jungkook has had enough of it.

he's had enough of his youngest sister being sad, distracted, and depressed all week.

they had volleyball practices every tuesday to thursday and jihae was clearly out of it.

"noona! are you alright? i thought you could have digged that."

"maybe you're a little ill, jihae. take some rest. that was your third service error."

"eonnie! oh, my gosh. oh, my gosh! i'm sorry! did i hit you too hard?"

not only jungkook was worried, but also her teammates. he even had heiran give him a talk about girl problems just so he could atleast have a clue what's bothering the sophomore.

he also had a little bit of trouble with his coach since he just brought in three new members but was contented with their skills.

well, apart from jihae who had yet to prove herself. she wasn't at her best and only kept apologizing without correcting her mistakes.

jungkook couldn't get a proper chance to talk it out with her since she just sleeps during their car ride and goes straight to her room when they get home.

he can't even spend time with her during lunch breaks because she eats with that tall redhead.

he asked soyeon for help, who was just as clueless and concerned as him.

having no choice and no patience left, he met up with wooyoung and yunho hoping they knew what jihae's deal was.

"hyung!" yunho's cheery voice was heard.

"hey." jungkook greets him with a small warm smile. noticing the blonde was alone, he asked, "where's woo?"

"he said san cried because he got a C+ on a test and he wanted to stay by his boyfriend's side." the younger explained, trying not to cringe of cheesiness. "he got a D- himself but, oh well. i'll just pass the message."

the senior nodded in understanding. "okay, then. i'll just ask since i don't wanna bother you too much."

"i really don't mind, hyung."

"do you happen to know what's up with jihae?"

yunho blinked rapidly at the unexpected question. jihae told him she wasn't being obviously sad in their house so why is-

"well? do you?"

"i don't." the computer science major lied. his best friend did say not to tell a single soul because she's scared it might cause more conflicts for her and for seonghwa. she was also acting very paranoid, which was rare, making both her best friends agree. and once yunho promises, he always keeps. "sorry, hyung."

"not even a bit?" desperation in jungkook's voice can be heard. "jeez, she wouldn't even have a proper conversation with me or soyeon."

yunho mentally facepalms himself. is this what she means by not making it obvious? avoiding her siblings?

"she hasn't been talking to us much lately, too, hyung." which was true. ever since that day he reveal he's crush, both mingi and jihae had been a bit distant. sure they'd talk here and there, but it almost felt like it was out of courtesy rather than friendship.

"she seemed fine last week." jungkook muttered under his breath.

he suddenly snapped his head towards the blonde as if remembering something. "weren't you with her last friday? she said she'll hangout with you guys."

the sophomore winced internally, recalling what happened. he quickly thought of some truth to cover up all his bluffing. luckily, he remembers what wooyoung told him that put his heart at ease. "uh, mr. lee picked her up after."

"mr. lee?" the older cocked an eyebrow. "you mean yeonggi hyung?"

yunho hummed in confirmation.

"that's fucking weird." the senior says, truly finding the new information bizarre. "why would he-" he inhaled sharply to avoid losing his cool.

"thanks, yunho. i guess i'll just have a talk with good ol' yeongster." jungkook tries to joke around.

"glad i could help, hyung." the younger smiles, covering up his guilt.

-

later that day, jihae texted her brother that she's going to go hangout with mingi after school so no need to wait for her.

jungkook sighed as he read the message, sending a reminder to be careful as a reply.

soyeon also said she had something to do so she wouldn't coming home with him.

"kook, you there?" a hand was suddenly waving infront of his face.

"sorry, babe. are you going home now? i'll drive you." the boy asked his girlfriend who gave a sad smile.

"though i would really love to, we have dance practice." lisa pouted. "they've been extending our schedules."

jungkook nodded. "make sure to stay hydrated."

the thai girl snorts. "yes, sir. do you have somewhere to be?"

"i'm actually planning on solving what jihae's been hiding."

lisa frowned once again as she heard his sister's name. "she still didn't tell you why she's been sad?"

the athletics major shook his head.

the girl inhaled sharply. "i hope she'll be okay. we've been worried, too." she kissed her boyfriend's cheek. "i'll get going now. good luck and don't hurt yourself."

