and sat in his place. He took out his pouch, where he kept some tablets, and took a pill.

Just then, a chubby boy named Hosu approached him. “Hey, Jungkookie, do you know Park Eunwoo? Are you both friends or enemies? Did you both meet in Italy?” He came up with a lot of questions. Jungkook looked at him, glaring. He rolled his eyes and focused on writing again.

“Yah, I’m asking you, you should answer. It’s rude,” Hosu said. Jungkook dropped his pen and looked at him, glaring. “I’m rude, right? Then shut your fucking mouth and get lost,” Jungkook said rudely, making Hosu widen his eyes.

“Yah, that’s very rude, bro,” Hosu said again. Jungkook glared at him again. Hosu gulped and went aside.

Eunwoo entered the class with an irritated face. He sat in his place, took out his water bottle, and took a few sips. Taehoon approached him. “Yah, eunwoo-yah, do you know Jungkook? Are you both known already? Did you meet him in Italy?” Taehoon asked.

Eunwoo abruptly put the water bottle aside with a thud and spoke loudly, glaring at Taehoon.

“Yah, just mind your own fucking  business. It’s none of your business. Get lost. I want to be alone, and if anyone asks me questions again, I’ll send you to hell without answering,” he said coldly. “N-nae, m-mianhae. You rest,” Taehoon stuttered and went to his place.

After Taehoon left, Han Seojun looked at Jungkook, who was writing while wearing his earbuds. Seojun gritted his teeth and rested his head on his desk.

Quick Introduction:

Park Eunwoo

19, University 1st year student. Came to Korea at the age of 17. Lives alone in Korea. Does part-time jobs. Also fights sometimes. Have an elser sister, she lives in Germany now for some work. Was jungkook’s bestfriend.

with Jimin and Tae:

They were both currently at the canteen, eating. “Yah, eat properly, Jimin-ah. First, hands off your phone,” Tae said to Jimin, as Jimin was not eating properly and was busy with his phone.

Jimin hummed lazily. Tae sighed and continued eating. Tae flinched when Jimin got up with a loud noise. “Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Jimin exclaimed.

“Yah, Taehyugie, the products arrived,” Jimin said happily. “Really?” Tae said, standing up. “Ne,” Jimin said with a bright smile. Tae had a relieved smile. “Wah, that’s a relief. Then let’s start the work today itself,” Tae said with a relieved sigh. Jimin nodded.

“What about Kookie? Is he getting comfortable there?” Jimin asked, being serious. “I don’t think so. He’s so silent. He just answers our questions. I don’t know how to make up with him. He speaks like we’re strangers to him. It really makes us sad, Jimin-ah,” Tae said sadly.

Jimin side-hugged him and said, “Don’t worry, Tae. He’s our Kookie. He’ll get used to us soon. Don’t stress over this. Be happy we can bring our Kookie back. He’s our Kookie, your only maknae.”,

Tae chuckled sadly, nodding his head. He took a sip of his juice and said, “You know what, Jimin-ah? He can’t pronounce my name properly, that’s funny, right? I… I don’t know why but it hurts a lot. He used to call us Jinnie hyungie, Tae tae, meow hyungi, Hobi hyungi, Chim chim, Joonie hyungie, but now he’s addressing us as sir, Yoongi-ssi, Tae-ssi, Jin-ssi. It’s clear that he just got to know about us. We are totally strangers to him, b-but think about those 7 years, h-he used to call us hyungie, how sweetly he called us. He also spent time with us. He was very talkative, a fluff ball. He always clung to us. He loved us a lot. B-but now it’s totally different. He doesn’t even remember any of those golden years. It must be difficult for him to live with a complete stranger. B-but it hurts me a lot, Jinah, a lot. My own brother, my only maknae, who spent golden days with me sees me as a stranger, it hurts me a lot, Jimin-ah, a lot.” Tae said, tears flowing.

Jimin gave his shoulder for Tae to cry on. “I understand, Tae. Don’t lose hope, be strong. Even though he forgot those golden days, he’s still our brother. We can make so many memories with him, we can bring our old Kookie back. He’s your maknae, Tae. He’s still with you. The people who made those memories with him, his hyungs, are still with him, Tae. We won’t leave him. He has us. And we have him. He’s our Kookie, Tae. Be strong,” Jimin comforted, though his eyes were already glossy hearing Tae’s words, and still are.

Tae nodded, still hugging Jimin. He broke the hug and said, “N-nae, I’m strong. I will be strong to bring my Kookie back. I will make new memories with him, we will make golden memories like before,” Tae said. Jimin smiled. “That’s my chingu. Now stop crying, you look ugly while crying,” Jimin teased. “Yah, Jimin-ah, I’ll kill you. I am handsome, you know,” Tae said, flipping his hair. “Yah, don’t copy Jin hyungie,” Jimin teased again. “I’m not…” They started bickering again.

Just wow, just a minute ago they were comforting each other, and now they’re bickering, forgetting those sad moments.

This is them. They have each other to get comforted, they have their emotional support. Even if they fight, they patch up in hours or sometimes days, not more than two. They can’t live without each other. They need each other to survive.

But for the maknae of the family, it’s totally different. He doesn’t want anyone to care for him, comfort him, love him. That’s what he thought.

But deep inside, he needs it.

But how? How can he trust someone again? He’s still afraid of getting love and comfort…

Is it his fault, getting scared of love and care, or is it the people’s fault who made him like this?

Time is the most unpredictable thing in this life. That day, just a while ago, the Kims spoke with their Kookie and Yoona. But just after a few hours, everything changed. Their mom died, they got to know that their brother sees them as strangers.

