Junghook knew that Namjoon never got angry with Jin and that he would be the only one to suffer the wrath of their leader. He was not wrong. However, contrary to what he had announced, Namjoon punished him like a child: the household chores of the whole group would be his for the coming month and most of his free time would be replaced by communication lessons to fill its shortcomings.

     Jungkook wasn't jealous of Jin because he didn't deserve to be punished after all. 

     Yet, he had to think of an effective strategy that would allow him to prevent the older one from leaving the group. The evening of the press conference, he began to write in his songbook, being careful to remain enigmatic:

     "The art of war, unknown chapter: preventing a soldier from deserting the company".

     That would be more mysterious to an indiscreet reader, he thought. He skipped a line and noted in his fine handwriting:

     "Strategy 1: weaken his resolve by touching his heart. "

     His pen stopped rolling on the page after that sentence while he was thinking about what to do with this first strategy and when he had figured out what, he started writing frantically again. Then, Jungkook put the pen back on the table, rereading what he had written. 

     He was satisfied and smiled : this is how this new war against his eldest would begin. And this time, he had to win it. He would win it at all costs.

     It was already late when he finally got up from his chair. The dorm was immersed in the silence that accompanied the late evenings of the sleepers and gamers in the group. All the doors were closed, preserving the tranquility of the boys who were sorely lacking in privacy daily.

     There was a time when they all shared the same room. Then they had split into three groups of roommates: Yoongi and Jin together, Hoseok, Taehyung and Jimin together, and finally Jungkook and Namjoon together. But now, everyone had their own room because they lived in a very large apartment, proportional to their current standard of living. 

     In the past, Jungkook had often invaded Jin and Yoongi's room, which he preferred to his own room shared with Namjoon. He felt good there, like a sense of security around his two oldest hyungs, especially when he took refuge in Jin's bed to make his distress disappear.

     It had not been that long since he had quit this practice and he saw no problem in suddenly pick it up, despite his age. Weakening his enemy by touching his heart, that's what he was going to do. To touch his oldest, he would have to relive the fond memories of their early years together, when Jin still saw him as a child to be protected and enveloped in tenderness.

     His footsteps led him to Jin's room. He didn't knock on the door and walked into the dark room without asking for permission. The only source of light was from the screen of the phone, on which Jin's eyes were riveted as he was lying on the bed.

     "Jk...", the latter muttered without looking up at the intruder, "it has been a while since you last sneaked into my room in the middle of the night. Are you eaten by remorse? "

     The maknae sneered:

     "Not at all."

     Then he made his way to the eldest's bed and lay down next to him.

     "But if remorse is what keeps you from sleeping hyung, you can share the punishment with me, that would be fair game."

      "No way," Jin chuckled, "unless you agree to share mine."

     "Yours?" Jungkook wondered. "But Namjoon didn't punish you, did he?

     "I would have preferred to have been punished by Namjoon," the eldest laughed as he continued to scroll on his phone screen and Jungkook noticed he was reading the comments left under the video of the press conference.

     "What does Army think about our little game today?" he asked, curious.

     "Oh, the reviews are mixed. Some found it cute and funny. Others blame me for making you sick. The first category explains to the second that they must learn to discern irony in order to survive this world filled with lies."

     Jungkook chuckled.

    "Nothing really serious then."

     "Officially no," the elder sighed, turning off his screen and staring at the barely discernible figure of the maknae next to him, "but unofficially yes: the company thinks our little game today is going to affect the sale of our new album. They demanded financial compensation from me and demanded that I be doubly active in promoting our album on social media. They will make sure I fix my "foolishness" properly, as they said without even a small smile to salute my overflowing humor."

     "But why didn't the company punish me too?" Jungkook wondered, frowning. He didn't understand why the company contacted Jin but not him. "They must have seen from watching the video that it was mainly my fault, right?"

     "They must have thought that Namjoon's punishment was already cruel enough for our little maknae," Jin mocked, "or maybe they planned to tell you that your household chores would be extended to the entire Big Hit building, not just our dorm."

     "Hyung seriously..." Jungkook pouted.

     "Don't worry JK, no matter the punishment from the company, it was worth it: I had a great time, the others too and Army as well. No need to be too much serious about that, the consequences are not dramatic, okay?"

     Jungkook could feel, even if he couldn't see it, the usual heartwarming smile of the oldest. Jin rediscovered through this discussion the memory of those he had had regularly in the past with a still very young Jungkook who sought reassurance for everything and always found the protection and encouragement of the older one. It had become an instinct with him, but it grew weaker as Jungkook grew in age, confidence, and muscle. Feeling him crawl into bed again, chatting with him and expressing some form of worry, even with a hint of humor at times, made him regain his primary instincts to protect Jungkook. The darkness in which the room was plunged of course helping to forget the muscles of the youngest.

     "Hyung, since you're not mad, can I sleep with you? So, if Namjoon looks for me tomorrow morning for household chores, you can hide me, and I can sleep longer."

     "Aïssssh, that kid!" Seokjin exclaimed, pretending to want to refuse.

     He wasn't really sincere because he appreciated Jungkook's presence and without wanting to admit to him, he missed the special moments they had spent together in the past a little. He seemed to think for a moment what he could say to him and his real feelings did not escape Jungkook who, inwardly, was jubilant.

     "Mmmmmh, I accept on one condition." Jin said with a mocking air.

     " Which?" the maknae asked, puzzled.

     "Since I have to actively participate in the promotion of our album through our networks, I thought of doing a live, but it will be more effective if you are present by my side; after all you have more fans than me."

     "Deal!" the maknae quickly exclaimed. "But that will give me the right to sleep here as many nights as there are people online."

     "Yaaa! Do not abuse my generous offer or I will sell you to Namjoon right now."

     "Good night!" Jungkook hurriedly shouted before slipping under the blanket.

     After closing his eyes, he smiled, thinking that his first strategy had worked without needing to put in any effort other than being himself. He had felt the heart of the eldest melt in the memory of the precious moments spent together, the memory of a time when he knew he was an indispensable person in Jungkook's life, through his heartwarming words and his presence to his sides. 

But more than that, Jin had asked for his help and Jungkook was more than happy to be able to give it to him: they would spend even more time with him, strengthen the bond that united them and prevent him from thinking again about his departure: his next strategy was already in motion! 

     I will have to name it... maybe "Strategy 2 : spend good time with him", he thought, but it would be too obvious. I better find a more mysterious name tomorrow...

     In the end, he would do anything to make Jin realize that he was still essential to his life, now even more than in the past because their bonds had continued to strengthen over time, and they were now more stronger than they were when Jungkook was still very young and unable to fully appreciate the support of the eldest. 

All of this he would have to prove to Jin.