"i should be the one saying that." jungkook jokingly huffs. "bye, love you."

"love you, too."

-

driving all the way to the lee's house took a shorter amount of time than expected.

maybe because there was less traffic or maybe it was because of his constant nervousness of confronting the lawyer.

he arrived at the place with the sun still up. he stepped out of his vehicle and went to ring the doorbell.

after a few seconds, footsteps were heard approaching the entrance before it was opened by a familiar ageing woman.

"jungkook?" mrs. lee was quite surprised to see him at their doorstep without any warning. "oh, you've grown so much!"

jungkook bowed in respect.

"come in! what brings you here?" she stepped aside to let the boy pass through, closing the door once he was inside.

"i'm actually here to talk to yeonggi hyung. is he around?" he asked while looking around.

"he'll be here after he picks up yeseul, so about twenty minutes?" mrs. lee says unsurely. "do you mind waiting?"

"of course not, auntie. thank you."

"not a problem, dear. make yourself comfortable while i prepare some snacks."

after an estimated time of fifteen minutes, a little girl skipped through the living room. she looked at jungkook who only gave her an awkward smile. he knows yeseul was a bit(lot) scared of him due to his physique.

"mr. kookie? is jihae eonnie here?" her eyes wandered.

"just me, seul-ah. sorry."

"oh. okay." the child pressed her lips together as she slowly backed a way and sprinted to her room.

the working man finally came in the house, raising a brow when he saw the senior sitting on the couch.

"did you happen to get into trouble and bruise someone's face again?" yeonggi questioned nonchalantly.

"nice to see you, too, hyung." he sarcastically responded. "and, no. i'm just here to ask something."

the lawyer squinted his eyes a bit. "what's so important you couldn't have texted me?"

jungkook break eye contact. "i don't have your number." he mumbled.

yeonggi sighed, accepting this information. "well, what is it you wanted to know?"

the younger boy cleared his throat. "did you pick jihae up last friday?"

the man stayed expressionless for a bit before replying, "yes."

"did you say anything that might have made her.. i don't know, upset?" he was quite not sure how to bring up the topic. he knows despite yeonggi's cold demeanor, the man had a favoritism over jihae.

the older calmly looks at him, still with those cat-like eyes. "i didn't, but i may have a clue why."

jungkook widened his eyes at yeonggi. "she's been moping around all week and she won't talk to us properly."

the lawyer read the boy's pleas. "well, i had no idea she's been penting it up."

"hyung, please tell me."

"it's not really her secret, so i might get in trouble for confidentiality issues."

jungkook frown got bigger. "i promise not to tell anyone! i'll just find a way to help her."

yeonggi exhaled, giving into the senior's desperation. "do you happen to know a boy named park seonghwa?"

confusion flashed on the younger's face for a second before he nodded. crush problems?

"that boy got 'beaten up' by some guys for, according to him, getting too close to jihae." yeonggi explained in a disappointed tone. "and i guess jihae's been blaming herself for that."

jungkook remained in a blank state as he processed this. a dude got beaten up for being too close to my sister? that seems too familiar.

"do you happen to know who did that to him?" the boy asked just to make sure.

"no, not really. they wouldn't tell me much, i just kind of figured it out myself." yeonggi shrugged. "though, i bet you already have a clue. i don't think all of your sister's admirers goes on a fighting rampage."

"i think i have one, maybe two guys in mind." jungkook huffed. "mind on bailing me out of prison once i murder them?" he joked.

"what makes you think i don't want to keep you in there?" the lawyer made a scarily serious face.

"hyung!" the athletics major gasped "how could you?"

"i was kidding." yeonggi rolled his eyes. "how could you not tell?"

"it's not my fault you keep your face straight all the time!" jungkook defended.

"boys, dinner's ready!" mrs. lee announced, poking her head on the doorframe of the kitchen. "you're joining us, right, jungkook?"

the senior unconsciously sniffed, making his nostrils smell the heavenly scent of pork belly soup. jihae can wait.

"i wouldn't wanna miss your cooking, auntie."