A person who talked with you every day, who you’ve seen growing up, who you raised, is treating you like a stranger. It hurts, right?

It was the same with the Kim brothers. The person was none other than their little brother whom they loved a lot. Jungkook does the same. If you ask the young Kookie, he would say, “My hyungs are my world.” But now they don’t even know their brother hates them…

(Time is unpredictable, right?)

_____

WITH JIN AND YOONGI

The meeting was over. They did so well in the meeting, there were no mistakes in it, they thought. And now they’re waiting for Kim to finish talking with the men. Once they came out of the meeting room, Jin and Yoongi took a deep breath and went in. They both bowed to him. “Good job, sons. I’m really impressed,” Kim said with a smile, clapping his hands. Jin and Yoongi smiled and said, “Gamsahamnida” with a smile of course. “So let’s start the project from Monday, sons,” Kim said. “Sure, Dad,” Jin said. Kim hummed and sat there thinking something.

“So what have you guys decided?” Kim asked suddenly. Jin and Yoongi looked at each other, being confused. “Sorry, uncle?” Yoongi asked. “I asked what you guys have decided about joining in the mafia again?” Kim asked again, his soft eyes gone, only seriousness was there.

Jin and Yoongi looked at each other, and Jin said after taking a deep breath, “Sorry, Dad, we’re not joining, and we’ve decided this before years,” Jin said, expecting Kim to say something in defense instead he heard a chuckle.

“Okay, that’s fine with me. But be with your guns, you know why. Many rivals are here seeking for us, so be careful. And I don’t want my Kookie to know about this. And also while you guys are with him, if anything happens to him, I will not leave any of you. Understood?” Kim said calmly.

“Nae, Dad/uncle,” Jin and Yoongi said with a bow. “Hmm, you may leave,” Kim said. Jin and Yoongi bowed and left. Once they left, they both sighed heavily.

“It’s going to be tough for sure,” Yoongi said, sighing heavily. “We should protect our brothers, Yoon,” Jin said, being serious. “Nae, ah, should we keep a meeting today?” Yoongi asked, stretching his hands. “Hmm, I think we should. Ask Hobi and Joonie to come to my home, let’s discuss there,” Jin said.

“Nae, hyung, I’ll handle things here and come home. You go and pick up the maknaes. Their classes ended 5 minutes ago,” Yoongi said.

“Nae,” Jin replied.

—

With Jungkook.

Jungkook closed all his books when he heard the final bell. He sighed, removed his earbuds, and began packing his things. Silently, he stood up and put on his wired headphones.

As he walked toward the gate, he saw Tae and Jimin waving at him. Jimin ran over to him. “Yah, Kook, come on! Let’s wait over there. Jin hyung is coming to pick us up,” Jimin said. Jungkook nodded and followed him.

“How was your first day, Kookie?” Tae asked softly.

“Not bad,” Jungkook replied.

“Did you make any friends? Do you like it here?” Jimin asked.

“No, I don’t like making friends. But yeah, I like it here,” Jungkook said. Jimin chuckled awkwardly at Jungkook’s blunt response.

“By the way, who’s your class teacher?” Tae asked.

“Miss Shin,” Jungkook replied.

“Oh, she’s the best teacher, you know! You’ll love her teaching for sure,” Tae and Jimin said cheerfully. Jungkook just made an “oh” face.

For Jimin and Tae, the silence felt awkward, like they had somehow disturbed Jungkook.

“Always nagging. Don’t they get tired?” Jungkook thought, sighing as he stood there.

Jungkook noticed eunwoo walking with some boys, laughing and wrapping his arm around one of them. Something stirred in Jungkook’s heart. He gritted his teeth and looked away, sighing heavily.

Suddenly, they heard a car horn — it was Jin. They headed to the car and got in. Jimin sat in the front while Tae and Jungkook sat in the back.

“How did the day go, maknaes?” Jin asked warmly.

“Very good, hyung! You know what? The products arrived!” Jimin and Tae said excitedly. Jungkook, however, was lost in thought. Jin smiled and nodded. “I told you, right? Stay positive and everything will go well,” Jin said with his usual smile.

Jin glanced at Jungkook, who was resting his head against the window, deep in thought. “Kook?” Jin called softly.

“Huh?” Jungkook responded, snapping out of his daze.

“How was your day, bunny?” Jin asked.

“Good. And I’m not a bunny, don’t call me that,” Jungkook grumbled, causing everyone to chuckle.

“Okay, Kookie,” Jin said, and Jungkook hummed in response.

“Did you make any friends, Kookie? Do you like it here?” Jin asked again.

“No, I don’t like making friends, and yeah, I like it here,” Jungkook said absentmindedly. Jin nodded.

“Do you guys want to eat something?” Jin asked warmly.

“Nae, ice cream!” Jimin and Tae said in unison.

“No ice cream, anything else?” Jin said, smiling.

“Umm, tteokbokki!” Jimin suggested.

“Hmm, that sounds good. Jungkook, are you okay with that?” Jin asked.

“Whatever,” Jungkook muttered.

“Alright, let’s go to our favorite place,” Jin said, and they made their way to the restaurant.

_____

How was the chapter guys. Did you all like it??

I know it’s short but pls bear it, next time I’ll try to make the chapter above 2500 words. I wrote only for  2246 words.

Tell me thought about this. What are guys thinking about upcoming chapters..

Are u guys interested in this story?

Anyway bye. Again sorry for late update