Jungkook:

The day of the presentation. And I'm doing it alone. Usually I'd be panicking, preparing for my inevitable death as I went over my list of things that could go wrong. The last time I had to speak in front of a class on my own, I had run out, claiming I needed to see nurse and then never came back. But this time I didn't care. I didn't feel nervous anymore, because I didn't feel anything anymore.

The presentations dragged on, a series of paintings by Hana and Yoongi, photgraphy by Taehyung and Sena, a really bad pottery project from a boy in my class called Woohyun and his partner Jaesok, and some drawings by some other girls, Seulbi and Saeron.
I can't say I listened to much of what they were saying. Finally Mr.Lee calls my name. I pick up the presentation board, and walk up to the front of the class. They all stare at me as I walk past, as if they feel sorry for me. They saw me get angry yesterday. They know how I've been shut away for all these months, rumours fly around this neighbourhood quickly. I don't need their pity.

I stand at the front and hold the presentation board up. I breathe in.
I'll do this presentation well, to show you all I'm not some sort of coward, and that I don't need anyone feeling sorry for me. Especially not you lot.

'Our art project is called Hwa Yang Yeon Hwa. It means the most beautiful moment or the happiest moment in life - like when a flower blooms or...something.' I look around, starting to feel a little nervous. Pull yourself together.

'It explains how youth is tiring and difficult, like we're always on the edge. How some of us may have broken homes, a parent who depends on you or who you can't see often, debt, unrequited love - any of these problems.' The room was silent, all eyes on me.

'And everyone has these problems, their anxieties and insecurities. But what we wanted to capture in this project was that you can still experience the most beautiful moment in life no matter what is going on. You can create an oasis anywhere, in your own room, sitting together in art class, on the steps in front of your house - anywhere.' I pause to take a deep breath and steady my hands that had started to tremble ever so slightly.

'...I learnt that when creating this art project. Some times people didn't let us have an oasis, they wanted to stop it, and take it away.' I look at Taehyung now.
'But just because they tried, it didn't mean they took away our most beautiful moment in life.'
I can't help but smile slightly, the memories of the summer playing like a film reel in my mind, leaving me in my own little world. I blink and snap back to reality.

'Um...and that's what we wanted people to take away from it I guess. Just that, it can be found anywhere, anytime, and it may not be something huge and elaborate that brings about that moment... it can be something as simple as we were.'

I finish there, hanging my head to hide my eyes which had begun to water.
I scuff my foot along the ground, avoiding their gaze. There's a silence.

And then there's clapping. I look up and the entire class is clapping loudly. To my surprise, even Taehyung begins to clap, not as much as the others, but clapping nonetheless. Mr.Lee claps too, smiling at me. The whole room is drowned in the sound of applause.
I walk back to my seat and sit, leaving the presentation with Mr.Lee.
'Well done Jungkook!' he praises as the class dies down.

After a few more presentations, the bell rings for the end of the day. Hana and Yoongi turn around to me in my seat.
'Your presentation was so cool Jungkook!' Hana tells me.

'Yeah, I felt bad for the person who had to follow up after you.' Yoongi adds. Thanks, but I don't feel any accomplishment.

'I think it really touched a lot of people in here, you know?' Hana says as she collects the paintings her and Yoongi had made.

'If it's any consolation Jungkook...I know what you're going through, believe me. Jimin's my best friend. If I even had any clue where he was...what I'm saying is, me and the gang, we're hurting too.' Yoongi tells me.

I offer Yoongi a small smile, feeling sad for him and Hobi and Namjoon. Jimin was just as precious to them as he was to me. After everyone leaves the class, I'm the last one to collect my presentation back from Mr.Lee after he's graded them all.

'Ah, Jungkook.' He leans back in his chair and swivels it to face me.
'That was really something. I'll make sure to get those points back on your school record.'

'Thanks.' I reply half heartedly.

'I realise you and Jimin were close, and I heard from the students that you two were...'
He looks down for a moment awkwardly before clearing his throat and looking back up at me.

'Well anyway, I can see from this project that you meant a lot to each other. Wherever Jimin is Jungkook, please, try not to worry. Focus on your studies now you're back, and I'm sure he'll be okay.' He says trying to comfort me. With that, I leave with the project in hand and make my way home.

__________________________

I arrive at home, and shut the door behind me.

'Jungkook, how was school?' My mum asks, running up to the door, dish and cloth still in hand. I wish she'd at least try to hide her worry, thinking I could self destruct at any moment. It's embarrassing.

'Fine.' I answer bluntly, walking up the stairs to my room, leaving her there
dismayed.

I enter my room and slam the door, placing the project board down onto the floor. I sit down, throwing my bag onto the bed.

I turn over the presentation board to see what mark Mr.Lee had given.
On the back, I see written in red pen,
Full marks - A+

Wow. We did well Jimin.
Underneath it reads:

Well done! By far the best art project in the class - it seems as though you really found your Hwa Yang Yeon Hwa - Mr.Lee.

I begin to tear up. It shouldn't be me getting all the credit. It shouldn't be me receiving this grade alone.

I begin to unstick the polaroids from the project board. Looking through them just makes me tear up even more, the warm tears hanging on the end of my eyelashes. In a rage I throw them across the room, and they litter my bedroom floor, the memories staring back at me. I collapse on the floor among them. Perhaps I'll just sleep here. The more I sleep the less I feel.
I  stay there on the floor for what must have been hours, because when I look up the sky outside is dark as the night paints the sky. Rain begins to knock at my window, lightly at first with little droplets spattering on the glass. In a matter of minutes however, it begins to rain heavily, the droplets now thudding against the window pane, splashing upwards.

I hear a knock at the front door. Why do we keep getting visitors? Leave us alone. As I lay and stare up at the ceiling, I tune into the sound of the rain. There's a knock again. I guess Mum didn't answer the first time. Who keeps knocking? And why are they just standing outside in the rain? Again, the door knocker is lifted and hit against the door. God I'll answer it myself.

I haul myself up from lying on my floor and pace down the stairs. I glance over at Mum, who's too busy occupied with listening to music using the headphones in her ears as she cleans the dining table. 'MUM! DOOR!' I shout, but she doesn't hear me. I huff and go to open the door. I swing it wide open, the loud rushing sound of the heavy rain filling the house. I stand there for a second in confusion.

A woman stands at our front door, absolutely soaked from the rain, dark wet hair in tangles around her face. She wraps her thick cardigan tightly around her body, trying to cover as much as possible from the cold and the wet.

'...Can I help you?' I ask, not knowing what else to say. She sniffs, I can't tell whether it's from the cold or because she looked like she's been crying, eyes watery as though they had been filled with the raindrops around her. In fact she looks like she hasn't slept in days or something, eyes slightly red.

'C-Could I come in, please...?' She asks, voice cracking slightly. Um, sorry but no? I don't know you? I'm not about to let some random stranger into my house just because it's raining. I mean ideally I would like to help but you can never tell who's crazy. What if she tries to steal our stuff or something?

'Please.' She says again.

'...I'm Jimin's Mum.'