JUNGKOOK

"IT'S OVER," said Yoongi. "It's all over!"

"Hyung," said Jungkook, "you're not making any sense? What's not over?"

Yoongi gave a cry before he swiped everything clean from his dresser.

"Stop it!" Jungkook demanded, hugging him.

"Get off of me!" Yoongi yelled, pushing him into the wall.

Jungkook realized playing nice would be pointless. He lunged at Yoongi and punched him square in the face.

Yoongi took a moment to regain his balance as he wiped blood from his mouth. The look of death took over his eyes.

"This is all your fault, Jungkook," he said. "She loves me! Not you!"

Yoongi charged at him with all his might.

But then he opened his eyes.

"Oppa! Oppa!" came Min's voice. "Oppa! Get up! We're going to be late for school!"

Jungkook sat up and looked over to see Min standing at his bedside.

She stood there with her arms crossed, a scowl plastered on her face. "You sleep like you're a bear in hibernation, you know that?"

"I knew that," he croaked. "Didn't you?"

She rolled her eyes. "Hurry up and get dressed. Yoongi-oppa's waiting outside in his car to take us."

"What about Namjoon-hyung?"

"He decided to walk."

Jungkook nodded and waved her off so he could get ready.

She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Good morning, by the way!"

Then she left the room.

"Hopefully it is," he said.

"Took you long enough," said Yoongi.

Jungkook slipped into the back seat since Min was in the front.

He closed the car door and waited until they drove off to say, "So you guys promised to give me the details about my uncle and Namjoon-hyung."

"They're still not talking," said Yoongi plainly.

"That's it?"

Min sighed. "That's all there is to tell. I mean it's only been two days. Jin-oppa has been trying to call my brother but that stubborn, moping oaf won't respond. He's just angry. He needs some time."

"I've been wanting to visit my uncle," Jungkook added, "but he said that he doesn't want me to see him while he's such an emotional mess."

"I visited him yesterday," Min offered. "He wasn't good at all."

Jungkook felt hurt. "What? He let you see him but not me?"

Min rolled her eyes. "I didn't ask. I just went. And since Namjoon-oppa and I temporarily moved out of his apartment and I had to go through the trouble of finding transportation because I knew my brother wasn't going to drive me, Jin-oppa let me in."

Jungkook nodded in understanding. "So who drove you? What did you guys talk about? And why didn't Namjoon just let you stay in his apartment?"

"One question at a time, Sherlock," Min said.

"I drove her," said Yoongi.

Of course, thought Jungkook.

"He was talking about how guilty he felt. He said he really thought he could fight this disease, but my brother"—Min used air quotes—"'helped' him realize his fate, which I think is stupid. My brother shouldn't have said those things to Jin-oppa. Anyway, I told him to just give him space."

"Did he ask how you felt about this?" Jungkook asked.

". . .Yes."

"And?"

"Well of course I wish he would have told us, but I'm sure he had his reasons. I bet you knew, didn't you, Jungkook?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

"My brother just needs to think about things. That's all. He'll apologize sooner or later. Oh, and I wanted to stay in the apartment but he said it would be too risky since legally he's my guardian and I'm supposed to live with him until I'm eighteen. And he really didn't want to live next door to you know. Anymore questions?"

"Two more. Where are you living?"

"My parents' old house. It's been in the family for years and is already paid off so my mom wouldn't let Namjoon-oppa sell it."

"Is he still going to the dance with you?"

"Of course he is."

"I would have went," said Yoongi, "if it was a regular dance."

Min smiled at him. "But you don't like people."

"If you really wanted me to I would have gone," he replied back.

Her lips opened to reveal her row of front teeth. "Aw! You're so sweet, oppa."

Jungkook rolled his eyes. "I feel a gag coming on." He leaned forward. "You're not going to kiss, are you? Because I really don't want to be here if you—"

"Shut up, Jungkook!" Min shrieked, flustered. She grabbed her backpack and threw it at him before hiding her face with her hands.

