seokjin sat quietly on the wooden chair, flabbergasted at how the cottage's beautiful interior contrasted it's rotting exterior. the walls were painted bright red, soft carpets laid out on every tile. the table was ivory, smooth to the touch, a single purple candle illuminating his face.

namjoon walked in, whistling, a platter of desserts on his metal tray, long coat floating as he bounced about.

NAMJOON
"have some sweet cakes, cinnamon sticks and caramel apples! try these donuts too! i made a feast, just for you!"

seokjin's head spun at the colorful treats appearing before him, his teeth aching at the amount of sugar in all the desserts present. it kept coming and coming, almost infinitely, and namjoon served every plate with a smile.

due to the shock of it all, seokjin dropped his backpack when he tried to hang it from the headrest of his seat, namjoon swooping in and picking it up smoothly.

the bag was as light as a feather.

SEOKJIN
"t-thank you. there's really no need  for so much hospitality—"

NAMJOON
"please, i insist."

namjoon then sat across the table, watching seokjin poke a cheesecake with a fork, dimpled smile exposed. he was silent, quiet, licking his lips at the sight of the older boy, his skin smooth and lips plump.

NAMJOON
"delectable."

seokjin flinched.

SEOKJIN
"excuse me?"

NAMJOON
"the sweets, they're delectable, you must try them."

seokjin gulped, this time poking a pie with his finger, slowly tasting the custard topping. namjoon's smile continued to grow whilst seokjin tongued the inside his cheek, his eyes sparkling.

SEOKJIN
"this . . . wow. what's in it?"

NAMJOON
"a secret ingredient."

namjoon winked, earning a light laugh from seokjin, whose cheeks were now stuffed with cakes and sweets. moments of silence passed, of seokjin humming at the sweetness and namjoon staring at the seemingly delectable sight.

fingers twitching, namjoon suddenly had the strong urge to grab a knife and plunge it deep into seokjin — but he held himself back. instead, he said:

NAMJOON
"tell me about jungkook."

a pause, seokjin swallowed dryly, in the brink of tears.

SEOKJIN
"you said you haven't seen him."

NAMJOON
"people don't come here often in the evening but some pass by in the morning. i may have seen him, i'll never know if you don't tell me what he looks like."

seokjin placed his fork back on the empty plate, glancing around the room, at the dolls all around them, on the racks, occupying the empty chairs, some even scattered on the floor.

it was eerie, nonetheless, and seokjin picked up a doll near his foot, wondering if it had been there before. he smiled as he stared at the doll, tugging on its brown hair and running his fingers against its smooth cloth, unnaturally smooth, squishy even.

SEOKJIN
" . . . jungkook is fairly tall for his young age, muscular too, his hair is brown and fluffy, big teeth resembling a bunny's– i-i'm sorry."

namjoon's composure faltered a bit at seokjin's sobs and tear-shedding but he quickly regained it, smiling once more, this time he gave the illusion that he felt pity towards his guest.

NAMJOON
"he sounds . . . delightful."

NAMJOON
"do not fret, i'm quite sure that your little brother is fine . . . i never got your name."

SEOKJIN
" . . . thank you, namjoon. my name is seokjin."

namjoon smiled, his eyes shining, whispering under his breath.

NAMJOON
"seokjin . . . what a lovely name."