"Girls," he muttered.

"We're here," said Yoongi, pulling up in the parking lot.

"You guys go and give your goodbye kisses," said Jungkook. "Just let me get out first."

They waited until he left. Jungkook looked back at the car to see Yoongi and Min happily kissing each other through the window. He smiled to himself, glad that his best friend stayed his best friend and she was able to move on to someone else. He was happy for them, even if he didn't act like it all of the time.

Jungkook turned around and made his way to class. It would have been a peaceful stroll had he not been slapped upside the head.

"Watch out, Jungcock," came Min Youngjae's voice.

Junho followed close behind him.

"Hey, man, what the fuck?" Jungkook snapped.

Youngjae smirked. "Ooh. Look who's in a bad mood."

Junho laughed. "So short tempered. We were just having some fun."

"By hitting the back of my fucking head, you bastards?"

They're smiles vanished.

"What did you just say?" Junho demanded.

"You heard me."

Youngjae crossed his arms. "You're an idiot if you think you can talk like that to us."

Jungkook scoffed. "Then how am I supposed to talk to you if idiot is the only language you can speak?"

They both had heard enough. Jungkook held his ground as they marched over to him, ready to take them down. However, a person intervened before they could actually get physical.

"Shouldn't you get to class?" asked Namjoon.

Youngjae and Junho looked startled, but masked it with a scowl afterwards and looked over at the boy on the other side.

"Watch your back, Jungle Book," hissed Junho.

"Watch your back first," said Namjoon. "If you lay a hand on him I will personally escort you to Hell in my own creative way."

The boys just looked at him and walked away.

Jungkook rolled his eyes. "I had them."

"I find it so amusing how you love to lie to yourself," said Namjoon before he continued down his class.

"Whatever," said Jungkook, following close behind. "Listen, about my uncle. . ."

Namjoon kept walking, his expression much darker. "I don't want to talk about it."

"But you have to understand!" Jungkook tried. "He didn't mean anything by it! He was just scared that things would change!"

"I said I don't want to talk about it!" Namjoon yelled, halting to face him. He leaned in when the students began to stare and said in a dangerously quiet voice, "You're uncle did something to me. He took my heart, caressed it, and shredded it. What turned out to be my greatest love has now turned into my greatest sorrow."

"He needs you," Jungkook replied. "He's broken."

"So am I," Namjoon said before robotically walking away.

"I told you he needed his space," said Min with her hands on her hips.

"I had to try," Jungkook said, looking at her.

"No you didn't," she snapped before walking to her own class, a disappointed look on her face.

Jungkook sighed and turned the other direction.

"How was school, Kook?" Jungkook's dad asked from across the table.

"Shitty," he said.

"Language."

"Sorry."

"So. . . shitty how?"

Jungkook shrugged as he played with his food. "Uncle Jin's boyfriend left him because he found out about his disease."

"That's pretty bad," said his father.

"Dad, can I ask you something?" Jungkook asked.

His father took a second to observe him. Then he said, "You're gay, too, aren't you?"

"No," Jungkook said, suppressing an eye roll. "I was just wondering. . . what if I was? Would you love me still?"

"Are you sure you're not gay?" his father tried again.

"Yes, Dad," he groaned. "Just answer the question."

"Why do I need to answer the question if you aren't?"

Jungkook sighed. "Okay, well do you still love Uncle Jin even though he's gay?"

"It's his decision to be gay," said his father. "I don't know why he chose that particular lifestyle, but yes I still love him. I don't think I can ever stop loving him."

"Dad," Jungkook said, "don't tell me you're own of those people who think 'it's something you choose.'"

"Yes."

"So you could choose to be gay, too, then. If you wanted to you could make yourself attracted to men," he said.

His father took a moment to think about it. "Well when you put it that way it sounds—"

"Stupid."

They both stared at each other for a count of ten before Jungkook looked down at his plate. When he looked up again his father was still eyeing him.

"We should visit him sometime," Jungkook  continued. "Maybe as early as tonight."

"Tonight?"

"I said maybe. Whether it's tonight or not we should visit him sometime this week. You should visit him sometime this week."

"Why me?"

Jungkook sighed. "Because he's all alone moping in his apartment and refuses to talk to anyone. I think he needs his brother."

His father shrugged. "I don't know about that."

"What happened to you guys?" demanded Jungkook. "You used to be so close as kids."

"I saw things," said his father, "when I was in war."

"Like?"

"Like things I will tell you when you're oolder"

Both of them froze when the doorbell rang.

"Are you going to get that or am I?" asked Jungkook.

His father stood up and approached the door, Jungkook following closely behind him. He turned the knob and opened it to find Jin standing before them, puffy eyes and a runny nose.

"H-Hi," he said.

"Jin. . .," his father trailed off.

"Hyung." Jin sniffed. "Can I come in for a little bit? I promise I won't be long."

His brother nodded. "Of course. Come in."

As soon as he entered Jungkook pulled him into a hug.

"I'm sorry about what happened," he said.

Jin returned the gesture. "It's my fault." His voice sounded like a squeaky chew toy was stuck in his throat.

Jungkook pulled away and lead him to the couch. Jin sat down silently. Under the light he looked older. Frown lines were easier to see on his face. His eyes held bags.

Jungkook and his dad sat on the other side of him, watching him carefully as he fiddled with his fingers.

"Can I get you some water?" Jungkook offered.

Jin didn't bother to look up from his hands. He only sniffed and shook his head. "No thank you. I just, uh—I just didn't want to be alone tonight, you know?"

"We completely understand," said Jungkook.

Jin stole glances at them, but for the most part his eyes seemed drawn to his restless fingers. "Jimin came over earlier today. That was nice of him. We brought me chocolate and stuff. But he couldn't stay the night and the nights are the hardest for me."

"That boy you were with last time—he's the same one that left you?" Jungkook's dad asked.

"Yes," Jin muttered. "But I deserve it. I hid the biggest secret and was being selfish. I was being insecure because I—" He paused for a moment and then broke into a sob.

Jungkook scooted closer to rub his back. "No, Uncle. Don't cry."

Jin hid his face in his hands. "I-I mi-miss him s-so much."

"Jungkook," said his father, "would you go wait in the kitchen. I have to talk to Jin alone."

Jungkook nodded and walked out if the living, but peeked through the kitchen door to see what was going on.

"Come here, little brother," said his father in a soothing voice.

Jungkook hadn't heard that tone of voice since he was very young. Hearing his father speak with such softness made his heart warm.

Jin hugged and him and cried into his shoulder. His dad wrapped him in a protective embrace, slightly rocking him. Jungkook realized that as much if a jerk his dad could be, there will always be that motherly side to him, one that Jin may only be capable of awakening.

"I-I don't know what to do, hyung."

"Shhh. Calm down," he said.

They sat there for a good ten minutes before Jin was able to get a hold of himself.

"That boy," said his father. "I don't know him well, but he doesn't seem to be at that maturity level to fully grasp the seriousness of your situation. If I were you I would let him be. If he comes back, then maybe you two can talk it out. If he doesn't, then it wasn't meant to be."

"I love him," Jin whispered.

"Jin, look at me," he said.

Jin pulled away and obeyed his brother.

"Do you really love him?"

Jin looked him straight in the eye and said, "Yes, I do."

"Does he love you?"

"Hyung, I cannot reveal anyone else's true feelings other than the ones that belong to me."

His brother nodded. "If he loves you, you'll know. If he comes back—if he truly wants to be with you, he'll come back to you."

"And if he doesn't?"

"Then he's a jackass who wasn't worth your time in the first place."

Jin bit his lip. "I think even if he doesn't come back, if I could rewind my time with him, I'd do it all over again."

"Unfortunately, that's young love."